OcToBeR

The month started off with a vet visit for Sally and resulted in a diagnosis of ear infections. On the 10^th, Chanelle lost her job as a probation officer, but that meant she would be a full-time stay-at-home-mom again. Although she was disappointed, she knew that it was in God’s hands and that He has a bigger plan.  Travis went to GA to spend the weekend with Brian.  They went to an air show and had a good time.  Memaw & Pepaw left on the 16^th.  Chanelle enjoyed helping with the swiss steak dinner at church on the 19^th.  On the 26th, the Bouwmeester and Holland family got together for "Thanksgiving" before grandma & grandpa went back to Florida.  Sandy’s Stables had a kid’s fall festival and we took the boys.  They enjoyed hunting for candy through a pile of sawdust, decorating pumpkins and Andrew loved riding the horse…he did it twice! On Halloween, we rode with Jason & Hannah and took the kids to a church in Kingsley for an indoor Harvest Festival. It was a good thing too because the weather was horrible! It rained…a lot! The kids enjoyed playing games for candy and hanging out with each other. As for the weather, October was crazy. It was 80 degrees on October 1st, 60s-70s the next couple of weeks, and we had snow on the 23rd. 

 

Sally enjoying the *rare* fall sun

God blessed this morning with a beautiful sunrise

Pepaw helping Alex with math

that time of year....

One of Travis' favorite things to do :)

even Andrew helps!

Memaw playing Candy Land with the boys

Memaw can't visit now without playing Monopoly with Alex

Memaw helping Alex with his Bible lesson

enjoying some TV time

they loved playing in the dirt with their tractors

Sally & Jake

at Seven Bridges

fall colors 10/22/13

snow the next day.....10/23/13

Holland/Bouwmeester family

Andrew enjoying the ride

September...better late than never!

Alex started 2^nd grade and Andrew didn’t “officially” start preschool, but he is learning around the house.   

Memaw & Pepaw came on the 15^th.  We took them to see Billy Strings at Short’s in Bellaire and they thought he was very entertaining. Weather-wise, it was a beautiful month.  We went to the Acme Fall Festival and enjoyed looking at crafts and letting the boys play in the bounce houses. 

August

Summer is flying by...

We started the month off by enjoying the annual Holland Family Camping Trip at Lake Mitchell State Park in Cadillac.  We opted for the cabin this year…no more tent camping for us! We enjoyed the weekend and the weather was great. 

Alex participated in soccer camp and had a lot of fun. Three local churches put it on, so it was kind of like VBS that revolved around Jesus and soccer! 

Andrew and his friend Gibson made their own see-saw!

After a few years of looking for a camper, we finally found one! We had to drive downstate, but it was worth it.  Now we can enjoy camping even more. We slept in our driveway the night we bought it. 

After much anticipation, we went to see Disney’s “Planes” movie in Bellaire. The boys really enjoyed it and Dusty and Ripslinger toys were waiting for the boys when we got home.  

We were able to spend an evening at Elk Lake at Grandpa and Grandma's friends' lake house. 

Water bug.

Alex loved his jet ski ride even though he had a to wear a purple life vest!

Yes Andrew is wearing a girl's life jacket. He had to borrow Promise's. That didn't stop him from loving the jet ski ride!

 

Chanelle was asked to do the photography for a Sidewalk Prophets concert and had a lot of fun. 

We wrapped up the month with a visit from Uncle Conrad and Aunt Connie. Chanelle had not seen them since 1996! We had a quick but nice visit.  We took a day trip to the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.