Winter happenings- wild weather, our state basketball champ, and Norah's 4th grade music program.

We got to cheer for Kley at halftime of the basketball game because they honored the 2005 state basketball champions in honor of 20 years since the victory. Go Kley! We love you!

The weather this winter has been wild! Overall, it has been very mild with hardly any snow and pretty decent temperatures. We have gotten a little snow in the last two weeks, but it has also been bitter cold, like well below zero feels like temps for awhile. They aren't getting outdoor recess at school, but have been going out after school to enjoy the snow while we have it (briefly, because it's freezing!). They are building some new houses behind us, so the girls found this big hill to play on from where the city cleared it away from the lots. I had to snap a couple photos because this might be all we get this winter! It's supposed to warm up to 40s again next week, so it will be melting soon. While it would have been fun to have one big blizzard this winter, we are also looking forward to spring!

Norah had her 4th grade music program at school and she did great! The theme was "words of wisdom" and they sang some fun songs! It's fun to watch what they are doing and learning at school!

Lucy and Ellory's 8th birthday- De Jong side.

We got to celebrate Lucy and Ellory's 8th birthday with the De Jong side- getting together with the whole side of the family is great! Thankful we could all be together and celebrate two of my favorite people! Three really, because we gave cousin Will his 6th birthday present too. We missed his real birthday party a couple weeks ago because it ended up being the same weekend as my grandpa's funeral, but we wished him a happy birthday then (we briefly got to see him before the party), and at this celebration too! Kley's grandma got to join also and that was special!

I love that Jana has tons of candles and lets Lucy and Ellory do whatever they want on their cake. Lucy always goes crazy and loads it up, and Ellory always choose the number for the year she's turning. So sweet. :)

Happy 8th birthday Lucy, we love you!

Happy 8th birthday Ellory, we love you!

Always love cousin time with Will and Gerrit! (They will be moving to our town in a couple months- yay for cousins being only a minute away!)

How are they so big? We talked a lot about their birth during supper and it was fun to reminisce. What a gift these sweet twins are to our family!

Ellory's 8th birthday- friend party.

Ellory is 8! She is fun, beautiful, considerate, sweet, motivated, deep thinker, and brings much JOY to our family! We are so glad to be her parents! Ellory chose to bring a few friends along and wanted to do pottery painting and go out for ice cream. Such a fun idea!

Happy birthday Ellory! You are so special and loved and it was so fun to celebrate you!

Ellory chose a dog and was painting it realistically. :)

What a fun group!

Lucy chose some small sports equipment!

Norah painted flowers on a mug!

Ellory chose a panda theme this year (her favorite animal), but we didn't actually see any of that decor because we weren't at our house at all, but we saw it during family celebrations. What a fun day, we love you Ellory!

Lucy's 8th birthday- friend party.

Lucy is 8! What a beautiful, hard working, helpful, sporty, kind girl she is and we are so thankful to be her parents! Lucy and Ellory wanted to do their own things for their friend party this year, and they each opted to take a couple friends to do an activity (vs. doing a party at home where they could invite more people). Lucy chose to bounce and play at Drop Zone and then come home for Pizza Ranch and Dairy Queen ice cream cake. Lucy, celebrating you is so fun! Thankful for the JOY you bring to our family! We love you!

So much fun! We went on Friday afternoon after early out and there was hardly anyone there! The few times we had gone before, it was on Saturday and was much busier, so it was nice to basically have the place to ourselves!

Very thankful that all three girls have some nice friends in their classes this year- a gift!

Nothing like dodgeball with your dad. :)

The girls tried so hard to get a jumping picture where they were all midair at the same time. It's harder than you'd think- so fun!

Excellent choice on the cake, Lucy!

Lucy chose a sports theme for her birthday, which is well fitting because she loves all sports! Happy birthday Lucy- what a special day to celebrate you!

 

Happy Valentine's Day 2025.

 Happy Valentine's Day from these three beauties! :)

See you again in Heaven, my sweet Grandpa Schut.

We recently said goodbye to my Grandpa Schut. We will deeply miss him, but so thankful he trusted in Jesus and we know we will see him again in Heaven one glorious day! He was a wonderful grandpa and so thankful for him. It was a gift to be able to live only 15 minutes away from him for the last ten years, so we got to see him regularly and our girls got to know him well too. He passed on January 29, 2025 and was 92 years old.

The girls holding their flowers from on top of the casket at the burial.

Kley was a pallbearer. 

We will miss you very much, Grandpa! So blessed by the way you loved Jesus and loved us all.

This was the last photo we took with him about a week and a half before he passed. 

Love you forever, Grandpa. 

Lucy and Ellory's 8th birthday- Schut side (and Karlie's hall of fame celebration!).

We got to host my whole family for the weekend! I love that our house can fit everyone and we can use it for sweet hospitality. We got to celebrate my sister, Karlie, being inducted into the NWC Hall of Fame for volleyball. Way to go, Karlie! Well deserved and so special to be there to cheer you on!

At the basketball game, where she was announced at half time.

We also celebrated Lucy and Ellory's 8th birthday (a month early, but made sense to do it when everyone was here). So fun to celebrate with everyone!

The anticipation on her face is so sweet.

Happy birthday, Lucy and Ellory! Finding out we were pregnant with twins was such a great moment!

So thankful for my favorite four!

Ellory chose a panda theme, her favorite animal!

Lucy chose a sports theme (which she also had for her 6th birthday, but is so on par for her to want it again)!

Happy birthday, our sweet girls. You both bring so much joy to our lives and we are SO thankful you are in our family! You are very loved!