Happy 2010!?!?!?

Happy New Year!!! I can't believe that it is the year 2010! We are doing very well here in Berrien Springs! We love that we have a snow hill right in our backyard. I think the kids have been outside more this winter than all the winters combined at our other house (maybe a slight exaggeration:-) They love to sled and cross country ski. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Ritter the kids have ski boots and ski's they love it!!! We also have 2 neighbor boys that love to come over and sled too.....the kids love having other kids to play with. Currently I don't think it has stopped snowing since the day after Christmas......we have a bunch of snow. School starts again on the 6th and we will be back into the swing of things with pioneers, basketball practices and games and all the fun things as well as work that come along with school. I can't believe half the school year is over.

Wishing all of you a wonderful new year filled with the Lord and his blessings!!

Back to school!!

Well it has been back to school for us for a few weeks. Courtney has started 5th grade, Alex has started 1st grade, and Natalie is going to pre-school 3 mornings a week.
We are going to be in the full swing of things come this week.


Courtney starts band and piano, she has already had a volleyball game and 2 more this week girl pioneers and Jr. Choir. She is going to be one busy girl this year. I'm excited about it and I know that she is as well.

Alex is getting used to 1st grade. All day this year, which is really wierd for me! He has reading story's to bring home, math homework pages, memory work, and spelling words. We are adjusting to needing to have things done for the next day when he gets home from school. He really is doing very well!!! He also is able to join buckaroos, which is through our church, he will be learning things about camping, how to make a pine car derby and other things that boys like to know ;-)

Natalie is a "big girl" now!! Being in the 4 yr. old pre-school brings "big" changes than being in the 3's last year. She gets to get her own puzzle off the shelf without asking!! She no longer needs color clips which meant she could only play in that center that matched her color......they can ALL play with the kitchen at the same time if they want. Really she does more than that but I still have to laugh when I think about her telling me those things, and it's all because she's not 3 anymore she's 4!!!


Most important is that they are all learning the word of God everyday!! Really what else is important?

Praying that God blesses our school year and yours too!!

11 years later!!

That's right folks it's been 11 years of marriage for us!!! Saturday August 15 we celebrated! It was great too our friends, who we set up 11 years ago this summer and who also were in our wedding were married on Saturday. So we went to the wedding and reception and had a blast celebrating with them!!

I really liked attending a wedding on our anniversary. Listening to the pastor, the vows, the music just brought back good memories and let my mind think on the past and while the pastor was preaching knowing that the things he was saying was so true!!

At the wedding my friend had a photo booth for all their guests to go in and have their picture taken!! It was like being in a photo booth at the mall. 4 pictures were taken then they printed out and 4 were put into a scrapbook and the other 4 were given to us to have!! Next to the pictures in the scrapbook we wrote a little note to the bride and groom. I thought this was a very clever idea, and we had some pictures of us which was special to me just because it was our anniversary.......and it was fun too!!!

Lovin' the house!!

It's been a long time........in that time since the last post the kids have finished school, we sold our house in Stevensville and we bought and moved into Colin's mom and dad's house in Berrien Springs. We've been busy!! I'm so thankful for how much I enjoy living "all the way out here." I have to admit I had my reservations about moving 20 minutes away from church and school and I know that school hasn't started yet, but I'm thoroughly enjoying God's beautiful creation out here. Since we've lived here we have experienced a deer eating in our backyard and a family of turkey's coming along too!! We have taken incredible 10 mile bike rides, that Courtney and Alex have rode the whole way, and now that Tom and Joyce live on the river we have been able to canoe which has been beautiful. The kids have absolutely loved seeing these things and are so happy out here. As for the drive.......going to church has not been a big deal at all it's nice to have a little time in the car sometimes. I also know that my attitude depends alot on the drive for school. I'm prepared with a good attitude about the drive to and from school.

God has blessed us tremendously in these last few months and I pray that he continues to bless us in the months to come.

I pray that he blesses each one of you too!!

catch up part 2.....

After April was over we headed full force into May with an entertainment day, Mother's day tea party and piano recital.

Natalie played the Dr. for 3 little monkey's, sipping tea at the party, and posing with Mrs. Mashke, Courtney's piano teacher.

Just so you all don't think I forgot about Alex......he has taken to hunting. He stalks the birds around our backyard what a cute little hunter!!! (oops I mean "manly" hunter :-)

Catch up time :-)

We decided to get away for a night during spring break. This led us to Indianapolis to an indoor water park and the children's museum. It was great being able to swim even though it was snowing outside. We invited grandma and grandpa Robards to come along and we had a great little getaway!

The next weekend was Easter and we celebrated the Lord's resurrection!! What a wonderful day!!

Natalie has turned 4!! The best thing was getting to ride in a booster seat now!! We celebrated with family and was able to work out a visit with Aunt Esther, Cherith, Calvin and Nora. All the kids had fun and the day was great!!

Our State Capitol!

Courtney had a field trip to Lansing to visit Michigan's state capitol. They have been learning about Michigan and American history this year. This was an exciting field trip for her class to finally see and hear about the things they have learned. I had never been to the capitol so I went with her and lo and behold I also learned a few things!! We had a beautiful day to go. We started at the historical museum then we walked over to the capitol building. It is a truly beautiful building with so much history....it was incredible! The class was able to lay down on a glass floor and look up to the dome the picture on the right is what Courtney saw while she was looking straight up!! The kids all had a good time and so did the adults.......it was a great day!