Greta's Birthday, Denver Trip, Halloween

We have a lot of catching up to do! I apologive ahead of time for some scatter thoughts. It has been a fun late summer/fall filled with great family memories. The Holman family is starting to feel home in Michigan again. We loved the trip to visit Jenna and family in Colorado. When we flew back to Grand Rapids, and Anjali, Matt, and Pujita helped with the car, it made us feel like we were definitely coming home.

We continue to miss the great friends we have in Cincinnati, especially during holidays like halloween, when we were just starting to get traditions there. It was fun to have the Sieplingas, great grandma grissen, grandma Holman, Hillary, and Dan visit for halloween. We enjoyed a neighborhood that had lots of fun costumes, including two cute mice, that Kira made herself.

The past three months have had family celebrations. It is hard to believe it has been 2 months since Greta's first birthday. Greta continues to be a very happy girl. Thankfully she is sleeping well, and she really has been eating well too. At her first birthday, she decided to walk, and she has been taking off ever since. Annika, has been a great loving big sister.

We also celebrated Great Grandma Sieplingas life. Her memorial service was a testament to her faith and family focus. While it was hard to say goodbye, we were thankful that Annika and Greta were able to spend time with her. Kira would take the girls to her home quite often since we moved here.

Annika has really been enjoying her school. We have been able to visit the montessori school, and peek in on some of the things she is learning, including spanish! Greta really enjoyed her monday night swim class at the Y which is now over, but we are keeping up with swimming on Mondays in Spring lake.

Our biggest family prayer concern is for a safe surgery for Grandma Sieplinga, and a speedy recovery. The operation is scheduled for Nov 15th. We have enjoyed her and Anjali watching the kids Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Pujita is luckily going to fill in for us while Grandma Sieplinga is recovering.

Kira and I are both really enjoying our work. Unfortunately, Muskegon area has had a lot of violent crimes and drug issues this year. Luckily, we feel surrounding by a great group of staff that we work with. Kira is going to work some mondays at the Teen Health Center at Muskegon High that was just opened this year. This should be fun, and it means daddy gets some special times with the girls!

We are excited to plan on visiting aunt Hannah and cousin Mattisse in Iowa City for Thanksgiving. Hopefully, we will be able to blog some good pictures about that trip next month!

Happy 10th anniversary

Happy 10th anniversary to my wonderful husband. Here's just a few of the reasons why I love Harland and am looking forward to another 10++++ years.

1. His never-ending enthusiasm towards things that are important

2. His fierce love for his girls

3. The way he teaches me to relax and enjoy

4. His rugged good looks

Thanks for a great anniversary Harland. I love you!!!

Here's a picture of our anniversary night away from the girls (yes -- I lasted for 24 hours)

cross one off the life list - should have been posted July 1

The triathlon is complete and....I finished 5th!!! (Out of 5 in my division of women ages 31-35) Lessons learned: Triathlon has 3 syllables, mountain bikes are slower than racing bikes and bathing suits that are 10 years old actually do look old.

Annika, Harland and Grandpa were there to cheer me on. Thanks for that!

We were proud to celebrate Harland's dad at a party in his honor this past week. He took care of the teeth of Jackson for many years and is now settling in to enjoy life at home with his wife of 45 years. We were excited to be with cousin Matisse and "all the aunties" for this special event.

Summer is in full gear. Greta is crawling and creeping all over the place. She waves and says "Hi!" She loves being in a swing and eating food off the floor. Annika is enjoying her school. She can count in spanish and "knows some other words but doesn't want to tell us now." She loves playing in the sand and cooking in the kitchen (especially making blueberry muffins)

Next up on the lifelist: Kira wants to get back into playing bass in a local orchestra and Harland wants to run another marathon -- wish us luck on those goals.

June

On my last entry I promised a biweekly blog -- but now I feel that a blog entered weekly using the Fibonacci sequence would be much more interesting (1-1-2-3....) In all reality, breaking the biweekly promise does help free me from the guilt that has been plaguing me for nearly 1.5 weeks so now the promise is: I'll blog when I'll blog. So here it is....

Tonight seems particularly appropriate for a new blog entry. I can now say with confidence that the Holman family has settled into our new home in Spring Lake. As of today, Kira has been back at work, Annika has starting her summer school camp, Grandma and Auntie Anjali have watched the girls for 2 weeks and Harland has officially been dubbed the "office sweetie-pie."

This morning, Harland and Kira drove to work together. Work is a challenge. We are constantly surprised at the stories we hear behind closed doors in the office. Sometimes all we can do is hope that we can make a difference not through the medicine we offer but perhaps through our interactions with the patients. We are learning every day.

Annika is now officially 3 years old as evidenced by the pictures attached today. I will record the following information for posterity sake (I'm digging deep now for that sentimental bone in my body). Annika's official birthday was spent with the Sieplinga extended family celebrating several family graduations. We then celebrated a week later with aunts, 4 grandparents and 2 great-grandmas. Annika requested a "purple Dora/boots castle cake" and mommy delivered! After cake was eaten, presents were received and an exhausted 3-year-old fell asleep, it dawned on me that 3 is officially not a baby any more. As Annika constantly reminds me...."3 is not a little, it is a few" Our little girl is growing fast. She is riding her purple princess bike keeping up with her friends in the neighborhood. She is playing dress-up, puzzles, dolls, bus and whatever her amazing mind can dream up. She just began school at Michigan Dunes Montessori. We are looking forward to her actually telling us what happens there -- we just get a daily report on the snack offered. :)

Greta is growing fast too. At her 9 month check, she was 21.5 lbs and her length scored at the 95th percentile (you can tell I've already forgotten what it was). She spent a nice weekend with her "bestest cousin Miriam" who visited from Denver. She is creeping around tables, chasing after Annika (much to Annika's delight and chagrin), makes lovely messes at the dinner table and is practicing her loud voice. She has a beautiful smile and a sense of humor that is starting to come out. She seems enamored with her grandparents but has a very cute shy/coy look when they come near. We actually made it through one church service with her in nursery.....she's growing up too.

So that's the Holman's at the beginning of June 2010. We're looking forward in the coming weeks to Harland's birthday, a visit from cousin Matisse, 4th of July at the cottage, Kira's triathlon (she just realized that this is pronounced with only 3 syllables) and Harland's big fishing trip. We miss Kentucky but are loving our new home and new office. Thanks for reading!

Mothers

We have now officially become a biweekly blog (instead of weekly). I missed a wonderful opportunity to blog eloquently on mother's day so I thought I would take an opportunity to do so today.

Mondays are wonderful for the Holman family. As Harland and I both have the day off, we can spend the entire day with each other and the girls. We just finished bedtime with Annika and Greta. Greta's routine is not so elaborate....centered primarily around milk. Annika's routine was a reminder of how great it is to be a mother. She likes to sing three songs before she goes to bed. Mommy and daddy need to sit in specific spots and rub her back. Tonight she wanted to hold both of our hands as she sang along. It is impossible to describe the way she looks at us with so much love -- we are certainly blessed and grateful to be parents.

What's the latest in the Holman family? Kira has 2 weeks left of full time stay-at-home mommy work before heading off to her other job. Harland is getting busier at the clinic. We have had the opportunity to spend time with our mothers and grandmothers in many ways and are grateful for our proximity. On mother's day, we were able to bring together 2 great-grandmothers, 2 grandmothers and three mothers (Kira, Jennifer and Dawn). 6 mothers altogether -- again a reminder of God's providence.

We're getting used to having a yard and, one of these days, may actually get the lawnmower to work. Kira is on week 5 of training for the mini-triathalon. Annika turns 3 next week. We made a beautiful princess dress so she could attend her first ballet and tea with mommy. There was a moment there when she seemed to be choosing a different outfit. Of course, mommy had to play it cool -- no problem, I thought, you can wear anything you want...no matter that we went to the fabric store, set up the sewing machine and spent good hours fixing the dress from being too tight or loose.....all the while thinking....don't they sell these things at walmart for 5 bucks?? Luckily, she wanted to wear it! Pictures to come. Greta is getting faster and faster. She gives very wet kisses and feeds mommy her cheerios.

Greta Grace

Greta, Gretters, Gretie, Greta Gracie, Grets

8 months old and developing her strong personality. Current hobbies include a limpy, scoot/crawl across the floor which I call her wounded soldier crawl. It is surprisingly effective. She is happy to be with mommy, daddy, Annika and grandparents. Strangers? Let's just say the nursery attendants are glad to see us come to the door and this morning one said she "blows a good gasket" She makes us all laugh with her talking, laughing and faces she makes at the table. Who can make her laugh the most?? Annika!

Annika Joanne

Annika, Anni-Jo, Anni, Annika Joanne, Anni-Capanni

Nearly 3 years old. Currently loves pink/purple, reading books (her favorites are the "alphapets" -- a series of alliterative, morally upstanding, cute animals with names such as Fenton the Fearful Frog) and playing "picnic." She sings, dances and has an imaginary friend named Oliver. Today, daddy was asking a riddle while driving in the car. He asked her "what is all around you but you can't touch it, smell it or see it?" Her answer: "God." Constantly amazing us with her memory and knowledge. Her confidence has blossomed over the past several weeks. Her naturally shy tendencies are being overcome by her desire to play with new friends, meet new people and try new places.