Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

I'd say, "And the fire is so delightful", but since we have no fire in here, I guess that wouldn't make a lot of sense. =)

Anyway- we finally managed to have our Herrick family Christmas party. We ended up doing it the Wednesday evening after our originally-planned Saturday. The weather was just too ugly that Saturday, especially for Rich and the girls to go clear from Rockford to Holland. Here are some pictures from the Herrick Christmas.

Tom and Kathy gave these beautiful pashmina's to Stacey and I. They got them in Egypt on their latest trip. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Joe- very excited about his Star Wars desk top calendar. Can't go wrong with Star Wars when it comes to the Herrick twins.

Mom Herrick with Emerson and Camryn (Rich and Kelley's girls).

Generations picture! Rich (holding Camryn), Grampa Herrick, and Dad Herrick (holding Emerson). Good lookin' family!


Mom Herrick and Gramma Richards watching Emerson open a gift.

Camryn was a tad distracted by her shoe falling off, and was trying to fix it before taking the generations picture.

We had our Christmas celebration at Oak Crest Manors, where Gramma Richards lives. It was very nice. Now Mom and Dad Herrick are down in Florida for the next few months.

The weather continues to be a tad crazy around here. Ben had a snow day today (we have 10 inches of new snow in our yard), and our road hasn't been plowed, so I was unable to leave for work at Cottonwood. After watching the couple across the street get both of their cars stuck in the road and a truck get stuck trying to come through, we decided we are not leaving until our road has been plowed!! I'll have to try to take some more outside pics, especially of the dog. When he's in the snow you can barely see him now because he's so short compared to the snow piles. It's quite funny, actually.

Stay warm, everyone!

I likely won't post again until after Christmas, so have a wonderful holiday, everyone!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

The snowfall continues. If I had to guess, I'd say we have about 6 inches on the ground right now, and are predicted to get about 7 more throughout the weekend. As a result, the Cottonwood Christmas party (which would have been yesterday evening) was cancelled. Bummer! We are supposed to head to the Herrick Christmas party today. Not sure if Holland is getting slammed as much as what they were predicted to... but we are really hoping to pull that off. I'm about to bake some chocolate snowballs to take along. Yum! =)

Here's what it looks like at our house:

I took these shots just now. Ben is actually out shoveling the drive as I write. It's almost a live update. =)

Anyway- have a great day!

Christmas Season Already!

I cannot believe it's already December! Wow. And here I am, slacking on the posting again. No good excuse, really... Just haven't taken the time.

So, here's the latest:

Ben is about 2 weeks into the second trimester of the school year. He gave up his planning period for the second two trimesters and is teaching an add-on section of Algebra 1 to ease the load for a couple other teachers (who would have each had 35 students for that class). He's still playing with the Lakeshore Jazz Ensemble, which is now under new leadership. Gary, who founded the group, "retired" at the end of the summer. Fortunately, the group has decided to continue performing.

I am still part time at the BRAINS clinic. The caseload is gradually picking up, it just takes some time. We got some new sensory eqiupment, which will make my job a lot easier and marketing more effective. The other days each week, I'm still at Cottonwood working in the infant room. Much better than staying at home bored and earning no income. Plus- I'd never turn down the chance to spend more time with the kiddos!! =)

The search for a new church home continues. We have narrowed our search down to two churches, though, and will make a decision at the end of the year. We figure that will be a good time- start a new year with a new church home and jump in!

Since the last post, we've taken two trips up to the Pinestead, celebrated Thanksgiving, and decorated the house for Christmas. We will have our first of our Christmas parties this weekend already. Wow!

Okay- so on to the pictures.

East Bay on an October day.

Hilarity typically ensues when Catch Phrase is played. At this point, we are all cracking up because Ben said that the Oregon Trail ended in California. (He'll love that I told on him.) Pictured is my mom, Justin, and Jennifer.

Visited the Pinestead again in November. What is it about a pool that turns two 28-year-old brothers into 12-year-olds? =)

Ben and Joe and Bob in the pool- more goofin' around.

Joe, Stacey, Ben, Helen, and Bob- getting ready to shop in downtown Traverse City.

Ben and I with Crescendo. Took this picture while up celebrating Thanksgiving in Lakeview.

Just wouldn't be a proper blog if I didn't include my latest favorite picture of Crescendo. =) Yeah- he's the baby for now, so we take a lot of pictures of him!

That's the update for now. It's been snowing for the past two days here, so it definitely feels like the Christmas season has arrived. Hopefully I'll be successful at getting some Christmas pictures on here as parties occur. Otherwise there'll be a massive post in January.

Have a wonderful holiday season, everyone. I pray you will experience a meaningful, fun, and safe Christmas Season.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season- Amen!

If "Spring has Sprung", is it "Fall has Fell"?

I can't believe it's almost October already. Wow!

I'll have to step back here a second and see what else I need to put pictures up from the rest of this summer.

Well- Ben's jazz band (the Lakeshore Jazz Ensemble) had a concert up in my home county at the Edmore park. I think I have a couple pictures:

This is the whole band in the gazebo.

Ben during one of his solos. Unfortunately, that was as close as I could get.

Crescendo enjoyed the concert, too. Hurray for outdoor events when he can come along!

Ben had a surprise party for my birthday in August. It, of course, had to include some DDR!

We'll "show off" a bit of the hard work over the summer. Ben spent MANY hours working on home improvement projects. One of the biggest was removing wallpaper and carpet, repainting, and finishing wood floors in the office. This is the before...

And here are the "after" shots:

Now school for Ben is back in full swing, and I am working 3 days per week at Cottonwood Chrsitian Learning Center, and two days at the BRAINS clinic, which I'm loving. Still no luck on selling the house yet, but we are counting our blessings that we can afford to be patient on that!

Other big thing, I guess, is that we are in the process of searching for a new church home. We are trying to find a place where we can worship and serve in ministry together as a couple, and where we can raise a family someday. We've been to about 6 or 7 churches so far, and have a couple more to check out for the "first round", then we'll start honing in on a smaller number.

Ben and I are also new members of the Zeeland Community Band, which has been a blast so far. It's great to be playing in a large group again. We are both enjoying it, and we'll have about 8 concerts in the current season. Yeah!

Ben's birthday (and Joe's, and Emerson's) was yesterday, so we did dinner and a movie with Joe and Stacey, after a birthday party for little miss Em. Always fun!

I guess that's about it right now. We are headed to the Pinestead a couple times in the next six weeks, so that should lead to some good pictures.

Hope all is well with all of you! Much love! =)

Summer Fun!

Time for some more pictures, I think. =) Ben and I have had a pretty busy summer so far. Most of Ben's time has been spent on working on the house while I'm at work, but we've managed to do a few nice "summer" things, too. Here's a recap.

First, a Lakeshore Jazz Ensemble concert in Hudsonville. Ben is the second from the right in the back row, Joe second from the right in the front row. It was a great concert and Stacey, Mom and Dad Herrick, Grampa Herrick and I were all able to be there. Very nice.

Us ladies at the annual Parker Picnic to Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon. The weather was a little back and forth, but we did manage to use the water park a bit. Hurray!

A staple at Michigan's Adventure for us- Mini Golf! Ben pretty much whooped up on all of us, but it was still fun.

Gotta have one good couple shot. We had a cabana by the "hidden" wave pool. It's great- a place with furniture and shade that you don't have to fight for. And this wave pool is far less utilized because it's kind of tucked away, so it's a double bonus.

On July 11 we went with Joe & Stacey and Bob & Helen to the Grand Rapids Symphony Picnic Pops. It was a marvelous concert! They played some great stuff- New World Symphony, some Sousa marches, etc. And the fireworks display afterwards was completely amazing! They have this all summer long at Cannonsburg ski area. I think it's becoming a tradition for us.

As a surprise at Picnic Pops, Joe and Stacey gave each couple a bottle of wine- with our pictures and nice little messages on them. This is Bob and Helen getting ready to sample!

The only way to get a picture of Stacey looking at a camera is to sneak it in when she doesn't know. Unfortunately for Joe, he didn't get any warning either. He's making his skeptic face... I don't remember why.

So, that's been our fun so far. I'm sure that there's more to come.... =)

New Job!!!

I finally am headed back into the world of pediatrics!! I am beyond thrilled. I accepted a position last weekend at a clinic over on the East Beltline. They use the acronym BRAINS (it stands for Behavioral Resources and the Institute for Neuropsychological Services- now you know why they use the acronym). It's an outpatient pediatrics clinic with a hugely multidisciplinary approach. They have neuropsychologists, psychologists, counselors, social workers, neurofeedback specialist, speech language pathologist, physical therapist, and now me! The staff I've met so far are all phenomenal, and I'm really excited to be a part of the amazing work they are doing there. I'll be an independent contractor, which basically means I have to build my caseload... but I'll have a source for referrals built in. It'll be uniquely challenging, but comes with some flexibility, and most of all- I get to work with KIDS again!!!!!!!!

If you are interested, here's a picture of the clinic, and the link to the website.

http://www.brainspotential.com/

Thanks to those of you who sent thoughts and prayers my way as I interviewed. I really appreciate it. I've had some wonderful experiences at Hope Network, but I'm so very excited about returning to the pediatrics realm and working directly with people again.

As the girls and I used to say in college, "Yeah, God!"

~Heather Jane

A Herrick-Year in Pictures

We just celebrated our first anniversary! In some ways, it seems we've been married ever-so-much longer than that, and in other ways I can't believe it's been a whole year. But it has been a wonderful year. To celebrate, Ben adapted the song "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz and sang it to me, accompanying himself on guitar (which he learned to play specifically for this occassion). It was great. Such a romantic! Who wouldn't love it?

So, here's a recap of our first year... including some newer events I haven't yet blogged about.

The last photo we took on our Maui honeymoon. What a way to kick off a marriage!

In August we brought home our puppy, Crescendo (named for our mutual love of music). This is the most recent picture of him. He's almost done with obedience classes and doing GREAT!

First Halloween handing out candy to the tykes from home- as Pippi and Darth.

The annual pilgrimage to the Purdue vs. MSU football game- this year at Purdue.

Our first Christmas (in Florida with the Herricks) and New Year's (in Lakeview).

Then a trip in January to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry for the Star Wars exhibit. We went with Joe & Stacey and Bob & Helen. Great fun.

Our first trip to the Pinestead, a time-share resort in Traverse City. I (Heather) have been going there with my family since age 2. Ben and I now own a week and took a trip up there over Ben's spring break. It was great!

The view down the beach at the Pinestead. It's right on the East Bay of Grand Traverse.

A self-shot taken by the river in downtown Traverse City.

We did a fundraising walk for the great work done by Hope Network- and took Crescendo with us. We thought this pic of Crescendo with Scooby Doo was priceless! Matching tongues and all!

The view from our room at the Bavariann Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth- where we spent a few days to celebrate our anniversary! Really a neat place to stay.

How many husbands??? Ben in the Mirror Maze in Frankenmuth.

Bavariann Inn has indoor putt-putt and miniature Bavariann houses. For those of you who know Ben and I- no more need be said. =)

Thanks for joining me in recapping the first year for this particular unit of the Herrick family. We are so very blessed to have one another, wonderful families, and fantastic friends. Thank you to all of you who have supported us this year, and who we know will support us in the years to come.

Blessings on you all!
Love,
Ben and Heather Herrick

We're still alive.... promise.

Well... I was unsuccessful in posting more often. Things have been pretty crazy.
Quick recap:
We put our house up for sale, and are currently working on some updates (painting, tearing out some wallpaper, new handles on some cupboards, etc). We went up to Traverse City for Ben's spring break, for our first time at our time share up there on the bay. Our niece Camryn had her first birthday on May 10, which was great fun. She made a wonderful mess with her chocolate cake- just like you'd hope. =) We have found a new music director at our church...we've been waiting since January for a qualified applicant, and are very pleased with the woman who has taken the job. Tulip Time in Holland was fun, and we once again went to watch Helen do her dutch dancing. Ben finishes up with school in two weeks, and is currently looking for a summer "gig" of some sort- perhaps tutoring at a local Sylvan Learning Center. We will go to Frankenmuth for our first anniversary in one month!! And Crescendo is currently taking obedience classes, and is a model student. So- things are never dull.
I guess that's the gist of it. I will try really hard to get on here again soon and post some pictures of aforementioned trips and events.
God bless all of you!

Forgot to mention....

I was going to put this in the last blog, because it relates to Star Wars, but forgot. I'll add it now. There is this super cute video on YouTube- it's called "Star Wars According to a 3 Year Old". Ben sent it to me via email because he thought it was the perfect combination- my love of children with his love of Star Wars.
Check this out- it really is worthwhile. Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBM854BTGL0

You can also go to YouTube and use the search bar, if the link doesn't work.
Enjoy!! =)

Chicago

We're finally going to post! I know... it's been forever.

In early January, we went with Joe & Stacey and Bob & Helen to Chicago for a weekend. The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry was hosting a Star Wars exhibit. So, you can imagine why we had to go. =) Joe and Ben were in full-on "geek mode", much to the amusement of Stacey and I. It was actually a pretty interesting exhibit to a non-Star Wars- obsessed individual as well. The point of the exhibit was to discuss how close (or not so close) we are in modern society to accomplishing some of the forms of travel, level of robotics, etc, that are found in the movies. Pretty interesting.

We had some side trips as well... to the "Bean Park" and walking down Michigan Avenue in the evening. The six of us always have a great time together- and this time we were able to borrow Stacey's parent's mini-van, so we all rode together. Good times.

Here are some pictures:

The famous "bean". Actually really cool how you can see the whole cityscape in the sides of this thing.

The park still had all the lights on the trees- the lights of the city combined with them made for a really gorgeous view. I love this picture.

Like I said, "geek mode". Ben and Joe w/a couple Clone (I was just corrected, I dared to call them "storm"...yikes) Troopers.

I'm told this picture contains a "Y-wing" and a "Tantive IV"...okay.

Me with my namesake, R2D2. R2 was my nickname in the GVSU color guard- we all had Star Wars names...it started with a bad joke referring to our captain as "Darth".

The rest of the gang: Ben, Joe, Stacey, Bob and Helen. At a wonderful Mexican restaurant we discovered downtown.

So, that was our Chicago trip. Great time. I promise I won't wait 2 months to do another post this time.

(As a side note- Ben and I have been married 9 months as of today. Unbelievable!)

Long Absence...

Just wanted to assure everyone that we are still alive and kickin'. Things have been a little extra busy in the last couple of months because of Ben's coaching of the school's bowling team and now because we have decided to sell our house and are preparing for that. I promise I'll try to get on here with a real update soon. We took a great trip in January to Chicago, had a great visit from a friend who has spent the last couple of years overseas, and have some stats to report re: the bowling team.
Anyway- I promise we're still here and another post (and pictures) will arrive sooner rather than later.
Love to all of ya!

Holly Jolly Christmas #2

After arriving at the Grand Rapids airport around 11:30pm on the 30th, we got up the next morning and drove ourselves and the puppy up to my mom's house in Lakeview to do another Christmas celebration w/my mom, Jen and Justin, grandparents, and aunt and cousins. It was great to see them all! Christmas on New Year's Eve was a new experience, but we had a really great time. Jen and Justin's two cats were there, which was an interesting dynamic w/the dog...poor Mara is probably still recovering...

We did stay up until midnight to watch the ball drop and usher in a new year, but that's about it! We were all in bed by about 12:15am. Lol. Some party animals we are, eh?!

Here are just a few pictures.

Gotta have a good sister picture now and then! I have to stop leaning in these, though. Jen's already taller than me, and I just exacerbate the problem when I do that...I swear, I'm not a shrimp.

Jen and Justin toasting 2008- and Crescendo watching in the background.

Another first- New Year's Eve as husband and wife! I love it!

We really had a delightful first holiday season together. We are so very blessed...and looking forward most definitely to what 2008 has in store.

Love to you all!!