Random info

Bumbles Beas in Holland is expanding into two stores. Their new location will be in the old Baker Book House starting mid-October.
Have a great day!

Random quick post

A classic Mayci pose. She is so attached to her blankie. She takes it anywhere and everywhere and probably will even take it to college. I know I let her take it everywhere, but it's so much easier if she has it. It's obviously her best friend at this point... when she gets out of the tub- which is literally the only place she can't have it- she says ' bankie waiting (for) Mayci!' Like it missed her too or something. When it goes in the wash- which is not as often as it could or should- she gives it a hug and a kiss and says 'lub you bankie.' It's just adorable.
Madison usually gives in to Mayci begging her for a jeep ride. It's funny to see them both in there- Mads is just too big already. ;)

What do you think of her new look ?? A little mascara does alot!

Obsessed.

I am completely obsessed with clean floors. You could almost call it Obsessive-Compulsive. I can't stand when I walk into my kitchen and crumbs stick to my bare feet- it drives me crazy! I used to sweep my floors after each meal and when Ryan drags in chunks of dry cement of his clothes- it gets all over my floors again. So I would be sweeping alot nonetheless. Well I have found the BEST, most appropriate appliance to ease my mind...

Oh yes. It is called the Swiffer Sweeper Vac. Little bit of a tongue twister. I LOVE it. I use it countless times daily. It cleans better than my broom and dust pan ever could or would and I can finally walk around my kitchen in harmony. Am I strangely obsessed? Probably a little.
Have a good day!

A fitness pal ?!?!

A friend of mine has lost ~20 lbs over a period of 4-5 months using myfitnesspal.com. It's a website that is SO simple to use, and also if you spend time on the computer daily anyway... it's easy to quick plug in what you've eaten. That's all it is- a food diary that calculates your calories. It is very specific- even down to what kind/size of latte you had at Starbucks ;) If you exercise- it calculates what you've done and for how long- takes care of all the math for you! Perfect. When you sign up (for free) you set a goal and it tells you each day how soon you will meet that goal going by what you've consumed in calories. It's just great- I can't recall all of the details but I'd say if you're up for it, give it a try. It's new yet, so I'm loving it but I like the fact that I am accountable, too! I love that it's not a 'diet' it's just a plan to watch your calories and know why those numbers on the scale are going the wrong way!

* I have to include this b/c it made me laugh... I am trying to account for ALL calories burned so I can eat more and I found a title under exercises called 'carrying a toddler' or something similar! So if you're going to try this make sure you account for the times you're lugging around your little one. It's energy expended!

Weekend/Autumnfest

Since everyone is napping- I can blog my heart out with no interruptions. So, Friday night was strange- for me anyway. I wasn't feeling the greatest and went to bed at 9pm. Maddie went to the game w/Hoeve's, Scott was here chatting it up w/ Ryan, and Mayci was in bed so I figured- why not!?! Perfect opp. to just go to bed! I woke up feeling better on Saturday and was gearing up for the final/rescheduled day of our garage sale. We made up for the rain last Saturday by having it again this weekend. All 3 of us made out pretty well in the end! I was happy with the results and sold most of my 'big' stuff- Lynn even took the bookshelf off my hands at the last minute! Thanks girl!

Saturday night we had our babysitter come over so we could head down to Autumnfest '08 at New Holland Brewery w/ Lamer's. We got there early so we had a delicious dinner- and Kurt had a charred chicken! lol. It was BLACK. I honestly don't know that I would have even tried it like he did. But he was a good sport and tried it w/ obvious charcoal tasting results. lol. They brought him another one right away that looked good on the outside, but really looked as if it still had blood flow on the inside. YUCK. So he just enjoyed his Pumpkin ale, Lynn's pizza and baked beans. Poor Guy! I have to say my French Dip was so tasty, it had chipotle mayo on it- which at first I thought sounded unappealing, but it really was fabulous! I can't wait to go back for more! We ended up paying our tab and heading outside for the live band and after some time chatting and sipping our ciders Lynn had a GREAT idea to go on the Bike & Bar! If you don't know what it is- it's a little trolley looking thing that you sit on and pedal your way around downtown 8th street. It's a workout let me tell ya! It was hilarious after a few drinks! We were laughing pretty hard as everyone was waving and staring at this contraption moving it's way down 8th street with some very loud people on it! lol Good times.

Today was church and Sunday school. It was my first time teaching at Community- I had taught at Harderwyk for a few years before we transferred, so had some experience, but I felt like a dork today! I just didn't know the flow of things and didn't know my partner- who ended up being very nice and I like her alot- but it was just different. I will catch on though and it will be fine! ;)

Sounds like Mayci is talking down there so I will go get my princess up! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

All I need is love, love...

(Just kidding.) They are super good buddies and just love playing together.

Just glad...

.. the weekend is over. The garage sale was great on Friday- almost too busy. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying we weren't ready for the avid garage sale pro shoppers when they started showing up an hour early. Whenever I go to a garage sale, I wait until they open. I just think it's courteous and they set a time to open for a reason- probably to set up! There's nothing I desperately NEED at any garage sale. But forget all about that- there are people who want stuff and want it first! I hadn't even gone to the bank to make change yet and Jen wasn't close to being on her way when people were coming up the driveway. I was a little annoyed! But we made out like bandits for only being open 3 hours so I will give thanks to the pros for stopping by.

Anyway- Saturday, needless to say, was wet. We closed up and called it a day early on and hope to have better luck next Saturday. I plan to shove everything to the side for now and we'll get it back out later. (Trying to stay positive!) The rain kept us inside and Maddie had a fever/headache for 3 days so I was just spent by Saturday night. I almost can feel what my kids feel when they're sick.

Sunday we went to church- and I am telling you, it has been a very long time since I've been able to go. Either I have been working or sleeping from working the night before and I felt so out of the loop. I felt like another family warmed themselves up to 'our' seats too. They're not technically 'our' seats, but you know what I mean, you just sit in the same spot every week. I guess it had only been 3 weeks since we had been, but before that it was 3 weeks too so it just felt long. I always feel like Fall kicks things back into gear for us as a family and I'm ready for that. I'm ready to be more involved in church and to serve as much as possible. But I always feel that way come Fall!

Sunday night my step-mom made dinner for everyone so that was wonderful! They have recently moved so that was our 'first' dinner as a family at their new home. Good times, the kids are entertained, and I don't have to cook!

Hopefully this week brings us some sunshine! Have a good one.

Sweetness

Remember....

Not to get all political and sentimental on you- but please take a moment at some time today to remember and pray for the innocent victims and their families of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Those families are still hurting today and our nation continues to hurt as well. Not just the loss of those victims, but the war in general, oil prices, etc. Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news and the creepy, unbelievable feeling when you first saw it on tv. I will never forget watching a documentary on the film some 8 months later and seeing victims jump from 20 some story office windows so they wouldn't suffocate from smoke. It give me chills to think that was someone's daddy, son, husband, or brother. Please pray for those families, wives, husbands, children. Everyone has been a victim somehow!

Cheese anyone ???

Steps to make a 2-year old taco... with extra cheese!

1)Pour the entire bag of cheese on the taco

2) Then put the cheese back INTO the bag- along with little pieces of tortilla shells... yuck!

3) Wipe onto the floor and all around the table with a paper towel.

And VOILA!

Just me & you

I am just loving this time with Mayci at home. I am so thankful that I can be here for her and not have to leave home without her! (unless I'm working) She makes me laugh 100 times a day and I'm so in love with her! I was worried with Maddie going back to school that she would 1) want someone to play with all the time and 2) she would need someone to play with all the time so she could learn how to SHARE! But she's fine, and we're having fun. We've had busy days and home-body days and both are always fun. She is very much into her baby dolls and playing 'mommy'- which I didn't think she would until later ??? Oh well, she's playing well and it cracks me up to hear what she tells her baby. For example, today I told her she was going to go to Grammy's house in a few days to play. Mayci is petrified of my mom's dogs, but they are always in their crates in the office, unable to get out at all. So she says 'Mayci scared grammy doggies!'. I then reassured her that the doggies would be in their cages with the door shut and she'll be ok. A few moments later, Mayci told her baby 'doggie, cage, you ok baby, doggie cage!' Too funny! I'm glad she is listening to me- she has a running start on her sister lately!!

Maddie is just barely in the groove of school. The first few days were tough. A few of her good friends are in a class together- and she is not. So if you ever felt left out in your life... that's probably a little how she's feeling. But she's had some playdates with these girls since school started and it's reassuring for her that just b/c you're not in the same class- you'll live!! It sounds like everything is going much better now and that's everything I've prayed for.

We have a busy weekend coming up. Friday night we're (finally) going out friends, no kiddos. Saturday is our garage sale, and hopefully Crane's on Sunday if the weather is nice. I hear it's Honey Crisp this weekend so I don't want to miss those!

Hope you're enjoying the Fall weather. This is my absolute favorite time of year so I'm loving it!

Ciao!

My Buddy

These two were so cute tonight... Josh had Mayci giggling and playing outside without Ryan or I. This is HUGE for Mayci- she could play alone all day if it were up to her!

Josh was adorable helping her on the slide and showing her around... she even let him push her on the swing- this is a major step people! She is definitely a shy one around other kids.

Hope you enjoyed a gorgeous Friday night!

Tiger!

This girl....

makes me laugh all the time. She is just too grown up already ... and loves her some Cap'n Crunch!

3rd Grade

So here she is... first day of 3rd grade. I had absolutely no problem getting her up this morning- she couldn't WAIT to see her friends at school. I tried convincing her she should let me re-do her hair, but if anyone has a girl they know how that goes....

Mayci and I walked down to the bus with her, I think Mayci thought she was getting on as well ?!?! So we waved like fools standing at the end of the driveway as she drove away on the bus. (She didn't wave back, she didn't even look at me) lol. At the last second I remembered I didn't put an ice pack in her lunch.... oops.

Sunday Funday

Creative title, I know. ;)
We went up to Ryan's aunt/uncles cottage on Crystal Lake again this weekend. There were about 12 of us on the Overweg side that went up- (missed you Cam and Jon!), and of course all the little ones, too.

Ryan taking Mayci on the 'boat ride'. That was all she talked about the whole way up...

Madison is always raring (sp?) to go! She gets right in there and doesn't stop all day.


The water was chilly in the middle of the lake- I think you can somewhat tell be their faces here!

Breck thought the boat ride was relaxing...

Sorry ladies, the one on the right is taken. ;)



I left out the pictures of Julie and I tubing.. you can't see us well enough anyway. I laughed the entire time as Doug intentionally gave us an *H* ride. Actually- it wasn't that bad, I just couldn't hold on anymore laughing hysterically!

So that is the extent of our Labor Day weekend re-cap. We are ready for school to start and anxious for Fall to arrive. (Fall=Crane's apples/donuts/cider ) We also are looking forward to having plans on Friday nights and hardly having to think twice. (Football games)

Hope you had a relaxing holiday weekend!