March 2021

 

Melody's adoption 

Middle School band concert

Jean jacket from the grandparents

Covid birthday

12th birthday

-Julia chose ribs and ice cream dessert for her birthday meal. It was nice to have Grandpa and Grandma celebrate with us. We wore masks and took them off to eat. Julia wanted a redecorated bedroom for her birthday present. Julia and Lexi switched bedrooms, so Julia has the larger one now. She chose teal as the main color. Julia enjoyed perusing pinterest for colors and accessory ideas. Julia loves to read, color, bake, listen to audiobooks and play volleyball. Her good friends are Leila, Jill, and Elianna. Julia does well in school and likes to help people. Happy 12th birthday Julia, we love you!

Julia's paintings

Teal and silver

-Tim and Jenny adopted Melody and we were able to watch the proceeding over zoom. It was kind of cool to see Ben on from the Middle East, Great Grandma, Jenny's parents in IL, Steph from Ohio and so forth. 

-The middle school had their first in person band concert of the year! The students wore masks when they weren't playing and were spaced out. Each student could have 4 people attend, wearing masks. It was wonderful and bizarre to be in a room full of people again listening to a concert. 

-The high school went virtual for 2 weeks as covid cases were up in high schools. 

-Stephen began Little League baseball practices- chilly

-Isaac began middle school baseball team practices-also chilly

-I forgot to write down that Caleb and Isaac played on indoor soccer teams in February.

-Caleb began lacrosse practices-chilly. One of the lax players tested positive for covid so the whole team had to quarantine. We were nervous as Caleb was leaving early for spring break with our friends. He got a negative covid test and he had about 8 days of quarantine before leaving for spring break. We did all kinds of discussing CDC recommendations and decided it was reasonable for him to go- he was relieved! 

-Nate got his first covid vaccine! 

February 2021

 

Bugs likes the kindle too

Caberfae skiing 

Caberfae

Mr. Peterson, Asha and Julia

Julia and Asha snow tubing

-Julia went snow tubing at Cannonsburg with Asha

-We took Isaac, Stephen and Lexi out of school and skied at Caberfae for the day. Julia does not like skiing and was happy to go to a friend's house after school and Caleb did not want to miss a day of school. We brought Levi along to ski with Isaac. It was a beautiful day of skiing. Stephen and Lexi don't need help getting down the green runs and we had the proper gear to stay warm. This was the first time I understood why families take ski vacations, it could be fun! 

-Julia began weekly art classes at the Holland Area Arts Council and she enjoyed them.

-Isaac's basketball team got a couple practices in when covid restrictions eased, but they were not able to get any games scheduled.

-Lexi takes Mandarin classes 30 min twice/week. She likes the Chinese song videos and practicing writing the characters. 

-We made a feast for the Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year and invited Grandpa and Grandma over. We had mandu, long life noodles, bulgogi, rice cake soup, and Chinese almond cookies. 

-Nate traveled to NY for a work trip and was able to visit Reuben's family for a night. He said it felt bizarre to travel somewhere during covid. 

-Isaac and Stephen continue to take weekly piano lessons. Isaac likes to play Don't Stop Believing, Jump and various praise/worship songs. 

January 2021

 

Snowskiing 

Thor

Bugs

42nd Birthday

Igloo birthday date

Skiing at Bittersweet

Happy New Year!

Lost her first tooth

-We rang in the New Year with the Gabrielse and DeWitts. We wore masks and took them off to eat and to blow our germs all over with kazoos. 

-Caleb and Isaac skiied many Friday evenings at Bittersweet with friends. Nate took Stephen and Lexi a couple of times as well.

-We got guinea pigs! They are male guinea pigs about 1 year old and the kids named them Bugs and Thor. The younger 3 kids are enamored with them. And yes, history tends to repeat itself.. We did have Rudy the guinea pig years ago that we gave away because he was annoying and the kids didn't play with him. Since then I learned that guinea pigs are social animals and you need at least 2 in a larger cage. And we are doing life in covid, so why not get another pet?

-Stephen and Lexi did a basketball clinic thru school and they loved it

-Isaac made the 7th grade basketball A team. He had some practices, 1 game and then sports had to shut down again because of rising covid cases. 

-Nate bought an excellent cake from Cakabakery for my birthday and the kids showed their love. Nate and I went to a restaurant in South Haven for dinner in an igloo and then spent a night at a Bed and Breakfast. It was wonderful to go away somewhere.