Grand Haven-Our day of walking on water...

Today it was a unanimous decision to go to the beach.  In February.  Although the kids didn't know it, we had a very special reason for visiting the beach in Grand Haven; the winter waves that the unusually cold and snowy season have brought us.  We were actually able to walk out past the pier (if we chose) on Lake Michigan, which was frozen solid.  There were huge ice hills that had been created from the waves washing in the snow.  The scene was breathtakingly beautiful.  I, of course, took copious pictures, on the chance that we don't ever have the chance to experience this beauty again.

Before visiting the beach, Sam and I went to a basketball game for the players that are in my class.  On the way, Sam couldn't stop talking about the beach and his plans for the visit. 

"I am going to stick my head in the water and look at the fish." he told me.  

"Oh really?  Do you think you can stick your head in the water?  It's pretty cold out there."

"Yes, Mommy.  I want to see the fish.  I am going to put my head in the water and look around."

I left it at that.  I wanted him to be surprised when we got there.  :)  Needless to say, he didn't put his head in the water.

I have to say, I was completely surprised (although I'm not so sure why) at how many people were there.  Everyone had my idea!  We actually had to wait for a parking space in the little parking lot (the large one wasn't plowed) and there were cars constantly coming in and then going out looking for an available space elsewhere.

When it was time to leave, Sam cried and threw himself down on the ice screaming "I don't want to leave!!!"  Adri informed us that playing on the water was "better than playing at Chuck E. Cheese".  I think this was a positive experience.  :)

A little cuteness before the cuteness of the two monsters.

Take a picture of me and Sandy, Mom!!!

 I'm SO cold!
 (chatter, chatter, chatter)

First view of the pier.

My little cheeseball!!!  Yep, that man has my heart!!!

Look Mom!  I'm putting my head in the water!

Future Mt. Everest climber?

Daddy sliding down the ice hill, sans sled.

Sammer LOVES his Daddy!

They found sand (mud).  Look, we're pigs!!!  I kid you not, they rolled around to get dirty!!!

Now I'm washing off Mom!!!

This was the parking lot as we were leaving!

Procrastination...

What can I say, no posts since Halloween.  I am beyond embarrassed.  I know my Mother-in-law has probably checked the blog looking for new pictures.  Thank you Mother-in-Law for not hounding me and understanding that I have either had bloggers block or been too busy to keep up with it.  :)

Our lives have been pretty uneventful over the past few months.  Christmas has come and gone (way too quickly, I might add), my 35th (25th + 10 experience years) birthday, and soon to be Valentine's Day.  It has been freezing cold, and we have had a crazy and extremely snowy winter.  I am ready for sunshine and 60 degree days!!!

Adri is loving school (she actually cries each and every time they have a snow day because she doesn't get to see her beloved teacher), she is learning to read like crazy and especially enjoys drawing and writing stories.  Each and every day she brings home a picture with a story of some kind on it for me to bring to school to hang up in my classroom.

Sam has become quite the little comedian, learning and telling jokes.  He has also become very outgoing and an attention hog.  :)  While he doesn't enjoy drawing as much as Adri, he does enjoy working on puzzles and playing with his cars and blocks.  He HATES going to school and would rather stay home in his pajamas the entire day, if he was given the choice.

Here's about a million pictures (only a slight exaggeration) that I have taken since Halloween.


A trip to the Fish Ladder:

Greatest picture of them running into each other!!!

Christmas cookie decoration:

Meijer Gardens for family photos:

Choosing a Christmas tree:

Christmas Concert:

Ice storm before break:

Game night!  Jenga and chess:

Christmas and Boo Boo and Pepa's:

Christmas morning:

 Christmas at Nana and Papa's:

Adri's Christmas present:

 

Christmas with Grandpa and Uncle Charlie:

 

Sam-isms:

Mommy, I love you to infinity and back!
Mommy, I love you to God and back!
I asked God to blow away the snow!
I don't want to go to school!
I can't go to school, I have a headache.  I need to go to Nana and Papa's.
I want to have a Thomas the Train choo choo party at Chuck E Cheese for my birthday.

Adri-isms:

(said in a whiny voice) What?!?!?  We don't have school today?  But I NEED to see Mrs. Peterson!
Sam, let's pretend you were a dog and told you to (insert action here).
Mommy, I got you a present.  It's the best present in the world!  It's a kiss!!!
It's the weekend?  I want to go to school!!!