Happy 3rd Birthday Weston!

Yes, another November birthday! Weston was our wonderful surprise. It was 2005, Jack was 5, Nick was 7 and Ben was 9 and we thought that our family was done growing. Yet God had another plan for us. After giving all of our baby stuff away (except for crib and changing table), and all of the maternity clothes, we found out we were expecting baby #4. Friends and family rallied around us and we were given back some of the items that were given away. Everyone was so very generous, even throwing us a couple of baby showers. We were blessed in so many ways.

Weston is a beautiful 3-year-old, complete little ball of energy, personality, and love. His brothers adore him, as do his parents!

Happy Birthday Weston, we love you!

Happy 10th Birthday Nick!

It was November 25, 1998, the day before Thanksgiving. The big dinner was going to be held in Kalamazoo at Jean and David's house, and we were planning on bringing a bunch of food down. We were also planning on hosting some of Scott's siblings at our home. I spent most of the day cleaning and shopping and getting ready. Nick wasn't due for another couple of weeks.

But then, around midnight, the pain started coming, and coming, and coming! A neighbor came over to stay with Ben and we went to the hospital. I was admitted around 2:00 a.m. and he came into this world at 5:08 a.m. Our beautiful Thanksgiving baby!

Scott's siblings drove up from Kalamazoo, grabbed all the food out of our fridge, ate the big dinner without us, but then came over on Saturday with leftovers. It certainly was a memorable Thankgiving!

Reasons I've Been Neglecting My Blog

1. I've joined the cult of Facebook.
2. Mom was here for the weekend and we tore up the town.
3. Been working on sending out fundraising letters for the Forest Hills Educational Foundation.
4. House projects: new entryway from garage, turning dining room into home office, and taking down cupboards in kitchen to make it more open.
5. Laundry, laundry, laundry
6. Ben has joined the cult of Facebook and World of Warcraft and I have to arm wrestle him for the computer.
7. Entertaining friends for coffee...which turns into lunch...which turns into "oh boy, the kids will be home from school soon!"
8. I guess there's just not much that's been blog-worthy.
9. I've caught the Twilight Fever.
10. Did I mention that I'm now on Facebook? It's a time vampire I tell you.

One More Flat Iron Story

So I'm in the bathroom straightening my hair (it's the straight look these days, my friends), and Nick comes in. He says to me, "Is your hair supposed to be steaming?"

Recent Pics to Share

Scott's sibs sent me some pictures of their cute kiddos.

Scott's brother Danny and Tina live in Chicago with their little ones Kai and Corina

Scott's sister Amanda and Joe live in St. Louis

Here are Louis, Tom, Norah and Hannah

Scott's sister Martha lives in Kansas City
Here are Tagen, Talen and Sean about to carve their pumpkins--look out for that knife!

Jack was a scary swamp monster


Weston was a very cute Elmo thanks to a hand-me-down from Tara


Benjamin did his own make-up, I sprayed his hair black

Nicholas loved his new Batman costume, the wings were pretty sweet

Scott and I were Romans at a Halloween party last weekend.

Meijer Gardens on a beautiful Fall day

Jack and his buddy Jacob

Their early Christmas present, Guitar Hero World Tour


View of the Thornapple River from my friend Sheryl's house


Her beautiful driveway, it's gorgeous this time of year


Wedding in Big Rapids with college friends



Our friends the Rasche family. Jon is wearing the shirt we got him from Dubrovnik, Croatia. Thanks for mowing our yard while we were gone!

What's That Smell?

The other day I'm in the bathroom flat ironing my hair with my wonderful new straightener. I hear Scott ask, "Weston, do you need a change or do I smell mommy's hair burning?"

Nice...

How Your Kids Know You Are Sneaking Their Halloween Candy

• They realize that you are putting them to bed way early so that you can rummage through their loot
• They've counted every piece
• They can hear the crackle of a wrapper being opened a mile away
• Their supply of chocolate is down, yet they still have lots of lollipops left
• You go to find their bag, but they've hidden it from you
• You think they won't miss it, but they do