The November 2nd arrival of Reuben and Heidi’s son, Harper Lloyd, prompted our recent 9-day Eastward trek. We left Des Moines on Friday, November 6th, and arrived back home early evening yesterday (November 15th). Since Grand Rapids, MI (8 hours from DSM) is on the way to Hamilton, Ontario (where Reuben and Heidi live/5 hours further East from Grand Rapids), we were able to spend “book-end weekends” in Grand Rapids, on the way to/from Hamilton. This allowed us to see all 6 of our grand-children and most of our children, over the course of 9 days. What a great experience! We’re now poised for 3 1/2 days in DSM before we take off for a conference in Orlando, Florida. My, my, life is busy. Hopefully, we can get laundry done, bills paid and our work at Childserve and Pine Rest, done in DSM before we leave again! Here are a few pics to summarize our Eastward trek:
It was great to meet you, Harper Lloyd!
Eden absolutely LOVED reading the books that her Nana and Papa brought along in the black Flying Pig bag.
On the front porch with her Nana
And doing yoga with her Nana. Downward dog plus.
Harper sound asleep. With Reuben and Heidi, and both of us available, he was pretty much held ALL of the time!
Eden playing in the leaves with her Nana
Heidi's parents came for supper on Wednesday evening, so Eden and Harper had all 4 grandparents present at the same time.
And here's Levi in Grand Rapids. Five months old already!
Another shot of Levi. He's in the car-seat. Just woke up.
Typical Emma. She loves going to "Young Fives". On this past Friday AM, I had the privilege of driving her to school and reading a story to her class. She picked "Flicka Ricka and Dicka and the Little Kittens", a story that we used to read to our kids when they were little.
Claire, taking a break in the stroller on one of our many walks between Kristin and Curt's house, Kim and Paul's house and our Richard Terrace apartment.
A special moment between Claire and her Papa
Emma and Claire after painting their faces at our Richard Terrace apartment
Emma, Marley and Lloyd, walking around East-town
Marley, about to try on one of my favorite hats
Peek-a-boo, Marley:)
Kim and Paul with Marley. Picture taken in their new, almost finished basement apartment.
Thank you, Harper, for your entry into the world! It was so great to meet you, and to see your sister, Eden, and also the rest of your Vanderkwaak cousins in Grand Rapids this past week! We love you lots!
LOVE the pictures, mom! we are glad that we were part of your trek east
so great seeing you both…
I’ve been waiting for you to post pictures from your trip….it looks like you had a busy and fun time