The Van Dyk Family: August 2008

Twinsies

Landon and Hale wore button down shirts to church this Sunday. They had similars colors in them so people at church were calling them twins. I got this cute picture of them at home after church.

Alphabet Soup

Last Friday Hale and I played "Alphabet Soup" in his crib. We used his plush letters and as Landon pointed out

"I guess Hale was the meat."

True.

I had to hold the camera out over the crib to get the pictures. That's why they look kind of modern...or, okay, just off-centered.

We tried to hide a message to our cousin in Minnesota in the picture below. Can you see it?

Okay, how about now?

Trip to Yakima

This past weekend Hale and I drove to Yakima to visit with our SPU friends at the St. Hilaire's house. It was so fun to see the girls (and guys) - meet baby Jane and hear about Kate and Ted's upcoming wedding. I did a terrible job of taking pictures while the whole group was around. It was too difficult to talk with everyone, be a mom, and still try to have my camera going. Fortunately, Jen took lots of good pictures of the group which you can find on the St. Hilaire blog (see link at top right).

Hale and I spent a few extra days with Jen and Owen and CJ after everyone left and I managed to get a few pictures of our two boys.

A few shots I got of Owen. What a sweetheart.

Jen's artistic home:

Owen and Hale: fun on a hay bale

NW WA Fair 2008

The fair is here! We always look forward to mid-August which is fair time in Lynden. This year was especially exciting because it is Hale's first year at the fair. For the Van Dyks the fair doesn't just mean cheese curds and ferris wheels. The main focus is on the 11 cows that spend the week in the cow barn and compete in an open class show on Thursday. This year Van Dyk-S Sextet-Karen took grand champion and was also honored with the Best Udder award! Van Dyk-S was also chosen primiere breeder. The picture above is the family accepting the award.

Many of the Kroontje kids showed heifers this year in the fair. Steven took first in both fitting and showing and type. Here he is:

Here are Kohl and Landon showing off the cows (and their snazzy white pants):

Grandma Kroontje submitted the quilt that she made for Hale. We already felt that it was the prettiest quilt in the handcrafts barn, but it was really fun to see it hanging prominently with a big blue ribbon on it! The pattern of the quilt is called "kaleidescope" and I love how the pattern comes through on this picture. Sometimes you don't notice it as much up close. If you click on this picture to make it bigger you can see the cute Van Dyk-S Holsteins shirt that Grandma Susan had made for Hale.

Here's Hale relaxing by the Van Dyk-S booth.

and goofing around with Aunt Dawn, and hanging out with his dad:

And finally crashing in Aunt Tarelle's arms:

MAN WAS IT HOT IN THAT BARN!

Becky and Hale: the midwest tour

Hale and I recently returned from a trip around the midwest. We spent a weekend in Chicago for my cousin Rachel's wedding, one week in Minnesota and then next weekend in Iowa for a family reunion. The plane trips and several long rides in the car were a true test of how Hale and I work as a team. I had been dreading them all summer- but with help from Grandpa and Grandma and Hale's good attitude - we made it!

Getting off the plane in Chicago. Whew!