Thank you?

It's a rare thing when a child takes the time to thank you for the "stuff" you do everyday as a mom - and then admit she needs to "learn to clean up after herself?! I had to record this!



By the way, as Faith alluded to, I have applied for a 2nd grade teaching position. Please pray with me for God's discernment and guidance as I take my "next steps".

Scavenger Hunt

What do little girls do on a lazy Sunday afternoon? A scavenger hunt, of course!

Faith put together a scavenger hunt list - one each for her and Bella, decorated a paper bag with each name and filled it with empty snack-sized baggies. The goal was to collect each item on the list.

She also made a badge that could be earned for each found item.


Such a creative one, that Faith!

The First Annual Cardboard Boat Fishing Contest

Our family has been anticipating this day for almost two months! My brother-in-law, Scott came up with the fantastic idea for a family cardboard boat and fishing contest. He provided all of the cardboard, plastic and duct tape, and it was up to us to do the rest. The goal was to stay afloat for 20 minutes and catch the biggest fish from our homemade craft. Following are tons of pictures from our crazy day! I only hope this becomes an annual contest . . . this was too much fun!

Danny and Michael planning out their craft

Lookin good Danny!

Tom and Sara crafting the S.S. Sassy

Joy, Maddie and Faith trying out the bench seat in the Leenstra craft

This group was not beyond using power tools to get the job done!



How many kids can you fit in a cardboard boat?

Time for launch!

The S.S. Poopdeck - a seaworthy craft? We shall soon find out!

Tom and Sara's Sassy - can it match up to the Poopdeck?

Loading up

The swarthy Poopdeck crew

Michael, looking a little unsure about the Pirates of the Pond craft

Danny looking equally unsure

The official launch of the S.S. Poopdeck - the beginning of the end!

The official launch of the Pirates of the Pond

The mighty fleet!

We're still floating!

Our hosts on their seaworthy craft

Bunsers in the boat Faith built

Bunsers and Sylvia joining in the fun!

Faith and Bella

Max and Faith

Can you guess what word I'm saying in this picture? I was just about to fall while exiting our not-so-sea-worthy-craft

Nice paddle!

Ah Ha! Here's our problem . . . we tore a hole in our boat upon launch! No wonder we were taking on water!

Tom - the winner of the best boat and the biggest fish!

Swimming in May . . . in Michigan!

This weekend we went up to the cottage to get things cleaned up and prepped for the Memorial Day weekend festivities. As soon as we got there, the girls put on their life-jackets, grabbed their fishing poles and a piece of cheese (in lieu of worms for bait), and went on the dock to fish.



After we ate dinner, Bella snuck upstairs and put her bathing suit on!


Before I knew it, she was jumping off the dock into the water! Mind you, this was at 7:00 at night and it was about 55 degrees outside . . . who knows how cold the water was . . . crazy girl!


It was cold, but she didn't seem to mind!


Hopefully next time we go up north it'll be a little bit warmer . . . both the air and the water!

Pioneer Girl - Part 2

Our Newest Additions . . .

Lucy meets her new friends . . . and is not so sure about it.

Welcome to your new home, pigs! We hope you get big and fat here!

Faith and Hammy

Two girls and their pigs.

Bella trying to feed the pigs straw.

Faith and Bacon

Those snouts can really move some earth!

Tail ends.

Ohhhhh! Ahhhh! It feels so good to scratch the buns on this tree!

Faith is loving her new pigs!