September 2019

She is ready!

Celebrating Chuseok with Delaney and Lisa

Lost his 1st tooth

He got a phone!

Happy 15th Birthday! 

Happy Birthday! 

Fishing with the Gems group

Weaving at school

Homecoming with Ashton and Nathan

Nate's surprise 40th party!

Caleb, Nathan, Ashton, Henry and Jacob

-We had an intense fall schedule. Caleb had soccer practices/games during the week. The other 4 kids were all in Holland Rec this year. So we had soccer/cheer practices during the week and 3 soccer games and 1 cheerleading game every Saturday morning. The math of 2 parents and 4 kid events doesn't add up- we were grateful for friends and family helping out and going to games! We also told the kids, you play sports for the enjoyment and maybe mom/dad will be at your game. Nate coached Stephen's team again.  And Lexi was so excited to finally play soccer! When the coach asked, what number do you want on your jersey she said, "Number 1!" Like there was any other option?
-Julia and I went to a Chuseok event- Korean fall harvest/Thanksgiving. We enjoyed the food and watching Tae Kwon Do and K-Pop demonstrations.
-Stephen finally lost his first tooth!
-Caleb and his friends went to the school Homecoming dance. They stayed the whole dance and had a lot of fun.
-We celebrated Caleb's 15th Birthday! He requested a soccer ball cake- and I can not free hand geometric shapes. (I joked with my sister- be careful what traditions you start when your kids are little, it may haunt you years down the road.) Caleb is 6 ft tall and 160 lbs. We gave Caleb a smartphone for his birthday, with some limitations on it. It is so amazing to see our little boy as a young man. Caleb is having a great freshman year and has a solid group of friends. We appreciate Caleb's subtle sense of humor/sarcasm. Caleb now has his own bedroom. He and Isaac shared a room for 11 years, and they split amicably. Caleb is responsible, smart, athletic and kind. We love you Caleb!
-And we celebrated Nate's 40th Birthday! I threw a surprise birthday dinner party for Nate- and he was surprised! My friend hosted/catered the party and we had fantastic Asian food with good friends. Our family celebrated Nate with some apple pie squares and time together at home. What a gift to celebrate this milestone birthday together, we love you Nate!

August 2019

Dayton Pool/water park

Kayaking fun

How many ice cream runs?

Happy 12th Birthday Isaac!

When you don't wear a helmet on the hoverboard...

Group ride

We can pretend to be an athletic family

Girls morning out

Enjoying some shopping 

Their happy place

Cousin fun

They were both really good on this kayak!

Forest Kindergarten Big Adventure Day- catching fish

Nolbi and Naomi

First day of school

-August was fun! We helped Grandpa/Grandma J move into their house in Zeeland. Then the 3 boys went to stay at Uncle Ben/Aunt Steph's house for a couple days. They went on bike rides, swam, ate ice cream, kayaked, played games, and Stephen had some stomach issues one night- too much junk food! They all had a great time.
-We celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary! So wonderful.
-We celebrated Isaac's 12th birthday and then drove to Charlevoix for the Jongsma family vacation. Isaac was very excited to get a hoverboard (that we had found a great deal on). He is 5 ft 3 in and 108 pounds. Isaac is the sibling glue. He brings fun to any situation. He is also adept at annoying his siblings. Isaac enjoys playing soccer, basketball and baseball. He is talented at piano and French horn and he is having a great 6th grade year. We love you Isaac!
-The Jongsma family rented a house in Charlevoix and the weekend was wonderful. We played yard games, went to the beach and used our waverunners. We also went on a group bike ride, and slowly we all dropped out and had Jenny pick us up. Ben, Steph, Isaac and Tim went the full 18 miles! (Nate and Caleb couldn't come til later in the weekend because of high school soccer tryouts.)
-The week before school started, Lexi and Nate went on the Forest Kindergarten Big Adventure Day in northern MI. She got to spend time with her classmates, explore and catch fish. She brought home a monarch caterpillar with milkweed which we fed and watched it turn into a chrysalis. Unfortunately the curious 5 year old poked it too much and we didn't get to see the butterfly emerge. Next time.
-Enedina's baby- Naomi- made her appearance 5 weeks early. She was so tiny, but she was healthy and went home in a couple days. Santos, Nolbi (5) and 10 month old Ruth were excited to welcome Naomi!
-The kids began a new school year; Caleb- 9th, Isaac- 6th, Julia- 5th, Stephen- Forest 1st, Lexi- Forest Kindergarten. For the first time in 14 years, all of our kids are in school every day!
-Caleb made the Freshman soccer team- he was pumped!