We're still here.

It seems like there's been a lot going on lately and nothing much at all, all at the same time. Some random happenings...

• Ella had her 15 month check up. She's 25 lbs. 6 oz. and 31 1/4 inches long. She grew three inches in three months so that was the big surprise. The nurses kept talking about how tall she was. We're just relieved that she seems to be growing out of her short and stocky phase :).
• Last Saturday we attended a surprise joint 30th birthday/square dancing party for our friends Nick and Jason (I'll give you a minute to wrap your minds around that one), and we came home to our upstairs bathroom under a 1/2 inch of water and a gentle waterfall streaming down the insides of our walls. Apparently a toilet was plugged and running for two hours, and that's what that combination will get you. We think everything is A-OK now and it wasn't really enough water to cause any long-term damage, just short-term chaos.
• We are officially hooked on American Idol this season and it's noteworthy 1) because Matt and I hardly ever watch the same shows and 2) because I'm sure I'll become slightly obsessed as the season goes on and you should have fair warning.
• Dylan went to his first dentist appointment yesterday. We have been speaking very highly of the dentist the last few weeks, so he was pretty excited to go. He did such a good job and let the hygienist clean all of his teeth. Last night he told Matt very seriously, "The man is the dentist. The lady is the cleaner." So much for avoiding gender stereotypes :).
• Today I went to a little surprise birthday lunch for Matt's Grandma who is turning 70. First of all, she is nothing like your average 70-year-old grandma. She's the Fitness 19 Grandma who calls over here almost weekly to see if Dylan can come over and play. Anyway, after the "party" today she told Matt's mom it was the first birthday party she'd ever had. Gotta love Grandma.
• And finally, Ella's Brilliant Bows arrived in the mail and they are very cute on her. I'll try to take a picture soon. No more mistaking her for a boy!

snow, snow, go away...

I stole this from my friend Wendy's blog. I'm not usually a thief, but this is pretty funny.

It's winter here in Michigan
And the gentle breezes blow,
Seventy miles an hour,
At twenty five below.
Oh, how I love ole Michigan
When the snow's up to your butt.
You take a breath of winter
And your nose freezes shut.
Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around.
I could never leave my Michigan
Cause I'm frozen to the ground!

My Baby Boy

1 month old, December 2004

3 years, 3 months old, February 2007

Happy Valentine's Day

The kids.

He loves me!

Showers and Sisters

Last night I went to Kara's wedding shower thrown by Matt's aunts. I absolutley love showers - the games, the food, and the PRESENTS! We also took the opportunity to get a picture of the FOUR Terpstra girls...anyone who knows Matt's family knows this picture has been a long time coming! When Matt and I start dating 10 1/2 years (!) ago, it was a very much a "boy" family. His brothers were 15, 13, and 10 and Cara was four. Needless to say, I have waited a very long time for some more sisters! Now we're just waiting for one more Terpstra girl and then the poor chap who tries to marry the baby sister :).

Oh, and yes we tease Kara about being the only blondie in the bunch.

Ella's new trick

Play to Learn

In my search for new, cheap, age-appropriate, and fun activities for the kids, I came across Play to Learn which is a program sponsored by the Early Childhood program at Hudsonville Public Schools. They hold a couple of play groups each month along with a literacy group (aka story time) and a Mommy and Me group (for babies 6-18 months).

We went to a play group this morning and it was great because I could take both kids with me and there were lots of different things for them to do, like painting and playing store. We also got to hang our with our blogging buddies Mindy and Lucy which was fun. The playgroup was held at Bauer Elementary which is where the kids will go to elementary school, so it was nice to see the school and begin to get familiar with it.

I am definitely not one who loves new situations, but today was a good venture outside of our comfort zone. Tomorrow, we have a playdate with my cousin Kristin and her two boys who just moved back to the area from New York...good bye Cabin Fever :)

Information on play groups sponsored by Hudsonville Public Schools
Information on play groups sponsored by Ottawa ISD (includes Allendale, Hudsonville, Jenison, Zeeland, etc.)