Birthday/ Spring Break Get Away

The day before my birthday, Vance made reservations at the Coeur de Lane Resort. I have never been and was so excited to explore that area and stay at the hotel there. With the boys having spring break, a two day get away sounded so great to all of us. Coeur de Lane... So fun! I can't wait to go back!!
On my birthday we headed to Spokane and took the kids to Chuck E Cheese, then we went on to Coeur de Lane. It was beautiful!! The lake there is so pretty and our view from our hotel room was incredible. I love how there are several restaurants and lots of gift shops within the resort.

Hazel is something else. When we went out to eat we would order the boys each a kids meal. We never order Hazel anything, knowing she will find something she likes on our plates or one of the boys.' At this meal she quickly snatched the grilled cheese she wanted off of Willem's plate!

Willem, just chillin'

The view out our hotel room window!

Hazel loved the view, she just kept going out on the deck, checking it all out.

The weather was so nice.

Today has been good. Merit's last soccer game and they won!! A pizza part at the coach's house! Then a photo shoot for me and now Vance is getting ready to BBQ steaks.

Sports fun and our spring break so far...

Merit's soccer game Friday night was intense and sooo fun!

I was on the edge of my seat. :)

It ended in a tie!!

Speedy and competitive!

Hazel loved just picking grass and exploring until

Dillon's little brother got to the game.

The rest of the time, Hazel's eyes were glued to this baby!!

She loves babies.

Hazel doing a little spring cleaning.

(Merit at third base :)

In our yard, we get creative with bases.

Spring Break has been so fun so far!

Yesterday the boys and I went bowling and to the arcade!

They loved it.

Today we have played lots of baseball.

Willem keeps things entertaining, check out his expression.

Merit has baseball practice three nights this week.

He is very excited about it.

In the past couple of weeks two of my close friends have lost their grandmas.

Grandparents play such an important, wonderful role in our lives!

I am sooo thankful for the relationships I have with my grandmas!

These women are on my heart today.

If you are fortunate enough to still have a grandparent, call them or send them a note.

Let them know you love them.

SPRING BREAK!!!

ohhhh I just posted but ended up putting it on my photography blog accidentally.... it is linked to this one on the sidebar... Check it out! But I will post a few pics here too.

Willem washing his car.

Willem practicing his numbers.

Hazel had to get in on the action :)

A Goodwill Bargain!!

Check out the price!!

I am going to distress it a little more and do something fun with it!

Spring break officially starts for us this afternoon!

We will kick it off with Merit's soccer game!

Go Chargers!

This girl with the big expressive eyes and a curious personality keeps our

days busy and entertaining. She LOVES playing outside. She is so content

when she is outdoors exploring.

We have been spending a little time down at our cabin.

Hazel really likes it there.

Merit

Merit started baseball last night and is so excited!

Vance took him to his first practice. It was fun to see how

excited both Vance and Merit are about baseball.

Baseball and soccer will overlap for about a week and a half

so each evening and on Saturdays we will be at one or the other.

It is so fun to see this determined sports loving boy doing

what he loves to do.

Imaginative Willem!

Willem is a puzzle builder and fabulous pretender. Yesterday he had

his sweet friend Addison over and I loved listening to them play.

They are very kind to eachother and like to pretend together.

Addison got hurt while she was here however and I felt terrible!

One of those things where I was kicking myself. Anyway, this sweet

cutie went home with a scraped up face. Willem was so worried about her too.

Say a prayer for Addi. Her swollen lip and scrapes really scared her.

Addison and Willem

Carly and Kelcy came by Tuesday for a nice visit and brought

me flowers!! It was so good to see them and the kids liked seeing their  

aunts. Hazel showed off for them a bit.

Pretending boy

Hazel loves to play football, basketball, baseball...

monkey see monkey do

Our family loves spring

Uncle Matt, Spring Weather, Fun Weekend

Uncle Matt came to visit!

Lots of laughs and good times were had by all.

We had great weather too.

Hazel was all over Matt.

I don't know what happened to our shy Hazel, she is

anything but shy! A complete opposite of Willem at this age.

And Merit was somewhere in between.

Willem, Hazel and Merit before Merit's soccer game Saturday morning.

Hazel, Matt, Vance and Rudy

We had a great weekend and SOAKED UP the sunshine.

So, each spring Vance and I discuss getting chicks.

Fresh eggs sound so wonderful, but the work of raising chicks

and taking care of chickens may be more work than we want.

Especially when we can't even keep up on this yard! I

am ready to simplify, big time. :)

I stumbled upon this picture of a glamorous chicken coup online

and fell in love! : )

A good day of remembering

After yesterday's flower post, I continued to think of my mom and the

many memories I have of her with flowers.

The above picture is of my sister Lesha, my mom and my Grandma Alma (mom's mom).

It was taken in front of my Grandma's roses.

This picture is of my Zylstra aunts, my cousin Megan and my mom. My

mom is in the center. This was taken the day before my wedding.

Us girls

Mom, me, Lesha and Natasha went to Laughlin,

Nevada when I was 19. It was SUCH a fun trip!

 I took this pic of mom and Tasha on the trip.

A couple of beauties!

Lesha lived in a cute little Front Street apartment for a while. Here is

my mom and Lesh at the apartment. I love their smiles!

Phil, Matt and my mom sitting down for dinner

They came to visit Vance and me in Moses Lake.

Phil and mom!

I love thinking about little vacations and get aways with my family!

This was in Leavenworth, WA. The big Zylstra family went to celebrate

my grandma's 80th birthday.

My mom and Grandpa Ken

Two of the most patient, kind people and wonderful role models!

Both of them went home to heaven on March 25th. My mom's been gone

ten years, my grandpa seven years.

Today has been a really good day of remembering. I enjoy my

children so much, thanks so much to how my mom raised me and enjoyed raising

her five children.

Oh how I wish I could make a phone call to my mom, how I wish I could share

these children with her and her with them! But I believe she sees the goodness

and the joy we experience with our loved ones.

I'll bet she is snuggling my nephew Case and I know she is

certainly enjoying the beauty and glory of heaven.