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).

A Peak at our Week

After playing at the skate board park with Luke, Gerrit made his own...

the 2 brown pieces near the bottom right - guess those are ramps. Gerrit could go into detail as to what everything is suppose to be, so I'll save it for him to explain some time...(I think there is a zoo here too).

 

Someone is a bit more brave after swim lessons. He didn't learn anything 'new' but I think he gained more confidence.

 

These two cuties survived a 1.5 hour Burley ride with Dad to Rochester on Sunday. If you don't know what a Burley is, it is a pull behind bike trailer for kids - the space is small and they didn't even fight! Both tried to get in the trailer at least a half hour before it was time to go - guess they like the rides. 

And Adam used the time to do some interval training - nothing like going full speed with 60+ pounds off your back wheel. They passed many people and Gerrit was telling him: vanga, vanga, vanga (which means faster to the cycling world).

And a little fun at the park. Its only Tuesday...we have a full week ahead: the farm, Emmit's 18 month check up, and then Lake City to swim. At some point I will have to pack and get things ready for MI seeing we leave on Sunday, I am really hoping Saturday is productive!

Covered Bridge Days

We didn't take in many of the festivities this weekend but the parade. Its always fun to sit with friends and hang out for a while. We sat near the judging area of the bands which I have come to like. The bands stop and do some sort of fancy formations and try to impress the judges. There are quite a few bands in our parade because of the judging so it makes our small town parade worthy (I think).
 This year, Paul is in the marching band (top right) although he hates it and would quit if he could.

 

Here's a band from the cities, I like to think it is the next generation of marching bands...

Yep, 2 electric guitars being pulled on a trailer by a golf cart! They did a fancy formation around the guitars while they did a funky solo. It was great! I can only imagine these 2 guys, convincing their director to build a trailer and let them be part of the band! What a hoot. I did notice the trailer also served as a holding area for the wooden guns the girls throw around...never did understand what was so great about twirling wooden guns, why don't they use batons anymore?

Anyways, enough deep thinking, here are a few more pictures from the parade. And no, that is not our town's working fire truck! Anne is in the bright blue, the good baseball, supportive mom. Luke's team walked in the parade and handed out candy and last minute they realized they needed a few more parents to assist...So, Anne helped out. We missed her sitting with us on the side, but was proud she was in the parade. Luke brought Gerrit candy (seeing Gerrit isn't one to sit on the edge of the street and collect candy). Luke even brought Nikki and I candy - BitOHoney! Nikki and I were picking out of the kids' stash at last weekend's parade so Luke went and bought a bag and carried it in his pockets until he saw us. It was really cute - it made our night!

Following the parade, Dahlen's and Rocke's walked to our house to grill burgers and hang out until the fire works. It started raining so we brought the party into the garage. A 1 stall garage kept us dry - well, all but Gerrit and Abby who continued to ride the bikes in the driveway during the rain. Just when we thought the fireworks were going to be postponed due to rain, they started. So we were able to see them through a few trees for the whole 10 minutes they lasted. (I think they were afraid it was going to rain harder or something - it wasn't their best show and luckily we get more in a few weeks at Sandy Pines).