Vandervaart Family

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

April 2013

April was filled with lots of activities. Pete started coaching two youth spring soccer teams which kept him occupied 4 times a week and I was still trying to juggle both jobs and worked 4-5 shifts a week. Claire and Grace did ballet and gymnastics and I think they decided they liked gymnastics better. Jake was a trooper when it came to going to these classes and sitting on the sidelines.

The first weekend in April, we were blessed with another niece. Keith and Debbie welcomed their second daughter into the world and named her Sarah Elizabeth.

We headed to Indianapolis the second weekend in April to meet Sarah and attend a good friend's wedding. On Saturday we hung out at my mom's, went on a boat ride and played in the pool.

My sweet little Jake showed his true boy personality this month. He took purple marker and colored ALL OVER our half bath. Walls, toilet, sink, EVERYWHERE! At first he thought I wasn't serious because I had the camera out...

But then I think he got the idea that I was NOT happy!

On some of my days off with the kids, we head to the YMCA and they play in the kid's room while I workout, then we play in the block room (room full of big soft blocks to climb on) and then we head to "Chips and Salsa" which is one of their favorite places to go. Here is a picture from the kids at the restaurant.

Claire with cousins Allison and Sarah

Cousins

Pool party at my mom's

We got the girls ballet shoes and Grace requested the bright red ones

She didn't want to take them off....I found her asleep with them on :)

I took the kids to the park one day...

Towards the end of April, Grammy and I took the kids to the zoo.

We bought a new camera because we searched forever and couldn't find our other camera. Here are some silly pictures we took while testing it out.

Girls during gymnastics class

Jake in the shopping cart :)

More pictures from the zoo - their favorite part...the carousel!

March 2013

As the lack of blog entries has shown - life for the Vandervaart family has felt NON STOP! I have been working all day and am hoping to be completely caught up with the blog within the next day or so.

MARCH...what happened in March? Thank goodness for calendars and pictures to help jog my memory.

I turned 30 and Pete spoiled me rotten! He planned a surprise day and even planned it for March 2nd so I had no idea what was going on. He bought me a mother's ring; planned a workout with my workout buddy, Melissa; lunch with good friends; spa day; shopping with my mom; limo ride with family and friends from Indianapolis; dinner with friends and finally a party back at our house. What did I do to deserve this man? Lord only knows...but here are some pictures from the best birthday ever!

The girls started taking showers - so I think this is probably one of our last classic "kids in the bath" pictures.

Just a random day that the girls wanted their hair curled :)

On St. Patrick's Day, we went out with our friends to a karaoke bar. Although nobody from our party got up on stage, we had a great night.

Pete had a brilliant thought to make a craft desk for the kids. They love it but we didn't realize that the easy access to the markers would result in so many walls being used as a canvas for Jake's artistic skills.

Claire turned 5 years old on March 26th and we opened up the party to her class at school as well. The party was Disney Princess themed and a few friends from school came as well as friends and family. She has a great time and it was a wonderful party.

We signed the girls up to start gymnastics and ballet in April so we had to bust out the old leotards and had to get a new one for Claire. Here they are feeling very excited to start their new classes!

On Claire's actual birthday, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Tim met us for lunch and then we went bowling.

After bowling, Claire's good friend Eve came to dinner with us and then we took them to paint pottery.

The last weekend in March, we traveled to Indianapolis for Easter weekend. During this weekend we celebrated Claire's birthday with my family, decorated Easter eggs, went to mass and had an Easter Egg hunt.

Friday, April 26, 2013

April Professional Pictures

We got our pictures taken this morning and I am really happy with how they turned out. We have always chosen the studio for professional photos but we are looking forward to getting some outdoor shots when Kathy, Pete's sister, comes into town next. We think we will be able to get more candid photos and are really excited for this!

Here are pictures from our session...