Memories that Swirl.

My grandmother sewed for me as a child and as a teenager and a bit as an adult. Until I was in 3rd grade I can't remember wearing any dress that wasn't made by her hands.

But now my Grandma sews for Grace. I can see the joy that it brings both of them but my Grandma especially. I took Grace over to my Grandmas today for a final fitting of a new skirt. After Grace put it on my Grandma began to pin the waist band and Grace began to squirm. And this is when the memories began to swirl. Memories of trips to the fabric store to pick out patterns and fabrics. The sound of the sewing machine whizzing away. I could remember myself at 6 years old being fitted for a skirt with my Grandma's cold fingers and the fear of being poked by pins. And my Grandmothers words...Well hold still or I'm going to poke you. And that is exactly what she said to Grace with the same sweet smile on her face and chuckle in her voice.

I hope Grace remembers this some day. Its the simple stuff that is held most important to me most of the time.

Bellingham Bells Game with Gma and Gpa Boat

Gma and Gpa Boat took us to the Bells game on Sunday night and spoiled us to the max. About an hour before we left I told Brian I wasn't sure that going was going to be a good idea because everything was making Grace cry that afternoon. Turns out my worry was for nothing because we all had a good time and the kids were both well behaved and enjoyable to have out in public;) They both got baseballs and Elliot was able to get several autographs on his.

The whole experience was great. The team has done a lot of work to clean up the park and everyone we interacted with was super friendly and helpful. And Hot Dogs are only $3 which I feel is super reasonable for an outing such as this. They have tons of activities for the kids to be involved in during the game to keep them occupied, which were very exciting;)


Brian and Elliot...not sure what Elliot is doing with his face.? I do know that he has a new air about him in his last month of being 7, my mom says he has a swagger:)


Elliot and Grace with Dinger the Mouse, the team mascot.

After our experience I would totally recommend this activity for a family to attend. So fun...I am hoping we get a chance to go again!

Thanks Gma and Gpa Boat!

My children are blessed.....

My children are so blessed. They are surrounded by so much love and care, they should be bursting at the seams. They have great grandparents and grandparents coming out of their ears and they all spoil them in their own ways.

This past weekend their Great Gma and Gpa VP took them and some of their cousins to see Alice Through The Looking Glass at the theater downtown. It was a treat( I got to go to). Gpa and Gma had been the week before and decided that it would be the perfect outing for their grandkids. The kids loved it.



Thanks Gma and Gpa for taking us, we all had a great time.

Grandpa.....

BJ has a grandpa and he is mine too. I am so lucky to have him.....we are so lucky to have along with the rest of our family.

He is a man with much wisdom, strength, confidence, and most of all love. You don't get to greet Grandpa without a hug and you don't usually leave him without one either. He is everyone of his grandkids biggest fans and this includes me and anyone else who is lucky enough to be married in.

We have a history you know, he is the one behind Brian and I dating again and the one who told us we might as well just get married its inevitable. He tells me all the time how lucky BJ is to have me and then finishes with and you are awful lucky to have BJ as well. I know this, beyond reason. I also know that with BJ came a whole slew of family, family that sticks together through the good and bad, family that is always there when you need them, I can name a number of occasions when we felt so alone and had a knock on the door or a kind word from an aunt, uncle or grandpa himself.

Now next to Grandpa you can almost be guaranteed to see Grandma and behind them and in front of them is a legacy....one that can be seen, one that can be attested to, one to be proud of and thankful to God for. No we are not perfect, and I am pretty sure none of us would claim to be but we have one thing in common and one thing you will hear Grandpa and Grandma claim for each of us and that is a love for Jesus our Saviour and God our Father in Heaven.

I got to watch Grandpa be a part of something tonight along with much of his family...the musical review in celebration of Lynden Christians 100th year celebration. You see it is pretty much tradition to be involved in the musical program at LC if you have VanderPol in your blood. And it is pretty much tradition to sing at every large family gathering especially Christmas if you are part of the VanderPol Family. So to see so many members of the family on the stage with Grandpa was not a huge surprise. What a gift to be able to watch him do something he loves surrounded by the people he loves. What a gift to see his children look at him with love and admiration and I am sure many memories in their eyes. It left tears in mine. I am glad I got to see it, I am glad my children got to see it. I am glad my husband was able to be a part of it alongside one of the people he loves and looks up to the most...his Grandpa.

I could go on and on...but mostly I just want to say thank you Grandpa for being you and caring on so many traditions that will be carried on for many years to come. We blessed far beyond these words!

A Couple of posts for Granny

Yes they have coca cola in Disneyland we ate at the Coca Cola refreshment spot today. Hotdogs yummy!!

Elliot and Grannys Grandpa

Elliot letting Grandpa rock out to his new tunes....Alvin and the Chipmunks, Noggin tunes and Kids Praise.

Elliot and Grannys Grandpa

Elliot is letting Grandpa borrow his new tunes for some rock out time.