We're Going On A Tree Hunt

Another weekend over, another week closer to Christmas, a cast free baby and a new year!

These are some pictures from two weekends ago, when we went to a local tree farm to cut a tree, (something we have not done since we moved to Michigan almost 3 years ago!)

The pictures made me laugh out loud as I edited them, because they are SO deceiving. You would never believe while looking through them that Oona threw a major, loud, ugly tantrum for about 90% of the time. Or that Olive and Silas wouldn't stop fighting over who got to sit in front of the sled, who got to pull the sled, who's tree was "better..." As we got ready to get the hell out of there leave the farm after tying the tree up to the top of the van, Matt and I each shut a sliding passenger door, and as the eardrum-popping noise of three children wailing angrily died away a guy in the car next to ours yelled "WHOOO-EEEEE, I SURE AM GLAD I'M PAST THOSE DAYS!" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so I laughed.

Water On Fire

We had an incredibly powerful low pressure system roll in last week. It brought a ton of wind, rain, (and a headache for me! Am I the only person who gets storm headaches?) It was a couple of really dark, stormy days in Holland. I saw some pictures of the massive waves on Lake Michigan from friends on Facebook and decided to take a quick trip to the state park last Friday evening with Olive, to try to get some pictures myself.

We picked the perfect time to visit. We caught the most dramatic, amazing sunset I have ever seen since living here (or elsewhere, for that matter!) There was this incredible panorama of storm clouds leaving, and a fiery bright ribbon on the horizon over the lake where the sky was clearing, (it gave the illusion that the lake was on fire, it was that bright,) and in between the two were massive, low hanging orange, pink, red and violet clouds. The wind was incredibly strong still, (and cold!) and sand was pelting our skin. The waves were huge! I had never seen the water so high on the lake. Lake Michigan, man...it has such a personality. One day it can be as still and glossy as a sheet of glass, another day you might see 20 foot waves, and in the winter the whole landscape freezes over into an alien looking place. It's never boring, and it's always beautiful.

Today we take Oona back to the children's hospital for her 6 week cast change! While it's awesome to have reached this half-way point in her Spica cast treatment, it's daunting to have another 6 weeks to go. Praying for an easy procedure and comfort for our Oonie today and the rest of this week as she adjusts to the new cast.

A Much Needed Adventure

For the first time since Oona's surgery, we all got out of the house for an outdoor family adventure. It was such a wonderful Saturday that I had to share about it!

We made the very short drive over to the Outdoor Discovery Center right here in town, which we had never been to as a family before. What an amazing place! There is so much to see and do. There are several elk on the property, as well as a birds of prey area where you can see everything from a peregrine falcon and bald eagle to owls and kestrels. (All the birds on site were injured and are unable to survive in the wild anymore.) There are two awesome playgrounds and endless trails through beautiful ponds and wildlife. There's also an educational Native American site where you can explore life size teepees and wigwams! And the best part - it's free admission!

Go On, You'll Like It

"Go jump in that water, Mom. Go on! You'll like it!"

"Go hop in that boat Dad. Go on, you'll like it!"

We caught the debut of a new side of Silas (that we're not sure we like) while visiting Grand Haven a couple of weeks ago. We don't know where or how he came up with it, but we could not stop laughing about it. I'm picturing him (cringingly) as the future smart-aleck teenage boy, taunting his friends to do stunts that they know they shouldn't. Oh, Silas.

Sometimes you just need to get out of town, even if you LOVE your neighborhood and city. We spontaneously ran up to Grand Haven one night recently for tacos and beach time, and it was good for all of us. It's not easy taking the kids out any where these days, but we find that we all feel refreshed afterwards when we make the effort. Grand Haven is such a great place to spend a summer evening. We need to make the drive up there more often.