This Christmas...

We are starting a new tradition. The boys are so excited (and so am I) to take each day in December and perform a Random Act. We found this idea through Pinterest (did I say I am addicted?) from this blog: http://tsjphotography.com/blog/random-acts-of-christmas-kindness-advent-2010/. What a great way to share the love of Jesus with others around us, and what a great way to teach my boys to give our joy away, as we so often sing in this song:

Wait for Me!

This was put together by one of the wives in the FRG! I think I've found a new favorite song: Wait for Me by Theory of a Deadman

Fall is Fun!!

Spending time at area farms is one of the highlights of Fall around the Kimball house! Cider, doughnuts, rides, and more keep us going back each year.

Michael getting ready to ride on the cow train at Schwalliers.

Andrew waves as he prepares to ride!

The Zoo goes Boo was another hit!

We've had fun this Fall, and although we aren't ready for snow quite yet, we are ready for Daddy to come home for Christmas!

A Paper Hug!

I ordered some books for Andrew and Michael to read while Ryan is away. The one that we loved the most is called A Paper Hug by Stephanie Skolmoski. I couldn't get through it without crying, but it did prompt us to make this craft...




and send it to Ryan along with this:



The boys love making things for Ryan, and I love finding cute ideas! The poem that is with their paper hugs reads:

A PAPER HUG

When you’re feelin’ lonely

And you need a little lift

Wrap these hands around you

And you’ll feel my special gift.

I know you’re far away

And I know you’ll need a hug.

Until you’re home one day

These hands will keep you snug.

Tuck them in your pocket

And keep them ‘til you’re through.

I love you, Dad, so much,

Here’s a hug from me to you!

Ready or Not...

Ryan's off to training. The boys and I went up Thursday and spent the night with him in Cadillac. It was very nice to spend some time with him. We attended the send off ceremonyin Cadillac Friday morning, and then came back and went to the big ceremony at Caledonia High School that afternoon.

My sweet Andrew waiting for the ceremony to begin!

Ryan MC'd the ceremony and Andrew was so excited to think Ryan was the 'leader' because he was the one talking.

My little troopers with their daddy!

Please pray for our soldiers as they prepare for deployment to Afghanistan!

6 years old already?

Time sure does fly! I can remember, like it was yesterday, the day Andrew was born...all 5 pounds 14 ounces of him. He is a great kid, and I am thankful everyday for him...his quirks and all! 6 years old already!

Here are some pictures from the celebration:

So excited about opening presents!

Andrew always loves his presents! This was a big hit!

Singing Happy Birthday! Look at his sweet face!

Blowing out the candles!

He even got to talk to Daddy at his party! We are now counting down until we get to see Ryan; September 29 is right around the corner! YAY!

Kindergarten Here He Comes!!

Andrew started Kindergarten on Wednesday, and he was so excited! Thankfully Ryan was home and could bring him to the bus stop and snap a few pictures!

Waiting for the bus!

Getting on the bus!

Lots of changes have been happening around the Kimball house....school starting, me back to work at two buildings, and Ryan leaving....but I'll write about that a bit later.

Right now it is time to start the weekend with my two busy boys!

School Already?

I can't believe summer break is over, and school is about to begin. We've had a great summer filled with lots of fun adventures! I have to be back at school on Monday, so let the busyness begin!

These are only some of the highlights from the summer:

Pentwater Fun!

Playing in the beaver den at Frederik Meijer Gardens!

Swimming in "Sam's Grandma's pool"!

Petting a baby alligator at Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park.

Spending the day with Uncle Steve and Aunt Amanda who came to see us from Hawaii.


Camping in Ludington!



Visiting the Pickle Barrel House Museum while camping in Grand Marais!


Watching the beautiful sunset over Lake Superior!

When I get sucked into the craziness of life, I will treasure these memories we made with our boys this summer!

Praline Chocolate Dessert!! Yummy!

Celebrating is always so much fun! It is even more fun when there is good food and more importantly good dessert! This is one of Ryan's favorite desserts...not the best picture but you get the idea! AMAZING is all I have to say about the taste of this delicious treat!

Ingredients

• 2 cups cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 
  PRALINE:
• 1-1/2 cups butter, cubed
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 
  FILLING:
• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 
  GANACHE:
• 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• Pecan halves

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press onto the bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with pecans.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over pecans. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until set.
• In a large bowl, beat filling ingredients until smooth. Spread over praline layer. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until set.
• For ganache, place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Spread over filling. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until set.
• Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; remove sides of pan. Garnish with pecan halves. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 14-16 servings.

One of My Favorite Summer Desserts!!

Easy, Refreshing, and Delicious Strawberry Pie!

This one has an almost-like-sugar-cookie crust and it is so much better than graham cracker crust.



Crust

1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
3 TBSP Confectioners Sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix above ingredients and pat into a greased 9 inch pie plate
Prick all over and bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes

Filling

2 Quarts strawberries, cleaned and sliced
1 cup sugar
3 TBSP corn starch
1 cup water
1/2 package of 3 oz. strawberry Jello

Add strawberries to cooked crust
Combine sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Add water and cook on Medium- High heat stirring occasionally. When mixture starts to thicken, remove from heat, and stir in jello. Pour over strawberries. Chill and Serve. Yummy!

Halloween in July?

Yup, this is what our morning was like...



...all ready for Halloween in July because that is how we roll in the Kimball house!

4th of July FUN!!

The celebration of our freedom was a day filled with a parade, lots of yummy food, time with friends and family, and a fireworks show put on by Daddy! We wouldn't want it any other way!

Father's Day Crafts!!

We love our DAD, and in order to honor his love and dedication to his family, we made him this super hero box:



I found this great idea HERE.




We filled each bag with goodies that Ryan likes, and the boys were so excited to help! Now they have to wait to give it to him until Sunday!

We also made these super cute tie boxes for Ryan and the papas! So easy and so cute!



We found this idea HERE.



The boys and I made tags to glue on the top of the boxes!

Another fun craft we made:



We bought flavored soda from World Market, and then added these tags thanks to WhipperBerry!

We've had a blast today making crafts for Father's Day!

My T-Ball Boys!

The boys are finishing up t-ball this week Friday, and I am so proud of them!! They did awesome, and they enjoyed it tremendously! They will definitely be playing again next year!

Michael playing catcher! It was hilarious to see such a little boy wear all that equipment!

Michael all ready!

Andrew all ready to catch a fly ball. ;)

Michael batting...and yes they have to take the top of the tee off so that it is short enough for him!

Andrew is a pro! Left handed like his mommy!

My Smart Boys!!

The end of the school year is quickly approaching for Andrew and me, and Michael finished up preschool in May!

Michael spent his last day of school at the park, and Daddy went with him. He did awesome in preschool and impressed his teachers. He is one smart boy!

Here is his class photo from his party in the park:



Andrew is finishing school Tuesday and has really enjoyed learning! He is also one very bright boy! I am so proud of him! My mom and I attended a Work Night for him where he showed off some of what he has learned this year.




Andrew showed us how he could lay out the numbers 1-20 in order. He wrote a given number on the whiteboard, showed us how he fills in his calendar, and he recited all of his memory verses from the whole year with his classmates.

These two boys are growing up way too fast! I am so proud of how they are doing in school!

The Grand Rapids LipDub (NEW WORLD RECORD)

What a great video to promote a city that is not dying!! Go Grand Rapids!

Easy Eggplant Parmesan!

This is the best Eggplant Parmesan I have ever eaten...even if you think you don't like eggplant, I guarantee you will like this dish!
I have adapted the recipe (original recipe from Cooking Light magazine) a bit so that it is easier but just as yummy!

Ingredients needed:

2 eggplants (peeled and sliced..half inch thick)
3 egg whites
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Steps to making this delicious dish:

1. Line two cookie sheets with foil and spray with Pam.
2. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with Pam and set aside.
3. Whisk egg whites in a small dish until foamy/frothy
4. Put breadcrumbs in another small dish
5. Dip eggplant in egg whites and then in the bread crumbs. Lay them on the cookie sheets.
6. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, flip them over and bake for another 15 minutes.
7. Put a cup of sauce on the bottom of 9x13 pan, put one layer of eggplant, another cup of sauce, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat.
8. Finish it off with the Parmesan cheese.
9. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
10. Enjoy!!

Summer Break is around the corner...literally!!

As another school year comes to a close, I find myself amazed at how fast it flew by! It seems that every year starts and ends quicker than the last! I love my job and the people (including students (on most days)) I get to spend my school days with, however, I long for summer days when the boys and I can spend the morning at the park with friends or splash around in the kiddie pool in the backyard. Those summer days are just around the corner, to be more specific, 18 more school days!! I am so thankful that my job allows me to have so many great breaks to enjoy my boys, because they are growing up way too fast!! Here are just some memories that we hope to recreate again this summer:

Playing in the sand at the beach!

Enjoying a raining day at the Children's Museum!

Looking for animals while on a walk at the Fredrick Meijer Gardens!

Fun summer days are just around the corner! YAY!!

Let's Play Ball!!

Andrew and his new t-ball buddies!

Michael waiting to bat!

The boys getting ready to get their team picture taken!

The boys have started their first year of t-ball and are loving it! They are learning the basics of the game of baseball and making lots of new friends!