Another visit to the ER.......

We had to run Tanner down to the DeVos Children's Hospital last night.....yep, up the nose. A green milk chocolate one. I asked him what possessed him to stick it up his nose. His response, "I just didn't like that one".

Day at the beach!

We decided to head to Grand Haven this weekend to show the kids Lake Michigan in the winter. It was so cold and would you believe I left Tanner's coat at home!!! I put the kids in their snowpants for the ride down, but just threw their coats in the van. Evidently, I thought I had grabbed Tanner's, but you needn't worry. Tanner was warm as can be, wearing my coat. I modeled a very trendy "Incredible Hunk" throw over my shoulders! It is hard to believe we will be camping there in 5 months, riding bikes and swimming in the lake. We finally got a site for over the 4th of July across from the lake. We are so excited! We plan on having a retirement party for my dad (and possibly mom) while we are there and Brinlee's 3rd B-day party. Anyway, Brenton has to do a project for the Art and Science Fair next month. He picked "photography" for the catagory he is entering. We thought this would be a neat place to try to get a picture. He did take a couple, but said he is planning on taking a picture when we go to Disney on Ice and using that. I prefer the lake picture, but I guess the picture of Disney on Ice is better than the picture he wanted to use of his gatorade. Crazy kid!

After church on Sunday, we went to lunch at my all time favorite place, Moe's, and then got some ice cream. We went to a new place that I had buy one get coupons for; Marble Slab Creamery. It was just like Cold Stone. It was yummy, but of course, the grown ups were the only ones to finish their cones!

One of the shots Brenton took of the frozen waves and pier.


Brenton sledding down the frozen waves!
Jim, Tanner and Brenton walking on Lake Michigan!

Another picture Brenton got of the channel, from the boardwalk.

Weekend Pictures

We had JAM (children's program) in the "big church" this week. Jim acted as a host, with Pastor Chris, during the event. He did great, it was really fun to watch.



We also took Tanner to "Build a Bear" for a much delayed birthday gift. We had to wait until we had saved up enough money! He had a lot fun. He named his teddy bear "Super Bear". Brinlee had a lot of fun picking out everything she wants to get when it is her birthday!

Okay, I need some help from you all. One of my best friends does daycare and a couple of weeks ago, she asked me if I wanted a daycare job. One of the families she watches has friends that live near me. They are not happy with their current daycare situation and are looking for a new one. I wasn't sure (and I'm still not!) that I wanted to complicate my life with watching two more kids (ages 2 and 4 months) but since I am home pretty much all the time anyhow, it might work out. Not to mention the money, since Jim has started his own business, money has been very tight. I wouldn't want to use the money to "live off", but rather to save for fun stuff, like vacations and such. I wouldn't want to "get used" to the money, where if something were to not work out, we still need that money. Does that make sense? Anyhow, I've been praying about it and felt led to give it a go. Well, today they called. We are going to plan a time to meet eachother and see if we are all still interested. Here is where I need help. I have no idea what to charge. I know most of you are stay at home moms and are as clueless as me about daycare costs, but I'd still value your imput. My friend who does daycare, I believe, does not charge enough for all that she does. She knows that too, but is too nice to do anything about it! I did talk to my neighbor who used to do daycare and she said she would charge $175.00 a week for the 4 month old and $150.00 a week for the 2 year old. My sister pays $100.00 a week for her 5 month old and $100.00 a week for her 2 year old. She said she feels that this is very reasonable, as her last daycare was much more. What are your thoughts? I plan on asking what they currently pay and go from there. I don't really want to do it for under $200.00 a week, but charging them $325.00 a week seems insane, even if it is the "going" rate.

Naughty Kids!!!

So, while I was busy blogging about my new haircut, this is what my naughty kids were doing!!! I heard a lot of banging, but I chose to ignore it. Guess I learned my lesson! I told the kids that I wouldn't make them lunch until they cleaned it up. I'm sure you all can guess what they are doing. Yep...not a thing!

New haircut

Before


After

Crazy how you are never satisfied! I got my haircut yesterday, and really liked the cut, but when I took a picture to show my online friends....yuck!!! I ended up taking about 20 and deleting most. I am only remotely satisfied with this one, probably because I did a lot of editing to it! I came to the conclusion it is not the hair, but the face...haha. Anyhow I do like the cut and hope it will be easy to do. I was growing my hair out, but found I wore my hair in a ponytail a lot, so what's the point! Now I have to save up money for some spring highlights!

Blizzard of 2007!

With temperatures still below zero and very icy roads, we are on day 4 of cancellations here in West Michigan. Schools here in the area are on their 2nd snow day. Imagine Brenton's joy when I told him he had another day off! Looking out the front door, before it really started snowing hard last Friday.
Looking out the kitchen window.
A little over 17 inches on the deck!





My friend Amanda, who lives around the block, posted some really good pictures on her site taken during all the blowing and snowing. Check them out here.