The Grand Lineup

Posted on July 30, 2026 by dinahoverlien

Year by year, the numbers keep getting bigger, as do the children.

Words can’t begin to express how much I love this wild and crazy bunch.

“Talent Show 2026” did not disappoint.

We were thoroughly entertained by various adults and kids, including:
Magic card tricks
A pie in the face
Singing the alphabet song while doing the splits
Original solo piano composition
Sisters doing the “Parent Trap” secret handshake
A solo dance to “Church Clap”
Beautiful self-choreographed dance by two cousins
Funnier-than-all-get-out dance by three big boys
Enchanting vocal solo
Poetry recitation by memory
More magic tricks by Opa
A reading from my 1998 journal

It’s my favorite weekend of the whole year.

Grandkid Lineup through the years:
Minus One, Plus One
Grandkid Lineup
Sweet Spot
The Lineup

One More Thing

Posted on December 31, 2025 by dinahoverlien

Never in my blogging life of 16 years have I ever posted twice in one day.
Just had to sneak this one in before the clock strikes twelve.
I’ll leave you alone until next Thursday.
Promise.

Here are my twelve tribes in all their pajama glory.
#12 got lots of love from his cousins.

Three big boys.
Three big girls.
Three little girls.
Three little boys.
I couldn’t have come up with a more symmetrical arrangement.

We forced one more Nativity scene and I expect it will be our last.
What else were we to do with a 10-day-old in our midst?
He was the star of the show.
If you’re counting, we are short one sheep.
The 6-year-old refused to put on a silly costume and join the fun,
even though Opa bribed him with suckers.
I like his spunk.

God bless us, every one!

Until next year!

Introducing Beau

Posted on December 20, 2025 by dinahoverlien

Allow me to introduce you to my brand new grandson, Beau Andrew.
Isn’t he amazing?
I can’t stop staring at him.

December 17, 2025
7 lbs. 8 oz.
20 inches

Our Twelve Tribes are complete.

Minus One, Plus One

Posted on September 4, 2025 by dinahoverlien

Grandkid Lineup 2025

Grandkid #2 was home sick, so we were minus one this year. We missed her!

Grandkid #11 is holding a “?”, so we will be plus one next year. We can’t wait!

Twelve tribes. Twelve disciples. The Twelve. The dirty dozen.

Cousin Camp 2025

Eight of the most interesting, entertaining, delightful people in the universe.

Now you know why I needed August Break.

“If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren,
I’d have had them first.”
~ Lois Wyse

Grandkid Lineup

Posted on September 12, 2024 by dinahoverlien

They are another year older, a few inches taller, and increasingly delightful.

Lord, make known to them the path of life and fill them with joy in Your presence. Psalm 16:11

Surround them with Your favor as a shield. Psalm 5:12

Keep them as the apple of Your eye and hide them in the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 17:8

Oh Lord, hear the prayers from this Nonnie’s heart. Amen.

Sweet Spot

Posted on August 31, 2023 by dinahoverlien

We have entered the sweet spot.
Our littlest ones are out of diapers
and our oldest ones are still not driving.
We are in a delightful window of time.

Just look at these kiddos.
They give me hope for the future of this world.

The Grandkid Lineup — 2023

Behold! Children are a gift from the Lord.”
Psalm 127:3

The Lineup

Posted on October 6, 2022 by dinahoverlien

This is my lineup.

This is not a police lineup.
Although they are so cute, it’s criminal.

This is not a team lineup.
Although they would be a formidable squad on the gridiron.

This is not a network TV show lineup.
Although they are tirelessly entertaining.

This is the lovely, lively line that has my heart eleven times over.

Children are a gift from the Lord.
Psalm 127:3

This Is What Happens

Posted on April 25, 2017 by dinahoverlien

This is what happens when Eli comes to visit.

Every car in the house is lined up just so.

This is what happens when Ella comes to visit.

Every person is set up right where they are supposed to be.

Especially the twin babies.

This is what happens when two dear friends come over and take care of six kiddos for a couple hours so the rest of us can go out for dinner. Bless them. They brought ice-cream.

This is what happens when you have four kids and they grow up to be pretty great adults.

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Introducing Emma Kate

Posted on March 11, 2017 by dinahoverlien

The newest twig on the family tree has arrived!

Introducing Emma Kate.

She has her very own fan club.

Emma decided to give PB a special birthday present. Herself!

Birthday buddies forever!

It never gets old.

“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your mighty acts to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18