"He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich"

The Harvey Family Craig, Renee, Jemilla, Keegan and Tirzah visited us while they were in the States.
We met the Harveys while we lived in Hong Kong.
Renee's blog is wonderful and full of insight about Hong Kong life check it out here.

aussie aussie aussie! from outypants on Vimeo.


We tried to offer some very American experiences during their visit:

Doesn't get more American than our Independence Day. We went to a parade, had a BBQ and took in a Whitecaps baseball game.

Camping Trip to Nichols Lake

We haven't had many chances to camp as a family and the Harveys were gracious about our inexperience. Like forgetting the tents and a polite meeting with the police en route to retrieve tents. 

On the bright side, fireflies came out at twilight which was new for the Harvey kids.

The Dutch Village in Holland
This was the Sweeneys first time visiting here too.

Yesterdog

The Getty 4 Drive In

We watched Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University

Craig's Cruisers

Bowling at Hudsonville Lanes

I found it interesting some of the observations they had:
Drive- thru banking. Renee took a photo of me while I did this. Americans are all about convenience, like having a coffee shop inside our grocery store. I made a joke that Americans can never be more than a few feet away from refreshments or food.
Cheap housing in Michigan compared to Australia
Of course the contrast to the life in Hong Kong was mentioned once or twice.

We have always enjoyed the Harveys' company and are thankful to call them friends.  I hope one day to beat them at "500" around their dining room table in Australia.  

A something in a summers day..

The summer is over and I am finally beginning to blog about it.   I try to not overuse the phrase "I'm busy" because I think most people around me can say that about their life.  

Having responsibilities on this planet is enough to call ones life busy.  This summer I felt I had the right to use that word and the lack of updated post are partial proof that I have indeed been busy.

 I have categorized it as a good busy. 

We weren't busy being sick all the time, having to be in the hospital or dealing with adversity, we were entertaining company and getting as much out of a Michigan summer as we could.  

That is a blessed busy and I won't complain about it.

Anticipating summer I got a new bike this year. After test riding a few of them I settled on a Trek. This ride was taken shortly after the historic flooding that had occurred in Grand Rapids this spring. You can see the how high the water was by the lines in the trees.

The biggest news for us this summer was our relocation to Zeeland.

1809 32nd was our first home, the place where our kids went from cribs to beds and diapers to tricycles. Even when we lived overseas we came home every summer to the same house.

Watch your footing on corn and beans.

 We now share the road with tractors and get a good smell of farm life in our new location. 

I am happy with our new house and our neighbors seem friendly.

I love the natural light.

Holland State Park 

Elliot chose this outfit he said he looked like a Little Rascal. 

 Sweeney Brother reunion.  

Daddy daughter bike ride.

 Jane was part of the Homeschool softball team. This volunteer run program, was perfect for us this summer. One day a week and cheap.  They were not strict on what you needed to wear either.  Jane forgot to put on her sneakers and played this game in her boots.  I was not happy about this, reminding her that running would be difficult. I was also thinking I would be looked at as the mom who let her daughter play in boots. Because that is what mom's do, we feel responsible every time our kid has a dirty face, mismatched socks, or forget their manners.  I felt better once I noticed a girl playing in flip-flops, what was her mom thinking? Ha..  
To Jane's credit every time she played she got a hit within three tries and got on base. Only once did she fail to get a run in.

The Arnold family had a reunion this summer too.

two swims from outypants on Vimeo.

faygo from outypants on Vimeo.

K bike ride from outypants on Vimeo.

Take me out to the ball game- first of the year..

Last year was summer baseball.  

The kids got to see two minor league teams and two Major League the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers, but not our favorite team the Tigers.

The Tigers had a game on Memorial Day this year. 

The season opens in April. In Michigan that means there is a chance of snow and freezing temperatures, so I usually don't care about going early in the season.   If I was offered free tickets behind home plate I might say yes.

But Memorial Day is almost June, usually the snow is melted and we have temperatures above 50 degrees.

Parking can cost up to $30. Nathan found this free place to park. It is Detroit, so I understand why people pay $$ for secure parking, but it was a day game we took our chances.

  I have no connections to Detroit, I never lived there, never had family on that side of the state and I rarely visited it as a kid. Yet my heart breaks for the condition of the city and I would like to see it be redeemed.  It is like rooting for the underdog to win. It has potential to be a better place, but poverty,corruption,greed have taken their toll, I pray the decent people who care about the city and who live there get a chance to run it, manage it and make it better. 

We showed up early for batting practice.  Always hoping to get a free ball.
 There are things about the world of professional sports that are frustrating. The kids were watching the Pirates practice not the Tigers.  A lot of baseball organizations don't open up their home batting practices. I am not sure the reason, maybe they don't want the stadium full of people before the game? Maybe they don't want too many distractions for the players?  Nathan said some teams allow you to watch the home practice if you PAY more.  The millions of dollars that flow through baseball and they still find ways to charge you more money.

The kids certificates, congratulating them on their first Tiger's game. It included a poster of Tori Hunter, a player we like.

My highlight was seeing the Tiger's Justin Verlander pitch.  Justin is one of the best pitchers in all the major league.  I was recently asked what is my favorite part about baseball and it is the pitching.  Throwing a ball at 90 MPH and having it do what you want isn't that easy, and I think it takes skill and strength of mind to be a good pitcher.  

Alas, it is Michigan and even May cannot guarantee warm weather. It was drizzly and below 60 degrees. we were in  the cheap seats which had the coverings and at least we didn't get wet.  Dad kept the kids warmer inside his jacket. 

Towards the end everyone was so cold they just wanted the game over. Thankfully the closing pitcher finished up and the Tigers won the game and we got to go home.

Critter Camp

Last year we made a trip to the Critter Barn in Zeeland with Carissa and Benjamin. 

 Click here to read that post.

It was then I learned that the farm has a volunteer program for kids ages 8 to 12.  The kids pay to attend something called "Critter Camp" where they learn about the animals and the farm. Once they graduate from the program, they are allowed to volunteer and help out at scheduled times throughout the year.

  We don't have any pets in our house. I love animals and I wouldn't mind owning a few, but so far I feel they require more effort than our family can give. 

 Currently they kids are reading books to earn some pet fish. 

We have reached the decision that we can be fish owners. 

I was all for signing the kids up to volunteer, this allows them to be around animals and get that experience, without me being the one to supply it.  

 Elliot was not interested. When we went to pick up Jane up after camp. He asked if he could stay in the van with the windows rolled up because he couldn't stand the smell. I think we have a city boy on our hand. 

Jane says the goats were her favorite part of the camp.

Having lunch in the loft.

I am looking forward to all the farm knowledge Jane will bring home and share. 

Its about Tulip Time

I have been a Grand Rapidian since December 1998. In all those years I have never made it to the Tulip Festival in Holland. 

The festival takes place in Holland, Michigan 

which is about 25-30 minutes away from my house.

West Michigan is Dutch country, with several last names that are Van-something and something- inga.  

My great-grandmother was Dutch, so this is even part of my own heritage. 

There are several reasons for our lack of attendance to Tulip Time. We were not in the country during the festival for a little while.  Weather.. Some years the forecast was 40 and rainy, since a majority of events take place outdoors this wasn't appealing to me. Last year I heard it was called stem fest. The unseasonably warm winter messed up the bloom time of the tulips.  These are a few excuses.  This year I was determined to go for at least one day.

Not sure why, They are too loud, scuff the floor?
I wonder if you see this kind of sign in the Netherlands.

The flowers were impressive, we only made it to one of the patches of flowers that was in walking distance.
 Next year I would like to drive over to the large farm that has acres of blooming tulips. 

Only one of our kids was interested in being photographed.
Our first visit to this historic festival and I have no family photo to commemorate it.
Maybe next year, we will find some dutch hats and visit the parade, watch a traditional dutch dance and have happy children who will be glad to get their photo taken. Some of my hopes for Tulip Time 2014. And next year it will only be about a 10 minute drive from our new house, making it possible for us to visit more than one day.

Have I mentioned we are glad the weather has warmed up?  Rolling down the green grass, an indication of winter's end here in Michigan.

time for tulips from outypants on Vimeo.

American Heritage Girl and Kids Fine Arts or what Jane has been doing

Jane is part of an organization called American Heritage Girls. How we describe it, it is like Girl Scouts but it is Christian based.  

These pictures are from a mother daughter tea we had.  

All events coincide with badges the girls can earn. 

Our tea cups were our Hong Kong market cups, Kate's cup is a third generation antique cup set, I thought her mother was brave allowing her to use it.

The girls reciting some facts on tea etiquette. 

KIDS FINE ARTS

The church we belong to host a fine arts exhibit every year. All Assembly of God churches are invited to participate. This year it was held in Battle Creek, MI. The home of Kellogg cereal.
  A person can sing,dance, play an instrument, drama, human video, preach, and submit artwork. When the kids reach youth group they have a national level, but kids fine arts is only a state level. This year's theme was Finishing the Race. 

Jane made a dance up to Toby Mac's "lose myself." 
Toby Mac and Britt Nicole are two very popular Christian artist, their songs were featured several times during KFAF.

Jane also was part of a Human Video Group. They acted out the story of Samson. The point of Fine Arts is for kids to use their talents for God. So everything has to be Christ centered and be a way to minister to others.

Jane in the Choir. I didn't get a picture of her dance group because I only took video.  She was in four groups this year! 

Having fun after all their events are done. 

Spring arrived on this day, this was the first warm day we had so we took as much opportunity to be outside. Nathan keeping Elliot and the Krohn boys busy. 

Abigail Krohn performed a drama solo she received the highest points in that category.

Jane made a lego sign and a lego image of herself in her Fine Arts clothes.

kfaf from outypants on Vimeo.