Memorial weekend

He does sit down sometimes! Here's the proof. Memorial day was just too cool here to plant. But everything is in place for when the weather warms up!

Here is an interesting site Adam made a comment on. We enjoyed reading this. http://bitsandpieces.us/2009/05/21/being-poor/comment-page-1/#comments If you look at May 21, you'll see Adam's name and also in some other individuals comments following that.

One May 24 Matthew went to the park a few blocks away with some friends across the street. That was a pretty big occasion for him since neither Adam or I went along. He does so well in all kinds of situations. When he takes a bath he has some crayons he can use in the tub. He always seems to choose the red one. I keep thinking it's going to run out one of these weeks, but, no. Daddy gives him a lot of baths, and the last time I came in when they were through...those walls! Matthew is very energetic, and it shows in his drawings too! Bright red covering the bathtub walls. It simply matches his personality. We see that he is very good at drawing long, straight lines freehand. He also really likes drawing circles. He's also been outside with Daddy enough that he's a brave boy and is happy to handle "Hermies" now (earthworms).

Kaitlyn is very good at rolling. So I have to be careful now that obstacles are not in her way. Before we know it she is under a table or stopped by a chair in her way. We also have to watch that she doesn't sample any vegetation while we're out weeding. She's a quicky with a strong grip. She can also easily pull up a full plate of food or bowl of cereal and even a lamp. So our reflexes are pretty fast again. Kaitlyn is also very good at sitting now, too. She's getting closer and closer to sitting up easily for long periods without tipping. Getting a strong little midsection.

The Great Outdoors

Adam is back to getting his garden preparations completed. He made some removeable support arches to keep the beds straight. He's factoring in the long term effects of water and weather. They also provide for spring time again next year when we plant earlier when it's still cold. This way it can be covered and therefore produce a greenhouse affect, giving plants an even earlier start in our otherwise short growing season.

Then later in the week Adam prepared the soil for planting. Local topsoil is the main ingredient, along with peat moss and an additive called 'soil prep,' made of forest products. This has all taken quite a bit of time. He finished it off with a good mixing with the rototiller. But maybe some added worms would be good too...

Back home May 19-22

It was a very hot day today. Turned out that it was hot in Gillette too. We got home at about 6 p.m., stepped out of the car and immediately smelled the flowering trees and bushes on the warm evening air. What a wonderful welcome!

Adam has had seedlings growing in the house for the past month. They just didn't seem to be growing much. So right before we had left for Amsterdam, he placed some special fertilizer on them. I think they have tripled in size! So that was great to come home to, also.

Going back to Gillette; May 19th

All good things must come to an end. We had to say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa at about 10:30 a.m. Thank you so much for having us! And thank you for all of the wonderful gifts! Nice clothes and toys among some of them...and then a care package for the drive home. All so thoughtful. We will miss you!

We had to drive over first for a chiropractor adjustment from Dr. Kim Anderson. Dr. Justin (who was a classmate of Adam's growing up) was there also, so that was a nice visit. http://www.wellnessmontana.com/ They practice the Gonstead method of chiropractics from their study at the Palmer University in Iowa. It is simply wonderful. And all their patients enjoy all the education received from them also. Their family life is going along so much like ours. It is always good hearing the updates. We sure miss them from across the miles!

Then on our way through Bozeman we stopped at the Clerk and Recorders Office at the courthouse. http://www.gallatin.mt.gov/Public_Documents/gallatincomt_clerk/clerk I worked there four years while Adam was attending Montana State University. We became good friends and were so involved in each others lives working there. We got there over the lunch hour today, but managed to see everyone but Eric and Carrie. I really miss the laughter and good stories we all shared there. Especially the mornings when things were just getting started. It was good seeing the changes in the office. Always improving! And so nice seeing the efficiency and friendliness continuing on! We were never the typical government office and that's still evident.

We had to then drive down main street and see the rubble. Wow. http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/bozeman_gas_explosion/ Then we wanted to stop somewhere to eat before we left. Someplace we haven't been able to go to for a while...Little Caesar's and Cold Stone. Pretty tasty and pretty quick. It wasn't sushi, but maybe next time.

Matthew and Kaitlyn slept the entire way to Billings. We needed to stop and walk a little and Cabela's had just opened there, so that was fun to see. Then Matthew slept a ways outside of Gillette. It was probably about 6 p.m. and he continued sleeping through the entire night easily. He had had a great week! We all did. After getting home, we noticed his little brown Wyoming hat is noticeably faded. He really did get a lot of sun this week.

May 18th, 2009

Lance and Jen had to go back yesterday. So we are missing them! But so glad we could all be here together and they could meet Kaitlyn.

It is very hot again today. Whew. It had snowed a little before we left Gillette, plus the forecast for Bozeman hadn't predicted this! Not where I looked anyway. So we are a little short on proper clothing. I'll learn how to pack yet. But it is so beautiful and feels very good. Matthew is feeling it the most with all of his running.

Everybody just kind of relaxed, played some catch, took a walk and visited with Dad and Mom's neighbor. Then Adam, the kids and I went over to visit Clifford and Laura Schutter. All the spring work is under way on the farm. Crops are coming up and everything looks so nice! Clifford was kind to take us around with him on the job. Adam and Matthew visited with a lot of the guys around on the farm. Unfortunately for all of us, Kaitlyn did not have a good time. Poor Cliff couldn't even take a phone call...it was pretty loud. It was so good seeing you all!

Sunday, May 17th

It was so wonderful seeing everybody there at church today. Kaitlyn, Matthew and I couldn't quite sit through the whole thing, but there were plenty of fun things to choose from downstairs. First we went to one of the Sunday School classrooms and worked on some puzzles and a bible verse. Then we went up to the nursery and played with the kids there.

Here we are at Great-Grandma's home for coffee. It was a hot summer-like day today!

This evening we went over to Phil and DarLyne Olson's home. Holly Yamada had left some clothes when she moved back to Japan with her little Mari and Sho. So many nice things from them! And a lot of their little clothes are from Japan. They will be fun to wear. Hope you are doing well Holly and Shinichi! It sure was good visiting with your Mom and Dad! The huge stuffed snake is very cool.

May 16th; Amber and Kalem Blessing's Wedding

Great-Grandma Anne Sinnema

Lance and Jen Sinnema

Aunt Lois Bos, Grandma, Aunt Norma Alberda and Aunt Carol Vermulm

What a beautiful wedding we were able to go to. So thankful we could see so much of our family and friends there!

It was a big day today. And up to 87 degrees. Daddy, Grandpa and Matthew all went for a walk together. Lance and Jen made it from Spokane, WA. It took them 6 hours, just like us from Gillette. Then we all went over to Churchill for the wedding. It was very beautiful in the historical Manhattan Christian Reformed Church, better known locally as, First Church. It was all very nice and we were all able to sit through the whole thing together! Very enjoyable.

We then went over to the Gallatin Gateway Inn for the reception, just south of Four Corners. It was very elegant with gorgeous flowers, delicious food and wonderful company. We had a wonderful time visiting with everyone and catching up on all the family stories. We came to find that occasions such as this are so much more fun for us personally now with kids. We keep busy and we get to see everybody because everybody wants to see them!

Kaitlyn was so sweet in her little pink dress from Aunt Lynne and Uncle Ron. Grandpa Frank loved carrying her around and so did Aunt Lois. Quite a few held her also and she was very happy with it all. Matthew loved meeting all of the kids and sticking close to them. He was pretty tired from the last two days, but never missed a thing! He made a lot of friends and even gave a few hugs and a kiss. Amber had two big strawberries at each place setting. One was dipped in white chocolate and slightly decorated as a bride and the other in dark chocolate as the groom. We just loved them - and that was Matthew's meal for the evening. He was so happy.

It was a little cool on Friday, but warmed up more and more the entire visit. Very beautiful.

It was so wonderful seeing the mountain ranges again! We took a few walks and just loved seeing them full of snow, with the clear blue skies and beautiful soft spring green. Nothing like the Gallatin Valley.

Baseball, baseball and more baseball!

Matthew and Grandpa Frank played catch and hitting every day. There was also a lot of golf, thanks to Grandpa. Though when the clubs were first brought out, Matthew shouts, "hockey!" Sorry Grandpa! We need to visit more often.

Daddy was out there every day of course, also. It sure is nice hearing Matthew encouragingly saying, "Nice catch! Nice throw! Nice hit!" One day when we were all going to go for a walk, Matthew appreciatively tells Grandma, "Nice shoes!" Every now and then we also get, "Nice!" with two thumbs up. What a good boy!

May 15th, Friday

All day Thursday we talked about going to Grandma Doris and Grandpa Frank's house. So it was a little disappointing for Matthew when we were home All Day packing and then driving in the car All Night to get there.

Waking up Friday morning was great. We were here! There is nothing like being with Grandpa and Grandma.

May 14th, Thursday 2009

Adam will get off of work at the regular time and off we will go to Amsterdam tonight! It's about 20 miles west of Bozeman. Today went really well with packing. I even got all the regular meals, dishes, naps and laundry finished along with it! Times sure have changed. I believe Adam has packed us up entirely for trips the past four years. Suitcases out, filled, into the car...everything. To keep our little kids content and happy - a lot of focus goes into this apparently. It is so nice to see life continuing to evolve towards balance of all things!

Last month we visited up to Malta. As we reached Sheridan on the way up, about 100 miles out of Gillette, I was seriously considering returning home. Adam would have time off, and we could rest up after all of the "excitement" we had already had thus far. Thank goodness we continued on - and Kaitlyn became an excellent passenger during that vacation. This trip took all of the benefits from the last time and was very enjoyable. We arrived quite late - but Adam and I had such a nice visit while the two little ones slept and slept. So nice to hear all the latest and greatest going's on from work.