Mother's Day

What a fabulous Mother's Day.  The kids and Dave woke me up with cards and a new computer! The little guys made me corsage flowers at church and we enjoyed a relaxed day of family hanging out.

 Tess even lost her other front tooth for the occasion:

 Then the mother robin who had been diligently building her nest on our garage door opener, hatched her 5 little birds:

 Here they are 2 weeks later, all wide-eyed and feathered.  Out of the nest and getting ready to fly:

 And Tess lost one more bottom front tooth...it's a good thing you don't need teeth for ice-cream! Corn on the cob in August could prove difficult, however!

Field Day

Each year the elementary school has a field day. This year one student from each class was chosen to form a choir to sing the National Anthem before the games began.  Titus was chosen to represent his 2nd grade class.  The group practiced once a week for three weeks to prepare. They got to sing over the PA from the press box. He did a great job! Here is the group, Titus is on the left end of top row, black cap:

Tess' favorite activity was the sack races, although they all looked like so much fun!  Limb, parachute, frisbee, running races, all sorts of fun games!

Here's Titus showing off his skills at the scoop ball station:

Even Daddy, Trace, and Trent couldn't help a bit of competition: (Can you see the identical running forms of Dave and Trent? Astounding...

Trace is 5!

Trace celebrated his birthday on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  He choose the "Phineas and Ferb" theme and we had a lot of fun with it.  Here is the cake Mommy made:

 Phineas and Ferb are always inventing things during their summer vacation, so we gathered our tools (recycling items, tape, and hot glue gun) and made our own creations:

 Trace was adamant that he get a piece of Ferb's hair for his cake.  For 24 hours he kept reminding Mom that he wanted the piece with Ferb's hair.  Once the time for cake came, he got his coveted piece and after taking a bite said "Hmmm, this tastes...hairy...get it hairy!!!" What a crack-up! Here he is with said piece and his Perry (the platypus) Punch:

 Trace is always trying new things, especially on two wheels.  Here he is with his new big bike...with a kickstand. Exciting stuff!

At the end of party the boys were awarded their secret agent badges (Phineas and Ferb's pet platypus, Perry, is also a secret agent, Agent P.) and received their official secret agent hats:

It was a fun day! Can't believe the little guy is 5! Happy Birthday, Tracer!

Tulip Time 2012

We started off the Tulip Time Festivities on Wednesday evening with the annual Klompen Klassic.  We participated as a family this year and walked/jogged the 5K course, the youngest three taking turns in the double stroller, and sometimes all three together...Good thing Dave is so fit! He pushed and pushed over hill and dale...well, hills anyway. Titus powered through the whole time, and we never heard a complaint!  The kids also participated in the two block kids run.  Tessie ran with little cousin Cayla and Titus sprinted hard to the finish. Trace and Trent were in the same heat, and Trace was proud to tell everyone he took second! Trent, well, he just smiled and ran hard.  We shared our first plates of pofferjes and enjoyed the fun unofficial start to Tulip Time.

The tulips were very early this year, and only a couple of beds had anything of color left. On Tuesday we joined the band of Pellicans who went out and clipped stems (we were the youngest by about 30 years :) ), so the beds at least looked tidy.  Here are the kids in  front of a flowerless bed...

We again performed with the Dutch Family Singers. We all enjoy that group so much , and it makes Tulip Time extra fun to share it with the other families in this group.  We added 3 new families this year, and had a really fun time.  We even got to perform in the Tulip Toren show on Friday night...that's right, we're big time!

Tessie doing "The Flying Dutchman"

The 3 boys performing with
Dutch Family Singers

Our days were spent dancing, at parades, and being in parades...

Tessie on the "Future Queens" float;
a float reserved each year for Kindergarten girls.

The school kids march with their classes in the afternoon parade.
Here is Titus (red shirt - looking our way.)

 

On Saturday afternoon, the Dutch Family Singers dance
the entire parade route - while the kids ride a float. Here's some
of the crew on the "Mussle Cart" float. 

Titus' class was invited to ride the "Sinterklaas" float.
It was hot, but Titus looks extra cool in his sun glasses.

Tess and I in our new costumes.
Walchren Provence 

I don't suppose there is any doubt, but just to be clear: WE LOVE TULIP TIME!!!  It is so fun to welcome people to our town and to spend such memorable times with our dear friends.  We hope that you can come experience this unique small town festival sometime.  It really is terrific - even if you're not Dutch!