December 2016

Packers Game

Church friends shaved their heads

Chilling at the hospital

Notes from the kids

Concentration

Ginger bread houses at school

Stockings before church

Christmas presents!

Packers gear

And more Packers gear

Stephen made us a plate in preschool

Sit n spin

Karaoke

Drone

Christmas Day

Jongsma Christmas

Stephen loves Keira

Jongsma grandkids

Roller skating with the Petersons

Getting the hang of it

Painting nails with Aunt Jess

Games with Uncle Pete

I have wanted to give Nate tickets to a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau field for a long time.  I mentioned it to a friend who has access to season tickets this summer.  Nothing really came of it until this fall.  Our friend bought two tickets for us!  I waited to tell Nate until the week of the game.  Nate was very excited!  Nate and Dad went together and seeing a game at Lambeau was a first for both of them. They drove to WI on Saturday and spent the night at Fox Hills- the condos they vacationed at when they lived in WI.  They thoroughly enjoyed the day.  It was chilly, but it was a good game and the Packers won!

Nate had his first hospital chemo stay in Grand Rapids.  The kids thought visiting him at the hospital was interesting.  They watched movies in Nate's room and eating in the cafeteria was great because they could pick what they wanted.  We also had dinner at Uncle Roger and Aunt Jean's house one evening.

Caleb had his Christmas band concert and the 6th grade band was fun to listen to.  December is a full month of school Christmas activities, field trips and parties.  I helped Isaac make a gingerbread house with his class.  Caleb had a rock exhibit which showcased his research on rocks.  Isaac and Julia finished up school swimming lessons.

Reuben and Britta visited us for a couple days and we enjoyed re-connecting with them.

On Christmas Eve Dad, Julia and I went to the afternoon service at Christ Memorial.  Nate went to a late night service.  We opened stockings on Christmas morning before church and then gifts after church.  I think everyone got a Packers shirt as Nate had fun shopping when he was in Green Bay. Julia was not sure what her karaoke machine was at first, but she definitely loves it.  The boys are enjoying their drones and Stephen is patiently waiting for more snow so he can use his snow tube.  Lexi was more than happy to help people rip the paper off their gifts.  Nate got a backpacking bed mat and Stacy received tickets to the Sound of Music in February.  We gave Dad a heated throw blanket for the family room.  And everyone loves using the blanket!  Dad left the day after Christmas for the DeMaster Christmas gathering in Ohio.  Our kids especially were disappointed we couldn't go this year, but hopefully next year.

We got together with my parents and Tim/Jenny to celebrate Christmas on the 26th.  It is fun to see the cousins getting older and going off to play.  The adults can talk a little more and relax.  We had a great supper and opened some gifts together.

Pete and Jess also visited us for a couple days.  The kids were thrilled to spend time with them.  The older boys went to the gym with Nate and Pete and Pete ran them thru some basketball drills.  Julia wrote a schedule of things to do with Aunt Jess and they checked off most of the items.  Stephen was scared of Uncle Pete coming, but he warmed up and had fun playing Candyland with him.  We were glad to have time with Jess and got to know her better.  And we learned that Jess is pregnant and due in August- very exciting!

We spent New Years Eve at home.  The kids chose the supper menu- pigs in a blanket, potstickers, cheese puffs and root beer floats for dessert.  We let them stay up a little later and watched a movie together.  It is unlikely that anyone here will make it til midnight.  (And a side note- Nate proposed to me at midnight on New Year's Eve 16 years ago!)  For New Year's Day we will go to church and make some ollie bollen in the afternoon.

I just knocked out August-December 2016 blog posts in one day!  I did not like the idea of loose ends.  This blog is a great reminder for our family of all the places we've been and the highs and lows we have journeyed through.  This year has been good, but difficult.  We are praying for health in 2017 and that we continue to trust God and His faithfulness.  Happy New Year!

Family Pictures

Over Thanksgiving weekend we had our pictures taken.  Lexi has not had professional pictures since she came home, so it was time!  And she looks adorable.  All of the pictures were taken by Sarah Loveall and she was very generous.  I love them all!

November 2016

Remembering Grandma DeMaster

Stephen's birthday supper at Bob Evans

Little turkey

Is there a Lexi in there? 

Bowling fun

Grandparents cheering the bowlers on

Family

Ben teaching Caleb 

Solidarity

Video games with the uncles

Thankful

Nate and I went to Mayo Clinic and it was so helpful to have Grandpa DeMaster staying with the kids.  Stephen had Preschool Dad Night while we were gone and Grandpa was a fun fill-in.  The older boys had basketball practice on Saturday mornings during November.

We had parent teacher conferences and all of the kids are doing well.  Our favorite part is hearing about our kids' character and how they live out their faith at school.  We are proud of all of our kids!

Stephen celebrated his 4th birthday!  Ever since he couldn't have a Thomas the Train cake for his 3rd birthday, he has insisted that is what he wanted for his 4th birthday.  I ordered a very cool Thomas the Train cake and he loved it.  We gave Stephen a remote control car for his birthday.  I also recently made Stephen's baby book and he loves showing it to people.  Stephen is often heard saying, "I love it!" in any number of situations.  We are thankful for Stephen and we love him very much!

Grandpa DeMaster spent Thanksgiving in San Diego.  We spent Thanksgiving in Hastings and the Jongsmas were all together.  We just had a very pleasant holiday.  We played games, ate good food and enjoyed being together.  Nate was going to lose his hair soon because of chemo so the kids shaved Nate and Ben's hair.  The kids loved the experience.

We are thankful for all of the many blessings God has given us!

October 2016

Picking apples with Grandpa. Stephen's face...

Post Farm field trip with Grandma

Minot, why not? 

International Peace Gardens

Sister Love

On each side of the border

Snowmobiling turtle of course

Unseasonably warm day at the beach

Grandpa's Birthday

Got leaves?

Isaac was the stormtrooper

Cheerleader, Yoda, and mouse

Nate took the camper to Traverse City by himself for a weekend.  He went to a co-workers wedding and just enjoyed some time alone.

The following weekend Nate and I flew to Minot, ND.  We had a relaxing and fun weekend with Steph and Ben.  We slept in, ate good food, took naps, went on a hike, and did some sightseeing. Nate and I benefitted from a weekend away from life and responsibilities.

Julia participated in a cheerleading clinic thru school.  She had 3 practices and then cheered at the high school football game halftime.  Unfortunately, Nate and I were in Minot so we missed her performance.  Our friends said she did great though!

Nate's Dad moved in with us near the end of the month for which we are thankful.  And we all enjoy spending more time with him.  We celebrated Grandpa's birthday by making a Black Forest cake.  We gave him a sun lamp- partly a joke but, also partly beneficial as he will miss FL sunshine!

For Halloween this year, Isaac went trick or treating with friends.  Caleb decided he was too old to dress up.  Stephen wore the mouse costume my Mom made when I was a kid. We had nice weather so Julia and I made it thru the whole neighborhood.  Stephen and Lexi loved trick or treating and Grandpa took them home a little early as they were getting tired of walking.  And it is amazing how much candy 4 children can collect.