vacation 2013, part NE...

Next state, Nebraska!  It may be obvious who we were going to visit in Nebraska, with my brother, sister-in-law and niece living there, but we made one other stop before we got to their house.  My cousin Marshall and his wife Sarah and daughter Norah moved to Omaha, NE at the beginning of the year, and we took this opportunity to stop and see them!  We first met at a park and let the kids play and burn off some energy.  (I forgot to take my camera out here, but trust me they were awesome and adorable. =)

Then we headed for supper, girls in one car, boys in another.  Grace was super excited to ride with Norah

Five Guys!  And Henry LOVED Marshall - they were big buds and hammed it up all through supper.

Kids enjoyed coloring as well as eating while we sat and talked.

cousins!  =)

After taking photos of the kids together, Sarah asked if Grace could take a picture of us adults.  This was her first attempt.

Second attempt was much better. 
Thanks for meeting up with us guys!  We are so thankful for your loving family!

Then we were off to Marcus and Amy's.  The kids could hardly wait the little over an hour drive - I think we heard more "Are we there yet?  How much longer?!"'s during that stretch than the whole trip so far!  And when we got there this awesome welcome awaited us...

So we got there Friday evening, and were going to stay until Saturday morning.  Since we had been in the car quite a bit since Thursday, Marcus and Amy planned just a hang out day on Saturday.  Which was just what we needed!  We talked, the kids played.  Repeat for hours.

Henry enjoying some snuggle time with Uncle Marcus after his nap!

We did take a walk later in the afternoon with all the kids in their crocs.  Super cute, but we had to stop every 2 feet to get gravel or rocks out of them.  =)

Saturday night the menu was Uncle Marcus' famous pizza!  Each of the kids got to make their own little one.  Super yummy!  We attempted to watch Ratatouille as well, but Willem had issues and we just won't talk about that one.

 Sunday morning twirly girls!

After church it was time for group photos.  Look at these adorable cousins!

And funny faces were apparently a theme with our kids this trip. ;P

our family!

the Roskamps!

"can I push the button?"

Sunday afternoon we got naps in and played on the playset by church.  Evie wasn't quite sure what to think when Uncle Steve sat down to swing with her!

 Sunday evening, Marcus and Amy's church had a special outing at the Lincoln Salt Dogs baseball game.

We hadn't made it to a Twins game yet this summer so it was great to sit outside and watch baseball.

Especially on such a beautiful evening!

The highlight of the night for Willem (besides wearing his awesome storm trooper shirt), was when he caught an ice cream bar that they were throwing in the crowd between innings!

Monday we had planned to go into Lincoln for the day and go to the zoo.  The weather changed our plans a bit.  It rained hard over the night on Sunday and continued through Monday and the roof that was being replaced at Marcus and Amy's church started leaking and they had a lot of damage and water to clean up Monday!  Steve and Marcus and Amy went over to help while I stayed with the kids and packed up.  When things were under control for the most part by lunchtime and Evie's naptime, we decided to head out.

Thank you Marcus and Amy and Evelyn for amazing hospitality and a wonderful time together!  

We love you!

Next...on to the farm in SW Minnesota!

vacation 2013, part IA...

Our summer vacation was a state-packed, people-packed trip that took us to Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and South Dakota, visiting many friends and family.  We started off Thursday, July 25 by driving down to Pella, IA.  Our good friends Nate and Ang and their family (who live in Ontario, Canada!) were visitng Ang's family in Pella.  We had not seen them in quite a while(4 years!) so we took the opportunity of them being so close to go and get together with them.  We met them at the Pella Pizza Ranch where we were a large enough crew that they put us in the back room.  Which ironically, Steve and I had not been in since Ang and Nate got married! =)  We all enjoyed the yummy buffet, helping various combinations of children go back when they needed too.  (with only one dropped plate and one dropped glass too! =)  And we talked and talked and talked and talked...  It is wonderful to have those friends that even though you haven't seen each other in years you just pick up right where you left off.  And the kids are all close in age so they had so much fun! 

Ang and I always get the kids a little something when we see each other.  So after supper we opened gifts.  The kids helped freezer paper stencil paint t-shirts for Corey, Hailey, Lydia and Joel.  (and also for themselves - they were wearing theirs already!)

Here they all are in their t-shirts!

And in their funny faces!

We were too busy helping the kids open their gifts to grab a picture, but they got Color Wonder packs, and chocolate Loonies, and Canada pencils!  They loved it all.  And look at the cute packaging that Ang did?!!!

Before we left we asked the waitress to take a group photo of us.  LOOK AT ALL THOSE KIDS! =)

who insisted on a funny face one too

After we ate pizza, we went back to the hotel that we were staying at for the night and swam in the pool.  Before the kids all changed into suits they all had to pile in the bathroom and shut the lights off since the paint that we used on the shirts was glow in the dark.  Oh the giggling!  At the pool we had a hard time telling all the boys apart with their short blonde haircuts. =) And Grace was so excited to have girls to play with.

The next morning Steve had a work conference call that he had to do from the hotel room, so we went to the breakfast buffet and then hung out in the lobby watching kids shows on the iPad until he was finished.  The staff kept commenting how well behaved the kids were and how cute they were in their stripey pajamas!  (Oh if only they were well-behaved all the time...)

Then we got dressed and packed up and met Nate and Ang and kids at the park in the center of town.  They had Jaarsma Bakery treats waiting for us!  YUM!

Which one is Carsten?  Which one is Joel?

The kids ran around and played while the 4 of us visited.  And in all too short of time it was time to go.  

Lots of hugs and one more group photo for the road!  Love you guys!  We hope it is not 4 years until we see them next!

We had a little bit more time to kill before eating lunch and getting on the road, so we walked around downtown Pella for a while admiring the quaint buildings and windmills.

gorgeous weather too!

After pictures in the big wooden shoes for everyone, we got in the car heading for our next state...Nebraska!

piano lessons...

Grace started piano lessons at the beginning of the summer.  We were so glad to find a teacher that was willing to take us on and give summer lessons (and blessed that it is the wife of a family acquaintance that works at Calvin!)!  We wanted Grace to start before the new school year so she would have the summer to get established and used to piano lessons.  Then it would be just part of life by the time a new school year rolled around.  Grace was beyond excited to start!  Mrs. Kroll was super encouraging, Grace was very diligent, and soon was excitedly playing her beginner pieces. 

So excited in fact, that she asked if she could put on a recital.  None of this waiting until the end of a year for a piano recital, she had all of a month in!  But she was willing to put everything together, including programs and refreshments, so we invited the neighbors and good friends to come over one afternoon to listen.

Grace got all dressed up

She wrote up programs

And when all were seated (after a quick last minute yell out the door invite to Miss Carol who was just getting home from work), she sang and played every song she knew in her books so far.  Then she and the boys passed out napkins and cookies, and Grace couldn't have been any happier.  SO thank you dear neighbors (including those from TX!) and friends for loving and supporting our kids and coming to hear Grace's first piano recital.  

And just so all of you reading aren't left out, here is one of her numbers!  =)

visit from Nana...

So you know how when you have a kid, all of a sudden you cease to exist in your parents eyes?  They are not coming to visit you, but the grandkids?  This post is kid of reverse of that.  My parents came to visit over a weekend in July, but they brought Nana along, and all of us kind of started looking at it as Nana's visit.  =)  I love my Grandma K so very much, but don't see her often enough.  And when we go to visit her, since she lives somewhat near my folks, they are usually afternoon or evening long visits.  So when she is able to come and stay by us for a few days, as she has over some holidays and this summer weekend, the visit is extra special and the kids really get to know their great-grandma, or Nana.

Our Saturday started off with soccer games for all the big kids at the same time.  We set up in between the two fields so we could watch Carsten to the left, and Grace and Willem to the right.

Henry would give Nana high fives whenever something exciting happened, and sometimes even when things weren't exciting!

We came home and had Edgerton bakery doughnuts and then the kids cleared the table for a game of Bird Bingo with Aahma and Nana.

Then we had to get some work done.  There was a potluck at church Sunday, so the kids helped Nana make "Nana's fruit salad."

After lunch though, we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon playing and visiting both inside and outside on the patio.  

Henry had SO much fun going back and forth between Boppa and Nana!

Grace and Aahma playing Ode to Joy!

kids with Aahma and Boppa

kids with Nana

20 month old Henry especially warmed up and got to know Nana over this weekend

We love you so much Nana (Grandma K!)!!  Thank you so much for a wonderful visit!

soccer 2013...

The kids (or maybe momma) were just not ready to start a rec league soccer program that started while school was still in session.  I hemmed and hawed over this for a long time trying to find something reasonably priced (camps are ridiculous!) that took place just in the summer.  We also felt that they didn't get much instruction at all in the program that they took the summer before, so we were looking for something that would give them good instruction and the basics of the game.  We found a program that fit most everything for that, it was just 25 minutes away.  But we signed up with friends from church and had a number of pleasant (although HOT!) evenings chatting and watching the kids play.

Still the herd mentality at Carsten's age.  =)  Going this way...

...then that way!

Carsten and Bella had so much fun playing though and learned a lot compared to last summer.

Go team!

 the cheering section!

A little bit of the herd mentality for Grace and Willem's group too...

...but they were getting the spread out an pass concepts too.

It was near 100F for this game, so Steve was misting the players on the sidelines.

Go team!  (not only were Grace and Willem excited to play with Arielle, they were very surprised to have 2 of their Calvin classmates on the team with them too!)

 Henry thought he should really be playing too.

Carsten

Willem

Grace

 DY and B soccer players 2013!

Soccer is super fun on its own, but even better when played with friends!