The Grange

 Every year, Nick and his Mother Patricia, invite us out to the Grange on Lake Michigan where they vacation every year. Nick is one of Q's childhood and current friends.

 The kids were loving the beach this year. 

Family photo 2011!

It was Waylon's 1st time at the beach. He loved the sand. 

He loved to pick up the rocks and sticks. 

The kids loved getting buried in the sand.

Blueberries

This past weekend we picked blueberries with my sisters. I think we are going to make this a tradition to do together. The weather was overcast and cold, but I'd rather have that, than hot! That was our 2nd time going that week. The 1st time we met up with some friends of ours. The kids had a great time as you can tell from their silliness.

Krisann with the kids.
Kaitlyn being her cute self!Maybe next year we'll get a nice pic of the kids. It does show off their personalities I guess!
Lindsey and Maya. This was the 1st time we went out to pick.

Memorial Day Ideas

As Memorial Day approaches I was thinking about what we were going to do to celebrate. Usually in the past we have had cookouts with friends and family or have gone camping. What do you do on this holiday weekend?

Here are some ideas for Memorial Day from the "Traditions" book by Kimberly Bytheway.

Family Flag:

Make an annual family flag to fly outside your home on Memorial Day, in addition to the American flag. Either have each member decorate his or her own section of the flag, or have all help to create a design that typifies the family as a whole. Explain to one another why you include specific designs, and why each design is special to that year. Display all the past flags if you wish to see the changes that have taken place in your family over the years.

Visit the Cemetery:

Take time to visit a cemetery as a family. Pick special grave sites to visit, or walk around discovering others. Read what the families of the departed have written on their stones. Talk about what you as a family would like others to say about you once you have departed, and discuss the legacy you would like to pass on to your family upon your death.


Family History Library:

Visit a Family History Library in your area. Take a tour, and learn how to use the sources available to research and find the members of your family. discover your heritage and the blood lines from which you came. You may even find someone "famous" to whom you are related. Discuss the importance of ancestry with your children to give them a sense of belonging within your own family.

Take A Hike:

"A Memorial Day tradition for our family is to go hiking to Grandeur Peak in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then eat snacks and treats when we get to the top." - Nancy McMurray

Tulip Festival

Saturday I was able to go to the Tulip Festival with my Mother in law and JoAnn. The weather started out overcast and rainy. By the time we got there the rain had stopped and later the sun popped out!! I'm glad that the weather cooperated with us. Thankfully we had our jackets because it was a little windy out. It was so much fun to learn out my Dutch heritage. I found out from another tourist that taller dutch are usually from Northern part of the Netherlands, and the shorter stockier are from Southern Netherlands. I'm assuming that my ancestors were from the Nothern part. I found it rather odd I must say, that I felt like a foreigner in my state. I think that there were more people from India or India herritage than American herritage there. It was really interesting how many from India were there. I wonder if they all moved to Holland?

Here are the dancers. These girls (and a few boys) were excellent dancers. It was amazing how well they move around in those wooden shoes. Third girl from the left I believe is someone I know. Is this Abby, Molly's daughter (for those of you who would know?). I was going to ask her but then she left before I had the chance. She was a very good dancer!

I love the girl in the blue dress in the background! They really got their legs up in the air. Their outfits were really interesting.
Here they are scrubbing the streets. Apparently they do this after they dance. Dutch are very clean people!!(Mom and Jo Ann)

Here is the only authentic Dutch Windmill from Holland. Our government at the time really worked with Holland officials to get this windmill here to Holland, MI. This windmill is on Windmill Island. We were able to go for a tour and learn that a man from WWII hid up in the windmill from the enemy. This is the windmill that saved his life. He is still living today they say and he visits every so often to tell other tourists of his journey in a windmill.
God is good. These flowers were absolutely beautiful. He could have made just one type of tulip, but he didn't. I was in awe of how many different and beautiful varieties of Tulips he has created.
Rows and rows of tulips.


I highly reccomend if you get the chance to go and check out the Tulip Festival. You won't be disappointed!!