Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving 2008! We once again did our normal routine-head out to Grandma Vicki's on Wednesday night, have dinner at OBI, eat with the Bergsma clan on Thursday and then head down to Kalamazoo for bowling night!

More Turkey and Mash Potatoes please....

The beautiful sky as we left for Kalamazoo...now
on to bowling and bumper cars!!!! Work off some
of that delicious turkey dinner.

kissing cousins...

Halloween part II

Halloween night! Every year the Dekams come and join us for a little trick or treating as there are not too many homes out where they live, to trick or treat. This year, we were also joined by the Curries, Roelofs, and eventually the DeYoungs as well as Grandma Vicki and Grandma Marlene!!!! It was a beautiful night, definitely not the norm for Halloween in Michigan and we had a great deal of fun!


Avery the Snow Princess

Irelyn the Butterfly

Josh and Avery

Grandma and Irelyn

Gracie and Rowan trying to keep up with the pack...

Karie, Gracie and Steve

Tina and Rowan

After a good time trick or treating, re-fueling with pizza...

Happy Halloween!!!!

Until next year!....

Halloween part I

Happy Halloween 2008! Our neighborhood association held a halloween party at Collins Elementary the weekend before Halloween. Avery dressed up as a snow princess and Irelyn was the "hand me down" butterfly :0). There was donuts and cider, arts and crafts, and lots of fun games.

The Whole neighborhood gang


Avery and Jared


Searching for worms...


Found it!


YuMMy!

Dance class

This fall, Avery and Natalie signed up for dance class, Creative Combo with Miss Amy. Although, it sometimes take Aves a little bit to get out into the dance class, when she finally gets out there, she has a blast!

This Saturday, they were able to wear their halloween costumes to dance. As you can see, the going costume for the 3-4 year old definitely has "princess" attached. Avery was of course, a snow "princess".

Lauren, Claire, Natalie, Hope, Avery, Lily and Rachel....missing Natalie DeYoung.

Fall time

This fall was especially beautiful and warm! One afternoon, Avery and Josh
decided to rake up the leaves. What started out as an afternoon chore, soon turned
into lots of fun!

Avery raking away...


Taking a quick break for a family photo...


turned into a leave fight...


and then Cannon Ball!

65th Anniversarys!

Unbelievable...who would have known, that both my grandparents (Grandma and Grandpa Bergsma) and Josh's grandparents (Grandma and Grandpa Ryskamp) would both celebrate their 65th wedding Anniversary in the same week of each other! And we were lucky enough to be able to celebrate such a remarkable moment with both of them.

When you look back at what they have experienced in those 65 years together, it is amazing. Both of our grandpas served in WWII and each had 4 daughters (with my mom being the oldest of her sisters, and Josh's mom being the oldest of her sisters). There are 8 grandchildren for my grandparents, 7 grandchildren for Josh's grandparents, 6 great-grandchildren for my grandparents, 8 great-grandchildren for Josh's grandparents!

They both have epitomized the basis of family and marriage. We have respect and admiration for their commitment to each of us.

We love you,
lis and josh, aves and irelyn

Grandma and Grandpa Ryskamp


Grandma and Grandpa Bergsma


HAPPY ANNIVERSARY GRANDMA AND GRANDPA!

A time for firsts....

This fall was a time of firsts for us:

Avery and Irelyn's first bath together...

Irelyn was finally old enough and able to sit on her own so we could knock down two baths in one.

Irelyn's first taste of "real" food...she loves it!!!

We gave Irelyn her first taste of real food-carrots. She gobbled it right up and we laughed as she looked at us, like finally-you're giving me something good to eat. More PleASe!!!

Avery's 1st Dance class...Creative Combo I with Miss Amy

We signed Avery up for dance class with Natalie DeYoung at the East Grand Rapids Rec Center.

The class met every Saturday from Sept thru Dec. (See later blog on additional dance pics :-))