New Pictures

Hey cousins.  What's going on in all of your BUSY lives?  Anyone going to update for the rest of us?  This was a great idea...but I want to hear from some of you more than once a year.  Anyway, I just took some cute pictures of our  little Angela who was born April 14th.  Thought I'd share them.

  This is by far my favorite picture I took of them.

Funny Letter

I came across this about a year ago. I just found it again and I think it is so funny. I don't know if it's true but doesn't really matter. I found it on the internet so I will just paste it here.
From the November 2002 Idaho Observer:

The infamous beaver dam story

This story has been circulating for several years. Is is true? Is it a satire? In an age where public servants follow the letter of the law even if it means imprisoning innocent people or killing small children, does it matter? Laws are intended to facilitate justice and keep the peace. Therefore, the spirit of the law would promote the facilitation of justice and keeping of the peace. Public servants who follow the letter of the law and who have lost sight of its spirit are a menace to the peace and dignity of our communities. So enjoy the following and try to believe it's a total fabrication and try not to associate the dam/beaver story with the actions of your favorite government agent.

Mr. Ryan DeVries 2088 Dagget, Pierson, MI 49339
SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County
Dear Mr. DeVries:
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above-referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor, who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2002.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter.

Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
Sincerely,

David L. PriceDistrict RepresentativeLand and Water Management Division
***
Dear Mr. Price,
Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County
Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond to. First of all, Mr. Ryan De Vries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood “debris” dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natural building materials “debris.”

I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. As to our request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.

My first dam question to you is (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or (2) Do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled.

I have several concerns. My first concern is - aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer.
The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing flooding is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream “restored” to a dam free-flow condition, please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them be aware that they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter due to inability to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams.) So,as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2002? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears. Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the dam beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!)

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office via another government organization -- the dam USPS. Maybe, someday, it will get there.
Sincerely,
Stephen L. Tvedten
Has anyone else read this before? I thought it was so funny. Ruth

Well, I was wrong.  I'm having another girl-and you wouldn't believe how much I've grown in three weeks.  She's right on target for size and we are so excited to welcome her into our home soon. Dan also just dodged a four to six month deployment because of his PHd program that will start in September in Dayton.  So happy about that!  

Common guys, this blog is getting boring-we need more regular posters.  Share a little love, will ya?

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!

We just wanted to wish you all the happiest, adventurous, love filled New Year ever!!

The one thing that I loved is being able to lean over and kiss my HUSBAND at the dropping of the ball at the stroke of 12:00 at our new year celebration!! Never had that before, it's awesome!! Simple thing I know, and silly, but that does discribe me, Silly, Sassy, Pants Colleen!!

I hope everyone is doing well!! We love you all and hope to see you all soon and spend some time together, that would be the best to us!!

This pic was taken last July with Jacob & Devon - Dan & Margie's two youngest boys, they love their Uncle Najee!!

Here is my five months pregnant picture. I'm still thinking it's a boy by the way I'm carrying (and how my moods are evened out-it's strange, I guess the extra progesterone balances my hormones)...with Hyrum, I was seven months along before people started actually noticing I was pregnant, and the entire time, I was less moody than usual. I'll be visiting a peronatologist in the next couple weeks to see if everything's alright with my baby since he was measuring a few weeks behind in development last checkup (at least the head and abdomen-this kid is all legs:). Hopefully, then we can find out the gender as well. I'm enjoying this pregnancy, despite the occasional worries about whether my baby is developing the way he should. But, ya know, all things are in the Lord's hands and I feel peace that everything will work out just fine. I really love the Gospel and the perspective it gives me in every area of life. We really are so blessed.

Christmas

Well, I had too much fun over Christmas not to share.
We had family pictures done because EVERYONE was there (that is considered our immediate family-that we grew up with). And Kemarie came home from her mission. We got to meet Spencer's fianse, Jessica (a total gem), and Susan's new boyfriend-just a kind-hearted and loving kind of guy...and we all got to see and visit with Karen for a whole week which is a huge treat because we haven't really seen much of her in the past three years.
I can't say enough about our trip. It was like old times, we just had FUN together as a family. The only down side was that my kids were sick....surprise. Every time we plan a trip, they seem to time it just right and get sick shortly before we are scheduled to leave. Then, of course, I spend the majority of our vacation time taking care of them. Just glad I didn't get sick while there...I'll tell ya, it's no fun being a sick Mommy. So, I'm grateful to report that I'm still feeling healthy. My little boy's been up with a fever. We just got home last night.
I didn't take a single picture, but I'm sure my Mother took enough for everyone and if she shares some with me, maybe I'll post one or two.
I just love my family!!
Hope your Christmas was also enjoyable!

Dropping the weight

So I decided I am going to take on the challenge that my wife gave me in October. If I lose 50 lbs. by my next birthday then I get $1,000. Aaron threw in $100 as well. I am beginning today. Gym, here I come!