Hertsje and Big Baby

 Had a great time today playing with Hertsje.

And the sun light was very good this morning.

Hertsje has always been very talkative, and every day she has more and more to say.

Today I sneezed, and she said "Bless you!"

On Monday We Made Things!

First up on Monday, we played with Duplo Legos.

 Next we went outside and made a tent city.  Zeke brought out his own blanket!

 No "real" sleeping happened.  I assure you.

 Well, maybe Zeke slept a very little bit.

After almost the entire day outside, we came in to make things out of Tinkertoys.

Swings for the little dolls were a hit.

It was great fun.

So much fun that I am still tired.

10 in 10

 1.  Today has been a day of rest for me.  I've not done much but fill my new bird feeder and hang it on a shepherd's hook in the back yard.
2.  It was a rather busy week.  I like that.
3.  On Thursday I did not have any cute little grand kids to watch.  My middle sister picked me up in the morning and we drove to Kalamazoo to visit with our oldest sister.  We had a fabulous lunch at Zoorooba's. I had the grilled salmon, saffron rice, and hummus.  All three of us shared one piece of date cake.  I would travel back there just for a third of a piece of date cake.  It was THAT good.  So was the coffee.  But most of all it was nice to visit with my sisters.
4.  Friday is well pictured in the posts below this one.  It was such a wonderful day.  THGGM said that I was the annoying one, always worried that something was going to happen to someone.  Nothing did.  Now, does that make me ANNOYING or responsible?  Much to ponder here.
5.  Saturday morning we hosted breakfast for DiL1's birthday and for Father's Day.  It was also Kado's actual birthday, but he is sharing a birthday party with Feintsje next weekend.  THGGM made blueberry French toast for the occasion.  It was wonderful, as was everything else we had to eat.
6.  For dinner on Saturday THGGM and I went to Olive Garden for dinner.  He wanted to go to Hunan, but I told him he didn't, he wanted to go to Olive Garden.  It seemed reasonable to me. But I guess I was wrong, and possibly annoying, but I just don't see it that way.
7.  The weather has been absolutely beautiful this weekend.  Warm and mostly sunny, with just a bit of rain here and there.  All I can remember from last summer is how extremely hot it was.  All.  The.  Time.  I can handle this.
8.  Hmm. It's been more than 10 minutes.  We took a break and went out for ice cream.  First we passed an accident that had just happened.  Then the line at the 'usual' ice cream place was too long, so we drove to MacDonald's for hot fudge sundaes instead and passed more police activity on the road.  Anyway.., we came back home and enjoyed our sundaes in the back yard while watching the neighborhood birds flock to the new feeder.  Lots of cardinals.
9.  My new vacuum cleaner is supposed to arrive here tomorrow.  Can you imagine what it looks like over here?  I've been without a vacuum cleaner for over a week now.
10. The dog in these two pictures is my grand-dogger, Bethy.  Oldest Son and DiL1 adopted her.  She is recently recovered from heart worms, so she had been unable to run and jump and play.  She can do all that now!  Zeke didn't seem to mind, although he wouldn't play with her.  Bethy has THE most beautiful blue eyes.  You'll have to take my word for it, as of all the pictures that I took yesterday, these two are the only ones that turned out.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend, and if you are a father, Happy Father's Day to you!

Happy Birthday Kado!

Kado turned four today.  I took this video of him a month ago today.  Kado was excellent at being three years old.  I'm sure he'll be great at four too. Kado is not the oldest child, not the only girl, not the baby.  He is KADO, and he is an amazing person with unique thoughts, ideas, and insights.  He hates goats and lions.  Loves all things Toy Story.  From the day he was born I've wanted to keep him, but his mom won't let me.

Yet Even More Friday!

Thankfully, it's a long enough ride home from the beach for those who desparately needed a nap to get one.

Well, except for THGGM.  He had to wait until he got home.

Lake Michigan wasn't quite warm enough to swim in yesterday, so when we got home the bathing suits went on and so did the sprinkler.

Then, out came the umbrellas!

I would never have thought of umbrellas in a sprinkler, but these guys are more creative than I am.

 I reminded these two of how when they were younger they used to like to listen to each other chew.  So they took turns trying it again.  For old-time-sake.

And one last picture of Kado as a three year old.  I'm finding this so very hard to believe.

Even More Friday

 

We left Hoffmaster State Park with everyone still wide awake and happy.

The next stop was MacDonald's for Happy Meals.

There is a small park in Spring Lake where we stopped to eat.

It had a very nice playground for kids.

It was Kado's very last day of being three years old.  

They still had energy.

Ours was long gone.

More Friday

 After the stair climb, hiking in the woods, and playing on the beach we went to the nature center at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park.

It's a very nice place for children.

Especially children of the taller variety.

Poor Feintsje.  He was ALMOST tall enough!

Once he did find something he could reach, he was pretty intent on staying with it.

 And, again, here is why I do not often attempt to pose children.  Like nailing jello to a wall.

Friday Vacation Day!

 THGGM had the day off Friday.  Soon after Daughter dropped the kids off, we loaded them back into the van and headed to  Lake Michigan.  The weather was beautiful.  The children were darlings.