Time to re-invigorate the blog

Al with the old-timey telephone in Hardin, MT

One of many pictures of this fab sign

Saying goodbye after our week in Missouri

Philip's always been the cautious sort

Breaking the rules in Hardin, MT (seriously, the signs were hidden...)

Remember this ol' blog? So, it has fallen to the wayside. I was looking through it and thinking we need to get back to blogging on it somewhat regularly. I even remembered the username and password! I'd like to figure out how we can access the blog as editors from our current gmail accounts, rather than using this one I created several years ago. I'll let you know if I figure it out.

Philip and I just purchased a new camera today. We figured--hey, we're spending lots of money this summer anyway! Why not buy a camera? We ordered it online, so there's a possibility we'll get it before heading to California next Thursday. Here's a link, in case you're wondering what kind of camera we got:

http://www.adorama.com/INKCPL120BKA.html?utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Shopping%20Site&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=gbase

Urgh. That's a long link. I need to learn to do the abbreviated links sometime.

I also need to learn to mess with pictures so they go where I want them to go. Sigh. So much to learn.

It was great to see you all this past month and we hope to see you at Christmas!!

May 2009

May has started off busily for the De Jongs:

• Andrea & Philip are busy planning their wedding in the midst of work and other involvements in Lynden
• Allison & Greg bought a house in Missoula & are busy settling in and planting a garden
  
• Trav, Tami, & their three boys moved to a classic old house across town on a large lot (one full acre!) beautifully landscaped
  
• Dennis & I completed our 24th & 22nd years,respectively, of work at DC
• We made a quick trip out to Platte during exam week to visit Beppe
• We enjoyed the 69th OC Tulip Festival with Trav, Tami, the three boys & Tami's parents...
  

We have much for which to give thanks!!

Allison & Greg purchased this house &

moved in just before May Day

The Missouri, or rather, Lake Francis Case,
a good spot to take Beppe for a drive...

Beppe enjoyed her drive out to the river,
and proved to be feisty as ever when I took her picture. :-)

One of the scenes from moving day -- finding an easier way
to get the queen size box spring & mattess upstairs.
Most of the time we were too busy cleaning or hauling
to grab a camera so we don't have too many photos.

Three little Dutch boys ready for the first afternoon
of the OC Tulip Festival.
Landon' face shows that he has already been enjoying
Grandma Marcia's delicious fudge-caramel brownies. :-)

Tami & Aaron
We're not sure what Aaron was so fascinated with here,
but his eyes looked even bluer with his blue shirt!

Aaron catches a much needed nap in the comfort of his stroller.

Dillan on one of the three floats he rode
during the three days of the festival.

Landon gets a better view of the Saturday afternoon
Straatfest from his perch on Grandpa's shoulders.

At the end of the street scrubbing route on Saturday,
Dillan threatened to pour his final bucket of water...
on Grandma's feet!

note from the northwest

philip and andrea's niece, abigail vonita elgersma

wacky visitors at boundary bay brewery

port townsend (olympic peninsula) at sunset

rainy stanley park, vancouver, b.c.

fort casey, whidbey island

i remembered the email and password on the first try! since i have the day off of school, i decided to be good and post some new pictures. does anyone still check this? this is mostly for trav and tami's benefit since i talk with them the least (sorry :( ), but everyone can enjoy it.

no news on the job front at this point in time. i haven't been actively pursuing anything, either. i'm preoccupied with plenty of other things at the moment, but i do have friendly people forwarding me emails and clipping newspaper announcements about job openings in the area. that has been helpful. but for the most part, i want to stick a sign on my head that says, "do not ask me about my job search. or my wedding plans, for that matter." you guys don't count...you're family. :)

philip and i are very excited to be coming to iowa in 2 days. we're beginning to think about packing and how to organize the days for wedding planning, but we hope to spend plenty of time relaxing as well. love you and see most of you soon!

Growing Together

The past few months have seen our family growing in a number of ways--
much of that growth has been learning --
learning ...

• to trust God fully for tomorrow's needs and beyond
• to plan a wedding from 1700 miles away
• to read chapter books with no pictures (Dillan)
  
• to enfold a new little brother/son/nephew/grandson into our family
• to love another person enough to want to spend the rest of your life with him

Allison & Greg became engaged on Saturday, February 14 --
while walking on a lovely beach in Washington.
In addition to being Valentine's Day,
this was also the 69th anniversary of Pake & Beppe's wedding.

Aaron is content with his "pipe" in Grandpa's arms.

Big brother Landon wanted to get in on the pictures too!

After several ounces of formula Aaron's tummy was happy,
and he was ready for a little exercise. :-)

Holiday Potpourri

We had a wonderful time together as family over the holidays. In spite of the challenges of delayed flights and routing to alternate airports, we were all together and enjoyed the unexpected bonus of getting acquainted with Aaron and watching Dillan & Landon "brothering" him (thanks, Andrea!).

There was the chilly Christmas Day excursion by Allison,
Andrea & Philip with Dillan & Landon
to the sledding hill behind Dordt's chapel...

... there were warmer, cuddlier moments with Aaron...

who obliged us by being awake & alert much of the time :-).

We played some Wii -- badminton & volleyball

...Dennis & Philip had a great time playing
with Landon's Christmas presents...

Allison, Dennis & I were able to visit with Beppe (Dennis' mom) at

the Care Center in Platte. She is doing better & as you can
see here, she has that feisty sparkle back in her eyes. :-)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!

Aaron -- live!

Introducing the newest member of the family--

For those of you waiting to see pictures - I'll get right to them--

Aaron Michael was born today at 4:27 p.m. weighing 7 lbs, 3 ozs
and measuring 19.5" in length -- not bad for being 3 weeks early!

Grandpa is looking pretty proud here--and rightfully so!

A proud dad & his three boys -- Dillan, Landon, & Aaron

Wonderful blessings come in small packages --
Thanks be to God for his marvelous gifts!

and two more pictures for posterity

30 years of wedded bliss!

the whole gang at glacier

Make sure to check the post below, too!

a great celebration and vacation!

checking out the friendly chipmunk at glacier...notice all the women with cameras?

mom and trav taking dad out for a thrilling canoe ride

the CANDID family picture at glacier!

dad and i at logan pass, glacier

the tired-after-hiking-glacier-and-beyond look

We spent an amazing week in Montana the first week of August. We had all arrived by Saturday evening, more or less in one piece (right, Iowans??) The next day we went to church with Al and then headed up to the cabin where we spent the week canoeing, eating, watching the game show network, eating, playing Set, eating, reading, eating, playing bocce ball, eating, swimming, eating, hanging out at Glacier, and did I mention eating?

Overall we had a great time just hanging out with the immediate family. It's been many years (I think 12!) since we had a family vacation on our own, so it was definitely time. Thanks, Dad and Mom, for having an anniversary and inviting us to celebrate with you. Congratulations on 30 years and we pray for many more wonderful years ahead!

--Andrea~

Summertime Fun

My first post! Bear with me as I had a little trouble getting these in the chronological order. My favorite part of summer is the time we get to spend with family & friends -- if only time would move a little more slowly so we could get around to everyone! :-/

Here are a few photos of our summer gatherings this year. From sparklers in the back yard with our grandsons to travels south and/or west we're so blessed with opportunities to catch up with family, renew old friendships and travel to new places.

Dad & Mom, and our new great-nephew Drew

Great Plains Experience II: Dennis & I on the Fort Falls Trail
on the Niobrara River in Nebraska -- early June

Mid June trip from Washington to Iowa--the girls & I
enjoying our obligatory visit to the Big Dipper in Missoula
(gotta love that huckleberry ice cream!).

Dillan & Landon get into sparklers shortly before the 4th.

Andrea & Philip check out G'ma's photo album

Wes & Arlys host a July 4th family gathering -- thanks!

On Saturday, Marlys, John, Julie & Emma joined us...
Happy Birthday, Tami!
At her request we celebrated at Chucky-Cheese's
--a great time for everyone!

More to come after our final trip of the summer to Montana

to celebrate our 30th anniversary with our children & grandchildren.