The Rotman Family

Soccer Saturday's

2011-11-03T22:19:00.000-04:00

Our Saturday's in September and October were filled with am soccer games. Kooper was our star player this year. While he's not the most aggressive player he give it all he had and had a blast, which is really all that matters, each and every week. By the last game he even made contact with the ball. A huge hooray!! We were also blessed with decent weather each week which was a highlight in my book.

Our soccer star in action..

Two of his biggest fans..

Team Kiwi!

Back 2 School

2011-11-03T21:54:00.002-04:00

Since my blog is way out of date I figured it was time to update and what fun it is to look back. The first day of school was a bittersweet day for me. We had such a fun summer and the back to school routine wasn't something I was sure I was ready for so I was filled with bittersweet emtions that first day. Letting go is hard, but now that we're in a groove and the kid's seem to love school, the bittersweet feeling has turned into a sweet feeling. Kennedy has adjusted well to her transition to all day everyday- a big 1st grader. Kooper is loving young 5's and Kolter seems to like Threeschool. He does protest that he's not gonna go each Wednesday, but once we're there he lets me go with a smile and is full of stories when I pick him up. What a blessing it is to hear the excitement each seem to be filled with while sharing stories when they get home.

Big stuff by her locker..
I did follow the bus so I could get pics of her and make sure she made it into school and to her class..

With Ms. Janssen

Koop's first day!

I was most nervous about him and the whole bus thing so daddy came home to ease all fears..

Koop's bus buddy..

Getting one like a big, brave, boy..
I did follow the bus for his first ride too. Thankfully he made it safe and sound. He transfers to another bus at Kennedy's school. Such a brave boy!

Finally it was Kolter's turn.
He still asks, almost daily, when it's his turn to ride the bus.
A couple more years, buddy. :)

Big man on campus!

Mrs. Scholten.

Praising God for great teacher, great school, and a great start.. Hoping the rest of the year goes as well as these first couple of months have..

John Ball

2011-10-02T16:12:00.000-04:00

Towards the end of August, Jami and I ventured to John Ball Zoo, with all the kiddos, for some end of summer fun. It was the first year I didn't have to push a stroller- which rocked- and all six kids seemed to love every animal and every sight there was to see. Makes the trip all the more worth it when all are enjoying.. Jami and I enjoyed watching them take it all in. I do think the monkey's were the highlight for all. They weren't as active as in year's past but always seem to entertain. All in all it was a great morning. We topped the fun off with lunch at McD's.. and I believe I had two napper's on the ride home.

Silver Lake Highlights

2011-09-19T12:47:00.000-04:00

We headed to Silver Lake for a little family vaca during the end of August. It was just our family of five and the first time in 6 years since we'd been up to Silver. The kids had never been up there so was a special treat for them. Thanks to some generous friends we were able to use their place for the weekend and it worked out slick. We enjoyed lots of trips in and out of the dunes, all meals out, go cart rides and even a little shopping. It was a great weekend with lots of quality family time. We hope to spend more weekends up there in the years to come. I'm always amazed at God's creation when visiting a place as beautiful as up there. I think I stood in awe several different times looking at the landscape... so gorgeous..

No toys for us anymore.. I was a bit nervous taking Bry's everyday truck up there.. Thankfully he's super cautious and we made it home safe and sound with no repairs to make. We saw some over the weekend who weren't so fortunate. It's pretty entertaining to just sit back and watch...

Kiddy carts.. all three were able to drive their own carts- BIG stuff!

Buckled in and ready to ride..

They enjoyed tooling around as long as we didn't attempt any big hills.. :)

We played it safe to avoid their screams. :) (probably a blessing)

Birthday Boy!!

2011-09-19T12:20:00.000-04:00

On August 23 we celebrated Bryan's 36th b-day.

We love b-day's at our house so it's always a fun day to celebrate. The kids and I went and picked out party hats and decorated the kitchen and door to 'surprise' daddy when he got home from work. The kids also picked out little gifts for him- with my guiding, of course, and Bryan was super excited about all new hunting accessories they picked it.

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful husband/daddy in our lives and we look forward to celebrating many more birthday's with him.

A loving moment between Kenz and Koop..

The night ended up some fun on the tramp.

Daddy is the best at popping these cats up in the air. It was a nightly treat all summer long.

Family Day at Spring Grove

2011-09-15T08:36:00.000-04:00

On the 21st of August we gathered with the Rotman clan and celebrated dad's homecoming as well as his birthday. It was a beautiful afternoon and the perfect day for celebrating and giving thanks that dad is home and doing so well. God sure has blessed our family and we are forever thankful. The cousins had lots of fun playing and running around. They also managed to get a little wet- imagine that. I guess that's what I get for wanting to sneak in a photo opp when surrounded by such beautiful settings.

All the grandkiddo's..

So happy to have Grandpa Josie, and grandma, too, home..

Tri-Ponds

2011-09-14T22:52:00.000-04:00

We spent five fun filled days at camp with three other families in August. We camped in the outback and it was the perfect setup with busy kiddos such as ours. We were on dead end type road and away from everything, so we really didn't have to worry about cars or keeping the kids out of the road. We could also see the jumping pad from our trailers so they were able to run through the field and bounce to their hearts content. I think this was the first year, for us, where camping actually seemed easy. The kids all had buddies and all pretty much entertained each other all week long. The weather was as perfect as the fellowship. What a blessing it is to have such great friends both as adults and kids. It was great fun and we look forward to next year and doing it again. The highlights, in pics, pretty much sum up the week. Lots of memories made...

It's a hat thing..

2011-09-14T22:29:00.000-04:00

Two of our favorite neighborhood friends came to play and the first thing that they sported were hats..

The second thing they sported were dolls and strollers..

Playing house never gets old for these stylish momma's. :)

Playing School

2011-09-14T22:26:00.000-04:00

During the summer months we did lots and lots of playing but we also tried to go some educational activities to keep the kiddos in the learning loop. The do-a-dots were a big hit. All seemed to enjoy an early morning- still in our jammies/undies-school like lesson.

Girls, Girls, Girls

2011-09-14T22:22:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the O'C's we enjoyed a very fun 'pool' playday in the beginning of August. The boys were also there, I just didn't take any pics of them. It was a beautiful day and all enjoyed a fun afternoon of swimming and hanging with their besties. Since this has been a yearly gathering since the girl's were one I thought it was only fitting to add an updated pic of some these sweet six year olds..

Crazy Fun at Crazy Bounce

2011-07-31T23:20:00.000-04:00

Last week we celebrated our friend Will's 4th birthday at one of his fave places, Crazy Bounce. It had been awhile since we had been there so my kids were beyond thrilled that we were going. A blast was had by all. I wasn't able to workout that morning but do think I got my workout in while there. What a lot of work climbing and sliding can be. :)

Toddler bounce = popcorn and a drink..

A great combo for hot and hungry kiddos.

Kolt managed to sweet talk Miss Kelly into taking him again and again but by the time we were almost ready to leave he conquered a slide all by himself.

We were SO SO proud.

What a fun morning we had.

Thanks again William for inviting us to share your birthday with you. :)

Dress Up Days..

2011-07-31T23:10:00.000-04:00

Just some random dress up pics from a typical morning at our house. Kennedy was actually at g-ma's this particular morning or Kolter would've likely been sporting a tutu over a spider man costume. :)

I love brotherly moments where they are playing so sweetly and using their imaginations while at play.

Park Pals and Critter Camp

2011-07-31T23:06:00.000-04:00

Last week I met up with Wendi and kids for a fun morning of play at this lovely little park in Allendale. We had wanted to check out the splash park that we had both seen pics of. I was picturing it to be more like Millennium park's splash pad and much to my surprise it was more like the fountains in Holland. The park is wonderful though and the kids had more than enough fun in the four fountains.

After a fun morning Kennedy and Jenna's fun wasn't quite over. After a quick lunch and a change of clothes they were ready to spend the afternoon at the Critter Barn. They did this same two day camp last year and had a blast. I think they felt a little like farm pros since they had been there done that but both were super excited when I dropped them off.

Kennedy fell in the love with the bunnies at first sight.... one may be joining our fam in the weeks to come. You'll have to stay tuned... :)

Kenz and Jenna, once again, had a great Critter Barn experience and are excited to head back. They were given volunteer passes so some night they will be able to go back and help with chores and stuff on the farm. I'm thankful my daughter has such a love for animals.. I know this didn't come from me. :)

Family Night

2011-07-31T22:29:00.001-04:00

The kids went on their first go-cart and bumper boat rides a few weeks back when we had an enjoyable family night at Craig's Cruisers. From the rides to the video games to pizza, that topped off the night, we all had fun bonding as a fam. It's nights like this that I truly treasure. Whether it's an out and about adventure, like CC, or just jumping on the tramp or taking a walk as a fam, it's the quality time together that is such a treat. Thankful for awesome summer nights that allow us to take advantage of such fun times...

Lake Fun

2011-07-31T22:20:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago we met up with our boating friend's, the O'C's, and enjoyed a perfect summer afternoon at the beach. We anchored the boats near the Bowl, braved the then freezing cold lake, and chilled on the shore. The kids had so much fun playing, exploring and swimming.

Perfecting a super secret hand-shake?!

A little sandy..

All the kiddies minus Hayden...

The tree branch that entertained them..

Kooper thought it should come home with us..

Didn't happen..

A great day and a must do again before the summer ends..

Happy Birthday, Kooper!

2011-07-31T22:09:00.000-04:00

On July 13 our precious Kooper Bryan turned 5. Five! How can it be. Seems like just yesterday we were anxiously awaiting his birth. What a great five years it's been and what a blessing he has been. We praise God continually for the gift of Koop. He has forever changed our life and showed us a love we never knew.

When our kid's turn 5 we let them have a special party with friends. Kooper thought going to the Aquatic Center and Pizza Hut would be fun so that's exactly what we did.

I picked up four of his best buds and we had a super fun morning.

Avery, Logan, Gannon, Kooper, Kolter, and Eli had so much fun swimming that they worked up quite the appetite and couldn't wait for their pizza lunch. Some at pizza hut thought I was crazy coming in with 6 boys, but all were on their best behavior. It was fun listening to their conversations and just being in their company.

Koop had so much fun and still talks about his special day. I know it's a memory he won't forget for awhile. Thanks again to all his buds for making his 5th b-day so much fun.

We celebrated later that night and in the weeks to come with family. The b-day that never seemed to end- what a treat!!

Kitchen Help

2011-07-31T21:58:00.000-04:00

Kooper is my buddy when it comes to baking...

Enjoying the leftovers that don't make it out of the bowl..

I think we were getting ready for his b-day here so it's only fitting he enjoys..

Toothless

2011-07-31T21:55:00.001-04:00

Kennedy finally lost her first tooth. And it wasn't just one, but two at the same time. She didn't lose hers the normal way however. The big teeth decided to move in before the baby teeth were ready to come out so Dr. Port had to pull them. She was so excited to have them out, most of her friends have lost several by now, that having them pulled didn't even phase her. A little gas and some topical numbing stuff and the teeth her out without a flinch. She was super excited and shared the news with any and all that day..

Summer Splash

2011-07-31T21:50:00.000-04:00

Enjoying a lazy afternoon with cousins Jaiden and Landon by our aunt and uncle's pool.

Gotta love summer!!

Farmin'

2011-07-31T21:46:00.000-04:00

Kolter was in his glory when he was able to help daddy do a little brush hogging.

Highlights from the 4th

2011-07-31T21:41:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful weekend over the 4th.

Lots of memories spent with the fam at camp and on the water.

Big Helper..

2011-07-31T21:35:00.000-04:00

Hmm.. buttons..

Little buddy thought it was fun being mommy's big helper... he did a great job too up until he realized how fun he thought letting the vac 'suck' him was. I was cool up until he put it to the face. Eeeww..

Replaced

2011-07-31T21:30:00.002-04:00

This is often the scene I come home to on the night's I work....

I do think I've been replaced... :)

A stop along the way.

2011-07-31T21:28:00.000-04:00

A venture to visit dad in Ann Arbor wouldn't be complete without a stop to Cabela's now would it?!

Bryan took full advantage of stopping there on each trip he made. Thankfully we were all able to enjoy one of them. :) The kids had a ball looking at all the animals and the aquarium. A good time was had by all and our visit with mom and dad was also wonderful. Wish I would've busted out the camera there...

Visit carepages to keep up with how dad is doing. God is good and we are hopeful that he'll be home very, very soon. This may have been our last Cabela's venutre on our way to visit him.

Little Swingers

2011-07-31T21:21:00.000-04:00

During the end of June, Kennedy and her friend Jenna went to Little Swingers tennis camp. It was a neat little program that kept our mornings busy for two weeks. The lessons were only 30 mins so it was nice for Wendi and I to sit and chat while the girl's played. Both were pretty good swingers and seemed to have lots of fun. Kooper, Kolter and Garrett also had lots of fun running and roaming while the lessons lasted.

Kenz in action..

Uncle Charlie

2011-07-31T21:07:00.001-04:00

So one morning I find Kolter sitting in the kitchen with marker all over his arms.. what are you doing I proclaim?! I making it look like Uncle Charlie, momma. I couldn't help but smile. Uncle Charlie has tattooed arms. We hadn't seen them recently or anything so I was a little surprised by all this. I guess they pick up on a lot more than we think. :) Of course I had to take a pic and send it to Uncle Charlie. I was also thankful that the marker was washable.

Cheer Camp

2011-06-10T23:45:00.003-04:00

Yesterday Kennedy and her friend Emma headed to HCHS for a half day of Cheer Camp. It's a camp put on by the HCHS cheerleaders as sort of a fundraiser for their summer camps. Needless to say both girls had a blast. I'm a tad biased but I do think they are naturals. We were able to watch them perform a cheer and a dance routine at the end of their time there. It was the cutest and brought back memories of my days of cheer. We'll have to see if these girl's follow in their mommies footsteps. Jami actually recalled her days of leading this same camp when she cheered at HCHS. :)

Kennedy said she loved cheer camp and even today I found her trying to recall some of cheer they learned. Their dance was to Hannah Montana's Rockstar song so of course we had to find it on youtube and dance it up today. :)

Beating the Heat

2011-06-10T23:34:00.000-04:00

A sprinkler under the tramp provides a way to beat the heat and is just plain fun!!

We picked up a free tramp from a friend of Bryan's and the kids have been having a blast with it. We're pondering getting a net b/c watching them jump does make this mama a tad nervous. Until then I will continue to pray for safety when they're bouncing out there. :)

Toddler T-ball

2011-06-10T23:29:00.000-04:00

Kooper had his first toddler t-ball game last week. He isn't the biggest sports lover so we thought this would give him a small taste, it's only 4 weeks long, and some quality one on one time with dad. Parents play alongside their child during toddler t-ball. It's pretty entertaining. Kooper had fun and has enjoyed his first two games. Bryan asked him what he liked best about t-ball and his said~ "I really enjoyed filling my glove up with dirt and playing with Landon." (gotta love it)

Our last Jaiden day...

2011-06-10T23:20:00.000-04:00

We had our last Jaiden day last week. We watched her on Wednesday's after school for the entire school year. These cousin's bonded like sister's. I have a feeling they will be missing each other LOTS so playday's will be a must.

A few last day pics of these bathing beauties. From the backside I had a hard time telling who was who. :)

Boating Adventures!!

2011-06-10T23:11:00.001-04:00

Project boat is complete.

Maiden Voyage was a success and we are loving every venture out on the water.

Kennedy and Kolter have both tubed for the first time and Bry and I have been up skiing for the first time in years. Lots of fun will be had this summer.

Looking forward to lots of summer fun on the water.

We are super thankful for a handy hubby/daddy who took an old boat and made it new~ new to us anyway.

I have many childhood boating memories and I hope the same now for our kiddos.

Memorial Day Parade

2011-06-10T22:18:00.000-04:00

Kennedy walked the entire parade route with her class this year.

They sported the lovely blue jackets that have been a ZCS tradition for like 40 years.

It was a super hot day so they were very sweaty and tired by the time the parade ended. She had lots of fun though and we did too. We were at the end of the route so no candy for the boys. Thankfully, they didn't seem to mind.

The boys were hot, sweaty, and tired from sitting and watching the parade.

Daddy to the rescue. :)

Thankful for all who have served and are currently serving. God bless!

Last day of preschool and graduation.

2011-06-10T21:52:00.000-04:00

Kooper was special helper on his very last day of preschool so I was able to tag along. We had some fun in the classroom before heading to Mrs. Genzink's house for our very last field trip. Koop made lots of good friends this year. Matthew, Gannon, Bode and Sam will be greatly missed.

Three amigo's Bode, Koop and Gannon..

Graduation night..

It's always a treat to see your child on stage. I was super proud that Koop was singing along and doing the motions. In the practice earlier he was more on the shy side.

He did it!!

We're so proud of you, bud.

What a fun filled year of preschool it was...

Looking forward to young 5's in the fall..

Ella and Kipton days..

2011-06-10T21:43:00.001-04:00

For a couple of Wednesday's in May we got to spend some quality time with cousin's Ella and Kipton when we babysat for them in the afternoon. We had lots of fun together. It's always such a treat getting to spend time with them. I had lots of 'big' helpers- especially when it came to helping with Kip.

Ella playing photographer. :)

Kooper was posing for her.

Kolter enjoyed Kip's bucket as well as the swing.

Big smiles from one of the world's most content and happy little boy's.

(he even had a double ear infection in this pic~sure wouldn't know it)

Splash of Spring

2011-05-19T20:59:00.001-04:00

Last Friday was unseasonably warm and we took full advantage of it. We busted out the kiddie pool with nothing but straight out of the hose cold water. The kids didn't mind a bit and spent about three hours splishing and splashing. The boat tube was a big hit! Kind of big for the small pool but again they didn't mind. I enjoyed watching them laughing and splashing about. Looking forward to summer and many more pool days.

A little 'hunting' play after all the swimming. :)

High Flying Fun

2011-05-19T20:46:00.000-04:00

We picked up some kites for $1 at Walmart and the kids had a blast flying them. Who would've thought $3 could bring so much fun?!

Some issues with them getting entangled did arise but dad was on it.

Kolter's string also broke.

(love the look of disappointment in his face when he noticed the kite wasn't flying)

Daddy to the rescue again and the kite was salvaged and back in the air in no time.

Looking for a cheap, yet fun, to-do we suggest buying some dollar kites.

Tulip Time

2011-05-19T20:27:00.000-04:00

The weather during the Tulip Time week couldn't have been more perfect. We had a wonderful time heading down to watch the dancers, we enjoyed the parade and also an elephant ear or two.

They only dressed up once. Kennedy thought it was embarrassing to be in costume. :) (and so it begins) I didn't push it since it was rather warm most of the week. At least they humored me for some good pics. That's really all that matters anyway, right?

We headed down a night with my friend Amanda and her two kids. We also met up with Jill and Brad for a quick pic with the cousins. Another great night!

Future couple?

Wouldn't it be something to show this at their wedding someday?

(us mom's and our plans. :) )

Parade day!!

Many thanks to Ryan S. for scoring us some great seats.

The kids had a blast with Kailyn and Will, as usual.

Perfect parade day!!

Sno-cones were the prefect end to a fun filled day/week!

Mother's Tea

2011-05-17T22:29:00.000-04:00

The Tuesday after Mother's Day I was invited to a special Mother's Tea in Kooper's class. When we got to school all us mommies waited patiently in the waiting area until the kiddos came out to get us. When they came out they greeted us with a darling handmade corsage. We were also given an adorable handmade necklace and the cutest painted pot with two little flowers in it. It was super special since all were made with love- my favorite gifts. The kids also sang a few songs for us and then we enjoyed a little snack. They made yummy fruit kabobs and poured us 'tea' aka grape juice. It was such a fun morning. I love any/all one on one time given with my kids and it's always a pleasure getting a glimpse into the classroom.

A Dandy Day

2011-05-17T22:08:00.000-04:00

We spent most of our Mother's Day afternoon in the dandelion field behind our house. It was a beautiful spring day and we enjoyed playing and just being together as a family. We had no extended family brunch or lunch to attend so it was truly a treat to hang at home for the day.

Since it was such a nice day we decided to play a little ball.

Kooper will actually start tee-ball in a couple of weeks so this was good practice for him.

We'll see if he enjoys 'games' more than 'practice.'

Not sure yet if this will be 'his' sport.

I very much enjoyed my Mother's Day and am thankful for my three blessings.

~ Easter ~

2011-04-26T22:57:00.001-04:00

Our LORD is ALIVE!!!!

And so we celebrate each and every day!

In celebration, or really just for something fun to do, we dyed and decorated some eggs.

We had a dye cup spill all over the place and I ended up with yoke on me, but all in all it was a good evening of family fun.

The kids enjoyed the stickers as much as they enjoyed dipping eggs..

They decorated the eggs as well as themselves.

'Peace' what Kennedy named her classroom parrot, he's living with us for the week, even joined in on the fun.

Kolt and Peace showing off his sticker tattoo.

And Koop also all stickered out.

Egg hunt on Easter morn.

Not the brightest of ideas since all the kids wanted for breakfast was candy. :)

They did have fun searching inside for the eggs.

I only hid like 15 each so it didn't take too long.

I think next year we'll move the hunt outside.

Bryan's not a big fan of the Easter bunny or eggs so we just kept it simple.

Eggs and bunnies aren't the reason we celebrate anyway... just a fun to do.

After restricting their candy intake it was time to get ready for church..

Our cute little peanuts..

We spent an afternoon with family and celebrated the joy of Jesus being Alive. Oh how thankful we are that He endured all just for US.

Pool Party

2011-04-26T22:28:00.000-04:00

That's right.... Pool Party this time of year.

Emma and Logan came to play for awhile on Saturday and Bryan thought it'd be fun to turn the heat on in the garage and fill up their kiddie pool with warm water. Needless to say the kids were all over that. I think they played in the pool a good 1.5- 2 hrs. It was a fun, yet different, thing to do on a Saturday afternoon when it's only 50 degrees outside. Kolter was the only one who seemed to get hurt and every occurrence was minor. It was bound to happen in a pool that size with five rowdy and excited kids.

Critter Barn With Kennedy's Class

2011-04-26T22:18:00.000-04:00

Last week I ventured to the Critter Barn with Kennedy's class. The weather could have been better but other than that the trip was great. They do such a wonderful job there, explaining all the detailed aspects of the farm, and the kids loved every part of the field trip. A highlight for all was the unexpected birth of a baby goat.

Attempting a class photo.

The horse was super hungry and kept trying to nibble off the hats of the kid's who were wearing them. Some thought it was funny and some were a bit scared. Miss Mary made sure he got something to eat when we told her how silly he was being.

All the kids got a chance to pet the horse if they wanted.

I do believe all joined in.

Mrs. Borgman was playing mommy to this new calf.. The kids thought it was fun to watch the baby drink from a bottle.

Inside trying to warm up a bit.

Time to milk the goat..

The surprise birth of the baby goat.. what a fun treat that was.

I have never seen an animal be born so it was a very neat experience to witness. I'm sure this is a moment all the kiddos will remember. I know Kennedy loves to tell everyone about it. :)

About an hour after it was born the goat tried to stand and even took a few steps.

It was was a cute sight.

Miss Mary giving him his first feeding from a bottle.

After all the baby goat fun we moved on to the lambs..

Kennedy isn't shy when it comes to any of the animals... a surprise to me since I'm not that big of an animal lover.

A quick after lunch break with Jaiden and Hope.

After holding the bunnies she told me we needed one. She does look awfully cute holding them, but I don't think it's a possibility. It's a good thing Critter Barn is close by and that our neighbors raise rabbits... She can get her fix when she feels the need.

Precious baby chicks.

The one and only animal I touched that day.

Feeding the chickens..

'Best Day Ever' were the words Kennedy used to sum up the day. :)

Cousin Kipton

2011-04-26T21:44:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks back we watched Kipton in the am while Jill took Ella to a dance class. The boys were super excited for a morning with their newest cousin. I think they were mostly excited that Kennedy was at school so they wouldn't have to share him. They showered Kip with lots of love and attention. He seemed to love all they were giving and showered us with lots of smiles, giggles and drool.

I think they were telling him stories here...

You can tell Kip is used to having his big sis in his face.

He loved all the attention.

Kolt was maybe singing something to him here.

Clapping was part of it.

What a treat it was to have Kip that morning.

His big cousins had lots to teach him.

Looking forward to next time.. :)

Need a Tow?

2011-04-26T21:32:00.000-04:00

Kennedy thought it'd be great to connect the ride along to her jeep and tow Kolter. She had a blast towing Kolt around and he seemed to LOVE it.. that was until she took a turn too sharp and over his red little car went. Thankfully they had a blast while it lasted and no one got hurt even during the 'accident.'

A couple of cute brotherly moments during the lovely spring like weather we enjoyed for about a week.

Wishing these spring showers would fade so we could enjoy more time outside.

Just Like Dad!

2011-04-26T21:25:00.001-04:00

Bryan had his wheelbarrow out the other day and as soon as Kolt saw that he quickly went to get his. I thought it was the cutest sight minus the fact that Kolter is pant less. :) Boxer briefs suffice as shorts, right?

Miramar Beach, FL~ Spring Break 2011

2011-04-26T21:16:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful, relaxing, week of fun in the sun.

Thanks again mom and dad for a week of treasured memories.

Party Time!!

2011-04-26T20:28:00.001-04:00

April was a big month of celebrating here in our household. Kennedy turned 6 and Kolter turned 3. I'm still amazed that my baby is 3 and that my first born is 6. Where did the time go? You blink and another year has passed. Because both birthday's typically fall on spring break the kids sort of get extended birthday celebrations. Lucky aren't they? This year we celebrated with the Hulst fam before we left for FL, celebrated their actual b-day's while in FL, and also had a gathering with some of the Rotman fam after we returned from FL. Both were spoiled rotten and had a blast celebrating. Thanks to our fam for all the wonderful gifts.

She's got the Bieber fever and you can see the excitement when she opened this tee.

And yet another.. :)

Sporting the tee.

She's got the 'punk' look going.

Birthday buds..

A pic with Auntie Ashley and Uncle Charlie..

Grandma and grandpa Hulst..

Kolt's got the blowing out the candle thing all figured out..

Moving on to her actual b-day in Miramar Beach, FL..

She opened presents in the am and we spent the day pool and beach side. Later that night we headed to a place called Fudpucker's for dinner. It was a very entertaining and super fun place to celebrate a b-day. Kennedy liked the fact that you were able to write on any and everything there. Her name is plastered in about 20 different places. The gator show also made for a memorable night.

For some reason I didn't snap any pics on Kolt's real b-day, not sure why, but he had just as much fun celebrating- FL style- as his big sis did.

When we got home from FL we had a party with the Rotman's. The gang was cut short due to dad being the hospital due to a fever that wouldn't go away and the passing of our sister-in-laws father. Mom and the Koning's made it and we were still able to have an enjoyable night together.

The b-day boy with his daddy.

So much love...

More and more presents..

I love the big ole' smile she gets when she's opening something new.

Lots of fun was had celebrating.

Praise be to God for blessing us with these children for the past 6 and 3 years.

Cool Cousins

2011-04-26T19:57:00.000-04:00

Just thought this was a cute one of cousins, Jaiden and Kennedy.

Gotta love the pink hair again on Kenz. (it's her fashion statement as of late so this wont be the last pic you see of it)

A style All her Own

2011-03-23T09:44:00.002-04:00

My baby girl is growing up, no doubt about that. And while she no longer lets me dress her in cute girly, girl dresses and Matilda Jane outfits she has come into a style all her own and it's fun to see what she's going to come up with next. (most of the time anyway) I try to get her to wear more than just jeans and tee once in awhile- so we're learning to compromise... She has to give and so do I. :) We also pick out her school clothes the night before so there are no issues in the am. Her current obsession is anything that sports a peace sign. My mom picked her up a few new things the other day and that's all she's been wanting to wear. Thankfully peace apparel seems to be 'in style' so we've got some to work with.......that is until she moves onto the next thing.

She's also been into doing her own hair lately which typically consists of a side ponytail. :) Thankfully she still lets me do it when it comes to heading to school /church, although the other day she had taken out what I did and was sporting a side tail when I picked her up at noon. Oh the joys!! I'm sure all this is just a taste of what's to come over the years.

The below was a practice we did for wacky day at school. Jenna came home with us after school for a playdate and thought she needed some highlights too. I admit I was a bit nervous spraying these blondies for fear it wouldn't wash right out like it was supposed to. Much to my surprise it came out nicely after only one shampooing. These girls thought they were the coolest with stands of hot pink. It was such a treat spending the afternoon girling it up with them. I think we may be in trouble when they are teens. :) These two are quite the dynamic duo.

Birthday Buddies!!

2011-03-23T09:30:00.000-04:00

With Kennedy and Kolter's birthday's on the horizon, and springbreak added to the mix, I figured we'd get their b-day invites out sooner rather than later so we had a little photoshoot the other day when the weather was nice. Thought I'd share a sampling of some of their cuteness. I felt bad that Koop wasn't included but he didn't seem to mind, thankfully. (I guess the benny to a July b-day is that he gets his own theme whereas these two have to share- the downfall of having b-day's four days apart)

Six and Three... How can it be?!?!

Spring Fever

2011-03-22T23:09:00.000-04:00

The awesome weather last week had us park bound daily and we LOVED it. I can't tell you how ready for spring we are. The news of another round of snow really does sadden us. Spring is near so we're focusing on that. The snow, hopefully, won't hang around long.

Last week was wonderful and we can't wait for more park days......

Family Night

2011-03-22T22:59:00.001-04:00

After our wonderful weekend north we picked up the kiddos, napped, and headed to family night with the Rotman's. We were celebrating our nephew's 9th birthday. It was so nice to be together with everyone. With all that's been going on with dad's health it was nice just to gather and hang out. The gushing on Kipton continued. He was smothered with lots of love. (the joy of being the baby of the fam)

Future sitter someday.. :)

Not sure dad is going to love this pic but I thought it was cute. Carley, our 4 year old niece actually snapped it. It'll be fun to look back at someday when dad kicks cancers butt. (Lord helping that is)

A sweet moment between Ella and grandma.

The b-day boy and Kip.

I remember when Reed was Kip's size...oh how the time flies.

Present time with two little helpers.

A naughty little helper standing when he should be sitting.

Uncle B also getting his baby fix.

As the night drew to an end the kiddos wanted one last Kipton fix. The poor baby was probably thinking what the world when three little faces crowded round to say goodbye.

All the love...

That night reminded me of how important family time is. We are very thankful for the small moments and time spent together even if only for a few hours. Praying for many more years of celebrations and family nights.

Weekend North

2011-03-22T21:44:00.001-04:00

A couple weeks ago we headed north for the weekend with our lifegroup. We had a wonderful weekend of relaxing, laughing, fellowship, eating and more eating.

Some of the gang enjoying a little fresh air on Saturday afternoon.

Thanks to generous family of one of the group we had awesome accommodations.

I believe a round of catch phrase was taking place at this particular moment.

On the way up we all met at Woody's.

It was a dive but super fun with surprisingly good food.

If you're ever in the Bitely area- check it out.

A baby in a bar...... what the world?

Thankfully Kipton won't remember a thing.

What a good little tooter he was all weekend. I think we all enjoyed gushing on him.

As always a great time was had by all.

Out of town gatherings are always a treat and we are super thankful for such a fun group of friends..

Thankful too for awesome parents who tend to our kiddos so we can enjoy some time away.

31 Candles

2011-03-22T21:28:00.000-04:00

On March 15 I celebrated my 31st b-day.. while I like to pretend I'm still 29- and hope to be for years to come- I had a wonderful day with my fam. We had parent teacher conferences that evening so my mom made a special dinner for us and a cake. All were excited for the cake.. I think the kids enjoyed my b-day just as much as I did. Thanking God for blessing me so much over the past 31 years..

Date Night With My Princess

2011-03-22T21:17:00.000-04:00

A special mother-daughter night out my beautiful little princess. Destination-Princesses On Ice.

Kennedy got all dolled up and was ready to go. The other part of the special night was that we were meeting up with 4 of her bff's. We also headed to one of her faves, Red Robin, before heading to the show. The girls were so cute and so excited. I think they loved being all together. Most of them had no clue where we were going or what we were doing.

After some yummy eats we headed downtown where the girls were beyond ecstatic about seeing Princesses on Ice. They were also excited to walk the tunnel from the parking ramp all the way to the arena. Five little giggly ,girly, girls ready for a show was a precious sight.

The show was very entertaining..

All the girlies sat sweetly in awe of the performance. (us mommies were entertained as well- mostly by taking in their reaction)

You can't go to a princess show without leaving with a princess item, now can you?

Needless to say they had merchandise plastered every 5 feet so escaping it was inevitable. :)

A little showtime snack was also a must!

Kennedy & Kailyn

Group shot..

All the pretty princesses ready for the drive home after a night of fun. It was a late night and all were exhausted by the time we made it back to the carpool lot.

What a fun night we shared with one another and with good friends. Looking forward to our next girl's night out.

And to anyone with a little princess I highly reccomend this show.

For the Tractor Lover

2011-03-22T20:04:00.002-04:00

Kolt's new favorite tee..

(A little plug for the etsy designer.. she can be found under (baby)fishstix)

Special Helper Day

2011-03-22T19:57:00.000-04:00

Kooper was special helper at school the day after we got back from Great Wolf Lodge. Since I ended up with a bad sinus infection Bryan had to step in and spend the morning with him. The two had a great time. Bryan enjoyed seeing 'classroom' Koop and meeting all his friends.

He picked out squishy balls to bring for the counting box.

Gym day with Sam and Reid.

Another adding Gannon to the mix..

Ready to pass out the squishy balls to all his friends and come home.

Kooper said he loved having daddy at school with him. He wished he could come with every time.

I think daddy enjoyed it just as much as Koop did.

A Taste of Spring?!

2011-03-22T19:43:00.000-04:00

Spring was short lived when this pic was snapped. The snow melted as fast as it came back during the first part of March. The kiddos were thrilled however to head out minus snow boots and winter coats. On this particular day they ended up covered in mud. Lets just say I wasn't the happiest of campers since my house was freshly cleaned and I told them to stay out the mud. Guess this momma can't turn her back for a second. :) At least they were having fun....

Great Wolf Lodge

2011-03-02T13:03:00.002-05:00

On Sunday am we packed up the fam and headed north. Great Wolf Lodge was our destination and we were looking forward to a couple days of family fun. The lodge was awesome and there was fun to be had. I, however, was a tad under the weather so the trip probably would've been a bit better had I of felt 100%. I put on the best I-feel-good face as possible and we enjoyed all the resort had to offer.

We stayed in a kid cabin suite so the kids had their own little cabin within our room. They thought that was pretty cool. I think they enjoyed playing in their 'room' as much as they did the water.

May I take your order please?

Kennedy loved the little window above her bed.

Kooper thought it'd be fun to climb through- BOYS!!

A view of our living area. Nothing too fancy but the fireplace was nice.

Kolter getting a feel for the ladder. He did fall down a couple times before mastering it.

The awesome water park with any and everything you could imagine.

Our kids liked the kiddie pool area most. I have a feeling in a couple years they'll be all about the big slides. Kennedy enjoyed going down the green tub slide with us as much as we'd go. We made Kooper try it and that was about the end of that. Even dad talking it up like they were going on a space mission didn't seem to help. At least he tried. :)

For now the kiddie slides will do just fine.

Kennedy spoted a little girl with a glitter tatoo and just had to have one..

What's cool is that they stay on in the water and is still pretty looking even days later.

PJ story time at the clock tower.

The tower comes to life and all the animals tell a story. The kids were in awe as they watched.

It really was a nice way to end the night.

Violet and Wiley came out to help read a bed time story..

They even stayed around for picture fun. Both boys chickened out at last minute so I ended up standing in with Kennedy.

All in all we had a howling fun time at GWL. I had a minor scare on Monday morning when I thought my daughter went missing, which put an end to our waterpark fun for the day. Thankfully she was found trying to find her dad, praise God, so other than that it was a good family getaway. Looking forward to next time.... and hoping for no colds or sinus infections when we go back. :)

Oh Kolter!!

2011-03-02T12:24:00.001-05:00

I found this pic on my camera.. Kennedy loves to dress him up, play house, and also play photographer. Looks like she added some friends to this photo shoot. I thought it was the cutest thing so I couldn't help but post. (daddy will more than likely object, but we'll ask for forgiveness later)

Daytona

2011-03-02T12:17:00.002-05:00

Bryan and I ventured down to Daytona over Valentine's weekend for a little fun and sun. The trip turned out to be all fun and not a whole lot of sun. We stayed with my sister and her husband for 4 days and had lots of fun seeing their life in Daytona. Kyle is in his last year of chiropractic school so we thought we'd visit before they move back home here to MI.

We had fun hanging with the Blauwkamp's. We enjoyed lots of yummy eats, drinks and fun. We even did a little shopping which was a nice treat without the kids along. Sleeping in was also a treat. Like I mentioned there wasn't much sun and the temps were below 60. Still warmer than the 18 degree day it was when we left. I sported a tank top for part of the afternoon when we headed to the beach to check out the scenery. As you can see the rest are wearing jackets so I was wearing a tank top mainly because I was in FL and had wishful thinking of hot temps on the brain. I later joined the black jacket gang.

After our beach tour we headed to Daytona Speedway for a little Bud Shootout action. The track was packed, so we were happy to score some premo in and out parking offsite. We did a little tailgating before heading into the speedway.

Thanks again Bree and Kyle for spending a weekend with us. We had lots of fun and enjoyed getting away. Coming home was also good. Being welcomed back by three smiling faces is the best!

Our Uncle comes home for a visit...

2011-03-02T11:54:00.000-05:00

My brother moved to California a little over 3 years ago and hasn't been home to visit for about 2, so his trip home a couple of weeks ago was a much anticipated event. Thanks to facebook and other social media outlets we are able to keep in touch which has been nice. He enjoys watching the kids grow and the enjoy seeing glimpses of his life. Kennedy and Kooper remember him well. Kolter was just a baby when he left so he's sort of clueless but did warm up to Uncle Russ in no time. We had some good family moments when Russ was home. Hoping we'll see him again and this time in less than a 2 year span.

So much love...

We went to Fricano's the first night he was home so this was Kennedy's response to him... beaming ear to ear.

I think she was pretty much glued to him all night. Super cute since he's single and kid less. I do think he enjoyed all the attention she gave him and she enjoyed his.

What a blessing it was to have him home even if it was just for a short week. Until next time..

Field Trip Fun

2011-02-08T16:10:00.001-05:00

I had the privilege of tagging along with Kooper's class on a field trip and had a blast at Horizon Gymnastics. Kooper had a blast with his buddy Gannon. These two were quite the pair that day. Kooper loved all the things they got to do at Horizon but said his favorite part was the foam pit. He loved it so much he asked if he could take gymnastics. Guess we may have to look into that. A fun morning was had by all.

Surfing in the sea of foam.

Halfway through the obstacle course.

A little tramp time.

Kooper will tell you this isn't a tramp. I think that's primarily because it doesn't look like your typical outdoor tramps. :)

With Mrs. D on the beams..

Sitting nicely and listening to the instructor explain all the fun they are about to have.

I thought it was cute that he's trying to hold Gannon's hand.

All the kiddos after an hour of fun..

Blizzard of 2011

2011-02-08T15:04:00.000-05:00

The best part of blizzard 2011 was two snow days and lots of fun in the deep, deep snow.

Twins!

2011-02-08T14:45:00.000-05:00

Kennedy and Bitty dressed alike and ready for church. She was super excited to sport their matching outfits. She took Bitty along to church and also to show and tell, later in the week, at school. Funny thing is Bitty isn't new and neither are the outfits. :) She just now thinks it's cool for them to dress alike, I guess. She said 'the boys dress alike, mom, and I really need a sister so you can dress us alike too.'

I'm thinking Bitty is the sister she'll never have.

Like father, like son..

2011-02-08T14:36:00.000-05:00

Kolter thought he was quite something pretending to shoot daddy's new crossbow.

(I'm sure this was a happy moment for daddy too)

Dressing Up

2011-02-08T14:33:00.000-05:00

Kennedy and Kolter we're playing ever so sweetly one day. When I went to check on them this is what I found. Looks like big sis can get him to wear about anything. She always wanted a sister. :)

Turkey Heads

2011-02-08T14:29:00.000-05:00

Project boat is still underway so the kiddos spend lots of time out in the garage with daddy while he is working on it. This particular night they decided to sport turkey decoys as hats. Gotta love it!!

Enjoying the Winter Wonderland

2011-01-16T20:36:00.000-05:00

Now that it's winter and the ground is covered with snow we try and venture out as much as we can to enjoy the fresh brisk air and rid some pent up energy. This is the first year that all gloves and boots seem to stay on all three kids. That makes outdoor play a tad more enjoyable and the work of bundling all up worth it. We went sledding as a family for the very first time and had a blast. All three even went down the hill on their own so we were super proud of their braveness. I admit I was a bit shocked to see Kolter go down on his own, but he LOVED it. Sledding was lots of fun, even for us. You forget how good of a workout trucking up and down the hill is and how much you laugh. Good, good memories. Praising God for the memories made as we enjoy moments together in the winter wonderland.

Yummy!

2011-01-16T20:17:00.000-05:00

Kolter's LOVE for eating snow cracks me up.

This is pretty much how you'll see him whenever he gets outside.

It's yummy... or so he says.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-16T20:10:00.000-05:00

We ended 2010 with wonderful friends and enjoyed the start of 2011 with a family day. In the afternoon we decided it'd be fun to take the kiddos bowling. The kids had fun and enjoyed bowling for the most part. I do think they enjoyed the video games the most. All in all it was a great time spent together as a fam and a good way to get some of their winter wiggles out.

They had this neat ramp that the kids could use to prefect their game.

Kolter thought it was the coolest!

He was the highest scorer of the three that day.