Reformation Day / Halloween / C-man's Birthday!!

It's sort of its own trinity, really. Connor is heavily into Speed Racer, which is kind of cool since I was into the exact same show when I was a kid. Flash forward though, and instead of watching one episode a day, from say, 4:00 til 4:30 (after school), in the new millennium you just order the entire series (six DVDs) online. Then you can watch every single episode, every waking minute of your life, until the thought of hearing the theme song just One More Time brings with it visions of checking in to a mental institution, or at least hitting the eject button. (The best part of course is that, with DVD players in vehicles now, you never really have to be away from it; it can stay with you wherever you go.)

But I digress... it was C-man's third birthday! We had a party in the afternoon, then went trick-or-treating at night. Connor did much better than last year, although it was much colder and unfortunately he had to wear a coat over his costume.

Evie And The Tub.

She's growing all right. This is her in the tub, if descriptors are really required. Oh, and that's the boy and me after bath time, circa probably the same night.

U of M.

We went to see Michigan play the Nittany Lions of Penn State, and it went badly. The weather was a nightmare, and the Wolverines played to the same level (pardon the poor analogy). But with my dad's sports contacts, we came away with cool T-shirt and a trip onto the field!

The Baby Bast Blog Is Back, Baby!!

(Editor's Note: The date for this post is fall of 2009, but it was written at the start of 2010. To keep things chronological, however, and include some highlights from the fall, I am placing it here.)

I get lots of questions about the our family blog... oh wait, check that... I meant "no one asks me about the family blog anymore", because we're all on this new site I dare not mention here (copyright and trademark issues of course), but the initals might be "FB".

I gave up on the blog last April, for anyone still keeping track. It's because of a topic I've mentioned before, but the short story is simply what I call "data overload". I just can't do it all. The photos must be re-sized and uploaded to this "FB" site, and my Grandma's Ceiva picture frame (which I highly recommend), and the Kodak site, then the blog, and then most of that process must start over again with digital video. Not to mention the backups... my goodness man!! The backups!! So there is a lot to it.

But there is good news for all of you still in the blogosphere! I found a website to print our family blog, starting at day one, up through the last update on April 22, 2009. The book is 200 pages, hardcover and color, and everyone just loves it. It's a very, very nice item to have, and to give as a gift. But more importantly, it's a great family item to keep and treasure, much like in the "dead tree" days of photos albums (look it up if you have not heard the term).

So our family blog will get a kick-start in 2010. New decade, new resolve, folks. I suppose time will tell how frequently I manage updates, but my commitment at this point is quite sincere. I and we hope you check back often, and if you haven't seen anything good lately, there is likely another site you might check (with initials that were mentioned enough already).

On a personal note, I find it quite liberating to write in the first person once again (that's an inside joke, people)!!

More Evie.

She's growing and changing every day. She's a real blessing to our family.

Easter Egg Hunters.

These are some of the Wilterink grandkids -- missing are Evie, Caleb and Breyana.

Easter (He Is Risen, Indeed)!

We went to Third for Easter, then to Jerry & Wendy's for dinner and a great Easter egg hunt for the kids. Great day, but our household was just starting to get sick... and little did we know how bad things would become!

More Indy.

At some point during the weekend my Dad realized that we had brought Evie along, and that she was, in fact, his second grandchild and first granddaughter. It was like a light bulb went off: "Hey, that's my granddaughter! Huh, maybe I'll hold her for a minute (as long as I can hold Connor too of course)." So that's what he did.

Note the kids in the first photo, then them again in the second. Different outfits, yes? Is anyone wearing the same thing? Turns out that shirt and t-shirt was his uniform for three long, warm days. I tried to release him from his self-imposed "record" when we left on Sunday, but I'm not sure what happened after we left.

Back To Indy!

Another trip to Indy, and another really great weekend. The only thing we don't like is the company, er, I mean the drive! It's the drive we don't like, but I had plenty of time to think about ways to improve it so more on that later. We went to a children's toy museum outside of Indy, and that was a lot of fun. The toy collection was amazing, and something any adult would enjoy.

What, More Kids??

YouGotThatRight. Kids are all we do around here. Note Evie's foray into the Activity Center!

My Birthday.

I turned a very young and spry 37 on March 27. Jodi and I had a great dinner at The Chop House (half off the food on your birthday, folks!), then we met friends at a new place near Eastown, The Winchester. That was fun, then Saturday night a group of us had dinner at a new place called The Victory Club. It's on the site of the old Lena Lou, which was a great old Ada bar and happens to be where our wedding party, well... partied, the night before our wedding (after the rehearsal dinner). Good times to be sure.

Evie.

She's very sweet.

A New Procedure.

Connor is learning something new. C'mon, I meant reading!!

Kristi and the Kids.

So far these two are the only nephew and niece. She's got chances at more though, unlike MB.

More Kids.

Connor with his new 'mean and threatening' face, Evie in the Poof chair, and Evie in the getting started in the Boppie!

Holland.

Big "guy's night out" in Holland. Much fun had by all. Note T. Cotts holding court...

The Kids.

More of the usual. It's why you folks stop by, assuming any of you do anymore.