My Grandmother

On Sunday night, my mom's mother passed away at 6:30 pm. This year we thought we would loose my grandpa first, but at last Grandma went first. My Grandfather was by her side all day long and was able to give her four kisses throughout the day with the help of others lifting him up to her. There love for each other and God is purely a wonderful example to all of us. My parents are travleing to Michigan today and then my 3 sisters will be going up there as well. I wish that I could be there as well to see my family say goodbye to our grandmother, but that just isn't possible at the moment. I will be there in spirit and hopefully one day soon, I will be able to visit her graveside.
Today I have been thinking of making my grandma's rice krispy treats. She used to always make them for us when we would visit and they were my favorite. Of course they will never be like hers, since she always had a knack of making them just right.
Here is the newspaper clipping from the paper in Michigan.

Edna Mae Hall (Nederveld)

HALL - Edna Mae (Nederveld) Hall, aged 93, of Jenison, went to be with her Heavenly Father in Heaven on Sunday, September 20, 2009 in the presence of her family. She will be greatly missed by her loving husband, Burton H. Hall, of 70 years. Her four children, Barbara and Lee Brinks of Jenison, Judy and Marvin Van Rhee of Hudsonville, Rosemary and Dennis Wiggers of St. Louis, MO, Jack and Marlene Hall of Hudsonville; 14 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren; five great great grandchildren; two sisters, Laverne Bellamy of Grand Rapids, Joyce Nynebrink of Hudsonville; sisters-in-law, Muriel and John Huizenga of Byron Center, Mildred Hall of Grand Rapids; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the Jamestown Reformed Church with Rev. Ralph Robrahn officiating. Interment Jamestown Cemetery. Friends may meet with the family at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jamestown Reformed Church Missionary Fund. VANDERLAAN-HUDSONVILLE www.vanderlaanfuneralhome.net

More Pics from Pump It Up

Here are more pictures of us having fun at Pump It Up. I love this sling that a dear friend gave to me when Caleb was born. He was able to sleep in it for about half the time at the party and then go down the slide with me.

Sleeping baby.

Caleb peeking out of the sling. So sweet.

Here come the Crossman's down the slide. This was a blast and it was so much fun to be out as a family together. Parker asked me this morning if we are going to Pump Pump again. He loves this place and hopefully we will be able to go there again this year for more birthday parties.

Pump It UP

This weekend we went to 3 Birthday parties. Two of them were at Pump It Up. This is the coolest birthday spot around and Parker really enjoys himself here. Of course Daddy and Mommy have fun as well going down the blow up toys. Parker having a blast jumping around

Daddy taking Caleb down the slide for the first time. He wasn't too sure of what just happened.

Weeee! Here we go Caleb.

Daddy holding Caleb on their way up the slide we go.

Parker loved being at Aaron's party. They played together the whole time. Since they are no longer at the same school this year, they have really missed playing together. Notice how sweaty they are and Parker was red faced from having so much fun. We had a lot of fun as a family going to both parties this weekend. Hopefully I can post a family picture of all of us going down the slide together. Kelly got a good photo of us coming down.

Labor Day Weekend Trip

David surprised me with wanting to get away for the weekend and go to the beach (my favorite place). So we drove down to Gulf Shores for a long weekend and stayed at the The Beach Club. We had a lovely condo and loved it so much. Parker remembered being there this past spring and asked if Papa was here this time. No it was just the four of us having our first family vacation. It was fun to relax and re-connect as a couple and enjoy our boys together away from normal life. Caleb loved talking to us this weekend. I love this outfit on him!! He is almost outgrown his 6 months clothes. He weighs 15 lbs. 14 oz now.

Mommy with her two little boys the last night at the beach.

Parker loved digging in the sand with Daddy and of course swimming in the ocean with Daddy.

What are you doing Daddy?

Daddy putting Caleb in the Ocean. Caleb loves the water, but not so sure about the waves.

Dinner one night at Lu Lu's. We need to take the nieces and nephews here in the spring with my parents. It is a great spot for the kids and family to hang out before dinner.

Parker and Daddy having fun while waiting for the food.

Parker playing outside Lu Lu's before dinner.

Lu Lu's had a big sand playing area for the kids to play while the parents have drinks from the outside bar.

Our sweet little Caleb. We love him so much and have so much fun with his smiles and talking.

My sweet boys!

Caleb is growing up so fast. We love his big smiles and that is finally talking to us in his baby talk. So glad that the infant baby stage is over. He slept through the night last week only once. As for me I didn't sleep a wink that night making sure he was breathing and being up with Parker who had croup again.

A big yawn! We just love him so much and I can't believe that he will be 3 months this week.

Parker wanted to have a picture taken with Caleb. This only happens when he wants to do it, not when we ask him. I am so much in love with my little boys. I am so thankful to God and David for allowing me to stay home with them. Parker looks like me and Caleb looks like David. Everyday is a new adventure with our boys. We are both in love with them and honored to be their parents.

School has Started!

Today was the day that Parker started 3K. We are so proud of our little boy and excited to see what he learns this year. He had to pick out his outfit which was his star wars t-shirt from Old Navy. We didn't let him wear his masks and light saber into school, but he was able to pose with them this morning in our driveway.

Outside of school, anxious and being a ham about going in with Mommy and Caleb.

Parker in his classroom. He didn't cry and was excited to see his friends again.

Parker had to take a picture of Caleb waiting for us to get in the car this morning.

Parker also told Mommy to crouch down so he could get a picture of me as well. I am so excited that 3-1/2 months are over with summer time. It has been a long summer and we all needed for Parker to start school. Praise the Lord for allowing us to send him to a private Christian School again this year.

My best friend and I decided to get a pedicure today. It was our gift from our husbands to pamper ourselves for making it through the summer. Having a pedicure was so great that I could that every week. :)

Destin trip with the Boys

This past week, my friend Kelly (who used to take care of Parker) asked me to come down to Destin to stay at her parents condo with her. She was there with her two boys. It was a wonderful treat to get away from Birmingham and to look at different walls around me. The trip down was stressful for me, since Parker had gone to the bathroom all over himself after an hour into the trip and then Caleb wanted to eat again at this time. We were pulled over on the side of the highway and had 2 police officers pull up behind us to see if we were okay. We finally made it there and I was thankful that we then had 2 full days at the beach before turning around again to come home. While David was back in Birmingham, we were enjoying the pool and sun down in Destin for 4 days. Caleb sleeping by the pool again while we all swam. He was so good.

Parker trying to shoot me with his water gun.

Parker getting ready to jump in the pool again.

Sleeping at the pool after Caleb had gone in the pool for the first time.

Parker loved jumping off the side of the pool. He didn't mind the water on his face, since his goggles were on. He jumped in about 100 times in 4 days.

Sweet Caleb at the beach. He was trying to stay cool, but it was so hot and muggy that I had to take him back to the condo after about 30 minutes.

Parker loved going in the ocean with Aaron. They were searching for hermit crabs and found a few of them, but tossed them back.

Parker was trying to show me the rock that he found in the ocean.