flowers and crafts

Hey all,

First thank you for all the comments, emails and calls!! I love you all so much and appreciate my family and friends more than you will ever know. These are the flowers dan came home with for me and a card that was from him and the girls. Hes a great husband and dad!! He knows me well! I am not a huge (store bought)flower person but I love road side stands or flowers he just picks on his way home from work!! These are beautiful!!

Okay, my other topic of discussion is crafts. I am on the MOPS craft team this year at Ridge Point! Its fun but can be tough finding a craft in budget, in the right time frame and yada yada. So, last time we did these tile memo boards. You can hang them on the fridge and write down groceries or appt. Cute right??! Well, coming up we are hoping to do a night light. It sounded so easy but I dont know. I love the idea but can't find night lights with shades anywhere! I picked up 4 at a dollar store and thats all I can find. Everywhere else they are super expensive. So...if any of you go shopping and see these please call me or email!!! I would greatly appreciate it! This is the one I made today to try out.

I miss her...

I can't believe its been 4 years (Mon) that we lost Emma. Sometimes it seems longer but days like today when Dan and I have been remembering, it seems like just yesterday. It seems like we were just getting the news, driving frantically to Grand Rapids to figure out what was wrong, and then delivering this perfectly tiny beautiful girl who was already with Jesus. I wonder now who she would look or act more like, Ellie or Aubrey or would she have a look all her own?? I wonder how it would be with three crazy girls running around instead of two. So much good has come out of having Emma, sharing her story with other moms who have lost their babies has helped me and I hope helped them. Its been too many moms, that is for sure. I don't know why but I thought after it happened to us then it didn't have to happen to anyone else we know. Geesh, was I wrong. Maybe I am just more aware of it but its too often. I don't know why God takes babies/kids away too soon but I know he has good plans for us all. He loves us all and will take care of those kiddos until we meet again. I know shes happy and safe and that is such a relief as a mom but I do wish we could have watched all our girls grow up together. He did take Emma but has also given me two other beautiful healthy happy girls. I praise Him and thank Him for that! Those girls and my husband mean everything to me. Happy Birthday my little angel!!

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Food...

So, one night my husband and I looked up http://www.savingsangel.com/ because I have heard of other friends doing it. Its supposed to cut your grocery bill in half. Dan signed us up for it to try. I quickly decided it wasn't something I wanted to do because it was going to take way to much time, work and thought and frankly I am pretty lazy. I will get the deals in the middle isle at Meijers and call it good. So anyway, my good dooby husband has been clipping coupons and getting them all organized each week. He likes to get groceries late because no one is around and this whole process takes some time. Last night he left at 9:30 and was back at 12:00am!!! It took him that long!! (fyi, I will go get groceries, but for some reason I kind of stink at it. I forget everything and dont buy anything he wants so now he usually goes. Its easier for him with out the kids too) Needless to say we have a lot of groceries and he did save about $100.00, hes doing really good. Go Dan!!

Tonight for supper I decided to try something new. I get that free Kraft magazine. I think you just go to http://www.kraftfoods.com/ if you want one too, its so great. I made the Bruschetta chicken bake and I loved it. Dan just said "I really like it when you make chicken lasagna" Oh my word, he could have that every night. Boring, I like to try new stuff!! It was easy and pretty darn flavorful I thought! If anyone has good recipes to share feel free to pass them along!

Oh, for all you book lovers out there. The civic center in Holland is having there big used book sale this Saturday and maybe Friday too. I am excited!!

APPLES!!

Dan and I took the girls out to Cranes today. Last year I thought we did quite a bit of walking around and carrying heavy apples with us. It was fun, but hot and the apples are heavy!! So this year we parked, went pretty much down the row in front of us, picked a full bag and that was that. Its so busy there! We were a little bummed that there were no teeny pumpkins. Ellie like to say teeny! :) They were washed out with the large amounts of rain, shoot!! I am sure somebody will have them.

Aubrey loved to eat the apples, she gnawed on one while we were there and the whole way home! Thank goodness so many teeth are in! She smelled like apple juice all day. Ellie just makes it her goal in life to irritate her. Its getting old really fast. Dan feels for Aubrey because he says he remembers his brother picking on him like that when they were little. I thought that was kind of funny! I am sure this too shall pass but for now, its just annoying for us and Aubrey!! Happy Monday to you all!

Blahhh, a cold already???!!

I LOVE fall but dont always like what seems to come with it....COLDS!! I have a doosy already thanks to my dear husband who had it first. I have gone through two boxes of kleenex and a roll of toilet paper since Saturday. I am just praying that the girls do not get it and that its better by thursday when I have MOPS. Okay, so there was the pity party for myself!

Because of the large amounts of rain and my cold this weekend I got a puzzle done. I am going to make a great old women someday as long as the good Lord keeps my sight good and no arthritis in my hands. I love to crosstitch, knit, read, crosswords, puzzles, eat those windmill cookies....geesh, I am going to rock it in a nursing home!! ha ha!! Alright, I better go do some of the stacks of laundry I have...I so slack at that!!! Have a great day blog readers!!!

Oh my Aubrey!!

Kiss, Kiss!!
Cleaning toilet paper for me!

Aubs is growing so fast. She is really trying to talk, shes learning her body parts like eyes, nose, ears etc. Today she had two grasshopper cookies and this is what she looked like...such a mess.

She is also into throwing whatever she can in the toilet and playing in it. This morning it was a care bear, the other day was a monkey. I know what you're thinking "Val, shut the darn lid" well, I do shes just getting smart. Yesturday, I had a garbage bag full of pop cans and she was running around the house shaking it and Ellie was following behind laughing so hard. Shes just so goofy, yet shes a huge cuddle bug!!! Just thought I would share how she is doing and how much I enjoy being her mommy! Everyday is such an adventure!!!

Weston Bear Meiste!!!!!!!!!

Hooray!! Give praise to God for another beautiful little boy born into the Meiste family. Brad, Lyndsey and Max are all very excited and feeling very blessed! I went tonight to visit them and Lynds looks just beautiful and so happy as does Brad (maybe not quite so beautiful) haha. Max thinks running around the halls in the hospital is pretty fun, he says his brothers name is Wess. Its so cute!! Anyway, here are a few pictures. He definitely looks more like a Meiste, dark dark hair!!

Fwweeww!

K, I think I got it figured out!! Hopefully it stays this way so I dont have to re-figure it out!!

Ellie had her 3 year check up today and is healthy. She loved being there, how wierd. Now of course, she says she wants to be a doctor. Yesturday was a teacher and the day before that a cop. That little imagination is amazing!!! I am thankful for her and her health!!!

I don't get it, help!

Help,
I cant get rid of the green part of my blog. What did I do wrong??

Rainy Day, Random Thoughts

Happy rainy day!! I know its kind of yucky, but we sure were in need!!! Okay so here are a few things, first thank you all for voting for us on Repcolites web sight. We didnt win the Wii but we did come in third so thats still kind of cool. Dont talk to my sister Angie about it because she doesnt feel the same. Sorry Ang, it will be okay!!

The other thing I wanted to mention was I'm just getting done reading a book called Cold Tangerines. I normally dont read these kind, I like stories, but decided to because the author (Shauna Neiquist) is coming to speak at our MOPS group this year. (which by the way, I have registration forms if any of you mommys want one!!) Anyway, I started reading it and got really hooked. Its just stories of her life and how God is involved. She thinks so much like I do, and maybe thats why I so enjoy it. It was just refreshing to hear that she worries just like I do, her anxietys, her joys are just like what I think but dont have the gift of wording it!! Its just a good read if you're looking for something new.

I think thats all I had to share with you all for now, have a blessed day!

Announcing Emma Klein!!!

Jason and Jessica had their baby girl, Emma Grace Klein!! They have great taste in picking out the name!! Mommy and baby are doing well. Here are a few pictures she sent. (sorry Jess, shes just too cute not to put on here!!) Praise God for a healthy baby girl, and a welcomed addition to Overisel!!