fun with mod podge

the kids are doing a summer reading program and a few school related learning projects - i tried to come up with a way to keep everyone organized - so we made these clipboards.  i clip their reading logs up and then include a little assignment each day for them to work on.  i hung them by the back door with ribbon so they are easy for the kids to access.

last day of school!

 first day of school (september 2011 - Hilversum, NL)

 last day of school (june 2012 - Sturgis, MI)  .... amazing how fast they grow up!

 so excited to be out of school!!

 immediately after school - we hopping in the car and drove to St. Joe, MI for a swim meet - jayden ready to swim

 graham's turn

 jillian and her friend from the swim team :)

 helen covering up because she was getting splashed with the swimmers did their flip turns - talk about a front row seat :)

 jayden ready to start the butterfly

 look at that arm span :)

 graham swimming

 swimming cheerleaders

 after the swim meet, i took the kids to downtown St. Joe to eat dinner - we ate at a restaurant that i went to with my family when we lived in St. Joe

 arrrrgh - where's jillian?  :)

 drove past my old house on mulberry lane

 where i started my babysitter career

nothing says summer vacation is here like a stop on the tollway for a treat at 11pm :)

summer sewing

 i've been working on a couple of sewing projects for the girls - i made these 2 skirts

 and took a tank top and made it into a dress using some fabric with a map of Paris, France ....

.... perfect for my 3rd culture toddler, jillian :)

Father's Day 2012

 2012 - I can see from the smiles on their faces - how much these kids love their daddy! :)

 2011

 2010

 2009

2008

swim-a-thon

the boy's swim team participated in a swim-a-thon to raise money for their pool and swim club (they wanted to purchase some new timing boards - someone offered to make a matching donation if the club raised $5000 by gathering pledges and swimming 1 mile)  thanks to all who donated to their efforts :)
jayden - ready for his 1 mile swim (he finished in 53 minutes)

 http://youtu.be/xtMSHLqXbKs

 graham doing his 1 mile swim for the swim-a-thon (he finished in 45 minutes)

 http://youtu.be/iQwu6PkL6KE

the girls helping count the swimmers laps :)  - oh silly jilly!

oh silly jilly

jillian did not want to go to bed one night - we layed her down (fully clothed) and turned out her light and said goodnight.  came back just a few minutes later to find her like this  - she was so mad about going to bed that she completely undressed herself.   oh, strong-willed - silly jilly - we love you so!

Elkhart, IN Swim Meet (June 1, 2012)

http://youtu.be/RBenMJE3fpk - jayden

 http://youtu.be/eGkRdHxvWW8 - graham

100%

Cereal City 5k

 pre-race photo (the sun is in Graham's eyes)

 Jayden is ready!

 the boys are ready to run and the girls are ready to cheer (and ring cow bells)

 pre-race family photo

 yea - we left the house at 6:10am and we're ready to run!

 stretching

 who else would you expect at the Cereal City 5k :)  Tony the Tiger!

 see Jillian's blonde hair on the right... that's as close as she would get :)

 the girls riding and jayden running

 jayden is almost done

 graham sprinting to the finish

 Ross ran the 10k (in a PR time of 38 minutes) and Helen tried to catch him at the fnish :)

 jillian dancing and eating post-race snacks

 the results

 visiting the world's longest breakfast table in Battle Creek after the race

 ... i think Graham needed his sunglasses :)

 caught you drinking from the bowl!

 Ross shows Graham the house that he grew up in Battle Creek

 Aunt Erin shows Jillian where she used to play in the backyard

Erin and Ross stop by to say hi to their neighbor, Gina

http://youtu.be/4tKVCjfhios - jayden's first every 5k finish