Family Breakfast/NCAA Tournament - Go Brenda!

OK, how about our NCAA basketball guru Brenda? If I'm reading the tallies correctly, she is the only one who predicted that the finals would come down to UNC and MSU. Way to go! Even though I know basically nothing about college basketball (could you guess?) I'm pretty proud of myself to have selected MSU as one of the finalists (of course that had nothing to do with my knowledge, only that I'm rooting for our home-grown boys to win)! Anyway, for tomorrow night - Go State!

On the homefront, yesterday morning many of the Nykerks got up bright and early to enjoy another breakfast at DeBoer's Bakery. I love this new family tradition - it gives us a chance to catch up, and we always have a great time!

Looking forward to next weekend, when Rachel, Katie and Ally will be home for Easter. We'll miss Dave, who has to "make hay while the sun shines" working on their deck (which was torn up due to the leaks in their roof). Rachel and Katie may be staying until Monday, and with that being the Home Opener for the Cubs, he is also hoping to get to the game with some last-minute tickets. I CAN'T WAIT for the season to start tomorrow! Even though it still feels like winter around here on some days, Tiger baseball always signals spring in my mind. And speaking of the Tigers, I was sad to hear that legendary broadcaster George Kell passed away last week. What great memories of George and Al on TV (and of course Ernie and Paul in the radio booth)....

Random Thoughts

Just a few random thoughts/things that have been happening (or will happen shortly) in our family.....

1. Scott and I will be leaving for a 10-day trip to Charleston and Savannah in a few weeks - we'll be gone from April 17-26. We've been to Charleston before, and loved it. We need a s-l-o-w, relaxing pace for awhile, and the lovely spring flowers, old plantations, and cobblestone streets sound perfect for that...

2. Rachel was in the audience of the Oprah Winfrey show one day last week. Harpo Studios is located right near where she works.

3. 19 lbs. down and counting on the Medifast diet. I am now in Week 5. Many thanks to my great coach, Brenda! (I'll be taking a few days off when we're on vacation, but then right back at it!)

4. Katie will be in L.A. for a few days during Easter week (for work). Grandpa Nykerk says it's OK for her to go (he says she must clear these things with him first).

5. Dave and Rachel leave for 3-4 days in Austin, TX this Wednesday. Gee, I guess quite a few of us are traveling these days! (As far as I know, that's OK with grandpa, too - ha ha.)

6. Scott's been working on our taxes this year. Thanks, dear.

7. If you happen to be downtown during the Tulip Time craft fair in Centennial Park, look for us. We'll be having a booth there this year. It runs the Saturday and Sunday of the week prior to the main festivities and parades.

8. Why is it that when it rains sports on TV, it pours? I couldn't decide what to watch today - the Pistons, Tigers, MSU, and U.S. Baseball Team were all on. I caught a little bit of all of them.

9. We cleaned part (not even all!) of our basement this Saturday, and filled 3 giant garbage bins and still had lots of other loose odds and ends. Although I swore when we moved 14 years ago that I would never hold another garage sale, I started a pile of items to sell while we were cleaning, and I've decided to have one this spring. What doesn't sell goes straight to Goodwill. Anyone else want to join me?

10. Happy Spring, loved ones!

We Pulled It Off!....

First, let me apologize for not posting any pictures of Rachel's surprise party last night, but in a typical Jean-move, when I thought I had charged my camera battery, I had put it in upside down, so needless to say, it was dead on arrival. Thank goodness I can rely on Brenda to always bring her camera; which she did. I'm sure she'll be posting soon. So, on to the fun! For the last week and a half or so, Karen Collings, Brenda and I have been planning, scheming, inviting and preparing for a surprise 50th birthday party (at Karen's house) for Rachel. Well, we pulled it off, and everything came together beautifully. Jim and others who were in contact with Rachel during the last few days managed not to spill the beans, so that when she arrived at Karen's last night in her soccer gear, she really thought she was there for coffee with a few friends from church who were supposed to be there to surprise Dave Ebels (whose birthday was the same day as hers); and then she was planning on heading for her game. Jim and Chad were in Detroit for the Pistons game (nice win, Pistons!), so she drove over by herself.

When Ellen Moes greeted her at the door, we all ran out from our hiding places and yelled "surprise!" and from the look on her face, I think she really was (surprised that is). From there we had a great evening of sharing some of our memories of Rachel over the years (everyone had written, or in my cased typed - hey, it's faster) on index cards and she read them aloud - lots of poignant, funny and wonderful memories of our dear sister, aunt and friend. She then opened a few gifts, and through the course of the evening, we enjoyed plenty of good food and wine, and many, many laughs. Speaking for myself, I think we all had a grand time. A special thanks to Karen for coming up with the idea in the first place, and for sharing her beautiful home with us. Happy Birthday, Rachel, and many, many more!

Great to See the Sun!

I am SO sick of winter! It seems great to see some sun today, but I thought I'd also throw a little color on my blog. Not much happening in Hambergland, kind of a quiet week - that can be a good thing! It's Saturday morning and I'm procrastinating from cleaning the house. I've talked Scott into cleaning our scuzzy shower stall for me this weekend - it dawned on me this am that when there's no yardwork, gardening, etc. he might as well help me clean the house, right? Ha Ha. I can't complain. He's one who easily starts the laundry or throws the dishes in the dishwasher, etc. without being asked. In fact he teases me about the pile of magzines, mail, food dishes that tend to accumulate around my favorite chair by the end of the week.

I'm back to working 5 days a week - kind of miss my three day weekends!, but of course in this day and age we feel lucky just to be working! I think my brain and body are already gearing up for retirement, though. I enjoy having my time at home so much. Haworth just instituted a few more cost-savings measures, like taking away their company match to our 401K and beginning next year, they will "pro-rate" our vacation time - accumulate it as you go, rather than getting it all upfront.

I spoke to both my darling girls yesterday - had to get my "fix" - I have to hear their voices if more than a few days go by - ha ha. They always brighten my day. Katie is going out with her old roommates tonight to celebrate both of their birthdays. Unfortunately, Rachel was frustrated because their condo roof is leaking - no fun to pay for repairs on top of everything else. But, other than that, all is well with our dear Chicagoans. The girls and I usually take a short mom/daugher weekend somewhere together at least once a year, so I'm trying to come up with a fun place to go not too far from home. Is anyone else getting STIR CRAZY?

Wonderful Time In Colon.....

What can I say? A picture speaks a thousand words. We had such a wonderful day with Jen, Jason and the girls in Colon yesterday. Dad was delighted with the whole thing, and did very well - didn't seem to be tired at all, even at the end of the day. He enjoyed every part of the day, and as Jen said in her blog, we arrived in Colon around 2:00pm. First off, he got a real big kick out of the GPS system and how it took us right to the front door of Jen & Jason's house. (It came in very handy on our way home, which was after dark.) Then, when we got to the house, the girls were napping, so Jen showed us around - the house looks great, freshly painted and so spacious!

Then the REAL fun started. Little Kels got up first, with those rosy cheeks. Had to stay on mom's lap for a bit, but then warmed up to us. Same with Macey, when she got up a bit later, but it didn't take long and she was herself - I had brought some paper and crayons and asked her to draw some pictures for me and great-grandpa, which she gladly did. She proudly showed me her very own room upstairs and her playroom, where we enjoyed a bit of the Veggie Tales and a couple of books.

Great-grandpa was in heaven when Kels sat on his lap to watch Miles and Otis, and later, without my even asking her, Macey went and gave great-grandpa a kiss (and me, too)! Then we enjoyed a nice supper of BBQ's and brownies (that Macey helped make) and on to the game! Jason is a calm, cool and collected coach, and his team did a great job - didn't quite pull out a win, but it was a very good game. It's cute how Macey knows exactly where the concession stand, the water fountain and vending machines are - she enjoys her "skittles" and wanted to be sure that each of us had a candy bar! We headed home after the game, arriving in Holland around 9:00pm - Dad talked a lot on the way home about how much he enjoyed the trip. He got the biggest kick out of little Kels always shaking her head "no", how she walked along with her carriage - she looked so proud - it looks like she'll be walking on her own in no time. And of course Macey was just a delight the whole day - I couldn't get over how well-behaved the girls were for the entire BB game.

Thanks, Jen, Jason, Macey and Kelsey - for a wonderful day!

Just a Quick Post....

....To let you know about another coupon site that I found:

http://www.couponcabin.com/index.htm

25 Random Things About Me

And, taking my cue from Brenda, below are 25 Random Things About Me.....

This was fun. I tried not to think about it too much - it's funny the things that came into my head....

1. My favorite font is "Franklin Gothic Book"


2. I would love to fly in a hot air balloon


3. I plan on going to Tuscany within the next five years


4. I wore braces on my teeth a few years ago


5. I once dated a man who drove a hearse (for fun – it’s not like he worked at a mortuary or anything)


6. When I was in high school I worked as a "pinkie" at Holland Hospital


7. I once took a walk around the Haworth pond with Ernie Harwell


8. I used to be able to ice skate


9. I was a member of the West Ottawa Vocalaires


10. I just ordered the soundtrack from the movie "The Man in the Iron Mask"


11. I adore vintage childrens’ books


12. I have a bunion the size of Texas


13. Sometimes I cry in church when the choir sings certain songs that remind me of my mother


14. I’ve always wanted to go up in outer space


15. I have the most wonderful children in the whole wide world – no, really!


16. I usually stay up past midnight


17. I’m completely annoyed when people don’t use their turn signals


18. I laugh hysterically every time I watch Seinfeld


19. My husband and I once carved our initials in a tree near Beulah


20. I love the taste of lemons so much that I’m growing my own lemon tree


21. To me, heaven is watching a Tiger’s game


22. I’m happiest at home


23. I got fired from my first job


24. I love the smell of new books and rubber dolls


25. I have a scar on my kneecap that looks like a smile