Feeling *sew sew*

Though it may seem I've hung up the lens for a few days (er...months) and taken up my other hobby of sewing I can promise you my camera gets plenty of use :) It seems these days it's been even more difficult than ever to keep up with the blogging world (keeping up in the sense of actually posting to it). I keep up with several other ppl's blogs including my newest favorite, www.mycharmingkids.net. This particular blog I found through a friend of a friend (thanks Trisha:) and love MckMama's style of writing and her love of phototgraphy and being "green." I recently discovered that she happens to live minutes from my relatives in Minnesota (small world, right?). Anyway, enough about her blog and onto mine!

We've been busy with life with 3 boys. We celebrated Jackson's second birthday right before school got out and then Lucas's sixth less than 3 weeks later. They (the oldest two) enjoyed VBS at our church a couple weeks after school was out. We then headed to Hungy Horse Campground for several nights to camp with a group of friends. That particular trip I kept the lens packed up! We enjoyed life in a pop-up instead of a tent this year!

After returning home, we celebrated Reece's fourth birthday and then headed down to Champaign, Illinois to visit my relatives from Seattle, Washington that were visiting their relatives. This trip lasted less than 48 hours, but it was fabulous to see relatives I hadn't seen in over 5 years!

We were home long enough to unpack, do laundry, and clean out the camper before heading out on our next adventure. Our final stop was Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. We camped in my aunt/uncle's driveway for several days and enjoyed life on the lake. Fireworks were held on a barge in the middle of the bay on Independence Day. That is such a fun experience. Have I mentioned that I could live out there? Really, it's just lovlely out there :)

Back to reality.........

........gymnastics for Lucas twice a week for 3 hours (he is practicing with the level 4 boys this year - we have yet to decide if he'll compete this fall)
........beginning to book more sessions (including some fun newborn sessions!!!!!) make sure to contact me if you're interested in setting something up!
.........spending time at the splashpad/beach of Millenium Park
.........checking out books at the library - while working on the summer reading program with the oldest children
..........trying to be green by growing our own garden, hanging clothes on the line, making strawberry jam, and doing away with paper/plastic grocery bags (i think i could do a whole post on how much i LOVE those reusable cloth bags!!!)
..........going on bike rides
..........just trying to spend as much time in the moment enjoying my boys growing up before my eyes.....GOD IS GOOD!!!!!
***WHAT GOOD IS A POST WITHOUT PIX????***


I'll leave you with these FEW images.......


This was my first attempt at a self-portrait. Please overlook the fact that I probably hadn't showered in that picture and have a nice gaudy band-aid on my finger.


These matching hoodies were a gift to my boys this spring and I decided to embellish them with a few appliques I cut out of one of Michael Miller's mod prints. The boys each chose the guitar color for the front and I used the remaining colors on the back.



I made Jackson a set of these carseat strap covers a while back and liked them so much I made new ones for all three of my guys.

This is the reverse print of the 2 designs on the left (see above image).

This valance has a coordinating crib skirt that I custom designed for a childhood friend of mine who is OVERdue with her first child whom I cannot wait much longer to meet!

just because...

FYI

The below mentioned photo DID appear in Sunday's GR Press in section B4.

Flipside

So I know this blog has been quite neglected (due to my Facebook addiction), but I thought I'd take the time to at least post one photo here. AND, it's not even my own work - I had a chance to be on the other side of the lens. This was taken by Jon Brouwer of The Grand Rapids Press today while we were enjoying Festival of the Arts downtown today. We did not forget one child - he was sleeping in the stroller behind us (while we enjoyed ice cream) and therefore did not get mentioned.
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/06/weather_is_fair_business_is_ex.html

Fell off the face of this earth

Okay, so not really, but the blog has been seriously suffering (sorry to those who actually follow this thing). I've been meaning to update it, but it just never happens. So, here goes with what's been happening with Team Meyers. The first photo sums up how Reece feels about thunderstorms (or really loud noises for that matter). We told him he could hide in his bed so he would feel safe.........well, not so much a bed, but a definite place to sleep. Yes, he did curl up UNDER the kitchen rug and fall asleep AND remain asleep for about an hour! In other news, Reece will be going in tomorrow (Monday) for an x-ray and ultrasound for his (assumed to be benign Baker's cyst behind the knee). This has not bothered him, but the pediatrician would like a second opinion just to be precautious. Please pray these procedures do not find anything out of the ordinary. Jackson is doing well since his tubes were inserted a month ago. His ears have remained infection-free, but he is already back on an antibiotic for a sinus infection. It seems my youngest two are prone to those things. He is also talking more and is hilarious to watch as he tries to keep up with his older brothers. Lucas is playing soccer and t-ball this spring and taking gymnastics. He scored his first game-goal last weekend. T-ball games start this week (I have yet to see him participate in this as Tim brings him to those practices). He seems to do really well in gymnastics. We attended the gym in Allendale and just recently switched to the one in Hudsonville that I practiced at (Gymnastiks Unlimited). Although there are no familiar faces there, I am happy with our decision to switch. He seems to enjoy this the most. Right now it's just an "exposure" time for him as we determine his talents. Reece will be able to play soccer next year and is looking forward to that!




We've also been blessed with some wonderful SPRING weather. The days of sunshine have been cherished around here. We spent Friday garage-saleing and then picnicking at a local park with a very fun playground (think it's the highest enclosed slide my boys have been on). They absolutely loved it! I'm so glad to see those garage sale signs out again!





The beginning of spring also marks the blooming of the butterflies at FM Gardens in GR. We have a family membership and definitely get our use out of it. I know I've stated in previous blog posts that this is a wonderful investment.............I still agree!!!! We saw a few new (to us at least) kinds of butterflies this year.


One even landed on Jackson's back while grandma was holding him long enough I was able to capture it (with my camera that is).



One even landed on grandma's bangs.........and stayed long enough for me to capture that one as well! Grandma was less than thrilled to pose with this winged creature for me :)










Hope everyone is enjoying this spring season!!!

bowl-o-baby

Quick update

I forget, not everyone has a facebook acct like me (and I update that thing on a daily basis) :) I just wanted to update that Jackson's surgery went very well today. For those that don't know, we've had a bout of ear infections since he was an infant and finally visited the ENT last Thursday. He recommended tubes in both ears and got us right in the schedule for surgery today! I got a taste of getting up early (what's probably normal for the rest of the world) as we had to be to the facility at 6:45am! It was a very short procedure and he woke up very pleasantly (apparently many children don't wake up as well as the anesthesia is very disorienting) and we were home before 9:30. I'm hoping he doesn't have too much pain and sleeps peacefully tonight :) God is good!