December 16, 2009
Playing with my new camera

I've been disappointed with my current camera for quite some time. If I could only begin to tell you the number of photos that I "just" missed because the camera would delay the shot OR the # of perfect pictures that turned out blurry.

While camping this past November, we spent a weekend with my friends/relatives Kevin and Lyn Peters. Lyn is a photographer and I talked to her a bit about cameras and decided that I would really like to move up to a digital slr camera. I did my research and my shopping and was able to get my new camera just in time for Christmas.

Here are a few of the pictures I took around the house the first day I got it.

This is what Paul gets when he gets home most nights.
Nothing like relaxing on the couch right?

December 16, 2009
Preschool Christmas Party

Allison was SOOOO, excited that Santa was coming to her class,
but once he got there she really didn't want anything to do with him.

Class picture

Snack Time

December 5, 2009
Finally some fun in the snow!

December 3, 2009
Christmas Card Picture Taking Time

I was getting anxious to get the kids pictures taken so I could get the Christmas card ordered. It usually takes me a while to address them all - so when day when the kids came home from school I had them put on their Sunday clothes and tried to get some pictures in front of the tree.
I won't show you the numerous pictures I took to arrive at these 4, but here are the best of the bunch.

Nicholas - age 7

Gabrielle - age 6

Allison -age 4

Sam - age 2 1/2

In addition, to getting the Christmas pictures done I was looking for a new graphic for this year's card. Everything I could find I just couldn't get to lay out the way I wanted it too. Then I got the idea that Gabrielle loves to draw - why not let her create the Christmas card that I had in mind. I gave her the size of the presents I wanted under the tree and she did the rest. I added a little text and the card was our own little creation.

November 29, 2009
Decorating for Christmas

Sam got really silly with the Santa Hat.

Listening to Christmas music and Decorating the tree

Sam, the prankster, thought the star
belonged on the the Little People stable

Gabrielle got to put the star on the top of the tree this year.

The best group picture I could get.
You would think as they get older they would get more cooperative.

November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Day

Looks to me like we have a lot to be thankful for.
Between my kids and my nephews we have 8 healthy, growing, wonderful kids.

(left to right)
Nicholas (7), Gabrielle (6) holding Mathew (7 months),
Joshua (4) Allison (4) holding Aiden (4 1/2 months),
Owen (3), Sam (2)

November 20-22, 2009
Ludington State Park
One Last Trip of the Year

The view from our campsite.

Group picture at the beach house

A walk along the boardwalk

Grandma and Grandpa were headed out for a weekend away. They couldn't get into their hotel until later in the afternoon. Because it was such a beautiful day - they decided to drive up and spend part of the day with us. We ended up have a wonderful hike way up to the top of a dune where we could see all the way down to Lake Michigan.

I think that Sam's favorite spot the entire year has been up on his Papa's shoulders.

Allison decided she wanted her training wheels off.
She surprised us all by doing very well.
She'll need some refreshing in the spring -
but I don't think those training wheels will be going back on.

Pictures down on the beach.

Good-bye camping season 2009.
We are taking many memories with us - memories we'll never forget.

November 18, 2009
Destination Imagination Field Trip

As some of you may already know, Nicholas is involved in a program at school called Destination Imagination (D.I.) It combines science, problem solving, and drama. The team gets a "problem", for which they have to find a "solution". They have to create, write, and perform a skit about their topic PLUS they are responsible to build all of their props themselves - all while "solving the problem"

This year's problem is called WEIGHTY NEWS.
They have to write a skit in the form of a newscast.
In addition, their skit has to include a structure that must be built using only
newspaper and duct tape and must support weight.
Their skit must also include a commercial break.

In preparation for writing a skit involving a newscast, his coach arranged a special field trip for the kids involved in D.I. to go to TV8 to watch a newcast.

Nicholas and his friend Analiese

Checking out the green screen with Laura Valasquez

Matt Kirkwood explains how things work and what goes into doing the weather, how the cameras work, and the type of timelines involved in putting on a live newscast.

Gavin, Nicholas and Analiese at McDonald's on the way back to school

November 18, 2009
A.W.A.N.A.

Several weeks ago, our neighbor Luke, invited Nicholas and Gabrielle to attend the A.W.A.N.A. program at Ravenna Baptist Church with him. Being that our church is so far away, we haven't become involved in the Wednesday night program at our church - so we decided it was a wonderful idea. The A.W.A.N.A program at this church is a very large outreach and it's full of kids from the area, so our kids knew many of their fellow classmates from school.

Gabrielle was very proud tonight,
because she came home having received her A.W.A.N.A. vest to wear each week.

November 14, 2009

Gabrielle's Birthday Party

A gift from Aunt Melissa and Micah

Opening Presents

Barbie Cake

One of her presents was a bank that she could paint herself.
She wanted to do it - as soon as we returned from church the next day.
I think she did a great job.