Day 151, May 31, 2010

We enjoyed family time

on this Memorial Day holiday.

We were able to have a picnic

between rainstorms--

Kara, Shonda, & Timothy

were home for the

weekend.

We also were able to

visit the graves of

family members--

remembering them, and

honoring Dad,

who was an Army vet.

Day 150, Sunday, May 30, 2010

Hey, Mahree--who was this

Aunt's Day gift really for??

Day 149, Saturday, May 29, 2010

Mahree, Spencer, Merica,

and Sammy love to

play outdoors.

Sammy has his bottle

of Ensure with him!!

Mahree also really

likes to drink the stuff!

Day 148, Friday, May 28, 2010

Cascade Creative Kids

4H Meeting today!
We discussed the summer

meetings, and planned

some activities.

We did stations in

our craft time--

the kids could choose to

stamp leather bracelets,

make mystery bracelets,

do Perler beads,

decorate visors,

do tin punch,or

make folded paper

bracelets.

Most of the kids

did several crafts.

In this photo our

newest member,

Stephanie, Mahree,

and Meika learn

how to make a mystery

bracelet!

Our mascot keeps

a close eye on his

Mommy, while

his sister is

busy working

on making

key chains

at the table!

Day 147, Thursday, May 27, 2010

Spencer--ready for bed,

and cuddling with Sadie--

a favorite activity!

Day 146, Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Another hot and humid day!

About 7:30 PM after

thundering for a while,

the rains came!

I went out to see if

there was a rainbow.

Didn't find a rainbow,

but thought the rain on

the pond looked so pretty--

especially with the spring

flowers blooming!

If you look closely

you can see some fish--

haven't spotted any

of our frogs in this

photo!

Day 145, Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Our foster cat family came back

from the vet today.  They were

all spayed/neutered last week

Wednesday.  When Dr. Langlois

checked them out, he found

they had cocidiosis, which

is contagious.  They all

neededto be on

meds for the next 7 days.

We had the 6 girls' dance

recital on Sat, and then

Cheryl,Jody, and I were

leaving for Ann Arbor on

Sunday, and not coming

back until Monday late

afternoon.

We didn't want to

give the girls the added

responsibility of cats &

meds--on top of doing

child care, so we

asked Lowell Animal

Hospital if they could board

them until today.

They graciously said yes,

and, although I offered to

pay, said that this time

was on them!!

SO kind of them!

All 5 cats (included the

Mommy cat) came

back a bit skittish--

we'll spend time with

them and get them

warmed up again~~

Day 144, Monday, May 24, 2010

The weather today is

hot and humid--so, of

course, Mahree, 
Spencer, Merica,
and Sammy just had

to get in their bathing

suits, and play in the

sprinkler--they played

for several hours!
Merica was also
out there--just not
in this shot!

Day 143, Sunday, May 23, 2010

As we were preparing to leave

for Ann Arbor this

afternoon, Mahree tried

to show deep affection to

Spencer--he was obviously

less enthusiastic than

she was!!

Day 142, Saturday, May 22, 2010

Today was the long awaited

Hearts in Step Christian

Dance Academy's

annual recital--

aka Showcase or Outreach!

Six of my girls were in

both the 2:00 & 7:00 PM

performances--which

seemed to me to

be truly worship

services!

Merica came along

with us to the 2:00 PM show.

Jody came down for the week-end

and went to both recitals and

plans to be in Ann Arbor with

us on Sunday/Monday!

Day 141, Friday, May 21, 2010

Mahree, Spencer, & Merica

each paid $1.00 for

the privilege of wearing

their favorite team's shirt

to school today!

Spencer wore a Tiger's shirt.

Mahree & Merica wore

Michigan t-shirts!

Merica is modeling her shirt!

Day 140, Thursday, May 20, 2010

Mahree really wants a garden!
Mr. Wilde got a spot all

set for the garden,

and tonight Auntie

helped Mahree put

plastic down to keep

weeds down,

and they planted seeds

in little peat pots!

Beautiful day!

Day 139, Wednesday, May 19, 2010

A wonderful group of volunteers

came to our home,

and in the space of about 3 hours,

weeded, put down mulch,

and made our ourdoors look so amazing! 

Thank you, dear people! 

You are so appreciated!

I had to take 6 of my daughters

to a dress rehearsal for their

dance recital.

Cheryl had the rest of the bambinos

by herself for dinner

and bedtime routine.

Thanks, Cheryl!

Day 138, Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Kaitie, Bonnie, Cheryl

organizing our garage!!

Nice work, ladies!!

Day 137, Monday, May 17, 2010

Mahree got a new bunny today!

Miss Lori brought over

a ruby eyed white

Netherland Dwarf!

Mahree wants to show her at the

Youth Fair this year. 

Her other bunny, Magenta,

a Chocolate Himalayan,

 is just too old to show.

The bunny's name was Bree,

and Mahree gave her a new

first name--

Purina Bree Jones

Purina was born

last August!

Day 136, Sunday, May 16, 2010

Meika is wearing some

really cute pjs that

Miss Joyce made for her.

She's also enjoying

putting her own videos

in the little TV that

she and Cody like to watch!

Day 135, Saturday, May 15, 2010

Mahree had a birthday party at

Craig's Cruisers today.

She invited all the girls in her class,

and  4 special friends (the Places) and

her brother, Spencer.

The place was noisy, full of chaos, but the

kids seemed to really enjoy all the confusion!

Day 134, Friday, May 14, 2010

Two pictures today, as it was

an eventful day!

Merica's Kindergarten class had a musical and

"tea" this afternoon!  Very well done!

The dance season is winding down.

Hearts in Step Christian Dance Academy

will be hosting their annual recital--

really an outreach event & a Showcase---

on Saturday, May 22, 2010

This photo shows most of the God's Girls

special needs group just before they

rehearsed their number. We were

missing Louisa, and Annie's face!

Mahree's Ballet 1 class also rehearsed,

but I forgot to take any still pictures!!

The video won't download!

Kaitie's Ballet 2a also rehearsed, but

I only took videos as well!

Day 133, Thursday, May 13, 2010

Although the day started out

rather chilly and very rainy,

by about 4:00 PM, the

skies cleared up and

it warmed up.

Of course the kids

went outside to run,

jump, slide, swing, and

make lots of noise!!

Spencer and Sammy

had a lot of fun on the swings!

Day 132, Wednesday, May 12, 2010

We had a mini reunion at

Arnie's for lunch today. 

Aunt Ag, Julie,

Uncle Jerry, Bruce,

Earl & Yoka, Marcia & Rog, 

 Cheryl and I

were able to come. 

Good to see everyone!

Day 131, Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Sammy with his "Ironman",

sunglasses and cap--

ready for whatever

the day might bring!

Day 130, Monday, May 10, 2010

My wonderful child care providers!

 --Bonnie and Mary Beth O'Connor--

Rosie is often at work,

so Bonnie & Mary Beth

hold down the fort,

when we are in Ann Arbor

for my appointments.

Benita Mohre, bless her heart,

has been transporting Merica to

kindergarten at noon whenever

we are in Ann Arbor.

Wonderful folks have

continued to bring in meals;

makes a huge difference

We are so thankful to
God for the wonderful

people He has put in

our lives!

Day 129, Sunday, May 9, 2009

My family outdid themselves to

make my Mother's Day a

very special day!

Cheryl fixed me sweet potatoes &

squash--and also some applesauce!

In this photo Cheryl is enjoying

some barbecue ribs!

They gave me so many

beautiful cards and

gifts.

I love them so much!

Not because of their giving to

me, but because they are

such special people!!

Day 128, Saturday, May 8, 2010

What fun to play in the tub!

Sammy enjoyed squirting water--

was surprised when it squirted

him in the face!

Today is my eldest daughter's birthday!

She was my 2nd child, and is 49 today!

Happy Birthday, Vickie!

Day 127, Friday, May 7, 2010

Today was Young Author's Day at the

elementary school.

Two pictures today!

I listened to Spencer read from 9:30-10:00 AM, and

I listened to Mahree read from 2:45-3:15 PM.

So fun!

Day 126, Thursday, May 6, 2010

My son, Donald, and my beautiful

daughter-in-love, Meredith,

have beautiful dark

purple lilacs growing in their yard.

We asked for a starter plant a couple

of years ago, and this year--

we have flowers!

These are extra special--not

only because they are so pretty,

but because I think about

DJ/Meredith-Tyler & Katelyn

everytime I see them!

We have 3 other varieties of lilacs

growing in our yard!

Day 125, Wednesday, May 5, 2010

We've had Gloria, the duck, visiting

our pond daily.  Jeremy, her "husband" came

the first day we saw her, and then

was MIA until yesterday!

He's become a regular now, too!

In order to try to save our frogs and tadpoles,

we have begun feeding the ducks

away from the pond!

Day 124, Tuesday, May 4, 2010

My cousin, Earl, his wife, Yoka, and their

"kids", Danielle and Rick,

visited this afternoon! 

What fun getting to know Earl's

family!  Nice people!

They are here from the

Netherlands for 3 weeks and a day--

Yoka's daughter, Heidi, got married

on May 1.

Day 123, Monday, May 3, 2010

Three pictures tonight!

As I was taking pictures of the 

pond in the night light, Mahree 

came out "to protect Mom."

 

Mahree was wearing a nightgown

and Crocks--looking very angelic

out by the pond! 

I loved the one with the flash that

shows her garb--it is SO Mahree!

It's also Timothy's 36th birthday--

we celebrated it last Saturday!

Day 122, Sunday, May 2, 2010

Mahree says "Peace" and "Love"

at her 10th birthday party today!

Day 121, Saturday, May 1, 2010

Bonnie participated in the

Special Olympics
Field and Tract events at

Calvin College today.

The day started out rather rainy.

Darla Van Dyke was able to

pick Bonnie up and stay with

her for the whole time.

I wasn't quite up to such a long event.,

or for caring for my children

by myself that long...

so thankful to Darla!

Bonnie got a 5th place in the

softball throw--it was raining!

She got 2nd places in

both of her walking events=--

the 100 & 200 meter events!!