Quote

“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.” ~ H. Jackson Brown


“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” ~ Unknown



Sunday, August 28, 2011

Today was a beautiful day for...

visiting downtown Rockford!

It's funny, when I was younger I hated Rockford. It's hard to explain, but I always felt as if my parents took me away from everything I knew in Grand Rapids and deposited me in Rockford, which felt a million miles away from all my friends. It was hard to get over that and even harder to get used to Rockford.

Now that I'm grown, I absolutely love going there with the family (Jan, Bob, Matt, and the kids) to get hotdogs, ice cream, check for turtles on the rocks in the dam, and then walk on the boardwalk. I love the small town feeling, that safeness that comes from a close knit community. The kids really look forward to it too as well as the time they get to spend with their Nana and Papa.

Our day went something like this; we took the kids to Riverside for a walk. My normally 40 minute walk turned into two hours. :) Lots of exploring to be done there!!! I then took Max to the Hillcrest Dog Park and tired him out. We had a little time for showers and then we were off for an afternoon in Rockford with Nana and Papa. The kids were pretty tired, so we called it a night and brought them back for baths. Bedtime came early for both of them tonight.

Tomorrow is a big day with my return back to work. We have our PD days this week and then the arrival of students next week, the day after Labor Day. I am so excited to be going back to work; to confer with colleagues, and to enjoy the crazy antics of the middle schoolers. The kids have been in daycare for two weeks now, so they won't be going through their transition at the same time I am, thank goodness.

The blog tonight is going to be a short one, 5 am comes pretty early!!!

Picture time!

Riverside Park:

The view I enjoy every day while walking. There's usually a heron perched, looking for fish.
From Summer 2011

I'm getting kinda bored in this stroller Mom...You got more snacks to keep me occupied?
From Summer 2011

Look! I found a stick!
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I'm going to bring this stick everywhere I walk. You probably won't get any pictures of me though, I'm really fast and elusive!
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Where's Adri! Bet you can't find me!
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Yup, still got the stick. I'm tired. I'm just going to sit here in the middle of the path and eat my snack. Think the bikers will mind?
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One quick picture. But not because I'm not still elusive. I'm just getting a little tired from all the walking.
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What???!!! It's three miles? I'm three! I can do it!
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Alright, so maybe I'll get back in the stroller and relax for a few minutes...But I'm still elusive!!!
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Wait! Stop! A squirrel! And I have snacks! Here squirrel! Look Mom! The squirrel up in the tree caught it!
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He's still pretty hungry...
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Rockford:

Papa and Sammy discuss the meaning of life...
From Summer 2011

Crazy haired boy!!!
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I sure like it when you take my picture, Mom. Are you getting all the food I've spilled on my clothes? Need to make sure that makes it in the picture too...
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Breathtaking clouds overhead...
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Rockford Dam...
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I'm trying to decide if I'm tired or not...Yeah, I think I am...I'm feeling grouchy.
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Not too grouchy though! I'm going to pose for a modeling session!!! Take my picture Mama!
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And again!
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Alright, all done.
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I love my brudder...
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Papa, do you think this is poison ivy?
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Wait! I think I saw some over here! Poison oak!
From Summer 2011

Beautiful view from the boardwalk:
From Summer 2011

The coolest Daddy in the world...
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This has been a great time! I sure love Rockford and Nana and Papa!!!
From Summer 2011




Saturday, August 27, 2011

So I thought I always wanted...

3 children. That was before I took on the responsibility of watching four with an added bonus of two more neighbor children. Whew! Talk about a houseful of energy (and a crazy Mama to boot!), I've now decided that I am just fine with two healthy, energetic, beautiful children. I couldn't have asked for a better number. Two, that's it. Well, add in a crazy dog and it might be like having three children. If I'm not running after Adri and Sam, I'm chasing Max. In the end, it probably all evens out, but I digress. Two children, I am very ok with that number.

I agreed to watch my BFF's two boys today while she was helping her sister move. I knew it would be interesting, but didn't expect it to be so exhausting!!! The truth of the matter is that her children are absolute ANGELS. Mine on the other hand, well, a total carbon copy of their father and I, if that tells you anything.

The sharing of toys was a little problem, but the major debacle was the loss of a 5 lb bag of gummi bears that was just bought yesterday. Somehow Sammy reached them on the counter and they ended up covering our kitchen floor. The kids raced my cleaning attempt, shoving as many as could fit in their mouths, chewing, swallowing and repeating the activity as quickly as they could. I had to stop and laugh or I might have cried. It's these little things in life that turn out to be the moments that make it all worth it in the end. It's remembering that while you're in the moment that is difficult. :)

After playing and swimming outdoors we ended up having a dance party with five children in our living room. Sammy had gone to bed and two of the neighbor kids were over to visit. We danced to the WII game "Just Dance Kids" amidst giggles, fumbles, and wiggles. I have to admit, that even I could dance to it (I'm just about the biggest klutz ever!) and that I actually enjoyed it.

We ended up having another great time with our friends!!! We're already missing you guys now that you're gone!!!

Now it's time for all those great pictures that capture the fun that words just couldn't today...

My practice pictures while learning new settings on my camera...
From Summer 2011

From Summer 2011

Getting Adri to sit still for a good picture is impossible! On another note, she's practically riding a two wheeler with pedals now!!!
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There is no stopping this almost two year old. Nothing scares him!
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There's the Adri I know...Always exerting her power...
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I bribed them with ice cream to get this picture. :)
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Even Sammy knows that whatever happened was Adri's fault. :)
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Couldn't have been me, Mom!
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If he's not the cutest, sweetest little thing...
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Don't leave your child with me. I promise if they do something like get their head stuck in the railing I will get pictures before getting them unstuck. :)
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And, the gummy bear mess...
From Summer 2011

Eli filled his bowl...
From Summer 2011