Old Friends Never Wear Out

One of the great blessings of old friends is that they never wear out. Our lives are all full with the blessings and providences our Lord sends our ways, and that fullness often keeps us from frequent communication. But you know its a quality friendship when you can just pick up where you left off last! And we love the convenience that now both the Dederts & Beekes live in MI.

Our kids (especially Selah) were so excited to finally meet little (um, perhaps that's not the best word choice for this chunk!) Owen James, and to see Calvin again (whose usually on our daily prayer list), and all their other little friends...

Here's the chunker himself, looking so sweet and calm...

Playing in Kezia's room- Yeah!

Tumbling around on Calvin's exercise mat- squishing Uncle Darryl is more like it!

Three sweeties hanging out...

Um... male bonding?

What a cute shot of a special little guy & his mommy! Want to hear his special story?

Sickness Aside...

We were sick the first part of our MI vacation, but after the runny noses were done running, we made up for lost time!
Samuel, Carolyn & Marianne came over one of the mornings, and the 2 Kindergarteners quickly hit it off...

Grandma with all her youngest grand-daughters... (Whose eyes are open?)

A big, bubbling bath tub!

3 boys in a box...

Krista was always all smiles, but Hannah was rather leary of all the new faces. Smiles were often hard to come by. (Thankfully the smiles have returned once we came home!)

Cousin Krista's Baby Shower

Our two little girlies were allowed to attend cousin Krista's baby shower, and here they are very excited with anticipation...

...and mutual affection! (Oh, how I love how they love each other!!)

Some of the baby shower guests- cousins & aunts I don't get to see very often...

Tammy creating a baby item out of play-dough (I think this was the winning team)...

Jenn's turn for the other team...

My friend Theresa, married to my cousin, and her adorably chubby Madison...

Sweet little Krista, admiring all her new outfits and gifts!! (No, that's not a doll, it's our newest niece!)

Finally Meeting Krista Sue!!

One of the highlights of our trip was finally meeting our newest cousin/niece, Krista Sue...

Selah relishing baby land...

Two little boys, shy of Uncle Brian & Aunt Lanae...

A dinner date...

Now we're not shy!

Isn't she the sweetest little thing?!

Hannah & Krista, 2.5 months apart...

Ummmm, I think they're a little bit dirty...

Visiting Great Grandma

Fellowshipping with one of the dearest women in my life...

Enjoying her toys...

...and great conversation!

More Faces of Hannah

Hannah is over 9 months by now, moving faster by the day. She loves to climb over us when we sit on the floor.

As she's crawling everywhere she inspects every little fluff or litter on the floor, tasting any that manage to reach her mouth. Grandma's floors were never so inspected. A tissue is first pulled into pieces and then put into the mouth. In the past week we have fished so many items out of her mouth. If she swallows something inedible, the next step is to vomit it out, along with the contents of her stomach.

She adores her family, but each new 'stranger' is inspected with caution. Smiles have become difficult to coax. A few uncles have made her cry.

But she's still her usual passive, contented, cubby little being, who brings us lots of joy. She's trying to pull herself up on everything...here come the bruises!

And her fifth tooth broke through last week, making it easier to devour the cheerios she loves.

A Snowy Ride

Here we are enjoying the warmth of our MI family and friends...

...and enjoying the cold & fun of fresh snow!

ast week Friday we 'caught' the city bus to downtown...
(2 comments about this adorable bus picture: first, how much this boy loves his Grandma, following her around like a lost puppy, and second, the purple snowpants!)

Is this our little lady's first bus ride??

Enjoying the downtown museum...

Designing your own race cars...

Selah the storekeeper assisting 'Elias' the farmer...

Isaiah watching the 'movie table' demonstrate pie-making...

Judah, the adorable cooper (barrel-maker)...

It's fun to pretend!!

A bit more modern... a pretend ice cream parlor...

Riding the downtown holiday trolley with Aunt Liz & Nicholas...

The sleepy bus ride home...