Fun at Blandford

The 3 oldest go to Blandford every month for a 2 hr science class, but we've never walked the trails as a family.  This past Saturday was so beautiful (especially for November!), that we decided to take a trip.  I'm so glad we did because the boys had a blast!  We walked for over an hour and a half and Noah wanted to keep going when we were done.

 Is it possible to get a nice picture of 4 children at once?  I'm not sure.  But this definitely shows that they were having a good time!

 A Frog in the woods!

 Andrew took this one.  He did a pretty good job!

 The boys thought this ramp was a trampoline.

 Aaron running out to Daddy.

 Andrew wanted me to take some pics of him so he could pass them out to friends.

 And of course, these two...

 needed their pics taken too!

 Pretty fall school house.

 Noah in the wigwam.

 There were lots of of enemies hiding in the woods.

 Ambushed!

 Aaron was getting a little tuckered toward the end, but he was a trooper.

4 bumps on a log!

Looking forward to lots more fun family hikes!

What's Cookin'

Mon~Roast beef, potatoes, carrots, corn
Tues~Pork fried rice, green beans
Wed~Chicken Tet for church potluck
Thurs~Chicken tacos, salad
Fri~Leftovers, eggs
Sat~Pizza, veggies
Sun~Veggie beef soup, bread

Grandpa Engelsma

(Photo by Alice Schelling)

Theodore Engelsma

November 30, 1920~October 31, 2012

Will be dearly missed by his wife, children, 30 grandchildren, and 90 great-grandchildren.

 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Psalm 86:5

Logic by Noah

Noah's middle name is James, therefore, everyone's middle name is James.  

Which is why we hear phrases like this (usually in moments that he feels the need to discipline others):

"Jo-Jo James!"

"Daddy James!"

What's Cookin'

Mon~Pork roast with gravy, rice, carrots
Tues~Bangers and mash, green beans
Wed~Baked chicken, Easy Roasted Potatoes,veggie

Source: iowagirleats.com via Heather on Pinterest

Thurs~Crockpot Chicken Cordon Bleu, corn
Fri~At a friend's house
Sat~Pancakes, sausage, fruit
Sun~Dutch soup, bread
Mon~Crockpot Italian Chicken, pasta, green beans
Tues~Island Pork, rice, carrots

Source: littlebcooks.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

When He Cometh

A beautiful, sweet children's hymn. My aunt used to sing this with her kids at bedtime.

When He Cometh

When He cometh, when He cometh
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Refrain:
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.

He will gather, He will gather
The gems for His kingdom;
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.

Refrain

Little children, little children,
Who love their Redeemer,
Are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Refrain

Comfort for Believing Parents at the loss of a dear child

Canons of Dordt, article 17

"Since we are to judge of the will of God from His Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature, but in virtue of the covenant of grace, in which they, together with their parents have no reason to doubt of the election and salvation of their children, whom it pleaseth God to call out of this life in their infancy."

In loving memory of Anna Sophia Roffel.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Job 1:21b

What's Cookin'

Tues~Meatballs, potatoes, green beans
Wed~Church potluck, have to bring a side and I'm not sure what I'm bringing yet
Thurs~Gone
Fri~Oven casserole with smoked sausage, potatoes, carrots, and onions
Sat~Pizza
Sun~Dutch soup or beef stew
Mon~Pork roast and gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots

Fall photo shoot

Last year we took some pics at a pond down the road and decided to do it again.  Here's a few of the outtakes:

 You could tell we had a very dry summer.  The pond was really low with lots of scum floating on top.  But Aaron was again captivated with the 'wata.'

 Group shot try #1

 Try #2

 Try #3~probably the best one, even if J's glasses are falling down his nose!

Aaron, 2 years old

 This was one of his last pics since he decided to go wading in the mud and almost lost a shoe.

 Perched in a tree.

 Aaron was a bit too scared to smile for this pic.

 Andrew, 7 years old

 Noah, 5 years old

Joel aka "Frog," a new 4 years old

What's Cookin' (next week)

Sunday~Dutch soup, bread, cheese
Monday~Crockpot Cashew chicken using this recipe and this recipe, brown rice, roasted cauliflower
Tues~Weeknight Beef Chili from SlowCooker Revolution, cornbread
Wed~Spaghetti, green beans, french bread
Thurs~Leftovers/eggs
Friday~Pizza party with the VanDen Toorn's
Saturday~Frisco melts, salad
Sunday~Soup and bread
Monday~Mexican chicken, rice, black beans

Soldier Practice

We went to a Civil War reenactment last week and the boys got to practice their musket training.

Unknown boy, Andrew, Noah, Levi, and Joel watching Sergeant Rob give directions.

Getting into position.

Ready for orders, sir!

Fire!

Charge!

Aaron was pretty ambivalent to all the proceedings until lunch time.

Linda's Pumpkin Crunch

Here's a super-easy, delicious fall pumpkin recipe.  I got it from my mother-in-law who got it from the inside of an Aldi egg carton.

Linda's Pumpkin Crunch

1 box yellow cake mix
1 can (15 oz) evap milk
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (I used 2 c of squash)
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1/2 c chopped pecans (optional)
1 cup melted buuter

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine pumpkin (or squash), milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in large bowl.  Pour into 9x13 pan.  Sprinkle cake mix and pecans over top.  Drizzle melted butter over pecans.  Bake at 350 for 50-55 min, or until golden brown.  Cool and serve chilled with whipped topping.

Free jeans!

I just did this deal last night.  Buy a $25 Meijer GC and get $10 off jeans, making the kids' jeans free!

What's Cookin'

Mon~Oven tacos (didn't get to this last week), cold veggies

Source: lynnskitchenadventures.com via Krista on Pinterest

Tues~Pork roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, Easy baguette
Wed~BLT's and grilled cheese, salad
Thurs~Creamy Three Cheese, Bacon & French Fried Onion Penne, corn
Fri~Joe's birthday-bonfire with hotdogs and hamburgers
Sat~Pizza, cold veggies
Sun~Beef stew, bread

Train ride

I got a Groupon a while back to ride the Coopersville train so we went with friends a couple of Saturdays ago.  It was the boys' first train ride.

 See?  Noah's very excited.  

 At least Andrew looks like he's having fun.

 Levi's trying to get Aaron to look at the camera.

 Julia's pretty interested in the little boy to her right...

 Ready to go!

 Watching the engine back up and reconnect.  We were at the back of the train on the way there and at the front of the train on the way back.  

 Waiting for the whistle to blow.

I think he likes it!

What's Cookin'

Mon~Leftover chicken noodle soup, brats, watermelon
Tues~Spaghetti, salad
Wed~Grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans
Thurs~Pork roast, mashed potatoes, corn
Fri~Barbecue chicken sandwiches a la Uncle Johnny, cold veggies
Sat~Oven tacos, fruit

Source: blogchef.net via Heather on Pinterest

Sun~Meatball soup, bread

Pinterest recipe reviews

I started a new board on Pinterest today.  It's recipes that I've tried and I detail whether they worked or not.  Check it out here.  

What's Cookin'

Mon~We had the regular Labor day feast while hanging out at the pool with Chris's family.  Hoping the boys sleep in tomorrow since they were in the water half the day today.
Tues~We're taking advantage of Applebee's Tuesday promotion:  Get 2 free kids' meals per adult entree.
Wed~Taco salad, fruit
Thurs~Pork roast, mashed potatoes, corn and beans
Fri-Sun~Mom's gone for the weekend so dinner's up to dad.  I'll leave a pot of soup and bread for Sunday lunch and Fri and Sat will be mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, or frozen pizza.  Better throw some carrot sticks in with that too.