Happy Birthday Dirk!

Happy Birthday to my middle child, my youngest boy. I was excited to be able to call this boy Dirk, my father's name. He was an early Christmas present, and came home on Christmas day. He was brought to me in a red stocking to take home. Dirk was born at 8:29 AM, PST, at Tacoma General Hospital. Dirk has always been a happy person, and willing to help others. He's a natural leader, genuinely interested in others, obedient, and has a strong testimony of the Gospel.

Dirk loves life. He loves people, and has a big heart. I love to see him with his wife and two little girls. He truly loves them and has a lot of patience with the little ones.

Dirk has a winning smile, and has worked hard to finish his BS at the U of U with honors. From the beginning Dirk liked to pose for the camera. I think he has a natural talent.

Happy Birthday Dirk! Dad and I love you!!!

Where Does the Time Go?

So do you write from the past to the present

or the present to the past?

I guess I'll go backwards. Saturday was Bekha's first birthday. One of the first things we did Saturday was this...

especially for Sarah!

On Thursday we had a special Holiday Dinner

with Great Oma at Highland Care Center.

She has a private room and has a special

place to hang her Christmas cards.

On Sunday the olds decided to have another tragedy. We (Keith) spent the afternoon making a repair to get us by. Repairs have been more and more frequent and we decided that this was last one .

Monday found us looking for another vehicle.

Sunday was Xanthisa's Baby Blessing.

Emma made her little outfit.

I think she looks darling.

Friday the 5th, was Sinter Klaas.

Cirrus received a bag of salt for being naughty!

She was not happy.

Sinter Klaas finally gave Cirrus her chocolate letter.

It's a time for family, traditions, and fun.

Great Oma with Bree and Xanthisa

Attention!

Dear Family Members,
If you want to visit Great-Oma at her new temporary place, there is a calendar on this blog where you can sign up for a date and time. Please email or call Johanna or Keith to get the user name and password to access the calendar. If you sign up for an appointment you can put in a time. That way we won't be having too many visitors at one time.
Thanks,
Johanna

P.S. If you are interested in helping Aunt MaryJane do the 12 days of Christmas for Great Oma, please contact her.

Thanksgiving Weekend

The week of Thanksgiving was busy at best. Monday and Tuesday were parent teacher conferences. Mom was still at the hospital, and coming home on Tuesday. Really, going to Mary Jane's. That meant that MJ needed to get her home ready. There was running back and forth to get things ready for Mom. Next came a day off, yeah. I watched Hunter while MaryJane took Mom to the Dr.'s.

Thursday was Thanksgiving at MJ's: changed because of Mom's limited mobility and comfort. Dinner was really late, like 5 hours. MaryJane had her part ready, the rest of it wasn't.

Friday, the Dutch Ladies Christmas Party was at Mom's. There were about 40 people there. Since she was at MJ's I opened the building and set most of it up. Mom was able to come to the party, but left early. David was gracious enough to provide the transportation. The people in charge of the party helped to clean up. Jana stayed to do the final cleaning and locking up. The most interesting event was that my former bishop from Puyallup was there. This time the ladies were able to invite their spouses. Bishop Abney's wife died a few years ago and he married a Dutch lady. So there you have it. He was my bishop in 1982-83.

Saturday, we had the Tweed Widdison get together. Laura brought yummy broccoli cheese soup, Linda brought delicious rolls and juice, and Keith and I provided pot pie.

Everyone was really waiting for the pie event. That is what the Widdison Tweed get together is all about. We had the following pies: rhubarb, gooseberry, cherry, pumpkin, peach, blueberry, jumble berry, chocolate, and lemon. I think only two pies were duplicated. They were delicious. And for those who have left overs - they still are.

I didn't take very many pictures because I was playing with kids, and holding babies. I think that was more important. John John and Crimsel played really well together. It is great for Crimnsel to have a boy to play with. Kelsie, Cirrus, and Ari had a fine time running around and playing. Babies: Bekha, Bree, and Xanthisa were entertained by several.

We played Gassy Gus and Gooey Louie. Disgusting but fun games. Juliann, and Jessica had a lot of fun with those games. I must say that Bonnie was a good sport.

We had a great turn out. And had fun. Thanks to everyone who helped out. Susan, Shawn, Linda, John John, Kelsie, Bekha, Cecelia, Ruben, Bonnie, Juliann, Jessica, Keith, Johanna, Dirk, Laura, Ari, Bree, Jon, Emma, Cirrus, Crimsel and Xanthisa were all there.

Today is our 15th Temple Sealing Anniversary. Keith taught 5th Sunday lesson. He did a great job. Happy Anniversary to us!

Well, there is our busy Thanksgiving weekend.

Happy Birthday to Laura!

Happy Birthday Laura! Maybe I should say belated... Laura is my second daughter-in-law. She was the last to join our family, marrying Dirk after Jon and Emma married.

My earliest remembrance of Laura is when she came to spend the night at our house for Easter Eve. In those days we woke up early to go to Sunbird for a Sunrise Easter Devotional. It is cold, but beautiful. She didn't complain, and was fun to be with.

Laura is the mother of two beautiful girls. She is creative and loves to entertain. She makes beautiful cards and is very thoughtful. She sends cards to not only her friends, but Dirk's friends as well. She has hosted several events at her home.

She does embroidery work, and painting. She fills her home with individualized decor, celebrating their love for one another and subtly displaying her talents.

I think one of Laura's best talents is her blog. She has one super blog. I enjoy reading it and seeing the girls grow up. There is a difference between being an oma and a mother. As Oma you're not right there to watch the grandchildren with all their wonderful and funny little things they do. Her blog makes it fun to be part of the girls' lives.

Laura has started a little part time job. We wish her well in her new endeavor.

Happy Birthday, Laura!

Happy Birthday to Mom!

Today is Mom's birthday.

When she turned 80 I made some decade sheets for her.

Since then she has added more grandchildren

and great-grandchildren.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Wow!! Is this for real?

How long has it been since we have seen prices at this rate?

Keith filled up the toyauto this morning, what a pleasant surprise.

Filling in the Waterline

Since child labor worked so well last week...

(Actually Emma asked us to watch the older two

while she and Jon attended to some chores and Xanthisa.)

we decided to call the troops to work detail again.

Cirrus found a wonderful umbrella and took a stroll.

Next item was picking currants off the bush,

and then stemming them.

We didn't get much stemming accomplished,

and Crimsel ate almost everyone he stemmed.

While we were doing chores Opa went on a errand

and came back with a mini-ex.

The kids had A-one viewing seats.

Cirrus took some pictures: here I am making sure the water spigot

is going to be okay after removing the board as Opa filled in the hole.

Then Opa gave each one their own ride.

I realize it is a little lengthy, but thought the kids would like to see themselves on the mini-ex.

While Opa took the mini-ex back the kids went on a hunt in the yard and found some apples to pick. When Opa returned we went to get bread at Great Harvest. The kids were given day old Witch's fingers. We fed some birds while we ate our slices of bread and cookies, and then went home.

Trunk-or-Treat

Jon and Emma's ward have soup and rolls,

story telling, and then "Trunk-or-Treat".

The Fireman and the Princess eating soup.

Is the Fireman a modern day knight?

Emma and Xanthisa.What every Oma likes best...

holding baby.

Trunk-or-Treating. Candy bags fill up fast this way.Xanthisa the "Lady Bug". More areas are doing trunk-or-treating.

We had only one trick-or-treator yesterday,

and I missed them while I looked for our candy.

I guess Keith has plenty of candy now.

Matthew the Missionary

We were blesssed with the opportunity to have Matthew stay at our home before he enytered the MTC on Wednesday. Keith took him to eat at Chuck-a-rama on Monday. Tuesday he hung out at Beehive and then we ate at Judy's Thai Place. Emma, Jon and the three kids came. Matt and Keith watched Mr. Ballif's boys while we presented to parents at the Math Literacy night. Hooray for "missionary service". Wednesday it was up early, go the temple, travel to the Missionary Mall, and then to the MTC. We enjoyed having Matthew stay at our home.

Entertainment

Here is some of the entertainment by Cirrus and Crimsel. I was able to lighten up the video. Enjoy :)

Filling in the Hole

We had a slow leak at our water faucet. It needed repair and we needed to connect the water to the house, soooo it was time. A big hole was dug, and the repair and installation began.

Cirrus and Crimsel wanted to help. They each have a pair of cute little work gloves and between them a set of kid size real tools. Here Crimsel is shoveling sand.

After the wheel barrow was dumped into the hole, Cirrus helped by pushing the spilled sand in.

They worked for a while...

And then decided to climb the hill.

Then we put rocks in the wagon, and pushed and pulled them to the rock pile.

Throwing rocks onto the pile was fun.

Team work was good, too!

Crimsel wanted to pull Cirrus by himself. He pulled her from the rock pile to the front of the house.

Then we ate apples.

And had entertainment by Cirrus

and Crimsel.

The kids worked hard, had fun, and went home tired. A good day, I say!