Where Have We Been???

I am attempting to get back into blogging, I am realizing how quickly time is going by. Was the last time I updated this really March??? What have we been doing? Let's see over the last few months I moved schools, switched grade levels, completed two more graduate classes (yes, I will be done in May!), been super busy being a mom and a chauffeur for Abigail and Ethan's never ending events and social lives...the list really could go on and on. Abigail and Ethan are growing so fast and I mean both physically and socially. Abigail will soon be taller than me and I fear the little authority I have may be diminishing. She continues to love to sing and has been trying her hand at basketball. Whatever she does she does with a full heart and loves life, I wish I could bottle her innocence and personality and sell it. She makes our days forever interesting. Ethan is quite the sports fanatic, he has been enjoying basketball as well and made his first shot this past week-end. He loves to watch football and made it to a few Husker games this fall, he is definitely Brian's sidekick. He is a fun boy with a lot of personality as well, he has to compete with his sister for attention so there really is no dull moment in our house. For example, I asked what happened to the present under the tree. Well, there was a tear in it so they used a tape and a napkin to cover up the teat. Hmmm...let's see mom and dad would not figure out that you had ripped open the present because the white napkin matched the green wrapping paper so well. I had to laugh and then remember all of the mischief I would get into when I was a little kid and Christmas presents were waiting for me to open them. Brian and I wish all of you the best this holiday season, over the last few years we have really come to a new understanding of God's love and I feel so blessed to have Brian on this journey with me. As this holiday season comes upon us, I have tried really hard to stay focused on God's love and his present to each of us. May you and your family be blessed this year with the love and the hope that Jesus' birth has brought to all of us. Merry Christmas and Happy 2009!

Wow...that month went fast!

So, we have been super busy this last month. Ethan kept us busy with his basketball games. He did an awesome job and learned to look for the open person, guard an opponent, make baskets, and have fun with his teammates. He also celebrated his 6th birthday this month. We celebrated his birthday in Kansas City with dinner at the TRex restaurant. What a fun night!

Abigail has been busy with children's choir at church. She even got to sing in the new worship center which seats 2,500 people. She didn't seem phased by the large crowd and did an amazing job. She loves to sing and perform! She also will be taking her first Communion this Thursday at church. Abigail begins volleyball next month, she is already sporting new shorts and wants to pair them with a cami tank-top. :)

We spent a few days over Spring Break in Kansas City at the Great Wolf Lodge. It was a lot of fun! Lots of time in the pool and on the water slides, many hours playing a virtual game at the hotel, Science City, shopping at the Legends, and dinner at TRex.

Brian finished up basketball and I fear golf is in the near future. He is still working hard at the business. The basement is done and now is a virtual world for Brian as he tries to set up new devices, wires things into the wall, and oh my the TV. It seems to never-end...when I do make it down to see what is happening I notice little trinkets appearing from his college days and adorning the mantels and tables. I guess I did say it was his territory if and when we finished it.

I finished up my spring semester classes at Drake and I am going to take the summer off. I will start again next fall and with everything going as planned will graduate next spring with my Masters degree. I took a new job for next year and I am very excited about it. I will still be at the same school but teaching 1st Grade a grade I fell in love with a few years ago. I will be joining a great team of teachers and will know several of the kids as they transition from Kindergarten to First Grade. I have been busy cleaning out and packing at school, we are remodeling and being moved for a year to a vacant school in the district. I can't believe how much stuff I have accumulated in just a few years.

We want to wish everyone a Happy Easter!

Oh Look in Ethan's Mouth

Oh look in Ethan's mouth and what do you see?

A great big hole where a tooth used to be,

Well he wiggled it and jiggled it until it wiggled free.

Now there's a window when he smiles at me.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Friday night was a special one for Abigail and Brian, the Daddy Daughter Dance at church. I snapped this picture before they headed out the door for dinner and some dancing. Abigail finally got the dress that she has always wanted. Every year she asks me for a princess dress, but I have a very hard time justifying the cost. Well, this year I hit the sales rack and got a very good deal on a princess dress. She was so excited to show Brian and kept it a secret for over three weeks. Their first stop The Cheesecake Factory, Abigail's favorite place to eat. After a wonderful meal followed by dessert, of course, they headed off to the dance. This is becoming a favorite night for Abigail this is her third time going to a Daddy Daughter Dance. She did look like a princess with a very handsome date.



So what did my date have in store for me? Well first he told me that he wanted a sitter, what's this I am being ditched for another girl? Then after some bribing I finally talked him into going out with me. We headed to Kauhnaville only to find that the restaurant had closed but the arcade was still open. Ethan hit it big on the Deal or No Deal game leaving that virtual world with 100 tickets, he made a great deal his case had only 1 ticket. After an hour or so of arcade time we decided that it was time to get something to eat. No Cheesecake Factory for us, we were at the mall so we hit the foodcourt. It isn't very often that Ethan gets alone time with mom so we made the most of our night and headed down to the Toy Store so that he could show me all of the toys that he had to have for his birthday. On our way out of the mall we had to stop at ProImage to stare at all the football and college paraphanalia. Oh my I just realized that this was a lot like my first date with Brian! Fun, food, and sports...the cylce never ends.


Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Brrr! It's cold outside

The wind and snow have kept us inside this week. Last week-end we ventured out into the cold and hit the hill. My type of sledding, absolutely no work they pull you up the hill and send you down it. Abigail found her independence and was up and down the hill faster than we could keep up. She had no fear and figured out the lift thing rather quickly. It was a fun day and after a few hours Ethan's toes were cold and so were mine so we headed into the clubhouse to warm up. It was in that clubhouse that Ethan told me he wanted to learn how to skate like those kids, he was pointing to the snowboarders who were making jumps and 360's in the air. I guess Brian will have to take on a new sport and teach Ethan how to jump like "those skaters".

Happy New Year

It is hard to believe that 2008 is here, life is good and we are blessed in many ways. On our drive back to Nebraska last week-end, we were able to enjoy the journey and not worry so much about the destination. The weather had blanketed all the trees and buildings with a beautiful frost. I snapped many pictures as Brian was driving down the interstate, many cars pulled off to the side to take pictures of the landscape and the trees. My hope for 2008 is that we take time to enjoy each day and not feel so rushed. When we are not rushed our eyes are open to the beautiful and simple things, like frost on the barren tress in Iowa. Happy New Year to all of our family and friends!