Happy Easter/ Birthday/New Life

Since Easter was the day after Maria's birthday, we had a cake when over at John's mom's house.  Had to take a few pix, ya know?



And finally, to reenact the great 1 year old pic...



And 4 year old pic...



We have the great 21 year old pic...

Anticipation

Just wow, as I look out my window every day, I remember how the leaves on our Japanese Maple are always the most brilliant red velvet-red in time for my birthday which is on Love Thursday this year!  It gets more red every day and I am so excited!!!  Red velvet was my favorite kind of cake that my grandma (Oma Boyer) used to make me for my birthday, so now it is always good that I have this to remember.

Happy Labor Day

John & I are laboring on Labor Day - painting Bridget's bedroom - but we did take time to celebrate his birthday this past weekend.  Edward & Maria joined us from Calvin for supper and cake Saturday night.

Happy Birthday Queen Mother!

Happy Birthday to my dear mother! Love you!!!

Love Thursday: Bridgie's B-day Lunch With the Fam!

Such excitement! We celebrated Bridgie with the whole family this past Sunday!

We had lunch at the Electric Cheetah complete with photos to capture the celebration of course.

Now she is really 16.

Birthday Artist Talk

The girls enjoyed looking at the artwork downtown at our church where the candlelight dinner was held. We have some of the work of Lydia Larson on display for a couple of months. Much to Bridget's amazement, Lydia stopped by with a present for Bridget, a very special little painting she had made just for her and she talked to the girls about the meaning behind it.

Lydia received a residency from the Netherland America Foundation and will be painting in Amsterdam this summer! You can see her work here.

Sweet Sixteen Candlelight Dinner

The punchbowl

The toast!

Great friends to help!

The prayer.

Time to eat.

Bridgie's Bridge!

We had Bridget's Sweet Sixteen birthday party downtown this past Saturday evening and thought it only appropriate to go over to the infamous Sixth Street Bridge for some fun pix with her guests!

Such fun! More to come...

Happy Sweet 16 Dear Bridget!!!

Hard to believe this was 16 years ago!

Love Thursday: Maria's Birthday Celebration

One very fine thing about having Edward & Maria at Calvin College just on the other side of town is that we can get together for quick little birthday dinners. We met Edward & Maria at Yesterdog's which is somewhere kind of between us.

We ate 10 Yesterdogs & Cheddardogs between us all and no one even wanted to go get ice cream! But it was a good good time and Maria can now be officially 19 years old.

I sent her Psalm 19 which is so appropriate for a 19 year old:

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Happy Birthday Maria Christina!

I was able to capture a bit of Maria when we went on our photo shoot... she is growing up! Here are a few favorites:

It might sound a little cliche, but really, it does seem like yesterday...

Happy Birthday Pong!

Last Thursday, I went over to my friend Cathy's house to celebrate her birthday with our traditional Olga lunch. We were going to be joined by another friend but she couldn't come due to illness which was a bummer, but we still managed to have a great time!

I gave her this little book, it was so sweet and so appropriate. Part of it went like this:

You know how to be silly
That's why I like you
Boy are you ever silly
I never met anybody sillier than me till I met you
I like you because you know when it's time to stop being silly
Maybe day after tomorrow
Maybe never
Too late, it's a quarter past silly!

Remember the funnest game in the whole world?

It's still #1 on Google Images...

Love Thursday

Celebrating the birth of a very sweet pal today!!!

Edward's 21st

This is what happens when the tripod goes crooked. We all slanted our heads and Maria acted as a counter balance. We did get it right the second time.

Happy Birthday Edward!

Happy Birthday Uncle Alan!!

Still celebrating birthday month ... yesterday, Opa Bailey would have been 100 years old!

Happy memories of our toast in the Live Free or Die State

Love Thursday

Sharon made me a heart shaped red velvet cake for my birthday!

Then, my neighbor brought me over this work of art!

Later, we met Edward & Maria for a very impromptu supper at a restaurant near Calvin!

It was a good, good day with a lot of other great things in between!

And welcome into the world little cousin Annelies!!! We get to share a birthday forever.

A Grand Celebration of 10-10-10

This past Sunday was my friend Cathy's daughter Emily's 15th birthday. They invited Bridget & me to go along with them and a few other of her friends to the final day of ArtPrize and to have birthday cake in a random point in the city. We checked out a few ArtPrize highlights and captured some fine memories along the way.

Stopped for coffee...

Ran into some friends and gathered for a sweet moment together...

Imitated art...

Went for a carousel ride...

Walked up the city streets...

Posed for photos...

Enjoyed the sun and fall colors...

Ate birthday cake on the Grand River...

Pretty grand!