Grace Turns Two

Last weekend was Gracie's Birthday....she turned 2 on Valentine's Day! No blizzard or windchill warnings were going to keep us from celebrating! Grace is funnier than ever, her favorite food is dark chocolate and she know who to go to to get it....Papa! I love when she says, "Oh Yeah!" It was a fun party, they always get a little crazy at the end with all those kids running around hopped up on cake and ice cream! Kelly and I got her a wagon, hopefully we will come out of this polar vortex and she will be able to use it! Tara told me that when she asked Grace where she wanted to go for her birthday dinner she said Costco for a hotdog. She really does love hotdogs! Your too funny Frannie!




With it being Fat Tuesday this week, we bought Pazcki's for the kids at Club. Let me tell you Wesco has some good Pazcki's! We also got a new game for club, it's call 9 square in the air! It is a cross between volleyball and 4 square! We had a little hiccup getting it set up but thanks to Ty we got it set up. The kids loved it, it really is a fun game to play and you don't have to be all that athletic to get it! I loved watching the volunteers get in there and play with the kids!
Mom and Dad are off to Florida tomorrow and I have to say I am a bit jealous. I am sick of this weather, as I am sure everyone else around here is too! Well at least Tigers Spring Training starts today! That must mean that we are getting closer to seeing the sun more and some warmer weather...right?

I Miss You Big Hotdog

I'm sitting here half crying an half laughing thinking of my Grandma at 80 yrs old being a giant hotdog for Halloween! She sure was one of a kind! What other Grandma's out there would take the hose through the house and up the stairs to shoot the neighbors when having a water fight, or play ball with you (and yell at you if you didn't throw it hard to her....don't go easy on me she'd say), not to mention be at all your softball games (with gum and licorice for my team) heckling the umpires! She was the fun Grandma and 5 years ago was the last time I talked to her, she was going out to shovel (for the old people at her complex)....sometime it seems like just yesterday, and other times it feels like she has been gone for so long. Grandma Jackie was my best friend and I miss her so! I am glad she is in heaven with Grandpa and Jesus, and I am sure that she is bowling with Grandma Audrey, but I still miss her tons. I wonder sometimes if she was still here what she would have been for Halloween, or what trouble we would have gotten into, would she have the newest iphone/ninetendo (of course!). I know she would love watching Jackie play Wii (Jackie wants to win just as bad as Grandma Jackie!), she'd be laughing at Grace eating ice cream and making a mess, she'd be nervous about Austin cause he is a dare devil, and she would love to watch Ava do her Elsa impression! I am lucky to have had my Grandma in my life for so long, and I am so grateful for that! I have so many fun and funny memories with her, I loved her so much and that is probably why I miss her so much. Miss you Grandma Jackie, love you more!

Welcome to 2015

I know I know it's been forever since I have posted on here....It was a crazy end to the year! We have been really busy at Belay which is great...a few of the highlights include-- our Christmas Arrangement Party @ Macatawa Landscaping (it was a great afternoon, thanks again to Mark O'Neil and Joel and Darcy Bareman!), a student gave his life to Christ at our last regular club of 2014 which was AWESOME, we gave away 40 meals to the students who attended our Christmas Party, and sponsored several families for Christmas, thanks for supporting Belay Youth Ministry and me! My dad got sick right before Christmas, they thought it was his gallbladder but then he got the Flu, and then about a week later ended up having his gallbladder taken out. Oh Joybells as Grandma Jackie would say, he is very happy to put that all behind him and start fresh in 2015! Christmas highlights include seeing Jackie and Grace open up presents, they are both so different. At first Jackie was so slow I thought we would be there til June! They got a huge doll house from Kelly, some fairy doll things from my mom and dad that they love, and sleeping bags from me, I'm hoping to take them out camping (even if it is in the backyard) this summer! Aunt Fran turned 95 last weekend and we had a pizza party to celebrate! I think she had a lot of fun and was happy to get some new granny panties to cover her fanny! Love you Frannie! I gave Jackie my Wii, I thought she might like it and it would give her something to do when it's so cold outside. Sunday I gave her the balance board and Wii Fit....she and Grace love it, but Tara says that Adam is the best at the hula hooping, I requested a video but have yet to see one! I hope that you all have had a great Christmas and Happy New Year! My goal is to post on this blog at least twice a month...Aunt Cheryl since I know you still look at this you might have to help remind me!