Look Who's Back in the Pool!

It's Hertsje!
This week she had a hard cast put on her broken arm.
And this cast can go with her into pools!

There were A LOT of people besides just Hertsje TRULY happy about this!

Yawning About Awnings

I know it isn't an interesting topic, but this is what is happening with our awning situation.  The top picture shows the awnings last week, after THGGM painted them a light color with a bright blue stripe.  I didn't like it.  Thankfully, I did not whine nor complain about them, I just stated that I did not like it.  You can like them if YOU want to, but you don't live here, so your vote doesn't count.  I DO live here, and felt that mine should.  But I wasn't given that option.

 Anyway.., THGGM decided on his own that he didn't like it either.  So this morning he painted the blue stripes a brighter maroon than the original color.  I do like this.  This side of the house is ugly.  And since we have lost a very large old maple tree, more of it shows than in the past.  On the bright side, things might actually grow there now.  That would be a plus.  I'm wondering if morning glories would climb all the assorted poles and wires, or is that not a good idea?  My parents had hollyhocks on the south side of their house, but I'm still not sure what I'll try.  Any suggestions? (no, really.  even though you don't live here, i'll take suggestions!)

I'm also thankful that THGGM didn't paint the front awnings until today.  At least he will not have to repaint those!

Where the pile of sand is in the picture above (nothing on blogger is lining up like i want it to) is where the large maple was removed.  THGGM called the city to ask who was responsible for fixing it up.  They said that they were, but there are 500 people in line before us.  Ugh.  This does not help the ugly side of the house.  No.  It does not.  And see the blooms on my magnolia tree?  There are still a few more left to open up, but certainly not the gorgeous showing we were used to.  While driving around today we noticed several other magnolia trees in this same condition.  I know it's just a tree.., sigh...
Anyway.., the awning debacle has been solved without my whining or complaining (to thggm) and I didn't even have to paint a clown mural over the fireplace to prove my point!  Don't you just love it when things work out?!

Vacation Tuesday Evening

 Tuesday evening was a bit hazy.

There were boats, but they were hard to see.

 Of course, that didn't stop us from trying.

 Famke still has pretty toes, from her birthday pedicure.

She was looking for things to make that would work in a fairy garden.

 So many possibilities!

 Of course, we had ice cream.  Of course.

 There were ant hills everywhere.  So if there were ever the off chance that someone might have been bored, I would have pronounced, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard!"  But I never had to do that.  No.  I never did.

 Because there was always something to do, or someone to chat with, or something to see.

How Sweet Is This?!

A school fund raiser that uses the child's actual art work!  Soon I shall be the happy owner of THREE mugs with art work especially made for this.  Oh, this diabetic grandma LOVES this!

Christmas Program

 This was Kado and Feintsje's first Christmas program EVER.  I have a video of them singing, but I cannot seem to get it to upload.  I'll keep trying though, as they were adorable!

Jonge and Famke were both in the center of their group, so I could get a picture of the two of them.  But this was the only picture I could get.  Jonge also was a shepherd and Famke an angel, but I couldn't get clear shots of their faces. I LOVE children's Christmas programs!

An Afternoon of Low Humidity

By afternoon today the humidity had left the building.  Tonight it is supposed to drop into the 50's.  Oh, this is such delightful news that I plan to climb into bed EARLY, snuggle under BLANKETS, and read a good book.  Sigh...
This was a wonderful day on so many levels, but I do believe the best news of the day was that THGGM actually had a pain that sent him to the doctor and he came home CURED!  He can hear out of his right ear again!

My Wednesday

There are occasional moments of quiet in my day.

But those happen only occasionally.

Hertsje can crawl anywhere, and Feintsje can run. Fast.

I've tried stocks.  Not as effective as one might think.

Even wooden shoes didn't slow him down.

Kado insisted that his wooden shoes still fit.  They do not.

Mostly the noise is happy noise.  Like Kado making Hertsje giggle with delight as he tickles her sweet little toes.

Thursday - Friday

THGGM and I did day trips yesterday and today.  Tonight at 5:00 we picked up Jonge and Famke to have a sleep-over.

Just before we left I grabbed my broken old camera that has been dropped onto cement numerous times.
It's less obtrusive than my newer one.

We took our dinner to a park and after we ate the kids played.

The picture on the left isn't very good, but it caught a sweet expression on Famke's cute little face.

The picture below?  I altered this picture using Picmonkey.com.

This might be my favorite picture.  Ever.

I know it's my very favorite five year old!

Happy New Year!

Our extended family Christmas party was on January 1st this year.  It was also the day Jonge became six years old.  It was a lovely day all around.  In fact, I think it just may have been as close to perfect as a family Christmas party could be.  A few loved ones were missing, but we all made sure to eat hardy for them.  Such a kind and loving family we are.
So, after everyone had gone home I down loaded the hundreds of pictures that I took.   Everyone is either completely washed out or a funky shade of yellowish-gold.  That also happened with my Christmas day pictures, so I was a wee bit sad about that.  It's all about the light and our basement has fluorescent lights and yellow walls, so I guess we should have moved the party to the backyard.  Someday I'll work on turning the pictures into black and white, which should help.
Surprisingly enough, after a time of feeling bad about my pictures, THGGM and I realized that he was ON VACATION!  Usually when he has an early January vacation he spends it snow-blowing while I recline on the couch complaining of either a horrific cough or a migraine.  Sometimes both.  I'm loads of fun like that.
But not this time!  Oh, my.  Did we EVER have a wonderful vacation.  And this is how it started...
THGGM woke up first, made the coffee and lite the fire place.  Then I got up and we jumped up and down on the furniture yelling 'we are on vacation' at the top of our lungs.  Okay, so that didn't literally happen, but that is what we were doing in our hearts.  What actually happened was we huddled on our ends of the couch and smiled and sighed and reminded each other that if we wanted to we could sit on the couch all day long until it was time to go to bed.  Then we argued about who should get off the couch and let the dog back in.  This conversation always goes like this:
Me:  Zeke is barking.
THGGM:  So let him in.
Me:  I let him out.
THGGM:  So.
Me:  While you are letting him in, could you get me some more coffee?
THGGM:  He's not my dog.
Me:  Do you want more coffee?
THGGM:  Yes, please.
Me:  Well while you are getting it, could you let Zeke in?
THGGM:  NO.
Now in the middle of this lively and extremely interesting conversation, the phone rings.  It is Daughter.  January 2nd was Daughter and Son-in-law's 8th wedding anniversary.  She wondered if we would like to watch their children while they went to Bone Fish Grill for dinner.
(what?  and leave all this?)
The rest of our week involved A LOT and I mean A LOT of great thrift/antique shopping.  The weather was GORGEOUS for Michigan in January.  We had a WONDERFUL time.
But, I must tell you that almost every morning began with the conversation above.