highlights of our past week

Last week Saturday was cold.  We realized that winter weather and snow would soon be here and decided it was time to prepare for it.  So we cleared out everything from the rafters in the garage, organized it to make room for the summer stuff and also in an attempt to fit both vehicles in the garage for the winter.  By the end of the day, our deck was cleared off and our garage had never been cleaner.  When we put both vehicles in the garage to try it out, Nathan was unable to exit from the driver's side so he had to climb out of the passenger side instead.  :)  So...now I'm not so confident that our plan will work out...but I'm still happy that our garage is organized.  I'm realizing how precious storage space is when you have 2 little ones.  Now I'll have to work on getting the basement in order.  Our stuff keeps multiplying there somehow as well.  :)

On Sunday we served coffee and cookies after the service.  We had homemade soup and fresh bread from the bread machine for lunch!  Since we had taken down a bed frame from the rafters in the garage, we decided to just set it up in Levi's room even though we don't intend to move him out of his crib for the next couple of months.  Maybe we'll attempt the switch after the holidays are over.  We went to the evening service and Dorian fell asleep on Nathan and slept through the entire service.  The take home message to me was to ask the elderly their stories of God's faithfulness, they have more experience and we can learn from them!  After the service was our first Common Ground potluck at church for the year.  I couldn't believe how many couples were there.  It's a wonderful thing that our age group at church just keeps growing.  When we got home that night Levi was so excited to see the stars and the moon in the sky.  It made me smile to hear him say "bye stars...(see you) later" while he was waving to them!  A good reminder to enjoy the little things!

I can't seem to remember much about Monday.  It usually seems like it's a day to catch up after the weekend.  I know I did laundry and dishes.  We had moved the little table and chairs from Levi's room into the living room and the boys have been quite busy coloring so I'm sure they were busy with that for part of the day.  But I do clearly remember that by the time that Nathan got home, I was excited to head out on my own and get groceries by myself while Nathan watched the boys.  It just seems like Dorian and Levi have been really arguing a lot lately and I feel like I am constantly breaking up battles between them.  Any suggestions?  I've heard you just need to let siblings fight it out and figure out how to work the problems out on their own.  Really?  It sounds easy.  I don't know.

Tuesday morning Dorian didn't have preschool, but there was a playdate at Jen's house!  It was nice to talk with friends and the boys played well there...for the most part.

Wednesday Dorian had a dentist apt.  I had talked to Rebecca about watching Levi during that time so she ended up coming here with Jacob to eat lunch with us and then Dorian and I headed out for about 45 minutes.  Dorian often has a hard time in new situations, so I was nervous about how he would do.  I bribed him with a package of fruit snacks if he did well, and he did!  It was the first time he's had his teeth cleaned even though he's been to the dentist before.  He thought the chocolote toothpaste tasted good.  :)  We didn't have chocolate toothpaste when I was a kid...not fair!  :)  For supper we went to church for the WW meal.  I felt like I was taking care of details for the Baas Fundraiser the whole time we were there.  It was good to get some more details figured out though.

Thursday we went to the John Ball Zoo.  The weather was nice all week and we wanted to take advantage of our Zoo Pass one more time.  It was especially fun to watch the boys feed leaves to the goats.  I didn't know that goats liked fallen, dried leaves so well.  We were there for at least 45 minutes!  I had packed peanut butter sandwhiches and applesauce which they ate in the double stroller, watching the goats.  :)  A fun morning.  Levi had his 5th of 6 swimming lessons at 5:30.  He likes to splash daddy and see his teacher.  He's been jealous of Dorian being able to go to preschool so this is something special just for him.  Dorian and I colored pictures together and  made dinner.

Friday morning Dorian had preschool.  I love opening up his orange folder when he gets home to see the papers that he has worked on.  That's usually when he'll tell me about his morning.  :)  I was on a mission to get pictures ordered from Snapfish to work on Dorian's album.  I haven't printed any pictures for over a year now!  My mission was accomplished...the pictures are ordered and on their way.  Then Nathan called and had been looking at what we could do for our evening.  He found out online about a Santa parade in a mall in GR and the appeal to that was that it was free.  The other thing he found was that Seseme Street Live was performing at the VanAndle Arena but tickets were pricy and we were really trying VERY hard the last few months to stay on budget.  Well, we impulsively decided to get tickets to Sesame Street Live (and we're still hopeful to stay on budget:)!  We knew that both of the boys would enjoy it and we were excited to get out of the house and do something fun as a family.

I took the boys over to the park after naptime.  We played hide and seek together which we usually do when we are there.  There are many great trees to hide behind!

Then when Nathan got home from work, we drove up to Grand Rapids for the show.  Dorian intently watched the whole time and Levi was really getting into it!  He was clapping and dancing and singing.  :)  His excitement was so precious to watch!  It made the show for me.  :)  And we even shelled out for popcorn and soda.  As we were walking out, Nathan turned to me and said, "It used to be Jon Bon Jovi and now it's Sesame Street Live."  :)  It was hilarious.  But we were both happy about it.  What a spontanious and fun night! 

Today was a day to catch up on little things around the house.  Nathan had to work for a good part of the afternoon and evening.  We watched football and had homemade pizza for supper, and had our usual Saturday night of bathtime, popcorn and a movie.

God is good.