On a Warm Summer Day...

This afternoon while Colt was napping and Chris was in Fremont working the Music Fest, I got to spend some quality "girl time" with the girls. It's nice to be able to relax with them and have a nice swim without having to hold Colt the whole time : )

Grace's Last Tee Ball Game

Grace's last tee ball game was Wednesday. She did really well this year. She was on the Pythons again this year, so she knew most of the kids on the team since she played with them last year. She was a little disappointed, though, at the end of the game because she was supposed to receive a trophy for the year, but the coach broke the news that the trophies weren't in yet. Hopefully we'll be getting them soon!

Day at the Pool

We decided to take the kids to the city pool for the first time this year. This was Colt's first time at this particular type pf pool. We have a swimming pool at home, but it's above ground and doesn't have as many cool toys to play on in the water. After he got used to it, he had a great time. He definitely didn't want to leave!

Ella's Fourth Birthday

This is a picture of Ella's Kai-lan invitation. The eyes and hair were the hardest to make - lots of little cuts with tiny scissors!

Her birthday is fast approaching. She has decided to have a NiHao Kai-lan/Chinese themed party. It's really giving me a run for my money! Ella's grandma Ruthie (Chris's mom) bought her an authentic Chinese dress, fashion chopsticks to put in her hair, and a really pretty silk Chinese fan. We're having the party at Grandma Vicki's (my mom) house since everyone who is coming is from the Lagrange area.

We decided on a Kai-lan cupcake cake, finger foods, and I'm making Chinese Firecracker Candied Fruit Sticks for fun. I hand made all of the invitations myself since I enjoy scrap booking. (I make all the kids' invitations myself) I also decided to hand make a huge paper dragon that I'm going to string on fishing line out on the porch. Each child will also get a Chinese take out box full of Chinese goodies, such as chopsticks, fans, Chinese finger traps, Chinese penny candy, fortune cookies, etc. I also made handmade goodie bag tags in the shapes of Kai-lan's friends with the kids' names on them written in Chinese.


My mom and I found some great paper lanterns and a few Kai-lan decorations at the local Party & Card Outlet Store (they have the best selection!) My biggest exciting find was the Chinese take out boxes - they were kind of hard to find.
I'll post all of the pictures after the party (on July 23rd).

Grace and Ella in the Famous Wooden Shoes

These are of the girls in the famous wooden shoes. Ella said "I am a giant!"

Little Dutch Boy

This is Colt in one of the gift shops in Holland, MI. Oh how I'll miss being able to completely embarrass them when they're older : )

Why is it...

That no matter how many times you tell yourself that you are NOT going into WalMart for ANYTHING else but milk and an egg timer, you STILL walk out with a bill for $50?