as promised...

It's been quite a week...

here are the highlights...

• I celebrated by birthday...I am now...30 something!!
• we spent a night at the Hudsonville Fair.
• we spent the weekend at the cottage with one of Cams co workers, Wes and his family.
• I became an auntie for the...12th time. Andrew Blayne was born on Saturday. 8lbs 14 oz. cute as a bugs ear (believe me a bugs ear is cute!)

I will get all the pictures loaded and share them tomorrow! It was great week!

Have a wonderful final week of summer! (sniff, sniff)

well....

little mr.

we can't wait to meet you.

we are nice people, I promise.

don't let anything you've heard while in there

scare you into thinking we are a bunch of loons!

one thing I know for sure is that you won't lack for

love for one second. we love you more than you
could ever imagine already.

so...come on out already!!

Love and snuggles,

auntie shann

I was wrong.

No new nephew yet.

While his expected date of arrival has not arrived yet...it is the hope of all involved (especially the mother) that "little Mr." make his appearance as soon as possible.

Please pray for Marissa and the little guy (who is actually a big guy by the sounds of it).

one thing...

I have found that there is at least one thing nice about getting up at the crack of dawn every morning.

Sometimes....the sunrises are spectacular!!

Today was one of those days.

Hope you have a great one!

I've come down with...

a serious bad case of bloggers block.

I have nothing for you.

Same old, Same old around here...

Something exciting needs to happen!!

A new nephew perhaps???

Just a thought.

By my calculation...I will have some blog worthy news no sooner than 32 hours and 35 minutes from now and no later than 56 hours and 35 minutes from now. (that would be anytime on the 19th of August!!!)

So...if I haven't driven you away by my lack of anything new and exciting....stick around and see if my prediction is accurate!!

next step....outhouse??

Things we have done this week:

1. taken cold showers
2. washed hair in freezing cold water to avoid subjecting entire body to cold shower
3. boiled water on stove to do mountain of dishes
4. washed cloths in the ditch using the "beat upon a rock" method

OK...so #4 is not a truthful statement...but who knows...it may come to that before the weekend??

We're going with the less is more attitude over here at the Van K "homestead".

I...mean....really...who needs hot water?

Next up...the removal of running water and flush toilets!

It is our theory that if you get rid of it before it gives out on you...it will be less of a shock...and not so sorely missed!

check it out...

Got a new update on Tate...check it out at her blog...Washington DC...here I come!

**I have added a link to the right to view the slide shows of Tate's trip...there is a new one everyday...just a FYI...I haven't found her in slide show 2...but if you want to...take a look!**

CHICAGO...

We spent the day in Chicago yesterday. We started out at the airport (see below post)...and after we left there we met our friend the Stephan's at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Cam decided, for all of us, that we will NEVER live in Chicago...for as much as he would have rather not had to do any driving in or around the city...he did really well.

We also discovered that no matter what you do in the city, it is going to cost you a lot of money, well everything except going to the Lincoln Park Zoo...that is totally FREE!! And I am dutch...so...free is good!

We met Karen, Sarah and Sam at about 12:30 and spent the afternoon catching up...eating...and seeing some really cool animals and exhibits. The kids had a great time together...Quinn and Sarah are best buds and even though they haven't seen each other in over a year...they caught up quickly and were making all sorts of plans for future visits...Quinn was quite honestly ready to go home with them right then and there!

We decided that we will need to meet in Chicago again sometime (it is half way between us)...we decided that we may just take the train in and get a cab to avoid the need to find a parking place...which is about as close to impossible as anyghing can get, and extremely costly. The Stephan's take the train in when they come and cab fare is a little cheaper than parking...so...hopefully this was just the beginning of our Chicago visits with the Stephan's!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

She made it...

safe and sound!

Check out her blog Washington DC...here I come for all the details!

planes...trains...and automobiles...

well...we are on our way (in an automobile) to the airport to put Tate on a plane to Washington DC!!!

She is excited...and a little nervous.

I am a lot nervous...and a little excited.

Visit her blog...Washington DC here I come ...to learn more about her trip.

Our friends from Illinois are going (to take the train) to meet us at the Lincoln Park Zoo for the afternoon. It has been over a year since we have seen them...we are very excited!!

I'll update both blogs when we get home tonight...and throughout the week, as we hear about all the fun adventures she is having.

Please pray for her today and during this week for safety and just for a wonderful experience.

Thank you in advance!