Spring Break

As soon as I saw on the school calendar that spring break was 2 weeks long, I knew exactly where we were headed!!! A place for endless fun and entertainment...plus great company and low rates...a trip to the farm was just the thing!!! And the weather could not have been more spectacular. We were literally outside for 6 straight days and enjoyed every minute of it.

We headed down on Monday morning...it was just the kids and me since Tod sadly had to work. They were really good on the drive, and we arrived by late afternoon ready for a week on fun.

And it was indeed, a week of fun...the weather was so warm...in fact, I really should have packed shorts and t-shirts...instead, we cut off the pants we brought, because some days it felt like the middle of summer.

Some of the things we enjoyed most-

Riding the 4 wheeler...since all the kids wanted rides all day long and Tod wasn't with us, I had to step up and be the driver. And I did just fine...except when I took Jordan out to the very back field and we ran out of gas and had to hike all the way back wearing flip flops...and how on the last day we discovered that the brakes had gone out probably from over use...but other than that, I did just great!


Horses!! The older girls are getting to where they need to learn how to take care of the horses and saddle them for riding. Grandpa is a great teacher.



Ashton was able to ride without a rope in the round corral. She is becoming a natural.
Jordan is getting more confident, too.
Regan and Cole are still just along for the ride.







The swing in the barn is always fun!


On Wednesday, our former neighbors came up to visit us. It was so good to see them, as we miss them SO much. We had a picnic by the pond and just enjoyed hanging out together again!

On Thursday, we headed to the city to see the new bike bridge that was just built. It was really neat as you can now walk up and see out across the river. I have to put in a word here about cousins...my kids LOVE Kayla and Leah. And they are always so good about hanging out with us when we come down...I get to enjoy seeing Megan (and Jerimy too!), and the kids just play endlessly together. It is such a gift.








Cole man was totally exhausted when we got back...I don't know why since I carried him most of the way. But he loved his nap in the hammock with Grandma.

Grandpa needed some help on Friday hauling wood and everyone got right to work. All week the girls had been working on earning extra money for some things they want to buy. Grandpa was a good sport and gave them a list of chores and what each was worth. It was quite impressive to see how hard they were working...like little worker bees...I wish they would work that hard for me...maybe it's because Grandpa pays better!


On our last night there, we went fishing at the pond. This was a new experience for the kids, and it required patience and stillness...hard to come by, but so much fun! It was a beautiful evening.






Some other things to remember- going to the pet store and being greeted by a huge box turtle walking around, ice cream sundaes at McDonald's, eating dinner outside, studying the stars in the sky, hanging laundry out to dry, endless Disney channel.

I know I say it a lot, but every time we go to the farm, I always feel so lucky to have such an amazing place to retreat to. It is a place where we can go to get away from everything and to spend time together with people we love. It is a place to be with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Every day the kids came inside covered in dirt, filthy and exhausted from a day spent running around outside.

That is so hard to come by sometimes in our busy life, and to me, it seems priceless!

Birthday Celebration

How to celebrate turning 3-

Dress up in your new birthday clothes for church

Let your sisters spoil you (wait, that's every day)



Get a new Cars bike

Have lots of help to learn to ride

Ask your Mom to make a Hot Wheels cake and love it when all she does is put a few cars on top

Invite over your favorite friends for an evening of fun and celebration


Happy Birthday Cole-Man!

My Boy is 3!!

Happy Birthday to Cole-Man!!!! Can't believe you are already 3....how we love you, our little boy!!! We all adore you so much...and you certainly have all 5 of us wrapped around your finger. Of course, this morning I woke up thinking about the night you were born...we stayed at home as long as possible to make sure I was in labor...I remember being really uncomfortable and watching American Idol...we didn't even head to the hospital until about 10:30 PM and you were born 2 hours later. We just couldn't believe how lucky we were to have you...the boy we had waited so long for!!!! What joy you have brought to your parents and sisters. Just the other day, Jordan told me that she caught a glimpse of you sitting on the stairs and was "overcome by the amount of love she had for you." We all feel that way!!!

Some things about Cole at age 3:
-Loves all things that "go"- trains, trucks, cars, buses, etc.
-Asks several times a day to go outside to "drive his tractor"...loves to play outside
-Loves his sisters...gets into lots of mischief with his best buddy Regan...likes to destroy toys, legos, etc.
-Talks and talks and talks...you can tell by how he speaks that he has older siblings...the other day when his little friend went home, he called out the door to him, "Miles, email me!!!"
- Asks almost daily to go down to the farm to see grandpa and the trucks and horses
-Gets upset if doesn't get to say the prayer
-Is still not a good sleeper...still waiting for him to sleep through the night consistently...uggg!
-Is an unpredictable eater...sometimes eats a ton, and other times hardly eats at all...prefers rice, lasagna, mac and cheese, and minestrone soup. Loves soda and doughnuts and suckers. Doesn't like anything that has to do with bread.
-Still wants to be carried everywhere!!
-Likes everything "Cars".
-Can be a real pill in church, has to be taken out almost every week...likes to look at the pictures of Jesus especially the one of him knocking at the door
-Calls all my friends by their first names...as in, "Can we go to Amy's house?", "Where did Kim go?"
-Has a bit of a temper and can throw a mean tantrum...other times he is just as pleasant and easy as can be
-Loves tools and likes to play with Dad's real ones in the basement
-Is aware of everything....and makes sure that in this family of 6, his voice is always heard!!!

Happy Birthday Manny! We love you so much.

My Texas Trip

I was lucky enough to get to escape for a few days last week down to the sunny, warm land of Texas! My youngest sister, Katy had a new baby girl, and I was thrilled to be able to go and spend some time with them.


Stella Kim is an amazing baby...and I absolutely fell in LOVE with her. In fact, by the last day I was just trying to drink up her newborn smell to take home with me...since I no longer have babies at home. I loved snuggling her and cuddling her. I loved how we got to stay up late together each night so that her mama could get a few hours to sleep. I loved being able to spend time with my little nephew Sutton who is just the best kid ever and so much fun.


It is so hard for me to live so far away from this great family...I even adore my bro-in law, Nick. He and I have always been good buddies. Another bonus is that Tod's brother and family live in the same town, so I was even able to sneak in a few short visits with them- 3 more darling nieces and a nephew!


Katy and I had so much fun together- despite the strict feeding schedule, we planned an outing each day (to my favorite Texas stores!) and made some yummy meals together. We also spend hours and hours just talking together about everything under the sun...and laughing. She knows me and she gets me, and I just love her to pieces.

Everyone knows that the first few weeks with a newborn are incredibly difficult and exhausting...as the adoring big sister, I am so proud of Katy.

Of course, this trip wouldn't have been possible without Snarr jumping on board to keep my 4 little ones at home. He juggled cooking, cleaning, church assignments, car pools, basketball and tons of other things...and managed to do just fine...although he did admit to being more than ready for me to come home. He even surprised me with a new kitchen table!!! I missed my own family so much while I was gone.

I relished in the opportunity to have few days to slow down and relax. Hours and hours on a plane by yourself to read and think is not something that I take for granted. Same for the blocks of uninterrupted sleep I enjoyed. All in all, it was just a great get away for me....can't wait to do it again sometime!

Jordan's Special Weekend

Jordan had been looking forward to being baptized for a very long time...She had been planning and preparing for her baptism for many, many months...and so she was one excited gal when the time was finally here for her big day. Grandparents from Utah arrived on Friday night, along with Grandparents and cousins from Missouri. On Saturday morning, we all gathered along with many friends to see her be baptized. She was able to be baptized with her sweet friend Grace which was really neat too. Jordan look absolutely radiant in her new dress. She was so happy, and we were of course, thrilled for her to make such a good choice and a choice that we know will continue to bless her life forever.
Some things to remember about the day-
-It was a beautiful, crisp (very chilly), but sunny February morning here in Iowa

-The font water was very cold!
-Grandpa Kirk gave a special talk on baptism and Grandma Cindy said the opening prayer
-A group of Jordan's church friends sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me"
-We were surrounded by family and friends, all of whom really LOVE Jordan





-Jordan wore a CTR bracelet from Grandpa Kirk and Grandma Patsy, and a special necklace that was my mom's. I wore it on my wedding day and Ashton wore it on her baptism day. It is our special connection to our Grandma in heaven who we know is also proud of our children and their choices.


-Grandpa Steve and Grandma Cindy gave Jordan her own set of scriptures with a case- what a treasure for her!

-Grandma Patsy and Grandpa Kirk presented Jordan with a quilt made by Great-Grandma Mary...it is to help her remember the Holy Ghost as a source of "comfort" throughout her life.

-Jordan chose doughnuts as her baptism refreshment and boy, were those a hit!

-Jordan was so thrilled to not only be baptized and confirmed by her dad, but also by the Bishop!


-After the baptism, we had a lunch celebration- Jordan had planned the menu which included funeral potatoes, a meat/cheese tray, rolls, chips, jello salad, a veggie tray, and of course, chocolate cake.
-Later that day, we went over to the John Deere pavilion to see all the equipment. Then we went swimming at the hotel where Grandpa Kirk and Grandma Patsy were staying. After swimming, Tod and his mom took the little kids home, while Ashton, Jordan and I stayed at the hotel for some extra visiting. We soaked in every bit of time that we had with our family. We love it when they come to see us, and it is so hard to say good-bye! But we were so thankful they could share the weekend with us!

I hope Jordan will always remember this day. I know that I will. I love my Jordan so much- she is a source of laughter and a great help in our home. She is always trying to learn new things, is very loving and full of life. We are proud of her and thankful that we could enjoy this special time together.

Our Valentine's Day

Woke up to treats on the kitchen table- books and giant pencils for girls, a toy motorcycle for Cole

Packed up everyone's Valentines and boxes

Went to Regan's Dance Party

Enjoyed 3 Classroom Parties- Preschool, 2nd grade, 4th grade


Received beautiful flowers from my Valentine

Savored an entire day to think about and remember my special Valentine Angel...my mom who would have turned 62 years old! Love her so much and miss her every day...but especially on "love" day (her birthday) because she was so full of love.