March!

Wow, I can't believe that I almost missed blogging in March, especially when Parker turned four at the beginning of the month. We celebrated Parker's birthday with a Pirate party. He invited four of his friends over for a little party. We put up streamers and set up a world map on the wall and I made a treasure hunt for the kids. Parker and Daddy had gone to the library earlier in the week for pirate books that we then set around the room as decorations. The kids were dropped off at 3:30 and the fun started. We played pin the ship on the ocean that was a huge hit. Then we rolled out cookie dough and made letter cookies that after I baked and let them cool we decorated. Then at 5:30 the parents came back for supper with us and a taste of the Pirate Ship cake I made. It did not turn out the way I had hoped but I will have a second chance as Parker has decided that he will have another Pirate themed birthday next year.

Parker is still really into playing Lighting Mc Queen and that was what he wanted for his birthday. We got him three cars and he got other cars and trailers from his grandparents. A few weeks later we were at Target and he found The King's trailer. This was the one he really wanted and I had looked at over twenty stores and online. I was not willing to pay the crazy price they asked online so Parker didn't get it for his birthday. However, when he found it he was so proud of himself. He kept telling me that I should have just had him look at the stores and he would have found it. He got the trailer and Parker had to pay for most of it out of his money bank.

Both sets of grandparents made a trip here to help us celebrate both Parker and Craig's birthdays. There was lots of playing Cars and trains, and soccer. Grandpa Gil and Grandma Alina were even able to see Parker at his swimming lesson.

I had one wisdom tooth taken out and I am glad that it is done and I hope the other three stay deep and never bother me.

Craig has been very busy with church and most nights find him in a meeting of some sort or another. We are all looking forward to a vacation in May.

Snow Pics

Laying in the snow and feeling the cold snow.

Parker and Grandpa Buck snowmen. He wanted to make the whole family, all his grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. We stopped at just two. The next day they melted down to almost nothing.

The snow piles in the background melted down a little more and then we got a lot more snow. The piles are just huge now. I really hope the temps start going up so that it will melt away. I am very tired of the snow piles now.

Pictures!

Grandpa Gil and Grandma Alina sledding down the big hill!

The four cousins look how big they are.

We took Craig's parents sledding down Tuthill in Sioux Falls.

Parker and Great Grandma B in January during our visit for the Worship Symposium.

Bowling with his bright pink ball.

Here is a try to get some pictures posted.

New stuff

Over the past few weeks things have changed here in the Van Hill house. I have started working five hours a week cleaning at the Union. I have gone back to my roots of cleaning big school buildings. Parker loves helping me. He gets to play in the gym or drive his cars on the skate ramps. I have also started tutoring one student and I am looking to tutor more. This makes our lives a little bit busier each week.

This past week we went to MI for the Calvin Symposium on Worship. We drove up on Tuesday night instead of driving up on Wednesday. Parker fell asleep only after seeing the tunnel in Chicago and then the gates on the Skyway. Then he was out. When we got to my parents house he woke up and did not want to go back to sleep. The next day we spent Craig's day off checking out the Thrift stores in GR. I found a green Bill and Paul's Sporthaus Tee Shirt just like the ones my Dad wore when he was playing soccer. We also went to Russ' and orders by phone. Parker thought that was just cool. Then we stopped by Hobby Lobby and Craig and Parker picked out a model to make together. It is a gas truck and Parker loves it.

The next morning Craig went to Calvin and Parker woke up with the start of a cold. He didn't want to go anywhere and he would only sit in my lap or lay on the couch. His cold only got worse as the week went on. We had to cancel our plans and stay home during the day and at night.

My Dad stayed home with Parker on Friday so I could go and see my Grandma's. I love visiting them.

Hanging out at Grandpa Gil and Grandma Alina

We went to visit with Grandpa Gil and Grandma Alina a few weeks ago. We had a blast hanging out with them. We spent time playing truck and showing Grandpa and Grandma how their train set worked. I love all the different toys that they have. I also got to play with my cousins. I loved playing house and cars. My two favorite things were sledding with Grandpa and Grandma on Tuthill and playing the bouncy house at Pizza Ranch with my cousins.

( I can't get my pictures to load.)

Merry Christmas!

Parker opening his Leak Less hauler on Christmas Eve. Parker with his Birthday balloon for Jesus.

Grandpa Buck opening his Monster Truck from Parker. Grandma Sara got Chutes and Ladders from Parker to keep at her house.



Parker and his new shirt from Grandpa and Grandma.

Grandpa Buck and Grandma Sara reading the letter telling about their year membership to Meijer Gardens, from all of us.



Parker getting his trains from Mommy and Daddy it was such a big present that it came in two packages.

Here is all the new and old track put together. Mommy worked for a long time to get it all set up. I also got an awesome crane from Uncle Chris and Mel. I have not stopped playing with it or the train track. The crane and Cranky the lifter from Thomas work great together lifting all the trains up onto the right tracks.

Thanksgiving in Dells

This past weekend we all went to the Dells for a break as a family. We had a blast. I got over my fear of riding down the little water slides by myself. The orange slide was very fast and I liked it and then I caught my foot and got hurt a little. But that did not stop me from riding all the rides that I could. I really like the green slide that I could go down myself. I rode on the tube with either Mommy or Daddy down the big water slides. We all rode around on the lazy river. We did still play on but the yo-yo's as I call them. I really like spraying Mommy and Daddy with the fountains on the ground. One of the hot tube was not super hot. It was about 80 degrees so it was perfect for swimming. I had Mommy put on my water wings and then I swam, and floated on my back or swimming on my back. I would jump from the ledge that you sit on into the deeper part. I got braver and braver and finally I jumped and I went all the way under! I even liked it!