The snow is falling....

and my last post had kids in the pool on July 4th. Guess I'm a bit overdue to update, huh?

Obviously a lot has happened since then. Here's a month by month overview:


July - One highlight of that month was the week we spent in Hastings, MI at Winding Creek Camp for Family/Youth Camp. Everyone enjoyed camp and the change of pace was nice. We were thrilled to have the use of a cottage all week and enjoyed "camping" with no tents!

Abby came home right after we got back and it was wonderful having her with us. We got to work on wedding plans and even found her wedding dress! Fun time for Mom!

August - Simeon joined us and we spent another week at the cottage at Winding Creek. It was great spending time with no agenda and just enjoying being together. We played games, went swimming, played putt-putt, and some of the gang even spent time tubing down the Thornapple River (in the rain!). Those times together are suddenly a lot more precious now that the kids are leaving home!

And speaking of leaving home, Joshua made his exit from the nest as he headed off for his freshman year at Indiana Wesleyan University. We miss him, but are happy that he's doing really well.

September - Paul and Thomas started attending "real school" the day after Labor Day. Big changes for all of us, but it's been a really good thing. They're doing great!

Philip and Sam started back in the homeschool band and orchestra. Philip plays cello in intermediate orchestra and is 1st chair in percussion for the intermediate band. He's also playing a big bass drum in preparation for next summer's marching band season. He still plays piano a lot, too. He's really becoming quite the musician!

Sam plays trumpet in intermediate band and is finding a bit more competition for chair position than he had last year, but is doing great!

Andrew picked his intrument - trombone - and is plugging away at learning in the beginning band. His arms a little short to play all the trombone positions, but they won't be learning them all this year anyway so he has a year to grow out his arm!

October - was a beautiful fall month here in Michigan. The seasons are so nice. (Remind me I said that on a cold icy day in February.) This is our biggest birthday month. Philip turned 13, David turned 7, and Thomas is now 15.

November - came in with a return to summer weather! But, of course that quickly changed and today we are having our first "real" snow. It won't amount to much, but it does signal what's ahead.

Now on to what everyone really wants....pictures!!