DeMaster Stories

June 2023

-Julia had 8th grade graduation and finished her time at HC. Julia decided to attend West Ottawa for high school as she is looking for a larger, more diverse school.

-Stephen had 2 weeks of musical theater day camp to prep the Jungle Book. This was the first production he auditioned for and he loved everything about being in the musical. They had 6 shows and we were impressed with the show.

-Stephen and Lexi had a piano recital.

-The kids finished 12th, 9th, 8th, 4th and 3rd grades, what a great year!

-Isaac did a 4v4 soccer camp

-Isaac took some organ lessons over the summer. He likes playing the organ, but it's challenging to make time to practice on an organ

-Nate and the kids took off on a Friday morning for Annika's wedding in PA. It was my last day of school so I worked and then rented a car and drove out. The morning of the wedding we realized Lexi's dress didn't get packed, so a quick trip to Walmart for Nate and Lexi. It was good to catch up with some family at the wedding and it was a whirlwind trip.

-Caleb had a root canal, yuck

-Julia did volleyball camp at West Ottawa (WO) and some open gyms during the summer.

-Lexi and Keira are doing gymnastics once/week for a couple weeks. Lexi has always asked to try gymnastics and this seems to be helping her realize she doesn't really want to do gymnastics.

-Isaac went on a service trip to Sutton, Alaska with Providence youth group. They helped around the community with splitting wood, minor house repairs, etc. Isaac said it was very cool to go to Alaska.

8th grade graduation

With some of the family

Visiting Julia at work

Sisters

Picture we got from Caleb in Israel

Getting her ears pierced

Father's Day

Grumpy monkey

Goodbye to the old truck, it served us well

Hello to the smaller Expedition

The monkeys

May 2023

-Caleb took his AP Statistics and AP World History exams

-May felt like it was going to take us out at the knees, so busy

-Four of the kids were in the Kinderparade. Julia was happy to not be in the parade.

-Nate, Caleb, Isaac, Stephen and Lexi ran in the Tulip Time 5k

-Nate and I saw Hadestown at GR Broadway

-Caleb had an orientation day at GVSU

-Steph and Ben's family came to visit! This was our first time meeting Judah. It was so good to spend some time with their family again, wish Okinawa wasn't so far away.

-We planned Caleb's open house a couple months in advance and then a week before learned that the lacrosse team had advanced and the next game would be the night of his open house. Quick pivot on our end and we were able to squeeze his open house into the weekend, among all the other open houses going on. We served hamburger sliders, chips, fruit, drinks and friends made baked goods. It was a very fun evening.

-Caleb's graduation was moving and surreal and emotional (for me). Some school parents put on an all nighter party which Caleb said was fun.

-A couple days after graduation, Caleb left for Israel! He went with a group primarily of seniors and a couple other adults. He was gone for 2 weeks and he said it was a very impactful trip.

-We did a dinner party in our home with my siblings and parents to celebrate their upcoming 70th birthdays. MaryBeth and Duce cook fabulous food and it was a great evening.

Came home from work to find a jetski in the truck 🙄

Some of Lexi's running club

Tulip Time 5k

And some high schoolers

Carrying the banner

A hot kinderparade

Last kinderparade with 4 kids

Cool social media post for senior night

So proud of his perseverance over his lacrosse career

Whitecaps game

Seniors wore pajama pants for the last concert

Dee and Jessica helping-my co workers are the best

Rachel helped plan and run the open house

Picture displays

Caleb said the open house was awesome

Isaac's USA soccer team

Feeding Judah

Meeting Judah!

Nathan and Caleb

Family

Piled in the boat with Steph's family

Celebrating my parents upcoming 70th birthdays

April 2023

19 people, most of them teens

Anakeesta with Sophia

Reminded us of Groot

Saw 3 bears down the road from our rental

Part of our group

Cold, windy hike

Relaxing at a stream

Ziplining

Jacob, Caleb, Nathan and Ashton

Playing some cards

-We did spring break with Caleb's core group of friends and their families. Halmas, Gabrielse, DeWitts and us. We rented a fantastic house in Gatlinburg. The group split up for some activities- some went ziplining and others went to Anakeesta. Some did a long hike, others chilled at the house and walked downtown. We did Dollywood for a day. The stomach flu started taking out some people which was stressful, but overall everyone stayed healthy. We had a lot of fun eating meals together, playing games, doing team photo scavenger hunts downtown, and just enjoying our seniors.

-We celebrated Easter at my parents house

-Julia participated in Holland Rec's volleyball league

-Isaac participated in track and field. He did high jump and a variety of sprints/sprint relays.

-Isaac also played in USA soccer for the first time

-Julia and a friend decided they wanted to work at Dutch Village and Julia got a job! She will give demonstrations and do a Dutch dance once/shift. Props to Grandma for altering the Dutch costume.

-Nate and I saw My Fair Lady at GR Broadway

-I went along on Stephen's 4th grade field trip to Lansing

-Stephen auditioned for The Jungle Book and got the role of Grumpy Monkey! The musical will be performed in June

-We celebrated Lexi's 9th birthday! We got her a watch and walkie talkies so she can roam the neighborhood and still come home when it's time-a win for all of us! Lexi is smart, fast (literally), quick witted, loves deeply, and makes us laugh. We love you Lexi!

-Stephen had Market Day. Ugh, market day. Only one more kid to go! He decided to make and sell sponge bombs. His marketing video clip that Isaac helped him make got rave reviews.

-Julia had her last choir concert and last honors choir concert.

-Nate and Carl went to see a Chicago Fire soccer game

-Caleb had fun going to Prom with a bunch of friends