Merry Christmas everyone!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Someone's getting old fast!

So it seems that Elem has started to grow a beard! HA. You would think that this was a Halloween photo shoot with Elem looking more and more like Jeff each day. However, it is instead the most ridiculous thing available at the art show of the weekend here. (: Can you believe this is something marketable? Elem loves it! I think he looks like a little gnome. Cute. Now to get Maris wearing it....

Road Trip to Illinois

Last weekend we took a road trip to Elizabeth, Illinois. Paul Eshelman, a long time potter in that area, asked Jeff to participate in the Twenty Dirty Hands Tour. It was a self guided tour of pottery studios and kiln locations. We traveled there as a family and stayed at the home of Paul and Laurel Eshelman. It was very fun! They live in a small town of 600 people and their home and studio are just a block away from each other. We enjoyed exploring the town on foot, especially the Historic Fort and reinactment happening there, the local library, and the town park. We had yummy meals and warm cozy beds. Jeff and I got to explore Galena a bit and see the other potters studios on the tour for a few hours. The sun was shining all weekend even in the fall cold. It was an enjoyable trip together!

Busy busy busy

The Rottmans are busy these days! If you hadn't already heard, we have switched a a few roles around here for a bit. Jeff is now Mr. Mom and Gretchen is the bacon getter. The kids are loving being home with Dad. I am pretty confident that lots of wrestling and boy stuff is happening around here. Seems like Maris is keeping up with 'the boys' quite well. She has started to walk and it will only be days till she and Elem are chasing each other around the house. Meanwhile, I am off to work full time with a few days at Excel Charter, where I have been the last 7 years, and now a few days at Cross Creek Charter. I still spend an afternoon for a few hours supervising students at Calvin College as well. We are enjoying settling into Fall! I am enjoying dinner with our little family each night when I come home to a 'wonderful smelling' meal cooking by Chef Jeff. We are doing well. Please don't think we have forgotten you .... we think of you always! Hope to see you all soon. (:

More on the list of Thanks

25. Continued health in loved ones
24. Answered prayers
23. Emotions - fun ones and yucky ones
22. The Bible
21. Family

Maris turns ONE !

Maris was one year old on September 7th. Growing so big and fast!

Everyday May Childrens Toolbelt GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Everyday May Childrens Toolbelt GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

It would be so very fun for my kiddos to win! Pick me pick me (:

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

I would love to win the Jackpot Backpack! I love Rae, she is my friend. Go Camp Roger (:

More for the List of Thanks

20. Sunny days
19. Friendly people
18. Sugar cookies
17. Sleeping babies
16. Email
15. Pictures to enjoy
14. Coffee with yummy creamer
13. Little friends
12. Organized messes
11. Sleeping really good!

What are you thankful for?

Gleeful Soccer Girl

Maris is a real kicker these days! She loves scooting around the floor, everywhere. She loves screaming. She loves balls. Have a look for yourself!

Bandana Pants

So I wanted to do some sewing today - had a chance as both kids have been sleeping for naps! Yipee today. I started on the shirt I have been making for Maris, but didn't have the right notions (supplies for you non-sewers. ha.) Perhaps I can make a trip to the fabric store tonight. So, I attempted a quick pair of pants/shorts that I found a tutorial for. Wall-ha! Bandana pants for Elem. I think they're a bit too big, so will have to alter them a bit when I can get him to try them on. But oh so easy. Fun. Here is the tutorial link if you want to try them for your self. http://blueyonder.typepad.com/photos/bandana_pants/ Okay we tried them on - ummm maybe he will fit when he is 8 ! I might attempt to alter them down a bit. He put them on and said that these are what cowboys wear. HA. They might make great Pajama pants. We will see.

Platte River Camping

Each year for many years now - perhaps 7 or 8 - a bunch of friends, all from my days at Camp Roger, meet to camp with our families. This year we camped as a group - 21 of us - at Platte River in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan. It was fun! Jeff was not able to go because of an art show. Maris was visiting Grandma and Grandpa Rottman. So, the trip was for Gretchen and Elem to attend. We had a great time with each other and our friends. Looking forward to next year already.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Creation

So, if you spent some time outside today or looking carefully at the world around you, have you noticed that God made it? I itch sometimes to spend time outside and in nature. I miss that part of me and those experiences. I would love to travel again more. Although, not exotic, we are leaving soon to travel through the Upper Penisula of Michigan and Minnesota for a week of time. It is beautiful there too! Can't wait to camp together as a family. So, those thoughts bring me back to the thought that I really don't understand how some people can't trust and believe that there is a God - The Lord God. Watch this video and it will make you think twice about not believing. Starting to doubt? You will believe if you let God speak. Enjoy! I think we will enjoy our trip even more knowing that what we see around us is from such a bigger source than our little 'world' in Grand Rapids. (: Hmmm.

Creation Calls - Are you Listening?

A Buttercup Bag

Another crafty moment -- I finally finished sewing the cute little bag created by my friend, Rae. She has a free pattern on her blog "Made by Rae". I used a left over piece of fabric, so perhaps is not my first choice for a little purse. But now I know the sewing was easy and fun -- so perhaps will choose something more to my liking for next time!

Free Buttercup Bag pattern by Rae

The Start of 1000 Gifts

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So I mentioned previously the reading of Ann Voskamp's blog, Holy Experience. Well, back again, it is on my mind. God and I have to connect more. Today I felt a surge of loneliness and frustration at all the work layed before me each day, instead of finding thanks in my day! It was a great day; Why be so grouchy? ugh. So, here begins a long list of things I am grateful for; In conjunction with the Gratitude Community on her blog. Thanks given on .... my Tuesday.

10. A wonderful community of educators at Excel Charter Academy
9. Cute little feet on a no-pedal bike!
8. Screams from the mouth of a growing 10 month old - screeches really of happiness. Wish I screech with delight like that more often.
7. A husband who uses his hands, time and energy to bring home 'the bacon' (:
6. Safety each day on the road in our car and at home in our comforts
5. Neighbors who want to share in life together
4. Showers that make us clean and cozy
3. A simple fan to keep the air aflowing
2. Morning light that fills the sky outside our windows
1. Life!

Here starts the gratitude list

Camp Roger

Ish ga milligee ala ka zatski umpty bumpty la oooooo ! Anyone recognize that? Ha. Elem, Maris and I ventured out to Camp Roger today to meet an old friend for the afternoon. Steph was out there as camp head cook for a few weeks with her family. It was an unfortunately cold afternoon, but we still got a dip in the lake, took home way too much sand, and now the kids are zonked out upstairs. I don't know many folks there any longer, but still love being there. Can't wait till the kids can go for a week and enjoy being SIBKISed and learn more about God's creation. FUN!

A Holy Experience

A plan for the summer included doing Devotions each day - me, Gretchen, specifically, in hopes that Elem would pick up his bible story books each day too. Sometimes its happened. But most often my holy time has been naptime, when the house is quiet and I can hear the gentle call of the birds outside (with a few loud motorcycles zooming by - ugh, the city!). I have been purusing the blog of a woman named Ann Voskamp from Canada in her blog, A Holy Experience. She writes weekly, if not daily, about her life and how she see God even in the mundane, but more often in the beauty and dance of life. I love it! What a great way to view life and how God wants us to live and be in union with Him. Here is a link to one of the daily blogs that made me smile and take peace. I am often so worried and frustrated by the mess in our home...... seems like I can chose to view this differently (: Loving the Beautiful Mess -- Click on Title "A Holy Experience" to go to blog.

New Pictures Shared

Spring and Summer mean lots of pictures and cute faces! See our new photos on Shutterfly at this link ....

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbNWjJy0aMnEQ

Enjoy! We love you all.

Stick 'Rottmans'

Make your Stick Figure Family at FreeFlashToys.com

Just for fun!

Summer Sewing!

I am so antsy to start some sewing projects. I got a new sewing machine for my birthday in hopes of being crafty and creative again (: I have been surfing the internet on etsy, as well as some crafting and sewing sights and blogs for a long time and have created quite a project list for myself. It is a beautiful day today and I thought it only perfect to begin the craft blitz! Check out these new baby shoes for Jeff's new nephew, Cody, born to Julie and Rusty a few days ago. Here's Cody too! He is definitely cuter than the shoes, but will look even more handsome in them. Can't wait to give them to him.

Shoes from pattern at www.stardustshoes.blogspot.com -- Cute eh?

a grand dinner

The Sixth Street Bridge Clay Studio (Jeff with Dutch Lake Pottery, Jacob Koster, and Mari Star Golub) hosted "A Grand Dinner" last weekend. The theme of the show was dinnerware. Each person set up and decorated a table with their own pottery and accompanying decor. It was very grand indeed!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Spring!

Spring! Yipee. The sun is shining so brightly into our dining room windows every morning. It has been a bit tricky to find somewhere for Maris to play that the sun isn't in her eyes (: and for me not to notice all the dust on my floors! But despite that, we are doing good. I had a great birthday with lots of celebrating - treats, out to eat, a movie. So fun. We have also headed to our first art show of the summer rampage - Birmingham, MI. This is a very nice community. Elem, Maris and I drove around for a bit just to look at homes. Very well kept and lots of money growing on trees there. We have also begun our routine of finding parks and playgrounds to play. The fresh air smellls so good. I love it!

Oops We have a blog

Oops, we have already forgotten that we have a family blog! Life in 2009 has gotten well underway and it's the end of March already. We are eager for spring and can't wait to get outside. Elem asks many times a day if he can have lunch at this little picnic table in the backyard ... he is willing to sit out there with a coat and hat and mittens on, if he can just sit out there (:

Jeff's string of shows have gotten underway for the spring and summer. He is gung ho about making his booth look great. Etsy is up and running for extra sales. The studio is trying to host several new events.....

Maris actually slept through the night a few nights ago! Not a first, but definitely not the norm for her most nights.

Gretchen, me, is in the midst of report cards/progress note time at school, but a free week from duties at Calvin College, as they are on Spring Break. I am mapping out the last 9 weeks of school and looking forward to a fresh beginning for the fall.

Hope you are doing well too!

I don't feel good

We have had some sickness here; I was in bed all day on Sunday and Mondays. I will spare you the details. Well, after two days of telling a two year old that 'I don't feel good' what do you think that Elem said for two more days himself? Yep. "I don't feel good" You guessed it! ugh. He felt fine. Just one more way to get Mommy to come back at bedtime, naptime, and any other time. On the fun side of things, Elem started using the 'potty' a bit. He is quite proud of himself.

Maris has been to the doctor in the past week and now is 26 inches long and weighs in at 13 pounds 14 ounces! She growing and growing. She even rolled over from her front to her back while at Dr. Addy's. It was cute and fun to see her do that.

Jeff has been finding lots of side jobs to keep himself employed these days. This week he is working for JRob a sign making company. He claims that if he actually got paid a decent amount of money, he could do this job forever. Hmmmm. Good thing he doesn't get paid so much - or wait is that a bad thing. Not sure. He has also been initiated into the education world by subbing! He subbed for a special education teacher, a 4th grade teacher and 5th grade teacher all in the course of three days. It was eventful and he is full of stories already.

Me, Gretchen, well, I plug along with my job as Mommy, SLP, and all the other roles that I try to fill. I'm good. God is good.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2009 Blog Begins

Remember Doogie Howser, M.D. ?? Who would have known when I was 12, and so was Doogie, that his method of journaling on his bedroom computer would be the way of the world in 2009. I remember watching Doogie regularly and enjoying seeing him complete his thoughts of his day with his simple but so very articulate words of 'wisdom' typed in typewriter font in orange on his computer at the end of each episode. Ahhhhh, so glad to join the technical world, even in my digital immigrant ways. Here begins 2009 with the Rottmans. In the simple words of Doogie that first episode run in 1989, ..... "My life will never be the same again".

If you want to relieve the Doogie days, don't hesitate to view the first episode online at:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0771719/

Enjoy!