Merry Christmas - a little late

I know I am behind in posting these updates. I have tried to get this done twice now and just couldn't finish it. Here are our family photos from Christmas 2006.

We spent our family holiday at the Great Wolf Lodge. This was a total surprise to the boys. They didn't realize we were going until we pulled into the parking lot . I love surprising them in that way! It was very exciting.


A few hours after we checked in the boys were busy decorating cookies and having hot chocolate.
After cookie making we walked around checking out all the decorations - but we quickly made it to the pools.
Gabriel and Matthew found the playhouse and played there for a while.
After swimming it is pajama storytime in the lobby. This happens everynight at the lodge but we had a special treat this time...
I even showed up in my Christmas jammies - the same ones I have worn every Christmas since 1990. Hey, Nana, I could use a new pair, wink wink! I no longer have the slippers or pinafore that matched but I still wear these every year. So, here we are listening to T'was the Night Before Christmas.
And, then the snow started to fall... 6 snow machines were shooting fresh snow all over the beautiful lobby! We all loved it and here is Gabey playing in the snow.
The boys right before heading off to bed.
Our Christmas morning, opening presents in our room. The boys thought The Great Wolf Lodge was their gift so the gifts when they woke up to presents they were excited. Matthew opens more Lincoln Logs.
Christian had been really wanting a camera and Nick asked me to buy one in the gift shop for his brother. Nicolas is very generous and loves to buy gifts for people. Here is Christian hugging Nick TIGHT with thankfulness.
Gabriel carried this little leopard around Meijers one day and he loved it so much. He was so happy when he opened it and just kept hugging & kissing it.
Flashing swords - just the ticket!
The lobby on Christmas Eve - Gabey is the little guy in the red.
Christian loved "swimming" in the giant hot tub. He just kept floating all around it.
Matthew & Gabriel enjoying the hot tub
Mattie attacking the water fountains
Nick plays with all the bigger kids, he loves the floating snake
Nick and Christian, waiting... waiting... anticipating...
And the bucket drops the water. This giant bucket dumps every 12 minutes and people run from all over to stand beneath it. I think the water bucket is one of Nick's favorite parts of the water park.
All dried off and we found a little time to play in the arcade before dinner.
At home the next morning opening more gifts. Nick picked out this Bible and Bible cover - he really enjoys referencing in his new Bible.
Christian sits on his new train tableMatthew wearing the cool coat Nana & Grandpa got him. He just opened his "reading bear" that he found a few weeks prior. He was DEVASTATED when I didn't buy it for him. Typically this type of disappointment goes away quickly but this time he continued to ask about his reading bear. I was so happy to give him that and I think he would have been perfectly happy to have received nothing else.Daddy and Gabriel. This musical lamb was something Gabey had picked up at Family Christian Stores - the beauty of shopping with him is that he didn't comprehend that I bought his present with him. He really loves stuffed animals.
Auntie Kimber opens her ornament from Christian.
Lukie Luke (as the boys call him) and Auntie Christine, opening Christian's gift.
Auntie Christine gave Gabriel this swimming swan - the boys all fought over it - until it stopped swimming. Toys just break too easily!
So, Happy 2007 friends, hope you enjoyed our photos.

Gabey gets a haircut!


The other day while I was downstairs doing laundry Matthew and Gabriel got into a little trouble. Matthew cut Gabriel's hair - right in the middle of the top of his head. Gabey was proud of his new haircut. We were busy for the rest of the day but the next morning I needed to take care of it. This is Gabriel's bedhead and his new bald spot. Gabriel is also the Sharpie Artist who colored on my bathroom cabinet - arghh...He was less than thrilled with sitting down to get his hair cut this time.
We tried to leave some hair but the bald spot was still obvious. The next time I removed the guard and shaved him bald.
Matthew also cut a little bit out of his own hair - he is getting shaved next! Gabey and Mattie are very close but Mattie wouldn't share his string cheese.
Bald Baby! In a week or so he will look much better.

President Gerald R. Ford memorial in Grand Rapids, MI


We feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to take part in this piece of history. This was our family's experience.

Nicolas signs the book of condolences at the Presidential Museum The lobby of the museum where the public could come to pay their respects by signing these books.
It was dark out but that is Nicolas sitting on the steps outside of the museum.
The enterance to the Presidential Museum was filled with memorials left in his memory. We will probably never have the opportunity to take part in history in this way again and we feel very blessed.
Nicolas standing by the many memorial items left.
This officer from the Ionia County Police Department was very kind. We were there for about 2 hours with him and he watches the Presidential motorcade heading our way. The crowds got really quiet and it was just a great opportunity for us. The motorcade went by too quickly to get all the pictures we would have liked but here are a few.
This is the vehicle carrying our former president. If you look, you can see the flag draped coffin in the rear window.
Some of the MANY, MANY cars in the procession. It was much longer than I expected.
Air Force One taking off right in front of us.
The memorial cloths and wreaths hanging on the entrance to the airport - see the full moon in the background.

Happy Halloween

We were so lucky to have Daddy home to go trick or treating with us this year. He actually had to work but he gave away a few hours to go out with us. He has only been able to do so for 2 years and it is a real treat. We went to Grandma & Grandpa's house first and then Auntie Kimberly went out with us. Christian was tired after a few blocks and wanted to go back to Grandma's house. Auntie took him home while we finished trick or treating. Nicolas ran ahead to collect as much candy as he could. He even took Gabey's bag to get candy for him. Matthew really liked going up to the doors and telling everyone that he wasn't an alligator or a crocodile, he was a "MEAN CROCODILE" - it was very cute. Gabriel rode in the stroller for a long time. We had done about 5 blocks when he figured it all out and wanted to go by himself. He ran up saying "Trick or Treat" all the way up to the door and then he just stood silently there when the door was opened. He did say thank you. We had a great night and I love doing Halloween in my mom's neighborhood. I see lots of friends and it is nice to always be bumping into old friends. I don't know if Steve likes that aspect of it as much because he pretty much keeps having to stop while I chat with friends. So, here are my little cuties...


Mattie is dressed as a "Mean Crocodile" this year. Don't let his smile fool you - this little guy will bite.Nicolas dressed as a farmer. I think all the time we spent at local farms this year encouraged this costume. Now, if only we could have a farm ourselves.
All the boys on Grandma's porch.
Christian was the cutest little lion. We got that costume several years ago from Nick's best friend, Dalton. It was a little big but it still worked well. Gabriel was a ducky and I was so excited to find that at a garage sale in September for $2 - yeah. Years ago I got the little croc costume at Sam's Club on the morning of Halloween for $5 and that has been used probably 4 times already. We borrowed Nick's hat and overalls. This was a very inexpensive Halloween and they all looked so cute!

Gabey got this package of Smarties from Grandma when we got to their house and he was so happy he didn't want to leave.

I will try to update in a week or so with our Thanksgiving pictures. Thanks for checking in...

Happy Thanksgiving,
Kaira

Birthday Time & Other Fun Stuff - Nicolas is 10!
Nicolas asked his aunties (Christine and Kimber) to get him caramel apples for his birthday. Well, actually he didn't ask them. He said that would be rude - so I passed along the message. Grandma made a great dinner and cake and here Nick opens his special apples. He was REALLY excited about the one with all the m&ms.
Nick and Grandma on his 10th birthday. They are very close and Nicolas always wants to be with his Grandma!
For a birthday surprise from Mom and Dad we planned a surprise camping trip. We managed to keep the secret until a half hour before we left. The best part was that Nick's friend, Lucas (and his family), were there when we arrived. We spent 4 beautiful Michigan fall days at Lake Michigan. It was a great way to wrap up camping season. Here are the boys in their camping beds. Nightime in our camper is always fun.
Lucas has a younger brother, Christopher. He brought along lots of fun toys that he shared nicely with Gabriel "the car hog".
Gabriel playing at the playground with Daddy while I packed up camp.
Lucas and Nick were running down a HUGE hill... splat... dirt everywhere.
We came out to another local park to climb the dunes. In the sunshine the boys were taking off their clothes and enjoying the sun and sand. It was warm and sunny in this park.
The boys starting to climb the dunes. Gabey wants to climb too.
Okay, we have been very busy since school started. Homeschool was going really well and we took a little time off while I learned about local harvesting and canning. Christian really enjoyed learning alongside me how to can and cook. We have had a fun fall so far. We have picked atleast 12 bushels of apples, and tons of other good things to eat. Today I made 2 loaves of sourdough bread and it smells so good at home. Yesterday I made applesauce and Amish white bread and that was fun as well. Nick really wants me to start making bagels so next week I will try that. The 3 big boys are all in Awana this year. They are doing well with their Bible memorization and we love to see that. Steve was sick earlier in the week but he is feeling much better now. The boys all got haircuts today - except Christian - who insisted he did not need one. Today was back to school - again. We had a fun school day and now I have to run and get dinner on the table. Hoping you are all safe and happy. I am a pitiful coorespondent but I think of all my friends and family often.
Love you all,
K.