Tulip Time 2010

This year my grandparents turn 90. Everytime I say that it is sort of a proud and also amazing moment--I'm so grateful that Gramps and Grams are here and in relatively good health. They have been such an important part of our lives and every time we get to go to Iowa and spend time with them is memorable. About a month ago I was on the phone checking in with Gramps and Grams and we got to talking about when Kimber and I used to go up to Iowa and stay with my grandparents for a week without our parents. It was such a fun time for Kimber and me--we felt so grown up going "uptown" all by ourselves and buying gifts for Gramps and Grams at the 5 and dime or the Christian bookstore. It was touching though to hear about it from Gramps and Grams point of view--we were all tearing up by the end of the conversation, wishing that we could spend more time together now and that we wished we lived closer.

A couple of weeks ago, we got to head up to Pella to celebrate those birthdays and particpate in the Tulip Time parade. It was the 75th annual Tulip Time and so the town also decided to try to break the world record of number of people dancing in wooden shoes. The previous record was set in 2006 in The Netherlands with 475 people. Pella hoped to get 1000. In the end, over 2600 people joined in! We danced a dance called "The Nightcap" for just over 5 minutes and shattered that world record! It was so fun (aside from the bruised feet later) to do something so unique with my family. Gramps and Grams came out to watch and help keep the kids corraled and warm (the wind chill was somewhere in the 30s that day).

Afterwards, we got in the parade action. Part of that is scrubbing streets (the Dutch are known for being clean--at least in Pella!) : ) Ryan wanted to scrub streets instead of joining in the "baby" parade, so we grabbed our brooms and buckets and went to town. Ryan LOVED it! She probably cleaned more of the street than everyone else combined! : )

While there, we also had Stroop Wafels (a delicious caramelly treat that Ryan instantly loved--in fact, it is her latest nickname right now!) and Pella bologna. Now, I know what you may be thinking--bologna=gross. That is just not the case with Pella bologna. It is more like a summer sausage than bologna really and it is delicious!

(That is part of a Stroop Wafel in Ry's hand)

Needless to say, we had a great time visiting with family, spending time with Gramps and Grams, dancing in our wooden shoes, shopping, eating Stroops and just being Dutch!

Galveston

Yesterday we decided to jump in the car for a road trip and headed out to Galveston. We had not been down there in about 5 years and certainly not since Hurricane Ike. We were surprised at how many shops and antique stores were still not rebuilt in the year and a half since Ike. Though many homes had been repaired and most of the Strand area looked good, you could certainly see that Ike had taken its toll...I'm sure people get burned and insurance only goes so far--I could not see myself coming back from that and rebuilding. You'd always be worried about another hurricane! Anyway, we had a very nice time. Ryan loved playing in the sand, running away from waves, climbing on the rock jetties, shopping, and we even took one of those old time pictures so got to dress up and do that too.

Before Ryan, Chris and I used to do this kind of thing all the time--last minute road trips to someplace we hadn't been in a long time or just somewhere we had heard of but had not been to. With Ryan, we haven't done this much, but she was absolutely WONDERFUL--great on the road, patient and polite all day--a real jewel! I told Chris as we at at Babin's on the way home that it almost felt like a date because Ry was so good and easy yesterday! What a fantastic day with the family! : )

Snow Day!

We stayed at school the full day but get a late start tomorrow. We sure couldn't wait to get home and play--even if it was just a couple of inches of snow!

Kind of random

First, I know this is not a well written post. But I wanted to just say, while I'm busy figuring out some resolutions I might actually stick to (maybe? you never know!!), I wanted to pay a quick tribute to Christmas break this year. I don't have all of the family pics, but will post them soon. They aren't saved to my computer like the ones below!

Christmas break 2009 was a good one--we got to hang out with family, ate great food, relaxed, shopped, spent time with friends, got a few things done around the house. All around, a wonderful two weeks! With just a small hiccup of an abcessed tooth (or something that my dentist says needs a root canal on Monday), this has been one of the nicest, most relaxing vacations from work ever! : ) Thank heavens for a job I enjoy that also comes with big old breaks just when you need them most!! Also, just a couple of new pics to add. The ones of Ry are from Chris's dad's place in the hill country near Comfort. The other is of a little shopping with friends Amie and Erin in Brenham. Our friend Tiffany was there too, but she was taking the picture!!

Family Photos

Though I've lived in College Station for about half my life (really?!?), home is still on the ranch near Boerne where my parents still live. They have a beautiful place that is somehow kind of magical. It is comforting to see things from my childhood still around, though mom and dad have done some amazing renovations! I love the place. I love the trees and the house and the creek (where dad thinks kayaking would be great, even though the largest span of water would mean turning around every 3 minutes!). I love my parents and my whole family--and I can't wait to get back there for the holidays in just a few days. We love to sit outside, have a beer, watch football, sit on the counters in the kitchen and talk, watch the kids play, and just be together as a family.

When I was home at Thanksgiving, I got a chance to take some family photos. Really because they needed them for Christmas cards. But I loved it. I love taking pictures and capturing those little times in their lives right now. Looking back at the photo album my mom put together for me growing up, I see those moments, those little glimpses into how we were, what was "cool" at the time, the fashion, the furniture, the way people wore their hair. My favorite pictures are the ones that show "how we were" -not just the ones where everyone is looking at the camera, though those are good, too. The candid ones: those are the ones that really give you an idea of how crazy or fun or serious something was.

I put a few pics from Thanksgiving here--and they are ones that I love (there were many, but I don't know if everyone else cares to see them all! ) I hope to get a bunch more at Christmastime, because my family is by far the most important part of my life. I hope you all get to spend some great time with family this holiday as well. Merry Christmas!

halloween!!!

Success!

Our little Super Girl!

Ry had such a great time this year for Halloween! She could reach the doorbells for the first time, so could head to the doors by herself while we hung back a little. She LOVED it! She cracked us up because every house she would give us a big thumbs up on the way and a big smile, then after getting the candy and hollering "thank you!" over her shoulder, she would pull out whatever she got and say, "Mom, Dad--look what I got!! (very excitedly) and then "What is it?" : )

The Loot (which she is very good about sharing with mom and dad!) : )

S'Mores

They do work (if you read the last post)--we did 10 seconds--just about the time the marshmallow started to puff up big. S'mores are good (mine was delicious) but sometimes, 4 year olds just want the marshmallows more. : )