Garden Plans!

Through the years we have always talked about planting a garden and never really got serious about it. This year I decided that, with prices going up and such, our grocery bill was something that we could cut down on by taking our garden seriously. So I set about working on garden plans. I began collecting and drying seeds and then drew out our gardens on paper and wrote in where all the veggies/fruits would go in the garden.





Just a few days ago we started our seeds and today we saw some sprouts!





It's amazing what can grow from a little seed! Praise the Lord for His wonderful creations!

Bonnet Cookies

On Wednesday, the Hills invited us over to make bonnet cookies with Wendy and Joanna. It was a very fun, messy time! Wendy had baked about 6 dozen cookies (maybe more) and had gotten the icing and frosting ready, so when we got there we first colored the icing:

Iced all the cookies:

All hands at work!

Then it was time to color the frosting:

And put it into the piping bags:

Let the decorating begin!

Thank you, Hills, for including us in this fun time!

Smile!

This is me on March 1st, 2006:

(if you look close enough you can see that I have braces on my bottom teeth)

This is me today, March 14th, 2008, at 10:00am:



And this is me now, March 14th, 2008, at 4:00:





It is a very smiley day here at the Yen household. After 2 years of braces they have finally come off! I can't stop running my tongue over them! It has been fun since I have known that I was going to get them off today for a couple months and have kept it a secret from Dad. He will find out this evening when he gets home from London. We are all very happy that it is "over" minus some check ups!

Opa & Oma through 50 Years

Here are some pictures from our Opa & Oma's 50 years of married life. Sorry for the delay, there was Josh & Abbey's wedding, and then we were sick for a week straight....BUT, here I am and here are pictures! Most of them are with children. They are not in chronological order.

This is Oma and that's Mom on her lap

Mom loves this picture...this is Opa and his father, walking through the woods in their Sunday suits

This is one my favorites - Oma & my aunt Ineke cooking

Family picture

In an airplane - Aunt Ineke, Opa, Oma & Mom

Opa doing what he loves best...playing the organ

Grilling out with a friend

That's Oma in the blue dress and Opa in the middle...no clue who the other lady is :-)

Mom sitting on Opa with her cat, Pinda (means Peanut in Dutch)

Dressed up in Dutch costumes (just don't look at Mom pickin' her nose... :-)

Mom & Ineke got yellow robes and dolls for Christmas and WHOO are they happy!

Opa and his girls

I just put this picture up because I like it - Mom at the window

And I just put this picture up because Mom is so CUTE! (She's the one on the left)

Mom & Ineke riding Opa

Oma reading to her girls

Opa goofing off with a friend

Relaxing with grandparents - L to R: Mom's Oma, Aunt Ineke, Mom's Opa, Mom, Oma

Jump forward in time...

And here they are today!

We love you, Oma & Opa!!!

Two have become one...

This past Saturday we were blessed to witness the wedding of Joshua Erber & Abbey Hill. It was a beautiful ceremony and a joyous time all together. The bridesmaids were lovely and graceful, the bride was beautiful and so calm and composed, and Josh...well, Josh just looked happy.
Generally I like to write a lot, but as far as weddings go, I usually enjoy looking at pictures more! :-) So here are an abundance of pictures for your enjoyment.

Putting on the dress.

Maggie - SO cute!
"Where does beauty come from, Maggie?"
"From yo'sh hawt." (From your heart :-)

Look at that train!

Anna putting on the veil.

Can you imagine wearing these shoes ALL day? OUCH! But they look pretty...

Corrine looking like she needs a nap. :-)

Trying to get a good picture with the flower girls & ring bearer...not too easy!

Getting photographed before the ceremony.

The musicians: Josh's aunt - Ethan - Dad

This is one of MAYBE 3 minutes that Josh was not holding Abbey's hand... LOL!

Cleaning up.

Mrs. Hill trying to look like she's happy about this whole thing... (just kidding)

Winston - he's such a cutie!

The bride & groom with their parents.

The flower girls - so sweet!
Top to bottom, L to R: Corrine, Isabelle, Gracie, Maggie, Caroline

Justin gives Abbey a good hug!

That's an interesting smile... :-)

The bridesmaids:

Jessica & Joanna

Brittany & Wendy (the maid of honor)

Blessings to you, Josh & Abbey, as you begin your married life!!