Gettin "Naptized"

Tonight at the supper table, our son Andrew suddenly proclaimed: "mom, when I get big, I'm gonna get my swimmin' suit on, and my goggles, and go on the pulpit and get "naptized".

Minneapolis

Spent last weekend with Amber's sister and brother in law in the twin cities. Had a great time and the kids absolutely loved being together. Everything was great, until the 7 hour ride home with 2 tired girls......

Kids getting ready to go. Say Cheese!

Buzz "the fish" enjoying the pool.

Hi Macy and Mariah!

The girls were not too sure about the pool at first, but finally got used to it and enjoyed it.

The hotel we met the Joos's at has an indoor play area that is like the Mcdonald play land times 10. It is huge! Why was there nothing like this in the 80's when I could have enjoyed it? Oh well, I guess we did have the Hardees merry-go-round "puke machine" back then, huh?

This slide is about 1/2 way up the play land. Adults were able to go up with the kids, so I sent Amber to take the pictures. Mallory sure is enjoying it!

You can't visit Minneapolis/St Paul without going to the Mall of America. Here are the boys with the "Rainforest Cafe" frog. Where is Amber? Oh yeah, it is a mall. Hide the credit cards.

Leaving the Rainforest Cafe after finding out we would have to wait 3 hours to be seated. Kevin is just loving the mall, can't you tell?

The boys with the "Bubba Gump" Shrimp guy.

Back home safe. This picture sums up what goes through my mind about every other day. "Where did all these kids appear from?" While driving home, it hit me as I looked in the back of the van. I told Amb "this van is stuffed full of people". Life goes so fast. Before long, we will be having weddings and saying goodbye. We must appreciate every moment God gives us and not "waste" life looking ahead or wishing we were in another stage. Easy to say, hard to do, when kids are puking, crying, pooping, and fighting. Am I right, mom's??

10 Months with Twins

I was thinking today. Are twins . . .



Double the work?


or double the play?

Double the trouble?

Or double the fun?

Double the smiles?

Double the friends?

Double the help?

Is your glass half empty or half full?

I believe ours is overflowing!

Thank you Jesus!

Oregon January 2010

Last weekend, we headed to Oregon to visit some fantastic friends. Yes, some are probably saying "Oregon in winter? why would you do that?" For the record, it did rain every day, but we didn't go for the weather, we went for "fellowship and fun (oh yeah, and food, also)". It was a little hard for Amb to leave the twins (ok, very hard since Macy had croup), but they were in very good hands (mom Adams). They boys absolutely loved the "adventure". They came to refer to it as "house hopping".

Heading into St Louis airport. As you can see, all I had to carry was the camera..... Jayden was facinated with the airplanes, etc, and when we took off the first time, he exclaimed "mom, I can see the whole world from here". Priceless.

Amber had a great relationship in the young group with the Bob and Linda Kuenzi daughters, and since we have been married, it has grown to a fantastic friendship for me also. We have great times together. Above is Ty Moser (Kuenzi) making sure Nash has enough ice cream.

Jayden, Andrew, and Nash with wagon.

Friday we all went to the coast and stayed in a condo complex. As always, the pool is the number 1 attraction for the boys.

The surf in the northwest is very powerfull in the winter. Above is the view from our condo.

Kids being kids............... Hilarious!

Amber, Phillip Petrovic, and Tasha Petrovic (Kuenzi) getting ready for breakfast on Saturday morning.

Tenille Kuenzi, Ty Moser, and James and Clayton Schneider.

Ashlyn Petrovic, Sam Moser, Phil and Brandon (otherwise known as "brother") Petrovic.

Kids lining up for a picture. Notice Mr "No cooperate" off to the right? Jayden can be quite strong willed and stubborn at very random moments.

Missing the girls, but still had a family picture taken.

Shopping at Lincoln City, Oregon outlet mall. Pictured are Buzz, Jayden, and Brandon Petrovic.

Non stop action for the kids all weekend long.

Intense Rook game with Phil, James, and Sam. Notice James is finally smiling (a few days of losing were starting to wear on him until he and Phil pulled off an upset right before this picture). Great times.

Sunday was great fellowship at Silverton church, then spent the evening with other families that we knew there (some originally from Goodfield). Monday, the rain stopped so we drove to Silver Creek Falls (about 30 minutes up into the Cascade mountains). It is just majesticly beautiful.

The wet view from behind the falls.

Ty, Tonya Schneider (Kuenzi), Phil, Tasha, and us, along with all the kiddos. Thanks to Phil for taking the day off so I wasn't the only guy (oh wait, maybe that wouldn't have been a bad thing).

Jayden had his first bout of "Infatuation" this weekend. Ashlyn Petrovic was a great friend and made him feel so welcome, that Jayden went a little "head over heels" for her. It was so funny to watch. Shy around her, but then non stop talking when we were alone.

Buzz, Ashlyn, Jayden, and Clayton hanging out at the Lodge.

Snack of champions there, Mike. Potato chips and Pepsi.

Bob and Linda Kuenzi. A great couple that raised a great family (with God's help of course). Thanks so much for your hospitality.

Can you tell we ran Andrew a little hard? He slept most of the way home.

Mom reunited with her girls. Notice the smile!

This video is hilarious! We were down by the beach, watching the waves crash in, and while taking a video, a "sneaker wave" roared up the steps and completely soaked Buzz and Amb. Andrew was wet and full of sand from head to toe. Somehow, he is always the one that gets into bad situations. Also notice, none of the Oregon natives were at the bottom of the steps.........

Video of Silver Creek Falls.

Blog post complete, now back to the real world! Continue to pray for those in Haiti.

Christmas 2009

We really enjoyed our first Christmas with the twins. The "Mike Grimm Family" Christmas was a great success!


Mariah on left, Macy on right.

Jayden and Buzz with their gifts. Both were a hit.

Quick take a picture while everyone is looking at the camera! No, there aren't any faces that have been altered......

"Jeff Grimm Family" Christmas. Great times.

Macy on left, Mariah on right.

Grandpa holding Macy.

This video is priceless. Watch Jayden's face as he removes the wrapping paper.

Hope everyone has a very blessed 2010.

Looking for part time help at Lighthouse.

Do you know anyone looking for part time work this winter? We are very short handed in the shop this winter due to sport injuries, etc. Basic mechanical knowledge is the only requirement. If you know someone interested, post a comment, or send me an e-mail at mikeg@lighthousegm.com. Thanks!

Happy T-Giving, Merry Christmas! From the Grimms

I finally sat down to do a blog update. Trying to delegate this to Amb hasn't worked out too well. Something about 4 kids at home, babies, demands, etc, etc......... :):)

Anyway, here is what is happening at the Grimm house.


We haven't really been away from the kids for an extended period since the twins came along, so we took advantage of the "Sharon Adams Kid Watching Service" and left them all at Amber's mom's last Friday. She says she loves it, so we take advantage of it (Note---don't say you want to watch our kids unless you really mean it, because we remember and take mental notes.). Then took the train from Pontiac to downtown Chicago to shop, ice skate, and just spend "quality time" without any screams, whines, why's, whats, that's, how's, who's, when's, but dad's, but mom's, poop, puke, pee, diapers, bottles, baby food, etc. It was a great day and 1/2!

Does Amber look like she is in her glory?? (hint--you bet)

One night while I was babysitting, we had fun with some "bubba teeth". Looking good boys!

Girls are starting to get very mischievous. We were on cruise control for a few months, but now that they are crawling and not sleeping as much, it is definitely getting more crazy around here.

During thanksgiving, I was thinking how God has blessed us so much with our healthy twins, etc. A generation or two ago, Mariah would have died in the womb during childbirth. Don't we all have so many reasons to be thankful and rejoice, most of all for the shed blood on calvary's cross? Praise be to God!