Winter happenings.

My grandpa was in the hospital again and we got to visit him! Living close to my grandparents is a huge blessing!

Lucy got her sling off! (She fell over Thanksgiving break and broke her right collar bone.) We had told her that she could pick any activity she wanted to do when she got it off because she was such a trooper wearing it- she wore it so well and never complained! She chose bowling and we all had a great time! (She is still on modified activity for six weeks, so isn't supposed to tackle/bump into anyone and avoid falling, but she's doing great and enjoying not wearing the sling.)

All the girls went to the eye doctor over Christmas break and we discovered Lucy needed glasses! Ellory and I went for our annual checkups, and we brought Norah and Lucy too just because it had been awhile since they had been checked, and I'm glad we checked since Lucy needed glasses!

Ellory participated in the school cheer camp and got to perform during half time of the game- go Ellory!

Lucy and Ellory recently.

Lucy and Ellory are in 2^nd grade and are both doing great! They have adjusted well and both do great going to school each day. Both of their teachers are great and they each have some nice friends in their classes. So proud of both of them!

We celebrated Norah turning 10 in October and had fun during Halloween. Lucy was soccer player Lionel Messi and Ellory was gymnast Simone Biles. Lucy and Ellory both had a quick but terrible stomach bug in October too. So thankful that we got to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with both sides of the family. We got together with De Jongs in Orange City for Thanksgiving and Christmas and also were able to go to Des Moines with Schuts for both holidays too- so special! Over Thanksgiving break on November 29, Lucy took an unfortunate tumble during a cousin keep away game and broke her right collar bone. She will be in a sling for six weeks and is being a total trooper! She has handled it very well and hasn't complained. So glad it didn't hurt her for too long and that the pain wasn't too intense. Poor Lucy also had a big bout of sickness right before Christmas and had pneumonia for a full week. So glad everyone was healthy for Christmas! We have been losing some teeth too! Lucy lost her top left central incisor on August 18, her top right central incisor on September 19, and her top right lateral incisor on November 1. Ellory lost her top right lateral incisor on August 26. We said a sad earthly goodbye to Papa Van Etten on September 23, 2024, but look forward to seeing him again in Heaven someday!

Lucy brought up several times that she would really like to try flag football this fall, so we let her try it and she absolutely loved it. She was the only girl, but it didn't phase her and she went out there with such bravery and determination! She was pretty good and has been enjoying watching football with Kley too and learning about the game. Ellory is doing a tap and jazz dance class this year and has been enjoying it and doing a great job! They are both taking piano lessons this year and it's fun to see how much they have learned after only a year and a half of lessons. Mrs. Heidi is their teacher this year, which is who Norah has had and who taught their Kindermusik lessons when they were younger, so it's special to have a teacher they already knew and for all three to go to the same place. They were both in the Christmas piano recital and did a very nice job! Ellory played “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Have A Holly Jolly Christmas,” and Lucy played “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard On High.” I got to join Lucy as a duet for her right hand since her collar bone was broken. Lucy and Ellory are in 2^nd grade Sunday School this year and are enjoying that too. They were both in the Christmas program and sang about how Jesus is our light. They had a school music program around Veteran's Day that was “Celebrate America” themed with some fun patriotic songs and dances. They did great at both programs! We had fall conferences and are so glad to report that Lucy and Ellory are doing great- very smart and kind!

Both Lucy and Ellory are very sweet with younger kids and they get to be around many with cousins and kids in life group. Lucy is into all sports, loves anything athletic, and loves building things like magna tiles or car tracks or towers. Ellory loves coloring, crafting, music/dancing, and stuffed animals. Both enjoy playing outside and creating scenes or cities with legos or dolls. Playmobil and Lil Woodzeez sets are favorite toys too. It's fun to hear their growth in reading this year and reading some chapter books! We are so thankful for such loving, kind, smart, and beautiful inside and out girls! Lucy and Ellory, we are so proud to be your parents and we love you so very much! We pray His love for you would continue to grow in your hearts!

Norah recently.

Norah is in 4^th grade and is doing great! She has adjusted very well and this has been the best she has ever done with going to school/anxiety. She has a few great friends in her class this year. So proud of her and so happy she is growing and doing well!

She turned ten in October! We celebrated with family on both sides. For our family celebration, she chose to go ice skating and have Subway at the park. She had some friends over for a teal birthday party and they did paint by number canvases and made bracelets. We also had a special mom/daughter trip to Minneapolis for the Anne Wilson concert for her birthday- what a fun time! We met Heidi, Josie, and Savannah there too for the show and they had such fun together! At her 10 year wellness check, she was 4' 8.5” (79%). Very grateful for a healthy daughter! On November 7 she lost her first molar- her bottom right first bicuspid. Norah was Wonder Woman for Halloween. We said a sad earthly goodbye to Papa Van Etten on September 23, 2024, but look forward to seeing him again in Heaven someday! Norah had a 24 hour flu bug before Christmas- it was terrible but quick thankfully. So thankful that we got to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with both sides of the family. We got together with De Jongs in Orange City for Thanksgiving and Christmas and also were able to go to Des Moines with Schuts for both holidays too- so special!

This fall Norah did volleyball and enjoyed it! It was fun to watch her experience this for the first time. Lots of friends her age participated too, so it was nice they could do it together. She is doing piano this year too and getting better and better! She played “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “What Child Is This?” at the Christmas piano recital. She sang in the Christmas program at church too and did great! She volunteered for a speaking part and read a verse about light too. She's in 4^th grade Sunday School and loving her teacher and learning. She is taking some really sweet and meaningful notes about Jesus at church! She is doing a jazz/lyrical dance class too and is liking it. We had fall conferences and Norah got excellent grades and her teacher had positive things to say about her- way to go Norah!

Norah is becoming more responsible and growing into a very lovely young woman! So proud of who she is and to be her mom! She is smart, creative, caring, and beautiful inside and out! She loves little kids and is so good with her young cousins. She loves to listen to music and write stories. She enjoys coloring, playing outside, playmobil sets, making jewelry, and making scenes or cities with dolls and legos. Norah, you are a true gift to us and we are so thankful for a decade of loving you! We pray His love for you would continue to grow in your heart!

Happy New Year 2025.

Happy New Year! Thankful for many small moments that made 2024 a great year and looking forward to 2025 too. We had a few church families over for a NYE party and rang in New Years Day with a family date to our closest bigger town for some arcade games and Olive Garden. What better start to the year than with my four favorite people, junky arcade prizes that make their eyes light up, and breadsticks? 

Also, before heading home from our family Christmas celebration in Des Moines last week, we got to celebrate cousin Brooks turning two with a cute truck party! Another cousin Murphy also turned five right before Christmas too! We love you Brooks and Murphy!