Oops!

Didn't think about the second part showing up on top! Maybe we just shouldn't do this!! =)

Cont'd

And now for the Lemon sauce........the best part!

Christmas Fun!!

We need blogging lessons! Why does Picassa only let me post 4 pictures at a time? Do they offer classes on this? =) How do you all do those fancy collages?


I decided to try making Virginia Martin's Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce recipe from the Martin cookbook, and I had a little help! Mmmmmm! It was thoroughly enjoyed by all (as you can see) even before it hit the oven. That sticky molasses ,especially, cries out to be licked!!

We're FINALLY bloggers!

Yes, Hamfam 5 is FINALLY making a debut and posting something for the very first time ever!! And it only took us 2 1/2 hours to figure out! (Joel, PLEASE answer the phone next time you get our 911 call! =) Hope this really works...............we really still have no idea what we're doing! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!

Ham Family Christmas in Minnesota

Christmas day began with a wonderful breakfast (biscuits & gravy) prepared by Stacy. We played with Edith for a little while, but since she was still sick we put her down for a nap early. It was snowing when we got her up, so we bundled up and went outside to try out her new sled (compliments of G&G Leeman). She had a lot of fun and it was beautiful outside. We came in and opened presents. Edith received a lot of gifts (thanks everybody) and is still getting acquainted with them a few days later. After playing for a while, Edith went down for another nap and Stacy and I relaxed watching a movie. We had snack (junk) food for dinner and went to bed happy, thankful, blessed, and grateful for all that our Heavenly Father provides. Not just the tangible, basic "necessities", but peace, humility, wisdom, courage, and love (to name a few). We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and we look forward to when the Lord brings us together to spend time with each other. Happy New Year too!

Love,

Joel, Stacy, Edith, and Baby #2

Christmas Eve at The Ham's (1 of 2)

Christmas Eve was a lot of fun for our family this year. We (being the country bumkins we are) came into the cities and went to the Macy's Storybook display in downtown Minneapolis. This year's theme was The Nutcracker Suite. Sorry, but we forgot the camera at home, so we don't have any pictures from that.

We didn't stay too long, because Edith was sick and had a fever. So when we arrived home we opened our stockings and one present. Edith received a bunch of fun toys, a Beverly Hillbillies DVD set, and a few root beer barrel candies from Dad. ;)

Edith went to bed early and Stacy and I had a delicious ham dinner, thanks to Stacy. We relaxed on the couch and watched a movie.

Christmas Eve at The Ham's (2 of 2)

Ham Family Christmas in Illinois

Christmas eve Carl & Becky hosted Eric, Nancie, Caleb, Alivia, Ethan, Jeremy, Chrissy, and Lennon for an afternoon/evening of food, fellowship, and presents. Becky prepared an excellent (if non-traditional) supper including steaks from the grill, several casseroles (sp?), twice baked potatoes and other delicious treats too numerous to mention. Following supper the wrapping paper flew! as everyone opened presents. Included were Grandma Shirley's pajama's for each of the great-grandkids. attached are some pictures of the evening's activities. We hope everyone in our wonderful family had a great Christmas!!

Our Drury Christmas

Just a few pics of our Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma Drury on Saturday.

Vikings/Bears Game

Bring it on Lennon! We're ready, are you?
Love, Edie
 
 

Sinterklaas Feest (St. Nicholas Party)

Yesterday the kids enjoyed participating in a fun "Sinterklaas" party. Our family is a member of NAAM (Netherlands-America Association of Minnesota) and they are the ones who hosted the event. Berend, Bronwen and Maclaren had a good time, and were happy to see some of their friends from Dutch School. For those of you not familiar with Dutch culture, "Sinterklaas" (or St. Nicholas as us Americans say) is sort of like a Dutch Santa. In fact, the Dutch settlers in New York ( back when it was New Amsterdam) brought Sinterklaas here, and he was Americanized into Santa Claus. Somehow over the years, he was combined with Christmas. St. Nicholas Day is December 5th. St. Nicholas was a bishop from the 13th century (or possibly earlier) who was known for his kindness to children. He was famous for giving money and gifts to children, especially the poor. In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas and Christmas are completely different things. Sinterklaas is the "fun" holiday for the kids with presents and treats, and Christmas is a religious holiday. In the photos you see Bear talking with "Zwarte Piet" (Black Pete---the Sint's helper); Bronwen was a little nervous around Sinterklaas as you can see; The Bouwman kids pose for a picture with the Sint and his helpers ( except Shirley Kathryn, she was sleeping through all the excitement!); the kids flock around Sinterklaas and Piet. (If you look closely you can see Bronwen and Berend on the right.) So---put out your shoe with a carrot on the night of December 4th, and you never know.....

A Thanksgiving "Blessing"

May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!!

Edie's First Halloween

 


Here are some pictures of Edith's first Halloween. We didn't go out trick-or-treating because Joel got home from work late and we don't need anymore candy. :) But we thought it would be fun to get her all dressed up and take some pics. She wasn't too sure about the whole ordeal but Mom and Dad had fun! :)

A Bouwman Halloween

The kids wanted to "go western" since the maze had an Old West theme this year. Bear went for the Wyatt Earp look, and Bronwen wanted to be, in her own words "a pink cowboy-girl"!!!

Mac was supposed to be a little cowboy---we hd the outfit ready, but at the last minute he wimped out and decided to be a giraffe. (We think he saw make-up on Berend and was afraid he'd have to do make-up too!)

With no time change it was a little bit bright and sunny when we took off for trick-or-treating! We did not even light our jack-o-lanterns until we got home!

We trick-or treated at EP Center before hitting a few friends and families houses.Renato went with all of us to the mall. He's a friend from the farm who is from Ecuador. He wanted to see what this crazy American holiday was all about! We sure showed him: CANDY!!!!!

More of the Booxby's Party!

At the Booxby's

The Booxby’s had many Freakish guests….here they are. Andy as Superman, Sara as Wonder Woman, Ken as Bill Clinton, Sue as Hillary (she missed the photo op, so Sara do you have any of her to post on the blog?!), Wendy as Delilah, Eric as Samson, Joel and Sandy as NASCAR fans, Molly, Bert and Shirley as Little boy blue, cow and sheep….and sadly the 3 Hams were home sick. :-(

EBC Visitors

Mom & Dad Ham visited Eden Baptist Church when they were in town. Grandma & Grandpa also visited after their trip to Alaska with Daniel. This same Sunday, Tim & Ruth Bixby (Daniel's brother & family) presented their ministry to our church. They will be serving to further the Gospel in France. We had a lot of fun spending time with Grandma & Grandpa and hearing about the ministry Tim and his family have been called to.

A day at the maze...act 3

Olivia got to ride a pony! (Ya gotta love the cheesy smile!)

Maclaren was a teeny bit nervous around the ponies.

Mac loves to run around the straw bale maze. It was a very busy day...we only lost him once!:-)

Shirley Kathryn was pretty tired after her big day---I think we all were!