Happy Birthday Holly

Wishing a super happy birthday to my hardworking, adventure seeking, loyal, compassionate, Jesus loving, popping balloon hating, it's never too cold for ice cream, overthinking, needs her sleep, likes to look at everything in a museum, stronger than she knows, beautiful inside and out girl.  

Hope your enjoying your Sedona birthday.  Love you lots.

Throwback Thursday

We were chatting with Sam a couple Sundays ago and he mentioned that John and I were at Dordt around the same time his new roommate (he switched after Christmas break) parents were here.  So, of course I had to get out the old Dordt Signets and look up Micah's parents.  Turned out they were a couple years younger and we didn't really remember them but I couldn't help but smile at John's sophomore year picture. 

Yes, he really was that blond.

Yes, he was the cutest guy at Dordt.

A couple more January pictures

My mom was here over her anniversary (without my dad) so we took her out for a fancy, smancy dinner to celebrate. 54 years. 

It's always fun having Gramma here.  She is easy going and is content to not do anything special, eat leftovers, help with laundry, and play a lot of games.  She also likes to spoil her grandkids and since there is just one left at the Hiemstra House, that one got LOTS of attention.

Here she is helping John with my new planters boxes.

Holly flew home for the musical too!  In fact, she left just a few days before my mom got here.  I know the picture are out of order; I'm just too lazy to move them.  We went out for a girl's only breakfast one morning.

Holly wanted to do a project while she was home.  I gave her a couple options (since there is ALWAYS a project to do around here) and she chose painting the fireplace.

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:

Now we just need to get a new gas insert and John has to make me a new mantle.  See what I mean? Always a project.

Her and John also hung these prints in the office.  They are drawings his dad made for a feeding system for their veal farm, John found them when he was helping mom clean out her garage this summer.  I surprised him and had them framed for him for Christmas.

Just a dad helping his daughter put on fake nails.  :)

This picture was actually from the beginning of January when Sam was still home on Christmas break.  We had Paige and her folks over for supper one night (BTW, John made ribs on his new smoker and they were DELISH).  When I saw the picture, I was just cracking up because we didn't even notice how Katie was sitting between Sam and Paige.  So typical of Katie to put herself there and for Sam and Paige to not care.

The Little Mermaid

Can I just start by saying, I LOVE MUSICALS?!!  Holly was part of 6 musical productions when she was in high school and I really thought that was the end of my musical mom experience.  They are fun to watch anyway, but when your kid is in them, it's even more funner so when Katie decided that she would try out this year you can imagine I was more than a little happy about it.  

She couldn't have been a cuter jellyfish, flamingo, and courtier and I couldn't have been any prouder watching her onstage.  She is already talking about next year's show so I guess I get more musical mom moments!

Holly flew up the first weekend to watch the show...and do hair.

This one was taken seven years ago when Holly was in "Beauty and the Beast" and Katie wanted to dress up just like her!

Katie and her besties.

My coffee ladies (and some coffee kids) were so sweet and came to a show.

Auntie Denise and Aunt Kerri have always been so good about supporting my kids.

Gramma came up from Arizona the second weekend of the show.  She watched it three times!

Katie and her director.

Katie and Lucy.

Getting ready up in her room before a show.

Can't wait until next year!