Preparing for Baby

I find myself getting excited about preparing a room for this baby girl. We can't seem to get anywhere on a name -- so it is time to think about the room!

I think I will put Willem and Merit together -- although I am not sure how I will store both of their clothes in one room... and then baby girl can have Willem's current room. His room is a soft blue - which I love so I think I will keep three walls blue - do one wall pink and add polka dots. My internet searching led me to lots of fun polka dotty things.

Lazy summer days with these boys I CHERISH -- and to think this Autumn we will add a bouncing baby girl to the mix... I love it.

More of the Willemsens

Today I have been looking up recipes for arugula - our arugula has gone crazy! Willem and I have also been picking peas and I have been caught up in the land of blogging. I had big plans of cleaning my laundry room... but blogging has sounded a lot more fun :) Anyway, I had to include some more photos of the Willemsen's visit. Look at these kids playing in the water in our front field!

Greta is such a cute little baby... makes me excited to have a baby girl in the house!

Spending time with family and friends

This past weekend we got some relief from the heat ( 95 -98 degrees) by swimming in Gramma Kris' pool. Thanks Kris! Also, Merit and Willem enjoyed spending time with cousins - Fischer and baby Kendal - I so meant to get some pictures of the kids but forgot my camera. Merit has been a fish for a long time but now Willem is really learning to swim and he was quite proud of his accomplishments!! It was so fun!

A day last week a little Beth Moore Bible study group came here for brunch. I met with this group of women for 12 weeks this winter and spring while we studied the book of Daniel. This is a wonderful, positive group of women. Reuniting for this morning together was a treat! I only had to provide the coffee - they provided lots of delicious foods and we sat in our yard and visited and ate. The kids did some EXPLORING. I love summer time. Swimming and exploring outdoors, running off energy, enjoying the beautiful weather.... so here is a little collage of our brunch guests playing and having fun!

Baby Greta

A visit from the Willemsen family!

Emma and Merit (pictured above) -- these two are only 1 day apart - Just like Lissa and me!

Cooling off in Crab Creek!

BLESSED by friends.

Last weekend, Lissa, Travis and their three girls came to see us! What a FUN time catching up, laughing, watching the kids play... it was wonderful. Our boys had a great time playing with Emma and Thea. And it was soo much fun meeting baby Greta! Lissa and I have been dear friends since kindergarten and her husband Travis and Vance have been friends since probably third grade. Lots of memories with this group!

making memories in Plain, WA

Tire swing fun!

Natasha and Lane

Grandpa Jim and Willem

Grandpa Jim, Uncle Phil and Uncle Matt had tons of "will you please push me on the swings" and "push me higher!" requests. They were great sports!

WHAT a BLAST! On Father's Day weekend we met my dad, my bros, my sisters and their kids in Plain, WA (near Leavenworth) for a weekend of fun and relaxing. We had an ugly mug contest, an ugly hat contest, ate delicious food, told embarrassing stories around the campfire, enjoyed watching the cousins have a BALL -- it was so good. Vance and Matt got a game of golf in while we were there too. We were just missing my two brother in laws -- Reese and Rob. Sometimes a guy can't get away from WORK, what a drag. :)

It is so much fun being pregnant with Natasha! We are sharing the journey of growing little miracles and I love it.

Sisters!
Natasha, she looks so great

Brielle

The growing, changing Me

Natasha, Lesha, Michele

Oma's Lodge

Baby Girl!

AMAZING!!! This growing baby!! What a miracle... what a blessing. Today I allow myself to take time to just be IN AWE.

I LOVED seeing her move today on the ultrasound. I feel like I am getting to know her!
Merit, Willem, Vance and I all saw this baby girl squirm and kick. She kept moving her little hands up to her face.

I thank God for this growing MIRACLE!

We have all sorts of fun blooms outside and in previous years we see our most blooms in June and then it really tapers off. I have tried to bring lots indoors. And have been on the hunt for funky vases, jars and milk glass.

Crazy about the yellow roses...

I have all this fun yarrow growing in our yard... and now lavendar too!

The dried yarrow makes a fun "gift topping" or can be placed in containers like this... $1 store containers! Can't beat that!

As I work and work at these college courses that have to be finished by June 30th! I TREASURE breaks, flower picking, strawberry picking and runnning out in the yard with the boys kinds of BREAKS!

I want to post pictures from our awesome family weekend last weekend - but I am having some issues with my computer card reader so they aren't yet on my computer. I told myself that can wait till I get more of the course work done for my college classes. Vance keeps telling me " you don't need to get an A on this stuff, just meet your requirements. Well, for each class I have three essays to complete and a lengthy multiple choice test.The essays need to be single spaced, 4 -5 pages. I am having such a difficult time generating enough for an essay that long! Also, I am developing a unit on Fairy Tales that needs to be 8-10 pages long... Last Friday I sent in all of my course work for two five credit classes. I felt pretty good about the product, but my essays were short. I received an email from the college Wednesday afternoon telling me I need to CLOSELY follow the rubric and resubmit my essays! They were too short! SO, my assignment is to E-x-p-a-n-d and resubmit!

My friends have been soo sweet - knowing I am a bit overworked! Marie brought us dinner for tonight! And Maria made us the most delicious strawberry tarts... our dear friends Lissa, Trav and their girls will spend the weekend with us. So, it is time for another hour or two of essay writing then a little vacuuming and floor mopping and I am ready for a visit with friends.

On a side note, Merit has LOVED Vacation Bible School this week. What an awesome program. And Willem is so patient while his mom types away.

Vance BBQing over an open fire.

The boys, hauling water out to a dirt project they are heading up. :)

My gardening helper

• We had a WONDERFUL time in Plain, WA just outside of Leavenworth. We met both of my brothers there, my dad, my two sisters and their kids... it was a fun weekend and the little cousins had a ball! Pictures to come!
• Merit is in vacation Bible school this week and is LOVING it and I LOVE to hear about it!!
• I am up to my ears in typing college essays. Right now I am taking a little break from my Early Childhood Ed course. I am waiting for an ESL textbook to arrive so I can start on my last class.
• I took a couple of breaks from my courses today to work as part of Merit's "pit crew" during his big NASCAR race! Willem makes for a pretty talented pit crew member as well. The neighbors MAY think I am nuts as I pretend to change his tires and fill him up with gas at a hurried, efficient pit stop. :)
• The boys love being outdoors and Willem's eye/ allergy issues have been better. Thank you for praying!
• Vance is the BBQing man! I love it.
• My pregnancy is going well. I love feeling this baby move!
• Enjoy your week
• Michele

BRIGHT, FUN, LOVIN' SUMMER TIME

Marianne - thanks for bringing your FIVE here for playing and pictures!

What can I say? My friends have cute kids.

First, wildflowers to brighten your day...






Photography is a passion of mine. Just fun, entertaining, evolving and relaxing... tomorrow night I have a darling family coming out and an engaged couple. As I get organized, I have to share some cute kids I know.




Mackenzie

Sammy

Luke

Mackenzie