January 2017

We needed out of the house during Christmas break, so we bundled up and walked to Captain Sundae

Because these days won't last much longer

Bowling 

Caleb's first time on a basketball team

"Happy Birthday Mother"

Nice form!

The kids were off school the first week of January, which was a little challenging.  There was not much snow to play in and friends were either out of town or in school.  A friend gave us a gift card to BAM and we had fun bowling, playing laser tag and using the arcade.

Caleb played on the Holland Christian 5th/6th grade basketball team.  He had practice once a week and games on Saturdays.  Nate enjoys watching our kids play any sport, but basketball is his first love.  It was fun to watch Caleb progress and enjoy playing the game. Julia continued meeting with Hyeji once or twice a week.  We could not find any Lunar New Year celebrations this year, but Hyeji made rice cake soup with Julia.  Koreans traditionally eat rice cake soup for the Lunar New Year.  The soup was tasty and Julia was happy eating it for breakfast the next day.

Steph and Ben came out for a long weekend and Steph stayed for about a week.  It is always good to see them and we greatly appreciated the help.

Nate had an inpatient hospital stay on my birthday, so we celebrated the night before.  Steph was here and she made a cake for me. Nate surprised me with a pearl ring and earrings!  A sweet older lady from church gave me a cookie cake for my birthday that said, "Happy Birthday Mother."  I just found that very funny.

We had a parent/teacher conference for Stephen.  He loves learning and enjoys going to preschool.

Our family began attending Gilda's Club.  I think we all benefit in some way from attending, if nothing else Gilda's Club normalizes being a family with cancer.

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!