Friday, April 10, 2015

This and that times 5

Bennett:  9 years old.  Likes shooting hoops in the driveway.  Thinks it's fun that he gets jokes he sees on TV commercials/shows and often replays them for us even though we saw it too.  He likes to be told more "adult" jokes...usually by Darrin :).  He thinks it's cool when his dad lets him stay up late to watch sporting events.  He's a homebody and has to think hard about whether or not he wants to do some event or go somewhere with someone.  He hates going to the grocery store.  He loves yogurt. That's usually his snack choice or is included in at least one of his meals.  He's going to try soccer for the first time this year.  He's competitive and doesn't like to lose in a game.  In school he doesn't get worked up before a test or big assignment and is okay with, "I did well enough."  :).  So his competitive nature doesn't necessarily apply to schoolwork.  But he still does well.  One of his favorite television shows is River Monsters on the Animal Planet.  And fishing still remains an all time favorite for our boy.

Annabelle:  8 years old.  Just had her dance recital and is bummed it's over for the year.  According to her, it's her favorite "sport."  She's still very opinionated about her hair and clothing but in a whole new way.  Her wardrobe is simple (but now we need to purchase a few more of her favored items) t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, black yoga pants.  When she doesn't have a pair of black yoga pants clean, it's a huge ordeal.  She likes dressing her and her sisters the same or similar, and she enjoys doing their hair.  She can easily go from playing something "older" to something "younger" when her sisters ask her.  She likes to write and make lists.  And she likes math.  She's my buddy and loves to do things with me.  She doesn't even mind the grocery store.  She likes music.  She's been working hard on improving her splits.  She can go all the way down in one direction.  She's still working on perfecting the middle splits.  She just got glasses which correct her vision a bit.  She was having a difficult time seeing the board at school.  She enjoys having them....at least so far.

Eliza:  4 years old.  Just completed her first year of dance with Miss Kim.  Her weeks revolved around whether or not it was a "dance night."  She is in a phase of "What if..." sentences.  She comes up with some crazy stories/scenarios to complete those sentences and sometimes it's hard to even know how to respond.  It might go something like this.  "What if we could take a car and put it in our house...etc"  She got a bike one size up from the one she learned to ride 2 wheel on and it is wonderful for her.  She rides all over and is a little too brave for my liking.  She's a cuddle bug, especially with her Dad.  She likes playing "Mom."  She also likes to color.  She enjoys singing and listening to music.  She's quite social and asks almost every day, "Who are we going to see today?"

CallaMae:  2 years old.  She's in a "I do it myself" phase to the point where sometimes I have to put things back on a shelf just so she can get it off again.  Most of her sentences end in "Mama" and it melts my heart.  She loves to be outside.  CallaMae can make her siblings laugh very hard by the things she says and does....mostly at night when she should be quiet and trying to go to sleep.  She likes cheese flavored rice cakes and pretzels.  Her favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  And she likes listening to all the songs her sisters like on Youtube including All About the Bass, Let It Go, Shake It Off, and Uptown Funk.  She even does a decent job singing them.  Sometimes I hear her singing to herself.  She's quick to let you know you're bothering her.  "Don't" and "Go away" are things that come out of her mouth regularly.  Lol.

Adelene.  7 months.  Breaking her first bottom tooth through.  I can now feel the whole thing above the gum.  She still sucks on the first two fingers on her left hand.  She recently started eating solid food and does very well.  Didn't take much practice at all.  She's so smiley but often checks to make sure I am still in her view.  She gets up on her knees and rocks and moves her hands forward, and is able to slowly get where she needs to go by pulling herself across the floor one way or another.  She loves when you kiss her cheeks.  It makes her laugh.  She by far sleeps best in her crib.  She doesn't sleep long or well when we are on the go (not a good car seat sleeper).  She is content when being pushed outside in her stroller.


Here are my favorite 6 at Cabelas in Dundee this past Tuesday.  It was a spring break day trip.  CallaMae was mad because she wanted to keep exploring and looking at the animals.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Kidbits

Bennett
9 years old
tall for his age
gets a kick out of the fact that he is catching on to more and more jokes that he hears on tv or reads.
changes his voice from deep to more childlike depending on who he's talking to or what he's talking about.
has a hard time losing.
loves to play football at recess with his friends.
sometimes thinks he's older than he is.
homebody.
usually sweet to his sisters.
key lime Dannon Oikos yogurt is probably his favorite "healthy food."

Annabelle
8 years old
tall for her age
has a few favorite clothing items she will wear over and over including a Nike sweatshirt and an Under Armour sweatshirt.
fussy about things relating to her hair and clothing.
gentle hearted.  has a genuine concern about not hurting the feelings of others and sensitive when her feelings are hurt.
she has many ideas that she thinks would be neat/fun to do.  I'd never be able to accomplish all she wishes we could do!
loves dance class.


Eliza
4 years old
confident
likes watching clips from youtube with Elsa and Anna, Barbie, and play dough.
loves dance class.
laid back about most things.
her favorite toys are her play food items including the Melissa and Doug cookies, cake and pizza.
using the play food, we have a "birthday party" almost every day.
she sometimes gets away with being a little stinker because she has a way of doing it sweetly.



CallaMae
2 years old
vocabulary is expanding rapidly and she's speaking in two (sometimes 3) word sentences.  Today she used the words "almost done" together, which was so cute.  Another cute one is "hot cocoa please"
she looks for trouble.  yesterday she colored her face with brown marker.
she like playing hide and seek and will even "count" using a few actual numbers in order.
she laughs hard when you kiss/blow raspberries in her neck.
she's not afraid of jumping, swimming, or swinging.
she likes to be read to.
loves to snack!


Adelene
4 months old
just learned to stick her tongue out and blow raspberries
can roll, usually from back to belly.  she doesn't as often roll from belly to back
giggles when you wash her hands with a wipe or kiss in her neck.
hates her baths.
smiles readily.
is starting to have a pretty normal routine.  she goes to bed usually between 7:00 and 8:00. and will sleep until about 2:00 (most nights).
is really starting to enjoy her exersaucer.
loves to be held and is still exclusively breastfed.


Thursday, October 23, 2014

First day of SCHOOL 2014





Adelene Maeghan

Adelene Maeghan, you were born on Sunday, August 31, 2014.  In German, your first name means noble one.  The last part of your name (the LENE) is for your great grandma MarLENE DePree.  She was a woman of faith who devoted her time and energy to her family.  Your middle name means GREAT which is also what your dad's name means.  And the first part (the MAE) is significant because my middle name is Mae.

Adelene, you were due August 28th.  I did not expect you early or even on time.  I knew I'd have to wait on you a bit, as the two sisters before you made us wait.  I was very content with you inside and I cherished every minute of it.  I loved feeling your hiccups, kicks and movements when you were on the inside.  You were born one day before Labor Day.  Grandma L. had been in town for a few days and was hoping to be able to help with the other children while we were at the hospital waiting on you.  Dad had a big home football game the Thursday before you arrived.  I went to that game.  It was actually your due date.  Dad was hoping you'd hold out long enough for him to be able to coach that game (and he was thankful you did.)  The rest of the weekend was a waiting game.  Monday was Labor Day and Tuesday was the first day of school.  We wondered if you'd choose a more chaotic entrance and go with the first day of school, or if you'd choose a calmer route by arriving sometime during the weekend.  I started having contractions EARLY Sunday morning.  I got up and called OB to tell them I'd be coming in and did a few things to get ready.  I woke Dad up around 5:00 then called Grandma to come over.  Dad got me to the hospital just before 6:00 am. My sweet friend Jackie was working so she was my nurse.  When we arrived I was 4 centimeters dilated, and by the time I got the epidural, I was at a 6.  The epidural allowed me some sleep which was wonderful.  After a little sleep, I was dilated to and 8/9 and stayed at that point for a bit.  Finally we decided to see if I could push past that and it worked.  You arrived only a push or two (or maybe 3) later.  It did take a push on my stomach by the nurses to get your shoulders out.  Your nurse, her name was Lisa, commented that you were big.  And you were my biggest baby weighing in at 8 lbs.  You had a full head of dark hair and reminded us of your siblings.  You scared Dad because he thought you looked so blue but the nurses assured us you were fine, and you were. Dad and I cuddled with you the rest of the day.  Dad went home that evening to put your brother and sisters to bed.  We hung out together that night, just you and me.  You came home the next afternoon, on Labor Day.  We were thankful to have that one day at home all together before everyone went back to work/school on Tuesday. You are a gift to us Adelene.  Fearfully, wonderfully made.  We love you.












Thursday, August 21, 2014

SUmMeR 2014

Baseball for Bennett and Annabelle.  Next year Eliza will be old enough to play.

3 vacation bible schools-2 for Bennett, 3 for Annabelle, 2 for Eliza

Eliza learning to ride on 2 wheels.

A few nights at Yogi Bear as a family.

Annabelle's first time at a day/or overnight camp (Factoryville).  She attended 2 days after we got home from Yogi.  She did not spend the night but hopes to attend the whole week next year and possibly spend a few nights.

Bennett's first sleepover with a friend.  He was able to spend a night with his friend Jonathan G. at Yogi Bear.

A visit to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids.

A day trip to the fish hatchery in Mattawan

Read aloud the book Boxcar Children to the kids.

We attended all the library programs.  The theme was science.

A 2 night camping trip to Oak Grove campground in Holland.  We packed that trip full with a visit to Tunnel Park, The Peanut Store, Centennial Park, Kollen Park to listen to the American Legion band, visits to see new homes of family members, Captain Sundae, swimming in the pool, eating out at Russ'.

Annabelle going to the Branch County Fair with her friend Peighton.

4th of July festivities.

Bennett competed in a PGA golf competition at Binder Park Golf Course.

A 5K race for Bennett and Annabelle.

The driving range for the 3 big kids with Darrin.

B and A did 4 of 5 sessions of a basketball camp at Colon High School.

Annabelle having a friend spend the night at our house.

Lots of time spent at the high school running around during football practice.






Sunday, March 16, 2014

This Girl.


MELTS ME!

She's 16 months old.
She loves when people come home or come to visit.  She runs as fast as she can, yelling Dad and waving, to Darrin when he comes in the back door from work.  If she's in her high chair you must get her out or she will get upset.
She gets equally excited to see the bus pull up in front of our house in the afternoon to drop the big kids off (when she's awake from her nap).
She knows where the snack cupboards are and finds many opportunities to bring me something for her to eat.
She likes finding toys that fit around her wrist (like stacking rings) to wear like bracelets.
She is saying more and more words every day. Up, Cat, Hot, Dad, Paba (Palmer), Bumpa (grandpa), Din Doo (thank you), Pees (please), Mom, and there's more.  When in the mood, she tries hard to say anything you try to get her to say.  Today we worked on Annabelle and she got two sounds {A-B}.
She has elaborate conversations with us as she's pointing at things, as if she is certain she is telling us valuable information.
She's pretty tough and doesn't cry easily.
She's lays down very well for a nap (only one) and for bedtime, and has recently given up nursing.  She has only been sleeping through the night for a couple months.  When she would wake up, she had a quick "snack" and would go right back to sleep.
She is a busy girl who doesn't sit still long to look at books (for example) very often.  But her pack and play keeps her happy for quite a while when I need to get a few things done without a mini tornado following behind me.
She often comes up to one of her family members for a quick hug before she's on her way again.
She is very loved in this family.  Her and her brother have quite a connection which amazing to watch.  He loves to get her out of her crib in the morning and caters to her needs even before she has them :).

WE ALL LOVE YOU CALLAMAE!!  You are a JOY!  And you are definitely a VandenBerg sibling.  No doubt about it.  Love, love, love you!