Kids Bowling....FREE!

Our last day of summer vacation turning out to be hot & humid and then it turned rainy. So we decided to go bowling one last time. Emily used this pose to hope for the best after she rolled her bowl down the lane. Trevor had one pin left standing way off to the left side so he was trying to use careful strategy....FUNNY PICTURE THOUGH!! Erin posed so nicely....after I missed the best picture after she got a strike.

One funny memory from our summer bowling program.....Trevor bowled a strike and got a split....in his shorts!!! That is one thing that will be a family joke for years!!!!

Girls Day....

Trevor was setting up at a local gun show with Terry (he is earning college $$!!!) so I asked the girls what they would like to do on Saturday. They both agreed that we should scrapbook.....so we invited a few others down to join us. Mom was the only one that could make it.....I didn't get a ton done but it was a fun day, nonetheless. The night before, I was out to a scrapbook crop and I found the signs in the pictures posted on our front door, porch door and on the table. I'm thinking Emily and Erin were quite excited about our "crop"?!

One last swim......

Last Friday, the kids and I went to visit my cousin who has recently moved to the other side of the lake....much closer than they used to be. Trevor and Michael seemed to hit it off and had a lot of fun. We all enjoyed our time in their community pool for the afternoon. Thank you for a fun day, Janice. You have a nice house with BEAUTIFUL gardens!!!

Things I want to remember.....

Over time, the kids make comments that I want to remember but do not have the time to scrapbook, etc. Tonight was one of those comments....Emily was looking at the pictures of current pet bunnies when they were first born back in May when she said that looking at those pictures of them being sooooo little, made her feel like crying. I told her that is how I often feel when I look at pictures from when they were a lot younger and realize (again) how quickly they are growing up. Her only comment was "You do?" Of course....my "babies" are growing up MUCH TOO QUICKLY.

Almost a year ago, we were talking about video games and Terry asked him how a certain gaming unit worked. Trevor's reply was "I really don't know. I may live in the age of technology....I just don't have any of it!!" Since then, he has gotten a few more pieces of "technology" but that comment will always be remembered!

Last summer, Trevor sitting next to Erin in the car (touching her!!!) and he had taken his shirt off due to the heat. She was absolutely furious with him that he wouldn’t put his shirt back on. “Trevor, that is so insanely DISGUSTING! I am NEVER going to marry a guy that doesn’t wear his shirt ALL THE TIME!” Another comment that will be remembered....and brought up at an inoportune time, I am sure!!!

The everyday business of life seems to keep my from truly enjoying my time with the kids. Recently I was with a group of women (scrapbooking) and I commented how my daughters weren't too thrilled with my having a time (with adults) to scrapbook.....one of them said to ENJOY my kids' desire to be there now b/c there will be a time too soon that they won't WANT to be. I feel the need to slow down and enjoy my children and their comments more.

Bittersweet Memories

We were out to Iowa for Grandpa's funeral. Though sad to say good-bye, it is so grand to know that he went on to something so much greater. A song that came to mind while preparing to make the trip was a song titled "The Greatest Man I Never Knew". At first I was hesitant to publish this but after the funeral I realized the reason WHY this came to mind....Not because we didn't know him but because h e was a quiet man that didn't easily let his deepest feelings and emotions show though we can be assured that he loved his family greatly.

Spending time with family (some of whom I haven't seen in 10 years) was very special. My aunt and uncle opened their home for us to gather in though their lives are quite busy....and this year even more so than ever. Thank you so much....this time together was special beyond words.

Happy 89th Birthday......

Grandma "Cat" (as the kids affectionately call her) celebrated her 89th birthday today. As I have gotten older and have become a mother and wife, her life has had more meaning and impact than ever before. She is a woman that has lived a useful life both in this world and in what really matters. We love you, Grandma!!!

Good-bye, Grandpa.......

Today I am saying good-bye to a very special man. This man left his home country and traveled to the United States for a better life. He lived a very full life and was a wonderful example to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I am grateful for all that he taught his children and it was in turn taught to me. Though I have many precious memories, I am so glad for the memories that my own children have of him. After years of his being "Grandpa deBoer" to me, my children dubbed him as "Grandpa Cat" after our visit to the farm in2005 where they all played with Gpa's many cats. Nothing can sum up my feelings like the poem that Trevor and I wrote after our visit in April -- I posted it shortly after as my farewell to the farm house.

I love you and will miss you, Grandpa!