Happy Halloween!

Halloween was yesterday - what an AWESOME night we had for trick-or-treating! The weather was just perfect, around 55 degrees. The kids could wear their costumes with no coats, and be comfortable. Kelsea was a hippy this year, and looked so cute! Kolton was a crypt master, and was truly frightful...yikes! We headed downtown Grand Haven for the merchant treats from 4 to 6 and then headed home to do neighborhood treats. As usual, the kids have more candy than they know what to do with! I will have to have some serious willpower to stay away from the leftovers! We bought 3 bags to pass out, and only had 5 or 6 kids so we have candy coming out of our eyeballs! Don is planning to bring some to work for his employees, and I'll plan to bring some to my office as well...we'll fatten everyone else up! Here are the pics from Halloween...

Ready to head out...With McCain/Palin!!

Kelsea w/ Madie Somers...Kolton w/ Tyler Somers

The clan...Kathryn w/ boyfriend Jeff, Eric, Kelsea, Jakob, Kolton, Christine and Karen!!

Grandma's Birthday!

Wednesday was Grandma's 74th birthday - October 29, 2008. We took Grandma to Texas Roadhouse for a birthday dinner, then went back to her house for cake and ice cream! At dinner, one of the kids told our waitress that it was Grandma's birthday and so she came out with a saddle for Grandma to sit on! Grandma opted out of that, but the kids each happily took a turn on the saddle. The waitress LOUDLY screamed to the ENTIRE Texas Roadhouse that it was Gladys' birthday at at the count of three to yell "YEE-HAW" which the ENTIRE Texas Roadhouse did! What a night... Then, to Grandma's for chocolate cake and pumpkin cake - YUM! Here are some pics from Grandma's birthday...

Spring Lake Aquatic Center

The aquatic center is open at Spring Lake High School, and the Intermediate school kids were offered a free night to go check it out with their families. We were so impressed! It was like a mini-Great Wolf Lodge! They also had a lap pool, diving area, and workout facilities - both cardio and weight areas. The kids had a great time...here are some pics of the night...

There is a water slide and lazy river...water bucket and lily pad crossing area...

Kolton's trip down the slide...

Kelsea's trip down the slide...

The kids get ready to dive in for their big race...two laps of freestyle, two laps of backstroke!

GVSU Game!

Kelsea's striker team, along with the other U12 striker team had the opportunity to attend the GVSU girl's soccer game yesterday. What a treat! They were able to meet the players before the game and walk onto the field with them for introductions and National Anthem. Then, they were able to take the field during half time, and play a quick scrimmage game. Each girl received a t-shirt, and they had a "meet and greet" with the players after the game where they could get autographs and ask the players any questions they had about their techniques, etc.

The GVSU girl's team is incredible! Their record is 15-0, and they won yesterday's match 7-1. To see a game at that level was such a treat, and it shows how much practice, determination, and dedication really pay off!

Here are some pics from yesterday...

Soccer players and girls coming out onto the field for introductions and National Anthem

Playing of the National Anthem - the player shows Kelsea how to hold her arms

The girls coming off the field before the game starts...happy faces!!

The start of the game...

Half-time scrimmage...

#10 shows us her throw in up close...a front handspring!!

And the release...

Meet and greet after the game - Kelsea got autographs on her t-shirt and her ball!

All in all, a fun day for the girls, and a great opportunity to see some great skills in action!!

Fall Night at the Beach

We have had some BEAUTIFUL weather in Grand Haven the last few weeks - very summer-like - and we have enjoyed it!! Don and I took the kids to the beach right at sunset Saturday night for some pictures in the dunegrass. Then we walked along the beach and headed to K2 for dinner. For an October night, you couldn't have asked for anything better...lake breeze, sand and family...

Here are some of the pics we took...

Family Birthdays

Tonight we celebrated Jakob, Mary and Nancy's birthdays. Bev won a hayride at the school auction earlier this year, and so we combined that hayride with the birthday celebrations, and WOW did we have some fun! Anytime you get the family together not only is it LOUD, but it is FUN!

Jakob turned 11 on August 29th, Mary turned 27 yesterday (the 26th) and Nancy turned 46 today!!

Here are some pics of the night...

Kolton's Soccer Team

This is Kolton's second year playing travel soccer with the Tri Cities Strikers. He absolutely loves the game, and is "game on" all the time. He plays hard, and he plays his best. We are so proud of his efforts! Kolton's soccer team has had a rough season so far...they won their first game, but have lost the last two. Kolton always plays his best, and is a good sport about the game. He is of course disappointed to lose, but he keeps his wits about him and doesn't let the loss ruin the fun of the sport. Here are some action shots from his last two games... #97