Memorial Day

Dolls

Artwork

Playing in the Mud

Ella's Third Birthday

Ella turned three on May 2. It was a Saturday, so we spent the morning in Holland at the Tulip Festival. Ella enjoyed all the kids' activities and blow-up toys. She thought it was a party just for her birthday. Then we went to Lake Michigan, walked along the beach and played in the sand. The next day, we had a small gathering at our house with both sets of grandparents. Ella enjoyed receiving some new outdoor toys and a scooter.












Happy Birthday, my big girl! Step by step, may you continue to be bold and courageous in this world. I love you!

Easter Pictures

April Playtime

Our first time playing outside in early April. No shoes! Maddy love experimenting with sand. She even tasted it!

Bare feet covered in sand. Don't you just love warm weather?


Ella could play in the sand box all day long.


Maddy is showing off her confident standing position. Still not walking yet.


Ella loves to stop and see the ducks each week at the Flat River. Sadly, most of the mallards were off making nests and laying eggs. Only the swan was interested in the old bread Ella threw in the water.

Ella practices her climbing skills with Daddy's help.


Maddy loves climbing-on the furniture, on the bed, on the couch, on the table. Now that it has warmed up she can keep climbing... OUTSIDE!


She likes doing the slide all by herself. What a big girl!

I thought she was napping...

...and then I heard a noise upstairs. My makeup within reach, she was experimenting. At first I was shocked, angry, but mostly I thought it was hilarious. I couldn't hide my laughter, and she didn't get in trouble. Just a good face wash!

It's Been Two Months

Just realized that it's been two months since my last post. Sorry to those of you who have been checking regularly. Guess I've been doing life, enjoying the outdoors... finally, and haven't spent much time on the computer. Lots of good pictures to post soon. Maybe the next rainy day?

Here are a few from March. Too cute not to post.

Maddy pretending to read a book like Ella. Too bad she often holds the book upside down. At least she is trying.

It's more fun to play in the toy box!

Crocodile Soup

While looking at my soup cookbook, Ella found a picture of bok choy & shiitake soup and said this is crocodile soup. I asked her how to make crocodile soup. With my questioning, here is her unique recipe.

Find a crocodile in Grammy's river. (There are no crocodiles in our river.) Catch him with a fishing pole. Bake him in the oven for two minutes. Cut him into tiny pieces. Mix the crocodile with carrots, bananas, and smarties. Add some water. Cook for ten minutes. Add salt and pepper. Mix orange juice inside. Then more water inside. Put in bowl and eat em. It tastes good. We eat crocodile soup in the morning. Maddy likes crocodile soup. I like it too because I made it.

Wiggle Your Hips

Go Evan!!!!

Congratulations to my cousin Evan Skirvin for accepting a football scholarship at Taylor University, my alma mater. Here he is signing a contract committing to play on Taylor's team. We pray that Taylor will be a great place for Evan to grow and learn as he prepares for the future... and have fun playing football!

Awaiting Spring

I plant an amaryllis bulb for early blooms of beauty. Ella wears her swimming suit and pretends to go down water slides. Maddy uses the furniture as playground equipment perfecting her climbing skills. We are all eagerly awaiting spring.