Christmas family photo

I'm 3!

On October 11, we celebrated Benjamin's 3rd birthday.  How thankful we are for him and for the place he has been given in our family!  Happy Birthday, Benny!

Lo, children are a great reward!  Indeed!

Visiting

This is how we normally "visit" with family - via Skype.  But this weekend was a special treat!

The Teachers' Convention was held locally this year, which meant that Grandpa and Grandma Vermeer, Aunt Susan and Grandma Overway all came to Iowa for a visit. 

Here are a few snapshots of our time together.

Playing beanbag toss with Grandpa.

After mending a few things, "the moms" and I spent Thursday afternoon ripping apart a couple of Lena's old jeans and recreating them into skirts.  What fun!

Lena loves her Aunt Sue.  ;-)

That's what (little) boys are made of...

Sweetness... giving Daddy's shoulder a squeeze

Seriousness... "I'm a worker man."

Studiousness... working on a report.

And silliness...

What comes around...

... goes around.

Back to School

August 23 ~ 1st day of a new school year!

Elena: 2nd grade             Joseph: 5th Grade.

Consider the Lilies

"...they toil not, neither do they spin:

and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these."

       Summer Sunset

Summer Highlights

June

A week after school let out we took a family trip to the Black Hills/Badlands.  Our explorations included Bear Country, Reptile Gardens, Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, some "off-the-beaten-trails", and a really good pizzeria!  We thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of that area and hope we're able to make another visit.

Entering the Badlands

Gentle giant at Reptile Gardens.

A walk through the woods in Custer State Park.

After seeing so many "buffaflo" in Custer State Park, Benjamin was determined to feed this one!

Visiting the Badlands one last time on our way home.

At the end of June most of the Vermeer family gathered at the lodge at Newton Hills State Park in South Dakota for a few days.  It was wonderful to spend time together talking and watching the kids play. 

Supper-time at the "kids table".  :-)

The guys had a lot of fun playing fooseball.

Stinkers... Sharing!

This picture was taken right before we left for home.

Tired, but still having fun.... right?!?!

July

Daddy's little helper fell asleep.

Pool time - this year even Ben can get in on the fun!

Church Picnic 2010

Games for the kids......

 

..... and the adults!

Grandma Overway and Aunt Jenn drove out with Brooke, Conner and Tressa this month. 

We had so much fun we forgot to take pictures!  Well, there were a few...

Riding the horses in Doon's City park.

Friends or cousins? Both!

August

August began with a trip to the Chicago area.  After spending the weekend at Grandpa and Grandma Vermeer's house, we headed to Michigan for a few days with the Overways.  Then back to Illinois/Indiana on Thursday for a trip into the city and more visiting.

Muskegon State Park

Elena and Gwen.

 Look! I can swim too!

Downtown Chicago

Playing in the splash fountain in Millenium Park.

We took the train into Chicago.  A new experience for the kids!

Playtime

Caleb and Benjamin taking a ride to the moon.

Ben and Nicole - busy building sandcastles.

"Are you sure we can touch that?"

Uh-oh! That looks like trouble!

We're all here!!!

We managed to get all the kids on a picture again!