backpack gems

so. a few weeks ago the youngest kids and i went through end of school remnants, emptying backpacks and keeping and tossing items as needed.  Layla brought home some beautiful art projects that she'd made this past year in grade 6....

 

 

 

this was one of Hudson's~ so sweet...

 

 

and then there was this in AJ's backpack...

 

 

oh dear.  talk about mixed bags...

 

the graduates

yep, two graduates in one year...

 

 

grade eight and grade twelve...

 

these two are growing up at mach speed.  one entering highschool in the fall~ all done with elementary school and indoor shoes and recess and hot lunch days, and moving on to new beginnings in grade nine with semesters, exams, and more freedom to choose the layout of his highschool days.  the other returning for a fifth year of highschool to hopefully solidify her post-secondary intentions at a time when the options feel vastly overwhelming and daunting. 

 

 

 their graduations threw me a wee bit.  not like they were a surprise event or anything like that.  i knew the back-to-back nights were coming where i'd see them receive their diplomas and walk the stage, shaking hands with the very ones who had invested so much into providing a solid education to them in their journey to this point.  even still, i was feeling the emotions bubbling up at random moments catching me somewhat unaware.  i cannot fathom where the time has gone so quickly.  i remember pre-school graduation clearly with its cute songs and the green and blue caps and gowns, and i stand in awe of the merciless passage of time.  it stops for nothing.  it trucks along and my babies have grown into unique individuals who are carving their own way, discovering who they are, what they love, where they are gifted, etc...i always remember back to my college days and what my nursing instructor told me while we spent a rotation up in the newborn nursery....she said "someday when you have babies, very consciously enjoy, enjoy, enjoy because it goes sooooo very fast..."  she wasn't kidding.  i appreciated that advice and for some reason i've never forgotten those words...i'm not always perfect at "conscious enjoyment" every single day~ but i'm aware that i should be striving for this always, because the reality is that this is a crazy dash from newborn to adulthood.

 

 

so, my two graduates...as i said to you already~ you are deeply and unconditionally loved, forever.  period.  we are here, cheering you on and praying for your future~ specifically that you will seek God's will for your life.  since you were tiny we've told you~ God has BIG things planned for your life, and you are uniquely designed for that very specific purpose.  we hope you discover that path and walk it with joy and confidence in the perfect plan chosen just for you.  can't wait to see where that takes you. 

much love to you both from this sappy mom as we celebrate new chapters.

summer!!!!

well, clearly summer is here~ well, not so much the amazing hot weather, but more because i'm late getting to the blog!  as usual, computer/screen time is hard to find.  i think that is probably a good thing.  there are kids home, which is always a bit of a juggling act the first week or two.  we are into play dates, sleepovers, wrestling camps, swimming lessons, chores~ yuck, backyard swimming, tuning up bikes, baseball, etc....a new groove is taking shape and summer of 2015 is underway. 

 

 

oh...apparently for some, summer also includes front yard back flips.  you know, because they can.  and even better when they are synchronized with a super athletic friend.

 

 

june was a whirlwind month.  two graduations.  somehow that really happened.  :) will back track a bit soon with pictures to follow.

 

for now, happy July to all!  soak up some sun, eat some cherries, drink some lemonade on ice, hit the beach, stop and capture the moment and be thankful for this amazing country where so much of our daily life is free to enjoy leisure and fun and family and friends and the Maker of all the blessings that come our way.  so blessed.... 

 

Ethiopia's capital according to AJ

we were driving to church this past Sunday.  AJ had asked a question about the country we live in, and seemed a bit confused about the city of Sarnia being contained within the province of Ontario, which is a part of the larger country of Canada.  i attempted to clarify, complete with hand gestures and everything.  to see how well the description had settled into his inquisitive brain i said something like this...

me: "so, AJ, you were born in Africa which has a big country within it called Ethiopia.  Ethiopia has a capital city.  what is the capital of Ethiopia, AJ? do you remember?"

AJ: "umm....E?"

:)  guess we'll be doing some summer geography review.  looks like he's good with his vowel sounds though...

huh??

umm....Hannah, why is your seven year old brother on the roof of our van??  and why are you trying to duck out of my view?  "load up the van, kids!" has never meant "load onto the van!"  AJ is clearly impressed though! :)

 

the shenanigans...never ending, i tell you!

this makes me smile

"ball is life"...i've heard this expression affectionately used when referring to baseball.  not sure where it comes from.  obviously, ball is not life, but some days, for Hudson, i think it might be pretty high on the list! 

i think some people might think we exaggerate when we describe how engrossed Hudson is with all things MLB.  now i have proof.  this is a Sunday afternoon game.  i had snuck in a wee nap and came out into the family room to Jeff sleeping on the couch, and Hudson as seen in the photo below.  he'd gotten into his full Wranglers uniform, and was swinging with the Jays batters as they came up to bat.  the attention span was rock solid for nine straight innings.  as long as he can stand and move, he is happy as can be.  this very exercise of mimicking the MLB players is surely the cause of some of his inconsistent and unpredictable pre-at-bat stance issues.  he seems to constantly be changing it up.  but his attention to detail as shown when he moves up to the plate is second to none.  how many other kids know exactly how individual players stand and position themselves and their bat? 

 

the pictures below are from the night of Hudson's pitching debut.  i wish they were better.  cell phone~ yes, but also taken through the chain link fence from where i was sitting behind and to the left of the plate.  there is so much they don't show.  i wish you could see Hudson's (aka Huddy~ baseball nickname) deep breath after the first few pitches.  i could totally sense his nervousness....i wish you could see how he smacked his glove in joy after he struck out his first batter.  i wish you could see the beautiful white smile he flashed me at that moment.  it was all just super precious to see.  i'm so thankful for this boy.  i barely held it together.  gasp!!!!!! :)

 

keep loving the game, Hudson~ seeing you love it makes all the craziness so worth it!

the eldest...a wrestling beauty

i love her.  won't gush on and on.  she knows how i feel.  she hates it when i put lots here about her.  i get that.  but i really truly believe one day she'll enjoy looking back and remembering these days.  lately, there have been some big occasions that are blog worthy.  i hope she can simply tolerate this now, so that eventually she can treasure reading through memories of grade twelve accomplishments and milestones.  if not treasure, then mildly appreciate.  like i said, eventually.

 

the picture above captures something pretty neat for both Jeff and Joelle.  the "Outstanding Wrestler" award of 2015 was given to Joelle this year at the end-of-season awards banquet at her highschool.  Jeff won the same award ages ago a few short years ago at the same school.  two VanderSlagts named on the same plaque.  cool...a special father-daughter connection.  blog worthy.  really.

then there was prom this weekend. a dramatic and memorable event with unruly weather to mark the day (hot and humid in the morning, so much so that we caved~ that's rare...ask the girls :) ~ and put the A/C on to preserve "prom hair" and then soooo cold in the afternoon that the bridge photoshoot felt unbearable and we longed to light up the fireplace when we returned home....weird, weird, weird....). our seventeen year old did not let this deter her, not one bit...she had fun in her usual "soak up every single moment" way and it was neat for us to see her surrounded by fun and crazy friends and classmates, and a pretty nice out-of-town date who rolled with the day and helped make it special for her as her guest.

 

 

above, Hannah and Joelle, sisters braving the cold...below, Wes and Joelle.  that's Wes minus his jacket.  a true gentleman, right there...i didn't even notice the ship doing the "photo bomb", but it kind of is a cool addition...

 

Payton and Joelle...she is such a sweet friend.  they spend a large chunk of time laughing whenever together.  Joelle is pretty happy to have her back next year...

 

    prom is a wrap, and graduation is just around the corner.  she will return for a fifth year to figure out the post-secondary plan, but life as she's known the past four years is about to change.  that isn't always easy....i remember those days so well, and it sure does feel pretty huge at the time.  in the meantime, i love her spunk and zeal and can't wait to see where all of those characteristics take her...praying she finishes well and seizes the days ahead.  love you Joelle!