Do You have an Extra Hand for a Stroller Ride?

Here is the newest trick from Shaelyn's cat Lili Meka. She has decided that she likes to go for stroller rides in the doll stroller. So she has figured out out to let us know. I know....she is a spoiled kitty but she sure knows how to make us laugh.

Back from Camping Pictures

Oh, how we love the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds for camping! It's right on the shore of Lake Michigan in Grand Haven. There are so many activities for the kids to do throughout the week. This year we went for 2 weeks straight and it really went well. I think we'll try for 2 weeks again next year. Even though the first week was somewhat cold, it didn't rain during the day so we did other things than swim. We got a lot of game playing in! Hope you get an idea of our vacation through these pictures.

Halle came for a night and enjoyed swimming with the girls.













Camp fires are great for cooking....

















except when fights occur for the best cooking spot!














Have you ever tried cooking pepperoni over the fire? Yummy!

















That pesky sand was trying to eat up Shaelyn!

















Camping doughnuts with frosting and sprinkles! So good!













There is always a parade for the holiday. Shaelyn got to decorated her bike and ride in the parade.

















The sand dunes are beautiful.















Gotta love a sunset by the lake.

Nothing new

Nothing much is new but I am leaving to go camping for 2 weeks. I'll be back with some pictures to post......

Heritage Camp - China

Shaelyn got to go to Heritage Camp this week. It is a camp for internationally adopted kids and they put them into their birth country by age. The four sections are China, Eastern Europe, South American and Korean. It was so much fun again and it's nice that they get to meet other adopted kids from their country. Here are some of the cool crafts she got to make - a paper lantern, a map on China and fabric painted Chinese words on a shirt. What a great experience for her again.













Shaelyn and Ellie - Ellie was in our adoptive group and her Mom
got to teach this year













Shaelyn and Rachel - a new friend she made this year













Shaelyn's class














Singing "Many Cultures, One World" during the program today















This is part of the Lion Dance the 6th graders learned

Ahh, sweet summertime!

Schools Out for the Summer!

Here they are - ready for another summer. Chelsea was done with school yesterday and
Shaelyn finished today. Am I ready for another senior in my house or a 2nd grader?
I don't know but don't really have a choice, do I! Look out summer - here they come!

1st grade program

Shaelyn had a special 1st grade program yesterday. Parents got to come and have lunch with them. Here is Shaelyn showing me some of the stories she wrote throughout the year.













Here is Shaelyn and her teacher. She was chosen to read her paper on God is.. They write one faith paper every year then it is given to them at 8th grade graduation.
Here is what she wrote.
God is everlasting. God is one out of three. God is the Holy Spirit. God is watching over me. God sended Jesus to die for our sins to be forgiven. God made our world! God made patterns. God is whom all things belong. God is great. God is mighty. God is powerful. God is taking care of me.




We were seated at a table with all of her best friends.
Shaelyn is right next to Meghan, across from her in orange is Kennedy
and Jacquelin is across from Meghan. Mrs. Folkema arranged for friends to
be by each other.







Playing outside after lunch with her friends.
She had a great 1st grade year and made some wonderful new friends.

Look who can see!

Look who got new glasses today and is actually able to see now. Shaelyn's teacher told me that she was having trouble seeing the board so we went to see the eye dr. on Friday. They must have done an express order because they were in yesterday.
Her vision was 20/200! Pretty pitiful. I really was hoping for her sake that our family's genes didn't rub off on her but apparently environment is all it takes around here to need glasses. So here she is and able to see much better.

Shaelyn's Best Cousin!

Shaelyn wrote this little book about her favorite cousin - guess who; Halle.
Here's the cover - My cousin, Halle




















Here is what is written on this page.
My cousin is the best all because she gave me LPS (littlest pet shop) all just
because she never played with them!

She wrote this book the week after spending the whole spring break with Halle.
These girls just love each other so much and never seem to fight or get sick
of each other. They have such a special relationship.

Prom - 09

Chelsea had prom on Friday night. For those of you who live around here, you can remember that we had perfect weather! We had a friend from church do her hair. We had some issues with her dress because she is so short. I had to try to hem it up - I am not a sewer but I managed to get it to work somewhat. Her group of friends met at a park for pictures, then went out to supper at Main Street. The prom itself is held at the museum downtown. She got some great pictures on the carousel and in the museum itself but I didn't have those to show you. She made it back home a bit after 12:00 after having a great time.

Gatlinburg pictures

I found a way to get some vacation pictures up. These are kind of in backwards order-
starting with the last day working to the first.


Horse back riding from Wednesday











Snow on the mountain - isn't it beautiful?






















Jellyfish from the aquarium













We found some gorgeous waterfalls