End of Summer

Last day of Summer Vacation together at Bates Nut Farm
Luau day at Camp Calvin- my Hawaiian Kids

Nick and Lauren at San Elijo State Beach

Sea World

I love sitting around drinking coffee on a Saturday morning! With nothing that needs to be done until Nick's soccer game this afternoon. It feels great to just have some time to myself. Lauren's off running, Nick is playing video games, and Brynn is playing with her dolls in her room. I think we all are enjoying doing our own stuff.

Nick and Brynn are back in school and loving it already. They both have awesome teachers. As they are getting older I am trying to let go a little more and let them experience their own lives. It feels awesome to know that the other people influencing their lives are people who love God. It makes it worth all that tuition money. They come home talking about values and ideas from their teachers that I love to hear them understand. They are learning to be servants, and already looking out for the underdog. My biggest hopes and dreams for them are to be true lovers of God.

San Clemente Beach

Brynn and Grandma Jongetjes

Cousins
Brynn, Greg, Gabe, Nick and Garrison
Amy, Lauren, Gil and Gwyn (Lauren's sister)

Me and my honey

Enjoying the View
Gabe and Brynn

We camped at the beach with Lauren's family this weekend and had a great time!

Summertime in So Cali

Nicholas and Lauren went fishing at Lake Wolford. Nick is great at casting his line! They rented a little boat and tooled around for hours.

This is the bluegill that Nicholas caught. Brynn wanted to have her picture with it. It was pretty tasty!

We camped for 5 nights at Carlsbad State Beach. Nick went surfing for the first time, and caught some great rides! Lauren was pretty proud of his little surfer!

We did a lot of scootering down the road at the campground.

Many great family memories made- here are my favorite peeps hanging out by the campfire.

We had a great time with our friends on Lauren's 37th birthday. Everyone brought their kids, and they had waterballon fights in the backyard, played in the spa, and made a tornado thru the house, while we enjoyed good company, tri-tip, sat around the firepit, and generally just loved hanging out with our awesome friends!!

Lauren and his pals. - Arlan Roest, Troy Brown, Jim Jansma, Lauren, and Steve Katje

June Celebrations

Disneyland with Mom and Dad, and the Dyks

Laguna Beach with the cousins

Grandma DenOuden's 90th Birthday Party

I love watching my kids. They are beautiful people. Nicholas' happy, big hearted, enthusiastic personality brings sunshine into my life. Brynn's sensitive and tender heart is very accepting and patient. I love that she and Nick get along so well. They seem to be at the same maturity level, so they play all the time. Right now they are playing outside with Brynn's barbie pool and barbies. He got an old icecream bucket out and is drowning the Ken doll in it. She just lets him do his thing. Sometimes she gets after him for things, saying, "Nick, NO! - in an authoritative voice. The funny thing is, he often obeys her. Their exuberance for life makes my life more exciting. I love being a mom. Of course, please don't ask me that between 6:30 and 8:00 am on a school day.

Spring Days

Carlsbad Beach with the Carlsons and VanderPols

Nick with Daisy and Charlie

Easter with the Flores cousins

Carlsbad Flower Fields- Ranuncula
Brynn and Amy at Carlsbad Flower Fields

Brynn's kindergarten class at the Flower Fields

I has been a beautiful April- my favorite time of year around here. Beautiful weather, combined with flowers and bright green foliage make for a gorgeous month. I feel so thankful to God for all his gifts to us! I feel God's love and presence when I see such beauty around me.

Psalm 104

O Lord my God, you are very great;

you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

He wraps himself in light as with a garment,...

How many are your works, O Lord!

In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures...

they all look to you...when you open your hand,

they are satisfied with good things.

Girls Weekend in Palm Springs- Amy, Veronica, Sarah, and Kristin

Sea World with Isabelle and Laura Dunn- my cousins

American Girl Cafe with my cousins- Kristin, Becky and Laura

The Grove, Los Angeles, CA with my cousins, mom, grandma and aunt.

American Girl Store with Isabelle and Brynn

We've had a fun last couple of weeks. I had a girls weekend away with 3 of my good friends. Between the four of us we left 9 kids with their dads for the weekend. We had fun lounging at the pool, shopping, and going out to eat.

This past weekend my cousin Laura came out to visit from Missouri with her daughter Isabelle. We had a marvelous time, and made some fun trips to Sea World, American Girl Store, and lots of extended family time.