Yeah for Summer

One Week...

Dean and I just got back from a weeks vacation WITHOUT kids. We spent the week in Miami, FL. relaxing in the sun, and that is about it. We did nothing else but bask in the sun and I am not embarrased to say that that is all we did. During the trip, I was reminded of why going on vacation WITHOUT kids is so much different than going on vacation WITH kids. So, I will leave you with a few:
1. You can pack all your stuff in ONE suitcase.
2. You can actually SIT on the entire plane ride, and not have to walk up and down the aisles until everyone on the plane becomes your friend, b/c you have passed them so many times.
3. You can read on the plane. (an adult book)
4. Your only carry on is your purse. I kept thinking that I forgot something in the bathroom or something. No diaper bag, snack bag, 3 backpacks, and a stroller to lug from terminal to terminal.
5. I only had to fit myself into the airplane bathroom. Usually I have to stuff 3 kids into that tiny bathroom and one of them is bound to absolutly friek out when that toilet flushes--why do they have to have the scariest flushers? I even get a bit scared to push that lever.
6. You order a beer on the airplane b/c you WANT one, not because you NEED one.
7. You actually look GOOD when you arrive at your destination, not like you just road the worlds worst rollercoaster.\
8. You don't have other passengers giving you the finger as you depart the plane. Some of you know that story.
9. You can rent the cheapest (smallest) rental car they have, not the big SUV with four car seats that costs more than your entire vacation.
10. You actually get an even tan. Not the tan where your appendages are tan, but your lap always seems to be white, b/c a kid is always sitting or crawling on it.
11. You can wear a swimsuit that flatters your body. You don't have to wear one that will stay put when you have to bend over and pick up kids.
12. You can read chapters in a book, and not just Dick and Jane sentences.
13. You can sleep in till 10am. (haven't done that one for 5 years!!)
14. You can go an entire week and not watch cartoons.
15. You don't have to drop all your doing at 1:00pm, b/c someone needs a nap. I did find myself watching the clock the first few days--out of habit.
16. Going along with that, 1:00 doesn't have to be your favorite time of day. Any hour can be.
17. You can read 2 novels in 3 days.
18. You don't have to scope out the "Kids Menu" first before deciding on what restaurant to go to.
19. You don't have to set foot in a McDonalds for an entire week--Yahooooo!!!
20. You get to realize why you married eachother in the first place again.
21. You get to feel giddy about seeing your kids.

All in all, we had a great time. And thanks to Dean's mom, for spending the entire week with the kids. I think they gave her a run, but she never let on once that she was ready to throw in the towel. Made for a relaxing week for us.

Class of ' 07

Elli's whole preschool class.

Elli getting her diploma.

Elli and her cousin Brennan.


Well, we have our first graduate in the family. Last night, Elli graduated from pre-school. Dean found it a bit unnecessary (lol), I found it a bit too precious. I recieved a letter home from Elli's teachers on her last day, that brought tears to my eyes. I will leave a bit of it for you:
"Even though our days with your children have come to the year's end we are left with many, many memories that will enrich our days! One of my best memories of this year is holding your children's hands each day as I put hand sanitizer on their palms. Actually the hand sanitizer has many names: hanitizer, handsizer, appetizer among others! As I was putting the sanitizer on their hands last week I realized how much their hands had grown. It surprised me when I suddenly noticed how much their hands had changed in the nine months. I reflected a bit on what those precious little hands had accomplished this year. They have held crayons, markers, pencils, and paint brushes. They've built grand block buildings, squished playdough, held on to books, and touched soft animal fur. They have held other hands and they have folded together during prayer. We will miss these little hands that have grown in so many ways this year, but we will also continue to fold our hands together in prayer for your children. It is our prayer that your children may continue to grow and develop in all sorts of wonderful ways and most of all that they may grow strong in the Lord and always walk with Him and hold his hand."

Summer Fun

Happy Mother's Day!!

Oh How I long to...

Tessa will sit at the edge of our driveway for hours just longing to go out into the road. She rides herself to the very edge and teeters with crossing that line. You can just see the wheels turning in her head. "Should I do it or not?" She'll look back at me, then to the road, then to me... Her big toe will move out over the line, and she'll, ever so sneaky, move closer and closer until her dreaded mother calls out "TESSA JAYNE..NO, NO".

My Buddy--My Ant Killer

We have the nasty problem of big black ants everywhere. But....., we also have the privilage of having the best ant killer in the country. Thys is very eager to kill these nasty things for his mommy. "Thys, there's an ant here." "Ok Mom, I'll be right there." He takes his job very seriously, and is very determined to cause these little buggers to become extinct in the Vink household. And of course, he always needs to show off his good deed. Nothing like seeing a big, black, crumpled up ant 10 times a day!

Ahhhh

Oh how I love the first meal after you go grocery shopping. Sooo much to choose from, no trying to be creative in order to put a meal together. Ahhh....

A New Look

So today, I wore my hair down for the first time in probably 3 years. No lie. It felt a bit odd. I felt like I woke up and never actually got ready. I had to take and pick Elli up from school today, and all the other moms gave me this look of "you look different." I honestly think I need to get out of the hair up thing and "grow up". Any ideas on hip mom hairdo's?