The VanHook's

Beautiful Sunday!!

2009-09-28T12:18:00.004-04:00

After constant rain for two weeks it was nice to have blue sky's again!

Voices of Lee 15th Anniversary

2009-09-26T22:03:00.003-04:00

What a weekend! 15 years has gone by fast. Marriages, babies and music careers in process. It's hard to believe that 15 years ago we had no idea what would become of our lives. Riding the great big bus through the states and ministering to hundreds at such young ages. What a privilege it was to be a part of something so amazing! It's been a treat to see where the Lord has taken many of us!

Sigma Nu Sigma alumni!

Back stage before performance.

Evening dinner with amazing people!

Our toes....just having fun!!!

Logan turns 8

2009-09-05T01:13:00.003-04:00

What a night we had!!! Bike riding, baseball, running, and playing. What more could an 8 year old want? Logan had 4 of his best buddies plus his 2 cousins attend the party. Maddy unfortunately was the only girl... :( she kept up with those boys! It was beautiful evening...just perfect weather. Even Meme was in town...what a treat!!! Glad she could be with us!
The evening ended with a bang!!!! SLUMBER PARTY....baked some cookies, ate popcorn, played new games, watched a movie, and now they are sound asleep. We can't believe it!!!!
Looking forward to pancakes in the morning!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!!!!!!

Indianola Hot Air Balloon Show

2009-08-06T01:02:00.003-04:00

Funnel cakes, corn dogs, kettle popcorn, root beer floats, music and amazing hot air balloons. Who knew those things could bring hundreds of families together for an evening of spectacular color and beauty. Indianola Iowa is where you can experience such enjoyment!

This was just a sight to see...just breath taking!

The night glow....Spectacular

Iowa Visit

2009-08-06T00:11:00.008-04:00

What a blast we've had here in Iowa! Time with Meme and Papa. A few days with Aunt Sarah and Jordon.

It's been a cultural experience for the kids. We got to tour the famous Iowa

Fair Grounds! Wish we could be here next week to see all the festivities but home

we must go. Back to reality and away from all the thrills and excitement that vacationing brings.

The Des Moine's art Museum was a lot of fun...the kids did exceptionally well looking and taking in all the amazing/bizarre art that a museum could hold. We love to expose their little minds to such things. Our highlight of the week was driving to Indianola and watching 40 or more hot air balloon fly in from the horizon....it was breath taking! At dusk all the hot air balloons lit their balloons causing a beautiful glow through out the dark sky.

Just a few more days here!! It will be a sad departing for Logan and Maddy. We wished Meme and Papa lived closer.

Iowa State Fair Grounds

The best swim park!

Indianola hot air balloon show

Meme never forgets to make a stop to

starbuck....she's the best!

Fun at the Gulf

2009-07-16T10:39:00.005-04:00

We are having fun here in Gulf Shores.
We are loving the beach! More to come!

Fun at the Lake!!!

2009-07-09T00:12:00.003-04:00

Beautiful day at the Lake with friends!!!

Good times! Striking a pose

We brought a kitty home!!!

Daddy did not know we were bringing him home!

But he was welcomed! Daddy could not say no to Maddy..haha!

The kids and I had a blast at Target

getting all his necessities! He loves his little toy mouse!

We do however have a long road ahead of us in trying to get

Brewster our 2 year old puppy and the new kitty together.

We will see!

What I Love To Do!

2009-07-04T13:47:00.010-04:00

I've had the opportunity to lead music in the NCK service at North Cleveland COG this pass year! It's been lots of fun! The kids especially have been special to me! This opportunity has taught me so much on how to lead and confront my fear of playing in public....ahhhh. I've enjoyed playing songs from Hillsong to Chris Tomlin to cheesy tunes! I wouldn't trade it for the world!

For those who have asked!

We love Big Canoe!

2009-07-03T23:48:00.002-04:00

Braves games!

This is our favorite getaway! It's so beautiful here!

We are so blessed to get to go every year with friends!

Beautiful mountains, canoeing, rock slides, pool, hiking,

and much more! We look forward to next year!

Our Happenings...April May & June

2009-07-03T23:23:00.003-04:00

Our first 1/2 marathon! Country
Music Marathon in Nashville. April!
It was hot! Yikes and lots of hills!
We can't wait to do it again!

End of the year program! Line dancing!!! May!

Madison's Ballet Recital! May!

Madison's Violin Recital. Twinkle Little Star! May!

Jayson and Logan both move up to Green belt!!

It Makes Me Want to Cry...

2009-04-05T23:39:00.008-04:00

Maddy is enjoying violin lessons From Mrs. Yu. One day as we waited for her class, we over heard a student playing the violin and Maddy softly whispered to me..." Mommy it sounds so pretty...it makes me want to cry". I could not believe that a little soul could be touched by music in such a deep way. So sweet.

Twinkle Little Star

Allowance shopping!!

2009-04-04T13:10:00.003-04:00

We added some structure to our home life....CHORES!!!! Logan and Madison are loving the idea of making a few bucks a week to buy their favorite things. We went shopping after 2 weeks of them saving up their allowances. They were pumped!!! Logan got himself a Bionicle and Madison a jump rope and hula hoop. I loved watching then purchase their own items! They were excited and proud!

Hula hoop and jump rope

Got his money and his bionicle

Logan Meets a Real Author

2009-03-29T12:50:00.007-04:00

We were so thrilled to find out that Logan was chosen among his classmates to to meet a "Real" author by the name of Micheal Shoulders. Logan had written a story about a character name lightening man, a super hero who saves the day. Two students from each class were chosen to have lunch with the author for their creative stories. We are so very proud of our little Logan

His acceptance letter

Logan and Micheal Shoulders

Having Pizza!

The Story
Once apon a time a teenager was going out to get his tool when ZAP!! He was shocked by lightning. His roomate saw him. Now he's in the hospital. He whent back home and he looked at his fingers. Aaa!! he said.
Then he made a super soot (heheh) he saw a color full vilan with big horns and scary teeth. He had his friend Milissa tied. He started to fite the guy. And he atakked him hard. then the bill vin tore off part of his mask off! Then the hero saved Milissa and destroyed the vilan.
THE END

What's For Dinner Tonight????

2009-03-09T23:24:00.006-04:00

What a great weekend we had! We were all so excited to get down to Dream Dinners and see what it was all about! We prepared 12 meals for the month of March. It's so easy! You order your meals online and make reservations. When we got to the place there were stations all around with dinner menu's for that month. All we had to do was put all the ingredients into a bag or container and seal up. Here are some of the meals we got; Sanoma grill steaks, Asian Salmon with Jasmin rice, island chicken with coconut rice, chicken with honey, garlic & orange...and the list goes on. WE can't wait to try then all!!!!!

LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!

Our food!!!!

Preparing Calzones!!

Waiting patiently!!!

Logan gets Stripes!

2009-02-27T22:58:00.003-05:00

What a proud little face I came home to this evening. Logan was smiling from one ear to the other! He held up his Taekwondo belt to show me the colors he had gotten...three new colors...red, brown, and, green. The blue one was his first stripe that he had earned a few weeks ago. WOW! 3 in one night. We are sooo proud of him! Every night Logan and Jayson work on their individual forms together. It's very cool to watch them to this! You will see in the video below, Logan working on his form. Each strip represents a form or command that you have mastered. WE are also proud of Daddy who is excelling in the sport and earning a few stripes himself! So way to go Logan and Daddy!!!! You make us proud!!!

Papa's Birthday Present

2009-02-19T21:42:00.002-05:00

Here's wishing Papa a happy 59th birthday. Even though we are separated by 13 hours of road, Madison wanted to make something very special for her grandfather. So Papa, it's a little small, but here is your very own sailboat. When asked how we would get it to you on your special day, Madison stated "we will just float it to him." We thought this might reach you faster, so happy birthday Papa!!

The Big Pink Bag

2009-02-15T15:57:00.002-05:00

showing their new running outfits

Valentines Day ended with a big splash! Daddy came home with a big pink bag filled with valentine goodies. A new VanHook Tradition that is sure to stay. Watching their faces were priceless as Jayson would pull out a gift from the bag. These were not the "NORMAL" type gifts....toys. Jayson had washing sponges, with colors to suit Logan and Maddy...blue for Logan and pink for Maddy. I've never seen any kids excited about a washing sponge...hahahahah. Logan got big boy undies like daddy....take a look at the picture above..hahahah. Maddy got matching running pants and top like mommy. Both kids got the new Madagascar movie that we all watched together that evening. A very funny movie! Jayson was sure not to forget the most important gift of all...CHOCOLATE. We were all so grateful for the Big Pink Bag of goodies!

TaeKwonDo Time!

2009-02-11T14:10:00.003-05:00

So TaeKwonDo is our new family venture! Yes! I mean the whole family not just the kids. Jayson has managed some how to get me sign up to this sport. WE will some how/some way fit it in to our already crazy schedule....wohooo. The kids are loving it! I love watching them do their stuff. As you can see they LOVE to show of their moves...like Kung Fu Panda! I think it's going to be so good and rewarding for the kids. It will teach them strength and discipline...I could use another person helping me in the area of disciplining my children....hahaha. The kids are taking this VERY serious...it's priceless watching them in class....I love it! Jayson and I are excited about it and are ready to kick some tail!

Maddy's Birthday!

2009-02-04T01:13:00.002-05:00

Madison's 5th Birthday.

2009-02-04T00:42:00.003-05:00

Where has the time gone? My baby girl turned 5. We will celebrate her birthday on Friday. A Ballerina Party is what she wants so a ballerina party she is getting but today on her Birthday she celebrates with us. A nice dinner, cake, and fun family times to make imprints to last a life time. It was "HER" day and her WAY, she got...but only today. I don't think I can put up with ..."It's my birthday and I get what I want....because it's my buthday" (birthday) She sang that tune all day long....

~Snow Falling~

2009-02-02T19:12:00.003-05:00

Fun in the snow...

Got to leave school early!

Our Favorite Holiday!

2009-02-02T14:50:00.002-05:00

What a Beautiful day it turned out to be. It started snowing around 10:00am. It startled me at first as I turned around to take a peak out of my back French doors. Where did the SNOW come from...so random. It wasn't the small icy type snow. It was the fluffy big snow. I so wanted to go out and PLAY in it but I let the kids do that instead...hahahah. They had so much fun! On our way home from school Madison said...Mommy...I love it when it snows...It's my favorite holiday!

Oh to Walk in her Shoes.....

2009-02-01T15:58:00.002-05:00

Is thrilled!

For the Love of Coffee

2009-02-01T15:15:00.005-05:00

I've been drinking coffee since I can remember. I can recall as a young girl climbing on my Grandfathers lap and taking small sips of his delicious coffee. No one made coffee better than him. It was sweet with lots of cream. To top it off we would have warm french bread... the GOOD kind of French bread. San Francisco French bread.. if you've ever had this than you know how good it is. We would spread lots of butter on the bread and even sometimes dip it into the sweet coffee...not the butter the bread...hhaahah. These are some of the fondest memories of my Grandfather...Papa...who is no longer with us. So this tradition lives on as I share my coffee with my babies. I love to see their faces light up when they see me come in the room with a warm cup of coffee. It brings back those sweet childhood memories that makes me who I'm today. I love the moments I get to share with Logan & Madison. I hope to make memorable events in their lives that will make them amazing people in the future to come.....

"Spontaneous"

2009-01-31T01:14:00.000-05:00

OK....well it's 1:14am in the morning and I'm NOW just writing. I had no pressure...hahahah... from my lovely friends and family. It was clean the carpet upstairs or blog. So guess what I did on this Friday evening ....yup...scrubbed some carpet. Jayson called it being "spontaneous" How could I resist...right? hahahhaa and now all the logic and energy I had to spontaneously write is all vanished. Tomorrow is another day... a day to look forward to more spontaneous events...who knows it might just come from Logan or Madison...
It's 1:25am and I'm ready to tip toe around wet soggy carpet and crash into my lovely bed.