New Bed, Dresser & a new house????????? WHAT?

Well.... I know it's been a little bit since I updated you all on the adventures of Matt and I's lives! Matt is out of town this week, working the 12 hr night shift on a hydrotesting project... so I thought I'd have a little bit of time to update you all on what has been happening with us! Nothing really fun has been happening until NOW!!!! (i'm going to work backwards.... starting from the most recent thing that has been going on, to some other little things!)

Exciting news!

This past Thursday night, we put a FOR SALE sign up in our front yard. We have decided to sell our house and BUILD a new one. We have been talking/thinking/deciding for awhile now that we would just like to have a bigger place and something that is right for us. It is nice, and it could work, but it is quite small (we aren't able to have my whole family over without it being VERY VERY crowded!) So..... we put the sign out there to just see what happens! We know that not many people are buying houses and houses really aren't selling that fast, so we're not sure what is going to happen. But since we have had the for sale sign up (4 days so far!)... we have had
at least 5-7 people call/ask about it and yesterday, we actually had a family walk through it. They seemed very interested... they rent a duplex right now in GP and would like to own a home, just waiting to see about the money situation (he went into more detail, but it's not relevant!, no money, no sale!) So we'll see what happens! As for building the new house. We are planning on staying in Grant Park and building in the new subdivision called Prairie Estates. There are a couple of lots available to buy right now and we really don't see them moving very fast. But there is one that really caught my eye (and I think matt likes it too!), but it is 1.25 acre on a cul-de-sac. The sun sets in the back of the house and has an open field behind us! (same kind of scenic view we have now!!!!!). I called the owner of that lot about a month ago and I sure hope that no one has bought it yet!

New Things!
Last week Sunday, Leiser's Furniture had one of their furniture AUCTIONS! Well, we were planning on going there to see what kind of kitchen tables they had because let's face it... our could fall apart any day (ok, maybe not any day... but it's kinda fragile!). So we thought goign to the auction would be the perfect opportunity to see if we could find something that we liked for CHEAP! Well, we got there and didn't really see any tables that we liked, so we almost just turned around and went home, but actually ended up staying to just check the auction out since neither of us had been to it. Well, walking around and check different stuff out we actually saw a bed (headboard & footboard) that we really liked, so we bidded on that and actually ended up getting it. Then just down a little ways from the bed was a dresser that went really well with the bed, so we bid on that too and won! And the BEST PART, what made it worth the day (well, besides getting great furniture!) was that when we got home and checked about how much these 2 pieces cost orginially, I was so excited! Each piece was about $1000 or more and we ended up getting the bed for $275 and the dresser for $200! So for about $500 we got 2 things that were originally over $2000! WOW! =) Here are photos of the 2 pieces:


And also, just a week before that, I bought this baker's rack from my sister-in-law's friend!
I absolutely adore it! I wish it went better with my kitchen (ok, let's face it, the carpet thing in the kitchen just really throws me off and i don't think really anything goes with it! haha), but I'm glad I got this very sturdy, handmade, by a guy a Vans Iron Works... for only $75 =) !!! YEAH!

Family Fun!
Besides that fun news... a couple of weeks ago we had a DERKS family "Father/Mother's Day" Party at my parents house. We took the opportunity to take family photos b/c everyone but one family was there.

Grandma & Grandpa Derks

The Colvin Family

The Craig Derks Family

The Jerry Derks Family

The Dan Derks Family (minus Katie + Tim + kids)

The Whole Clan (minus Katie + Tim + the kids!)

a little game of catch-up!

Well, I know it's been awhile... sorry about that.
Let me get you caught up on some adventures that have been happening our "not-so-exciting-right-now" lives! haha....

1. Mother's Day Weekend was quite busy!

Saturday night we went over to Mom and Dad Hoekstra's house for a get together for not only Mother's Day, but also to celebrate Mom Hoekstra's birthday! We had a wonderful steak meal and a night of fun.We start 'em early in our family! Aaron downing a cold beer!

Hahah... j/k... the bottle was empty!!

Mom H. opening her gifts!

Then Sunday was the Derks paaaarttttayyy!
A Party for Dale's Birthday & Mother's Day!
Bud, Keith and Cassidy did a little kite flying (I must say, Keith is a true MASTER at flying a kite! He manuvered -sp?- that kite through the power lines and the fence like he was a PRO!) The kids had a fun time playing on grandma's "new" swing set and playing with the play plane that Uncle Bud found.

He's such a kid at heart still! =) LOVE YOU BUD!

Dale's AWESOME present from his siblings!!!! Ooooooo, and edger! EXCITING!
I guess that's what you get when you get to be 31..... haha....

Momma D. opening her cards......
(p.s. momma.... i want the photos off of your camera from Mother's day... ok?)

2. SHIPSHEWANA!
Last week Tuesday, my mom, my sister-in-law Tricia and I went down to Shipshewana, IN. The land of the Amish, and most importantly, THE FLEA MARKET! =)
It was a gorgeous May day. The best day I could ever think of for shopping at Shipshewana. It was only the 2nd week it was open, so it wasn't crowded yet either! How great was that! =) We were even able to park in the front parking lot... something we all agreed we have never done before! I would say that our shopping was successful! From flowers to greeting cards, from spices to dipping mixes, from party supplies to toys, and a giant bag of golf balls! ( I know there was more, but I'm drawing a blank right now!) But what a great day!

3. RAIN, RAIN, and MORE RAIN!
The next couple of days we got a LOT of rain and Matt worked some night shift over in Peotone!
Needless to say, the one night where we had a very big storm, I kinda got a little freaked out when the toilet started gurgling and coming up from the shower drain I saw some light yellow colored water going up and down! Then, also, when I looked out my window, i saw a branch and leaves, REALLY CLOSE to my window... and I thought to myself "those normally aren't that close to the house".... then i went to the kitchen and saw this decent sized branch laying towards the door! Thank goodness it didn't break anything! So, once the rain finally stopped and the toilet gurgling was farther part from each other, I was finally able to fall asleep....... Here is the photo of the branch.... it was practically resting on the powerline that runs across the roof of our house!
5. CHURCH SOFTBALL
We started our church softball league this week. We didnt' win our first game, but we did very well, gave a very good fight. I played right field for the first 3 innings and then again the last inning and then batted the whole game, same with Matt! I will say, I thought I was going to be quite rusty since I haven't played in awhile, but surprisingly, I didn't do so bad! I got on base twice.... i think one was a double and then the a single and had two catches out in right field! =) Hopefully things will progressively get better! As for Matt, he is happy just sitting the bench, or so he says. He's not the most atheletic, and he'll be the first to admit that.... but he's still a good sport about it and i love to see him out there with me! =) LOVE YOU BABE!

6. THIS COMING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!
This weekend is Memorial Day weekend! I can not wait til it hits 3:30... b/c I am OUT OF HERE UNTIL WEDNESDAY!!! WHOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!! (ok, sorry, that was my inner self going crazy and getting all excited!). But we actually have plans this weekend! And some BIG ONES! Hahah...... here is the run down - I like lists better than making it all in paragraph form!

Friday - Kyle & Lydia (nephew & niece) are coming over and we are babysitting them while Dale & Esther go out to Princess Cafe for dinner..... we are going to order Aurelios pizza and have fun night with some kids!

Saturday - Grocery shopping? Most likely! And my friend Kristen Kuipers is going to come over on her way to DeMotte. Other than that, I'm hoping to get some cleaning done.... maybe start a little window cleaning! =)

Sunday - Matt's RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE!!!!! YEAAHHHH!!! I am so excited for him to do that. I am so happy that I got him this for a wedding gift. I know he appreciates it, because I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't spend that kind of money on himself for that! Just don't crash ok baby?

Monday - MEMORIAL DAY!!!! We are going to have a party with some friends! Nicholas & Rachele, Nathan & Leah with their amazingly adorable girls are coming, Scott & Traci and the handsome boys are coming and also Mike Dillman!!! =) We are going to cookout, have some burgers, play a little bean bags and just catch up (we all live so close, but hardly see each other!) I can't wait to see the babies either! Leah & Traci have both recently just had babies in the past couple of months!!!!!

Welp, I think that should catch you up to speed... i'm sure there are some things I missed and I'm sorry. But I probably should get back to actually working here at this place I call "work."