Announcing.....

our niece/cousin Alena Mae Brinks. Born at 4:26ish p.m., 7 lbs 9 oz and 20 inches long. Sara had a long labor but it was well worth the result! She looks a lot like a Hulsebus I think, I haven't seen any of Matt's baby pictures though.

Look at those cheeks!!!

Morgan was excited to hold her baby cousin. Matt and Sara didn't know what they were having so Morgan really wanted to be suprised and wouldn't let us tell her anything before we got to the hospital. It was hard not to talk about it and let it slip.

Aren't babies cute when they cry!(especially when they aren't yours)

Random Things

I have been meaning to update this blog but just haven't had the time. So here is a bunch of random things.

Memorial weekend we went up to the cottage and had a good time. It wasn't super warm but that didn't stop the kids from going in the water.
It always amazes me that the freezing cold water doesn't stop the kids from going in. I don't think I even put my toes in the lake.

While at the cottage Olivia learned how to ride a two wheeler. Now I know she is almost six and should've learned a long time ago but we just couldn't get her to do it. I was amazed that she did it up there. Bryan was taking off her training wheels to put it in the back of the truck and asked if she wanted to try and she said yes (I think it helped that she was learning on the grass). When we got home she tried it again and loved riding on the neighbors gravel driveway.
Unfortunately she broke her arm just a few short days later. I tried to put a video on of her riding her bike but it was taking too long, maybe I'll try again later.

Morgan is finally done with soccer, I think she is really happy about it. I can't say she loved it, mostly because it rained almost every Saturday. Here is a couple of pictures of her when it wasn't raining.



And finally here is Liv with her new cast on. Thankfully it is water proof, it can go in the shower, pool, sprinkler, but NOT in the lake. Its going to be a litte rough for her when we go on the boat. It is scheduled to come off on July 13, can't wait!!! Well I think that is all for now.

Guess Who....

Broke



Her



Arm



Last



Night.



It



Wasn't



Morgan.



Surprisingly



Not



Paige



It was Olivia!




All the girls were playing on the swing set before dinner last night and Morgan and Liv were on the slide and Liv fell and broke her arm. Now if you know Olivia she cries the same if she stubs her toe or if she broke her arm. It took us a while to calm her down and then decide that she broke her arm. I took her to the urgent care center at 6 and we got right in. They took x-rays because they weren't sure if it was her writs or her arm. She did so good and was so brave. The x-rays were pretty painful for her because they had to move her arm into all different positions. It turns out she broke her radius (the bigger bone in your arm) on and angle and half way through the ulna. We left there at 7:15 and went to the ER so we could see an Orthopedist to set it for her. We didn't wait too long in the ER (45-1hr)and got a room. It was decided that we would sedate her while they set her arm so that she wouldn't know what was going on. She did so well there at the hospital. I think she was the most afraid to get the IV put in. It only took a few minutes to set the arm and it was put in a splint. There is plaster on the top and bottom but open on the sides to allow for swelling. It is all wrapped up to her elbow. We are able to leave the hospital by 10:30, not to bad, 4 1/2 hrs. The nurse told us Monday's are usually really busy and that it usually takes a lot longer. Liv was pretty afraid to take a shower this morning because she didn't know how she was going to get her clothes off and then get new ones on but we managed and she has perked up a lot. I have gotten her to eat some too. Next Monday we will be going to get new x-rays and a new cast, hopefully one that can get wet (otherwise this will be a long summer). So far we have survived our first broken bone in the family.

What a Trooper!

Morgan has been playing soccer on Saturdays this spring. She has been having a good time except for the weather. It seems that it wants to be 50 degrees and raining whenever she has to play. I give her a lot of credit for running around playing soccer in the rain (I know Bryan and I are not that excited about watching and sitting in the rain).

Paige's Buddy

Today my sister-in-law Heidi went back to work and I now get to watch Isaac 3 days a week. Isaac did really well today. I was even brave enough to go grocery shopping with him and Paige. Paige was napping when Isaac got picked up so when she woke up I told her Isaac was gone and she said "awww but he's my buddy". I think she is going to like having him around. Here is a picture of Paige's buddy on his first day here.

Happy Easter

Here are a few pictures of our Easter





And one last picture of the girls with Isaac

Frederick Meijer Gardens

We went to Frederick Meijer Gardens to see the butterflies. It was a lot of fun. I was a little afraid Paige wouldn't like it and be afraid of all the butterflies flying around but she did really good. We also went outside to play a little bit in the childrens gardens. I am really glad the girls had a good time, we have had a pretty good spring break.



Our Very Hungry Catipillar Paige








Morgan's favorite sculpture (it reminded her of herself)