Prepin' for the X-Games

Thursday, I took the boys to the skateboard park with Luke. This time I took the camera! Gerrit started off by doing his "tricks". {I was impressed I got the wheelie shot the first try.}

Gerrit couldn't get his bike up the ramp by himself because it was too steep. So I helped get the bike up and then helped him get up too. He wasn't scared to go down it and liked it when Luke went at the same time. Watching the X-Games this weekend has given him more inspiration to learn new tricks! Yikes!!

Even though Emmit didn't have wheels, he enjoyed climbing on whatever he could!

Down on the Farm

Gerrit and I were able to help out at the farm yesterday. A few shots of the farm and one of Gerrit in the wagon with the garlic we harvested.

Deb's granddaughter Ellie was there so Gerrit had someone to play with (Luke and Paul were on vacation). She is 3.5 and once the 2 of them warmed up to each other - they had a blast! They played so well together that Gerrit forgot he was suppose to help me harvest!

 At least they were busy so I was able to be productive and help Deb get her CSA boxes ready.

Here is the redneck swimming pool, also known as a horse trough:

When they were not swimming, they were playing on the sand hill:

They were busy talking the whole time and I wish I was working closer to them so I could've heard what they were talking about!

Fun at Grandma Jackie's

Yesterday the boys and I went with Nikki and her kids to her mom's house. Nikki's 4 nieces and nephews were there too so there were lots of kids to play with and lots of toys. Seeing everyone there calls Nikki's mom 'grandma', Gerrit did too. So now she's grandma Jackie in our house!
 Gerrit enjoyed the pool: doing his twist jump to trying a flip, he tried it all. Emmit wanted to swim even though he didn't have his suit on. I didn't feel like going in, so Emmit was rescued before he made it to the top of the ladder.

When we were not by the pool, there was plenty of other fun toys to keep the kids busy. Gerrit enjoyed driving a go kart (it was electric which is why I think he did it), both boys loved the 4 wheeler (it too was electric and out of juice so Emmit couldn't take off on it), the bounce house was a hit by timid Emmit and Gerrit enjoyed a real 4 wheeler ride with Nikki and Ollie. Emmit tried to copy his brother by standing on the 4  wheeler doing 'tricks' and couldn't quite figure out the little tractor - his legs were not long enough to reach the pedals to get it moving.

It was a fun afternoon and great for the kids to play and stay busy! I'm sure we will be back before too long - need to make sure the toys get put to good use!

The Cyclists...

Thanks to Uncle Jeff, Gerrit has a new 'helmet'. Uncle Jeff LOVES to send Gerrit home with obnoxious toys that his kids once played with (mostly Max's stuff). This last trip to MI was a success for him because Gerrit fell in love with and was able to take home this Star Wars helmet thing. The other night he wanted to wear it in place of his real helmet because he said the visor protected him from the branches (there are a few bushes between our house and the neighbors that Gerrit rides by on his little route on the sidewalks). I couldn't argue with him and let him try it. The funny thing is it doesn't breathe so the kid is sweating buckets by leaving the thing on! It made for a funny picture and he doesn't try to replace his real helmet with this - thank goodness!

Emmit has started showing more interest in cycling. He hated a helmet on his head and now tries to put it on himself. With a little help from his big bro, he no longer looks like a goomba wearing his helmet backwards! He is also showing more interest in the push bike. He can reach the ground on his tip toes but doesn't really have control over the bike yet - my guess is by fall he will have figured the thing out! It would not surprise me if he mastered the push bike before he talks (I hope not!).

Full Throttle

Gerrit had VBS last week which he wasn't real thrilled about going to (which was a mystery for me).  He went each day but ti took some convincing and when I picked him up - he was all smiles and had fun. I don't know why he wouldn't have fun - the theme was all about cars!

There was a little program Friday afternoon where they sang a few songs they learned during the week.

Being shy and not singing or doing the motions...

He at least did the motions to his new favorite song, even if he didn't really sing it. (He will often sing it at home though...just not for a crowd)

There were no tears this week and he willingly went up front for the program (someday he will join in and actually participate thru the whole program, but baby steps...)

Sandy Pines Vacation

This is going to be a long post and full of pictures. I'll let them tell the story of our vacation, for the most part.  My whole family made it out to the lake for the 4th. We ate, played, and swam. We even tried a photo shoot and got a few good pictures of the whole gang and just the grandkids.

Tuesday we visited Grandma and GG while Luke and Paul hung out with Max. We spent the afternoon outside watching the boys play in the yard. The weather was beautiful and a perfect day for hanging in the yard!

 

Wednesday, Adam went golfing with his dad so the rest of us hung out at the lake. One of the favorite parts of the trip was tubing. Gerrit didn't even want to go in the boat this year, so he hung out on shore with Opa. He liked playing with his own boat close to land. The only tubing Gerrit did that day was on land...

Thurday we also hung out at the lake. Luke road the neighbor's new scooter, we played at the water park, Gerrit road his 'new' bike. {We borrowed one so we didn't have to take his along. It was a bit big for him and required him to use handbreaks which he could do on one side. When we got back to MN, he said his bike was too small and he needed a bigger one!} Luke and Emmit were often found on the golfcart, Luke dreaming of driving, and Emmit...just playing!

Friday was the annual day at the country club with my brother's family. The older boys went golfing while the rest of us hung out at the pool. Ella loved being with Emmit, even if Emmit didn't like being with her. Mia is a strong swimmer and showed Gerrit a thing or two about going down the slide. Gerrit enjoyed playing football with Max and Luke. Dinner was at Yesterdog and dessert at Jeff's house where the kids continued to play.

Saturday and Sunday were steamy so we didn't do a whole lot. Grandpa Birr and Geri came for Sunday lunch, the guys went to the driving range and Emmit took a nap thanks to a golf cart ride.

There was a remote control race one night too which Gerrit loved to watch. Luke and Paul tried out the ropes course too this year.

Monday was a bit rainy so we did our annual trip to Meijer. After dinner, while we waited for Anne and Dave to arrive we took the boys to Craig's Cruisers. I think they had the most fun here and wish we had one in MN. Gerrit liked playing co-pilot but Adam wanted to go faster. So the 2nd time, Gerrit watched with me while the 3 boys raced. Can you guess who won? The only driving Gerrit did this week was the jeep.

Tuesday we took Anne and Dave on the dune rides. There was a Craig's Cruisers in Holland and it was 2 for 1 night so of course we had to stop. Luke didn't like it b/c they made him use a little car which didn't go as fast. Even Anne and I took a spin.

Wednesday was hanging out at the lake day. The guys rode and did the drivign range and the rest of us visited the playground, took golf cart rides and traded off in the hammock. Hobo pies were on the menu which were tasty despite the wet wood which caused quite the smoke. At one point, the jeep came around the corner and Emmit was driving! Gerrit thought it was great - I did not.

Thurday, Anne wanted to try the ropes course so on our way to the pool, we stopped. The guys were golfing so we took in the pool one last time.

Friday the gang headed north to my brother's cottage. Gerrit went tubing with Paul, Mia and by himself! I enjoyed taking Paul for a tube ride and pride myself in getting him off the tube too. Paul enjoyed trying the slack line (a balance thing) as well as catching a fish. Mia showed Gerrit how to fish too. It was a great day and wonderful way to end our vacation.

Vacation from Everything

I just realized that I have not posted in a really long time. I guess 2 weeks in MI was not the only vacation I took. The thought of sorting through 600 pictures does not excite me but with the hot weather, there might not be much else to do! I've spent plenty of time shopping online for school supplies today (as much as I don't like back to school because it means back to work, I love school supplies and am excited Gerrit is going to school!) as a means of procrastination.... 

We are home, pictures from our 2 weeks will come soon as will fixing the blog.

Closer Than I Thought

This big 18 month old had his well visit this week. I just pulled out Gerrit's stats from that visit and they are closer than I thought:
Gerrit height: 32.8"                    Emmit height: 31.7"

Gerrit weight: 25 lb 5 oz             Emmit weight: 24 lb 15 oz

I thought Gerrit would've blown Emmit out of the water on being the 'bigger' kid at this age, but they are not that far off. I guess Emmit just carries himself differently than Gerrit's chubbiness as a baby. It is not surprising that Emmit isn't chubbier based on how much he can eat! 

We've survived another heat wave by staying cool at the pool. Yesterday we went to our pool in town and it was tough getting the boys out. Emmit decided that even though he was dry and had his clothes on, he wanted to go back in - clothes and all! 

Today we visited Deb in Lake City with a few friends and swam all morning. Emmit tried getting in the pool from the side - he must've thought it was like the baby pool in which he could touch! Gerrit loved it because he can touch on his tip toes and had very little fear. He is like a fish and I love how he has no fear (sort of).