Go Fish!

Last weekend we took Gerrit to the cities to see Jamie in concert. Gerrit doesn't really put Jamie and Go Fish together because he usually sees Jamie alone and not in the role as singer.  He enjoyed the show although his enthusiasm looked like this:

I couldn't get my camera to take decent pictures based on the lighting in the concert hall, but here the 3 guys are singing in their old school track suits (Jason, Jamie, Andy).

At one point, the lights got real dim and the drums were highlighted by changing colors. It was really cool looking!

It was a fun show, we were thankful we were able to make it and we even had a chance to see Julie and the kids (and her family who we haven't seen in a long time!). They do such an amazing job spreading the Word to kids, we are honored to have become such good friends with Jamie.

Bunny Hops

I don't record many conversations I have with Gerrit and I think  I should. He's so innocent and makes me laugh...So here is a conversation with I had with him tonight:

Gerrit: Mom, do you have a mountain bike?

Mom: Not anymore, but I have a road bike, why?

Gerrit: To do bunny hops, I can do bunny hops.

Mom: Do you know what a bunny hop is?

Gerrit: A rabbit

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...)