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!