Snowmobling Fun at the Blue Beaver Lodge

 We have spent more time at the cabin this year than any other, and we have had a ton of fun.  Cliff and Karen, Brian and Kelly and the kids came up for New Years weekend.  We didn't spend any time out on the actual trails but we had fun eating, playing games like "hide the blankies",  and going in the hot tub.

 Karinda tried out the ice skates for a bit, and everyone went sledding and knee boarding behind the snowmobile.

We have some neighbors renting the place next door this year too.  When Karinda saw that little boy riding around the lake on a little snowmobile she decided that she was big enough to do that too.  Grandpa took her out and showed her how to drive, and she gained a lot of confidence.  Out on the lake she didn't really need the brake but that would have been a good bit of information for when he let her drive it up to the barn between the cabin and all the trees.  Thankfully she came close but didn't hit anything.

Sometimes the sled doesn't have enough room so we tie another one behind it.

 Popcorn and movies with grandpa and grandma.

 

The first weekend of January Eric and I spent in Nebraksa for the NCP Christmas party.  I ended up having to go alone because Eric was sick in bed, it was fun but it just wasn't the same without him.

 

The following weekend we had the PGP Christmas party on Friday, and then quick drove back to go to the ZFS Christmas party on Saturday night.  It was a whirlwind weekend but very fun to meet new people and catch up with some others I haven't seen in awhile.

One weekend we went up just as a family, and another weekend Eric went up with his dad, brother, and a friend.

The first weekend in February we were going to have the girls miss school on Friday and we left Thursday night.  We completely lucked out with the girls having a snow day for school and we were already up there.  Just Carter and Brian came up to ride with us that weekend.  This is just in from snowmobiling trying to warm up under the blanket together.

 Friday night we talked the kids into riding at night and they did really good.  Saturday was a beautiful day to be out on the lake.

 The guys went out and did some things in the morning one of which was making a fire to warm up by.

 We didn't like these tubes for the water very much but they work pretty good out on the snow.  Kylie is lying on the tube, Carter looks like a race car driver inside his tube.

 Karinda and Kylie go for a ride.

 Brian just pulled Carter in the sled while they were waiting for their turn.

 They just fit!  Uncle Brian was such a good sport, and Karinda likes it in the back by herself.  I think they went around like this for 5 times.  Kylie and Carter just chatted away the whole time.

 Karinda waited patiently for everyone to have a turn sledding, tubing, and knee boarding but what she really wanted to do was ride "her snowmobile."  It is really grandma's but somehow since she has now driven it around the lake it has become her's as well.

This weekend I looked at Carter and realized Karinda was his age the first year we bought the cabin.  We have been doing this for 5 years.  The first year they were so little and could hardly hold themselves up.  I remember going down the trails with the Schuts and Kylie's head would hit the "kill" switch and shut it off.  As they have grown it has become more of a challenge with them in front of us.  We have been looking for a "2-up" snowmobile for a few years now, but good ones are hard to find.  We finally lucked out and found a good deal!  It is so nice to not have to look over the black dome of the helmet in front of me and be able to move!  As the girls grew and got taller it got harder and harder to manouver around them.  The back seat has heated hand grips and everything.  We can fit all three of us on it, with some complaints from one or the other that is, but it is a step ahead, that is for sure.

Christmas 2013

                                                                     

December as usual flew right by.  We started out this year in Nebraska for a week and headed home for the weekend to start our first Christmas party.  The first one was for the Meeuwsen's and Santa stopped by again this year.  We don't really "do santa", personally I hate the whole thing, but the girls usually sit on his lap so they can get a picture and a candy cane.  I may have scared them for life but I really hate how it takes away from the real meaning of Christmas.

 The following weekend on Friday night we had the Top Christmas and on Saturday night the Brouwer Christmas.  I apparently never even got the camera out for that one.

 On Sunday night the girls did their Christmas program for church.  It was so cute and had such a good message.  The girls each had a part and did excellent.

 On Tuesday night it was the Innocademy school Christmas program followed by a quick piano recital.

 This is the girls with their teacher Ms. Amy Harbison.  We are very blessed to have her.

On Thursday night we had Karinda's dance class performance.

And that Friday we had to make an impomtu trip up to the Blue Beaver Lodge because they had lost power.  We quickly packed food that didn't need to be heated and some clothes and drove up there.  It was an adventure!  We all camped out on the floor in sleeping bags in the living room thinking that would be warmer.  It was maybe a degree or two warmer but very uncomfortable, not a good choice.  The power was still off on Saturday so we went snowmobiling for a bit, which was a bonus.  Then we headed into Kalkaska for pizza and when we got back the power had been restored.  We decided to stay the night and headed home on Sunday.

We were supposed to have the Brouwer Christmas but Bryan and Amy had sick kids.  We had food ready so we had Part A of the Christmas party, it was a very strange Christmas without them.

 The girls requested that Nana make them another outfit for them and their American Girls again like she did a few years ago.  They know their Nana can do anything!  The bummer was they knew what they were getting but had no idea what it was going to look like.  They turned out SOOOO CUTE!!!!!

Eric got a new ring for the fire pit at the Blue Beaver Lodge, I can't wait to put it in this spring.

I apparently didn't take any pictures of our little Christmas at home, and I completely forgot my camera on Christmas day for the Meeuwsen Christmas, Pluister Christmas, and Brouwer Christmas Part B.

After spending most of the day on Christmas Eve in the kitchen I decided it was going to be to rushed with church to enjoy our crab legs, lobster tail, and chicken dinner so we enjoyed it Christmas night when we got home.  Ahhhh...it makes me tired just thinking about the December schedule, but I think it was our best Christmas ever.  I am really enjoying our girls and the ages they are!

Kylie turns 8

 Our Kylie Jean, rarely called Kylie by those who know her well.  She gets called Beans just as much as Kylie if not more.  No one ever decides to call their darling daughter Beans, it just happens, but it fits somehow.  Kylie is such a sweet loving girl, becoming even more tenderhearted and always thinking of others.  When I asked her what kind of cake she wanted she said "well, I like cherry, but Karinda doesn't" so she proceeded to ask her sister what kind of cake she wanted.  We settled with a chocolate cake and white frosting with strawberries on top.  Kylie loves tons of fruits and veggies, but is not the biggest fan of meat, which I think makes her a very healthy eater.  She still is like any normal kid, or person that is, and loves treats and junk too.  Fruit snacks are a big weakness for her.  She takes hot lunch almost everyday and that helps to make the mornings more smooth.

Kylie is a second grader at Innocademy.  She starts her days before school at devotions and on Friday's at piano lessons.  She tolerates ELA (english language arts) and loves math.  Innocademy is traditional school flipped up side down and we love it.  The school goes on a year round schedule, and they put a big focus on global, hands on learning, and stewardship.  She loves her teacher Ms. Cyndi, and she is in class with her cousin Gage, and her best friend Ella, but she seems to be a friend to everyone.

 I am hoping she is so good at school and only talks when she should, and that is why she talks almost non-stop from when I pick her up from school until she goes to bed.  She loves to play with babies and comes up with incredible stories.  She usually has around 6 kids hanging off her stroller or being cared for here or there.  We are pretty sure she will have a big family.  I think that with Kylie's imagination she could come up with a really good plot, and with Karinda's writing abilities they could write some pretty awesome books.  That would mean getting along, which they can sometimes do, but they surely have their moments as well.  When Kylie was having some playground trouble this fall and was crying at school, I heard that Karinda marched on over to the situation and told those kids they needed to all play together and be nice.  Even if they can't admit it, I know they care and love each other.  They have a system figured out for bath nights where Karinda will get in the shower and plug the drain and when she is ready they will both get in and play Barbies for a bit until Karinda gets mad or sick of it and gets out.

 Kylie got some Lego's and she loved putting them together.  She is a little like her dad because they will now stay together, but she does play with them a little.

The one thing Kylie requested was "fart putty", Saddie and Maggie are quite in awe of the new gift.

Kylie has developed a new love for gymnastics even though we didn't watch much of the olympics this year.  She has spent many hours in the front yard perfecting her skills and took gymnastics at Zeeland Rec.

Kylie we love you so very much and are so very proud of you!  Even with another big year of changes, with moving back to Michigan and Daddy being gone a lot, you are even keeled and steady.  We can't wait to see what God has in store for you, we are sure it will be a very special job.