Weeekend Trip to Chicago

Scott was asked to come back and do some speaking at Palos Heights CRC this past weekend. They graciously invited our family along and blessed us with a wonderful time in the Chicago area. It was a neat time of seeing many people from our internship at that church two summers ago. Saturday we spent the day downtown at the aquarium and enjoyed some Chicago pizza for dinner. Fun times!

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There is a little side story with the aquarium visit... We were standing in line waiting to get in (with several hundred other people) and adding up our ticket costs. Scott spotted a separate area for membership sign ups and after checking it out figured it wasn't much more money for a membership which would be good for a year. So, we stepped out of line and headed to the membership desk. While Scott was signing up he spots his Meijer Garden membership card in his wallet. He then decides to ask if that card was good for any discounts at the aquarium. The woman behind the desk checks her list and replies, "Well, it's not on my list, but today it'll work." She proceeds to hand him five tickets to the aquarium free of charge!! (Let's just say this was a major savings!) I guess it never hurts to ask! (We'll add this to our long list of Seminary blessing stories!!)

Scott and the kids in front of the aquarium and downtown Chicago skyline.
The staff from church even had a bag of "goodies" waiting for us in our hotel room.

The view from the aquarium entrance.

Checking things out.

Troy loved the sharks.

Touching some kind of creature.

A group shot in front of a mural. (Troy was not really in pain!)

Waiting for the dolphin show.

Dolphins jumping.

Scott's smiling now, but on Friday before we left he had to make a quick stop into the dentist's office for a root canal! He had been in pain for awhile, but couldn't stand it any longer. He felt much better afterwards. The only bummer was later that evening a chunk of his tooth broke off. He was a little discouraged, but I'm sure they'll fix him up at his appointment today! :)

Another Day Off

Because of an over abundance of sick kids, they have decided to close our school for two days. (In my class alone on Monday we had 9 kids out.) I think it was the right thing to do and just let everyone (hopefully) get better. Thursday and Friday were already scheduled to be off because of the Teachers' Convention. So suddenly I have two kids home to keep busy for a couple of extra days. We have thankfully been enjoying great weather which allows for outside activities. Yesterday and today we have joined Scott for lunch over at the Seminary. After lunch today we decided to check out the Sem pond and other spots around Calvin's campus.

Kamryn and Troy by the Sem pond waterfall.
Troy and Kamryn with their buddy, Anna by the fish in the student center.

Floating sticks down the waterfall.

A shot of the pond.

Checking things out.

We took a little walk around the campus. The trees are really pretty right now.

This is the progress on the new FAC building. It's quite a project.

Troy was collecting leaves.

Troy Boy and Other Thoughts

I haven't posted in awhile...we've been busy! Life seems to be flying by! Scott has been gone the past two weekends. First to New Jersey with a group of Seminarians and then this weekend to California. He was leading a group from Modesto CRC on a weekend retreat up in the mountains. He will return home late tonight. He seems to have enjoyed himself and had to mention that it was 70 degrees and sunny! :) I have spent my weekend running kids from place to place and getting caught up on some things around the house. Kamryn and I raked a few leaves in the yard today. The leaves seem to be falling fast. I wish they would stay up a while longer.

Last week at school Troy was the "special person" in his class. They keep it pretty low key here. All we had to do was fill in some of his favorite things on some cards that his teacher put up on the door and come up with a few pictures. Not too hard! I made him pose for a few pictures after school one day to document the event. (He wasn't too pleased, but did cooperate!) Troy continues to love school and has lots of friends. He knows popcorn words, lots of letter sounds (not all of them yet, though), and how school works. He had a funny quote the other day. We were searching for an "N" share object to bring in to class. We found a spaceship thing and said it could work for NASA. He wasn't sure what NASA was and I said I would write it down. He said, "I can't read." I said he could show his teacher and she could read it. He said, "My teacher talks a lot and she doesn't like it when we interrupt!" Well, I'm glad he figured that out. (He ended up taking a NERF ball instead.) Troy also loves playing outside in the neighborhood. There are about 5 little boys his age who get along pretty well. They play basketball, soccer or hockey together. They usually all wear different jerseys while they are playing the sport. As you can see in the last picture it is tough to get Troy to put warm clothes on. When he was heading out to play Sat. morning it was still about 40 degrees. I let the shorts go, but made him wear the hat!

Fall Frenzy

Fall is definitely here and already seems to be flying by! The weather has turned chilly and we've been having quite a bit of rain. Hopefully we'll be able to enjoy the colorful trees and some sunshine this week. We have been busy with school, football games, projects, and playing outside while the weather still allows it! School is going really well for everyone. For this we are very thankful! The kids are blessed with great teachers again. We're just amazed at how much Troy is doing already in kindergarten. Things in which he seemed to have little interest before now excite him. He comes home with words written on pages and pictures colored beautifully and points out "popcorn" words when we are reading! :) Such fun!

Troy with his "F" share-fire truck.
Kamryn got an assignment from Mrs. VandenBosch (the music teacher) to make a musical instrument. (They had some instructions to follow.) So she talked to Mr. Klaver and got some plastic pipe stuff and put this contraption together. We had to laugh because it was SO Kamryn. She used black electrical tape and covered it practically everywhere. She found red playdough to plug up the ends. Here she is demonstrating how to blow into it. It does work-kind of!

Katie had to give a speech this week. She researched In-N-Out restaurant,our favorite CA hamburger place, and gave a speech about it. She had a paper hat and some cool stickers to hand out to everyone in the class! (Thanks, Dawn!)


Here's a typical night of father-son homework time at the kitchen table. :)

Katie and her friend Trina decorated these t-shirts Friday before the football game. We decided to pass on attending this one since it was pouring rain and quite cold out! They had fun, though!

Another Trip Downtown

Right now in Grand Rapids we have Artprize going on. It is a competition/major exhibit of artists from all over who have entered their work. It is displayed all over downtown Grand Rapids. There is artwork in buildings, on the sides of buildings, in the river, on bridges, in parks, etc. It's a pretty amazing thing to see. This morning we took some time and wandered around checking some things out.

Here Scott is trying out a pink guitar. I could hardly take the picture because I was laughing so hard. A crowd of people had gathered and some others were snapping Scott's picture too.

Troy thought this chopper was cool.

In front of several works.

This was a giant puffy guy sitting beside a building.

On top of this easel there is actually a man who has stayed up there for five days. Tomorrow he is supposed to jump down somehow. Yikes!

This work is on a little island in the middle of the river. If you look closely you can see the artist walking out to fix a piece that broke in the storm we had last night.

This is a sea monster placed in the river.

There was a bunch of art on this bridge. There's even a table and chairs on top of it!

The giant table and chairs.

Family on large bench.

This artist spray painted a design on the lawn by the river.

This is trash...I mean art!

Kamryn happy about her blue lemonaide for lunch.

Troy waiting for lunch.

P.S. We're still looking for that big red ball!!

A Celebration

Last Sunday afternoon we were able to help mom and dad R. celebrate 40 years of ordination in the CRC. We met at Meijer Garden on a beautiful sunny day for lunch and some play time. It was a nice time of remembering and looking ahead. Scott and I look forward to Scott's ordination sometime next year, Lord willing! Blessings, dad and mom, on many more years of service in the kingdom!

Church Picnic

We've had a great week of adjusting to the school routine again. (Our family tends to enjoy routine!-OK atleast the parents do!) Scott had a busy week with Seminary responsibilities. He is enjoying his role as student body president, but it does make life busier. On Friday he had to speak in chapel at the Seminary. I heard it went well! Katie was pleased to find out she made the musical at school again this year. They will be performing, "Cinderella" in late November. She is very excited and honored as it was quite competitive to make it. Kamryn is being blessed by a wonderful fourth grade teacher. She is again loving school and showing us her sensitivity toward others. She has a fun personality and loves life! Troy is also loving kindergarten. He has lots of friends (girls and boys). I have to laugh when a parent will come up to us and say, "Oh, you're Troy's mom. I've been hearing a lot about him!" Kind of makes you wonder, but I think it's a good thing! :) It's fun to see the school experience through his eyes-all new again. The weather's been great and we're off to a good start!

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Here are some pictures from our church picnic held yesterday. It was on the church lawn, which is a beautiful green space. It was a nice time of being outside, eating good food, and chatting with friends.

Scott enjoyed some "friendly" competition in "ladder ball" and a new game involving frisbees and water bottles on poles. (You'll have to ask him!)

Scott and Jerry teaming up.


Along the bottom of the church property there is a creek. This is a source of much entertainment for the younger crowd. Right now it is not too deep, but there were, of course, several wet children by the end of the night.

The bounce house was a big hit.

Later in the evening, we noticed Kam was now playing "bags" with a group of older gentlemen. She played several rounds and I think these guys got quite a kick out of her!

Kamryn and one of her friends.