a hunting we will go

I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Addisyn and Aunt Kari

Kylynn and Gordo

Easton Marc

Off to hunt for the perfect Christmas tree

Easton and Mommy

Our family

Addisyn, Mommy, and Kylynn

heading to get it all wrapped up to take home

The traditional head shot photo

Off we go with our tree

J and I

Another successful tree hunt done. Now I have to decorate it, right now that does not sound like fun, hopefully I'm in the mood tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am thankful for my entire family. I love days when I get to spend time with my parents, my sister, and Jason's family. I am bummed that I won't get to see my brother and his wife but that's what happens. These are the days that mean so much to me. Sitting around talking with the sister-in-laws and mother-in-law, catching up with my parents and sister and just enjoying that family time.
Today though I am also sad that I won't be heading out to Grandma's house. It's been a few years since we've gotten together with my mom's family but I sure do miss those days. I especially miss them now that my Grandma is gone. I know she is looking down at us from above this thanksgiving. But I can't help but remember the days when we would gather at her house for her delicious pies and the only time I used to get gravy. Going to Grandma's was so special. I sure do miss those good ol' days.

Enjoy your thanksgiving and don't take your family for granted. You never know when they won't be there anymore. Happy Thanksgiving!

November Thanksgivings...Day 24

Sorry it's late but today I am thankful for my family. J had the day off of work and we were able to enjoy the day together. I love spending time together and laughing with our kids. The girls have such amazing personalities that we just have so much fun watching them and listening to them.

Kylynn Joy, our fashionista

Addisyn Joy, our crazy girl

November Thanksgivings...Day22 and 23

Life was a little busy yesterday and I didn't get on so today I'm thankful for 2 thigns. I'm thankful for vacations, 5 day vacations to be exact. I can't wait to sleep in past 5:30! I also am looking forward to spending some time with my family and my kids. Can't wait to go shopping on Friday morning and then heading to Legally Blonde with Mom and Kari Friday night. Hope to get the tree sometime this weekend as well. Lots to do this weekend but just spending it with family will be totally enjoyable.
I'm also thankful for my coworkers. This year I'm team teaching two classes of sped and it has been challenging but I enjoy the lady I work with and am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. Middle School has been a huge adjustment for me and honestly I don't know if this is what I'm cut out for. It is nice for now when I have little ones at home but I just don't know if this is where my heart is. So those that I work with make it worth going to work.
Lots of things going on at the Vugteveen home, look for a post coming up on our visitor for the week. Let's just say he's small and furry.

November Thanksgivings...Day21

Today I am thankful for friends. I have some wonderful and amazing friends. Some I don't get to see as much as I would like to and others live far away but technology allows us to stay connected. Thankgoodness for blogging and facebook. I feel like I am able to stay caught up on the happenings of my friends who don't live close and even those that live close. I have been blessed with long lasting and wonderful friendships. I'm still friends with girls I met in junior high, two of my best friends in fact. I made some wonderful friendships in college as well and then at church. I have also been blessed to work with some amazing women at the schools I've been at and have since left, still staying close to them. Thank God for my friends!Trish and I, wine tasting last fallJess, Me, and Hannah at Cherry FestMe and Lori

Me, Kristen, Jayme, and Erin

November Thanksgivings...Day 20

Today I am thankful for nap time. Both Addisyn and Easton took really good naps today and I was able to get a ton done. I should have slept myself but instead I got a lot done. I love when my kids take good naps.

A chilly morning...

We headed out early this morning, early for a Saturday, well at least early for me. It ws very chilly but worth it. The kids, Grandma Vugteveen, and I headed downtown for the Santa Claus Parade. We had a good time and enjoyed getting some candy while watching the parade. I was able to capture a few pictures and then the camera died. I was quite upset. I decided not to bring my big one and look what happens, the batteries died in the other one. I guess I learned my lesson. I was so bummed I wasn't going to be able to get a picture of Santa, but then Addi had to go potty and I missed him anyway. She was pretty upset but when you are 2 you can't hold your potty that long. Easton did awesome and was the hit of the parade. Everyone loved his little outfit, thanks Aunt Courtney. He even ended up falling asleep in my arms. Can't wait for next years, I'll make sure I bring a full battery! This picture is so funny to me, perfect snapshot of my girls and their personalitiesKylynn JoyAddisyn JoyEaston Marc

The 3 little munchkins

November Thanksgivings...Day 19

Today I'm thankful for Friday's. My first 5 day week with students and boy am I thankful for my weekend. I'm exhausted! It was a great week, it went by fast but I'm thankful for the weekend to be able to spend it with my kids.

November Thanksgivings...Day 18

Nothing is better than a night with the girls. I'm thankful today for girl's nights. I hosted my first bunco night tonight and it was a blast. Thank you friends for coming, I had a great time, even though my 4 year old wouldn't leave us alone. Off to bed, I feel a sore throat coming on.

November Thanksgivings...Day 17

Today I am thankful for my hubby's job. We have been very blessed with J's job. Jason has worked at Waste Management for 20 years. Yup, he started washing out the carts, yuck! He has worked his way up to his current position and absolutely loves his job. I love the flexibility of his job. Today is one of those days that I am thankful for the job he has, that he can take some time away to spend with his daughter. Kylynn's class on the fire trucklooks like my hubby would make a great fire fighterKylynn with Firefighter Tom using the hosewalking back to school

A day late...

My baby boy is 4 months old now! I can't imagine not having him in our lives. He is such a happy boy and we love all of the smiles and laughs we get from him. He has adjusted very well to mommy going back to work and is taking the bottle so well. I love my snuggle time with him when I get home though. He is sleeping really well for me at night. Last week wasn't as good but last night he slept from 9:30 to 5:30. We have noticed that you are sucking on your gums and you are drooling like crazy. Could be the beginning of some new teethers!

Our little stud muffin

You love jumping around in your jump-a-roo

(good thing Aunt Courtney let us borrow it)

You also love snoozing in your jump-a-roo

Our happy boy

You love your fist!

November Thanksgivings...Day 16

Today I am thankful for my Hair Stylist. Katie does an awesome job with my hair and I love my time with her to chat about life and catch up. The best part about my 2 hour visit to get my hair done is her washing my hair. I so enjoy each and every time I get my hair washed. So thank you Katie for listening to me complain, vent, boast and talk your ear off for the 2 hours I sit in your chair. So blessed to have her cut my hair.

November Thanksgivings...Day 15

Today I want to tell you about one of my best friends. I'm so very thankful for our friendship and so blessed to have her in my life. Who would have known that 7 years ago we would be where we are now. I kind of thought there was something special about her when I met her that summer of 2004. We hung out at Micah's house, played in the Hoekstra's pool and the memories continued to build. The Lord knew what he was doing when he had J and I do high school youth group at church, he helped grow a friendship that I cherish and will continue to cherish for years to come.
She is so special to our family, my kids babysitter, my friend and just a special person that we love to death! Whenever I need some fashion advice, she's there, whenever I need some help with the kids, she's there. I truly appreciate her and am so thankful to have her in my life. Looking forward to the years ahead, remember, I will be there on that big special day and this summer I get to help her celebrate her 21st. She keeps me young and for that I am also thankful. Love you to pieces! Hannah, I'm thankful for your friendship and I cherish all that you are.

November Thanksgivings...Day 14

I'm thankful for Sunday afternoon naps. Today I was in desperate need of a nap. I was able to get a short nap in before my parents stopped by for a visit. It felt great and was refreshed to be able to hit the gym tonight. Now I'm off to bed. Big week ahead. Gotta get my beauty rest.

November Thanksgiving... Day 13

Today I am thankful for time with friends and time to scrapbook. I am scrapbooking today with one of my best friends and I absolutely love this time we have together. It is time that I need away from my family just for me. We enjoy talking about our children, husbands, and lives. It is so good to have this community to share with and laugh with. I'm thankful for the opportunity to have a day away for me.

November Thanksgivings...Day 12

Today I am thankful it is Friday and I am also thankful that I am not teaching. It has been a very long week and I'm thankful to be sitting in Professional Development meetings. Never thought I'd say that but it will be nice to sit and relax and not be in front of students today. I'm exhausted!

November Thanksgivings...Day 11

Today I am thankful for my friend and day care provider, Lindsay. She has been such a blessing to our family over the last year and the girls got to go back to her today, along with their baby brother Easton. She loves my kids and treats them like her own. We are so blessed to have her to watch our children while we are away. Thanks for all you do Lindsay! We love you!

November Thanksgivings...Day 10

I'm thankful for kids. After two long days of being back to work and p/t conferences at night it was so nice to go pick my kids up today and spend some time with them tonight. I got to cuddle with Easton, read to Addisyn, and listen to Kylynn share about her day at school. I just love them so and am so blessed to have each of them.

November Thanksgivings...Day 9

After having my first day back to work I have to say I am very THANKFUL for my Aunt. She means so much to me and has been such a huge part of my life. She is now known as Auntie but has always been Aunt Marj to me. She is the most giving and caring person I know.

In the spring of 2009 when I found out she had breast cancer I was devestated. But she is a true fighter and she fought the battle. I am so thankful the Lord put me in her family. She is my dad's sister but has always been like a grandmother to me. My grandma went into a home when I was quite young and died when I was a junior in high school so I don't have very many memories of her and Aunt Marj has definitely filled in more than enough for not having grandma on my dad's side.
I was nervous about how today would go with 3 kids for her to take care of. My biggest worry was my 'stinker', but he did well. It was the oldest that was a problem, she through a royal fit when it was time to go to preschool. I'm hoping it was a one time thing with the change of mommy going back to work but I felt terrible. Of course Auntie handled it like a champ.

Auntie has been one of the best things that has happened to our family. She has watched Kylynn since she was 5 months old and has gladly accepted each new addition we have had to our family with open arms. I seriously think my kids walk on water for her. She is so good with my kids and I am so blessed to be able to bring them to her when I am working. It makes going to work so much easier. I know they are loved and cared for on such a deep level. She would do anything for them and us and I truly appreciate her. I have know idea what I would do without her.

We are so blessed to call you Auntie, you are the best and we love you!

November Thanksgivings Day #8...

Today is D-day, back to work I go. I am kind of excited, yet I will miss my kids tremendously. The last 3 1/2 plus months have been wonderful but I AM NOT a stay at home mom. I love my kids but I am a better mom because I work. I know it is not for everyone and I have learned not to judge those who work or those who don't work. There are times I feel bad that I'm not home with my kids and able to do more with them during the week but I have a wonderful job in which I am able to spend holidays at home as well as spring break, and summer vacation. I have enjoyed being able to bring Kylynn to preschool each and every day these last 2 months, I wouldn't give that up for anything. I look forward to her special days in which mommy can take personal days to join her. I enjoyed my time with Addisyn while Kylynn was at preschool and I also enjoyed the time home with my little guy. No one can take these days from me, I loved every minute of them, well maybe 95% of them.
As a teacher I am thankful to have a job, a job which I love. Today I get to go back to my 8th graders, we'll see how it goes. More on that later. Happy Monday!

November Thanksgivings Day 7...

Today is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. I am thankful for a church I love to go to every Sunday. We love our church, our church family and all it has to offer. The joy on my girls faces as they leave their little people's classes is priceless. The songs they sing around the house from learning at church are wonderful to hear. I am thankful that God has given us a very loving and caring church to call our home.

November Thanksgivings Day #6

Thankful for Saturdays that I can spend with my family. Most Saturdays throughout the year I am allowed to sleep in while daddy holds down the fort. However, during the fall he's usually out in the woods somewhere, so I have to do the breakfast thing. A few Saturdays ago I stepped outside of my box and did scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage for the girls, and they scarfed it up. I love how daddy does Saturday breakfast the best though. I love lazy Saturday mornings where I can lounge in my pj's and spend time with the kids and enjoy a good breakfast, cooked by daddy. These will be cherished again as I head back to work, back to the grind.pancakes, a favorite of the girlsMonkey Bread, a favorite growing upFrench toast - my favorite to make for my family

(I make the oven kind)

Don't these make you hungry. Enjoy your Saturday, hope it starts of lazily!

November Thanksgivings Day #5

I am very thankful for my little sister. I love her to death. She has been there for me whenever I need her. She also has been such a huge part of my kids lives and I am so thankful for that. This past weekend she came down here due to the fact that my parents did not have power. I cherish our time together and so do my girls. We are so much alike yet so different. Probably why we fight so much! Gotta love her though! She is always wanting to make sure everyone is happy and taken care of. Kari is one of the most giving people I know, she is always thinking of others and for that I am encouraged to be a better person. My girls absolutely love their Aunt Kari, Kylynn even put on her turkey feather at school that she is Thankful for her Aunt Kari. Too bad we live far away from each other, 2 1/4 hours away to be exact, unless you are riding with Kari, maybe 2 hours. I love doing new things with her, helping her on her new adventure, shopping and scrapbooking together. Kari is the best little sister anyone could ask for! And she's mine!

November Thanksgiving Day #4

I am blessed to have married into a loving and giving family. My inlaws are very generous and helpful. Starting in a few weeks Grandma will be watching the kids again on Fridays and that is something that we are very thankful for. The girls love their Grandma and spending time with her, as will Easton when he gets bigger. We are thankful that they live close and are able to help us out by watching the kids and having us over for sunday dinners. A close family is important to them and to us. We are thankful for Grandma and Grandpa Vugteveen. Grandma is always willing to help out and wants to treat the girls whenever she can. Before she left for Maine she came over and took the girls to Frog Hollow, she didn't have to but she did. She loves spending time with the kids and for that we are thankful. Papa Vugteveen is a fun guy to be around. He likes to tease the girls and play with them. They love their papa and we are thankful for his laughter and the fun loving guy that he is. Some day he will be hunting with our little Easton and we look forward to those days. Papa loves the kids and they love him. We are thankful for him and the love and care he shows for our family.

Thankful Day #3

Two people who I'm incredibly thankful for would be my parents. My parents aren't perfect, I reminded them of that growing up and still do sometimes, ha ha. Anyway, they are two of the most loving, caring, and generous people I know. They raised me in a loving and christian home and taught me right from wrong. They set boundaries for me and even though I didn't like it then, it made me a person who knew that I couldn't get away with anything I wanted. One thing I am grateful for is for them letting me figure things out on my own, mainly in college, but being there for me when I realized what I was doing was wrong and wasn't going to work. They have always been there for me with a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and encouraging me to be the person I am today. Being a parent isn't easy, you always think you can do the job better than someone else, at least I thought I could, until I had children of my own. And now with three kids of my own, I can't even come close to being as good of a parent as them. They rock!

Let me share a little bit about my mom. She is someone whom I talk with at least every other day if not every day. 2 hours and 15 minutes may separate us by distance but we don't allow that to keep us apart. I call her often for advice, to vent, or just to chat. She has encouraged me to be the best mom I can be and lets me know that it's okay to work full time cause I have all summer with my kids, winter break, spring break, and many other days in there as well. For that I am thankful, I'm a better mom because I work and she has always encouraged me to do what I love. I love teaching. After my first year of teaching I wanted to quit and it was my dad and my mom who said, no way, you are an excellent teacher and I pursued on. She is the best, she even comes down to help me while my hubby is hunting. Having three kids for 4 or 5 days alone is no fun, but relief from grandma is so much appreciated and the kids loved having her. Teaching me how to make applesauce and strawberry jam, and to sew are things I will forever cherish. My mom is an incredible mom who is so giving and concerned for her children. I hope I can only be half the mom she has been for me for my children.

Now let me share a little bit about my dad. I have always been a daddy's girl. Here's a little story about my dad, I had wanted to date a Senior, I was a Sophomore in High School. I begged to date. My dad always had said I had to be 16 to date. I wouldn't turn 16 till right before my Junior year. Oh man, that was terrible, torture, but he came to his senses and let me date. He came up one Saturday morning and woke me up to let me know he had thought about it and I could date. I think he made a good choice. I was treated very well by this young man, one of the best guys around, but he broke my heart. Anyway. My dad is also someone who has encouraged me along the way. I always trust his advice and I love being able to sit with him and chat over coffee. Since I'm a mom, I'm awake early on Saturday mornings and when we visit I enjoy chatting with him and talking about my hubby, or mom, yup we talk about you sometimes, my sibblings. He always knows what to say and understands me. I think I'm a lot like my dad. We both love to meet new people and are pretty quick to socialize. I admire his abilities to talk to strangers, mainly in church. He'll walk up to a visitor and introduce himself and start conversations. I think that is awesome. It is something that I am always trying to do. My dad is also my little helper. If I want something done at my house I usually ask my dad. He has painted just about every wall in my house, or he probably will by the time we move out. Just recently he asked me if J was bothered by him helping me out, nah, J doesn't care, it's getting done and he doesn't have to do it. He hangs pictures for me, does wall words for me, when my hubby compains. Another thing that my dad does is hang out with my husband, I am so blessed to have this, my dad and husband are great friends and have a wonderful relationship, love it! But the best thing about my dad is how awesome of a grandpa he is. We have a tradition with my mom and sister, a few of them actually. We like to partake in black friday, which was fine before kids but that didn't stop us with Super Grandpa, he has watched my kids for all of our black friday trips. For that I am thankful, he also watches my kids so I can go to the K-Wings craft show each year with my mom and sister. He is a wonderful grandpa to my girls and also to Easton. He even changes dirty diapers. The best was about a month ago when he was wiping Addi's butt on the toilet and she said, "I wuv you Grandpa."

I've rattled on long enough but my parents are the best, I am so blessed to call them mom and dad, love you guys!