playing on the swingset

Just some fun shots and video of Jack and Kayte playing at Opa and Oma's house while their big brothers swam. The video sounds are bad because there were lawn mowers going. Kayte may be little but she has no fear!

Big brothers are home!

It was a quiet week last week with TJ and Mak at their Uncle Chris and Aunt Carolyn's house. Plus Chatham had VBS, so Jack and Kayte had to learn how to play with each other - once that was done it was very quiet, but ever since Sunday night when Mak busted into the house announcing "We're Home" it's been a whole different story. Jack and Kayte are glad to have him back.
Here's an after picture of Jack's stitches. We're putting scar medicine on it daily, but so far we think it's looking pretty good. What we didn't tell you is that after he'd taken it easy for a week because of the stitches we realized that he couldn't lift his head because he had whiplash! We've finished medication for that, and he's almost back to his normal contrary self!

Our Camper

In all the excitement of Jack and the E.R. I never posted pictures of what happened earlier that day. T.J. is at his first ever week of summer camp, with two of his best friends - Zachary and Scott. It's amazing to me how excited they were to be in a run down old cabin with the only evidence of electricity being a lightbulb hanging from the ceiling.

Not all the kids had arrived before we said goodbye, but they had all included each other and were full of cabin pride! I know he's having a great time!

Warning: Not for the faint of heart

The Lord has a way of reminding me of priorities. We were stressing over problems with the construction of our new house while our little monkey was jumping on the bed. Jack fell off and broke his head.....no more monkeys jumping on the bed. There was almost no blood, but it was a deep gash....full thickness laceration for those interested in the technical terminology.
They had to strap him down, but he remained SO calm.
My little boy was a brave kid, he actually almost fell asleep while the Dr. was stitching him up.
Here he is at home, all smiles. I think it's harder on the parents than the kid.

Attempting the impossible, and almost succeeding!

Today we took all van Wingerden Grandchildren to get their pictures taken.

First try was a little rough, several of the little ones weren't happy. I can't help but laugh at Kayte in this one!

Second try, put the Mom's in. Kids are a little happier, but Mom's aren't thrilled.

Third try, doing a little better.

Fourth try, when they finally listen to the Mom's and put the bench in, success - or nearly. Will wasn't going to be happy no matter what!

I do have to add that Jack wasn't "Happy Jack" today, and the only way we got him to do this picture is that I am back there holding him up so he would be tall enough, yet hiding so I won't be in the picture.

And somehow I managed to get all my kids to smile for one!

Jack and Kayte

I know, I know, why only pictures of Jack and Kayte? But I guess I don't feel like pulling out the camera when the bigger boys play a video game, jump on a trampoline, clean the house or read a book - and it's hard to get a good action shot of their nerf gun wars, which are really fun!
Anyway, Jack and Kayte found where I hid all the stuffed animals and the brought them all out. Jack became rather attached to the monkeys. Here he said "look Mom, he's hanging over a cliff"

This video isn't filled with too much action, but it's cute. I walked into the room this morning and this is what they were doing. Kayte's book is upside down.

Jack

To look at this picture you would think some tragedy had come to our son. Sadly this picture captures a glimpse of what Jack has been like lately. He doesn't do well with change...wonder where he gets that from? Here he simply didn't handle the idea of going down the steps to the basement to look around before going on our walk. He sat down and cried loudly saying things like "I'm crying" and "I'm sitting down".

We think he is going through a growth spurt, because another favorite phrase of his is "I'm tired", and he puts himself down for a nap a few times a week (of course then he doesn't go to bed until too late at night).

Confused Kayte

The fact that Kayte has four older brothers has caused to her be quite confused this week. The other day she walked up to the toilet, lifted the lid AND the seat, stood in front of it and pulled up her shirt. She wants to be like her brothers SO bad we call her copy Kayte. I have worked to show her she gets to sit, she has complied and sat on the toilet...for 10 minutes at a time...just sitting, refusing to get off. The first day she just sat there, now she is looking, it's like she knows something is missing....how do you explain this to a child who uses less than a dozen words?

So we are on to our next adventure in parenting!

May birthdays

Out to lunch with the whole family including the grandkids.

First try with four of the youngest...not bad

Next try with all but one...not too good :)

Kayte waiting patiently to go swimming.

She watched the big kids from this window until it was her turn.

Finally, pool time with Daddy.

Spoiled kid, birthday cake brought to her in the pool!

I can't believe Hannah is NINE! She is our oldest niece.

In all fairness to her this was the most relaxed birthday

party we've had in a long time, and it was for four other people too, including David.

Memorial Day

This is David standing at his Grandfather's grave with TJ and Chatham.

We finished our Memorial Day by visiting the grave site with a large part of David's family, including his grandmother. This cemetary is walking distance from our home and even though we drive past it almost daily we don't visit often. It made me miss my own grandfather - the last time I saw him I was pregnant with Jack, who is putting the flag in in this photo.

Being outside

The other day the poured the steps to our basement and we happened to arrive right when they were starting. The boys enjoyed watching from beginning to end.

While the big boys were down exploring the creek Jack, Kayte and I were playing on the trampoline. I was relaxing and enjoying actually having sunshine when Jack laid on me and said "There's a monster on your back!" Since I had my camera I took a quick picture. Summer is so much fun!

just life

I haven't been taking too many picutures because we've been so busy. Here are a few of the kids just messing around.

The one of Chatham is after he had been hiding under his blanket and he "couldn't take the light"

Sometimes life isn't fair to TJ :)

Last week David had some work to do at church. He had to cut up some concrete so it can be removed. He remembered to bring everything he needed, but when he transferred vehicles T.J. - ironically - didn't hear him say to get the ear plugs. Being Dad's assistant T.J. paid for that by having his ears ring into the next day. He didn't sleep well, and fell asleep the next morning while I was reading to the boys. David thought the stuffed animals was a nice touch

(T.J. never saw them).

Then yesterday T.J. had an appliance put in his mouth in order to pull his jaw forward and straighten it out...good ole' vW mouth!

He's excited about the ice cream he has gotten to eat, but would really like food. The appliance supposedly takes about a week to get used to. He's sore and frustrated....and I don't blame him.

At least he has Prince Caspian the movie to look forward to tonight!

A Glimpse into Kayte's personality

My house was strangely quite and as I looked around I couldn't find three of my children. I walked into Mak and Chatham's room and called his name. At that moment Kayte, Chatham and Jack sat up in the top bunk bed. Chatham was reading Green Eggs and Ham to them. These are the pictures that follow. I thought they showed off Kayte's spunk and silly personality.

A Safari in Ohio?

Despite the threat of possible rain (or even snow) we took a long drive today to an Ohioan safari, where we saw all sorts of different animals. From the simple chicks and baby goats at the beginning, to Llamas, water buffalo, zebras, oryx, zonkey - zebra donkey mix - camels, ostriches, yaks and others. Jack liked the Macaw at the end...it made his laugh, listen carefully to the video to see what it said.