Time for a wedding

Matt had the honor of officiating a wedding for one of our former youth group kids. Dan and Mattie got married in Grand Rapids on July 4. So, it was close to our home, it was almost our anniversary, we got to see many friends from MN, and we got to dress up and go out for the night!

sunsets and family visits

One of my most favorite things is a sunset on the beach. We had family here to enjoy this one with us. Matt's brother Jeff and family were here and we all enjoyed the scenery together.

Strawberry Picking

Brandon, Jessica, Maria and I had lots of fun eating, I mean picking strawberries.  We picked enough for a pie, jam, and a jello salad! DELICIOUS!

Brandon graduates

Brandon with his favorite 6th grade teacher. Actually, she's pretty cool and she may go down in history as Brandon's favorite teacher ever. Congrats on a great job!

jump ropes and tutus

Jessica had a jump rope unit in Physical Education Class.  She and two friends had a whole routine ready to go. Anika helped her make tutus to help the show!

A beautiful new bathroom

I can't believe I forgot to post this one!
Matt did an incredible job!
This is Anika's bathroom - its in the basement and its beautiful!
Nice job!!!!

Malice in the Palace

The spring concert for Muskegon Christian School was called "Malice in the Palace."  Brandon was given the role of Haman. We spend many hours going over the lines, to the point that Brandon had most all of everyone's lines memorized, which proved to be helpful. Many of the students had not done their homework so much. Very often throughout the play, Brandon could be seen and heard whispering lines into other's ears, and saying lines from back stage into his microphone. It was all very entertaining. He had some great lines and did an incredible job.

Jessica and Maria's classes were part of the chorus/support.

Brandon also had a spring band concert. He does a great job at percussion!

Finishing up 8th grade

I'm obviously really behind in blogging, but I like to keep track of the events of the month so here we go!

The big eighth project is to perform a wax museum.  Anika chose to be Helen Keller. Each student performs a speech after you push an imaginary button.

The eighth grade field trip was to Cedar Point. They left at 4 am in the morning which is CRAZY in my opinion. She had a great day hanging out with their class and got to ride lots of crazy roller coasters!

Anika was in both choir and band this year. They wrapped up the school year with a concert at a local church. Anika has enjoyed both choir and band but in high school you have to choose one or the other.

Every so often Anika will bike and or/roller blade to school. Typically we drive her to school and I'll pick up her back pack and she'll roller blade home with a friend. She will also be using that bike to get to her first job this summer. One of our back yard neighbors has three children, all in or out of college now. One of them is the supervisor at the conference center just blocks from our house. When Carin found out Anika was 15, she told her to apply. Anika will be working in the dining room, assisting those attending the family camp for the week with breakfast, lunch and dinner!  She's not so excited to wake up and be to work at 7 am, but we are excited she has found some gainful employment for the summer!

Spring Sports

And so it begins:

Jessica and Maria were on the same rec soccer team once again this Spring. The last time for awhile. We enjoy one less team to schedule, they do enjoy the time but also fight like crazy! 

Brandon played baseball for Roosevelt Park and for Western Michigan Christian Middle School. There were only 7 boys on the middle school team so they invited a few 6th grade boys to play. It made for a crazy spring!

Anika played spring soccer for Western Michigan Christian Middle School.  She decided this was her last season of soccer. She really wants to do track in high school and they are the same season.  She only played goalie one game, and that was the game I took my camera! You may not recognize the referee, but it is Matt. The assigner for the referees knows which games our kids play and sometimes will assign Matt to them. Makes for an interesting game!

Honors Band

Anika was chosen to be in the middle school honors band this spring. She loves to play her flute.  She had a sectional practice one evening and then an all day practice before the concert. There were four students from Anika's middle school. The concert was amazing!