Van Essen Adventures

Good Morning Lord

What a beautiful sunrise - seeing this while getting the kids breakfast makes a good start to any day. Thank you Lord for sharing your beauty.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be glad in it.

Shelby was just too cute this morning. I had pulled out her little hat for her to wear when we went outside - but she found it and put it on all by herself. Then she was walking about the house with her little doll stroller (empty, no doll). She was just too cute....I couldn't help but grab the camera.

Riding Bike WITH pedals

On October 14, 2011 Silas figured out how to ride a bike WITH pedals....you may think this sounds weird because most little kids in the US learn how to ride a bike with training wheels - then eventually take them off and say they learned how to ride bike WITHOUT training wheels. Well for Silas - he's been riding on his lauftrad (running bike which has no pedals) from Germany all summer. Let me tell you he's fast and crazy on that thing. But he was unable to ride his other bike (the bike with pedals) because he needed to figure out how to use pedals to keep his momentum going- instead of using his feet to give him momentum and speed.

Well one afternoon this past week I was cleaning in the garage and saw his little bike. So I asked him if he'd like to give it a try again (he had tried earlier this fall, but just wasn't ready). This time he said okay - and after a few little tries to get going - he was off! Now he's so proud of his accomplishment. And he can get on and get going all by himself too - no further help needed. He still loves his lauftrad - but is excited to ride his other bike now too. We're proud of you too Silas!!!

Corn Harvest

One afternoon I went along with Jer. The kids enjoyed being with daddy. Shelby even got to drive the combine.

Resetting the Rocks

On Wednesday evening Grandpa and Jer took a break from combining corn. It was very windy - but otherwise a beautiful evening for resetting the JVE rocks. It is terribly dry here and the grass (and a few prickery weeds) were a bit rough on our hands (why didn't we wear gloves???) but we got the job done!

For more on the history of the JVE rocks follow this link to a previous post.

A photo before we got started....the rocks were pretty much hidden by the grass.

Sweet Hannah - she wasn't a huge fan of the wind....but did great supervising our work.

Getting started - we basically pick up each rock and move it over, pulling or laying down the grass underneath, so that it is once again visable.

A view back on the farm

Cousins Isaac and Levi (and Shaylee) with Grandpa

Shaylee, are you helping or just dancing around with a rock???

Looking good - great work from the crew

Nice photo of my sweet hubby and me

Once again you can see those letters

Outside with Shelby

Here are a few pictures of Shelby (and Silas) outside the past two days. She loves to head for the gravel and eat rocks. Silas is pretty protective of her and lets me know if she's got another one in her mouth. She is such a little stinker! She is watching her big bro and learning to throw rocks now too....fortunately she can't throw them too hard or too far yet...

Here Shelby is right before standing up...she goes from her butt, to one knee, up to standing and off walking as quick as can be. Its pretty amazing how she gets up - never using her hands to help her.

Here is little Miss Happy - she's pushing around her red car (which Shane actually got as a gift almost 11 years ago!) The little red car finally took a beating right before we moved back from Germany (the bigger kids where playing a little rough with it and broke off the back piece). So Shelby pushes it around backwards - but it still works - and she's a speedy little thing with it too.

oh and yes -notice the big white box....we've got a few too many of those around here yet....sigh.

Walking, Walking, Walking

In the past two weeks Shelby has started walking - at first it was just a step here and a step there - but recently it finally clicked with her and she is off and practically running! She is very steady on her feet and she just goes and goes. It is sort of sad to say good-bye to "little miss butt-scoot", but we are thrilled with her new found ability to walk, walk, walk. As seen in the picture - she loves to push around her baby doll. But her favorite place to walk is (take a guess) OUTSIDE! This little girl just LOVES to be outdoors...maybe I should get some photos of her out there.

All of a sudden she seems to be growing up way too fast!

Afternoon Drive

This afternoon we took a family drive -

There is just something about an afternoon drive with the family on a beautiful day...and these are Shelby's new favorite...can anyone guess why???

Moooo

Apple Tree

We finished picking all the apples on our trees today - kids had fun climbing the trees to get to the apples. Now to enjoy all those yummy apples...in pies, crisps, and just for everyday eating...you know what they say about an apple a day...

Good Morning Daddy

Bean Harvest

We've started the bean harvest and its been a busy week. The kids have enjoyed riding along in the tractor or in the combine with grandpa and daddy. Shelby especially LOVES to be with daddy. She was ALL smiles after her first ride....I think she has a thing for steering wheels too:)

I snapped this picture one afternoon after we brought daddy lunch in the field.

And this one when the whole family brought out supper.

Painting

We gave each of the kids' rooms a new look by adding some color! After 4 years of white walls in Germany - I'm so excited to have some color. And thanks to aunt Rachel we had a bunch of fun colors to choose from. Each of the kids helped a little in their rooms (see photos) but in actuality aunt Rachel and mommy did most of the work.

Shane just getting started....and the finished product!

In Silas and Shelby's room we went with John Deere colors. Silas ready for bed - this photo was taken before we got our furniture, luckily he at least had a matress on the floor.

In Sydney and Shaylee's room we went with pink, white and yellow. Fun and Bright! Shaylee is giving the room a big thumbs up! We have some additional decorating to do on their white wall - but wanted to get all their furniture and toys in place before we did so. Now that we have all our stuff I don't know when I'll get to adding finishing touches to their walls - mostly because their room is SOO messy....I don't know if I'll ever be able to get them to keep it picked up....at least it looks good in these pictures...not sure if I even dare take a picture of what it looks like right now (sigh).

We also did some painting in the kitchen and master bedroom. We have yet to do the bathroom and living room - but I do hope to get those accomplished sometime in the near future. Thanks again to aunt Rachel for all her help and painting expertise!

Evenings at the Lake

We've been able to enjoy several GORGEOUS evenings at the lake

Shelby loves to help daddy drive the boat...and she's figured out where the horn is too:)

Summer Snapshots

What's this....a blog post....can it be????

I know that posts have been FEW and FAR between the past few months. I could give you a long list of excuses...but I'll just be honest and say I haven't made the time to blog lately.

I have taken pictures all summer and now now its FALL already...and I've definately fallen behind. Even though I don't think I'll get all the posts I intended to post posted...I do hope to get a few out here and let you know that we are still alive and kicking!