If I Could Call You...

...I'd tell you about all the funny stories the girls have created recently and how big the kids are getting.

You'll love this one; I was so embarrassed.

The neighbors have a pussy willow tree that falls a little into our carport and the Little's noticed the fuzzy's in the sky. I decided to cut a small branch for the girls and used some others to display inside.
So far pretty innocent. Just wait.

The next day, when Myriam came home from school, the girls picked up their pre-cut stems, ran to the swings and around the backyard giggling and yelling at the top of their lungs, "Pussy, pussy, pussy!!!" One of those moments my hand couldn't get to their mouths fast enough as the neighbors were also enjoying the early spring sunshine listening to the vulgar sayings coming from the mouths of our little babes. 

Little, sweet baby number four continues to impress us with her knowledge and understanding of things no two year should know at her age. She sings to us, tells us her letters, points out her planets and can count when asked to. The unfortunate part of having a sponge for a mind and having older mouths coming and going is what she takes in when we don't realize it's even being said. Young uncle taught Bee a potty name that she repeats all the time not knowing what it means. Then, when I was being Mom and telling Bee not to play with the toilet brush and plunger, she looked up at me and scolded me stating, "That's b.s." 

Imagine my shock. Yeah. Not happy. Not sure where she heard that, but I'm telling myself it was a one time deal. Mom fail. 

Dad's been stepping up to the role of babysitter and doing a dang good job. He's still a major softy and can sometimes lose control of the situation easily which makes me laugh. One kid ate a shovel of dirt on his watch. Another time the diaper wasn't put on correctly as the little butt was a moving target which resulted in the next diaper draining down the leg. No painters tape was used though so I see it as improvement. Makes me laugh.

If I could call you, I know I'd hear you laughing hysterically to the chaos that unfolded.
I also know I'd hear you saying how proud you are of the Man Cub who is nailing his guitar lessons and doing awesome. Kid always has loved music and has a goal to play worship songs around our fire pit this summer. 

He's also good at spending money at Fairway Drug. Mama was not happy when he shared with me he spent $25 on candy and who knows what else. Almost made him return the junk, but most was already consumed. Maybe he misses all the spoiling and shopping trips by you and was trying to make up for that loss. Either way, I'm not sure I trust him with a nickel let alone a dollar bill!

Music seems to be a theme in the home actually. Myriam wants to take violin lessons and may start soon. She walks around with water bottles and sticks pretending to play. It's cute. I think the classical music and high range of notes could be soothing to her. 

I think you'd be floored knowing Addi is performing in her first musical this week. Yep, on stage, in a costume, in front of people and not shuddering in fear or backing off because she's shy. She privately teaches herself ukulele and just today, after two years, had her braces removed. 

It's terrifying. The pure beauty and innocence scares me. 

If I could call you I'd plan our trip to the tulip fields, but instead I'll tend to my own and wait in anticipation for the pink bulbs to bloom. The dogwood trees are showing signs of wanting to burst with pink flowers reminding me of how you loved spring and blossoms. Fragrant reminders throughout the gardens that make me smile when pulling weeds, trimming vines and yes, getting rid of the dead possum Addi stumbled on under the kitchen window. So gross. So ugly. 

If you could only see how fantastic Dad and Mom look. Crazy. You can't find anything sweet or crappy to eat in the house because it all has this healthy theme to it... unless Dad has treats hiding somewhere and not telling me. Baby brother wore his skirt again last weekend and rocked it playing the drums. 

If I could call you...

Well, the honest truth is that you did. No joke. They put your number back in service and gave it to some lady locally! Miss Bee grabbed my phone months ago and ended up calling you, well this person, hanging up and then that number called me back. Oh you would have been bent over laughing at me when I answered. I had a conversation with myself out loud as this stranger listened in confusion to me. 

"Traci, is that you? No wait you're dead. Traci? Come on it can't be her. You know better. 

Is this 319-XXXX? Are you Traci. Steph, come on. Get it together. Hello?"

Turns out this lady (I actually thought she was a man until she corrected me because her voice was so deep and raspy. I secretly gave her the name of Ol' Smokey.) got stuck on a family thread and after weeks of receiving these threads started to ask about our cousin. Next thing I know Ol' Smokey wanted me to come to her house and tell her what was needed to be approved as a foster home for her grandkids. I think Smokey thought she'd found a new best friend. Seriously, I think you planned this one just to give me some more crazy in my life. The extended family certainly got a good laugh from this too. 

If I could call you...

Well, if I were to be totally honest with myself...

I don't think you'd answer. 

If I were walking the streets of gold with Jesus and all my Bible Hero's, I'd let the machine take a message and send memories in the budding season and hummingbirds too. 

I know this because you did this week.

Until we can sit together and have eternal chats, keep the birds coming. 

I miss you sister. 

Our Summer Dayz Recap

Another sizzling summer with high temps, seldom bored kids and nap times to squeeze into our playtime. Addison had many successful lemonade stands again this year and almost weekly dips with her bestie at Grandma's pool. Charlie continued his American Ninja Warrior training with all the neighborhood boys as well as more football card trading and cycling. The kids did the usual stop in for food, go to friends, grab more food, onto the next house and back again to make the rotation in the afternoon. 

A few more highlights were...

Addi and Annie volunteering at Day Camp while Charlie went as a camper

LC Basketball Camp

Birthday Parties

Swimming lessons with Teacher Shannon

Edaline Ice Cream 

3 on 3 Razz Festival Tournament

Sleepovers

Charlie going on work trips with Daddy

Motorcycle Rides 

Blueberry Picking

and enjoying summers best with BBQ's.

 The little girls loved going on bike rides this past summer. Even if they were short rides around the corner or longer ones to visit friends; they ended with smiles or tears. Last month, when some of our Portland friends were visiting, Myriam insisted on riding her friends' bike with no training wheels. With zero prior help, and only time on Baylee's balance bike, our super girl Myriam adamantly said she could do this. And you know what...SHE DID! Tessa didn't get her bike back the rest of the afternoon as Mimi was so proud of herself and excited to be free of training wheels!

Confessions From a Campsite Playground

“This is my rubber horsey not my plastic one. It’s just soft rubber. I don’t mind if I share my horse with you. It’s actually not even a horse; it’s a pony. My Mommy only buys me the plastic ones because they're cheap.” said four year old Mia. 

With a few bangs inches longer than the rest, she continued to sputter her words at me with a slight lisp as neither seemed to bother her conversation or the fact that I was a complete stranger. 

“My Daddy didn’t come camping with us because he doesn't like to camp so he stayed home and worked on our house in said city because he does good work on a big tractor and my Mommy does good with a tent. That’s my friend, but I sometimes don’t like to share with her and these are her horses that she brought here.”

Looks Guilty

Mommy: Myriam, what are you eating? Did you eat chocolate?

Myriam: (with chocolate smudges in the corner of her mouth) No.

Mommy: Are you sure you're telling me the truth?

Myriam: (shakes her head yes)

Mommy: I won't be mad if you tell me the truth but if you lie to me I'll be very upset.

Myriam: I didn't do anything.

She then turns around and starts to walk away from me 

WITH THE EVIDENCE STUCK TO HER BACK!

I only needed to say "Myriam" and she redirected her steps to the wall sit without me even asking. 

Looks guilty. Tastes guilty. Found guilty.

Just Laugh Mom

Sunday afternoon Tim and I hosted a simple Christmas dinner for the YWAM staff here at home. To make life easier, my parents took the younger girls and requested an overnight sleepover. 

Sure. Sounds innocent. 

Yeah, not so much. 

Our guests left and I quickly checked my phone to see how the little ladies were doing. I believe my initial response was something like, "OH NO!" I think Tim thought something much more terrible had happened. 

"I only left her for a minute," said Mom with tears. 

I'm not sure who or what she was more afraid of; my response or how it would be fixed.

There is no recovering from something like this. 

Let me reminded you all too, this is the third offense with the scissors. 

The first time HERE. The second time HERE.

I quickly called Mom and hearing the terror in her voice, I reminded her to laugh because in the process of this horrific act being committed, no one was 

sliced or diced with the craft scissors and somehow it will grow back. 

In Myriam's defense, she was trying to look like Nana which she accomplished quite well. 

Funnies...

Too often, Tim and I remind ourselves to write these things down, 
but seldom get to it. 

The raw humor of Myriam has us laughing, sharing with family and wishing we had Go Pro cameras on to capture her personality in action. 

Last week Monday as I went to sign out Addison from school, Myriam called Barkley Regal Cinemas from my phone, asking about movie options. Myriam with a puzzled and upset voice said,

"Addi, Tangled isn't in the movie theater anymore! Is Jungle Book in theaters?" That's when Addison heard another voice say. "No, Jungle Book is not in theaters anymore, but I can tell you what movies are."

How she managed to call anyone is still in question as my phone, for this very reason, is password protected! 

Fourteen Years Later...

Life has taken on a different landscape than what was fourteen years ago. Never could we have predicted the course our marriage would take, but never would we trade it in. 

Happy Anniversary Love!

What Not To Do...

Yesterday, all three kids visited the dentist for their six month cleaning. I was surprised to hear that Addi and Charlie had zero cavities with Myriam needing some extra attention to a few of her pearly whites. Myriam had everyone laughing (no surprise there) with her usual witty remarks such as, 

"You are crunching me up!"

That was what followed the laughter when she ask Dr. G if all the ladies, better known as assistants, were his girlfriends. 

Needless to say, it was a lighthearted, successful visit including the advice to floss which most patients hear after every dental cleaning. 

Well, Myriam took it seriously after using her token coin to get her prize.

This is what TO do:

This is what NOT to do:

You can imagine my surprise when we were no more than five minutes out of the parking lot hearing the screams of terror from the back carseat. 

My first compassionate motherly response was to chuckle. No judgement, you all would have laughed too. 

Next was to shamefully call the office and tell them I am making a U-turn back to the office for a ring removal. Once there, Dr. G asked what the heck happened and I politely said, "Well, you told her to floss!" 

(I actually think she was trying to open the ring wider to fit her cute chubby fingers, but the story sounds better if she was trying to floss.)

A look with the mirror to see exactly where the ring was lodged, a distraction question to Myriam and quick tug on the ring and it was out. She sliced her gums pretty good, but nothing that prevented her to jump gleefully out of the chair after being told she could have two tokens for two prizes. 

You'll be happy to know that the rings will now be removed from 

Dr. G's Token Tower. 

Myriam leaves her mark everywhere and the staff certainly will be hearing about this adventure at their next study group!

No Bites While Off the Grid

Traditions are timeless regardless of the event, time or place. Whether there are years that go by not participating or faithful attenders, a tradition brings back memories of the past and creates new ones for the future. Hefley Lake, near Sun Peaks in Kamloops, BC, is one of those traditions that carries many memories for Tim along with the Vander Pol family. 

Last year Tim and Charlie, as well as Erik and Nolan, took a fishing trip to Hefley Lake stirring up a desire to take the entire family. So, in attempts to recreate the traditions of the past, we drove north to unplug and 

have some needed family time.

The Hitch and Rail Campsite is stripped down to the basics: picnic table, fire pit, power and water hook-ups and camp ground bathrooms with showers. There were 8-10 campsites total, a few cabins, a couple of docks to tie up too or jump from and boat rentals if you needed. The one hike we did find took about five minutes so we walked back and forth a few times with the girls. Most of the entertainment came from the old Snoopy fishing rod I used as a little girl or the adventurous boat rides trolling and exploring with lines down and wiggling worms attached. The Woodstock Rod has started to show it's years of use as the top fell off and the push button broke. What's left was enough to make a toddler happy with line tied to it with flashy "jewels." 

Addison learned to play Rummy and a mean game of Phase 10 after we cruised part of the lake in a paddle boat. Myriam learned most of the songs to Babes in Toyland and also made progress with her impossible task of wearing panties. You bet I used the empty campsite to have her sitting on the potty and run around in her undies everyday! I think my efforts have paid off but time will tell with that adventure. 

Charlie has taken on a new hobby of fishing even if he did take a few snoozes mid-troll. He gave Tim many earfuls of conversation including his perspective on Obama and where his heart was at.  The most entertainment came from the boys attempting to reel in a fish while the old men in the boat not far off from them caught their limit in a little over an hour. I guess we'll stick to other hobbies... or continue to perfect the art of fishing. 

The weather was beautiful along with the sounds of nature and surrounding lakeside views. The water was warm enough for the kids to jump in and have fun splashing around. Daddy even taught the older ones how to 

perfect the cannon ball. 

I helped the girls find some lake snails and hermit crabs which suffered a fatal death when Myriam lost her balance walking on the rocks and smashed the living collection. After one last try of catching trout, Tim returned the boat and we packed up to head home. 

We made sure to say goodbye to Dave, the owner of the campsite who calls you by first name and treats you like family, and thanked him for the few nights as a family. He treated the kids with candy necklaces and said, "see you soon's," until we see him again! It was a fantastic time of unplugging and being forced into chats with the kids and forced card games which mommy dominated. Here are some of the best moments from our fishing trip...

{ First trip out on the boat. }

{ Learning the skill of multitasking. }

{ Here fishy fishy...dinner is ready. }

{ Morning explorations around the lake. }

{ Dusk and rod...with no bobs. }

{ Faithful Snoopy stripped down to his bones. }

{ Deep in thought as we explored the lake. }

{ The "I SAID NO." face after Addi pushed her in! }

{ Clothes on. Why not! }

{ The set up. }

{ The jump. }

{ The splash. }

{ Our little blessings. }

{ Always a laugh with this one! }

{ Searching for collections of snails and hermit crabs. }

{ The Broersma Five. }

Throw Back Thursday

There seems to be a trend lately of reminiscing over old photos and memories from long ago. At thirty something, I don't have that long to reminisce from, but I did get some serious laughs from the kids last week when showing them some oldies. "Nice Afro mom!"
Thought I'd share in the fashion and styles of my youth. All I'm asking is to keep your positive remarks to yourself. I have enough of my own!

If you were to describe my childhood in words I think a few that would best suit the era would be...
PERMS, HAND-ME-DOWNS, PLAIDS, OVERALLS and BIG BANGS

The sad part is most of this is back in style? Why folks? Why?
Let's revisit the horror...

{ Fresh permed hair in 1st grade to grown out, 3rd grade, pre-brace face pose in what appears to be a shoulder padded over-sized sweater. }

I'm very grateful to my Mother who spent endless hours at her sewing machine designing ruffles, lace and perfectly positioned buttons for my sister and I to wear. With fabric costs being so high, I'm deeply saddened that I can't pass this honor to my girls. I think Addi and Myriam would rock the ruffled sleeves! And what's up with the child mullet? Here I was worried about Myriam's personalized self cut looking too much like a back party. I have it going on!

{ As you can see, I still have the touch with glasses nearly 

covering all but my chin. }

 { Taking back family style. Yeah Mom! }

 { Overalls add about 20 lbs. Why are they coming back?? }

{ Our first official date. Kids. }