Willa and Kristen visit

This past weekend Kristen and Willa came for a visit (Bryan is out of the country shooting for the Discovery Channel. Go Bry!) It was fun to have all the cousins play together. Kate especially took to Willa and made it as her personal mission to make sure Willa had her pacifier in at all times.

U of M

Today we went to Grant's check up at the University of Michigan (or as Grant calls it, The Universe of Michigan). He needed his annual echo, ekg etc. As I prepped him for it this week he cried a lot and said he was scared. He actually hid when it was time to get in the car this morning. As we drove he said he felt both scared and excited at the same time.

When it was time for his first test he started to act like his true, talkative, funny self. He only asked the echo technition if she was almost done about 30 times. :) To his defense it did take about 40 minutes of lying totally still, something that he doesn't do very often.

Although Grant told me prior to the appt that he didn't remember who Dr.Cotts was, when he walked in Grant walked right up to him and hugged him. Then, when Dr.Cotts sat down Grant climbed right into his lap and asked if he could do the exam right there. So, he did!

The main reason for the visit every year is to make sure that the veins that were attached to the heart during surgery have not narrowed. Dr.Cotts confirmed that the heart and veins looked great! The only abnomality is that his left ventricle is enlarged, but it has been enlarged since the surgery so it is nothing to be alarmed about. We just have to continue to get Grant checked.

Thank you, God, for healing Grant!

Where Are You?

I'm presently sitting in our home office and the following message and photo just came in from Jim who is supposed to be putting the kids to bed.

"Grant and Kate have been getting pretty serious about hide-and-seek as of late."

July 4

We spent 4th of July week this year at Spring Lake. It was so much fun!There were anywhere between 13 and 28 people staying there on any given night so there was always something to do. The beach was the perfect place for the kids to play in the sand while the adults chatted. The kids' favorite activity was tubing behind the jetski. We also went into town (Grand Haven) for ice cream and to watch a concert. The kids liked playing on the bleachers more than listening to the music. They adjusted well to a later schedule (I let them stay up until 9:30 for the first time). However, I did make them go to bed before the fireworks started. Maybe next year. :)

Still learning to talk...

The way my kids pronounce/refer to things cracks me up. Here's just a few.

bugaburger- hamburger (Grant)
ziggy zag- what Kate calls the impressions that her blanky makes on her body when she
sleeps on top of it
bessert- dessert (both)
pop-in-the-corn- corn on the cob (Kate)
napkins in your hair- curlers (Kate)

The other funny thing I wanted to record is that everyday for the past 6 months or so Grant wakes up and tells us "who" or "what" he is that day. Some recent ones are astronaut, pirate ship, cinnamon, allosaurus and tong man. :) Kate is always a "baby" whatever he is for the day. Except one day. She said she was not an alligator like Grant. Instead she wanted to be a neck. Ok.....