Archive for the 'Home & Family' Category
Received this in the mail last week from one of my nephews, who graduated from high school this spring.
Dear VanderVeldes,
I would like to thank you for your warm wishes and contributions. I am pleased to have received your support, and shall use the money presented to me for college. I am looking forward to starting classes this fall; and I’m relieved to know there are so many people her to support me.
There was no signature; after all, his name was embossed on the front of the note, right? I give him an A for being original and candid in the way he tackled this most boring of tasks required of all gift recipients.
Here's picturing Christmas: No kids in the house for the first time in 23 years on Christmas eve and morning; a no-gifts agreement in our immediate family (which actually became one-per); no extended family gathering/gift exchange with sisters, husbands and available kids/grandkids; waaaay less stress in the pre-season; less after-gift cleanup; no returns. On the other hand, lots and lots and lots of snow.
Meagan (left) and Susan turn 19.
Was 1989 really that long ago? I guess so, but it sure doesn't seem like it to me. Their dad and I are still back there sometimes, remembering
Two girl babies who, once they made up their minds, came awfully fast between 9 and 9:30 p.m. on the night the Pistons won the Eastern division title. (The TV was on in my room. What can I say?)
The first girl born (Meagan) "looks just like Drew did!" with a round face and dark, dark hair. The second one is born fingers first with an arm that remained above her head for a day or two.
Two babies sleeping in the same crib to keep their accustomed togetherness going for those first few weeks
A four-year old brother who was enthralled (still is) but who would rarely touch
Nights and nights of sleeplessness trying to keep two babies fed, dry and comfortable. Taking every action first for one, then the other: changing, feeding, rocking, cuddling. It didn't take long for Meg to always be in Dad's arms while Susan was in mine. A case where 'likes' attract, rather than opposites.
Two sleepy babies stuffed into snowsuits at 5 a.m. so dad could drop them off at Grandma's – 40 miles away – while he went to work.
Two active babies challenging each other as to who would sit, crawl, stand and walk first. Susan always won ( probably because she weighed slightly less), but Meg was never far behind.
Two little girls usually dressed in similar – but not matching – outfits. It would have been FAR easier to dress them exactly alike (and we did give in to the urge more than I like to admit. It's really hard to find things that are equal but not the same)
Two little girls always together: off to daycare, first day of school, gymnastics classes, softball, dance lessons, swim team, band (one clarinet, one flute), music camp, summer camp, choir, youth group
One little girl always asking permission (except when she cut her bangs, jagged and even with her scalp). The other little girl, well, you just had to move things out of the way so she wouldn't hurt herself.
Two little girls hugging their puppy (who is now heavy, lumpy, stiff and 11 years old)
Two adolescents, always each others' best friend
Two adolescents, fighting, screeching, hating each other above all else
Two cinderallas getting ready for their "balls": Homecoming, Spring Fling, Prom
Two young women trying
out their wings: One off to college, one off to Australia. One now in a
downtown house with three young men while she finishes school, one saving her money to move out and live by herself as she begins school
Two young women, very different, yet similarly blonde, petite, stylish. One in torn jeans, one as at home in dresses as jeans. One in love with makeup, one sporting two tattoos. One gaga over her first love, one holding back a bit after the death of her first love a year ago.
Two young women at the open window of womanhood where so much is beckoning, so much is worth exploring, so much is possible.
Hey, 19 – Happy Birthday!
Well, here goes #2. Out of the dorm and into a house. A big old house in Grand Rapids' Heritage Hill area. With three guys.
It doesn't seem all that long ago that we moved her into East Hall at Davenport University, where she stayed through freshman year.
Even though she lived and attended class in Caldedonia and worked out here on the north end of town, she somehow made quite a few friends who attend college downtown, specifically Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University. All three of her new housemates are students at Kendall, and so is her boyfriend, who also lives in a house on the Hill (it's complicated and as a mother, I say it's probably better that way).
One of the guys had been living downtown and was looking for new people to share a house – something nicer than what I understand his old digs were. Meg "signed on" right away, then they rounded up two more and went house hunting. What they found is a beauty. Kitchen, foyer, living room, dining room, "library" downstairs, three bedrooms, laundry and a bath upstairs and a two-room bedroom in the attic. Hardwood floors. Bay windows. Window seats. Heat and water included. Very well maintained and well, beautiful.
She says she can afford it. She is working a lot of hours this summer as a server at O'Charley's and she already has her schedule planned for school. She'll be taking the shuttle bus from DU's downtown campus out to Caledonia three days a week to save on gas. She and one of the boys are going to pool their money on groceries.
We're entirely supportive of her (although she was very nervous about telling her dad she was moving in with three young men). She got a taste of living away from home last year and she liked it. I'm impressed by her maturity and everything she did to make this move happen. She won't be home nearly so much this year as last, but what are you gonna do? I'm proud of my downtown kid. Best to you Meg!
Clay and Drew, packin' stuff
So this tree is probably a hundred years old or more – who really knows with trees? It is the messiest thing ever, and boy does it have its seasons.
Two weeks ago it had little pink petals pushing out with the leaves as they started their spring growth. We swept those off the patio just as grass-cutting season was beginning.
Right now it's in full bloom and, as happens every year, the week or so that the white flowers are in full is the windiest week of spring, so we get a constant "snowing" of tiny white petals all over the yard. It also has an overpowering sweet smell that engulfs the neighborhood.
Once the blooms are finished, the hard green cherries will appear, which hopefully will be very few in number again this year. The tree is old as I said and it has "on" years and "off" years, with the "off" years being more prevalent recently. Which is good – because once we get to late August the tiny black cherries are falling everywhere, staining the patio, the outdoor furniture, and more than one spot on the carpet indoors as kids track them in with their shoes.
It sheds sticks and branches all year 'round, especially during any kind of wind, rain or snow storm. Thankfully the leaves are comparatively small and make for pretty easy raking.
Like I said, it has it's seasons, with this being perhaps the one it shows off best.
Beautiful, isn't it?
For reasons I haven't yet discovered, Typepad has done something funky with how photos are displayed here. I'm not happy with it, but it you want to see a larger version of this photo, click on it.
From Susan, as seen in the parking lot of O'Charley's the restaurant where she and Meagan work. The accompanying message said, "Look it's Harvey."
I let Drew and Michele use my car while I was in Chicago for a couple of days. They don’t have one and it can be difficult to get your friends to drag you around to where you need to be all the time.
They used the car time to get a few things done – they shopped for summer clothes, bought and hung curtains in the apartment, went out to dinner, got a manicure (well, Michele did anyhow), and just generally were "independent" for a little while.
So last night to return the favor, they came over with all the fixings to grill some fat ol’ burgers on the grill – the first of summer. Mmmmm were they good.
They still have my car though. Hmmm. Maybe we’ll get a taste of Michele’s famous chicken Florentine later in the week?
Clay’s birthday is April 1. And this year it was one of those "big ones."
I made a reservation to spend last night at the new J.W. Marriott - just to do something a little special. We had dinner at Six-One-Six in the hotel.
So just as we were getting ready to leave home last night I got a text message from Drew and Michele: "We’re lonely."
What could I do but invite them to dinner with us? Good times, great dinner: a bottle of wine signed by the winemaker, a sushi appetizer (I finally got my husband to try sushi!), baby spinach salad, scallops with a creamy risotto, the house specialty hand-rubbed steak cooked to perfection, after-dinner coffee. And the special birthday greeting above.
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Our room was on the 16th floor of the hotel. I requested "river view," and it was a great view in spite of the cold, rain and clouds. Everything there is first rate (there are only 6 of these hotels in the world, afterall). Very fitting for a birthday – whether it’s a "big one" or otherwise. (Click to see larger photos.)
The Van Andel Museum from the 16th floor of the hotel
Another view from our window
Room 1617 at the J.W. Marriott
Lighting overhead at Six-One-Six
Looking down into the lounge from the 3rd floor
Well, yeah, it’s the restroom in the restaurant
Lily centerpiece
Picking up my new car at the Meijer headquarters. I bought it sight-unseen after my friend’s employee husband won the bid on two cars – he only wanted one.
You’d think I was 16 years old. But with all the car trouble we’ve had over the last 12 months (oh – and one more car – the "ugly van" – was lost since those three met their tragic fates), you can hardly fault me for being a little giddy at the prospect of having a car to myself that’s reliable and isn’t full of dings, dents and rust.
It’s only a 2001 Chevy Malibu with 98,000 miles – but it has brand new tires, no rust or body damage and it’s CLEAN INSIDE! It was a fleet car for Meijer Stores, so I know it’s been well-maintained. And honestly – it’s the first car that’s been "mine" since the ‘76 Dodge Aspen SE that I bought with the promise of my first teaching job out of college (which I loved, but way overpaid for). So like I said, you can hardly fault me …
