theVandermarks.com » holiday http://www.thevandermarks.com Welcome to our place to share news and photos with family and friends! Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:30:49 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Catching up on all the photos posted http://www.thevandermarks.com/2011/06/25/catching-up-on-all-the-photos-posted/ http://www.thevandermarks.com/2011/06/25/catching-up-on-all-the-photos-posted/#comments Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:34:09 +0000 Karen http://www.thevandermarks.com/?p=569 OK, so I’ve admittedly been terrible about blogging about all the events going on in our lives. I spend lots of time editing and posting new pictures, as you can sometimes see in the Recent Photos widget, but I never seem to get around to writing about it. Honestly, I think the photos tell a better story anyway (not to mention I’m already writing when I do the captions…). :-)

The Vandermarks, Sept 2010

The Vandermarks, Sept 2010

I’ll try to get better about posting simple updates when a new batch of photos have been loaded (like the remainder of our April trip to AZ that uploaded last night), but in the meantime, here’s just a straight list of the albums that have been updated/created since last Sept:

]]> http://www.thevandermarks.com/2011/06/25/catching-up-on-all-the-photos-posted/feed/ 0 The halls are decked, the stockings are hung… http://www.thevandermarks.com/2009/12/06/the-halls-are-decked-the-stockings-are-hung/ http://www.thevandermarks.com/2009/12/06/the-halls-are-decked-the-stockings-are-hung/#comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:02:48 +0000 Karen http://www.thevandermarks.com/?p=504 …so it must be time for Christmas!  The month of November was a busy one – a baby shower, a wedding reception, 3 straight weeks of home games for the Vikings, and oh yeah, Thanksgiving – so the month just flew by.  It went by so fast, we didn’t even take many pictures, which is unusual for us.  We had a very nice Thanksgiving, spending a relaxing day up at Mom & Dad B’s house and enjoying Mom’s yummy turkey dinner.

The boys check out the ornaments as Mommy unpacks them

Getting the ornaments ready for the tree

Never ones to want to venture out into the chaos that is Black Friday shopping, we spent that weekend making the change from Autumn to Christmas, getting all the Christmas decorations up around the house and, of course, decorating the tree.  Now that the boys are bigger, they were thrilled to be able to help Cole and Mommy hang ornaments.  They had a lot of fun with each ornament, as you can see in the pictures in the Nov-Dec 2009 album.  As always, the finished tree is beautiful, all ready for Christmas.  Happy Holidays to everyone!

]]> http://www.thevandermarks.com/2009/12/06/the-halls-are-decked-the-stockings-are-hung/feed/ 0 New photos for March http://www.thevandermarks.com/2008/03/28/node104/ http://www.thevandermarks.com/2008/03/28/node104/#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:18:15 +0000 Karen Mar-Apr 2008 album. Debbie and the boys went out and played in the snow one day about a week and a half ago, but it melted quickly that day - the big snowman was in pieces by the time I came home from work. The next day, they were out riding bikes in the beautiful weather. Two days later on Good Friday, we had 8 inches of snow fall, plus 2 more the next day. Days later, it's all gone again. Ya gotta love Minnesota weather... We had a lot of fun on Easter this year. The Easter bunny left gifts for the little guys, Cole and Joe made a fantastic breakfast for us all, and we had fun playing with all sorts of eggs. Two of my favorite new words were invented on this day: cup-ets and bunny beans. "Cup-ets" was Alex's attempt to say buckets, which was what the Easter bunny left their goodies in. He was so cute as he tried so hard to say it right. "Bunny beans" are more commonly known as jelly beans, but I think we'll be forever calling them bunny beans now thanks to both Zach and Alex. Check out the pictures in the Easter 2008 album.]]> Happy spring everyone! It may be spring, but that doesn’t mean that snow season is over yet in Minnesota, as is evidenced in a number of pictures in the Mar-Apr 2008 album. Debbie and the boys went out and played in the snow one day about a week and a half ago, but it melted quickly that day – the big snowman was in pieces by the time I came home from work. The next day, they were out riding bikes in the beautiful weather. Two days later on Good Friday, we had 8 inches of snow fall, plus 2 more the next day. Days later, it’s all gone again. Ya gotta love Minnesota weather…

We had a lot of fun on Easter this year. The Easter bunny left gifts for the little guys, Cole and Joe made a fantastic breakfast for us all, and we had fun playing with all sorts of eggs. Two of my favorite new words were invented on this day: cup-ets and bunny beans. “Cup-ets” was Alex’s attempt to say buckets, which was what the Easter bunny left their goodies in. He was so cute as he tried so hard to say it right. “Bunny beans” are more commonly known as jelly beans, but I think we’ll be forever calling them bunny beans now thanks to both Zach and Alex. Check out the pictures in the Easter 2008 album.

]]> http://www.thevandermarks.com/2008/03/28/node104/feed/ 0 Happy 2008! http://www.thevandermarks.com/2008/01/08/node100/ http://www.thevandermarks.com/2008/01/08/node100/#comments Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:45:10 +0000 Karen Nov-Dec 2007 album, including a few in early December that were hiding on one of our digital cameras of Z & A enjoying an early Christmas present from Papa and Grandma Pat - a new play table. Also included are a gift of Buzz and Woody from Debbie and fun for the whole family with wooden blocks from Grandpa Dan and Grandma Marilyn. Debbie and I took the boys to visit Santa. They were really excited about Santa - right up until it was time to actually meet him. Alex had a death grip on me, while Zach was wary of this strange man and found that exploring the area was more interesting. Debbie captured a picture of a struggle to keep the boys still enough to get that split-second portrait. Once we left, they got excited about Santa again. What can you do? :-) In the Christmas 2007 album, we have pictures from our mid-December trip to celebrate Christmas with family and friends in Chicago - we had such a great time visiting everyone! For Christmas, we opened all our family gifts on the 23rd so we could take our time and enjoy everything with Cole. On Christmas Eve, we made the trek up to Grandma Pat and Papa's house and spent the day with them; we also were invited to invade the Aberle's holiday celebration to spend a little time with them. Christmas Day brought a visit from Santa (fortunately for the boys, while they were still sleeping) and a fantastic meal with some dishes that have become holiday traditions for us - a roast duck with apple and prune stuffing that is to die for, the Vandermark traditional Green Death (lime Jello salad with cream cheese and pears - yum!), and a new butternut squash risotto that was a lot of work but was wonderful with the duck.]]> Happy New Year to all! We hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.

Lots of new pictures have been added to the Photo Gallery. Finishing out the 2007 Family album are some new photos in the Nov-Dec 2007 album, including a few in early December that were hiding on one of our digital cameras of Z & A enjoying an early Christmas present from Papa and Grandma Pat – a new play table. Also included are a gift of Buzz and Woody from Debbie and fun for the whole family with wooden blocks from Grandpa Dan and Grandma Marilyn.

Debbie and I took the boys to visit Santa. They were really excited about Santa – right up until it was time to actually meet him. Alex had a death grip on me, while Zach was wary of this strange man and found that exploring the area was more interesting. Debbie captured a picture of a struggle to keep the boys still enough to get that split-second portrait. Once we left, they got excited about Santa again. What can you do? :-)

In the Christmas 2007 album, we have pictures from our mid-December trip to celebrate Christmas with family and friends in Chicago – we had such a great time visiting everyone! For Christmas, we opened all our family gifts on the 23rd so we could take our time and enjoy everything with Cole. On Christmas Eve, we made the trek up to Grandma Pat and Papa’s house and spent the day with them; we also were invited to invade the Aberle’s holiday celebration to spend a little time with them.

Christmas Day brought a visit from Santa (fortunately for the boys, while they were still sleeping) and a fantastic meal with some dishes that have become holiday traditions for us – a roast duck with apple and prune stuffing that is to die for, the Vandermark traditional Green Death (lime Jello salad with cream cheese and pears – yum!), and a new butternut squash risotto that was a lot of work but was wonderful with the duck.

]]> http://www.thevandermarks.com/2008/01/08/node100/feed/ 0 New photos for November and December http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/12/11/node99/ http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/12/11/node99/#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:24:50 +0000 Karen Nov - Dec 2007 Family photo album, including a trip to Underwater World at the Mall of America, playing in class at ECFE (Early Childhood and Family Ed), preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and getting out during the first big snowfall of the season. We also went to Joe's company Holiday Party on December 1 at the fabulous Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. It was a 70's disco theme party, complete with a great, well-known local cover band called Boogie Wonderland, and it was a ton of fun. Most of the crowd, including Joe and me, dressed the part in all its cheesy glory, and everyone got out on the dance floor - or even on stage (yep, that is me on stage with Heather, the wife of one of Joe's coworkers). The pictures are a bit grainy/fuzzy given the lighting in the room, but the Dow Jones Holiday Party album will give you an idea of the fun that was had by all.]]> We’ve got some great new pictures in the new Nov – Dec 2007 Family photo album, including a trip to Underwater World at the Mall of America, playing in class at ECFE (Early Childhood and Family Ed), preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and getting out during the first big snowfall of the season.

We also went to Joe’s company Holiday Party on December 1 at the fabulous Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. It was a 70′s disco theme party, complete with a great, well-known local cover band called Boogie Wonderland, and it was a ton of fun. Most of the crowd, including Joe and me, dressed the part in all its cheesy glory, and everyone got out on the dance floor – or even on stage (yep, that is me on stage with Heather, the wife of one of Joe’s coworkers). The pictures are a bit grainy/fuzzy given the lighting in the room, but the Dow Jones Holiday Party album will give you an idea of the fun that was had by all.

]]> http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/12/11/node99/feed/ 0 Back to the crib http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/11/05/node98/ http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/11/05/node98/#comments Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:11:30 +0000 Karen Sept-Oct 2007 album include another example of the mess the boys made when they should have been napping, a special breakfast made by Debbie and Cole, and dressing up as Pooh (Zach) and Eeyore (Alex, of course!) for Halloween.]]> After about a week of letting the boys run like manics and a week of sitting in the room for up to an hour at a time to get them to fall asleep, we decided the boys just aren’t ready for beds yet and put the crib fronts back on. Now we’re having fun playing the “put the baby back in the bed” game, complete with the “let’s hide from Mommy to see if she can find us” bonus game. It’s taken as much as 2+ hours to get them to go to sleep, but I think in the long run, this is the right thing. We sure can’t wait until they get the idea that they’re supposed to stay in though!

Some new pics in the Sept-Oct 2007 album include another example of the mess the boys made when they should have been napping, a special breakfast made by Debbie and Cole, and dressing up as Pooh (Zach) and Eeyore (Alex, of course!) for Halloween.

]]> http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/11/05/node98/feed/ 0 More pictures http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/07/15/node16/ http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/07/15/node16/#comments Sun, 15 Jul 2007 19:57:44 +0000 Karen 2007 Friends album. Also in the album are pictures of Karen's friend Azure and her new baby Erica - what a little sweetie! In the Family album, new pictures have been added to the July-Aug album. Included are pictures of the boys cooling off on a hot day and a trip to the zoo, joined by Robert and Kwo Ue, where we saw the bird show, the newly renovated Minnesota Trail, and other fun exhibits. The album also has its usual assortment of cute kid pics.]]> We celebrated July 4th with Karen’s parents and Robert and Kwo Ue. When Joe and Bobby are together, it’s a given that “boom booms” are involved. The pictures can be seen in the 2007 Friends album. Also in the album are pictures of Karen’s friend Azure and her new baby Erica – what a little sweetie!

In the Family album, new pictures have been added to the July-Aug album. Included are pictures of the boys cooling off on a hot day and a trip to the zoo, joined by Robert and Kwo Ue, where we saw the bird show, the newly renovated Minnesota Trail, and other fun exhibits. The album also has its usual assortment of cute kid pics.

]]> http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/07/15/node16/feed/ 0 Christmas photos and other stuff http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/01/17/node82/ http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/01/17/node82/#comments Wed, 17 Jan 2007 22:35:33 +0000 Karen Christmas 2006 album.  

Zach and Alex had a lot of fun with all the new things to see and play with.  And we all had fun celebrating that first Christmas with them.  However, I have to say that for the first time ever, I was happy to take the tree down this year.  The boys were just fascinated with it, always wanting to put the branches, ornaments, and lights right into their mouths.

Other new photos have been posted in the newly-created Jan-Feb 2007 album and a couple cute ones from the last days of 2006 (my favorite is the one of Alex sleeping on Eeyore).]]> As predicted, the Vandermarks and Belouseks went a little crazy with the cameras at Christmas.  It didn’t help that we had three cameras going at various points.  We actually had about 600 photos between the three!  I did manage to whittle it down to a much more reasonable number – still a lot, but when you consider what I started with, I think I did pretty good. Check them out in the Christmas 2006 album.

Zach and Alex had a lot of fun with all the new things to see and play with.  And we all had fun celebrating that first Christmas with them.  However, I have to say that for the first time ever, I was happy to take the tree down this year.  The boys were just fascinated with it, always wanting to put the branches, ornaments, and lights right into their mouths.

Other new photos have been posted in the newly-created Jan-Feb 2007 album and a couple cute ones from the last days of 2006 (my favorite is the one of Alex sleeping on Eeyore).

]]> http://www.thevandermarks.com/2007/01/17/node82/feed/ 0 Sick and teething – a bad combination http://www.thevandermarks.com/2006/12/04/node74/ http://www.thevandermarks.com/2006/12/04/node74/#comments Mon, 04 Dec 2006 21:24:26 +0000 Karen The poor little guys are dealing with a nasty bug as well as the next round of teeth, so they haven't wanted to eat much and fight going to sleep (although they do sleep good once they finally give in). Mom and Dad are a bit on the frazzled side, but things are getting better. The fevers are gone, they're starting to eat a little better, and the Orajel is helping with the teething. Alex had a new tooth break the surface yesterday, and hopefully Zach will soon follow suit.

Lots of cute new pics have been added to the Nov-Dec 2006 album. We've got the boys' first taste of ham and "real" food (veggie puffs), pics from Thanksgiving and holiday decorating, our family pics for this year's Christmas card, the boys' first visit with Santa during a trip to the mall with Debbie, a father-son trip to the Vikes game, and some just plain cute photos. Enjoy!

]]> The poor little guys are dealing with a nasty bug as well as the next round of teeth, so they haven’t wanted to eat much and fight going to sleep (although they do sleep good once they finally give in). Mom and Dad are a bit on the frazzled side, but things are getting better. The fevers are gone, they’re starting to eat a little better, and the Orajel is helping with the teething. Alex had a new tooth break the surface yesterday, and hopefully Zach will soon follow suit.

Lots of cute new pics have been added to the Nov-Dec 2006 album. We’ve got the boys’ first taste of ham and “real” food (veggie puffs), pics from Thanksgiving and holiday decorating, our family pics for this year’s Christmas card, the boys’ first visit with Santa during a trip to the mall with Debbie, a father-son trip to the Vikes game, and some just plain cute photos. Enjoy!

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