Happy *Belated* Mother's Day!

I just realized I had short-changed you all and not put up pictures of MOTHER's DAY! How could I have neglected you so? This blogger will attempt to step up to the plate a little more in the near and present future, although I make no promises for July and August. :-) We had a pretty good day, and I was so thankful that the weather was nice. We went to church, then came back home and had Tyler's family for lunch. It was so nice to just relax outside and watch all of the kids playing together. They certainly have energy!

Weston thought he was the big man on campus... After a short nap, he came outside and was the life of the partaaay!I was wondering around, and just had to take a shot of everyone just chillin'.

Uncle Ty, true to form, was entertaining the kids. They had great fun dressing him up. Doesn't he look thrilled?

A little brotherly pow-wow going on... are they ganging up on Ethan?

The girls...

Dad teaching Wayne to "hang loose."

The cheeto lovin' kings.

Baby Paige The happy family

Lunch is on!

Weston quick ate before going to bed about as soon as everyone arrived. He had a hard time concentrating though, eating outside was a BIG distraction!

Baby Silves #3 Update

I decided it was time to update you all on how things are going with the soon-to-be newest addition to our family. Baby #3 is doing very well. 30 weeks along, and about 9 or so to go! The last time I met with our doctor, he thought that this baby would be smaller than the previous boys, who were 8-5 and 8-1. Time will tell! The heart rate is always in the 150's, same as it was with the boys, but still in the "could be a girl, could be a boy" range as well. My blood pressure's continue to look great, which is a huge blessing. The boys both like to pet the baby, and Weston is especially fascinated by finding my belly button, or what's left of it (I think Wayne taught him to pull up my shirt.) Wayne gives the baby kisses, and "holds" it by giving it a good shake every now and then. He was treating his stuffed dog like a baby the other day, and feeding it his juice like a bottle, and I was thinking, "hey, there might be some hope here!" Then he said that the baby was crying, and so I told him that if babies cry, you shold rock them on the rocking chair. He proceeded to throw the dog on the chair, then jump up and down on top of it. So close, and yet so far away.... In other news, a few weeks ago I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I know, I know. With Wayne it was preeclampsia, with Weston it was preterm labor, and now it's gestational diabetes! At least we've moved away from all the "pre's." I failed the one hour glucose test, and have failed the 3 hour test as well. After initially restricting my diet to a very limited number of carbs at very specific times of day, we still couldn't get my morning "fasting" numbers to where they needed to be. Nothing you can do about it, it's your fasting number! Anyhow... I had to start on an evening dose of insulin over a week ago or so. We've been adjusting the dose trying to get that morning number down, so hopefully sometime soon it starts to behave. Everything else is very well controlled with my new diet, so that is great. Of course, as I get further and further along, my body starts ramping up on hormones, which could really start to interfere with my insulin production, but only time will tell, and worse case scenerio is that I'll just have to give myself more shots (they are not as bad as they sound, trust me!) After the baby comes, everything should go back to normal. After meeting with my diabetic doctor and a dietician, they were both really positive after doing a full work up/interview session about my habits, etc. They both felt that this was very much related to the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome that I have, and that that insulin resistance that accompanies that was just wreaking havoc this pregnancy. They recommended going on a prescription after the baby is done nursing that should really help to "even" me out, which I am all for! The dietician basically said that even though on the whole I ate really good food, no matter what I ate or how much I excercised, I was going to initially need help regulating my blood sugar in order to drop the pounds I need to to get down to where I want to be (3 babies in 3 1/2 years=time for mom to catch up!) She didn't think I should need much excercise beyond chasing the wee ones! (I thought that was funny.) So anyway, that's where we're at. Just thought that since all of you are my faithful readers, you should know! No need to look at me with pitiful eyes asking "how are you doing." I am doing very well, and would much rather have this than bed rest any day of my pregnancy! The funny thing is watching Tyler's face when the needle comes out... he turns white as a sheet! While initially I was pretty worked up about it all, I found such comfort in knowing that my Lord would not give me more to deal with than I could handle, and that since I had to do it all anyway, I might as well buck up and do it well, with a smile on my face. How different my life and approach to everyday would be without my Savior.

{i'm peeing on plants}

After growing up around them, and having dogs of my own, it's a well known fact that as soon as you let them out of the kennel or off of their leash... the pee on everything in sight. Why? Because they are marking their territory. Making sure all other dog folk who come around know, "this is my turf." Well folks... I'm peeing on trees. Figuratively, of course, but I am. I am doing it in the form of the the little black gate. Kind of like your "little black dress" that you can't live without? Oh yeah, my little black gate. Let me start at the beginning... It's also a well known fact to all you avid blog readers out there, as well as anyone who knows me even a smidgen, that I have excercised the use of "solitary confinement" for Weston since birth. It's been partly a safety thing, and partly a sanity thing. 30 minutes in the pack n play can do us both a world of good. Friday afternoon, that world came crashing down. He climbed out. My 16 month old figured out how to get out, and out he came with a crashing thud, yet another bump and scratch on his head, and a big 'ol grin on his face. I packed up that pack n play, because there's no way I can put him in it anymore. Now, there's no place to "put" him when the "3 strikes your out" policy needs to be enforced (get into three things you're not supposed to in five minutes=solitary.) What is a mom to do? Ahh... Go get your little black gate. Mark your territory. After reinstalling it, I unloaded the dishwasher in relative peace for the first time in months. Normally Weston grabs at all the knives and tries to climb into the dishwasher, but this time? Noooo... he cried on the OTHER side of the gate. Sweet! He has now accepted the presence of the gate in his life, and has moved on to doing things in the family/dining room that he's not supposed to... climbing stairs, chairs, and standing on the dining room table to name a few. Oh, and trying to climb the bookshelf, and jumping on the couch and... You get the idea. That boy could use a small ounce of fear in him! But alas, that was not how God created him to be, so I am just going to pray that God taps my shoulder every time Weston's in a precarious position, that he makes me aware. I am only human, and can't do it on my own!!!

Tyler does the darndest things...

I know I am always telling you cute things that the younger Silves boys are doing, but I thought that for this post, I should tell you all a few of the older Silves boy's latest doings!

Story 1: Tyler has never known how to tie a tie. He rarely wears one, and I can recall that when we were dating, my dad would occasionally have to help him tie one on. Anyhow... We were getting ready for the funeral, and he'd found a tie that really would look nice with his pants and shirt (he was a pallbearer and an usher) and I said yeah, maybe Dad could help him before the burial. Anyway... I finished getting ready, and when I came down, there he was, pleased as punch, with his tie all done and looking like quite the handsome man! I asked him how he figured it out, and got one word.... youtube!

Story 2: On the way to the funeral, we had to take the detour of the Hampton to the Northwood, then left on the Kamm Road in order to get into Lynden. Tyler and I were "discussing" the speed limits of the roads, and while we were coming up the Kamm Road and he was trying to convince me that it really was 35 mph, not 25 mph like I thought, the flashing lights pulling out behind us settled the "discussion." Wayne was wide-eyed as the "nice policeman" talked to Daddy. The officer came up to the window, took one look at me (who was saying, "See! I told you it was 25!) and told Tyler, "I think she's going to give it to you way more than I can!" Tyler was let off with a warning, and told to listen to his wife next time. I LOVE THE LYNDEN PD! Wayne promptly told Tyler, "no-no Dad, too fast!"

Awww... gotta love him! The Silves boy always keeps our lives interesting! :-)

*our budding photographer*

Wayne's been "learning" how to use my point and shoot camera... He sneaks it sometimes, and before I know it has taken several dozen pictures! Here's a few of his "masterpieces."

Uncle Pete

Hi all! It's been a crazy week around here. We found out on Thursday that my Uncle Pete, my Dad's brother, had unexpectedly passed away. Following is his obituary, a photo, and a copy of the personal words spoken of him at the funeral today. I will miss him, he was quite the Uncle. I am so blessed to have an extended family that despite being separated by many miles, pulls together as if they all lived next door to each other. I had relatives in from Prince George, Canada, Iowa, and California. They all came just to be with us. What an amazing thing to be a part of. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and remembering today, but it just seemed odd not to have Uncle Pete there with us, he would have loved it. I loved what Pastor Ryan had to say... we don't know what the future holds, but we know who holds it. Everyone was so wonderful in helping out, truly, I am surrounded by selfless servants.



On Saturday, May 2, 2009, Peter Scheenstra, 55, of Bellevue, WA, suddenly passed away in his home. He was born December 12, 1953 to the late John and Agnes Scheenstra in Artesia, CA. He attended Lynden Christian and graduated high school in 1972. Peter went on to college at Dordt, and later graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1978 with a Master’s degree in Social Work. In 1990, he opened his own successful business, where he practiced as a Clinical Social Worker until his death. He is survived by his mother Agnes (husband Case) Slump; his siblings Barb (husband Wayne) DeVries, Thelma (husband Gene) Vermeer, Bill (wife Judy) Scheenstra, John (wife Cynthia) Scheenstra, Shirley (husband Fred) Bosman, Sandi (husband Barry) Green and Perry (wife Helen) Slump; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Services were held Tuesday, May 12th at 10am at United Reformed Church in Lynden. An online guestbook is available at gilliesfuneralhome.com
Spoken at the service:

Over the past few days we have spent a lot of time together as a family, often remembering Uncle Pete. No matter who I’ve spoken with, each can remember specific little things he would say or do, and how he was always interested in what was new with each of us. We all knew Uncle Pete in a different way… Beppe, (that’s Grandma in Fries), Beppe knew him as her son, my aunts and uncles knew him as a brother, my cousins and I knew him as an uncle, while others knew him as a friend, business partner, and counselor. In celebrating his life today, our family wants to share with you just a few of the memories that will always remain.

Peter had a tremendous love and devotion to his mom. Throughout his life no matter where he lived, he frequently called home to check on Beppe, and once he moved back to the Seattle area he rarely missed a family gathering. His “holiday routine” was always to drive up, pick up Pake and Beppe, and drive them to the party. Everyone always knew when they had arrived, because he walked in with open arms, a big smile, and a loud excited voice.

As a brother, Peter was a great supporter and encourager. He was always available to bounce ideas off of, or just talk about what was going on in your life. At first, new people in the family would often wonder, “is he analyzing or diagnosing me?” they would soon realize, he was just a good listener. He would listen and listen to you, than offer thoughtful advice, or the counselor in him would turn around and ask you questions until the answer came to you “on your own.” He wasn’t afraid to tell you how he felt, and did so often! Even so, his personality and warmth drew people to him, and “your friends” often would become his as well. Even friends from high school and college to this day ask what Peter is doing, and what his latest adventure has been.

As an uncle, he was always the “single guy from Seattle” who came with ice cream and store bought apple pie and thought the world of us. Our parents may not have been thrilled with our wild and crazy antics, but Uncle Pete joined in on the fun! He would hoot, holler, and jump with us on the trampoline and has been known to take the front seat on roller coasters time and again. He often took us hiking and camping too. I can remember thinking, “What’s the big deal about a mountain full of trees?” but Uncle Pete never failed to appreciate the beauty God has created around us. He made every attempt to come to our graduations and weddings. He cared about each of us individually, and if you asked, we’d each probably tell you that secretly we were his favorite!

As a friend and counselor, Peter was kind and generous. While a very private person, he could not hide his compassion and empathy for others. Our family has been touched and comforted by his many friends and acquaintances from Bellevue who have called or emailed in the past few days following news of his death to tell us of the impression he left upon them. He was held in high regard as a counselor, and conducted his practice with compassion and integrity. He was welcoming to other professionals, assisting them in establishing practices of their own. Those that went down to Bellevue after his death spoke with several of his patients, and each spoke of the impact he’d on their lives, during very difficult times. While we always questioned Peter on how he could counsel married couples, being the single man that he was, both single and married couples alike all told us how much he had helped them.

Our family is grateful for the many fun memories we have, and for the love and joy we shared with Peter. We are grateful to each of you for sharing the many sides of Peter that you knew, with us. Thank you for coming alongside us all today, and remembering the man that he was.

Readers are Leaders!

My favorite childhood quote... and now Wayne is living it! Not only does he love to "read" but he also likes to get his dogs in on the act too.