A little bit of Jay

Jocie's Birthday

2012-02-07T11:27:00.002-05:00

X-Mas Day Pix - Part II

2012-02-07T11:21:00.002-05:00

X-Mas Day Pix

2012-02-07T11:20:00.002-05:00

Girl Scouts at the City of Portage

2012-02-07T11:10:00.002-05:00

Christmas (Part 2)

2012-01-24T14:19:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve (Part 1)

2012-01-24T14:17:00.000-05:00

Julie's Birthday Party

2012-01-23T17:48:00.002-05:00

Jocie Giving Gifts to Her Teachers

2012-01-23T17:39:00.000-05:00

The Kids with Santa and Helping Raise Money

2012-01-19T15:40:00.000-05:00

Jocie's Holiday Program (Part 3)

2012-01-19T14:22:00.002-05:00

Jocie's Holiday Program (Part 2)

2012-01-19T14:18:00.002-05:00

Jocie's Holiday Program (Part 1)

2012-01-19T14:15:00.000-05:00

Jocie Decorating with Candy Canes - Julie Taking A Candy Cane

2011-12-20T11:48:00.000-05:00

Some Portraits of the Kids

2011-12-11T14:10:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-09T13:46:00.000-05:00

Fun in TC

2011-12-09T12:31:00.002-05:00

Daisy Troop in the Kalamazoo Holiday Parade

2011-11-14T14:16:00.002-05:00

Julie's Birthday Party

2011-11-14T14:14:00.002-05:00

Julie dances while grandpa Ray plays the piano for her

Julie had some wild dance moves

Preparations take place in the kitchen

And the dining room was all set for Julie's Tea Party

Fruit that Aunt Britt put together

And Unce Brent's wonderful Deviled Eggs

Jenny and Britt work on decorating treats for the Tea Party

Grandpa Ray really fit the part well with his decorated hat

Julie's table setting for the Tea Party

Jenny had worked hard to design a hat decorating station for the girls

And Julie spent some time playing with her princesses

Aunt Britt and Uncle Brent work to make some wonderful sandwiches

I think Jenny really took her part seriously!!!!

The kids were delighted to see a special guest they haven't seen in some time: Brook!

Julie tried to ride away…. but was stopped by a princess...

Julie loved making a hat

and she looked even better when she added some gloves...

A beautiful Princess named Sleeping Beauty even dropped in

And spent some time with the girls too….

Julie was so happy to have won the 'musicial chairs' game

And the girls did a little dance circle

ANd Julie got to open presents

She even got a Princess Tea Party

Portraits with Parasols

More Portraits with Parasols

The Head Princess enjoying some fruit

More smiles from Julie

Her birthday cake - actually, a bunch of cupcakes put together in the shape of a tea pot….

And she loved blowing out all three of her candels….

My favorite type of frosting…. the kind you can eat with your fingers...

So much stimulation after a long day of tea parties and princesses….

Fun with Portraits and Light

2011-11-11T13:33:00.002-05:00

Crazy Julie

Having Tea with Jocie

2011-11-11T13:30:00.002-05:00

Random November Cuteness

2011-11-09T10:30:00.005-05:00

2011 Pumpkins

2011-11-09T10:30:00.002-05:00

Halloween with the Kids (missed a couple)

2011-11-09T10:23:00.002-05:00

The final straw from the neighbors… 25 cent pumpkin kisses… they must have made a fortune

Julue was a beautiful Strawberry Shortcake...

and our Jess spent the evening out with her friends….

Halloween with the Kids

2011-11-09T10:21:00.002-05:00

The 'Pike Clan' getting ready to raid the neighborhood on Halloween Night

Our 'Bride to Be'...

Jocie was our 'Rapunzel', complete with freckles….

We lost Joey for most of the night as he blazed a trail through the neighborhood, running from house to house…

Our Knightly neighbors from next door tansformed into Princesses and Princes for the evening...

And after everything was done, Jess took care of putting Julie, Jocie, and herself to bed… here Julie points out our 'boo' sign to everyone before heading off to bed to nurse her sugar buzz to sleep.

Carving Pumpkins with the Kids

2011-11-09T10:05:00.002-05:00

Julie puts red paint on her pumpkin which will end up being an amazing strawberry (which she picked out and said that it looked like).

Jocie patiently spent 2 hours working on her pumpkin. She insisted that she do EVERY step herself, and she was VERY proud of the end result (as were we).

Joey did a wonderful job carving a traditional pumpkin… that then grew 4 extra eyes… and extra face… and a copy of my pumpkin (the Apple trademark symbol as a tribute to Steve Jobs).

Joey enjoyed getting the 'guts' out...

A bit of emotion from Jocie as she explains her frustrations about trying to get all of the seeds out of hers...

Jess, looking stylish, created our most 'normal' looking pumpkin of the family this year….

Jocie did get a little tense at times during her carving session...

the feel of 'pumpkin guts' really grossed Jess out….

… ewwww….

Jessamyn's New Hair Thingy (done by Mom)

2011-11-09T09:16:00.002-05:00

Halloween at Moorsbridge

2011-11-04T10:46:00.002-04:00

pumpkins with the kids

2011-10-28T15:44:00.002-04:00

Two little pumpkins ready to eat…. Joey would later steal the one nearest to the camera and toss it in the back of the car...

Jocie finds her first (claimed favorite) pumpkin… the first of twelve...

Julie hefts a rather acne prone pumpkin into our basket...

… and this one, which she was certain she needed (to try and keep up with Jocie)

Jess kept finding the wet ones… but they were good ones...

This specimine prooved to be too heavy for Jocie...

This one is Julie's "Strawberry" pumpkin

… which she immediately claimed was "too heavy" for her to lift...

Swinging Family

I'm pretty sure there was some flirting going on here… I'm just not sure who was hitting on who...

Pumpkin Drama

Another perfect family image

Julie and Jocie Playing in the Yard

2011-10-27T15:08:00.002-04:00

Julie and Jocie's Ribon Day at Gynmastics

2011-10-27T14:58:00.003-04:00

Jocie's Flowers

2011-10-03T10:40:00.003-04:00

She jumps on her bike and heads down the sidewalk... I think she's being cute and just getting a little exercise so I continue going about my work of setting up even more Halloween decorations for my wife's edification...

A half-hour later, Jocie emerges from the front door with this bowl filled with beautiful flowers. Jenny asks her where she got them from:

"Oh, I rode my bike down the sidewalk and picked flowers out of all of the neighbors yards. Just the ones I thought were pretty, though..."

So, now we have a wonderful, colorful, bowl of neighbors flowers on our counter.... courtesy of Jocie...

Beware the Pike's 4 year old daughter on her bike as she passes by your house... her intentions are not always just to be cute... she might steal your prized petunias...

jp

Cheerleading Jessamyn

2011-10-03T10:32:00.003-04:00

This past Friday, Jessamyn had a chance to cheer along with the Portage Central High School Cheerleading Team at a Portage Central Football game. The previous Saturday, she spent 3 hours working with the cheerleaders learning a selection of popular cheers.

In the cold rain, she cheered through the first quarter and had a great time. We then went home to try and warm up from being out in the 40 degree driving rain...

jp

Jessamyn's Birthday Present v2.0

2011-09-30T20:56:00.003-04:00

Following a trend she started last year, Jessamyn asked her friends who came to her birthday party to give her dog and cat food instead of gifts so she could help the local Humane Society. Today, she got a chance to drop off the more than a dozen items. She received a VERY energetic response from the director and she was so elated about being able to do this for them.

This started last year with us passing the Humane Society each morning and Jess asking either mom or I what the sign said. Many times we would read "Dog and Cat Food Needed". At Jess's birthday last year, she suggested that we put on the invitations that she'd rather have dog/cat food so she can help fulfill their indicated needs.

An amazing young girl.

Joey and Jessamyn's Fundraiser

2011-09-30T20:50:00.003-04:00

You know how some schools do fundraisers by selling wrapping paper or some sort of junk food that costs too much and you just end up throwing out anyways? Well, the kids school does a much more creative fundraiser... ever year, each student gets a pledge form to have family and friends fill out and then the kids themselves run for the fundraiser rather than sell useless stuff.

Oddly enough, this really works and the kids REALLY get into getting the funds raised. Last year alone, the school netted nearly $20k from this single one-day event alone. Not bad for a school of just over 400 students.

Here are some shots from Joey and Jess running in this years "Road Rally" at their elementary school.

Random Cuteness

2011-09-28T12:02:00.002-04:00

Jessamyn's Birthday Party

2011-09-28T11:53:00.002-04:00

More Pictures from the Weekend and Fun

2011-09-28T10:08:00.002-04:00

Soccer with the Girls

2011-09-27T10:59:00.002-04:00

Julie Attacks

2011-09-26T14:49:00.004-04:00

Our cute little Julie found a small squirt bottle that Jenny and I use to maintain order with our feline associates (the ones that think they need to meow at random hours during the night to get our attention).

With attack weapon in hand, she then proceeded to assault her siblings.... ruthlessly chasing them down and peppering them with numerous jets of cold water...

In the picture above, you can see how she paralyzed poor Joey and he wriggles helplessly on the floor at the hands of a violent assailant a mere quarter of his age.

The house was filled with the horrifying sound of Julie's cackle while she ran from room to room, floor to floor, in search of more unsuspecting victims...

The psychological damage may take years to evaluate and treat...

Her siblings were unable to escape her wet wrath... even the family dog was later found laying on its side, licking dripping wounds left by a careless 2-yr old "drive by shooting" on the stairs...

In the end, it was her older sister, Jocie, who came to the rescue of the Pike Family, as she braved the horrific sites left behind by Julie's attacks and she charged the nearly 25 pound water gunner, attacking her from behind and tackling her to the floor and disarming her from her now empty water bottle.

Julie showed little remorse over her actions during her trial later that same day and was insistent on her having her rights upheld: "I want juice!!! Give me juice!"

In the end, she will serve the remainder of her juvenile life in the custody of her parents and she will continue to have community service responsibilities with regards to the ongoing menacing of her older siblings, something she apparently has a right to excercise...

Pictures from Pebble Beach Wedding

2011-09-26T14:29:00.002-04:00

Going for a Walk

2011-09-24T09:44:00.002-04:00

Last Day of Fun in Nassau

2011-09-24T09:39:00.002-04:00

Jessamyn's Coconuts

2011-09-24T09:16:00.002-04:00

Enjoying the Dolphins in Paradise

2011-09-23T21:43:00.002-04:00

Nassau Day 3

2011-09-23T15:25:00.002-04:00

Second Day in Nassau

2011-09-23T14:46:00.002-04:00

First night in Nassau

2011-09-23T14:33:00.002-04:00

Visiting Jenny's Grandma in St. Louis

2011-09-23T14:24:00.002-04:00

First Day in St. Louis

2011-09-23T14:17:00.002-04:00

Jess and Kate's Birthday Parties

2011-09-23T14:07:00.002-04:00

Fun at the Jolly Pumpkin

2011-09-22T20:08:00.002-04:00

Jess Portraits (happy Jess)

2011-09-22T19:03:00.002-04:00

The Unhappy Family Picture (not so happy Jess)

2011-09-22T19:00:00.001-04:00

Jessamyn's 7th Birthday in TC

2011-09-22T18:54:00.002-04:00

Fishing Joey

2011-09-22T15:13:00.002-04:00

More fun in TC and on the Beach

2011-09-21T22:11:00.002-04:00

Faces of Having Fun

2011-09-21T21:48:00.002-04:00

More Mimi Pictures

2011-09-21T21:30:00.002-04:00

More Headshots of Jocie (Not that she needs any more)

2011-09-21T20:56:00.002-04:00

Best Friends (Jess and Mallory)

2011-09-21T17:46:00.002-04:00

More fun on West Bay

2011-09-21T17:19:00.002-04:00

West Bay Sunset

2011-09-21T17:01:00.002-04:00

Fun Up North

2011-09-21T16:59:00.002-04:00

Joey and Julie

2011-09-21T10:13:00.002-04:00

American Girls Come Home

2011-09-20T20:26:00.003-04:00

After a devastating Hair Cutting session at the hands of Jocie and Jess, their AGs had to go back to the AG Hospital for some repairs to help them regrow their hair (think Rogain for dolls)... Both girls were very happy to get their friends back...

Jocie the Model

2011-09-20T20:22:00.002-04:00

Fun at the Park with the Kids

2011-09-20T20:21:00.002-04:00

Another quick snap of Jocie and Julie

2011-09-20T20:04:00.002-04:00

Just Julie

2011-09-20T20:02:00.002-04:00

A Day at Suttons Bay

2011-09-19T20:53:00.002-04:00

Fun on the Beach in TC

2011-09-19T20:33:00.002-04:00

Tea at the Cottage

2011-09-19T20:21:00.002-04:00

Fun at the TC Cottage

2011-09-19T20:16:00.002-04:00

Best Father's Day EVER!

2011-09-19T20:14:00.002-04:00

2011 Excel Dance Recital

2011-09-19T20:11:00.002-04:00

Jess Holds up Joey, and Julie Swordfights Joey

2011-09-19T19:43:00.002-04:00

Jocie to the Rescue

2011-09-19T19:42:00.002-04:00

Random Portraits

2011-09-19T18:47:00.002-04:00

Memorial Day with the Kids

2011-09-19T18:46:00.002-04:00

Faces

2011-09-19T17:24:00.002-04:00

Just Julie

2011-09-19T17:22:00.002-04:00

The Joys of Childhood in Spring

2011-09-19T17:07:00.002-04:00

Angel with Flowers

2011-09-19T17:04:00.002-04:00

Kalamazoo Marathon's 5k Run

2011-09-19T17:03:00.002-04:00

Playing in the Water

2011-09-19T10:41:00.002-04:00

Guests at our Door

2011-09-19T10:40:00.002-04:00

I think this is the last shot I have of our birds that were living at our door. Just after this shot was taken, the mother and father birds convinced the little ones to fly away....

The Stuffed Animal Collection of Jess and Jocie

2011-09-19T10:29:00.002-04:00

Easter Sunday with the Kids

2011-09-19T10:26:00.002-04:00