Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Lisa! I like being able to post greetings for a happy birthday on line. We are at the Holiday Inn with the waterslide with Shaun and Justin. Hope you have a happy birthday.

There are a lot of candles on that cake!!

John & Shaun

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To all our family and friends around the world. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Don't fall in a sink hole

The sink hole was discovered by the Arlene who is renting Lisa's house. I am sure it was quite a surprise when she fell in it. I was lucky not to drive the lawn tractor in it when picking up leaves that afternoon. The pictures do not do it justice because it was about 3 feet deep and 3 feet on either side wide. The sod above it was keeping in from falling in. I filled about 25 5 gallon pails of sand to fill the hole and was able to lay the sod back on top. I am glad I didn't have to pull the tractor out of the hole. I took several pictures mostly for you Lisa everyone else may not think that they are that interesting. See Sink Hole Pics.

School Pictures 2006

I thought it would be cool to post Shaun’s 2006 school photo. School pictures are not always the greatest however this one is very nice. I can’t believe he is in the 6th grade already. I am finding the schoolwork is much harder that I remember. 6th grade math is not always easy with new ways to multiply and solving for x in x + y = 13.

A New Van and Bea's Birthday

We had a little party for Bea’s birthday. We had cake and ice cream and even presents.

For our listening pleasure Shaun played several songs on his clarinet. He was practicing and getting ready for his concert at school.

Later we went to watch the sunset in Grand Haven and try out mom and dad’s new ride. Shaun and I rode in the back and there was plenty of room for everyone. We left the cat a home.



See more pictures under new van .

Happy Birthday Lori

Shaun & I would like to wish you a happy birthday. We hope your day was great and look forward seeing you soon.

Love,

John & Shaun

Happy 43rd Anniversery !!!!!!!

When I told Shaun and Starry that you guys have been married for 43 years this was the reaction I got. I don’t think that it has been that long because I am only 39.

I love this picture because it shows the way home.






HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Lots of Love,

John and Shaun

A late fall walk

Shaun and I went for a walk around the forty a couple weeks ago and I have some pictures from that walk. It was before the snow and frost started. The light was great and it was a good fall day.

Happy 13th Birtday Lexie

Happy 13th birthday Lexie! I told her that the outfit was hot and looked like something that Marcia Brady would have worn. Who is Marcia Brady? You know from the Brady Bunch. I forget that everyone hasn’t watched the Brady Bunch.
The outfit was from Grandma K’s house and was vintage Sears and Roebucks ca. 1972.















The shoes were from the United Way silent auction. We all joked about someone bringing in shoes. I immediately tried to think of whom to give them to for a joke. I asked Shannon what size shoe she wore the shoes were 8 ½. She wears 8 but told me that Lexie wore 8 ½. I decided to add the gold glitter L’s like Lavern DeFazio would wear to customize the outfit. She was scared to open the box and I can’t think why when I got her dad a stuffed squirrel last year.

Hanging out at the lake

I just wanted to post some pictures of us hanging out by the lake. We invited Dane and Bea over for dinner and I put Bea to work washing dishes. It isn't too bad washing with help and someone to talk to while doing them. Then we just hung out and had some fun. We still have to turn off the water but other than that hanging out at the lake is over for the year.

White Pine Village

White Pine Village is a historical area where buildings have been relocated near Ludington. Shaun and I went there on Monday of Labor Day weekend. There are several buildings that have been relocated in this area. There is a regular house, barn, post office, hardware store, trappers cabin, chapel and several others. It was interesting to see how everyday life was drastically different in the not so long ago past. Shaun and I had a good time discussing how different things use to be. We took some photos and bought some maple syrup before we left.
The sad part was going home on Monday night and realizing that the summer is over. This week the leaves are starting to change and fall is officially here. See the photos under White Pine Village.

The Wild Fur Trappers

The wild fur trappers came to town during Hart Historical Days. Shaun and I went to the Hart historical days events on Saturday of Labor Day weekend. The highlight was meeting Ken Mugget who is almost 90 and has donated his collections of wildlife taxidermy to the Hart Historical Society. He was a fascinating man who was interested in everyone’s thoughts stories and their questions. He was interested to hear of our coyote visitor and Shaun asked him a lot of questions.













There are several buildings that have been restored and moved to this site. There is an old one-room schoolhouse and we have several pictures of Shaun as the teacher and student. I happened to read the typical 8th grade final exam and we may not be as smart today as they were back then.


Shaun’s favorite part was the arrowhead collection in the basement of the church. A very interesting gentleman was demonstrating how Indians made the arrowheads by chipping rocks to form pointed tips. Shaun really enjoyed the displays and the arrowhead dude. He found rocks outside after we left and had to bring them back to show the guy. He knew a lot about how and where the Indians were using the tools.

We watched the lawn tractor pulls and shared a elephant ear for lunch. See photos under Hart Historical.

Little Point Sable

Sunsets out by the Little Point Sable lighthouse are a favorite place for Shaun and I. These photos were from Labor Day weekend. The light from the setting sun is a happy golden glow that gives objects and people a warm feeling. Late afternoon and evening light is my favorite time to shoot photos. With photo shop I have created the illusion that Shaun and I were the only people to enjoy that beautiful crimson sunset that night. The lighthouse leaves a silhouette that is stunning against the summer sky. Fall will bring many colors however I will miss the summer sunsets until next year. See the rest of the photos under Lake Michigan 9/1/06.

Bouncing Party

It was a bouncing birthday party for Darian. This is Shaun and Logan after bouncing for an hour. There are several other pictures including the birthday cake and photos where some people look like aliens or something.

The kids had a good time and Happy Birthday Darian. Now you and your cake are on the web for the whole world to see.

See photos under Bouncing Party.

Haworth Picnic

Saturday was the Haworth picnic. We had a great lunch catered by Beechwood Inn and enjoyed the activities. Shaun had fun touching snakes (I took the pictures with the zoom lens as not to get too close). Shaun went on the upside down bikes with Lexie and didn’t throw up his lunch. The kids talked me into going on the spinning ride and I just about tossed my lunch. I was never good on spinning rides. I even get sick on the merry-go-round. What was I thinking? Shaun had fun hanging with Shannon’s girls and was proud he beat Lexie on the upside down bikes. The kids and I went on the train for an exciting ride and took some fabulous photos. Check out our photos under Haworth Picnic.

Even More Birthdays

We have even more birthdays to celebrate. Shaun and Joe celebrated their same day birthdays with a party at the house in the woods. Justin, Jeffery, and Shaun had fun with video games before the presents and cake. We almost had to call the fire department with all those candles on the two cakes. I believe there should have been a few more but Joe’s cake could not hold 32 candles and Shaun had quite a fire with 11 flaming candles. See the rest of the photos under Birthday 2006. We had a fierce game of bingo with Lori getting the barrel of monkeys prize that everyone wanted. I hope everyone had a good time and enjoy the bingo prizes. Shaun says thanks for the gifts and helping celebrate his birthday.

Another Birthday?

It seems like yesterday I celebrated my 40th birthday. Where does that time go? I spent my 42nd birthday at the lake. We had some cake and a good time. The only bad thing about my birthday coming up is that the summer is half over. Thanks everyone for the good time and Lisa we missed you guys.

Summer Fun

July has come and almost gone I posted a bunch of photos under Summer Vacation and Summer Vacation II. Some of these were up north and some at the beach in Grand Haven. There are some cool pictures of the boys and summer fun.

Summer Vacation

Footprints. They are a moment in the sand that will soon be washed away. Shaun’s little footprint is quickly resembling mine and will soon be the print of a teenager.

I look forward to summer vacation all year and this year was a great time with two weeks away from work and the daily grind. Shaun and I spent most of our vacation at my parents place at Silver Lake. Shaun was lucky to have friends his age to play with most of the time at the lake. They got to swim, tube and of course play video games.

We had a chance to spend some time golfing. Unlike last year it wasn’t 90 degrees every day and it was very pleasant on the course. We both made our share of good shots and bad and had a great time. Shaun is really starting to hit some good shots and he is learning course management. You forget the bad shots and remember the good ones. We both made some awesome putts and some great tee shots.

The kids had a ball in the water and it was difficult to drag them out. The boys are all doing well with their swimming and having fun together. It is hard to believe that we are almost half way though July already. Shaun and I will have one long weekend for my birthday the week after next and will spend it at the lake.

The sun sets on the summer vacation with a sense of longing. I can’t believe that this was my 41st summer and that 42nd birthday is just around the corner. I hope Shaun’s 10th summer vacation at the lake was something he will remember the same way I remember my summers at the lake.

Summer at Silver Lake is just a good thing.

A colorful garden

Shaun and I had the opportunity to spend some time in the garden with our friend Iris Prins today. When we lived across the street I would spend hours talking and looking at whatever flowers or plants were blooming. Shaun and I arrived to find Iris in her usual place tending her garden.

We spent a while catching up on what has been going on in our lives lately and reminiscing about years gone by. Shaun and Iris had a nice chat while I took a bunch of photos of my favorite flowers in her garden, which are the Black-eyed Susans. They have great color and variety and last most to the summer. I have posted the photos under Iris’ garden.

I moved from Holland four years ago and there are a lot of things I do not miss. I don’t miss the noise, traffic and lack of open space. I do however miss living near my friend Iris and the garden that has almost taken over her whole yard. I miss looking out my front window to view a sea of color in Iris’ garden across the street. The spring would bring tulips and daffodils. Summer would bring my favorite Black-eyed Susans and other treasures of color. Fall would bring chrysanthemums and autumn leaves of color on all the trees. All winter I would think about the beauty of spring coming when the snow melted and Iris’ flowers would be blooming.

I miss the garden and the opportunity to visit my friend and discuss what is going on in our lives and well as what is happening in the world. I enjoyed catching up today and look forward to another visit soon.

It's not a party until something or someone is broke.

Its not a party until something is broke (or so they say). Well this time the broken thing was my hand. It is funny how driving a tent stake through your hand hampers your ability to prepare for a party. I found that doing even the simplest things with the other hand is somewhat cumbersome. The show must go on and it did with a little help from our friends at the pharmaceutical company who makes Motrin. I will appreciate having both hands to make things like cleaning the floor and chopping veggies a simpler process. I am lucky I did not chop off a finger attempting this. I would like to thank everyone for coming and helping me along the way. Not just Saturday but through the years it has taken to come to this point.

Thank you to the following:

Shaun – Thanks for letting me finish my work even though you want to go golfing or play games with me. No more papers we can now play :)

Mom and Dad –Thanks for helping me financially and emotionally with my educational needs. Thanks for having letting Shaun hang out with you guys so I could do homework. Thanks again for getting him to the bus and off even when the cat had to ride along.

Lisa & Joe – Thanks for encouragement and support to accomplish my goals. Thanks for helping me keep Shaun busy so I could do home work. Especially up north when I would have rather hung out with you guys at the water or what ever you were doing.

Shannon- Thanks for listening to all my school issues for all the years it has taken to “get her done” I may still need the sign. Thanks for the Far Side and stuff from all you guys. Don’t worry Lexie I haven’t forgotten your birthday.

All other friends and family thanks for you help :)

It was time to put a finish on a journey that has taken a long time to finish and the hand damage is a reminder that most things in life worth our time are not without some difficulty or pain. I used the party as an excuse to get the house in a little better order and we have started but it’s a good thing you did not open every closet. I should have been more organized while I was going to school however there never seemed to be enough time and there was always a paper to write or a need to spend time doing something more fun with Shaun. Now I need to focus on finding a way to use the education to make my and Shaun’s lives a little better.

Thanks again for the presents and your company Saturday. I had a great time and we don’t need to have a party for you all to come to our house. I know we are all busy but friends and family are the important things we have in this life and we need to enjoy each other. So come on out and enjoy the woods.

Graduation Party

Finally done book learnin’ !!! Now all we need to do is have a celebration to mark the occasion. It is awesome not having a paper or project due when I want to golf or just chill. I won’t have to choose between spending time with Shaun or doing homework. I usually spent time with Shaun and did the work after he went to sleep or got up early before work or on weekend days to catch up. What a relief not having a school hanging over my head all the time.

The house has been a perpetual disaster since starting University of Phoenix. Now I have no excuse for being unorganized with my “extra” time my life should be a little less chaotic. I will need Shaun's help to organize his room. With a party only a few days away I need to get busy getting organized and move on.

The party will be at my house 10521 Pierce Street on Saturday the 17th from 3:00pm – 7:00pm or until the coyotes start to howl.

Driving directions from Holland: Take Waverly (120th) North to Fillmore Turn West (Right) Fillmore to 104th Ave Turn North (Left) 104th to Pierce Turn West (Left) First drive on the Right (Can’t see the house from the road).

Driving directions from Zeeland: Take State (96th) North to Fillmore Turn East (Left) Fillmore to 104th Ave Turn North (Right) 104th to Pierce Turn West (Left) First drive on the Right (Can’t see the house from the road).

Driving directions from Muskegon: Take (31South) To M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive) East (Left through Michigan turn) M-45 to 104th Ave Turn South (Right) to Pierce Street Turn West (Right) First drive on the Right (Can’t see the house from the road)


Driving directions from Grand Rapids: M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive) through Allendale Continue on M-45 to 104th Ave Turn South (Left) to Pierce Street Turn West (Right) First drive on the Right (Can’t see the house from the road)

Lake Michigan Sunset

It was another great sunset at Lake Michigan. Shaun and I love to go out to the lighthouse and watch the sun set. I would not have believed that the kids would swim on Memorial weekend. Shaun was even in Lake Michigan. It was cold on my feet, however the air was hot and if felt refreshing.

It took a long time but at age 41 I am finally a college graduate. Graduation was a great experience and a relief after a long journey. Now on to other things! Thanks Dad, Lisa, Shaun, and Aniken for coming and sharing an important day in my life.