Fred Meijer Nature Preserve

These are a couple of pictures taken last fall at the nature preserve that is a couple of miles from our house.  It has a trail that goes around a small lake and the pictures are taken from the trail.  At times we are told that you can see beavers busily at work in the lake.  (we've never seen them.)  It is amazing what they can do with their teeth!  In one place they have taken down a tree that is easily two feet in diameter. 
There are always swans out on the lake, and they seem relatively tame. At least they don't leave when you walk past them.  I suppose they get fed by some of the visitors.

A few old pictures

Here are some pictures from several years ago.  I think they were taken at Maryanne and Robs house.

Snowy Afternoon

 We haven't had much snow at all this winter, but we got about 4 inches of snow over the weekend.  Andy Michelle and I took the dog out for a walk in it.  The pictures are taken on The Cannonsburg trail, which starts at the corner of our road.  However, since Sophie tends to get carsick, we walk to it through the back of our property and the fields behind us.  This way we end up in a more wooded part of the trail that the part nearest us, which runs along the road.  

 Do you notice that our dog is wearing a coat, and that she is walking herself?  Surprisingly, there was a guy biking on this trail despite the snow.  There were lots of footprints, but we did not meet any other walkers.  Usually there are quite a few people here no matter what the weather, but it was quite cold this day, and maybe that kept people at home.

 Michelle, all bundled up.

Andy and Michelle, posing with a tree frog that someone has set in this tree.  Its been there for several months, I'm surprised it is still there.

Cindy

March 5, 2012 at the Engelsma's

Here are some pics from yesterday and today:

3 boys in a basket~They use the laundry baskets as their boats.

Aaron is learning how to climb.  He climbed up on the cedar chest yesterday with Joel.

I got the train tracks out yesterday and brought them upstairs and Andrew and Noah built some elaborate train tracks, complete with bridges and covered tunnels.

It was about 30 degrees F today but Joel insisted on wearing his bathing suit over his clothes.

Aaron is playing farmer today in his overalls.

A couple goofy boys.

Snows melting and it supposed to be 40+ on Wednesday.  Perhaps we will head to the zoo again this week.  Last week we went on opening day and were roared at by the lions!  The bears didn't even notice we were there but the otter put on a show for us and the chimpanzees came right up to the glass to inspect us.  The boys love going to the zoo.

Love,
Heather, Chris, and boys.

From the Engelsma's

Hi Grandpa! Hope you are doing well today. We think and pray for you every day.

Here's our little monkey.  He just learned how to climb on the piano bench and up onto the kitchen table.  He turned 21 months this week but he's definitely still our baby.  Doesn't say much but he can make noise when he needs to, especially when his brothers are bothering him.  :-)

 We took this picture at a pond in back of our neighbor's house this past fall.  It is beautiful back there when the leaves are changing color.

Family picture taken September 2011 in downtown Grand Rapids by the Gerald R. Ford Museum by the Grand River.  They have an art competition each year with pieces all around Grand Rapids.  The blue chair is one of the art installments.

Picture taken August 2011 on our 9th wedding anniversary.  We are downtown GR on a walking bridge over the river.

It's snowing here but supposed to warm up a lot this week.  We may get through this winter without a good blizzard.

Love,
Heather, Chris, and boys

Hello

I've set up this blog to help Dad stay in touch with what's going on in our lives.