Go fly a Costco Kite!

When we moved closer to the Lakeshore, I vowed that I would never let living next door to the greatest Great Lake get old.  Today, I fulfilled a childhood dream of flying a kite at the beach.  I'm positive that I had the most fun today of all of us.  I could've stayed all afternoon.  O.K., we all had fun!  You too can have this much fun.  Just go to Costco and take $13 with you and purchase a kite.  Can you buy the butterfly?  The dragon won out in our clan.  The butterfly was so pretty.  The dragon: scary looking, but still cool.  Maybe if you buy the butterfly, she can friend the dragon and we can all fly kites together on Sundays before the warm weather hits and the beach is filled with people who don't like dive-bombing kites.  Deal?

A few {or 10} Easter Pics

We spent Easter at church and then dinner at Grandma & Grandpa's house.  It was very peaceful.  The boys couldn't wait to see what the Easter bunny left in the yard.  I don't normally dress the boys in matching outfits - but, I don't have too many more years where I have a say!  The funny thing is, they love to be like each other.  So, it was a hit.  They truly do love playing with each other and I love to watch how Jake looks out for Caleb.  He's a lot to look out for!  

Grand Rapids Children's Museum

We took the boys to the Children's Museum this morning.  If you've never been, you should go.  We are so fortunate to live so close to so many fun things to do.  I really love Holland.  We have the best of all worlds: beaches, seasons, downtown Holland, and close to Grand Rapids. 

It's so hard for me to catch good pictures of Caleb.  He never stops.  I love having boys.  Most days I could use energy injections.  But, that's why I drink coffee.  Lots of it.

Homemade Granola Bars {or refuel bars}

I received a very special treat after our downtown run.  One of the girls brought homemade re-fuel bars.  She told me about them while we were running the week before.  Of course my mind thinks about food more than running and I was so excited when she brought one (or two for hogs like me) for everyone last week.

I've made them at home.  Twice.  I feel so good about the ingredients that are in them and what I am feeding my boys as we head out the door in the morning.  And, bonus - they actually make you feel satisfied.

So, thanks to Jen - here you go!

Re-Fuel Bars

3.25 cups Kashi Heart to Heart Honey toasted cereal
2.75 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup un blanched almonds
1/2 cup sunflower kernels
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup uncooked oat bran cereal (find it near oatmeal)
1/4 cup wheat bran
1/4 cup flax seed
3 tbsp sesame seeds
2 cups creamy PB
1.5 cups honey
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Combine first 9 ingredients in large bowl. In a small saucepan, combine PB and honey. Cook over med heat until PB is melted, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Pour over cereal mixture, mix well.

2. Transfer to a greased 15x10x1 inch pan; gently press into pan. Cool completely. Cut into bars - about 3 dozen. Store in airtight container (I wrapped mine individually in wax paper for easy snack grabbing).

Christmas Picture Overload

Big squeeze!

Thanking Aunt Kate for the new jammies.

Listening to Uncle Dave share a Max Lucado story.

Thanking Aunt Kimmy for Christmas presents.

Future Bears Coach?

Long face...could be the lipstick on the cheek.

Once a Chieftain, always a Chieftain?

Favorite picture.  Christmas morning, checking to see if Santa came.

Clearly, he did!

Gasp!

Deep in thought...looks like a future surgeon.  Or hiker?

Matching Jams

Trick or Treat?

Our gang!

Peter Pan

Pretty princesses!

Arrrrrr!

The "after-show."  Caleb acting like a dog.

More of the after-show.

Our neighborhood is the perfect size for little ones to go trick or treating.  One little square block.  They can hardly handle the whole thing.  Why didn't we bring the wagon?  They sprinted from house to house for the first 5 houses...then they tuckered out.  But, we survived!  And, it was fun!  And by the looks of the pictures they got their second wind.  Oh, they tire me out.  

Jack-0-Lanterns

Everyone needs an Aunt Kate.  We are lucky enough to have her.  Caleb calls her "Ates", and oh how it makes us laugh.  He's so matter of fact about it.  And of course, now it's a nick name that will probably stick for awhile.  Ates loves halloween, just like her Grandma Jackie.  She arrives with a plastic bin fully equipped with all the pumpkin carving essentials: knives of every kind, scoopers, papers, and pokers.