Recycling

Our school has a huge recycling program. We recycle different things you normally recycle through the curbside service. Anything from capri suns to cereal bags to markers/pens to candy wrappers.  It's just a great thing for our school and for the students.  But it's so even more fun for the 3rd graders, as they got to visit the Grand Rapids recycling center, to see what other things could be recycled.   I think the lady giving the tour was impressed with how much the kids knew about recycling.  

Back to School

Another year has started.  

The boys are getting older and now I am a stay at home mom with no kids at home....CRAZY!!!!  

Praying that we all have a great year.

Poetry Reading

This past Thursday my 2nd graders AKA the twins had a poetry read at school.  They both did a great job memorizing and saying their poems.

Lucas was the first kids of the whole grade to perform. 

His poem was "Nine Mice"

Nine Mice on tiny tricycles
went riding on the ice,
they rode in spite of warning signs,
they rode despite advice

The signs were right, the ice was thin,
in half a trice, the mice fell in,
and from their chin down to their toes
those mice entirely froze.

Nine mindless mice, who paid the price,
are thawing slowly by the ice
still sitting on their tricycles
…nine white and shiny micicles

Austin had to wait a bit longer to say his poem.  He was about in the middle of the program.  He also did a great job. 

His poem was "Five Little Firefighters"

Five little firefighters all in a row,

One, two, three, four, five they go!

Hop on the engine with a shout,

Quicker than a wink, the fire is out

Barn Party with Friends

This has definitely been the birthday on many parties....5 if you're counting.  This past Wednesday was a pretty day for another party.  The weather was perfect - not too cold, not too hot.  The sun was shining and the sky was blue.  

I guess I started something when I had a birthday party for Brendan on his 8th bday with friends, so needless to say I had to do the same for the twins...it's what's fair, right?  Really who's keeping track, anyway.

After much debate about what to do for a birthday - do we have friends overnight, even how many friends, where to have the party.  It was decided that we would go just a couple miles down the road to Dairy Discovery at Swisslane Farms.  We have been there a few times for Neighborhood night and the boys love it so we decided that would be a fun place for the party.

We had a blast to say the least....a very dirty blast.   The kids all went home smelling like a farm and did I mention they were very dirty.

We started the party off with some of the best local pizza around....pizza from Mike's Pizzeria.  If you live in Caledonia, Alto or Freeport, you NEED to try this pizza.  It's a good thing it's not next door because we would be eating a lot more pizza than we already do.

Throughout the entire party, there were different opportunities for the kids to play in a corn box...basically a sandbox filled with corn.  The boys were the ones the played in it mostly.  They threw corn at each other, they dumped corn on each other, they buried each other.

After the pizza, we got to feed the baby calves a snack. 

Then we went of a hayride around the farm.

then the kids even amused me and took a couple group shots.

then we eat cupcakes...blue, orange and yellow tie-dyed cupcakes.  They were so YUMMY!!!

then we petted the bunny and the goat

last but not least, the twins finally opened their gifts from all the friends...boy, were they spoiled.  They got lots of Legos which were all built within 30 minutes of being home, two kites, gift cards, pokemon cards, candy, stuff to do while we are camping, and so much many.  A big thanks from L & A for all the gifts!!!!

The party was a big success.  The twins had so much fun playing and hanging around with their friends. A BIG thanks for my mom and Shelly Kuipers who hanging around and help keep the kids under control...which really wasn't that hard.  This was a great groups of kids!!!!

Well, I think we are done partying for a while, so until the next birthday (which is mine, so there probably won't be any parties.) I will have to keep you updated with other things that are going on in our lives....like home improvement. :)  post coming soon....

another party for the twins

We are still partying over here at the VD's household.  Saturday night, we headed to my parents house for a party...the best one so far at least for me.  I didn't have to clean the house or make food.

The boys got new bikes for presents, Lucas thought it was the best present ever, although he said the same thing when he got his gift certificate to Barnes and Nobles and when he got his DS.  

 opening their cards with Grandpa

 waiting for their presents

 already having to fix one of the bikes

 G & G bought the twins license plates for their bikes while they were in Florida

 Birthday ice cream with chocolate and sprinkles.

Happy Birthday Boys!!!

Birthday Party #2

The twins were so excited for dad to come home last Friday night, because that meant they would be getting their bday gifts from us. On Saturday, I spent the day emptying Mike's suitcase, upload pictures and making food for the party.  The boys requested Stromboli and pizza puffs and I made an  angry birds cake.

 I made them take a nice picture before supper...it's not an easy thing to do.

 

 the cake

 the bday boys with the cake

 the bday boys with the cake with lit candles

 blowing out the candles

 more blowing,

 more blowing,

 and more blowing...are you sure they're out??

 coming up for a breath.

After we took pictures of the cake, Brendan started the scavenger hunt that he had spent the day making for the twins.  

 ripping open the first clue

  Clue #1:  "Where there is books, you will find the next clue.  Make sure you look in every book."

 

 Off to the bookcases they go...

 Austin found the clue!!!!

 Clue #2:  "In a wallet you are sure to find your next clue.  If you know where your wallets are.  Good Luck!"

 The wallets were quickly found and so was the next clue.  Which I can't find anymore, but it said something about the next clue would be in a tree.  So the twinners got on their flip flops and headed outside.

 and seeing how they only ever play in this one tree, that's the one they went to, and sure enough there was the clue.

 Reading the next clue...again don't know where that clue went but they needed to find the next clue in the sand  so off to the sandbox they went.

 Found it!!!

 Reading the clue again...

 back in the house to found the next clue under a TV.

 Clue:  " Ha!! Ha!!! We fooled you.  (Brendan wrapped up a piece of wooden as a gift)  In a door that is white you will find your next clue."  

A white door!?!?!  does my child not realize that all the doors in our house are white...but there must be a  special connection with the boys because the twins ran right up to the right door on the first try.  Crazy!!!

 Presents!!!!  

 

 One more picture for mom

 What did you get????  Ah, a much wanted DS!!!!

  SO Excited!!!!

 Happy 8th Birthday Boys!!!