Finally....

No, not finally a post... but finally Ryan can join most of his friends in saying he's lost a tooth! He's wished all year he could be part of the club.

It's been "loose" for months it seems and we saw blood on Thursday morning, getting ready for his year end Kindergarten program. He didn't like the blood, but it wasn't quite ready yet. I told him to leave it alone and we should make it through the morning at school. That night in the bath tub, you would have thought he had struck gold... "Mom/Dad ~ get in here NOW... it's gonna come out!" It was a painless experience and such a big deal. We have a certain family member to thank for telling him that the Minnesota Tooth Fairy brings $10 per tooth! I think they were wrong!

The best part of all.. he could go to school this week and share the excitement with his teacher and friends before the year ended!

It's Friday....

but SUNDAY's coming!!

I heard that today and just had to repeat it. It's Good Friday... a day we are so thankful for, yet rejoicing even more on Resurrection Sunday that our Savior lives!

As Ryan wrote on a picture he made yesterday, "Jesus rocks!"

Happy Easter to you all!

A New Season?

Where? Here? A kind friend was prompting a new post by saying it was a new season... time for a new post....

Well here you go, Wendy :). This is the view today.

And some wet clothes to go with it....
I much rather prefer these wet clothes where we were a few short days ago on Spring Break...
Ahhh... the life.
We returned from FL late Sunday night to a Winter Storm Warning (why don't they call it a Spring Storm Warning?) for Monday night thru today. Another snow day for local schools. Nice. Don't get me wrong.... I'm sooo glad we headed south, but it sure makes it harder to deal with this lovely stuff.

School's Out!

For all you not so blessed by the white stuff.... here is how Ryan spent his afternoon. School got out at 11am today and he was thrilled to have a neighbor gal come and ask to play. They lasted a little less than 45 minutes outside as the wind was pretty darn cold. It was fun for him to have someone to play with most of the afternoon. The drifts are pretty impressive today. Can't see any sign of kids playing in the yard anymore.

Snow is better than cold and no snow. And even though I complain about the long winter... it has it's advantages too. No where to go when everything is cancelled and a few good books, a fireplace, and some comfy pj's make for a cozy evening. However, accountants still have work to do in January!! And unfortunately, computers still run in the cold!

Happy January to you!

What were you doing 6 years ago?

I was in a Grand Rapids hospital full of the lovely, labor-inducing pitocin, anxiously awaiting to meet someone very special. (And Steve was tired of being on his feet by my bed since 7am!)

At 9:11pm I heard Steve say "It's a boy!" and my world and heart changed forever when I saw this little guy!

It's amazing what a little 8 lb gift from the Lord can do...

He can make you laugh, cry, scream, and overflow with joy.



He can love you, teach you, make you grow, and give you the awesome privilege of being a mom and dad.


It's hard to believe six years have gone by already. Someone said it would only go faster with a little one.

His big heart, zest for life, growing character and big blue eyes have got us wrapped around his little finger.



You're six on the 6th!!!

Happy "Golden" Birthday, little Ry-guy!

We love you!


**And it is nothing short of a small miracle that the computer let me upload these pictures!?!! Ryan and I enjoyed looking through these and many more pictures and even watching a few videos of when he was a baby. He just giggled non-stop. A fun afternoon of reminiscing!

Merry Christmas

Hope you and yours have had a wonderful few days with family and friends. We are in balmy Indiana and even saw 70 degrees Saturday after Christmas. It didn't last but we'll take the 40's and 50's. We came down here via a nice snowy mess in Chicago, but it made for a pretty White Christmas there. We even fit in a great Christmas program at Willow Creek Community Church. It's been a nice time away with family and reuniting with old friends. It will be good to be back home sometime later this week, though, too.

I'd love to post some pictures and maybe even that Christmas program I talked about. However, our computer is not letting me upload any pictures or even attach any files to email with out locking up internet explorer.... this has been going on for months. Any ideas?

Until my computer geek makes my blogging a priority, you'll get my rambling vs. some pics.

Happy 2009! May you see God's blessings all around you in the new year!

Blogging Etiquette

So really... what is appropriate when you don't post for months... several times in a row?

Do you just give it up?

Do you make excuses?

Or do you go on like nothing happened in those months of absence?

Maybe we'll try a Christmas program video for the family miles away... how many days will that take to cut, edit, and upload?

See you in a few months... or maybe sooner if I'm convicted!

Light a candle for our babies...

Today, October 15, is the National Day of Remembrance for pregnancy and infant loss. It has been suggested that grieving parents and family members light a candle at 7 p.m. in their respective time zones to create a wave of light around the world in memory of babies lost to pregnancy and infant loss.

I personally was not aware of this until I saw it on another blog. It may seem that there is a "National Day" for about anything we can think of. However, this one tugs on my heart. As many of you know, we have 2 little ones, who I believe we'll see again someday. I'm also sure all of us know many who have experienced losses at various stages of pregnancy and early infancy, but the "common-ness" of it does not take away the pain that is felt over each individual loss. I hope this touches your heart and you will remember all those babies that have gone before us and remember to pray for family and friends who continue to grieve.

One Fish, Two Fish

Goldfish..... No fish!

That's the Wood luck.

We compromised a week ago Saturday to bring our first pet(s) into our home. Ryan has often asked for a dog, or maybe a cat... and recently he started the fish question. He's one smart kid. Dad doesn't care for dogs or cats, Mom's allergic to cats... so why not a fish. Nobody here's allergic to them.

So, we come home on Saturday with a bowl, some fancy rock, a little fake water plant, and a cute "No Fishing" sign, some fish food, and two little goldfish- name Goldie and Buster. We thought we followed all the pet store directions. But Goldie was floating on her side by the time I got home from scrapbooking late the following Friday night. Ryan and Steve obviously didn't tell them good night that night or they would have been in for a surprise. Not even one week. I didn't even capture them on camera for the scrapbook! It was a little tough on Saturday morning, but we made it... after some tears. Ryan wanted to give Buster back to the store so he wouldn't die too. We were hopeful.... telling him that Buster could live a lot longer. Well, you guessed it. He was lying at the bottom of the bowl by Sunday afternoon. Yes, we had changed the water, not overfed, drawn them pictures, talked to them.... who knows? We obviously are not meant to be fish owners.

After the second round of sadness lightened and several theological questions about pets and their salvation, Ryan says...."see, I knew we should have gotten a dog!"

Please pray for Grandpa (Papa) Floyd

***Update***
We made a quick trip to Indiana this past weekend and it was good to see Grandpa. He did have open heart surgery on Monday afternoon. They did 4 bypasses. He is slowly coming out of all the drugs and things seem to be coming along as expected, yet slowly. No major concerns at this point. I'm sure it will be a slow recovery for him. We are thankful everything has gone as smoothly as possible. Thanks for your prayers!!!

We found out last night that my (Anne's) Grandpa is in the hospital in Indianapolis, waiting to find out what's to come next. He went via ambulance as he was having chest pains. They discovered that 3 of his main arteries to/from the heart are blocked 90% or more(please excuse my lack of medical knowledge). He has always appeared to be so healthy for an 87 year old... still planting and working in his garden, taking care of himself, going to church and places all on his own. Right now they are waiting to hear what the surgeons recommend... open heart surgery or other options? Wish we were closer to pop in and see him. I did talk to him last night and at least his humor is still there... telling me that's the fastest ride to Indy he's ever had :).

Here he is with my Bro and Sis-in-law at our cousin's wedding last month... sorry, Matt and Erin, that I didn't ask permission :)!

We love you Papa Floyd and we'll be praying for you... and getting some of my blogger buddies, too, as well!

A New Chapter for Us

Well, today was the big day. The first full day of Kindergarten. Yesterday Ryan rode the bus for the first time, but I met him at school as it was just an open house day(with parents) to get acquainted with things. Therefore, he came home with me and we were home by 11am. Today, however, up at 6:45 on his own (no excitement there), on the bus at 7:30am and I am anxiously awaiting his arrival back in the neighborhood around 4pm. That's a big day! He was ready and I was ready, until I made it back to the garage. Then I had my moment! It's the end of a stage of life as we know it. I think not having any other kiddos at home with me is the tough/strange part. It's been a different day without my constant conversations and little companion :). Thankfully, the school we chose only has kindergarten 2 days one week and 3 the next. It will be a good transition for us! Hope you enjoy these snapshots... off to get the cookies out of the oven. Have to be a good mom, at least the first day :)!!!

PS... did I mention it was only 40 something this morning... I love this fall weather, but I am not looking forward to what comes after it!

OK OK....

Here we are and here's a post for the handful of you who check in. I've heard the requests and will attempt to update this week. We are alive, doing well and sad to see summer ending... but one of us is very excited to have school begin next week! We'll let you guess who that is.