LETTING GO...

is not an easy thing for me. I love each one of our children so much and it has given me so much fulfillment as a mother to do all I can for each of them. I feel that it is just part of me to do all I can for them to teach them to be responsible litle people. A big learning curve for me is that I don't have to do it all. This morning I let Noah ride his bike to school with some neighborhood kids who have done it for a while. This gives me a little more time to get the younger ones ready and off to their school. Looking at this photo of Noah is teaching me to have trust in him riding safely and making good decisions and also trusting other people to not ever do a bad thing to one of our children. God has Noah in his hands for the 1/4 of a mile ride to school that I can't see him. It is a minimal ride to school but one that is teaching me a huge lesson to trust in the Lord with all my heart and that He is the watcher of our kids.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

MY LITTLE BUDDY

Marlee is attached at my waist since the kids left for school this week. She loves to help me clean up, sit with me and play, read books, and dance while watching Country Music Television videos. I love experiencing her little personality grow. She is absolutely obsessed with babies-from pictures of them anywhere to the new baby room and the basket full of clothes to be washed. She just keeps saying "baby" over and over again. She also picks up stuff from everyone else in the family and will say "Dada, Max, Na(for Noah and Naomi), Mama" for each thing she gets her hands on. I am so blessed that she is mostly very content and extremely smiley and happy!

MAX AND NAOMI'S 6TH BIRTHDAY

We celebrated Max and Naomi's 6th birthday this weekend. It was so wonderful to see them wake up and be excited about being 6. I have heard from Naomi for a while that she can do or wear something while she is 5 but not when she is 6. Max is overjoyed that he is 6 when he starts 1st grade. We had a small family party for them on their special day. I am so grateful our children have been blessed to grow knowing their Grandma and Grandpa's and great Grandma and Grandpa's. For me it is always a little hard because I can just imagine how my Grandparents would have enjoyed our little ones. I wish I would have been able to watch my Grandparents love on any of our children.
Something we will always remember about Grandma and Grandpa DeBoer are the goodie bags they make up for any party. Our kids know that there is always something special Grandma and Grandpa shopped at Meijer to put together for them. Their names are labled on each bag and there are always extra's for anyone else there. Grandma Oosterhouse still holds the tradition of handing out $2 bills for each grandchild which the kids stash in their drawers and wallets. The cakes were easy again this year as Naomi wanted Polly Pockets and Littlest Pet Shop figures on her cake and Max wanted Star Wars Lego guys on his cake.
I am so very thankful for our parents too. They love each one of our children so much and they are always excited hear when something new happens. They are a huge support to our family and we love to share life with them. The kids love their Grandma and Grandpa Collin and all the trips to the campground. They keep busy all day with activities and playing at the park. Grandma and Grandpa Callie enjoy having the kids for overnighters so they can play all day and watch movies into the evening and go to Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans for a meal. I love that our kids are growing up knowing their family and that they will have many memories from life with them.



Our Family

Grandma and Grandpa Collin (Meyer)

Grandma and Grandpa Callie (Oosterhouse)

Great Grandma Oosterhouse

Great Grandma and Grandpa DeBoer

Cousin Collin