Practice Good-Bye

Edward in the woods during the recent camp-out

Next week, on John's birthday, we'll be taking Edward to Calvin College to move into the dorms. Yesterday, he left for a cross country resort/camp in Canada with the Calvin team and he won't be back till Sunday, so we're getting a taste of how life without Ed will be. I'm going to miss his sense of humor and his unique view of life, but the big pots of laundry? Not so much. :)

He's a Winner, as Aunt Mar would say

Today,,, I'm the mother of the winner in the 15-19 age group of the Hastings Summerfest 10K race.

Edward Wins the Bronze!

Yesterday morning, John & I went to the Fifth Third Ballpark where Edward was running in the 11th Annual Homerun 5K (raising money to fight child abuse). He received a 3rd place medal in his age group. Instead of "Hey Eddie, it's your birthday...", I did the "Go Eddie Go" cheer which I learned from Sister Mary.

Pontoonicating

Last weekend, when we were up at Big Platte Lake, we filed like little old people onto Paul & Susan's new pontoon boat. It was fun!! I am getting old!! Our oh-so-clever John coined the term pontoonificating for that thing you do when you ride a pontoon boat.


Maria


Edward


John


Paul................................. Susan


Edward & Brian

The Never Ending Race

The thing about Edward, and maybe boys in general, is he always loves a good challenge, and all of life is a game for him really. Two years ago, he had climbed up the steep, 450-foot drop dune on the Pierce Stocking Drive of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 9 minutes, 7 seconds - a record begging to be broken. Cousin Brian was up for the dune climb challenge too.



They flew down the hill like they were on the moon. From the overlook, we watched them climb like little ants.

Edward returned quickly - 8 minutes, 31 seconds - and Brian was a few minutes behind. John went too - he was in the 25-30 minute range which is still good considering the average person takes about 45 minutes.

We celebrated with a monster sundae at Cherry Republic where cousin Laura works.

Fun times.

The Starting Line

Byron Bank 5K, 2008

This morning, John & I went to watch Edward run in the Byron Bank 5K. The photos I took came out blurry, probably because he was running by in a blur. Duh. I did get this still life at the starting line. He finished in 18:25 on this muggy morning (24th of about 900.)

Flash Back Friday 79

Edward, Maria & the new baby, 1995

Get Your Game On

Edward gets a hit, 2008

Edward has been playing softball this summer for our church team and we've been able to watch him a few times and cheer him on with the wave and stuff. Our fave cheer is
Hey Eddie, It's your birthday, get your game on, hey Eddie...

Hardhat Boy

Yesterday at Calvin College

Edward has been working at Calvin College in the Telecom area of IT for a whole month already! He seems to be enjoying this job which is a good introduction into his field of study - Computer Engineering. He enjoys it even when his dad shows up with a camera!

Beautiful Boy

This morning, we watched Edward run in the Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K race before we left for the OBX. He finished 71st out of 1400 runners for a pretty strong finish.

Flash Back Friday 74

June, 2005, Edward with Opa & Grandma

We're leaving for the Outer Banks tomorrow morning, so I thought I should post a flash back from there. Edward is staying home to work, but he'll be with us in spirit!

Scenes from the Best Open House Ever

Yesterday, friends and relatives came from far and wide to give Edward their blessings and well wishes for the years ahead. It was a beautiful day for the occasion and we enjoyed everyone's presence.



Edward standing in front of the "Ed-rospective"


Aunt Paula, Bridget (Aunt Paula, Jr.) and Aunt Marianna cheering him on with the yard signs.


The Aunts posing with the themed tables they prepared out back for the guests. They also decorated 2 tables on the deck and pinned up shirts along the side for a very festive look.


Marianna, Paula & Mom were all champions in helping with the set-up, and my friends Cathy and Robin were so, so helpful with the clean-up. Oh, and I must never forget Sharon who scooped all that ice cream. Thanks everyone!

A Very Big Flash Back Friday (72)

I thought it was Wednesday yesterdayday, so I didn't post. Here are all the first days,,,

The Sky was Really Blue That Night

After the ceremony, we were all very excited to be photographed with our new graduate.






And the girls were maybe the proudest of all.

Happy Memorial Day

Waiting for the parade (actually 4th of July last year)

The Graduate

Finally, I am posting the moment for which we have all been waiting!

Class verse: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 30:32

The speaker, Rev. Galen Meyer, described hope as the intertwining of the tiny little thread of our will with the large steel cable of God's will throughout our life, and I thought this was good, because what is hope without God?

Processional

So this past Thursday night, we headed over to graduation - the Queen Mother, Opa, Edward & I in the car. John left earlier with the girls since Maria was playing in the orchestra and we were to meet John's mother there. Mom and I were riding in the back and broke out in a doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo, to the tune of Pomp & Circumstance. We were really getting into it when Edward joined in with the cello part. It was a priceless moment indeed.

I later learned from Maria that they played through this 2-3 minute piece exactly 11 times - she counted. Each time includes 2 times through the melody. It must have been about the 10th time when Edward finally came in the procession and I was so excited. Tomorrow I will continue the story.

Flash Back Friday 71

The Graduate, 1991

Edward's Last Mile

Official time: 4:59.8

Last evening, Edward ran the mile (1600m) for South Christian in the Regional Track Meet downtown at Houseman Field against 15 other schools. His goal was to get under 5 minutes and he had quite a cheering section there when he did it. It was pretty sweet!

I think he's also in serious competition now with the girls for the high drama award. You know how when the crowd cheers in the stadium, kind of a low yay sound? I remember actually going up about an octave when he crossed the finish line.

Flash Back Friday 70

Edward, "Bunnies", April 1990

Go Eddie, Go!

May 2008

Edward ran the mile, or the 1600m rather, in the Conference meet yesterday. His time? 5:02! He didn't break 5 as he wanted to, but oh well. We were talking to a friend of his who graduated a few years ago and he told us of his same struggle in a series of his last high school races that ranged between 5:02 and 5:05, and he was finally able to break 5 in college.

He came home from the meet at about 8:45pm, ate supper, put on a tuxedo, and left for the prom. He stopped long enough for me to take his picture though.



All this running around, but now it's Mother's Day weekend. I'm getting up at o'dark-thirty Saturday morning (today) to go watch John at the Riverbank Run 25K. I know a lot of people running, so it should be fun.

Flash Back Friday 69

Edward, pre-school, 1994

Dogwood

Here in Michigan, we're in that precious window of time when the dogwoods and other flowering trees are in bloom, and tomorrow we will be that last precious window of time when Edward runs the mile in a high school track meet. I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Phantom of the Opera

The following is a very dramatic orchestral rendition of the Phantom of the Opera with some very dramatic close-ups of Edward and Maria.


South Christian High School Symphonic Orchestra, May 2008

Brother & Sister Strings

Last evening, Edward & Maria played in their laaaast orchestra concert together, so I lined them up for the pose. The orchestra played 3 pieces and then the symphonic orchestra played 2 more. One of these was an arrangement of music from Phantom of the Opera and the grand finale of Edward's high school orchestra career? Russian Sailor Dance. It was actually a cool piece which contained an outstanding cello part! I took this nice photo of Edward and his cello buddies Liz & Marie looking at their conductor.

At the end, the symphonic orchestra got a standing O. I asked Edward and Maria how that felt. Maria said, "Don't they always do that?" and Edward said he didn't notice.

Tulips and Track

This morning, John & I drove up north to see Edward run the mile in 5:03 at an Invitational. We would love to see him break the 5 minute mark by the end of track season next week!

On the way home, we stopped by Calvin College to see the senior engineering design projects. We talked to all the "Edwards" there about their inventions - that was cool.

Calvin, remaining true to its Dutch heritage, also does tulips very well. I quickly took these photos outside of John's office, but wish I could have spent more time at it as the tulips are gone so fast.

The Last Track Season

Hi all! The runner is back on the blog. Yesterday was a perfect day for photography at one of the best looking tracks in the area. This one is my favorite:


That's Edward in the yellow shoes in front...

He came up to John & I in the stands to check his time. He ran a 5:08 in the mile, followed by a PR of 11:24 in the 2 mile so he was pretty happy about that.

Flash Back Friday 66

Edward, 4 months old, April, 1990

This cute little baby is graduating from high school in a month!

Off to the Races

When 7th grade girls participate in Pinewood Derby races, it is a bonding experience.



Bridget and John put together a pinewood derby car and raced last night at the annual Gems & Cadets race. Bridget's friends cheered her car on as it kept winning in the races.



Such drama!



Bridget won a 3rd place trophy out of 45 cars.



But the best part was when she came home and had her picture taken with Edward and his 3rd place trophy & car from 1999.

Taxes and Other Such Fun

I thought it was so cute yesterday when John was helping Edward do his taxes - it was something new to photograph. He gets a $70 refund. Woohoo!