My Pioneer Kids

This week was Creative Arts Week at school.  The theme was "Little House on the Prairie".  Lots of fun stuff has been happening all week.  Today they got to dress up as pioneer kids. 
I had a big crush on Almonzo growing up but this guy is even cuter!

Katie was so excited to wear her "Carrie Ingall's (for some reason, she likes Carrie the best) dress".  My mom made this dress for me.  I know I have a picture around here somewhere. 

 My pioneer kids.

 Off to school.

Hiemstra Family - Easter Edition

We had a wonderful Easter.   Good church service (I think I love Easter songs even more than Christmas songs), great food (Mark's salmon rocks) and spending time with those I love.  Doesn't get any better than that.
I got my family Easter baskets this year.  They all got movies but I had taken the actual movie out of the case and they have to wait until our summer vacation to watch them.  They were all good sports about that.

 These two are best buddies.  I accepted that a long time ago. 

 I made my family take pictures by my beautiful camellia bush.  Here's my boy.  I love this guy.

 A mother/daughter selfie.

 We took a picture of what our family could have been if we would have stopped after one. 

But we didn't so this is what it's like now.  I love this picture.  I might just use it for our Christmas card.

HAPPY EASTER!

Just because I haven't blogged for awhile.

Not a lot has been happening around the Hiemstra House that's been particularly blog worthy but I know my Midwest Family gets a little crabby when I go too long without posting pictures of my kiddos. :)
It's Spring!!  That means that one day is warm and sunny and the next day it's cold and rainy.  Katie Kat decided to wash bikes on one of the warm, sunny days.  I wish I had an odometer on her little purple bike.  Since she finally learned to ride, she's put on many, many miles.

My eldest.  Isn't she beautiful?  We don't see a lot of her, I know it's in preparation for when she leaves us in another year and a half but I still don't like it.  I ordered her a JSB dress while she was in California and, miracle of miracles, she loved it.  She's going to look amazing.

Here's my boy with one of his amazing Lego creations.  It's called, "The Lava Planet".  I love the names he comes up with. 

In case you wanted a close-up of "The Lava Planet".  I think I should make a little photo book of all his creations. 

This happens most nights after supper.  I think it may occur so no one has to help mom with dishes but that's okay.  I remember my dad wrestling with me and my sister too.  I think wrestling my be John's love language.

A couple of years ago, John's cousin gave Sam a whole binder full of her son's baseball/football/Pokemon/who-knows-what-else cards.  Sam decided to put them all over his bedroom door.  This is one of those times when I just bite my tongue and remind myself that someday he will leave me too.

Katie and I were going through a bin of clothes to find some shorts and sandals and she came across the cow costume.  I think we may get one more Halloween out of it. Amy, I am so glad you bought this thing.  Don't worry, I'll give it back someday...I expect to see your grand kids in it.

Katie and I planted our pole beans seeds the other day.  We are really enjoying watching them grow.  I hope we didn't start them too early??

I will conclude with a joke my 4th grade boy told me yesterday.  Keep in mind that he is a 4th grade boy.  What does a ghost have but they shouldn't?  Scroll down for the answer...if you dare.



















Boo-bies. 

Holly's Spring Break

Holly brought a camera along to California.  Guess how many pictures she took?  The answer would be zero.  Lucky for me though, her friends posted some pictures on Facebook.  And I stole them.  Thank you Holly's friends. 
At the Angels/Mariners game.  Kind of funny, Holly's watched the Mariners play twice and neither time has it been in Seattle.  They got free fish hats because apparently one of the Angels player's last name is Trout. 

 At the beach.  She said it was chilly and windy but they still had a good time.

 Disneyland!

 

 

I had to include this one since Holly said one of her favorite parts of Disneyland was the firework show.  Yes, you read that correctly, Holly enjoyed the firework show.  If you know Holly at all you know she hates, loathes, abhors fireworks.  She said she felt safe since they weren't shooting them off by her.  My baby is growing up!

I don't have any pictures of it but apparently they did some singing while on their choir tour too.  In fact, they won FIRST PLACE for their school size at a Disney competition.  Hooray!
So glad to have my girl home.

Spring Break

I promise our Spring Break wasn't as lame as these pictures are.  We had some nice sunny days.  The kids even ate their lunch out on the porch.  Sam is all bundled up in his sleeping bag but I don't think that was really necessary.

On Friday night we took Sam and Katie out to eat to celebrate great report cards.  First we had some pizza.  I let Sam take a picture of me and Katie...

And then Katie got to take a picture of Sam and John...

After pizza we went to Menchies.  We had never been there before.  Pretty cool.  Love the spoons.  The kids thought all the toppings were pretty fun.  In fact, I'm pretty sure Sam only had toppings in his bowl.  Katie went with a very girly theme...pink yogurt and every pink topping there was.  Not a hint of chocolate anywhere.  Where did this girl come from?

 My guys.

Holly was in Southern California all week with the concert choir.  I missed her a lot.  She gets home in approximately six hours.  I am ready for her to be home.  I think I might die when she leaves for college...either that or I'll have to eat a lot of chocolate.