Mariana's Birthday

We started her birthday on her birthday eve. She enjoyed opening presents from Opa and Oma, Ome Paul and Tante Jacoline. They sent a box FULL of presents! Then she was all ready to talk to them first thing in the morning.

Reading the card

All the loot!

Talking with Oma

Mariana and her 1st grade class at Valley Christian. We celebrated the December birthdays - Mariana's and Tyler Doyle's.



Later, we had her birthday dinner with Grandpa and Grandma, Christina (our neighbor), and Uncle James and Auntie Rosalyn. We had chicken soup - Mariana's request - and bread, with butter, of course (Mar REALLY enjoys the butter -- the bread is just the vehicle to be able to eat the butter!)






New clothes from mom and dad and an amazing craft kit from Grandpa and Grandma - good for hours of crafting!












Jack was the big gift helper. Feel the sibling love!










So, our girl is officially seven years old! We can hardly believe. We are so proud of her and so thankful that she is our daughter.

Mariana's Beach Party!

Mariana's birthday is in December - every year. This year she really wanted a beach party. So, on December 8th, with houses aglow with Christmas lights and decorations, and with rain pouring down, we turned our house into a beach paradise! We had six girls - some from school, some from church, and had a great time!







HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARIANA!!!













The girls dressed up with leis and flower barrettes, made flower pens, ate pizza and fruit kabobs, and had makeovers! What fun! Rachel, Jamie, and Christina (Rachel's friend) did the girls' faces and toenails!

THANKSGIVING

After Disneyland, the Bakker clan (minus Karen and family) shared a wonderful day together. We had our traditional feast, complete with Grandma's stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, etc. Crystal set a beautiful table!

The most special part of the day was going around the table and sharing the things we were thankful for. Crystal had kept our thankfulness cards from last year, and it was so cool to read things from a year ago, and to think about God's goodness to us. It's exciting that the kids are old enough now to participate, and such a blessing to hear them share the things they are thankful for. Jordan and Erin had us all crying. A year ago they were struggling with infertility and their deep desire for a baby. And this year, they have a baby girl due in January!!! God answered their prayer! He is so good!

Mariana kept Owen happy in the swing. She's such a good big cousin!

Dog pile on Uncle Jordan!

Monkeying around!














Later in the evening, we celebrated Christmas together, since none of us will be together then. This, of course, meant presents!!














Andrew is so adorable! He said, carefully and slowly when he opened this gift from Grandma (it's Crayola marker), "It's...........Pens!!"









I thank God for my wonderful family. I praise Him for His provision. For Hope. For health. For salvation. For my kids. For my husband. For our church. For our friends. For His kindness and grace.

Disneyland!


Mom and Dad and all the VandenHeuvel's travelled down to Orange County Tuesday night for our exciting Thanksgiving weekend. We were so excited because we were all going to Disneyland together on Wednesday! It wasn't the entire Bakker clan since Karen and Alan and the kids couldn't be there - we sure missed them! The rest of us were together, though, and we had a wonderful day together. Everything was decorated for Christmas!
Pictured here are the VH's on the left side, then Kristina's brother, Dan (in red) and Crystal, with two of their three boys, Ethan (hugging Jack) and Andrew (Owen, the baby, stayed with Crystal's mom for the day). Kristina's youngest brother, Jordan, is proudly emphasizing Erin's round tummy - anticipating parenthood with baby Morgan (due in January). Then, Mom and Dad.




The VH's with Mickey!














Dan and Crystal, Ethan and Andrew























Auntie Kristina and Ethan on the huge ferris wheel at California Adventure. I can't tell who's protecting who here...I got a little green on that!















Of course, our adventure wouldn't have been complete without going on "It's a Small World".

Jack's Thanksgiving Feast

Jack and his classmates at Redwood Forest Preschool celebrated Thanksgiving together. They decorated the table with handprint turkeys and things they were thankful for. The moms all brought in parts of the turkey dinner.



Jack wasn't too excited about the stuffing and the corn. No one else seemed to mind! I did manage to get him to take at least one bite of everything.











Jack's buddies from school: Darius and Langston.