Smile.... cheese...



On Friday we had family pictures taken. Ever since Gretchen was little we've gone to JCPenney to have them done. Once again they did not disappoint. Enjoy! 

 

P.S. We also had some done of someone who thinks she needs to turn 8 soon. They turned out great too!!

Happy Birthday!

Today is a special day. We would like to say Happy Birthday to a very special lady, my sister Carrie.

I was lucky to be by her side in 2004.

And a year later she was beside me.

Some day you were be blessed with children and believe me you will be a wonderful mother. Just remember you can't break them!

I think he knew from the start that you were going to be a special aunt.

An aunt that put bows on heads....

An aunt that tries to throw you in the pond....

An aunt will take boat rides and get wet...

An aunt that would sneak goodies when I'm not supposed to have them...

And an aunt they love and adorable.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARRIE!

Kids say the darnest things

Kids sure do say the darnest things. Trevor definitely does. My days with him are nothing but chopped full of excitement. Here are just a few of the conversations that have taken place lately.

I was downstairs finishing up on the treadmill one morning and Mr. T was patiently waiting in the doorway. He points to the air hockey table that is down there.

T: Those are hockey sticks.

Me: How did you know that?

T: Grandma told me 'cause John and Carrie like hockey.

M: What else did Grandma tell you?

T: You wouldn't want to know.

Grandma, what are you teaching my little man!!

Trevor and I were sitting down for lunch. He started talking (not sure what it was about) and asked a question.

Me: I'm not sure Trevor.

T: I wasn't talking to you.

M: Well, who you were talking to?

T: Myself, duh!

(I know ask first if he's talking to me before answering a question.)

A few days before Thanksgiving, we went in for our Christmas family pictures. The photographer had taken pictures of the family and then the kids. Ray and I had wanted some pictures of just the 2 of us. On the last photo, she told us to kiss.

T: But they are already married!

Friday we were making cookies and I was scooping the batter into a container to put in the frig to bake the cookies later.

T: Can I help you put it in there?

M: Trevor, I'm not sure where those fingers have been.

T: That's good 'cause I was just picking my nose with them. (Then proceeds to pick again.)

By this point, I'm hunched over laughing and there may have been a few snorts to go along with it.

On Monday afternoon, we were downstairs and he found the nativity scene.

T: Mom, what are the names of the 3 wisemen?

M: Trevor, I'm not really sure.

T: Why not?

M: I'm not sure if ever says.

I proceed to tell him that tomorrow is Tuesday and we were going to the church to clean and he could go ask Pastor Steve. (He did and I'll be sure to ask Steve on Sunday how that conversation went.)

With most of the conversations we have, he states stuff in his "matter-of-fact" face not laughing or giggling as he says it. I think that's what makes it so funny.

Oh, and Miss G joins in to.

I was in the kitchen the day after Thanksgiving warming up leftovers from Thursday lunch. Ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and corn just like what we had the previous lunch.

G: Mom, something smells like I'm not going to like it for lunch.

M: Gretchen, it's exactly what we had yesterday for lunch.

G: I'm not sure I'm going to like it.

She ate lunch just fine that day.

Never a dull moment in a houseful of kids!!

Our Summer in Pictures

Many bike rides especially down to the school to play on the playground.

Hose water is the best!!

Lots of popsicles

Fair rides

Trips to the beach

Fall is here

Fall has arrived and I think winter was trying to make an appearance this weekend. We had a patch of hail come out of no where on Saturday and Mr. T exclaimed it was snowing. With the arrival of fall comes another busy time in the Van Daele household. Tuesday nights and Wednesday nights seem to be the most hectic. Both nights you can find us eating close to 5 so Ray can run out the door and to class by 6 on Tuesday nights. Wednesday nights it's me and the kidlets running out the door to make it to Team KID at church. They're both hectic nights but definitely worth it. Mr. T is especially liking the idea of being old enough to hang out with the "big" kids at Team KID.

Miss G is doing especially well at school. I had her parent-teacher conferences last week and was once again reassured she's doing GREAT and right on track. As some of you know, last year I struggled to get her on the bus in the morning. She's the last one on the bus and not a fan of having lots of pairs of eyes starring at her as she gets on. This year I am happy to say we haven't had a problem. Thank goodness!

First Day of School

Ray is really busy at work. As of last week they had 5 new homes they are installing in. Today they are installing a new furnace and air conditioning in an existing home. There have been a few weeks the only times the kids get to see him is to brush their teeth at night and then the weekend. This winter they are doing another huge house (5500+ square foot) in Angola which means many late nights or even the possibility of spending nights in hotels. Friday his boss told him to take the day off to relax. The kiddos headed to grandma and grandpa's for a play-date and sleep-over and he and I headed to Chicago for the day. We hit up the Ikea store while we were there. It was the first time there but I see many trips in the future.

I've been busy at home trying to keep Mr. T under control as well as the dust bunnies and dog hair. Mr. T is keeping me quite busy. The house is still for sale. We had a lot of interest in the beginning but not much here lately. We're thinking of meeting with another realtor in the near future to see if we can move this process along a little faster.

He's full of potatoes

Now Aunt Carrie since you've been begging for a blog update, you must now come to my house and remove all of the stickers that Mr. T has strategically position around the basement in the time it has taken me to type this. I'll be waiting. :)

Splish, splash and playground fun

Friday mid-morning the kids and I headed over to Wakarusa. First we hit the playground and then over to the splash pad. I've gotta warn you there aren't many pictures from the playground since Gretchen was in one of her moods. She claimed it was too hot to play and didn't like the fact that we left the house without her and Trevor knowing where we were going.

He loved spinning her around. Her not so much.

The kids were pleasantly surprised with the surprise stop to the splash pad. The best part there weren't many kids over there.

Sometimes a little rest is needed at the splash pad. It's hard work running around.

Someone also thought it was a good idea to work on their tan.

We finished off the afternoon with a special treat from McDonald's.

Looks like it was a GOOD day!!

Father's Day

This year for Father's Day I decided to have the kids make a project for Ray. I decided to have the kids make him a picture frame. The kids painted it with whatever color they wanted and then choose what they wanted written on it. They also got to choose which picture they wanted in it. They loved looking at all of the pictures of themselves.

Look at that focus and concentration in those eyes.

Green of course

You can see that tongue starting to stick out.

I don't have any after pictures so I guess you'll just have to stop by and see the finished product. :)