Sorry it's been awhile!

Marcus was Referee Pitman at the big show - here he called a false start on Jim Boogerd - everyone laughed and laughed and laughed - Jim didn't know what to do - it was funny.

He was quite the comedian - loved it - he played his role well!!

I'm still here just a bit busy this week :

Monday: Jamie and Mike went to hunter's safety course - Vanessa, Marcus and I had Big show rehearsal at church.

Tues: Jamie has volleyball practice and we were moving some stuff for the big show yet and finalizing details

Wed: Big show - at church by 3:30-4 oclock - it was a huge success and lots of fun our theme this year was tail-gate party - clean up and home by 10

Thur: Jamie had a basketball game in Sioux Center - and then we had a belt project for church to help with Christian education chapter so we all went from 6 till 9

Fri: Vanessa went to Des Moines for the weekend for a global exchange program brought her to Spencer - Jamie had basketball practice and then came home with 3 other girls for supper and movie - Marcus went to a movie with the guys

Sat: Marcus is taking his ACT test today - Jamie has end of year basketball tournament in Orange City - Vanessa still in Des Moines - Mike is walking Paco now and I am getting ready so we can leave when he gets back - Western plays basketball in Sioux Falls tonight.

We are at a busy time but just loving it - the kids are great to follow and so glad that they like to hang out here - they came over last night and requested spaghetti - since they had tournament today and they needed carbs - so I went to the grocery store and Mike and I made spaghetti for them all - it was great!

No school again!

It's blowing snow and almost zero visibility over here today - NO SCHOOL AGAIN!

They have taken away President's day and now Thurday, April 1 from Easter break.

It is truly an Iowa winter this year - full force - so thankful for warm homes!!!!!

The Venture Van is gone!

The '99 Venture van is gone and has been replaced with an '07 GMC Acadia - and I love it - I am feeling very spoiled and will enjoy it for a long time I hope.

It has three rows of seating so we didn't give up any room - which is good - whenever we pick up Jamie lately we usually end up with about 4 or 5 extras - which we just love. Mike and Jamie are leaving for church here - Jamie had to be to church early this morning.

Change is not always easy

I found this poem about change and decided to share it with you:

All of us experience change in our lives. Change is the one constant in our lives. There are changes that we look forward too and change that we fear. However, one thing is for sure. Things will not stay the same no matter how much we would like them too. When a life change occurs, we have two choices in how to respond. We can despair that a change has come and assume that things will be worse, or we can look with excitement at the new possibilities that the change presents. Source: Change Poems - Poems about Change http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/life/change-poems.asp#ixzz0cugus8Rm Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial

I know that there will be many changes made this week - some small - some big - May God give everyone grace through each and every change this week.

Kids home again

Everyone got out of school at noon on Wed - had no school on Thurs and now have no school today - Marcus was busy all day yesterday snow blowing - he did the driveway three times - it was pretty windy and it kept blowing over again - Mike brought me to work and got me and Marcus took me to run some errands. The girls were busy with a list I left for them at home - Today the wind chill is dangerously cold and the plows haven't been on the gravels yet at all - good thing it's the weekend - we have used all three of the built in snow days at school now already. Hope you all have a safe weekend.

Another Snow Day

All the kids got out of school today at 12:30 - Jamie got off the bus at a friends and Marcus and Vanessa were home - I was doing book work and Marcus was scooping - I called him to come to the door and I had him throw Vanessa in the snow - she is getting a good look at it since she hasn't experienced this before - she was not too impressed.

I of course thought it was quite funny!!!

A bit later - she put more clothes on and then played in the snow for awhile - I do believe she is going to miss snow when back in Brazil!!

Rens Christmas

We got together with Grandma Rens last night and the relation and we always take pictures for grandma - thought I would share them with you! This first one is Grandma with her Son Dave and wife Bev, Grandma, then it's Shirley (Gerald's wife - Gerald past away 2 yrs ago) and then daughter Mary and husband Dale

Here are all the grandchildren with their spouses!

And here are all the great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

We had a nice time it was in Rock Valley in the basement of Peoples Bank and we had supper and played a few games together - Grandma just enjoyed seeing everyone together - we had a good time some of them we only see once a year so nice that grandma gets us together.