Date Night

Amie and Nik

I had the opportunity to take only Nik out last Weds night. It doesn't happen very often that I only have to focus on one of them so I was really happy to have some time with and we got to have some fun. Pretty soon he's not gonna want to hang out with his mama! We went to dinner at TGIF Friday's and then went to a Grand Rapids Griffins game. For those of you who don't know the Masselink5 LOVE Red Wing hockey and the Grand Rapids Griffins are the next best thing. They are the minor league team that feeds the Red Wings. We have a lot of young talent on this team and best of all they are only about 10 mins a way from our house! I have a really cool perk at work too....I get FREE tickets occasionally! I was able to get tickets to about 3 games last year and the season is just getting started this year, so hopefully we'll be attending a lot more games this season.

Amie and the kids

I just couldn't resist posting this picture.....everyone is smiling and there isn't a bruise to be found!

Little Man, Big Dreams

This is a great pic, but the story behind it might be even better. Friday Oct 17, Nik, Caleb and I went to Grandville’s "Rocket football night” at the high school game. The pregame ceremony included all of the Rocket football teams, so Nik was out on the field with his friends, slapping shoulders with the big HS kids (and I mean big, wow I don’t remember them being that big when I was in HS!).

He was kind enough to give his old jersey to Caleb, but Caleb was very angry that he could not go out on the field. So he went up to get a better view from the 2^nd level of the stadium, and he refused to let me take his picture. But as he surveyed the action below, I was able to catch this one. I can only imagine what was going on in that little brain of his, but I surmise that he was picturing himself out there, hence the subject line.

Anyway, it has become one of my favorites, and even though it was taken with a crummy RAZR camera-phone it turned out pretty decent.

As for the rest of the night, Caleb did finally get to hang with the “big kids”. Rocket night was a blast, hundreds of jerseyed kids running amok in a fairly empty stadium. And the big Dawgs did not disappoint either, pulling out a thrilling victory that went all the way to the end. Great stuff. And after the game, the 2 Masselink boys sandwiched themselves in the middle of football players, students, and cheerleaders all singing a victorious version of the Grandville fight song (Nana may know this one but I sure didn’t). It’s a scene I won’t soon forget, nor will they. Unfortunately I couldn’t get any pics of them, as they were buried in the mass of humanity. But it was fun!

Enjoy!

Final Game....under the lights

Go Eagles!

Discussing stratgey

Go get 'em Nik!

Got Him!

It's really feeling like a football game tonight. The cold, crisp dusk air makes us shiver as we wait for the Golden Eagles to be announced over the loud speaker......then we hear it "in at number 84... Nik Masselink" You know he was smiling big under that huge helmet once he heard that....and it wouldn't be the last time tonight.

The boys started out with a quick touchdown from the kick off.....6-0.... flashed up on the scoreboard. We are off to a great start! But that was the last hurrah, at least for a while. The the Gladiators reeled off 28 straight points and we went to halftime a bit shell shocked. Everyone figured the season was over. Except coach Rob and the boys.....

I'm not sure what they said at half, but our kids came out on fire.....shutting down the Gladiators and closing the score to 28-20 with just minutes to play. I don't think our D allowed a first down the entire 2nd half. With just a few minutes left, we had the ball down to the 10 yard line, poised to score and then go for the tie on the conversion. But a distarous fumble was recovered by the Gladiators, and then one of their kids broke off a (80-some yards?) long TD run to finish it out at 34-20 as the clock expired.

The boys put up a ton of effort and we were all very proud of the way they fought back in the 2nd half. I guess if you can't win, this was still a great way to finish the season.

Afterwards, Nik got a copy of his "Bob Sandsers Award for his outstanding play in week 3. Once we can deglitch our scanner, we will add it to this post, its pretty cool!

Football Game # 5

I am ready!

Go Get 'Em Nik!

Huddle Up!

Good Job Nikelback!

Go! Go! Go!

Another brisk Saturday morning at Davis Football Field as the Golden Eagles get geared up to play their last regular season game and were in quest of victory again. This is the second time we've played this team and the first time we did we WON! Today we weren't so lucky.....unfortunately the Golden Eagles lost 6-26. Nik had some great plays once again. We are very proud of how well he's doing as a Linebacker.

One more game to play....the game under the lights.

Keagan and Braxton

I'd like to introduce you to my friend Braxton

We like to play together.

So now that the boys have gotten soooooo much attention on this blog I decided to add a little something about Keagan and her friend Braxton. Braxton is the little boy I still babysit for on the weekends, he's 2 1/2. I feel like sometimes I have twins! Whew they can be quite a handful when they want to be which is pretty much all the time!

Caleb's Puck to the Melon

A little blurry...but here's right after he was hit

Caleb today...It's a little green still but no bump!

Both boys have been playing roller hockey over the past few months and really love every minute of it! We have endured floor burns and blisters and Caleb running into the wall 3 weeks ago when he marked up his chin, but never any real battle scars until now. Two Saturdays ago Caleb stopped a puck with his head. Yes Jerilynn he had a helmet on however not one that had a cage on it and the puck hit just below where the helmet stopped. Of course it looked horrible but he didn't cry. I think he was a little dazed and didn't really know what was going on for a minute, but the swelling went down within a few hours and now he's left with a nice looking bruise that is several different colors. Doesn't stuff like this always happen before pictures? Well picture day at school of course was the following Tuesday....can you say retakes!

Game #4 The Golden Eagles WIN!

Ready to make a play

Taken it all in

How Sweet it is.....VICTORY!!!

The Golden Eagles had a VICTORY today! Final score 24-8. The boys were ecstatic! Nik had some awesome plays....he recovered a fumble as well as a great tackle. He has really turned into the little football player. I say little because he is one of the smallest on his team but he's also one of the most determined.We are glad he has embraced football this year and not gotten discouraged.... these kids hit a lot harder then they did last year!

5th Grade Bike Trip to John Ball Zoo

well, Amie has been having all the fun so far, but I decided I should probably post this one since I was the person who experienced it firsthand. YES, I actually did take a day off work (wow!) and accompanied Nik on a bike trip with his class. Every year, the 5th grade at East elementary bikes from the school, down the Kent Trails, over the river and under the freeway, over the Indian Mounds, and thru the woods, to the John Ball Park Zoo. It is a 5.5 mile trip each way, and the Grandville Police send a few riders as well as some squad cars to block traffic and make sure everyone stays safe. This year we had appox 36 kids, 12 parents, 3 teachers, and 3 policemen on bikes, and at least another 10-15 additional support staff in "sag wagons" in case anyone broke down. On the night before the ride, I was apprehensive because the forecast was 40 degrees and RAIN. Like 70% chance. As I went to bed, I saw a few drops falling and said a quick prayer for it to get over with. And while it sprinkled the next morning, by the time we all got geared up and on the road, we had SUNSHINE! Of course, being a Masselink, 10 mile plus bike rides are not something that's on my normal "to-do" list, but I have to say that it was a blast and I would do it again in a second. It only took us about 25 minutes to get there, but it was a fun filled 25 minutes. Once at the zoo, our group of 6 kids went to "zoo school" first. There the kids learned about mammals vs reptiles, vertebrates vs invertebrates, and exoskeletons vs endoskeletons. I'm pretty sure I knew all that stuff once upon a time, but it was quite the refresher course for me too. Then the lady at the zoo brought out examples of all of the above, and the kids got a chance to touch each animal (except the parrot because he bites). After that, we roamed the zoo for an hour or so before going back to the pavilion for some lunch, and then a slightly rushed trip back to school, since it appeared our weather luck was running out. We raced the clouds back and only had 2 casualties from cramps, and one more who wiped out. Bishop, one of our group, was going at top speed and missed a turn, and bit it hard. But he was a gamer, and once they staunched the bloodflow on his hand, he managed to bike it back. I was impressed. Anyway, Nik and I had an outstanding day and I can't wait to do it again.

Dad and Nik just before leaving to head back

Officer Greco gets ready to lead the kids out

Our group of six plus my assistant jailkeeper: Remy, Jesse, Bishop, Nik, Ryan, Jose and Bishop's dad.

Football Game # 3

Eddie here, trying my hand. Game #3 was a bright and early one, with the coach requiring the kids to be there at 8am for the 9am kickoff. Blech. So Amie and Keiki stayed home, while Caleb and I met my brother Brendan at the field and squinted into the rising sun. The Golden Eagles played the #1 team in the league, and several of Nik's old teammates were on this squad. Unfortunately, the Eagles got crushed 36-0, but we still had a fun time watching Nik. The game also saw Nik's move to a new position: Linebacker. He seems to get a lot more into the action this way so I like it. He made a few tackles and overall I was impressed with his instinct to get in and mix it up. He did get hurt just a little after ending up in the bottom of a pile, but he bounced back a few plays later. Good thing we got him some new helmet pads and a new mouthguard this week!!!

not afraid to mix it up

piling on

c'mon, run to MY side so I can hit you!

Finally! I got 'em!

Nik's 2nd Football Game

#84 Nik Masselink

Go Nik!

Nice Tackle!

Today, Sept 20 was an unusually hot day for football. I think we sweat as much as the players on the field! Nik's team played very well but lost again 0-22. Our Golden Eagle is a little bummed that they lost again but he did an awesome job out on the field!

The Circus... The Circus... We Love the Circus!

We love the circus!

Keikei's favorite!

Thank you Nana!

Nana ( Rennae ) took all of us to the Circus on Thurs the 18th and we had a blast! Keagan liked the elephants the most so that's what I took pictures of. Thanks to Jerilynn for the great picture of Nana and the boys!

Nik's First Game

It rained....and rained....and rained!

It was a very wet first game for Nik and his teammates here in Grandville on Sat Sept 13th. Unfortunately they lost 16-14 but they had fun playing in the mud! I guess bleaching white football pants was on my list of things to do on Sunday. The pics we took were a little blurred from all the rain so I will only put in one for now and wait until the next game to send along some good ones of the Golden Warriors.

First Day of School!

I can't wait to get inside!

We LOVE school!

Ok we are kind of cheating. The boys actually started school on the 2nd. Nik is in 5th grade....wow really?! Caleb is in 1st grade this year. Keagan started on the 8th at East Elementary, with the brothers, in the 3 year old program M, W, F in the mornings.
We Actually took the picture of all 3 kids a little later then the first day.....more the the 12th day but at least I got it!

Labor Day Weekend August 29 - September 1 2008

Waves!

I love the sun!

You would never know that I used to hate the sand!

Summer Rocks!!!!

Goodbye to a wonderful summer! We can't wait to come back again next year!

Wow! Labor Day Weekend already! Where did the summer go? We headed once again to the "Red House" however we had two less kids with us. Nik and Caleb decided they wanted to go to walk the Mackinaw Bridge with Grandma Hilda...so it was just Keagan, Eddie and I in Ludington this year. Saturday we hit the beach at Nana and Papa's in Manistee and hung out with Karla and Max, Travis, Cara and Adalynn and some of Travis and Cara's friends from church. Sunday we went into town and window shopped a little then headed to the beach....probably for the last time this summer. : ( We headed home at about noon on Monday. Strangely enough we took US31 which we normally don't do.....we take the back way....especially during a holiday. I said "oh here we go.... look here's the first accident" and Eddie said "oh my gosh that's Travis!" I guess God had a reason for us to go that way home. Travis, Cara, Adalynn and the dogs were all fine however the little Grand Am that hit them didn't come out to well. It really didn't stand a chance up against their Ford F250. Thank God everyone including the 2 guys in the Grand Am, that looked to be totaled, were all fine.

August 23rd 2008

We headed to Laurie and Brian's house and headed out onto Gull Lake for the day. It's even prettier then I remember it. The boys went tubing with Jake and Alaina and we hung out in the water by the island on the sand bar for most of the day. It was a little overcast but well worth the trip! We hope to do it again soon! Thank you Klok's! Pics to follow soon.....I hope Laurie.

Regatta August 2-3 2008

Naomi with the sailboats off in the distance...waiting to see if the race was gonna happen or not.

Go Uncle T! He was out practicing and checking out the water( He's behind Keagan)

The race delay...the water is too choppy...maybe tomorrow

Nik and Nemo

And imagine that we are up north again however this time we are the guests of Nana and Papa, John and Rennae, at the "The Brown House" in Manistee. We again had a blast at the beautiful mighty Lake Michigan. We had a wonderful surprise that Travis and Jeff's long time friend Carl who is in the Navy showed up for just long enough to participate in the Regatta before deploying.....we hope for the last time. We pray that he comes home quickly and safely. However the race was delayed because the water was a little choppy on Saturday...they actually waited until Sunday to race. Nik and Eddie sailed this year.....not together however. Nik went with Papa, John, and they got 3rd Place in the Double-Handed race and a really cool white flag to put in his room. Eddie manged to get a 1st place in the Double Handed race with Kurt Van Volkenburg a member of the Lakeland Recreational Association and a good friend of John and Rennae's. Thank you John and Rennae once again for you hospitality.

The Klok's Arrive!

Jake and Alaina

The older Masselink boys weren't the only ones to drive race cars this summer!

Caleb and Alaina

Nik, Caleb, Jacob and Alaina on Tornado

Laurie, Jacob and Alaina arrived for another visit on July 23rd. We went to the beach and ate s'mores and then before they left on the 24th we took the kids to the Mason County Fair. Something I have never been too but will go again if we happen to be there again when it is. The kids had a blast!

Ludington July 2008.... late arrival.....July 20th-25th

I want to go to bed!

Finally!

What a hole!
We couldn't get down Lincoln off of Duneview or Dewey.

We had fun making s'mores with our friends the Kloks

Another beautiful Ludington sunset!

Now we get back to a little normalcy....kind of. Here we are finally at our favorite summer destination......Ludington , MI ....."The Red House." Eddie was only able to stay with us until Tuesday. Luckily our friends Mary and Eric came up with us for a few days and gave him a ride back to Grand Rapids so he could work and the kids and I could stay and play for a few more days and we didn't have to make an extra trip home! But what to do without Dad?