Elbow Lake Lodge 2009: "Beckering Family Vacation"

The Family Picture...not too bad for 8 kids and 8 adults

Nathan is not so into picture taking

Mom and Dad

Darin, Tricia, Brayden, and Breanna

Dan, Laura, Bennett, Caleb, Kylie, and Avery

Family picture with the lodge in the background

One night we had a water balloon toss and the little kids had fun popping their balloons

What a little man

Three of the four girl cousins playing in the sand

On a boat ride to check out the rest of Elbow Lake

Look at that cute body

Grandma on baby duty

Ella is quite the lover...giving Breanna a hug

Nathan has taken attachment to his blanket and sucking on his lower lip

Ella is stealilng the show

"hamming" it up for the camera

We decided to do a "cousin" birthday party to celebrate everyone's birthday. We had cake and lots of gifts.

The other boat that went out for a ride

This picture makes Tim look short

Plying together in the water

Look at Ella's cool sunglasses

Nathan is ready to go surfing

It was a little cold in at the beginning of the trip, but that didn't stop us from getting on the beach

Look at Avery's classic way to suck on her fingers. It is so cute now, but not for long right Laura!

Nathan and Ella got camp chairs for their birthday presents

This is Nathan and neigbor Bennet checking out the truck before we packed it up for our move

How much is that baby in the window?

Nathan and Ella in the back of G. Beckeirng truck ready to head up to Elbow Lake

Nathan loves his blankie

Taken on Father's Day. Love you Daddy!

Grandma came and stayed with us for 2 weeks to help with the move. Here she is entertaining Ella and Nathan by painting their toe nails

Saying goodbye to my Brees Way neighbors. Oh... I will miss them

I couldn't resist!!!!!!

Our First Time at the Zoo and more

Nathan and Ella having a loving moment

Waiting patiently for lunch

Can you say "cheesy" smile

Nathan having some crackers after a hard play outside

Ella cashed out early for her nap on Daddy

Precious

Nathan snooping some whip cream

Ella and Nathan checking out the bear

Nathan was not afraid at all to touch the goats

Someone loves being outside

"all aboard"

Nathan and Malachi

"Giddy up"

All the cousins loving the Zoo

Feeding the ducks

A baby shower for my friend Annette

Great friends.. Becca, me, and Annette

This past Monday, I took the twins to the Zoo with Aunt Jessica and cousins Malachi and Sam. We had a great time. The weather was perfect and the twins did so good just being in the stroller looking at all the animals and people. They really like being able to pet the goats. We had a little picnic afterwards and the babies took a great nap.  I helped host a baby shower for one of my girlfriends from out small group. It was so much fun getting ready for the shower and hanging out and catching up with Becca and Annette.  Ella and Nathan love the outdoors and I love it too.  We go outside as much as we can. We take walks, play on our toy scooters, and playing with our neighbors.

Some exciting updates

We sold our house!!!!!!!! It is still surreal to us. It happened last weekend. We had a couple come through the house on Friday. They made an offer on Saturday, we counter-offered on Saturday night and they accepted on Sunday afternoon. Yes....that is how fast it happened. I will be honest to say that I was not really prepared to move from my house or my neighborhood. We have wonderful neighbors, including one of them who is our babysitter. We like our house and with Tim being somewhat out of commission, we were prepared and okay with being here for the summer. We are again reminded that God is in control and His timing is best. So, "now what?" you might ask. We have decided to rent for awhile. We are totally sure where we want to live (some of that depends on where Tim finds a more permanent job) or where we will find a house we like. We know the general area, but thought it would be a bit too much to figure that all out in 5 weeks (we have to be out by June 22). One of my co-workers is moving away for a year and they were looking for someone to rent out their house for a year. We took a look at it and decided it would be a perfect fit for us and for them. We will be living in Georgetown Forest (in Hudsonville). We are excited for this new transition in our lives. We covet your prayers and we get things packed up and pray the twins will transition okay.

As for other updates. Last Saturday, I ran a 10K in downtown Grand Rapids. It felt good to get back into running. Unfortunately, it rained for most of the six mile run, but at least it was warm and there was no rain. It got me motivated to do more training, maybe a half marathon in the fall, but we'll see!
The twins are doing good. Still loving the outdoors. Not too many more words, but lots of gibberish. Nathan has an obsession with our vacuum and so I found a play vacuum on a garage sale and he follows me all over the house "vacuuming."

Lunch Time.....can be messy!

April Fun

Ella and Mom

Ella in her spring dress

Nathan in his new spring shirt for church

Saturday coffee at the park

Anna and Ella

Nathan and Ella like to dip pretzels in hummus. Who knew!

Vroom...Vroom....

Nathan...where's your pants

Hey goof ball

We love to look out the window

These boots are made for walking

Where are you going

Ella loves to dress up in anything. Now she is into rain boots. I picked them up at a garage sale and she wears them with everything

Having a snack after our naps

Outside fun

Can we live outside mom?

Ella loves her car

Here are some pictures of the month of April. Cannot believe May is right around the corner. Hope you enjoy!

Nathan's first haircut

Nathan loves to throw balls

This is a couple weeks old, but cute. Nathan would throw the ball and then quickly fold his hands. I have several short videos of it, but I think this one was the best. They come up with something new all the time

Ella dancing to "Wheels on the bus"

It is slightly hard to hear the music from the play bus, but Ella loves to dance to it. She like to balance on her knees and shake her butt. So cute. Tim thought I dressed up Nathan like he worked at Best Buy. Oh well, he was dressed, that is the main point.

A new place to hide

So the twins found a new place to hide. Pretty cute, but I think the cupboard could be bigger!

Tim updates: Well, I wish I could say things are improving, but he still is having pressure and pain. He actually went today and got the cast taken off. He had a new and looser one put on last week Tuesday, but still felt like the cast was the culprit. He feels better, but has some new pain issues. I have come to the conclusion that it is going to be a long road yet and pressure and pain are going to be a part of it. Hopefully he can start to put his foot down a little more now that the cast is off. They actually encourage him and want him to try and keep his leg down for most of the day and just put it up when needed. So it will be a slow road, but we are prayerful for a complete recovery. The twins continue to keep us busy. They are now re acclimated to G & G Stuive's house and have spent some time there when I work. It is so nice to have family here to help and the twins love it there. Nathan got his haircut this past Saturday by Tim. I will post some video or photos soon. He looks more like a toddler now. Ella is next. They continue to amaze us at what they understand and mimic. For instance: we go and look at the horses across from our sub division when we take a walk. I often would pick some grass and let the horses eat out of my hand and wouldn't you know it, but Nathan and Ella love to reach down on the carpet, grass, dirt, or where ever and mimic me feeding the horses. They are so cute that way. No words yet, but they do have their own little gibberish. Nathan and Ella love the outdoors. They could be out their rain or snow! We spend a lot of time outside and it helps to tire them out at night!!!!!!!!!!!!! Other than that not too much. I'll try post some other videos soon.

Lunch Time

Here is Nathan and Ella after they were finished eating lunch. They can be such characters!

updates on Tim

Tim after surgery ready to go home!

Whew.......it has been awhile since I have updated. Life has changed a little bit around here and I have not had enough time or energy to blog. Tim is doing as good as can be expected. He did great through the surgery. They did a nerve block to his leg and so he was without any pain for 36 hours. At first it was scary not to know how long he would have a numb leg, but when the block wore off and the pain started, I think he wished the nerve block could have lasted for a week!!!!!!!!! He still is having pain (or pressure is the best way to describe it). He is slowly decreasing his amount of Vicodin, but still needs it. I think we were both hoping the pain would be a little less almost two weeks out, so we'll see what the doctors have to say Wednesday when he goes in to get his stitches out and get a permanent cast put on for 4 weeks. Tim reads lots of books to the the babies and will play with them on the floor for a little while. At first, I think Ella and Nathan knew something was different with daddy, but now if he gets down on the floor and plays with him, the same old dad is back! I seem to be managing okay. I cannot say enough to everyone who has helped out with the babies or has brought us a meal. It is wonderful to have such support. I have still been working part time. We have manged to figure out a daycare schedule on my weird shift hours. Tim's parents are now back from Florida, so they now can help out too. We ask and covet your prayers that Tim's Achilles is healing and stays free from infection. We also pray that the pain will lessen and he can get around a little more without having his toes go purple! And finally, I would love a prayer for strength and endurance. I get down now and then, not having my active, very helpful husband there to help me. We know God works in mysterious ways and I feel closer to him and yearn for him even more during this time. Thanks for all your support and prayers!