December- Snow and Advent Celebration

December 1- Happy First Snow!!

Isla loves "pretending" to go potty since everyone else in our house does... But, then she won't put her diaper back on and wants to play "nakey buns" and we end up with poop on our floor, as happened in this picture just a few minutes later. Thank goodness for wood floors that clean up and sanitize easily!
Christmas Tree decorating...a family affair

Oak and Isla have been making their own indoor fun these days...and building blanket forts is a daily occurrence. They go in and read their books, play blocks, talk about the day...it is hilarious!

Test driving a Pink Cadillac SUV, of all vehicles, at Toys R' Us (and "No", we aren't buying them one, its just another free indoor activity for them to do:)

Making "Grandma Cookies" with Miss Julie, our neighbor...the best Christmas cookies ever!!

So, I think I am finally "caught up" and now we have a functioning camera, too! December 1 brought our first snow of the winter and it was beautiful...we had been waking up every morning for weeks, pulling back the curtains and saying" Is there snow, yet?" And on this morning, Oak said, "Yes, Mom, look at all the snow!!" We also have thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas season, again, this year. We have a tradition of decorating immediately after Thanksgiving and only listening to Christmas music from then until January 1! The kids have really gotten into the spirit this year, and Oak is beginning to understand more about the real reason we celebrate Christmas...Jesus' birth, the greatest gift, worshipping Him and serving Him. As a family, we have had nightly advent readings and activities that have been precious, enjoyed our 10 album IPod Christmas music mix piping through the house, loved baking cookies for friends, and making gifts for family, buying for our friends in Haiti, and spending time together. I said it this morning...I just love being with my family. We have some really fun times...and yes, there are days that are tiring, hard, stressful...life is real...but, I am truly being honest when I say that I am so thankful for my husband and kids...and so very blessed beyond measure!

Two recent kid "quotes":

Oak, today, when painting with Alan on the concrete floor of the basement, double-pumped his arms and exclaimed, "Yes, that's awesome! A black rhino!" He loves making art with his Dad right now and that was a precious moment for Alan.

Isla has created the "hush hush" gang. We all climb under the blanket on our bed and whisper "hush, hush". It comes from one of her favorite books, but I wish you could hear her say it, probably the sweetest thing ever. And, today, she stood on the stool at the stove and pointed to the tea pot and said "ha ca"...since we had come inside from playing in the snow and our normal routine is to have hot chocolate after outside play time. She's no dummy, get that "ha ca" started, mom!

P.S. Our annual Christmas letter and picture is going to be a New Year's edition this year, since we haven't been able to get a great picture of the four of us without a functioning camera...it is on its way next week, all!

Merry Christmas...Rest in His peace, grasp His grace, and Rejoice in His Love!!

November- Slow down and Our 10th Anniversary!

After the 5K is over, it takes me some days to ramp down, pay all the bills, and leave my race team alone until we have our debrief meeting.

The days that followed in November were so sweet. The weather began to get colder, but we continued to use our bike and stroller to get around, and enjoyed bundling up to play outside. I have been telling Alan that during November and December, there were so many amazing moments with the kids, I wish I could remember them all to re-tell them on this blog, so that I could look back and never forget them. Isla continued to change and grow so much during this time, every day making us laugh and be amazed...and Oak progressed amazingly in his learning of letters, numbers, puzzles and patterns...so cool to be a part of their lives! Our leaves were some of the last on our street to fall this year, but we had a lot of fun playing in them!!

Oak and Isla-constantly playing together and in every room they go to, they make up a game that requires running, jumping over, ducking under and wrestling in some way. They always laugh and have fun and usually end with one or both hurt or crying:)

Thanksgiving break was truly that...we had our Daddy home for 5 whole days and we "relaxed!!" Alan loves his work and feels the Lord has truly called him to this school, but since he works with such tough kids, it is often emotionally, spiritually and physically draining. His breaks are truly needed for restoration and refreshment!

This is Oak-town (Oak's Geo-Trax City that has been built over the past few years) that for the Thanksgiving holiday got to be built in the living room. Alan and the kids had so much fun playing all day and night!

Oak and Isla doing more play and learn with playdough- No, Isla, don't eat the playdough!!

November 17-Our 10th Anniversary

We have no pictures to commemorate the day...but, it was such a special time of reflection, renewed commitment, thanksgiving for the journey and shared love! We are so very thankful that God has allowed us to walk life's journey together, and count each day as a treasured gift and joy...and we keep laughing! We spent the evening at a nice dinner out with our kids (that was actually quite crazy, but what do you expect with a 1 and 3 year old:) and then over a bottle of wine looked back on our 10 years of photos and read our "Top Ten Reasons Why We Love Each Other and Are Thankful for Each Other!" It was simple and simply perfect!

October- Liz's Birthday, Races, and Al's Gall Bladder

October...what a month...and really not many pictures to show all that happened! We began with visiting ArtPrize 2010...an awesome outdoor art contest in our very own GR. It was so fun to do with the kids and they really got in to the different art pieces. We then celebrated my birthday, I ran the GR 1/2 marathon (pictures on FB from my friends), Alan was in the hospital for 3 days and had his gall bladder removed, the 2nd annual Alger Heights Halloween 5K (the race I co-direct, pictures also on FB from friends) went off sucessfully, and Halloween was so fun with our Dr. Oak and Flower Isla!

We literally breathed deeply as October ended...and thanked God for his provision, strength, energy, family and friends to help...and fun throughout it all!One of almost 1800 different art pieces at Art Prize, all different mediums and from all over the world
Oak and Isla in the Van Andel Museum

One of the gifts of my birthday week (which was amazing, as always...my husband spoils me and blesses me every year in creative and humbling ways) was to choose our adventure for the day as a family. So, after church we headed west on Leonard to the lakeshore (one of my favorite places on earth:), and our favorite scenic route to the lake. It was fun to be in our "church" clothes on an October day, sunny and bright, not warm, but beautiful, playing in the sand. We then went on to downtown Holland for a fun walk and yummy food. It was such a wonderful day...

My parents' gift to Alan and I for our birthdays was to go to a Mavericks vs. Pistons game in GR (yep, first time ever:), and then SURPRISE...to have a luxurious night away at the JW Marriott hotel downtown. What a treat...our first overnight without both kids (Isla still wasn't weaned at this time...I shed a few tears, my mom didn't sleep much, but everyone made it:) and in such a beautiful place, overlooking the river and the lights of downtown...it was so special. Thanks, Mom and Dad!!

Two weeks later Alan had severe pain and ended up in the hospital with emergency gall bladder removal...we spent from Sunday evening until Wednesday at the hospital...the kids were amazing and our family and friends helped so much staying with them when they slept and shuttling everyone around. It was a team effort-and Alan came out like a champ!

Halloween was sunny and not too cold...Oak was a Doctor, scrubs and all, and Isla a sweet, squishy flower. They really got in to the "trick or treat" this year and I had to keep reminding them that I wanted to hear their "thank yous" as loud as their "trick or treats!"

September- Fall Fun and Alan's Birthday

(Our camera broke, again, in August, so all pictures from now until December are from my phone. Hence the bad resolution and not numerous quantity.)

September began our "Fall routine." Daddy was back in to the full swing of things with school and so we filled our days with hikes, trips to the Children's museum, playing with friends and an attempt to do a Pre-Pre-School at home with Oak...very laid back style.Isla Bo Baggins, as Ms Heather called her this day, on a hike at Aman Trail
Daddy's 33rd Birthday Week...a really fun week, culminated with a scavenger hunt on Saturday. One stop was the 6th street Bridge and fish ladder downtown

The next stop was our favorite orchard and pumpkin patch...

Alan...an amazing man, talented, creative (he began to paint this summer and fall), caring, intelligent, a servant's heart, hard-working, hands-on Dad, playful, funny, jokester, tender, loving...we are so thankful to have him as our best friend, husband, and Dad! Happy Birthday, Alan!

The first cider and donuts of the Fall....yummmmm!

Trip to Lowe's...well, of course we have to ride the lawn mowers

Dinner with Grammy

Playdough cut-outs...what's with that smile, Oak??

August- Hot Summer Days and Oak's 3rd Birthday

Oak's 3-year pictures

(Thanks to our good friend and a great photographer, Carolyn Baas)
Isla's 1-year pictures

Oak's 3rd Birthday

It has become a neighborhood tradition to do a laid back, "backyard cupcake birthday party." So, this year, Oak wanted dinosaur cupcakes (this was after many weeks of deliberation between doctor, monster, fire truck or airplane cupcakes). He helped put each dinosaur on the cupcakes and then we had an airplane cake at his family party the next day. The best of both worlds!

August 21- Happy 3rd Birthday, Oakster!

Our little guy has grown up so much in one year...he is active, loving, caring, aggressive, loves wrestling and shooting monsters, playing with Daddy, running and riding his tricycle, reading and playing at the beach, playing with his sister and cooking. At times, he is intense and loud, and at other times, he is introverted, shy, and very quiet. He loves his bobie (blue bear), his friends, his sister and his Dad! Thank you, Lord, for our precious son!

Spontaneous Friday late afternoon trip to the beach...it was beautiful!

Splash pad fun with Isla

Bike trip to the park for picnic, playground, and splash pad

At the beach with small group friends

Our beautiful tree- taken as a reminder to a friend to let God heal her and walk life's adventurous road with her

Oak's new "running shoes" for his Bday...he is his mother's son!

During August the kids began to really play "together!" It has been so fun (and at times very challenging, when the fun turns to a fight over toys and such) to watch them grow to love each other and to become best friends...what a treasure to have a sibling!

"Mom, I am a big girl and can feed myself." Isla became very independent after her birthday...and her personality just soared in those months. It is so cool to see the funny, little lady that she is...