Brown!

I died my hair brown (with a few blond highlights!)

Our family Christmas

Merry Christmas 2010

FUN with friends!

Logan, Sofia, Charlotte and Isaac

Happy Halloween - it's not too late, right?

Belle & Iron Man had a great Halloween.  Sorry I'm tardy!

Charlotte decorated a pumpkin at the school party! 

Charlotte's friend dressed up as Beast, but she was reluctant to be photographed with him!

SOLD!

It sold!  The burned out house on Francis Avenue sold!  Woo hoo!

It was purchased by a landlord who turns houses like that one.  We closed last week and we're entirely out.
Finished.  Done.

Hallelujah!

More about the house on Francis

Just a quick update here:  We put the house up for sale with realtor who sells homes like ours.  With only two weeks on the market it sold!!  Hooray.  However, while waiting for the payoff of the mortgage to be recorded, the thugs came back again.  Yes.  They ripped the plywood off the back window and stole 100' of 1/2" copper pipe.  Jon estimates they got $10 for what they stole.  But, now our buyers are spooked and, since the house isn't in the condition it was when they signed the paperwork, they can back out.  It infuriates me to think about this.  Stay away from my house!!!  We'll see what happens next.

Fun kids!

Three!

My Charlotte turned three today!  I can hardly believe it since she acts like she's at least 15 years old.  She's my mini me complete with a love of hair, nails and skin products, she loves to dance and wears high heels with her pajamas.  Oh, I love this child.  She's a handful, but I get her.  She's precocious, smart and sassy.

Last weekend we shared a birthday party with cousin Elise.  Elise turned two.  What fun!  We gave Charlotte a baby doll and she - all on her own - named her Lucy.  I love it!  To my knowledge she doesn't know anyone named Lucy.  I don't know of a movie character or book that it's in.  However, it's my late great-grandmother's name, so it's special.

I love you, Charlotte.  Happy third!

Catching Up on ArtPrize

Jon's parents were in town for the last weekend of ArtPrize so we showed them around.

We waited 45 minutes in line to see the winner!!

Post Family Farm

What a perfect autumn weekend!

Congratulations, Kim!

Here I am with (three of my four) college roomies!  Lindsay Walcott, myself, Kim Rubin and Jo VanderPloeg.  Kim and her hubby, Aaron, are due for a baby boy in December and we're all so happy for them.  Kim's sister, Melissa, threw a wonderful shower for her on Saturday.

After college the girls & I lost touch.  There was no real reason, just busy, I guess.  Six years later we reconnected and have kept in touch every few month since then.  I love these ladies!  I think the fact that we reconnected years later makes the relationships even sweeter!  Funny thing:  Lindsay & I married guys named "Jon," and Kim & Jo married guys named "Aaron!"

Welcome, baby Rubin!!

Francis House Update

Just in case you're interested in a Francis house update, here it is:

We're in the process of working with Habitat for Humanity in order to make a donation.  We're trying to figure out if we can donate it as is or, more likely, demolish it and donate the property.  If we must demolish it, we will work with Grand Rapids Community College's School of Deconstruction around mid-November.

Thankfully we have been paid quite well from our insurance company.  We have high praise for Citizen's Insurance!

Thanks for caring.

Angela

A Song for You

I taught my kids this song!

Great green globs of greasy grimy gopher guts

Mutilated monkey meat

Dirty little birdies feet

French fried eyeballs swimming in a pot of blood

I forgot my spoon - YUCK!

Drama, drama, drama!

This week's Mulder family drama: two stitches in the back of Isaac's head.  Yes.  The stitches are a result of climbing on a rack of clothes at Target.  It fell over and he hit his head and bled all over.  Thank you to the anonymous shopper who was tremendously helpful in my time of need.  Also, an extra special thank you to PA-of-the-year, my friend-for-life, Heather.  Really, Heather, you are the greatest.  (If you're wondering, that's a grape flavored tongue depressor - yum!)

Happy 4th Birthday, Isaac!

My baby man is four today!

This past weekend we celebrated with family at the lake cabin!

We even took a special cake to school!

And had all of our best friends over for a party tonight!  What a great birthday.  

Vandalism

We met with the insurance company, fire inspector and others at the Francis house today.  The fire inspector determined that on Wednesday night some people came to steal our A/C unit.  They cut wires and rattled it around, but for some reason couldn't get it.  However, their tampering caused an electrical fire which, as you know, was discovered and extinguished Thursday early am.  On Monday evening, after the holiday weekend, we stopped by and all was well with the house.  On Tuesday afternoon I went back and found the A/C unit like this:

The top was popped and the insides were stripped.  Today when we returned we found this:

Gone!  So, at some point last night they finished the job.  Yeah.  Really.  I can hardly believe it myself, but this was the fire inspectors assessment.  

So, Citizens Insurance did right by us today and we have every confidence that they will continue to do so in the future.  I hope to sing their praises (and God's!) during this process!  Jon & I have many decisions ahead: do we rebuild, tear down, sell?  But, today was a good day.