Break Out the Family Records

I think everyone would agree that this blog has allowed us to connect and get to know everyone in the family a lot better than we knew each other before. Blogging allows all of us to stay connected beyond Thanksgiving and Christmas.

With such a large family, I've also been in contact with people I haven't seen since I was five.

Earlier this week I was on this blog. Occasionly I'll look back at old posts, and read old comments just for the fun of it. One post specifically caught my attention: Lisa's Classroom. It caught my attention because there was a comment there that I hadn't seen before. The author is anonymous but here's what they said:

Hi Feyen's!

We are Feyen's as well! Our great grandfather and mother were Nicholas and Katherine from Luxembourg (and Feyen Germany just north of the border) They came in the mid to late 1800's and settled in Wisconsin and then Minnesota. Very Catholic and all blue eyed and blond. There are definately triplets and twins in the family....any relation? cgdaniel@comcast.net

Someone help me out! I haven't responded yet, because I simply don't know if we're related.

But seriously, how awesome! The internet does amazing things sometimes, and how great would it be if we were able to connect with these long lost "possible" relatives!

If this "anonymous" person is reading this blog update as well... thank-you for commenting, this has obviously grabed my curiosity! This would be so cool if we are related.

we're big but how big?

Edited to add:

Well Matt and Nick are having the 99th baby in mid-June, obviously I didn't hear about that for awhile. I guess that just leaves the 100th!

So Michelle says 98. But I still wanna know who is going to have the 99th and 100th???


With the recent birth of Grace Fredricks, nobody is pregnant. There are almost 100 family members on the Feyen side, and I think it's probably quite rare when there is a time that nobody is pregnant. Does anyone know how many people we have now that Grace was born? Is she number 97, 98, etc..? I know Scott and Lisa wanted to have the 100th!

Give your thoughts in the comment box... how many of us are there now?

Lisa's Classroom

This past fall Lisa started her big teaching dream at Jenison Christian School! She has a new website and its super cute! Check it out by going here:
http://sites.google.com/site/jcsboone/

Here are a few pictures of her classroom:

[she also has more pictures on her facebook]

Flashback

This past tuesday mom came back home from Michigan and brought back a picture CD of all Grandma's slides! Now if any cousins out there are like me, I've wondered what Grandpa Feyen was like.. I've heard stories, seen a few pictures, and heard numerous times what a great man he was. Well looking through these pictures has definitely given me a better look at the man he was. I hope you enjoy looking at these few pictures as much as I have!

Thank's Alison for making a CD of all the slides... YOU'RE THE BEST!!!! Also, I don't know how many people have seen these pictures or who has picture CD's? Anyone know? Because there are over 1,400 slides [similar to the number of pictures I took at the cottage] and I could post more pictures on the blog if everyone wants... just let me know.

Bike Trip Part 2

Michael has finished his travelogue! Here is the link:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/thebigride

I've also included a few more pictures from his trip!

Michael said: "I probably should not have been on the road... but I had a 25 mph tailwind so I biked through a thunderstorm."

Michael's staple meal: 3 bananas, 2 yoghurts, and a bunch of granola

Trick or Treat

Send me halloween pictures of your kids in costumes and I do a big blog post sometime next week so everyone can see the cuteness! You can send them to my e-mail, juliaprichard@hotmail.com OR let me know if they're on facebook.

Thanks everyone!

Bike Trip Part 1

A week ago I asked Michael if he would mind sharing about his summer adventures, traveling the U.S. on bicycle, and he agreed! For now I have pictures to share, but eventually he's planning on sending me a typed out update along with more pictures. So stay tuned, and enjoy the following pictures!

Helping in Texas

Earlier this morning I got an e-mail from Aunt Mary-Jo, this is what she said:

Hi All,

Just thought I’d share a quick note – Kim got called up to help with Hurricane Ike. She arrived in San Antonio yesterday morning and has been helping evacuate patients from Victoria, Texas to San Antonio. She is well, but busy. Here is a brief email we received from her.

Stationed out of San Antonio, Texas. Right now we have ten ambulances in a row driving code three evacuating hospital in Victoria. Per FEMA storm could be category 4 or 5. In San Antonio where we will be staying winds are expected to reach 100mph. After we evacuate, we will be "bunkering down in a military base". We were issued mre's this morning. We’re operating with limited supplies and tired equipment. These fords will only take so much. On the lighter side I broke a sweat peeling an orange sitting perfectly still I just thought that was interesting. HUMID. Oh by the way I officially have wavy hair in Texas

Please keep her in your prayers.
Thanks,
Mary Jo

***Edited to Add
Aunt Mary also got this message from Kim on her phone, here's the message:

Today were offloading patients off c-130 at the airbase. We had 5 hours of sleep after 2 straight days of hospital evacuations. Supposedly were supposed to be locked inside by noon for the hurricane. All of Galveston and Houston r supposed to be evacuated. They r mobilizing for tsunamis as well.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Be sure to be praying for Kim as she helps and all those that will be affected by the hurricane!

-Julia

A Look Back

Hey All! Here are some pictures from our last trip to Michigan back at the beginning of August. We were only there for a week but in that time managed to go to Michigan Adventures, relax for a day at the beach, spend time at Aunt Linda & Uncle Freds pond, and thats just to mention three of the days!

We hope you've enjoyed looking at these pictures just as much as we enjoyed catching up with you, as well as spending time in Michigan. We're already looking forward to next year!

The Prichard's!!!

P.S. I didn't take many pictures at Uncle Fred and Aunt Linda's but I know other people were [Abby, Rob, Aunt Colleen, others???]. So if anyone wants to share what they captured be sure to shoot me an e-mail and I'll put them on the blog for everyone to see!