This past Saturday the kids came home and really there was nothing that needed to be done…  the vibe was completely different.  Much more relaxed and comfortable.  We rented movies and picked up Pizza.  Our first movie was Meet the Robinson’s followed by Pixar’s Wall-E.

So now my thought turns to what can I do to make every Saturday as easy going as the last….

Hannah spent a week at Camp Geneva over the summer.  She had a great time.  Noah participated in Summer Rec. Golf at Winding Creek. I really didn’t ride my bike like I have the past few years.  Just wasn’t feeling the ride vibe like I have in the past.  Oh well there’s always tomorrow to start riding again.

The kids are back in school.  We  have now transitioned pretty well back into our school year routines.  Up earlier and packing lunches, assisting the kids with getting off to school.  Now that they are both in the same school (for this year) they are on the same bus.  So nice to have them both off together and nice to have Hannah with Noah this year to help him settle into his new routines, riding the bus and the new school surroundings.

This fall we still hope to take a weekend trip away but we are focusing on spending the $$$$ necessary to finish the basement and finally be able to utilize all of the space down there.  Hannah would like to have her girlfriends she met at camp this past summer over during Christmas break.

Until next time…

[PICTURES TO BE ADDED LATER]

Hannah had a great time.  Noah wasn’t so sure at first but appeared to be enjoying himself by the end of the afternoon.

A gallery full of images are available HERE.

For the last 4 nights in a row we’ve all ventured out there together and bounced on the trampoline from 15 minutes to over an hour depending on the evening, the heat, our collective moodsm etc.  It has been a lot of fun bouncing them high into the air.  At first the kids didn’t understand the concept of a ‘double bounce’ but they quickly learned as I flung them high into the air.  They’ve caught on so quickly that they can now double bounce me high into the air… guess I am too light afterall

The trampoline has been great fun for us all!

The kids and I had a very busy week.  It was jam packed full of activities…

• Wednesday – Hannah’s Celebration with her Girls on the Run team.
• Thursday – Young Authors day for Noah at School in the morning and the Harrington school end of year celebration in the evening
• Friday – Hannah ran her third 5k run as part of the Holland area’s Girls on the Run program.
  Pictures from Friday night available in the Gallery.
• Saturday – Window Shopping in downtown Holland.  Paddle pops from Fabiano’s Peanut Store and dinner at Froggy’s.    Pictures from our Window Shopping excursion are are available in the Gallery.

We had a great week with only the occasional issue but that is to be expected.  This coming week is the kids last week of school and then we will shift into Summer vacation mode.

 
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This time we enjoyed Alvin and the Chipmunks together.  We saw the movie together in the theater but they enjoyed it so much that we grabbed it tonight for another viewing.

 
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We made our annual trek downtown and visited the Gut Wagons.   Due to limited cashflow we cut back this year and ate dinner at home and then ventured downtown for Elephant Ears and Lemonade. 

It was a beautiful night to be out and about.  I hope to get the kids out in this manner much more often as the summer rolls in.   It really broke up the night – we had a good time – and I think we created some memories in the process.

We had fun passing around the the digital camera and snapping photo’s.  I’ll add some photo’s of the trip to this entry tomorrow. 

Both Children march this coming Thursday in Children’s parade.  I am sneaking out of work to watch them march.  I intend to stand in the general area of the bikeshop on 8th and College.

 
Hey that’s my building!

The Family is doing quite well.  The kids seem very comfortable in their new routines.  Generally seem happy and emotionally stable.  We have our days and our issues but through this journey our relationship with one another has been strengthened.  A very cool outcome from being a Single Dad that I would have never expected.

Me?  Not that you asked.  I am doing good – no really good. Something clicked last week and I feel like I reached a new level in this healing process.  I think I was on the cusp of this new place for a while but the warming weather and sunshine cemented it for me.

Almost 2 weeks ago Sara and I met and worked through the remaining open issues in being able to finalize our Divorce agreement.  I gave those details to my attorney last Friday and barring any major new development, our divorce should be finalized in early June.  This is sad.  There is no denying it.  So many hopes and dreams for our future dashed.  I am on the path of moving on.   I’ll end up being even poorer than before but hey if there is one thing I’ve learned through this process is what is really important has nothing to do with money or possessions.  As Pastor Mike said yesterday morning in our sermon… “You can take it with you — what matters most in this life.”

This past month has been busy and filled with activities.  Wednesday nights at Church wrapped up.  Hannah brought her bud Bri with her a couple of times.  Hannah had a ensemble (choir) event at School at an open house for next year’s Fourth graders that will be entering Jeffererson school.  The kids and I went Roller Skating at Woodland Sports in Grand Rapids with a bunch of old Grand Roller Rink friends.  The kids and I have spent several times at local township parks just getting out of the house.

Until next time and I hope next time isn’t so far off….
-Randy