August in a Nutshell

I know I said earlier that my goal was to update this blog 2 times a month....and then August hit and got away from me and here we are almost mid September and I haven't updated...so here goes! 

Tara and I took the girls to the Hudsonville Fair one night.  My original intentions was to take them to Ottawa County but that afternoon we had a little mishap with Adams boat getting a hole in the hull, and it turned into a longer afternoon than any of us anticipated.  Luckily for us there is always another fair around the corner in the summer.  We always went to Hudsonville when we were kids.  The Knoll Family would take us and it was always something that I looked forward to each year.  Grace loved the 4-H barns, especially the horse barns.  She didn't care it their heads or their rear ends were hanging out she was going to pet them all!  Jackie liked the rides, but she LOVED the games.  Even more when she as winning....she is named after Grandma Jackie after all. 

The good news is I got  new carpet...the bad news is the reason for new carpet is some bed bugs hitched ride home with me and though the would take up residence at my house.  I don't think so!  Gross!  Thanks to Orkin and my parents help, I think we have the problem under control.  Something I hope you NEVER have to experience but if you do call ORKIN...not cheap but guarantee to get rid them! I also was on jury duty for the month of August.  I ended up having to go in and actually got selected for a case.  It was a very interesting process.  It was a very difficult case for many reasons and I have thought a lot about it since.  It will be something that sticks with me for a long time.  I have a new found respect for the court system in this country, for how it works and for all of the people who help to make it work each day...but I am very glad that my part is done. 

I can't believe that school started this week.  I guess I am ready for it, and a more regular schedule.  It will be good to see the kids on a more regular basis.  I getting excited for our after school club to start and some new things that we are going to try this year.  Stay tuned..more to come on that later!  I am excited to welcome my cousin Ross home from Colorado next week and have him around a family functions!  Also, you know my favorite time of year is right around the corner...the most wonderful time of year....pumpkins and Halloween!

A Princess WhiteCaps Game

When I looked at the schedule for the White Caps this spring and saw that there was a "Princess Game" I knew that was the game to take Jackie and Grace to.  Jackie is into anything Princess, Grace she could care less as long as there are hotdogs at the game she is happy!  We got to 5th 3rd Ballpark at 11:30 to make sure we had all the Princess time that Jackie wanted. 

Here is Jackie and Grace with Cinderella, the Step Sisters, and Fairy Godmother. 

I love this picture of Grace, she loves to yell right now and here she is yelling at me trying to take her picture!  Also notice that my parents are each holding a helmet full of Dippin Dots.  Jackie remembered this from last year and had to have the helmet....just like Grandma Jackie, she would be so proud!  

Although there was not much watching of the game, we had a great time!  My dad ordered the tickets and picked a great spot!  It was a fun family day (we missed Tara and Adam...we'll have to go again!)!  I am looking forward to going with Abby and Austin and Ava in a couple weeks! Go White Caps (they did win the game by the way, which is more than I can say for the Tigers yesterday!)

Summer Stuff

Wow I can't believe it is almost already!  Memorial Day was a great time over at Abby's house, the weather held and we were able to be outside.  Probably my favorite part of the day was the picture that Abby took of our family including my 93 yr. old Grandpa Ed who is a WWII veteran!  It was last minute and kind of thrown together but that shows how talented Abby is because I think the picture turned out great (or WONDERFUL as Grandpa Ed would say)!

Last week was Belay Youth Ministry's week at Camp!  I know that sometimes it is difficult for the counselors at Camp Geneva having some of our kids the first week, but I also know that all of the students that were out there last week had a great time, and their lives will be forever changed.  It is so fun to see the progression of the week, Monday morning they are hardly awake and really don't know if they are going to like this and by Saturday they are exhausted from all the fun that they have had and don't really want to go home!  My favorite is to watch them do the Challenge Island Activities. I love to see the sense of accomplishment when they reach beyond what they thought they could do.  While I was out on the island one day watching the climbing, one of the girls came up to me, and I could just sense that she was soaking it all in, she said "Kate, you want to know something, we are Women of the Word!" I thought cool, and then she kept going, "God made us beautiful on the inside and out, and HE thinks we are beautiful and that's all that matters!" Her counselor looked at me and I could see tears in her eyes.  Being made and remade by God and I know this girl was experiencing that last week.   

I can't help but think about Grandma Jackie this time of year, Flag cookies are out, I saw the flag tootsie rolls, and all the fireworks displays around!  I also thought about her Saturday night as the Tigers played SO BAD, and then on Sunday when they had their own HomeRun Derby in New York, she would have loved that!  I am looking forward to hanging out at Abby's next weekend, playing with the kids at the beach, making guacamole, and hanging out with Family, it's ALWAYS a good time!