Not sure if anyone even checks my blog anymore since I didn't do anything with it for so long, but just in case, I'm going to post some pictures of activities from the last couple months. 
This is our precious grand daughter, Zippora. If you have seen the movie "Ramona and Beezus" you will have an idea of how much fun Zippy is - her nickname is Ramona!
Laiya celebrated her 18th birthday last month!
She also celebrated her 4th 'gotcha' day on April 28.
Amazingly, April 28 is also Emily's 'gotcha' day. It's been 28 years since she came 'home'!
Abby and Ty were having fun with dress-up clothes. Check out Ty - he's picking his fake nose!!
Here's Zeke, 13 months old, taking one of his first steps. He looks like he's running, but he takes giant steps and his arms were up so it was just his pose:-) 
A couple weeks ago we got to spend a couple hours at Grandparent's Day at Byron Christian School - that is always a highlight of our year! Their music teacher has them sing wonderful old hymns from back when we were kids! It's always fun to visit their class rooms and see what they are learning, too.
Ty didn't want to pose for a picture - he wanted to show us all the body parts they are learning about!!
This is the coolest keepsake treasure box that my grandson Isaac made me. He cut it, sanded it, nailed it, put a hinge on it and painted it. Then he tapped "grandma's" in it with nail holes. Pretty nice work for a 9 year old and something I will keep forever!
Laiya painted a picture of my mom's cottage (in color) for art class and it turned out really nice. We framed it and gave it to her for Mother's Day.
Last, but certainly not least, is a picture of 16 of our 17 grand children. It's hard to get all 17 together but we actually did it a couple weeks ago for family dinner. Then when the two youngest woke up from naps we got them all gathered outside for a group picture. After I snapped away, thinking 'ahh, finally!' I found out one of the kids didn't want to be in it so there are only 16! Oh, well, maybe next time!
So this is a little of my life in pictures. Please leave a comment so I know you were here:-)
Lots of new pics!
Girlfriends Weekend and Miscellaneous Fun
Two weeks ago I headed to Holland with my two sisters, Joan and Denise, and one of my sisters-in-law, Beckie, for our annual Girlfriends Weekend - oh, such a fun time!! We literally run to try to fit in as many events as we can - from contests and drawings, to jewelry making, glass painting, photo shoots, meditation sessions, cooking classes, wine tasting, fashion shows, a delicious breakfast buffet at Alpen Rose, and more and more. Something new this year was martini tasting - oh, my! We were each given 8 samples!! That makes for 32 samples on one table! Needless to say we didn't drink a fraction of them but it made for a great picture! 
We just got our goodie bags are we're ready to start our shopping:-) 
We had a 'little' rain on Friday!
We were missing mom so we took a picture and saved a spot for her!
The tables were decorated with all things from the 80's for our party on Saturday night.
Check out those cool gloves - pretty groovy, huh?
We learned how to make these yummy appetizers at a cooking class.
Martini tasting night - 8 samples for each of us was about 7 too many!
I've had enough!!
Denise and Beckie toasting to a fun night!
We had a delicious breakfast buffet at Alpin Rose on Sunday morning.
Ryan and Heather's kids, including precious baby Luke, who was baptized last Sunday.
Elijah and Jacob celebrated their birthdays last week. They were both 6 for a few days. Jacob turned 6 on the 3rd and Elijah turned 7 on the 8th. We took them to Chuckie Cheese and we all had lots of fun!
It was also Zippora's birthday last week - she turned 5 on the 5th. She came in with Ben in the morning and we spent the day together. We baked cookies, made crafts, she opened her gift, we did her nails, and then the highlight for her was our tea party. She brought along a fancy little dress that Erica made her with all little ruffles on it. She kept saying over and over all day that it was "the very best day of my whole entire life!"
Elijah has been keeping the tooth fairy has been busy lately!
I hope that your life is as full of blessings as mine is.
It's about time, huh??
Okay, so I talked to an old friend today and she said she still checks my blog to see if
I ever update it. So, I decided that just in case there are others of you that do check in occasionally, maybe I should actually do just that - update my blog!!
First of all, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday - we sure did. 
Here's Dave, Laiya and I (and even Bella) on Christmas day.
Taeron and Dontae posing for a picture to make a Christmas present for Holly
Kate and Lucy in their dress up clothes 
We went over to my brother Rick's house for a nice dinner on Christmas night
I spent a few days at Ben and Erica's house in December, helping Erica out while Ben was on a mission trip. The kids and I had lots of fun doing crafts! Our attempt at a gingerbread house was, hmmm, what shall I say, well, we tried! The frosting was a little runny so the roof slid off, most of the decorations were eaten before they were put on, etc. etc., but we sure had fun!
Braden and Evan play basketball on Saturdays. We have only made it to one game so far but hoping to make it to more before they are done!
Luke Ryan Dykhouse was born to Ryan and Heather on December 29. He is welcomed home by Abby, Ty and Kate too.
We spent New Year's Eve with my brothers and sisters. Rick and Beckie joined us after we took the picture. What a wonderful way to bring in the new year!
Sweet Jacob loves all the hats and glasses in the box of dress-up clothes downstairs!
My dear friend, Barb, surprised me by taking me to get a pedicure for a belated birthday gift last week! I thought 10 am was a little early to be going for lunch:-) 
Ty did a great job in the Byron Christian K-3 school play last week.
Abby and Ty are both becoming great swimmers. They have swim meets almost every Saturday. I haven't made it to very many but it is fun to watch them when I can.
If you've seen the movie "Ramona and Beezus" then you have an idea of what my grand daughter Zippora is like - she is just like Ramona! She is so fun that even when she peels off my wall paper border I can't get mad at her.
So, if you happened to come across my blog, will you please leave a comment so I know that someone has read it and then maybe I will try to keep up on it again. Thanks!!
Girls Get-Away 2010
It was my turn to plan our girls get-away, so we went to Mackinaw City and the island last week Wednesday and Thursday. The weather was perfect and the company couldn't have been better.
I packed a yummy lunch that we ate at a little park in Mackinaw City. We topped it off with truffles! 
the view from our room
Taking the bridge to St. Ignace
a typical picture of Denise:-)
taking the ferry over to the island
We took a carriage ride and our guide, Brandon, told us lots of interesting things about the island.
We finished our day on the island with an ice cream cone
REMEMBER TO JUST BE SILLY SOMETIMES AND ENJOY LIFE!!
Okay, so it's been a while . . .
Ji Su called today (from Japan) and she mentioned that she's been checking my blog but I haven't updated it in a while, so this is for you Ji Su - family photos to show how much the kids have changed since you left 1 1/2 years ago.
The Dykhouses - Ryan, Heather, Abby, Ty and Kate
Dusty and Betsy
Ben and Cat
Cool dudes - Evan and Braden
The Kloostermans - Joe, Emily, Elijah, Jacob, Lucy and Ezekiel
Holly, Taeron and Dontae
The Bentings - Ben and Erica, Isaac, Lyvia, Zippora, Elle and Zacariah
Laiya and her cousin Lidia
Me and Davey
Zac pulling funny faces
Lucy with her broken arm
Silly Zippy playing dress-up
Elijah, Jacob and Lucy loving on Zeke
Precious Elle
Isaac, Lyvia and Zippora having fun at the cottage
Zeke chilling in the pool
