We've enjoyed this more-than-expected snowfall. This video is a bit long (7 min+) but the kids are cute, so it's worth watching it all...
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Grandma Nienhuis Says 'Goodbye' to Oak Harbor
The great thing about living on a island in the northwestern corner of the continental U.S. is the variety of ways to get to the mainland. Grandma Nienhuis had the wonderful opportunity to hop on a connecting flight to the Seattle airport using the float plane service that is offered.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....
Levi playing in the snow!
Yes, it has snowed in Oak Harbor. It started snowing on Saturday - and Sunday afternoon (and everyday since) Levi has had a great time playing in the snow. He loves it. Although today and yesterday the wind chills were pretty cold so he didn't last long.
I LOVE the snow - I might be the only one here in Oak Harbor who is excited about it, though. We have another Winter Storm Watch for Wed/Thursday and I am hoping we get dumped on. The great thing here is that a "lot" of snow is like 2 inches - everything closes down. It just doesn't snow very often here. They already cancelled the women's Wed. morning Bible study tomorrow, just because it MIGHT snow. HA!
We've also decorated our house for Christmas - here are a few pictures I've taken so our family can see:
Our snowflake Christmas card holders:
Our mantle over our woodstove - can't see it but I have lights with greenery and gold and red shiny ornaments to add color
I rigged up some fishing string and hung some shiny snowflakes from both sides of the dividing wall between our dining room and kids playroom
And last but not least, our very cute and humble Christmas tree:
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Thursday, December 11, 2008
Christmas Tree hunting
Typically, we get our Christmas tree each year from one of Whidbey Island's Christmas Tree farms.....you know, the ones with all the people going from row to row of planted trees trying to find the "perfect" one - not too big, not too small, not too fat, not too skinny.
Well, my adventurous husband happened to read some info on the fact that you can pay $10 and go find your own Christmas tree in Mt. Baker National Forest! HOW COOL! I was very excited about this option too (until I heard the part that the bears are extra hungry this year due to a low huckleberry bush population).....hmmm........
Anyway, last Saturday we set out in our Subaru up into the mountains. We stopped at the Ranger Station in Sedro-Woolley and paid our $10....plus $2.95 each for the kids to buy a little compass with the bonus-feature of a bear whistle on them!!! We felt safe and ready to go!
On the way up to the mountains, we stopped in the small town of Concrete (apparently they are known for their now-extinct concrete business) for some lunch. Then, it was into the wild. We drove up windy roads, following a map given to us at the ranger station that highlighted the areas where the BEST trees were known to be growing. Along the way, we passed several other adventure-seekers like ourselves.
As the drizzle started, we found the area where we wanted to go hunt for our tree. After hiking up and down several steep embankments, we found it.....
As we cut the tree and put it on our car for its 2 hr ride to our home, we realized that in the woods a tree looks much bigger and fuller than it really is!!! Nontheless, it looks great in our house and fits perfectly in the corner we had picked out for it.
So, we may have more of a "Charlie Brown" sort of Christmas tree, but it sure has some fun memories surrounding it.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Soccer Season has begun!!!!
Sorry in advance that I don't have any pictures included, but in the upcoming weeks I PROMISE I will!!!
Levi had his first SOCCER GAME today!!! He's had 2 practices so far, which gave a great preview on how entertaining this is going to be. Not only is Bryan the coach, but the first day 2 kids didn't show up, so we only have 5 on our team - and one of them is high-functioning autistic. It makes things very exciting!!
So, Levi got his uniform on Thursday and wouldn't take it off! We even let him sleep in it last night. He was SO excited!! He did a great job today too - he's a great runner and even kicked the ball a few times. The other team had some big kids that were a bit indimidating, but Levi loved every minute out there. We'll have to work on the passing thing and being aggressive, but the point is that they all had FUN!!!
As for Julia, she loved watching and wanted to play. She's going to be the aggressive little athlete I think. I'm trying to find a gymnastics class to enroll her in - she LOVED watching gymnastics during the Olympics and does sommersaults perfectly, standing up with her arms apart and in the air just like the Olympians! Its cute.
She's also talking up a storm and is mostly a very happy child....feisty, but happy. She starts "Mother's Day Out" on Monday, a program our church is doing from 930-130 each monday morning so the moms can get out and have a morning to themselves. The 2 and 3-year-old room is set up like a little preschool, so she'll have story time, play time, music time, etc. I told her about it and she said "Me school", so I think she's excited!!!
I'll try to post more pics soon!!! Thanks for reading!!!!
Levi had his first SOCCER GAME today!!! He's had 2 practices so far, which gave a great preview on how entertaining this is going to be. Not only is Bryan the coach, but the first day 2 kids didn't show up, so we only have 5 on our team - and one of them is high-functioning autistic. It makes things very exciting!!
So, Levi got his uniform on Thursday and wouldn't take it off! We even let him sleep in it last night. He was SO excited!! He did a great job today too - he's a great runner and even kicked the ball a few times. The other team had some big kids that were a bit indimidating, but Levi loved every minute out there. We'll have to work on the passing thing and being aggressive, but the point is that they all had FUN!!!
As for Julia, she loved watching and wanted to play. She's going to be the aggressive little athlete I think. I'm trying to find a gymnastics class to enroll her in - she LOVED watching gymnastics during the Olympics and does sommersaults perfectly, standing up with her arms apart and in the air just like the Olympians! Its cute.
She's also talking up a storm and is mostly a very happy child....feisty, but happy. She starts "Mother's Day Out" on Monday, a program our church is doing from 930-130 each monday morning so the moms can get out and have a morning to themselves. The 2 and 3-year-old room is set up like a little preschool, so she'll have story time, play time, music time, etc. I told her about it and she said "Me school", so I think she's excited!!!
I'll try to post more pics soon!!! Thanks for reading!!!!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Who do our kids look like?
Thanks to a an idea from my friend Beth's site, I thought I'd see who our kids look like - I used older pics, so it would be fun to try it again with more current pictures!!! I'm feeling pretty good about myself, especially because of all of those strong BOERSMA genes!!!!
MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family photos - Family history
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Welcome Home Nate!
Our good friends, the Barton's, got to welcome their husband and daddy home on Monday! We were privileged to be a part of it as we attended his "Fly-In". Nate's squadron (VAQ-135 - GO Black Ravens!) returned home after a 4-month deployment on the Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz(which followed a 7 month deployment and only being home a few months in between). We all gathered in the Hangar on the Navy base, waiting with other family and friends to welcome them home. The energy and excitement in the hangar was crazy, along with the yellow pom-poms, American flag backdrop and lots of excited wives and children! I loved hearing Connor Barton (Levi's best friend) say over and over "My daddy's coming home, my daddy's coming home"! I think he really understood what was happening this time.
Usually they do a fly-over first, but due to either lots of air traffic or lots of clouds, they didn't do that and instead landed one at a time. The EA-6B Prowler is a jet that flies off of the aircraft carriers and is a radar-jamming plane. They go in before the F-18s in war situations and jam radars (sorry Nate, hope I got that right). They are LOUD, old and are about to be replaced by the "Growlers".
Anyway, the excitement built as the 4 planes from the squadron landed and slowly made their way off of the runway and towards the hangar. The BEST part is when they each park in a horse-shoe shape around the hangar doors and turn the engines off. This is the part where I start to get teary. I can only imagine what my friend Janelle and the other wives were feeling at that point. Then, the tops open and out climb the husbands/daddys, etc. Wow, what a moment when they run and reunite for the first time in a long time. I LOVE IT!
Thank you Barton's for including us in this amazing and special time - we were honored to be a part of it. And to my dear friend Janelle, you deserve an award for the Best Mom/Dad, Friend, Cook, Landscaper, Housekeeper, Social Coordinator, Chauffeur, House Decorator-of-the-year. You had to fill so many shoes over the last year when Nate was gone twice. I admire you - you did a better job than I would have if I were in your shoes. And you did it all with a happy heart and positive attitude (at least most of the time - never anything a little chocolate chip cookie or two couldn't fix!). You are amazing! I'm blessed to call you my friend.
Welcome Home Nate!!! We look forward to some fun times with our families this summer - maybe some camping and Saturday night's with Bryan's homemade pizza???
Maybe this video will help you get what I'm talking about...
Usually they do a fly-over first, but due to either lots of air traffic or lots of clouds, they didn't do that and instead landed one at a time. The EA-6B Prowler is a jet that flies off of the aircraft carriers and is a radar-jamming plane. They go in before the F-18s in war situations and jam radars (sorry Nate, hope I got that right). They are LOUD, old and are about to be replaced by the "Growlers".
Anyway, the excitement built as the 4 planes from the squadron landed and slowly made their way off of the runway and towards the hangar. The BEST part is when they each park in a horse-shoe shape around the hangar doors and turn the engines off. This is the part where I start to get teary. I can only imagine what my friend Janelle and the other wives were feeling at that point. Then, the tops open and out climb the husbands/daddys, etc. Wow, what a moment when they run and reunite for the first time in a long time. I LOVE IT!
Thank you Barton's for including us in this amazing and special time - we were honored to be a part of it. And to my dear friend Janelle, you deserve an award for the Best Mom/Dad, Friend, Cook, Landscaper, Housekeeper, Social Coordinator, Chauffeur, House Decorator-of-the-year. You had to fill so many shoes over the last year when Nate was gone twice. I admire you - you did a better job than I would have if I were in your shoes. And you did it all with a happy heart and positive attitude (at least most of the time - never anything a little chocolate chip cookie or two couldn't fix!). You are amazing! I'm blessed to call you my friend.
Welcome Home Nate!!! We look forward to some fun times with our families this summer - maybe some camping and Saturday night's with Bryan's homemade pizza???
Maybe this video will help you get what I'm talking about...
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Levi is 4!!!!
I can't believe Levi William is 4 years old! He turned 4 on Thursday, May 29th. The day before he kept asking me "Am I 4 yet?". I told him he'd be 4 when he woke up the next morning. SO, Thursday morning the first question was "Am I 4 now?!" "YES!" we replied. It was like being 4 gave him permission to enter the "big boy world".
He enjoyed taking a poster with pictures of him to his preschool that morning, along with bringing a special birthday treat! Daddy took him out to Levi's favorite place for lunch - Applebee's! That afternoon, the next question was "Am I STILL 4?" I told him he got to be 4 for a WHOLE year! He seemed pretty excited about that. The other all-consuming topic for the afternoon was "when would his friends arrive for his birthday party"? We were brave - inviting not only a couple of his "church" friends (Lydia Brown, Ella West and Connor & Cooper Barton), but we told him he could pick 3 friends from school - without hesitation he said "I want Brodie, Jake and Darius".
SO, at 5pm, the arrival of the rowdy boys and 2 quiet girls began. For the next 2 hours, we enjoyed meeting some new people and feasted on hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and watermelon - with ice cream cones and sundaes for dessert. It was great fun and quite loud with 6 boys between the ages of 2-4 running around the house since it was a bit chilly outside.
Some of the gifts Levi received were: a big dumptruck, a soccer ball, a Spiderman on a motorcycle, batman, a clock, and a Batman COSTUME (which was worn the rest of that night, to bed and all day the next day - WAY TO GO CONNOR & COOPER! Great gift!)
All in all, Levi says he enjoys being 4. We think he's growing up fast!!! It seems like yesterday when we welcomed little 8lb 13oz Levi William. Now, he's growing into a young boy who enjoys sports, friends, watching movies, spending time with daddy, and being a very sensitive and caring big brother to Julia (most of the time!).
Happy 4th Birthday Levi!!!
He enjoyed taking a poster with pictures of him to his preschool that morning, along with bringing a special birthday treat! Daddy took him out to Levi's favorite place for lunch - Applebee's! That afternoon, the next question was "Am I STILL 4?" I told him he got to be 4 for a WHOLE year! He seemed pretty excited about that. The other all-consuming topic for the afternoon was "when would his friends arrive for his birthday party"? We were brave - inviting not only a couple of his "church" friends (Lydia Brown, Ella West and Connor & Cooper Barton), but we told him he could pick 3 friends from school - without hesitation he said "I want Brodie, Jake and Darius".
SO, at 5pm, the arrival of the rowdy boys and 2 quiet girls began. For the next 2 hours, we enjoyed meeting some new people and feasted on hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and watermelon - with ice cream cones and sundaes for dessert. It was great fun and quite loud with 6 boys between the ages of 2-4 running around the house since it was a bit chilly outside.
Some of the gifts Levi received were: a big dumptruck, a soccer ball, a Spiderman on a motorcycle, batman, a clock, and a Batman COSTUME (which was worn the rest of that night, to bed and all day the next day - WAY TO GO CONNOR & COOPER! Great gift!)
All in all, Levi says he enjoys being 4. We think he's growing up fast!!! It seems like yesterday when we welcomed little 8lb 13oz Levi William. Now, he's growing into a young boy who enjoys sports, friends, watching movies, spending time with daddy, and being a very sensitive and caring big brother to Julia (most of the time!).
Happy 4th Birthday Levi!!!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Our new blog
Well, I've gone and done it. I've FINALLY joined the blogging world. What can I say? I've always been a little behind the trends - fashion, decorating, etc - so why not the blogging world too? I know my friend Janelle will be excited since she's been telling me to do this for months. I don't know if I just like being different (not conforming) or if I just need to warm up to new ideas....either way, hopefully you will enjoy this blog and it will help keep you updated on our life and our adventures. I'm sure there will be many to come.
For now, we are enjoying a great 4-day weekend and FABULOUS weather - its been 70 here, which is like 85 for those of you who live in warmer climates. Bryan's been working in our ever-growing garden and we've enjoyed lettuce (red and green leaf), spinach, onions and chives from it already. Tomorrow is Memorial Day - among others, we remember our grandparents who have left us with wonderful memories, Godly examples and big shoes to fill - Arnold Nienhuis, Leon & Rynie Dykstra, Gene Campbell and Max Boersma.
Enjoy the video - its Levi and Julia in our backyard on their "ship", surrounded by hot lava!!!
With love,
Melissa for the Boersma's
For now, we are enjoying a great 4-day weekend and FABULOUS weather - its been 70 here, which is like 85 for those of you who live in warmer climates. Bryan's been working in our ever-growing garden and we've enjoyed lettuce (red and green leaf), spinach, onions and chives from it already. Tomorrow is Memorial Day - among others, we remember our grandparents who have left us with wonderful memories, Godly examples and big shoes to fill - Arnold Nienhuis, Leon & Rynie Dykstra, Gene Campbell and Max Boersma.
Enjoy the video - its Levi and Julia in our backyard on their "ship", surrounded by hot lava!!!
With love,
Melissa for the Boersma's
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