My girl amazes me!

I started "working on" potty training Anaya about 3 weeks ago, because she woke up dry a few days in a row, so I figured we would "try" it and see how it goes. Well, at first it was accident after accident, but, before long she figured it out, and started telling me when she had to go! She has been accident free for about a week and a half or so! So actually it was really no work at all! She just did it! My boys were super easy too. I wish I could say I had a "technique" but I think there is just a "window of opportunity" for these things and thankfully we found it!

She loves to flush, and wash up, then she knows she gets candy. She is supposed to get only 2 pieces, but she usually tries to grab a handful and quickly stuffs it in her mouth!

YAY Anaya!! It is somewhat bittersweet though, I haven't been "done" with diapers for 11 years. I am not sure if I like that idea!

When we came home from Guatemala, our Doctor suggested we get some help from the Early On program. Well, last week we had our last meeting with them, as she has come so far, she is mostly caught up! In some areas she is way beyond where she should be! I had to laugh when they asked if she could cut with scissors or paint. Uh no! I don't let my 24 month old cut and paint, am I crazy or are they? I thought about it and figured I would let her "paint" with water on her Aqua doodle mat to see what she would do. And she did exactly what I thought she would do...
She tried to drink the "paint" water and ...

suck on the "paint" brush! I think I made the right decision to hold off on paint for a while! Now I know there are the people who let their kids paint with pudding or whatever, but I am not a huge fan of big messes, and besides the Aqua doodle mat works just great~without the mess!!

Just a quick update on my Dad...

He lost his job on Thurs. On Fri. he went to a competitor of his old company and asked if they had any work for him. They told him to come back after the holiday. They put him to work right away this week and are paying him to work on contract for 2 weeks! We are praying they will keep him after that and hire him on full time! YAY God! We are so thankful for work in this economy! Please pray that this will continue on into a full time job! And YAY Dad we are so proud of you!

improvise...

The guys still went fishing and caught LOTS of fish!! We in turn ate LOTS of fish(which Ryan fried up for everyone!) YUM!!

We went to the dunes...

and we still sat around the campfire eating s'mores(and way too much other stuff...)

But... We were going to go camping with my family up near Traverse City. However, about the time we were going to leave, we got a call from my Dad letting us know that he had just lost his job!! WOW, We didn't see that one coming!! All things considered, they decided to stay home. So we talked to my Sister and her hubby and decided to just have everyone come up here, after all, we love to get together, but it's no fun without Grampa and Grama! So they all headed up and we camped...

at our house!! Truth be known, this was the best arrangement possible. I was quite nervous to take Anaya camping because sometimes she doesn't sleep well if she isn't in her own bed. And being in a pop up camper with a screaming baby does not equal fun to me! We had a great time together, and decided camping at a house is the way to go! Clean private bathrooms, warm non bug filled shower, everything you need right at your fingertips! It was great!

My youngest Sister and her husband returned home from a trip to Italy and came up to reunite with little Olivia (who was staying with my parents!) Look at that happy mommy(and baby!) It was great to have everyone here together!

Please be in prayer for my Dad as he starts his job search in this economy. We are, however, confident he will find something, he is a great guy, and a hard worker. We are asking God to give him a job where he is appreciated for his hard work, something he didn't have at the previous one. They got rid of a gem, and I am certain they will pay for their bad business(and moral in my opinion...but I'll not go there) decisions!

soccer...

This was the first year the boys have played soccer. We figured Dylan would like it, and of course Spencer, he is so competitive, but Jayden... He surprised us the most, he started out the season saying he didn't really want to play after all. But, since he signed up we made him follow through. So he played and found out... he likes soccer! He was so fun to watch (as always,) he had a big ol'e grin on his face the whole time. They all 3 had a great time and want to do it again. The soccer season ended on Saturday, and this week baseball starts up, and...Jayden isn't playing!

These little piggies...

squish play dough!

This is Easton's newest idea of fun! The problem is he is not supposed to stand on the counter~for heavens sake, he falls off his chair when he is just sitting! So I have put a kibosh on that. But it was pretty cute. He says he is "flattening it out" and sure enough he is, I gave him a rolling pin, but that is not near as fun...

Here are those cute little piggies again. He loves to sit on the couch and "read books with Anaya." Who by the way is no longer a baby in the nursery....she goes to Sunday school and children's church!! I am so sad, I LOVE babies, and mine are growing up WAY too fast!

This is for the birds...

Thanks to you Miss Turkey...

and all of you beautiful goldfinches...

Yes, you, Mr. Oriole...(don't give me that look!)

Especially you Mr. Indigo Bunting...

and Mr.Woodpecker...

as well as you Mr. Grosbeak...

Thanks to all of you, this is what my boys are doing while they are supposed to be doing school! How's a teacher supposed to teach when she can't get the students attention? I guess all that bird watching and looking up their names is learning...right?!?

Turkey hunting success...

Ryan did a good deed and actually got a bird in the first few days of his season! (He shot it because Spencer was with him...he usually waits for a "big one") He usually passes up a few birds so that he can continue hunting for the entire month! He denies this, but its true. He was quite bummed that he was done! I bet he won't do it again next year...

This was Dylan's first year to turkey hunt and he got this nice Jake! He was pretty pumped! Thanks Grampa VZ for taking him!

Ryan actually prepared his turkey for our mothers day lunch! Every year he makes me and my Mom and Grama lunch for mothers day. This year my Grama was sick and he invited his parents over as well. He is quite the cook and always puts out quite a spread! This year it was a turkey stir fry, some awesome potatoes, rice and an incredible peanut butter parfait brownie dessert!! YUM!! Thank you Ryan, you are an amazing husband and I love you!

Tulip Time 2009

Anaya saw Easton put his hands on his face, so...monkey see, monkey do! So funny!

Last year was the first year we missed Tulip time in like...forever! It was good to be back!

Anaya giving Grampa besitos!

waiting for the parade to start...

While there, we met up with some more cousins! Alexis and (Easton's buddy) Taylor!

Anaya fell asleep DURING the parade...bands and all! She was hot and of course...sweaty!!

the gang...

I took the kids to the parade in Holland yesterday. Both of my parents and sisters and all of the

grandkids were there. Spencer and Brayden were on Fox News last night for a brief second! I didn't even see the camera man, but apparently they were across the street from us the whole time because when we were watching the news I said to Ryan"hey, we were standing in front of that building... and not a second later there were the kids mugs on the news!! So cute.

PARTY HARTY...

Cake #1...She is not so sure about all this singing!

round 1 of gifts...

cake #2...

gifts round 2...

cake #3...Yuck... I am sooo sick of birthday cake!!

gifts round 3...Anaya is NOT sick of getting gifts!

We started off Friday night with a birthday party for Anaya with my side of the family, then we went to the fireworks for Tulip Time kick off (which is why Anaya is dressed in a dutch costume while opening her gifts!) Then on Sunday we partied with Ryan's side of the family. We celebrated Mady, Taylor, Anaya and Ryan's mom's birthday's all together as their days are one right after another! My sister in law had a lady make the beautiful cake #2, and it tasted as good as it looked~it was awesome!! Finally today we celebrated Anaya's day as a family. I can't believe she is 2 years old already!! She is starting to talk more and it is so much fun to hear her little voice saying things we understand! Fun Stuff!

I'm sick...

And tired of this "Swine Flu" thing! PLEASE PEOPLE...It's the flu for heavens sake! Just don't do this....

and you should be fine! I know many people have their thoughts on this, but I happen to agree with Brent Riggs. Check out his post here.