Update for August:

We can finally say where we are going and as most of you know Deon has accepted the Plant manager job in Catskill, NY. Although the plant has many challenges that he will have to face he is up for the challenge and we are excited about the move.

We will all miss Clear Lake very much. We have made wonderful friends here and hopefully the friendships will last forever.

It has been a challenging month because Deon had to start his new position immediately in the beginning of August and Me, Arthur and Roscoe had to stay behind in Clear Lake. There was just too many things to do and the temporary housing in Delmar , Ny does not take a 140 pd dog . But God has been good and we found a house that has everything we want in the area we were looking for. It is in Delmar and Deon will have a 30 minute drive to work but it is better situated for us to do things and socialize. I will post pictures of the house as soon as we are moved in. Delmar is about 2 hours drive from NY city, 2 and 1/2 hour drive from Boston and a 3 hour drive from Montreal. We have not taken a vacation in quite some time because of all the things going on at the plant and are hoping to take a week in October and go explore upstate New York.

I have been training for the past 2 months for a 5k race and was able to finish it in 32 minutes ( no walking.) The bug has bitten me and I am continue training and hoping to run another 5 k before the winter moves in. Here are some pictures of the past month Enjoy them!

Group picture at the Agape church.

My first 5k. I was very proud of myself.

Arthur playing at the splash pad at city beach.

This was taken at the Northern Iowa fair 09. They had\

really fun things to do for kids at this farm area.

BBQ festival "09

This is one of their favorite things this summer. Going for a bicycle ride after work or on weekends. I even join them sometimes and we go up to the lake and have dinner in the park.

Beth and Thomas at Garner pool.

Arthur has a fascination with eggs lately so I let him help me make scrambled eggs in the morning

and he does pretty good. He loves helping me cook

God bless

the van den Berg's

4th of July

Pictures of the 4th of July weekend:

Summer update

father and son watching penguins.

A favorite-Elephants ( a shame dinosaurs are extinct)

Ronel seems to think this looks like Deon!

this was taken on the train. The face says it all.

On the Carousel.

family maybe?

Thomas and Arthur outside the butterfly display

Arthur loved the butterflies but wasn't so sure about this one and being so close to it.

Its been a while again. Seeing that Arthur is still sleeping I will try to catch up. We have been enjoying summer but I have to say our weather has not been too warm yet. Arthur loves to go to the outside pool but we have only been able to go once since it opened. Either weather or schedule conflicts. We went to Omaha last weekend and we had lots of fun. We went on Thursday evening. Friday we went to the Henry Doorly zoo and saw lots of animals. We went on the little train and skyfari ( This was very impressive but kinda scary for me - Its like a ski lift that goes over the park and you can see the different animals from air.) Arthur found it so soothing that he fell asleep on it. We spend the whole day there and did lots of walking. It was good seeing all the animals and made me think of South Africa a lot. The dessert display had lots of similar vegetation and birds that we have in the Northern Cape and I thought about the farm a lot. They even had some meerkat's. The evening we went for Mexican food and to the water park at the hotel. Needless to say we were all pooped by 9pm.

Saturday Deon and Tim went to play golf while Me, Beth, Arthur and Thomas went to the children's museum. Arthur was fascinated with all the interactive things they had. We were impressed with the whole setup. Went home for a nap and after the guys came back from their golf ,me and Beth were off to shopping and a wonderful dinner at the Melting Pot (fondue) with some chocolate desert. The guys stayed at the hotel with the boys and took them to the water park.

True farmer milking the cow

He was very intrigued with taking the leaves off and taking out the corn.

Got to do some shopping too.
EAT

DIGEST
POO ( so true but equally disturbing)

He liked this ball contraption - He liked putting in the balls and followed it wherever the wind blew them through pipes.

Beth and Thomas in the sesame street display

On our way back from the museum to the hotel. Both happy boys.

Sunday morning we went for a swim at the hotel pool and packed up. We went to Cheesecake factory for lunch and some shopping and we were back home by 7. Deon went to go pick up Roscoe while me and Arthur just chilled at home. We really did have a good time and it was a good break for us.

Mom and Arthur in the pool.

This was taking at 10am on Sunday morning. Both were exhausted after all the fun of the weekend and just wanted to chill in bed .

Taken at Cheesecake factory in Omaha

At the home front things are still going well. We are still not sure where or when we are moving but will probably know in the next 2 weeks. I have signed myself up for a 5km run here in Clear Lake and have been training 3/4 times a week for it. Pretty excited about it. The other thing I have been up to is making bags. I have sold quite a few and the Clear Lake Arts center has asked me to make a few to put on display there. Deon is still very busy at work. The final close date for the plant is August 12 and it's round the corner. A small team will stay on for mothballing.

One of the bags and diaper wallets I made for the Clear Lake Arts center.

Today we are off to the carnival at noon for some July 4th fun. We are hoping for good weather , so far so good. The weather is sunny and not too hot.

Love you all and be good

God bless
Carin

.

Past couple of weeks

I have not blogged in a while but thought after Arthur's birthday it is probably a good idea to blog today and put some pics of Arthur on. Let's see where to begin.

Deon has been very busy at work processing all the changes going on in Holcim. We are still not sure where we will be going or when but hope to get some answers in the coming months. It's funny how I got so used to it that it doesn't feel different to me, I am happy and comfortable and will cross that bridge when we get there. (this is very unlike me cause I can realy freak out about things - maybe I am growing up, maturing even - LOL.)

Arthur is getting so big and lots of good things is happening. Cannot believe the boy is 2 already. But with the good comes the bad - HUGE tantrums. I can sometimes just stare and wonder how can such a quiet boy throw such a huge tantrum. He does recover quickly though ( must get that from his mother.) but just the slightest wrong can ignite a tantrum ( must get that from his mother too.)

We went away to Nisswa a couple of weeks ago for a long weekend and we had lots of fun. We relaxed a lot. Went for some spa. Did some reading. Arthur and Daddy liked swimming in the indoor pool and Arthur liked the swing and walking in the snow.

We celebrated Arthur's birthday yesterday and it sure was a big day. Got up at 6 and took him outside to see his new playhouse. He calls it HIS HOUSE. After daddy went to work we just hung out and did the final things for his birthday party. I did all the baking and most of the food the previous night and I went to set up the Sunday school room for his party on Tuesday afternoon while Arthur stayed home and played with MIMI. After a good nap we went to the party in the afternoon and all the boys and moms had a great time. I am so glad I decided to have the party at our church because it was raining outside and just yucky the whole day.

Then the Mahaffey's came over for wine at our house and the little guy was ready for bed at 8. It is now 8 in the morning and I have not heard a peep out of him the whole night. He was exhausted.

Well and here are some pics:

With Daddy at Grandview Lodge Nisswa

Playing at Nisswa

Got to love this sight. His best meal of the day - Malt o Meal. He wanted to wear his daddy's hat. Notice the two different socks.

His Easter basket on Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday lunch with friends

Petting the bunnies at the mall on Easter weekend. I have to

say that he was very gentle and loved them. Couldn't take one home though. Roscoe would not have liked it.Playdates with his best friend Thomas

The kids table at his Choo Choo party

His Madiba shirt that Ouma Corrie made.

( he wore the whole day of his birthday and did not want to take it off)

His new play house (Arthur's house as he says.)

The food table with all the yummy food.The Choo choo cake

The favor bags

He kept on sneaking some more icing every few minutes. Wonder if he will have tummy ache today!!!

Have a wonderful day and may all of you feel blessed.

Love the van den Berg's