Our Valentine's Date!!!

James and I got to go on a date while we were in Olivet.  We decided to go to Clara's On The River, where we had our first date, were engaged, and had our rehearsal dinner.  It's a little different when it's winter and you can't go outside.  We'll have to come back in the summer.  This was a fun night for me, I loved looking back to all of our special memories.

When we walked in we were joking about seeing some people from our past.  When we were seated I looked over at the table next to us, all long, full table.  There was a man that looked familiar and sitting right next to him was Adeline's first grade teacher, from Muskegon.  How funny is that :)

I'm going to have to put this picture in with all of the other picture I have of James and I here at Clara's On The River.

Already time to say good-bye :(

Our couple of days went by way too fast.  We are looking forward to the day when we won't have to say good-bye!  We love you Aunt Betsey so much and are so proud of you.

Time to read or play video games.....

Whenever we talk to Betsey either on phone or skype Andrew always asks where Joanne is.  Today he got to have a lot of time with her.  They played games on her phone while Adeline read to Aunt Betsey.

Flat Stanley, one of Adeline's favorite books!  Addy sent Betsey Flat Stanley in the mail so that he could have some adventures with her.  Aunt Betsey sent this back to Adeline's class and some day soon Adeline will be able to hear what Stanley did while out in Washington with Aunt Betsey!

Happy Birthday to Grandma

With Grandma's birthday being right after Christmas and right before Brooke's, then Mine, then Andrew and Gabby's and then Josh's it seems we haven't gotten together to celebrate it for the past couple of years.  So this year even though late and missing many we decided to celebrate.  We made Bourbon Chicken and rice for dinner and one of her favorite cakes.  Yum!  We had fun.  Happy birthday Grandma, we love you! 

I love this video....

Joanne had just gotten to the house and the kids pulled her into the piano room.  They were so excited to see her and just circled around her talking non-stop.  They love you Joanne.

Just a great picture....

I LOVE this picture.  Two happy kids with two of their favorite people.

Dance Party!!!

With Aunt Betsey back home we have to have a dance party!

Andrew's Angry Bird Towers

Andrew thought of a new way to play with his new Angry Bird stuffed animals.  He built his own towers with the blocks from downstairs and then knocked them down.  This might be a good way for Andrew to blow off some steam sometime when he starts to go stir crazy in the house.

Hooray for Aunt Betsey!!!!

Aunt Betsey tried really hard to make it to Andrew's party.  But due to some certain "crazy" complications she couldn't come until the Sunday after.  Adeline has Friday off for her Winter Break so Aunt Betsey and Grandma came up to spend the night and watch a movie on the big screen.  Aunt Betsey hadn't been to our house since she lived with us over two years ago.

To say the kids were excited would be an understatement.  Of course they came bearing gifts.  Andrew got his birthday present from Aunt Betsey which was an Angry Birds suitcase!!!!

And then since today is Valentine's Day Grandma had special bags for the kids to open.

These are two spoiled kids.  Not just with gifts but with lot's of love.

And it's time to celebrate the "older" Bean birthdays...

With Gabby and Andrew's birthday's right in-between Josh and my birthday's we always do a mini celebration after the party.  I tried to make sure this picture didn't make it look like Josh and I were a couple.  Last years did and Bethany had a lot of fun with it when it came time for she and James to celebrate their joint birthday :)  I think I originally had a pillow between us but it's not in this picture.

Anyways.....happy birthday to us.

Some kid pictures

Andrew and his buddies Brayden and Nick (and a little bit of Gabby)

Shelby has always reminded James and I of Sophie.  And here they are together.

Sophie is one smart lady!  I think I have a picture of her wearing this same helmet at Andrew's party last year.....

Matthias and Cade....

I was told to beware when the party was over before I went upstairs.  It was a crazy mess.  But I didn't have trouble cleaning it because the kids sure seemed to have a good time.

Addy and her two best buds Anna and Maya.  I think Anna has hit a growth spurt because she is just towering over Addy and Maya.  It might have something to do with her dad being 6'7".

I wanted a cousin's shot.  I didn't quite get the one I wanted but I am happy with this one.  I love how all of the kids have on Angry Birds, Star Wars, or Lego's t-shirts.

At the end of the night Al and Karrie were both upstairs with Shelby so we had Cade all to ourselves.  Josh got a Michigan chair for his birthday so we tricked Cade into sitting in the chair and saying "go state".  He had no idea he was sitting in a U of M chair.

Some of our adult guests

Of course the party wouldn't be complete if it were only the kids.  James and I are so thankful for the friendships we have been blessed with.  The ones that have been there for years and the new ones we are just forming.

Jill and Sara two very generous/giving people who I have learned a lot from.

The Rudd family has blessed James and I in many ways...two of the biggest reasons are right here in this picture.

Friends catching up

The Ellis family....we don't see them as much as we would like.  But when we do it is always special.  Hard to believe they will soon be a family of six.

Missy and Phil, our Florida buddies.

Thankful for our lifegroup and the relationships we have made.

Angela, Ryan, Jeff, Heidi and the newest addition Bryson.

Mom and Daughter.  

We need Betsey to make this picture complete.

Forte/ Windes Pictures....

It's not too often that I have my family all in the same place.  I wanted to take advantage of this moment and get a picture.  I am very thankful for everyone in this picture.

My Mom always says that if you stick me in the middle we all look like brother and sisters.  I think she is right.  If you take me out I don't think Aleisha and John look anything alike.  But I think I have a mix of both.