What's in a name?

Evidently, a lot. A lot of freaky science fiction.

So, back when I was pregnant (which, was four years ago), Mike and I would frequently go back and forth about what to name our unborn child.

Early on, he mentioned the name Jaina to me, and explained how to spell it. (Previously, I had only heard the name once, and it had been spelled with a y instead of an i.) So I asked him where he got it. Turns out, he got it from a book.

And now you all get to learn the Groen's deep dark secret? What is the name of said book where Jaina's name came from?

It is Star Wars.

If you follow the Star Wars story (after episodes 4, 5, and 6, that is), Han Solo and Leia Organa (Skywalker) fall in love and get married (that is not a surprise.) They proceed to have twins.

Any guess as to the names? That's right, Jaina & Jacen. And odd, Mike's other suggestion for a boys' name was none other than Jacen. Hmmm. (In case you care, they named their third child Anakin, after Leia's twisted, self-absorbed, diabolical father, aka Darth Vader)

So tonight, I decided, how many Jaina's are there? So I googled her name. Turns out, there aren't that many. But there is a LOT Of information on her namesake, who albeit fake, has quite a life story.

Jaina's first light saber?

So, for those of you who are fans of Star Wars, I can no longer call you geeks. I am one of you....


But hey, at least it looks like I have the force with me......always.

Nah, it's just a bracelet

4th of July

I know this is almost two weeks late....

But man, summer is exhausting.....

Our 4th of July was BUSY. We went to Pella to see Grandma and Grandpa Willer, and of course, play with the kitties.

When I was growing up in Pella, 4th of July was nothing special. My, how times have changed. They have a parade, a fishing derby, pony rides, bullfrog races, carnival games, and of course Chinese food (what could be more American?)

And, for the first time EVER, Jaina sat through the fireworks. For two out of the last three years, I have been dragging her kicking and screaming from a fireworks display. Not this year. This year, they were beautiful, each and every one.

Ready for her close-up?

Another momentous occasion in our household.....

Jaina went to Bible school for the first time. And survivied.


I know this is a trial run for this fall, when I send her to pre-school (Yikes!)





During the second week of June, Jaina attended "Power Lab: Discovering Jesus' miraculous power" at Hope Reformed Church in George. (G'ma & G'pa Groen's church) She only needed to be three to attend.


Needless to say, she loved it. She got her own set of goggles, a lab coat, and learned numerous songs. On Sunday morning, after the long week, she performed in the program to show us what she had been working on all week.

She enjoyed herself immensely.....

In fact, you may say she stole the show

At first, she was pretty reserved (for Jaina, that is). She sang the songs, did the actions, and participated, well, normally. Then she started to warm up.


Throughout the program, they had a lot of spotlight dramas, which were powerpoint presentations that showed pictures of the kids during the week performing different bible stories. After about the third drama, when it was dead quiet, our little performer suddenly blurted out..... "That was a GREAT spotlight drama!"


Of course, everyone thought this was hysterical. Which only egged our little ham on more. (Hee hee, I just used eggs and ham in the same sentence, and wasn't speaking about food. )


Anyway, where was I? Oh right, a little later, a "professor" in the play said, "Jesus makes you strong, he makes you brave, and by beleiving in Jesus, you can live forever!"


Again, dead silence. Then, "That is a WONDERFUL power to have!"


Again, laughter.


And finally, at the end of the last spotlight drama "That was a PERFECT spotlight drama!"


Yes, she will be here all week.......

Mama's retirement plan

Who needs 401K? (Which, by the way, is tanking, thank you very much.)

I have a future LPGA tour star in my midst.

Last week, while daddy was on his boys' only fishing trip, Jaina & I took little excursion to the golf course. The goal was to get pictures, not really to golf. However, people look at you funny if you just drive around in a golf course. So we hit some balls too.

I wanted to try to make Mike something really cool for Father's Day, but I couldn't pick just one.

What do you think?

Not quite the same.......

So, yesterday, we went to the hopping, never dull lively Tulip Festival in Orange City. I have to admit, every year, when it comes up, I secretly pray that no one asks us to go. I have a strong loyalty to Pella, and therefore, is it traitorous to go to another town's Tulip Festival?

The day was beautiful, and I had missed Pella's this year, so of course, I missed all of the food, so, with trepidation in my heart, we went. Better than sitting in our basement watching Mike play Wii all day, anyway.

It was a beautiful day, but it is not the same.....

The tulips were fabulous....

The parade was fine.......

(These are Mike's cousins, by the way, not some random people I took pictures of during the parade :))

And the food was pretty good.......

Slight tangent here. When I told Mike that I thought we should go, his first comment was "I am only going if I get to eat Poffertjes." Poffer - what? I will explain for those of you out there unaware of the this delectable treat.

Poffertjes are heavenly, sweet, fat filled pieces of goodness, that make any Dutch girl happy. And evidentially, the make German boys happy too. And little daughter of said Dutch girl andGerman boy. We managed to eat at least three platters in one afternoon. I am fully convinced that God will have Poffertjes in Heaven.

The heavenly treat....

Jaina enjoying herself with the "little pancakes"

However, I need to tell you, in Pella, you can get them with strawberries and whipped cream. This is something that I need to point out.

And, of course, Jaina had to stand in front of tulips, again. But this time, without the dress. Which, I guess is a good thing. Yesterday, I told her we were going to the Tulip Festival, but that, unfortunately, we would not be able to wear her dress, because it is with Grandma Judy in Pella. Her response, "That's okay, because if I did have to wear the dress, we would have a problem."

So, it was an enjoyable day. But at the end of the day, I would still pick Pella. Ask Mike's cousins, I am sure they would always pick the OC. :)

This one is my favorite....

Mother's Day, 2008

This year marks my fourth Mother's Day. It is hard to believe that it is possible that I have experienced four Mother's Day's already, but it is true.





But really, can you resist being a mother to this?




And, as of late, I have learned so many new words and phrasese from the princess above. Some examples:

• Mix Up: This is what we call it when a) we get to eat breakfast before getting dressed in the morning, OR b) we get to wear sandals without any socks. Either way, it sounds like any time that we do something out of "routine," it will officially be a mix up.
• Reg Out: When it is time to leave a store, and check out our belonging, we need to "Reg Out." We didn't get this one at first, but now, since it is in every store, we started to get the picture.
• Propala: I am not sure of the spelling of this one, and it just happened tonight. On the way to Sioux Falls, she took off her sandals (which yes, we did Mix up to put on), and took the straps out. When she was showing me how to put the straps back in, she said that this means to "propala." It also means to fasten two straps on your sandals at the same time. How versatile.

I will keep you posted on any new words added to the JG Dictionary of Toddlerhood.

Congratulations Aunt Jodi!

Yes, you heard it here....

The fourth and final Groen child is out of college. Flew the coop, as you may say.

Well, technically, she hasn't flown the coop, and still lives in the coop. But it is fun to use the expression.

On May 10, 2008, Aunt Jodi walked the hallowed halls of Northwestern for the final time. (That is sarcasm for any of you who have actually seen the hallowed halls of NWC. Graduation is in the student center, with many tarps hanging from the ceiling.)

I wanted to give Jodi a shout out....

CONGRATULATIONS!

May your future be merry and bright!

And, because I am in the know...... your student loans are due. :)