Pool time!

We had been thinking about getting the kids a bigger pool this summer, and a friend had one they needed to get rid of. So we took the plunge... ;-) (That was a David pun if I ever heard one!) The kids were thrilled, to say the least.

June 1... "helping" Mom set up. Not that complicated... that is, after dragging it around the yard trying to find a flat spot!

Joseph & Elena finally were still long enough for me to snap a picture! They spent many, many hours here this summer.

And we couldn't leave Ben out of the fun. He really didn't spend as much time in the pool as this shot suggests. His water time was mostly spent emptying the pool into my flower pots, one scoop at a time. But he sure had fun!

Kindergarten graduate!

Graduation was held Friday, May 22 at Doon PR church. Besides the two 8th grade graduates, six kindergarteners graduated and are excited to move on to 1st grade!

It's official! Elena is in 1st grade!

Elena and her teacher, Mrs. Westra

Kindergarten class of 2009

Jenna, Erica, Rosalyn, Sierra, Darren, Elena

Elena got right to work writing thank-yous. She loves to send letters.

Daddy's new toy(s)

We all went out to a friend's farm recently to test out the new shotgun and clay pigeon thrower. We went through our shells too quickly! Dave was putting them away pretty regularly and I even started to get the hang of it (even "dusted" one, according to Joseph). Joe manned the thrower and took his job very seriously. And Elena and Ben watched, with Ben saying "Uh-Oh, Boom" every time the gun went off. Fun day... we hope to do it again soon.

Ben's 1st haircut

On May 2 we decided it was time our baby looked like a boy! As you can see from the pictures, he was less than convinced. But a few tears later, here is the result!

Before

... and After

Another cake

Elena had to take the letter "Z" snack last week Tuesday. This is what she wanted me to make!

Michigan trip

We took a quick trip to Michigan earlier this month. We enjoyed spending time with the family and were glad we were able to visit with Grandpa & Grandma Haveman again. Here are some pictures from our time there.

On the way to Michigan we stopped in Iowa City so Dad could visit a church member whose baby is in the hospital there. While we were waiting we passed the time watching Planet Earth, reading books, and eating grapes and animal crackers!

Saturday afternoon Joseph took a walk in the woods with his dad and grandpa and had a great time. Elena spent the afternoon playing and coloring with Brooke, and playing Uno with Aunt Jenn, Brooke, Conner and Grandma.

It's becoming quite the fiasco to get a picture of all the cousins together! The guys all think it's pretty funny that us women insist on it whenever we're together. But just think how happy we'll be 15 years from now! :-)

Joseph is being a goof, Elena is a little lady, and Ben just wants to get away!

Snapshots

Sunday evening we went to Grandpa & Grandma Haveman's house for lunch with Dad & Mom, Uncle John and Jessica. Since we forgot our camera (again!), we were glad Jessica was able to take pictures for us on hers. Thanks, Jess!

Four generations.

A very belated update

OK, so I said I'd try to keep it relatively current... It's only been 6 months... ;-)
Since then Joseph turned 9, Elena turned 6, David turned 38, we celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary and our 4th anniversary of being in Doon, Elena lost another tooth (the right way this time), Benjamin started walking, and all three kids grew while we weren't looking! Here are some pictures to get you up-to-date...

Joseph
Benjamin

Elena























Elena has been begging me to teach her piano lessons and has been practicing everything I've been able to find for her on the internet. Time to get her some real piano books... We're planning to start lessons this summer. Anyways, since she's been enjoying it so much I made her a piano cake for her 6th birthday.





Joseph loves to read... no, he LOVES to read. Any book he finds about animals is great, but the horse books!... don't even get me started! He has also been building his collection of "Bomgaars horses", which he and Elena spend hours playing with. So a horse cake was definitely appropriate for his 9th birthday!



This is the chair that Benjamin has taken over for his own. If he sees anyone else sitting on it, he pulls on them and makes loud disgruntled noises until they get the point and choose another seat. He loves to pile on it with a stack of books and "sing".


Here is Elena with her American Girl doll, Mary. Mary came as a 5th birthday present from Grandpa and Grandma Overway. This past winter Grandpa Vermeer stayed with us while he attended Classis and brought along a whole bag of outfits for Mary that Grandma Vermeer had made to surprise Elena. Mary had to try on every single one, and this is the one that Elena decided on for the day. Thank you Grandpas and Grandmas!