Playing the Settlers of Catan board game with Tammi Biggs (Merge staff in the D.R.), Emily Lewis (MSU) and her boyfriend, Scott (Michigan). 
Sarah, Anna, Megan and Emma Raisch in their hoodies.
Hoodies in back. 
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Settlers of Catan & Raisch Girls (Jan. 2-3)
Playing the Settlers of Catan board game with Tammi Biggs (Merge staff in the D.R.), Emily Lewis (MSU) and her boyfriend, Scott (Michigan). Sarah, Anna, Megan and Emma Raisch in their hoodies. Hoodies in back.
Broomball (Dec. 27)
This post comes out of order. Oops.
There was a Thornapple Covenant Church youth group alumni evening between Christmas and New Year's. It was a time to see old friends that Andrew hadn't seen in years.
Ryan "Zerf" Zerfas, Matt "Pete" Petersen, Paul Veen and Caleb Williams playing Euchre.
Ben Armfield, Tim Erickson & his girlfriend (Natalie) playing Euchre with Andrew. Ben had a memory lapse and struggled to relearn the rules.
Broomball at Patterson Ice Arena. The juniors (in college) beat the seniors (college grads).
There was a Thornapple Covenant Church youth group alumni evening between Christmas and New Year's. It was a time to see old friends that Andrew hadn't seen in years.
Ryan "Zerf" Zerfas, Matt "Pete" Petersen, Paul Veen and Caleb Williams playing Euchre.
Ben Armfield, Tim Erickson & his girlfriend (Natalie) playing Euchre with Andrew. Ben had a memory lapse and struggled to relearn the rules.
Broomball at Patterson Ice Arena. The juniors (in college) beat the seniors (college grads).
New Year's Eve (Dec. 31)
After missing 2 years in a row while we were in Texas, we made the annual New Year's Eve party in Ada, MI at the Kaufman home. Hello 2007! The annual Trivial Pursuit game showed the "kids" (those without children) defeating the "adults" (those with children) in a close finish. Better luck next year!
Birmingham, AL & Downey Wedding (Dec. 29-31)
We made a quick trip down to Birmingham, Alabama for Ben Downey's wedding to Kathy. We found ourselves with some free time, so we saw a few of the sights.
We toured the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, right across the street from the famous Sixteenth Street Baptist Church that was bombed by the KKK in 1963, killing 4 girls. Here's the church undergoing restoration. Leaving the institute, it was cool to walk out with white, black, Latino and Asian neighbors. Left us with hope for the future of race relations in our country and world.
What better way to settle the pre-wedding jitters than some 4-on-4 basketball? Ben, the groom, is fourth from left in the red t-shirt.
We toured the Sloss Furnaces, where iron was refined and poured for a hundred years. We learned that Birmingham was a major steel town, called the Pittsburgh of the South, starting after the conclusion of the Civil War. The tour was self-guided and allowed near full-access to the many stages of iron production.
Jen, Andrew, Ben and Kathy. We look forward to spending more time with you guys!
We toured the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, right across the street from the famous Sixteenth Street Baptist Church that was bombed by the KKK in 1963, killing 4 girls. Here's the church undergoing restoration. Leaving the institute, it was cool to walk out with white, black, Latino and Asian neighbors. Left us with hope for the future of race relations in our country and world.
What better way to settle the pre-wedding jitters than some 4-on-4 basketball? Ben, the groom, is fourth from left in the red t-shirt.
We toured the Sloss Furnaces, where iron was refined and poured for a hundred years. We learned that Birmingham was a major steel town, called the Pittsburgh of the South, starting after the conclusion of the Civil War. The tour was self-guided and allowed near full-access to the many stages of iron production.
Jen, Andrew, Ben and Kathy. We look forward to spending more time with you guys!
Christmas (Dec. 25)
We spent Christmas with our moms. That meant we were apart. Both sides of the family were thinner than normal for various reasons.
Andrew and his mom served Christmas dinner with a few friends from church at the Renucci Hospitality House in Grand Rapids, MI.
Somewhere between 35 and 40 people came for dinner, on a break from visiting their loved ones in the hospital over Christmas.
We prepared a typical Christmas meal: turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans,
rolls, cranberries, salad and pumpkin pie.
West Michigan Friends (Dec. 6-9)
We visited our good friends, the Bradfords, Blondins and Wolthuises, once we returned to Michigan. Seems the thing to do is spawn (make babies). It was a string of great evenings with all of them. Once we land in Chicago come February, weekend trips will be possible. We have missed all 9 of yous.
Taye Robert Nesta Bradford - created by Rob & Sharon Bradford.
Kev & Jen Wolthuis have procreated Elinore Yarin (taking the picture, just kidding).
Andrew with RB.
Taye Robert Nesta Bradford - created by Rob & Sharon Bradford.
Kev & Jen Wolthuis have procreated Elinore Yarin (taking the picture, just kidding).
Andrew with RB.
Sixty My Senior (Dec. 3)
We celebrated the birthday of Andrew's Grandma Vans after celebrating his the day before. There was a surprise cake and a birthday-girl dance for Grandma put on by her friends. Grandma is 60 years older than Andrew and still going strong!
Florida Grandparents (Nov. 29 - Dec. 4)
After visiting Jen's sister in North Carolina, we decided to visit Andrew's grandparents in Florida. After the thousands of miles we had driven thus far, a day's drive was no big deal. Here are the highlights:
Our first casino gambling with electronic slot machines. Andrew lost his second $10 in 90 seconds. Jen tripled her $20 in the end. It was irrational: pushing a button and not understanding why you are winning and especially why you are losing is lunacy. Next time, Andrew is going to the poker table for Texas Hold Em (and giving Jen his slots money)
A bridge lesson with some of aces. They all thought it would be so neat for us to play in Chicago. I said we're the youngest bridge players we know. Jen said we could take a class at the local senior center. We all laughed and had lots of fun.
Everyone together for the Sights and Sounds of Christmas production put on by Word of Life. Left to right: Grandpa Ray, Grandma Vans, Grandma Dorothy, Jen, Andrew.
Shuffleboard with the Davidson grandparents. There were a few tough calls, so we put our heads together. In the end, the grandparents pummled the grandkids.
Our first casino gambling with electronic slot machines. Andrew lost his second $10 in 90 seconds. Jen tripled her $20 in the end. It was irrational: pushing a button and not understanding why you are winning and especially why you are losing is lunacy. Next time, Andrew is going to the poker table for Texas Hold Em (and giving Jen his slots money)
A bridge lesson with some of aces. They all thought it would be so neat for us to play in Chicago. I said we're the youngest bridge players we know. Jen said we could take a class at the local senior center. We all laughed and had lots of fun.
Everyone together for the Sights and Sounds of Christmas production put on by Word of Life. Left to right: Grandpa Ray, Grandma Vans, Grandma Dorothy, Jen, Andrew.
Shuffleboard with the Davidson grandparents. There were a few tough calls, so we put our heads together. In the end, the grandparents pummled the grandkids.
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