Brake Job

Brake job...I don't think I need to say anything else. This guy is amazing! I mean who knows how to do this stuff? 

 Hmm...now if we just had the right tools...

Due to some "minor" issues with getting the left rear brake pads installed I ended up having to drive the Corolla last week and taking it to Michigan for a few days. Yikes we were packed in there! It felt tiny but it sure was zippy compared to the Freestyle. The girls didn't like the fact that they couldn't watch a movie on the way there but they did survive! And after a week of driving around in the little Corolla I was glad to have back "the red car" as the girls call it.  And as of last Friday it has 4 new tires on it too so it feels brand new! Hopefully we can make it another 50,000 miles before we need to do anything else major to it! Crossing our fingers but like all of us she's not getting any younger.

Cora

Cora has been loving her little tot works class each Monday. She likes that she gets to go to "school" too on these days. Last week she learned all about farm animals and painted a little cow. 

She also likes to pretend she can play the piano. I think  Maya went through a similar phase. I gotta get these girls some lessons but wowzers it's expensive! I'm hoping Maya will start later this year or next year at the latest.

With Maya gone all day every day we've gone on a few Mommy & Cora zoo dates. Last week we met some other friends there too. The zoo is gorgeous in the Fall!

The zoo was decorated for Halloween and there were pumpkins all over. 

Cora had to go and check this one out.

Most zoo trips end with a ride on the train!

Cora and her friend Laura

 And Cora and Mommy

Visit to see Great Grandma Sikkema

Fall has been super busy around here! I don't think we've had one weekend where we didn't have a single thing on the calendar. We've been trying to figure out a time to go visit Great Grandma Sikkema and a few of our cousins and finally were able to make it happen at the end of September.

We didn't know when we planned the weekend that there would be a Fall festival in the town where Great Grandma lives. What a fun surprise! We started out making some arts and crafts.

 Morgan and Miles working on their crafts

 Painting pumpkins...just a tad bit messy and we left them there to "dry." And you know what? Not one question about where they were at the end of the day! Phew!

There was a bean bag toss and another little game the kiddos played

There were super cute decorations all over the downtown area. 

Cora wasn't cooperating here but we tried. 

We then made our way over to see Great Grandma for the afternoon. We hadn't been there since she moved out of her house so it seemed a bit different. But we had a good visit with her in the community room at Harbor Crest. (I remember going to visit my Great Grandma Sikkema there when I was little.)

Here we are two of the grand children and 4 of the littlest great grand children. 

 Great Grandma with Cora, Miles, Maya & Morgan 

 I'm so thankful we were able to go visit and this picture will be a special memory. Grandma hardly ever smiles in pictures and for 93 I'd say she is looking pretty good! 

We were also glad we could spend time with Melissa, Mike, Morgan and Miles and my Aunt Martha and Uncle Dave! 

Grandparent's Day 2016

Last Friday was Grandparent's day at Maya's school. Maya was thrilled that G & G Sikkema were able to make it this year!

A little welcome sign for all the special guests.

The morning started out with a little program and singing for the grandparents. 

 Then Maya was able to show G & G her classroom. 

They did a few coloring projects together and played some games. 

Maya was so excited to share her school with Grandpa and Grandma and we were thankful they could go with her last Friday morning!