Friends at the Beach

Just some pics from a quick beach visit from the Fus'. Lila and Tyler are twin 5 year olds that live down the street. And we love their mom and dad too! Molly and Lila have really hit it off and I just wanted to document it with some pics.

End of Crew

This past fall, Matt was asked to coach a U7 Crew team here in Grand Rapids. So we put Grant on the team. They play other premier leagues around the area through the fall and again in the spring. They also had an indoor league in the winter. It was definitely a major time commitment, especially for a six, then seven year old. We have decided that Grant is just not there yet. Maybe some time in the future we will revisit this type of team, but for now, I think we are going to back to the Y or AYSO. I personally think we need to rebuild his confidence. And maybe he might just not be a soccer player (ouch). Hard to handle when you have two parents that played A LOT of soccer. God may just have different plans for him. But we did celebrate the end of the year with a fun pool party for the boys. Thanks again to Melissa for managing the team, and Matt for coaching! BTW, our team did awesome...I think we only lost one game this spring. The boys did improve immensely over the course of the year.

Grant Hassenrik #6

Awesome Cake

Their Attempt at a Pyramid

Getting pushed in by the girls team

Coach Matt hanging with the boys

Moving On Up

Grant finished out his first grade year great! I'm so proud of all the things he accomplished and learned this year. He has become an excellent reader and writer and loves to write illustrated stories. He was in the Accelerated Reading Program and was one of the top readers of his class. His favorite subject this year was art of course. He LOVES art. And his art teacher said that he definitely has some skill in this area...not surprising to me. He struggles a little bit with math, but mostly because he goes too fast. He got the Good Citizen Award at the end of the year, which his teacher explained meant that he is a caring friend to everyone. Proud mom moment. He really has come a LONG way this year. He definitely is starting to be able to manage his emotions more, and we are able to talk through things more rather than exploding in rage. I am so proud of the little man that he is becoming. He loved playing basketball this year, singing in the Christmas program and the school musical, and especially loved recess!

Still the smallest one in his grade.

His teacher, Ms. Nobis

Cousin Fun

Some pics from my niece Evelyn's birthday party. Love having fun with the cousins.

Mad Skills at Jumping Rope

The birthday girl Evelyn

Lily

I think they look alike

And so do they

Grandpa and C

Lily and Grant (four months apart...Grant is younger. Geesh)

Cousin Pic

Charley Girl

Mols

Make a Wish

Cheering for Cake

Grammie doing the hula hoop

Grantster

Love his expression. He wasn't sure what to expect.

Field Day

Some pics from one of Grant's Field Days. I believe he took third in the Dash, first in the sack race, and second in the long run around the whole field (I have the ribbons stashed away). As little as he is, he has speedy legs. It's so fun watching him compete.

Go!

Good work buddy!

NKOTBSB

The high school gang decided we should go to the NKOTBSB concert at VanAndel Arena downtown. That's New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys. Some of us even got dressed up for the show...and we were about the only ones that decided that was a good idea. We got shirts with iron-ons and so on. So we paid $30 or so to sit up in the nose-bleed section. When we got up there, the usher told us (probably because we were dressed like idiots) that we had just been upgraded to the floor...4th row! Unfortunately, the tickets were split up on either side of the catwalk. So half of us went to one side, and the other half to the other side. We were so close! And it made the concert so much better. To be perfectly honest, I never was really into either one of these bands. But I love music and love my friends. It was a blast! Thanks Kel for hosting the pre-party!

Preschool Graduation

Molly has graduated from 3s Preschool. She did it. I do feel like she learned some things this year, even though we are still working on sharing and talking when people talk to her. She knows how to write her name and cut a straight line. Colors and shapes are a breeze. :) She can count forever. It's been fun watching her learn, especially learn about Jesus. We are so thankful for a great Christian preschool education. My little Mols. She changed a lot of this past year. Until her third birthday, she was pretty compliant and soft spoken. Well, she came out of her shell and now can throw a fit with the best of them. Yikes. Hoping 4s are better. She is still painfully shy, and we're working on getting her to talk when people ask her questions. But she's a little chatterbox at home. And a sneaky one too. I catch her doing things all the time that she shouldn't be doing...hoping she won't get caught. But she hasn't really figured out how to not get caught.

So proud of herself for "graduating"

Perfect picture of her shyness

Molly and her teacher Miss Stacie

Twinkle Toes

Molly just started a Twinkle Toes class, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Well, that's a lie. I knew what she would do, but I was hoping she wouldn't. She didn't do anything. Nothing. She sat there and acted shy. My little shy Mols. They were supposed to do butterfly legs, and she sat with her legs to side with her head down. They were supposed to raise their arms like bubbles and let them pop on their heads. Nothing. Finally...finally...she started to participate a little...a little. She was supposed to point her toe out and raise her arms...and all we got is a small toe point. Well, baby steps I guess. We'll see what happens next time. She was very excited and happy when she was done, and said she would do much more the next time. Here's hoping!

Riverbank 2011

He's done it again folks! Matt ran another great race this year, coming in at 1:48:40! Speedy Gonzales. So glad the training is done though. :) Good job Matt. You run fast.

Matt and Joey having a post-race beer (at 10am)

So proud.

Mother's Day

I had a FABULOUS Mother's Day. Thank you so much to my wonderful husband for a great day! Breakfast in bed is probably my favorite tradition of Mother's Day. Matt and the kiddos come up, after letting me sleep in a little bit, with breakfast and all their homemade cards. Love it. After church we had a nice picnic in the backyard prepared by Matt of course. And then an awesome surprise of new golf clubs! Yay! Since I had been using Matt's clubs that he used as a kid, I suppose it was time for a new set. I finished off the day trying out the new clubs with some friends! I feel so blessed to be the mother of these three children and all of their unique personalities. As hard as motherhood it is, it's the best job in the world!