We have a spider that has built a very large web just outside our kitchen window.  We are all fascinated by him and completed gross out at the same time.   We have watched him build his web and kill many bugs over the past week.   

It was been a little difficult to get a good photo of him.   He crawls around in his web when we get close and that scares all of us.   Ethan and I were able to get this photos the other night.   Ethan held a flashlight right at him in his web and I quickly snapped a few photos. 

How long will he stay?   I can't answer that question.   No one has volunteer to remove him, so he's staying for now.   It's nice to have a little entertainment while we are washing dishes.  

 Wow.  I can't begin to explain how crazy life has become since school has started.  

I am teaching 12 credit hours this semester and also working my Athletic Training job for about 10 hours a week.   I have been gone every evening for a couple of weeks.   This Weekend I taught a continuing education class all weekend.   In between my paying jobs. I am coordinating the family schedule and running kids to events. 

All 3 kids are playing soccer this fall.  I have only been able to watch Ben play and hope to catch a little action from the other 2 later this week. Ben has been playing for a Soccer Club team in Gilbert and has enjoyed the transition.  His good friend Kyle is also playing on his team, so that has been great to share rides.  Here in this picture he is playing against a friend from hockey.   Ben and Kyle are in gray and Preston is in the Red Jersey. 

Ben  was also accepted to play in the 7th grade Jazz band.   He is playing his Orchestra Bass and a Bass guitar.   He thinks the guitar is way more fun.   He's doing a great job.  Jazz band is outside school hours, so that does require a little coordination. 

Ethan is busy with Soccer as well.  I hope to have a few photos later this week.   He has also decided to play Cello in the 4th grade Orchestra.    He had a really hard time deciding, but I think he has enjoyed it thus far.  

 Nadia has excelled in her first month of Kindergarten.   She has made lots of new Friends, and is excited to go to school everyday.   She is also playing soccer this Fall with Dad as her coach.  More photos to come.  
 

We are about 1/2 through our first week of Back to School.   All 3 are in school this year.  Which is quite a change for me.   The House has been quiet.  I hope that means I can get more things accomplished during the day.    That is yet to be seen, I tend to get a little distracted by shiny websites and glittery scrapbook pages.  

B is in 7th grade and once again has a pretty full schedule.  He is still playing the Bass for Orchestra, and Percussion for Band.  He is also trying out for Jazz band where he hopes to play his bass or borrow the bass guitar from church. 

He likes his teachers and has had a fairly light homework load.   So far is biggest complaint is that school is dumb.   What else could a 12 year old boy say.  

He still takes the bus, which makes it super easy for me. 

E is now in 4th grade.   It's really had to believe that he has only 2 more years of elementary school.    He really likes his teacher and I have heard great things about her from other people.  

He is still reading, reading, reading.  Often instead of completing his other chores, but I guess it could be worse. 

He is disappointed that he will be walking to school this year instead of taking his bike.  But he now has to walk his little sister to and from school.  I suspect that will be his biggest challenge this year.  

N is in Kindergarten!  I can't describe to you how excited she was for her first day.  The kindergarten has 2 days of meet the teacher before they come for the whole day.   She did not need the time to transition.   I wonder if the school district should consider a easy entry for the 7th graders.   They seem to need more adjustment time!  

She loves her new teacher and is making new friends. She is currently working on tying her shoes.  She almost has it figured out.

I hope and pray that they all will have a great year.

By the way,  I start teaching on Friday.   I will have a heavy load with 12 credit hours.  High school football is in full swing.        So life is already busy. 

August 12,1921 - Cornelia Van Zee Vos was born. 

August 12, 2011  She celebrated her 90th birthday with Friends and Family. We really enjoyed our afternoon and evening together as family.   To explain the magnitude of this event,  I will give you a few numbers.

• 10 children and spouses
• 30 grandchildren and spouses
• 25 great grandchildren with 2 more announced for early 2012

We are only missing about 7 from that total.
Our family also collected a few frequent flyer miles.  We literally arrived from all over the world.  Here's a few places:

• London, England
• Panama City
• Los Angeles
• Atlanta
• Philadelphia
• Kentucky
• Denver
• Grand Rapids, MI

With many of us driving from parts of Iowa.

I can't really describe to you how much fun it was.   I saw cousins that I had not seen in years.  I met their spouses and children.  I heard stories about their lives.   We all told stories about Grandma and reminisced about how our lives very shaped by Grandma.   It was extremely evident how much we all love this dear woman.    Happy Birthday Grandma.  

The 5 children

The children and spouses

Grandchildren and spouses

Great Grandchildren.  I am not sure why B and P missed this photo. 

Our family.  

Hello my dear Family, Friends and Followers,

As you can see,  somewhere in late spring and early summer,  I lost my interest in this blog.  I am sure that is not a big surprise to you.  Recently, I have heard from several of you that you miss my blog updates, and I am truly sorry.  I  have missed the way this blog has helped me keep track of my life. 

I am hear to tell you that I am back.   I can not guarantee a specific number of  posts per week or other such craziness, but I will try to get  little more regular with my posts.  


Thanks for sticking with me.  

Rosalie

Have you seen this book? 










I have 2 layouts published in this book.   I was pretty excited when they selected these pages about 1 year ago.    I can finally share the pages with you. 
On page 83, you will find this page:  

On page 76, you will find this one:

Back in January,  I earned 2 free photo books from Shutterfly and Best Buy.  
Needless to say, I had Grand intentions, but needed to quickly get those books finished since they expired on June 30.   The first book is our 2010 year in review.  I used Jessica Sprague's One Year templates to make this one quickly.  

Click here to view this photo book larger

The second book is our family vacation from July 2010.  We took a big trip to Ottawa Ontario.  This book documents our days on the road.  

Click here to view this photo book larger