Monday, March 28, 2011

DONE #20. VanderWal Family Reunion

I was going through my blog posts and found this... done but not posted. Funny thing is that I posted a real quick (and lame) version of this accomplishment earlier this year. This post was a lot better, so I'm sharing it too.


1 0 number 1

IMG_5617_2 O D letter O S

or What I did on my summer vacation...

It happens every four years during the summer. I'm not talking the Olympics.
I'm talking the VW Family Reunion.

Every four years the descendants of Albert and Elzina
gather in North Dakota to reconnect and have a good time.
I've been to a few and am always blessed when we get to go.
Our Reunion is always so much fun.


The Reunion started with a picnic at a park in Bismarck, ND.
The weather was beautiful. This time the Reunion was held in June instead of the usual July.
I really appreciated the difference in temperature those few weeks made.


These are the grandkids of Albert & Elzina.
Somehow I don't have a picture of the kids.
Four are living and three were able to attend.

These are all great and great great grandkids of Albert and Elzina.
I like this picture because only half of me shows and half is enough.

I am from Pete's Bunch. There are 36 of us (if I counted correctly).
We made a good showing considering we all travel from California and Nevada.
Cousins, if you read this... make plans and come next time.
You'll be glad you did.

And yes, Grom might be picking.

I think my blonde kid fit in rather well.

I'm not sure who picked red for our shirts.
Orange would've been better -
it is the color of Holland after all and we come from Dutch stock.

At the picnic they played games. The "big kids" were very competitive.

There was also face painting and water balloons.

After festivities in Bismarck ended, some of us traveled out to the family farm.

A real hayride, through the hay fields.
Complete with hymn and Sunday school song singing.

The trailer was very full.
On some of the turns it felt like we might lose a relative or two.

It was beautiful and green; really flat, except for the buttes.

My parents on top of a butte looking down on Cousin Carter's farm.

After the hayride, they took the kids camping down by the crick.
Grom and Surferman had a great time.
Whenever s'mores are involved, it's a great time.

The next day, they rounded up some cattle
to show the city cousins a thing or two about ranching.

Mom and I went shopping in a nearby town.
The store was closed but a cousin made a couple of phone calls and they opened for us.

Here they are bringing the calves into the barn.

One of the things Grom got to see was branding.
The other things was when they make calves into steers (we didn't go into detail on that one).

Feeding the cattle.

Some shots of the farm.

Their horses were beautiful and very fun to watch.

We stayed on a couple more days. It's great to be welcome when you've traveled so far.
We went visiting, blew off fireworks (I was hit TWICE), and just had fun being there.
Cousins took Surferman out fishing. They did great.
They actually caught their limits, came in and dropped off fish,
changed hats and went back out to catch more.

FISH FRY TONIGHT!

Here's a fish Surferman caught.

Here's a fish Surferman would like you to think he caught.

It was a blast to take Grom out to the farm.
During the last reunion, Grom wasn't quite 2.
He'll keep some memories of this one.


Going to North Dakota is a bit bittersweet.
This was the first reunion without either of my grandparents.
We were able to stop and see their grave and left some roses.

I'm not sure if we'll make it to North Dakota anytime soon,
but Lord willing we'll be there for the next reunion.
We'd better I guess, my mom was elected president of the reunion committee.

12 down... 89 to go.

yon

another one!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

What's for Dinner - 3.27.11


Sunday
~fellowship dinner~

Monday
~Grom - symphony / independent study day~
~Grom - karate~
~Gogo - volleyball practice~
Family Dinner
my folks cook

Tuesday
~Gogo - volleyball practice~
~family housecleaning night~
CORD
refrigerator & pantry buffett

Wednesday
~Gogo - volleyball practice~
~Grom - SKC~
chicken caesar salad

Thursday
~Gogo - volleyball practice~
~Grom - gymnastics & karate~
rice
broccoli

Friday
~Gogo - volleyball practice~
~April Fools Day~
~Servants Dinner~

Saturday
????

Sunday
~fellowship dinner~
baked shells

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Public Service Announcment

JustSomethingIMade
Go enter this giveaway. NOW!

If you win and don't want all those goodies... I'd happily take them off your hands.

really... go NOW! And while you are at it... subscribe. It's one of my must blogs.

If I don't win, I hope you do.

(and I'm not even getting an extra entry for sharing this... I really think her blog is great and it's a wonderful prize pack)

What is three in Japanese?

Grom earned another bar for his obi.

Does that look like the face of a kid who doesn't enjoy karate?

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Thursday's Top Ten 3.23.11

What are your top ten favorite animals?
(stuffed edition)


meerkats
pigs
they make cute noises and bacon is tasty


turkeys
my birthday is often on Thanksgiving and for some reason I relate to turkeys


monkeys
Grom is my monkey boy

seahorses
they are a funny funny creature
robins
duh
lamb
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." John 10:11


bears

lions
because I couldn't find a cute stuffed caterpillar

crabs
besides being tasty, they are the coolest animal with an exoskeleton

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

daybook 03.22.11


FOR TODAY - Tuesday March 22, 2011

Outside my window... this time change is still playing a number on me. My evenings are really screwed up. I just can't believe it's as late as it is. And I'm still having trouble getting up in the morning.

I am thinking... about an email I have to write. I need to catch up with a friend and I just don't know what to say. Couldn't they just read my blog?

I am thankful for... yummy meals from the freezer. We had a baked french toast tonight. I just had to buy some bacon and sausage. And said bacon and sausage were on a fantabulous sale... thank you very much.

From the learning rooms... It's another independent study week. My parents are watching the girlies, so Grom gets to hang out with them too. He has a list of stuff to get through. We're working on him working independently. I found a great online math program that Grom is really excited about.

From the kitchen... I'm looking forward to Ham and Chickpea Slow Cooker Soup and No Knead bread on Friday.

I am wearing... black pants, olive green tee and my Sanuk surf sandals

I am creating... It's crafting weekend!

I am going... to get a binding on a quilt. And I hope to get another quilt top done.

I am reading... "Radical". I finished "Life from Scratch" last night. I hope to get to that Sister Chicks book this week.

I am hoping... that things go well for my friends tomorrow. They have to take their sweet boy back to Stanford for another test. God grant them peace.

Around the house... boys doing homework. Grom is doing math on the computer (Roman Numerals!) and Gogo is studying for a history test.

One of my favorite things... catching a great sale at the market. Hello bacon and sausage!

Vocabulary word of the week:
fortnight - two weeks
In a fortnight, I'll be on a retreat - woohoo!

A few plans for the rest of the week: I feel like I'm in a bit of a rut. It's the same thing over and over and over, my own personal Ground Hog Day.

Here is picture I am sharing...
The price of daffodils came down! I have 2 bunches on my dining table right now!

Check out other daybooks at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Monday, March 21, 2011

What's for Dinner - 3.21.11

Monday
~Grom - karate~
~Gogo - volleyball practice~
~family dinner~
my parents cook
corned beef hash
pacific slime jello salad
berries

Tuesday
~Gogo - away volleyball game~
~family housecleaning night~
baked french toast
bacon and sausage

Wednesday
~Gogo - volleyball practice~
~volleyball tournament meeting - take bread~
~Kid's Club - Bible Study~
egg salad sandwiches
fruit

Thursday
~Grom - gymnastics & karate~
~Gogo - home volleyball game~
~computer lesson~
eat at Farmer's Market

Friday
~Gogo - volleyball practice~
~craft weekend~

Saturday
~Grom - karate~
~Farmer's Market~
~craft weekend~
???

Sunday
~fellowship dinner~
pasta with italian sausage

Sunday, March 20, 2011

DONE #79 Teach Grom how to ride a bike

Number 1 zero Educational  Brick Number 1

letter T o D oletter S

Timeline

March 16-18, 2010
Borrowed a balance bike for practice.
Grom does really well.
We have to return the bike before he's mastered it.

March 20, 2010


Found this video. Looks like the peddles are coming off.



Found this video. Looks like we need to find some grass for easier go downs.

Took the peddles off his bike and he was quick to learn his balance.
Put the peddles back on and he was off.