Mothers Day, Crawling.....long update...

First, I would like to say Happy Mothers Day to all the mama's out there! We had a great day with Jared's family coming over for a BBQ this afternoon. Brats, burgers, salad and ice cream cake...yummmmmy, bocci ball, ladder ball, bubbles...we all had fun!

Doesn't Joleen look great for about 20 weeks pregnant? That is what I looked like at about 3 months...who's kidding who...my belly is bigger right now than hers!

I can't believe it has been this long since I have blogged. Sorry! Ok, let's get everyone up to date...

1. Kate has learned to crawl...sort of. She crawls EXACTLY like Jack did as a baby. We called him Lurch. She keeps one knee under her and pushes with her other leg...kind of hard to describe. She is going forward though and getting to where she wants to be, which is right under my feet :).

2. Kate is now 8 months old. Did I post her 7 month pics on the couch? If not I will get them on here. I always took Grace's picture in her rocking chair on the day she reached another month "birthday". It was so fun to see how she grew...and she grew fast! Kate isn't growing as fast but I can see her changing with each month.

3. Jack and Grace are almost done with school. I am looking forward to no more homework...3rd grade is grueling at their school. I love their school and feel very blessed to have them there, but I don't remember having to know all 50 states locations, their capitals and how to spell the state and capital. On May 22nd, Jack will take his final exam on all 50 states...prayers that week as we study and he takes the test would be much appreciated. Grace is sailing through Kindergarten with flying colors. Her teacher would like to keep her another year because she LOVES to clean the classroom. I keep telling her to play during free time but she would rather wash the tables and chalk board (it doesn't matter if other kids are using the chalk board..I have seen her at "work"). She is doing wonderful at reading and is now testing at 7o words per minute reading. She is closing in on Jared....jk. Math is very easy for both of them (thankfully they got Jared's DNA there). Below is a picture of Grace coming home from school. It was Charter School week so that day they got to wear crazy hair (wouldn't it be easier to carry your school papers IN your backpack?). Jack's picture is from when we got to stand in line and meet Greg Jennings from the Green Bay Packers...at the grocery store :). Jack was pretty excited!

4. The house is still for sale.

5. Since the beginning of 2009 we have read the Bible with the kids everyday. We decided to read it chronologically so we would know when events happened in what order and it is very interesting to read the Psalms that David wrote as he was going through different periods of his life. Sometimes joyful, sometimes sad, scared, confused, ect. (sounds very familar for my life right now).

We read through the story of Moses and how he lead the people out of Egypt and they personally saw the miracles that God performed through him and yet they doubted Him. We are trying very hard to keep our focus on God and trust that His plan for us is perfect. As much as we want to (and need to) sell our house, we know it is in His perfect timing. We just need to be faithful that He will protect us until it sells. Our kids may not understand every word that is read each day from the Bible, but they don't let us miss a day. Even when we think they aren't listening, they surprise us by stopping me from reading to ask a question about something they just heard. It is so amazing how this has brought our family together. It takes us between 20-30 minutes to read and it is so worth it. If anyone wants to know the website we used to find out the chronological order of the Bible I can email it to you. There is also a specific Bible that is in the chronological order that I can find out the name of.

So that concludes our monthly update...just kidding..I will try very hard to do some more updates. I have pictures from International Night at the kids school, Kate in her cute outfits, and her playdate with her friend Miss Erica :).

Just keep swimming....

We were invited out to our friends parents' home so Jared could help with some wood cutting and the kids could swim. When we first got there Amanda showed us where the pool was and got the cover off so the kids could go swimming. Then they all headed out for some hard work..bummer, I had to just stay and read a book by the pool while the big kids swam and Kate played in her pack n play ;).

Then it started to rain and everyone came in from working and hopped in the pool. Kate got to put on her 2 piece bikini and go swimming with Daddy for the first time ever. She loved it. She even went under water...the second dunking didn't go as well as the first.

Jack and Grace were so excited to be at a house with an indoor pool and asked Amanda a couple (hundred) times if we could trade houses with them :). Jack is pretty sure that when we sell our house and move into another house that we NEED to put a small addition on it like this:

Then, it got really fun...the volleyball net went up and a high paced volleyball game was underway with Jack and Grace helping each team.

By this time Kate had enough of swimming so out she came and thought she was so funny hiding in the towel and peeking out. She actually started laughing at herself :).

We had a terrific dinner and Amanda even made Jared his favorite cake (Texas Sheet Cake) for his birthday. If you're reading this Amanda....Thank you so much, you spoil us!

Spring Break

Last week the kids had spring break and Jack asked where we were going...ummmm....

We had nothing planned and so I told him we were going to plan a Stay-cation. Grace was excited until Jack filled her in that it meant we were STAYing home and not going anywhere :). We did end up having a great spring break.

Monday was our only day home. The weather was a bit chilly and the kids drove me crazy so I started planning stuff for the rest of the week and even threatened to drop them off at school and someone....ANYONE would let them come in so they wouldn't be bored :).

Tuesday, we saw GG (my grandma) and Heidi (my cousin).

Wednesday we went to the zoo with Jenn and her friend Michelle.

Thursday, Yaya (Jared's mom) took the kids to the Childrens Museum. Sorry no pictures..I wasnt' there :).

Friday we met Lorraine and her kids at Quaker Steak and Lube and then they played with Tara's kids while we went to her ultrasound (it's a BOY....YIPPPEEE!). Then Friday night we went to the park while someone looked at our house. I don't have the ultrasound pics, but I know for sure they are having a boy!

Saturday we colored Easter eggs, had an impromptu open house. The only person that came in was a neighbor down the street to "show the kids her purse". I was a bit confused until she opened her purse and had 2 five week old puppies in it! The kids loved holding them and asked if they could have them....they even told the lady they would give her all their money ($114.00). Too bad they cost $300. Grace went to a birthday party and we went to Eric & Amanda's for a cookout!

Sunday was Easter so we went to church (the kids sang), made a dirt cake and headed out to Sarah's house (my sister) for Easter lunch and an Easter egg hunt in the woods. Sarah and my mom hid 320 eggs in the woods! Jeff hooked up the tractor and trailor so we could all ride out there instead of walking through the horse/cow poop...THANK YOU! The kids had a blast and slept very well last night :)! We can't wait until next Easter!

Sooooo....our stay-cation was pretty busy :). Hopefully the collages turn out and you can see the pictures. I didn't want to sit here and download hundreds of pictures :).

And now for the highlight of Easter:

The best part of Easter this year was when Grace asked daddy to help her pray to have Jesus in her heart. She understands salvation on a 5 year olds level but still understands the importance of it and the general reason. She is so excited and I wish I would have been able to video tape her. Jack prayed around that age too. They are getting so big and love Jesus so much. I am so blessed :). I hope that everyone had a blessed Easter!

Out of the mouth of babes...

Here are some of our recent conversations:

Grace: "Mom, can you buy me a sugary cloud of wonder?"
Me: "Is that something for your webkinz?"
Grace: "No, it's cotton candy"

**Where do they come up with stuff like that?**

Me: "I am tired of cleaning all the time. All I do is clean and clean and clean."
Jack: "You get to read the Bible too."

**I guess I should feel blessed that I get to clean AND read the Bible**

Over the River and Through the Woods...

to GG's house we go!

Since the kids are on spring break I thought we should take a trip to see my grandma. Jack calls her "the grandma in the caring home" to make sure he knows where we are going (my grandma or Jareds grandma). The kids had a great time going out to lunch with GG and then looking at her old pictures....she told them who was in every picture. Granted, I couldn't tell you if she was right or not because the pictures were from the black and white days. Kate loved to just sit and look at her. We promised we would start coming more often now that the weather is nice. The kids want to take her on a picnic....that should be interesting :) Here are some pictures of our time with GG

Time flies...

Kate is 7 months old! She can sit, roll over and stay....wait...she is at the same level as Honey, our dog! It won't be long before she is crawling and making big messes like her big sister. Here is her 6 month pic (one month late)

Great-Grandma's...

We took a little trip last month to introduce the youngest member of the family to the oldest member of the family. Jared's grandma (Ruth) lives in Minnesota and just moved into an assisted living building. She is in her 90's and was still living at home in a very large house. We all agreed after seeing her in her new digs she was the happiest and relaxed we have seen her in years. Kate loved to sit and look at her and of course give her HUGE smiles. Ruth just LOVED her and the other kids! Here are some of my favorite pictures:

4 generations

Nick (Jo's hubby) Jared, Ruth, Charlie and Jack

Great-Grandma & Kate meeting

After we took her out to lunch we went and visited with her at her new place. It is very clean and bright and everyone else that lived there seemed happy to have all these kids take over the place :) for the afternoon. She misses her house and still thinks she should go back this summer to do all her gardening. I think she enjoys the company of others around her and told us she is getting involved in the activities they provide (bingo, cards and indoor horseshoes). I told her I can't wait until I'm older so I can live in a place with all my friends! A couple of my friends and I have decided that someday we are all moving south and living somewhere with golf carts...we will probably be the 1st old ladies kicked out of a retirement village :).

One last note...I would just like to thank Great-Grandma Ruth for picking an outfit that matches Kate to make my scrapbooking easier :).....