Gigi lives

At least we think she did.  This little gal came to live with us when she was less than a pinky nail long. SUPER tiny. She ate LOTS of milkweed, made her lovely chrysallis while traveling to IA and MN with us, and emerged a beautiful monarch for us to set free.  Unfortunately we left her on the table, on the edge of her bucket and went to the library. For those of you who don't know, it takes up to 4 hours for their wings to dry before they can take flight.

Well, it seems she tried to take flight while we were gone, and ended up on the floor, only to be attacked by the dog we are dog sitting. We rescued her when we got home, but we're not sure she is healthy enough to make it all the way to Mexico.  Fly free Gigi. Here's to trying another caterpillar or callerpittar as our kids call them - next year.

Parade

I say Y you say M I say C you say A.

Yes, that is what we chanted down the streets of Rosevelt Park to support the Y.  Good thing I have kids willing to help out - they like that they get to write down the service hours. Plus, Brandon, Maria and I went to the beginning of the parade, they collected a TON of candy, and then we hopped on the road to join the Y float as it went by.

It was a good time and maybe we'll do it again next year.  But, we have to make plans to not run out of handouts half way through the parade. No matter how much you say it, they dump tons of candy at the beginning of the parade. Good grief!

From MI to IA to MN back to MI

Once again, we traveled around the midwest for 10 days. We often question our sanity throughout this trip, but in the end, we all make so many memories that we are ready for it again next summer.

We began our trip late this year - late in August and late in the day. We didn't leave MI until 2 pm - so with the time change we got to IA about 1:45 AM - which was 2:45 AM to our bodies - BLECH!  The last hour, Matt's reaction time was questionable to say the least, but we made it safely.

Around 5 hours down the road we stopped at a gas station. Before hopping out, both Anika and Maria announced they didn't have any shoes...... SERIOUSLY!  I had even asked when I got in the van, 'Does everyone have something on their feet?' and I got four 'yes'es. Sioux Center had no flip flops, but Albert Lea did, so they went a few days with wearing mine and Brandon's until we could get them new ones on clearance!

We spent Monday and Tuesday in Sioux Center. I forgot to take my grandparent/kid picture this year so you'll have to imagine it! Anika and Maria played dress up, Brandon played pool, we went to the big wooden playground in Orange City, we walked to Dordt's campus, we ate supper with two of my brothers, and another supper with my Dordt family, and of course a rousing game of kickball, we walked to the railroad and flattened pennies-  and we did look up if it was safe and/or against the law - but we did that AFTER we had flattened the pennies!

Next stop, Hollandale, MN. A childhood friend of mine stopped by and so did some of my parent's friends, so the first night was spent catching up and playing baseball corn bag style - quite the fun game actually. The next day we moved a pile of gravel. Everyone got into the act and my dad's chicken house and barn now have a nice gravel base to them! The highlight was driving the lawn tractor. We celebrated Brandon's birthday with Snickers ice cream bars.

Next Stop, Brainerd, MN - to my favorite place on earth. Fishing, skiing, surfing (yes, you read that correctly - behind the boat in the wake - quite fun -but I only watched), knee boarding, jet ski, tubing, smiles, and fun. I'm not sure the kids even said 'Hello'. They just instantly went into play mode. I love that they are outside from 9 am - 9 pm and rarely fight. I love that they are getting older and that I don't have to be on high alert because we are by water. I love that they love to be here. I love that they get to do things here they don't have the opportunity to do anywhere else. I love that three of my kids can ski and take care of their own fish, poles, and find their own bait. I love that they have friends that they just jump right back into loving time side by side.

I actually didn't feel all that well most of the time we were there, so I hung out on the deck with my book. It was beautiful. I could hear their squeals and cheers and voices (Jessica doesn't need the aid of water for her voice to travel). When someone got up on skis, the whole boat would cheer. So I sat on the deck and watched them go back and forth across the lake.  I didn't get to see any loons, but they all saw lots - so that was my bummer.

Paul Bunyan has been moved from Bemidji to Paul Bunyan land about 15 minutes from the cabin, so we had to go check him and Babe out as well.

We got two afternoons out on the lake - Sunday it rained, so we headed out.

Next stop - Minneapolis, MN.

More friends, food and fun. We had a pool party by some gracious hosts that have opened up their back yard pool to our family for a LONG time. We couldn't remember if Maria was even born yet the first time we swam in their pool. My girls love their playhouse and they all love the fun. As you can see, we invited quite the crew over with us. It was indeed a party.

Yes, they have their own popcorn machine and snow cone machine - help yourself.... kid heaven.

Anika and Brandon each spent two nights at different houses than the rest of us. The little girls and their buds went to a beach day with us and we mainly just hung out. On the way out of town we stopped at one of our little grocery stores and bought a lug of peaches - 50 peaches - our favorite peaches. Oh so yummy.  They were gone by Monday morning.  CRAZY!

Everyone spent time with dear friends, which is why we keep coming back. Those relationships are important to all of us. We talked about how much longer we are going to be able to keep this up - both physically and emotionally, but for now, we just take it one step at a time.

More Fun with Cousins

We managed to have another cousin exchange. This time Anika went to IN and the boys came here.  Brandon had a sand soccer tournament with his new team. It was a beautiful day to be at the beach - so everyone played in the sand and a few got wet.

We still have beach day every Tuesday here, so I hauled them all to the beach day for that week.  There was only one other family there and there kids were younger, so I read a book while the five of them played. It was glorious!

Once again, fun was had by all.

Carla's Soccer Team

I was in an exercise class at the Y a few months after we moved here and one of the women asked me if I played soccer. I said I knew how, but had never officially played besides junior high and college intramurals. Turns out, that's more experience than many of the women on the team.  This is my soccer team. I often say we are known as the really nice team and that one girl. I'm that one girl. I am just too aggressive and competitive to be on such a nice team but they keep me around - who knows why. Anyway, going out for ladies night afterwards is always a good time. Sadly, our best player moved to Montana a few days after this picture was taken.  We play around 10 games outside during the summer and 18 games inside during the winter! Thus the broken foot last winter!  Good times!

Family Reunion

Every two years the Verbrugge cousins get together and party. Ok, most people call it a family reunion, but we seriously have an awful lot of fun.  We gather at the Amigo Centre in Sturgis, MI. Here is a peek at our long weekend.

Cherry pit spitting contest winners - 3 categories ladies, kids, mens - side note, the ladies and mens have been won by the same two people FOREVER!

Golf competition - lowest score, longest putt, longest drive - a whole bunch of us went golfing at a REALLY nice course

The best ice cream shop ever - I don't know if you can tell, but the huge bowl Jessica is holding is the smallest amount you can get - and its less than $2 - and they have over 20 flavors to choose from -AMAZING - its Hudsonville ice cream - I had the Milky Way - oh my good!

We canoe, we do an Amazing Race, archery, walks in the woods, crafts, games, you name it. They have a small koi pond with frogs which is serious good catching fun for little kids. Brandon went fishing in the big lake and caught a few sunnies. The above picture is Challenge Woods. You hike out to an island and it is full of team building activities - good times!  This challenge they are trying to walk on 4x4's as a group.

WINGS

Jessica as the lost 'crab' looking for water. They learned about facing the audience, helped with stage positioning, learned a dance, and helped build the set.

Widening

Interests through

New experiences for

Gifted

Students

Seriously LONG acronym.

Anyway, it boils down to cool summer school for kids held at the local community college. It runs two separate weeks with a morning session and an afternoon session so there is the option for four sessions.  Brandon and Jessica took three sessions and Maria took two.  Brandon did underwater robotics, flight - force and fun, and CSI expert; Jessica took math games, science exploration, and theater exploration; Maria took an art class and a class about taking care of dogs.

They LOVE WINGS. The teachers keep things very exciting, lots to do, and even some homework. Jessica's math one had her playing logic games - just warms this math momma's heart! And, it means that I go to work without the guilt that my kids are at home watching TV all day! Whew!