Sunset Drive

Punta Cana - January 2012

2012-02-02T05:15:00.000-08:00

Just a few pics to show you a little of our vaca - this is at the Punta Cana Airport - all outdoors - we loaded the plane from outside and no doors or windows on the airport - was really neat!! This picture is Mike, Brad and Ivan watching planes coming in and out.

The ladies beautiful toes - we all got pedicures before we left - mine are the red ones on the bottom.

Each night we got dressed up and went out for supper - this night we were at the Italian restaurant - they were all at the resort and it was all inclusive so we tried out quite a few
- we went with all 12 of us this night

This evening it was just Mike and I - we went to the Mexican rest. that evening

This was the beach - we sat by everyday - the sand was like powdered sugar and the colors of blue were amazing - loved to listen to the waves come crashing in

View from our deck of our room

Pool side view - later on in the afternoons we would move up by the pool area

Brad and Mike pool side - love this pic!!!

Bananas on the tree - this was really neat to see as well

walkway to the pool area - beatiful place

These three couples went zip lining - Mike was taking this picture - this is the bus that took us there

Mike and I looking over the hills that we were going on

This zip line was one of the longest ones - if you can see there is a creek way in the bottom that this one went over - was soooooooooo fun!!

This was the last evening - Mike and I again went by ourselves and went to the Dominican Rest.

Met up with Chad and Marcie and sat with them at the Mexican rest. - we look pretty good when we don't have paint and stain all over ourselves!!! - Was an awesome trip and so glad we got to go - I feel very blessed and spoiled - thanks Mike for another great vacation and I love ya!!

Western JV Basketball Team!

2012-01-21T09:28:00.000-08:00

Western got out at noon yesterday for teacher in-service and Jamie invited the basketball team over for dinner and down time before their game last night!! They wanted a few pictures so thought I'd share them with you all as well!! Great group of girls - they enjoy each others company lots and are having an amazing year - so far no losses - last night they won 92-19 against Cherokee!

Today they play at Heelan in Sioux City - and Sioux City Heelan is having a big fun raiser for Breast Cancer - they invited us to join in - so it's a PINK OUT and having a big supper and silent auction as well - both schools ordered t-shirts with both our logos on them - so will be a very fun afternoon - two of these girls have the pink out shirts on - Jamie and I ordered some as well and will be wearing ours tonight too - you can't tell but on the basketball is the wolfpack sign and also the heelan crusaders sign - very neat idea and also a great cause!!

Marcus had an awesome break!

2012-01-08T05:44:00.001-08:00

First of all - Mom I thought you would love this picture - every year we usually make puzzles during the winter - this winter has been so nice that we haven't but all of a sudden last week Sunday Jamie pulled out a puzzle and everyone jumped on board and started helping - we are now on our second one - Fun times!!

Guess someone was hiding the last piece again :) They get along so well - Jamie is gonna miss him again (yes I am too) when he goes back and yes that will be tomorrow morning.

Patrick and Marcus set around 20 traps out over the break and were very successful with coons and coyote - here is their caught before they left for the furrer last week. Mike had a great time with this as well - when the boys were both gone one weekend - he got to check them.

Then Marcus also shot a deer with his bow and arrow - We haven't had deer meat in the freezer for a few years and Marcus jumped on that plan to try and get one - this is the first animal he shot with his bow and he was excited and Jamie is also thrilled - her favorite meal is scalloped potatoes with deer sausage. Marcus also worked at VIP (Valley Industrial Powder Coating) over the break everyday till 3 - so he also made some money. Now it is back to the books for awhile!!

Good day of hunting!!

2011-12-31T11:44:00.000-08:00

What a way to end the year - 3 dads with their college sons hunting and having a great time - I got called to go over and take this picture what they didn't realize it that..........

I took this one as I was leaving - look who gets to do all the cleaning :) too funny - I have to laugh!!!!

This is a picture from Monday at Grandma Pollemas house - just love the picture so wanted to share it with you all!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The past week!!

2011-12-12T05:27:00.000-08:00

Have no idea way this one won't copy over straight - I tried 4 times - so forget it here is my new nephew - Becky had her 4th baby last Monday the 5th - Colby Jon - he weighed in at 11 lbs 2 oz. and is 22.5 inches long - yes he is a big boy but mom and baby are doing great!!!

Marcus surprised Karlie Friday night with Lady Antebellum tickets in Sioux City - it is her birthday January 15 and he took her to this concert for her birthday - he really surprised her - she had no clue and they had a great time there - and had very awesome seats too!!

Saturday evening we went as a family to the restaurant Braccos in Sioux Falls for supper and then to see the lights at Falls Park this picture and the next 2 are from the top of the tower - they were gorgeous and we had a great time

These next two are next to the falls on the east side - we walked all around and also rode through - had a great time

It was a bit windy but not too cold for December - they had lights that changed colors on the falls and just happened to get this picture with the green in the back :)

Thanksgiving break fun for the guys!!!

2011-11-30T18:16:00.000-08:00

Jake Granstra-Patrick Kooima-David Buyert-Jacob Faber - and Marcus -5 high school buddies got together on Friday after Thanksgiving and had a great day hunting!!!! That evening then Patrick's parents had a big pheasant fry for them all - was a great break for them from college and they had gorgeous weather that day too which made it even better!!! In two weeks they will all be home for Christmas break - looking forward to that as well!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

2011-11-27T13:01:00.000-08:00

This is our family picture taken before church on Thanksgiving morning - hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving and enjoy this Holiday season!!

And of course one of just the teenagers and Paco - we had a very nice day enjoying time together!!

State Volleyball Fun!!!

2011-11-19T08:29:00.001-08:00

This was before the last game on Saturday at Applebees - and yes I have a pink stripe in my hair - I bought pink hair spray and the girls thought that I should get into the game so I let them give me a pink stripe just like they all did - Fun times!!!

This was the maroon out at the first game against Carroll Keumper - won in 3 games!!

Jamie with Abby and Alissa the Pollema twins after the game(Alissa plays and Abby was a manager)

Game 2 against Grundy Center was a black out - won in 4 games - lost first game 24-26 won game 2 and 3 score was 26-24 both games and won last game 25-18 - Fun match and very exciting and the girls didn't give up!!

After the game with all the sophomore players - awesome group of friends that Jamie has!!

And Saturday we played Dike-New Hartford and they beat us in 3 games - so we got 2nd at State this year - was very fun and got home around 11:15 that Saturday night and Monday after school Basketball practice started - here we go - on to the next sport just like that!!!

Trapping 2011

2011-11-06T13:48:00.001-08:00

Interesting day today - had a few new things that have never had before - made for a fun day - 1st was this one - Mike had a bucket set that had two coons caught in the same trap!!

2nd he caught a coyote in a snare - was too fun - and it was kinda funny too - the fence on the top was an electric one and it was hot!!!!!!!!!

The coyote got caught - wrapped itself around the fence and then fell off the ledge - well Mike and Marcus both got shocked twice before they got him out - Jamie and I just watched and giggled a little - we didn't offer to help - but they did a great job and didn't wreck the fence at all in the process.

Two guys pretty proud of this one!!!

Jamie loves to help with the muskrats and she always keeps it fun and interesting too

Yep - enough said

Day one was very successful - it is and was extremely windy here today and yesterday and all night long - so many bigger animals than normal on first day.

Annual shopping trip this weekend

2011-10-26T05:35:00.000-07:00

Here are the beautiful ladies that I will be with this weekend on our annual shopping trip to Mpls., MN - this is from 2009 = we almost have it down to a science and we all work well together - we are very good coupon and deal shoppers and love helping each other out and love love that MN is tax-free.

Looks like we did pretty well that year - hope Mpls is ready for us this year !!! 2 more sleeps and here we come!! I think that the pizza delivery guy actually took this picture for us - too funny!!!

Go Red Raiders!!

2011-10-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

Northwestern played Buena Vista on Monday night and beat them 20-6. Marcus had many friends and family at the game - was a beautiful night for football and just love this picture with Grandpa and Grandma Pollema!! Fun times

One week of volleyball left

2011-10-10T05:10:00.000-07:00

#1 is Abby Pollema - #2 is Jamie and #3 is Kortney Pollema

These girls have a rotation that they are all out at the same time and always sit like this since they think it is cute - so yes I had to take a picture - they are also all in the back row on the court at the same time too 1,2,3. The girls haven't lost yet this year and are just having a blast - can't believe that it's almost over already!! They have an away game in Emmetsburg on Tues. and then have a late season tournament in Sioux City at Heelan on next Monday evening and then their season is finished. Awesome job ladies!!

Jamie Marie

2011-09-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

This is Jamie and Josie Kollis - they do bout everything together - well today they went a little too far. Jamie got up this morning at 4am and started to throw up - went to check on her and yep not feeling well at all - running a temp and has the flu. Well, went on the computer this morning and Josie facebooked Jamie at 3am this morning that she was up because she was sick and not going to school so not riding with Jamie. WOW - they even get sick at the same time!! They had a volleyball tournament on Saturday and know of at least 3 of the girls, 3 sisters, a father and the coach that are all sick today.... hope it doesn't last long and not too many more get it!!!

Dove Season Open

2011-09-14T05:14:00.000-07:00

There is a new hunting season this year and it opened up Sept. 1. Mike has been going and is having a great time and doing really well - last night after Jamie's volleyball game he took me!!!!

It is so nice outdoors right now and it's fun to watch them come is from every direction and TRY to shoot them. Yep, I shot 16 or 17 times and didn't get any this time - they are quick little birds and I guess I need some more practice. Mike was very patient with me and we really did have a great time and next time I hope to get one!! One did come down after I shot and when we walked up to it - it flew away - CRAP - I was so excited I thought I got him but Mike thinks that I must have just stunned him - I'll get him next time.

Fun weekend!!!

2011-08-22T17:27:00.001-07:00

Friday night - Western Wolfpack had their first football game of the season(yes before school even started) THey won in double overtime 25-24 against Sx City North - it was SO FUN!!! Saturday Mike and I canned 14 jars of spaghetti sauce, 6 more jars of pickles and made potato salad - cleaned up kitchen and then we went to Alcester steakhouse for supper - was wonderful!!!

Sunday we went to visit Marcus at Northwestern and bring him another truck load from home!! Here are some pics of his dorm room. His bunk is the top one (so proud it was even made!!!) we took him a piece of carpet......

a couch....

hammer and nails so he could hang up his white board...

a better office chair and some chips and salsa to share with his friends!!

We took him out for supper to Quiznos and then headed back home but not before a quick pic with sis....

Can tell Marcus has been outside lots this past week - 3 practices a day and a nice tan and smile on his face..... and then today

Jamie went off to school for the beginning of her sophmore year!!!!

Jamie's birthday present!

2011-08-11T13:57:00.001-07:00

Jamie took golf at Western last year and she golfed with Marcus' clubs - her coach told her she needed longer clubs(she has LLLOOONNNGGG legs) so her dad bought her some for her birthday this year!!

They are long womens clubs and so far she is hitting the ball pretty well - I have a feeling in a year or two she might be beating her mom and dad - for sure her mom that is!!

She had a few people over and they were glad to be on the pictures with her showing off her clubs- FUN TIMES!!

Awesome Garden Day!!

2011-08-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

Mike, Jamie and I went down to the garden early on Saturday morning and then we got busy - we froze sweet corn, made potato salad with fresh potatoes and onions from the garden, then we canned spaghetti sauce with the fresh tomatoes, peppers, and onions and then after dinner.......

We went to the other garden and picked pickles and canned dill pickles and made a cucumber dip for crackers!!! We had an awesome day and everyone helped and it was very rewarding. Fun memories made and we keep learning new things which is always good too!!!

These are sweet pickles that we did last week with the cucumbers - I need to find a good place to store all my jars that are filled if we keep this up!!!

Fun Summer Pics!!

2011-07-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

Last week Thursday morning - July 21st - SUNRISE - It was gorgeous!!

One benefit of getting up at 5:30am in the morning !!!!!!!!!!!!

Then Sunday evening Marcus got a call from Patrick Kooima(his friend since birth)-he passed all his tests a few weeks ago and is now a pilot - asked Marcus if he wanted to go for a plane ride - as Marcus was heading for the door - I threw him the camera

Ready to go!!

This is a picture of the back of our house

Here is the front - if you look really close Mike is standing in front of the open garage door and I am on the front lawn and yes we are waving!!!

Main street Rock Valley is running from left to right on this picture between the elevators

Del and Joy Faber's home

My brother Brad and Kerri's farm - very neat pictures and Marcus had a blast!!

After they landed they came back to our place and more guys showed up - they had their weekly Pizza Dip on Sunday nights and then they all loaded up on the bikes and went to one of their classmates(Tyler Van Kley) to wish him well - he left on Monday morning for Basic Training in the Army and won't be back around until Christmas!! Fun Summer Times - the guys did ask where Jamie was - even though they sometimes kick her out of the basement - she got back from Church Convention at 3am Monday morning - she had a great time as well and was extremely tired when she got home!

Garden is in full bloom!!!

2011-07-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

Mike has been taking awesome care of his gardens - thought I'd just share how they were looking - Zinnias are blooming, then there is lettuce which we are enjoying lots this year, carrots, beans( we are picking tonight when garden gets in the shade) onions, peppers and then......

Mike's tomatoes this year - WOW - they are as tall as the sweet corn and ......

taller then me ( I'm not too good at taking pictures of myself-concentrating so hard didn't even smile-sorry)

Sweet corn and then the potatoes - I am so anxious for the potatoes and to make potatoe salad too - but I will be patient!!

And here is the other garden - the cucumbers, squash, zucchini and popcorn......

Zucchini that I just picked - we are eating lots of vegetables and enjoying them too - He had Kohlrabi in lower garden too but they are finished and were amazing as well!!! Soon we will be busy canning and freezing :)

Away they go again!!

2011-07-15T05:33:00.000-07:00

I think I posted when Marcus and Patrick took their bikes to school one morning when it was not even 30 degrees outside - this is a picture from that morning - well today there is a heat index here and these two plus two others are taking their bikes to Lake Cochran for the weekend(Kooima's have a home on the lake there) They aren't leaving till 7 tonight and it's a two hour ride - they won't need jackets tonight :) It's suppose to be very hot and there is a heat advisory out till next Wednesday here - Summer is in full swing!! This is the first weekend Jamie has no plans - she leaves for church convention in Indiana next Tues till Sunday so we need to pack her and get her ready for that!!! Enjoy your weekend and stay cool!

Picures from our wet cameras!!!!!!

2011-07-04T12:46:00.001-07:00

These first 6 pictures are from Discovery Cove - this one is of a huge sting ray there were many inside the Coral Reef where we were snorkeling - Marcus would dive down and rub their backs - some swam right under us - it took a bit for me to get use to this - yikes!! But Mike and Marcus kept telling my that their stingers were gone but just the thought was enough.

Our kids trying to stay under water for me to get a good picture - it took a couple times!!!

These next few are on the lazy river

Jamie loved to climb on this rock everytime we floated by it

Inside the cave on the lazy river!!

Jamie being Jamie - too funny!!

This picture is from Google.com - this is what a Manatee looks like and these are what was swimming up to us on our Kayaking tour at the Merritt Wildlife Refuge State Park

These were the Manatees at Sea World - they had an exhibit there too.

Here come the pictures from our kayaking trip.......

Jamie and her guide Mike

Me and my guide Marcus

on our way to where the Manatees feed - we saw this jellyfish and

this horseshoe crab

and here they came - this is one of their noses - they loved to be rubbed on their backs and bellies!

Mike is scratching ones back and his tail is out of the water my Marcus

Here Jamie had his nose against their kayak and his tail is right behind Marcus' paddle - some of them were huge!!

This ones tail we got a good look at :)

For some reason they loved the blue kayaks and we were both in the only two blue ones - we had the most interaction with the manatees and there were 9 kayaks on this tour - we were extremely pleased about this and loved every minute of it!

This one wanted us to shake his fin so we did - these were out in the wild but were extremely friendly - just like a puppy they just kept coming back for more scratches!! - This was an awesome experience and if we ever get there again I'm sure one that we would do again!! Awesome find Mike!!!!!

Discovery Cove Pictures!!!

2011-06-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Swimming with the dolphins at Discovery Cove - we all got to kiss them and pose with them for pictures!!

If you hugged them and leaned into them they picked up their tail - makes for cute pictures!!!!

Then we swam to the deep water and the dolphin came and swam us back into shore

Marcus even posed for the picture!!

By the looks of this picture - I think that I might be shrinking-seems I keep getting shorter around here!!!

Just brought away the underwater cameras-so will have more in a few days!!!

More of Florida

2011-06-24T17:41:00.001-07:00

Grasshopper by our house - Marcus wanted to show how big it was - it's really quite large - yuck!!

Mike and Marcus taking off on their fishing trip for 4 hours!!

while Jamie and I sat on the beach at Cocoa Beach - it was hot and gorgeous to be on the beach today and yes we are quite burnt today - even though we reapplied 3-4 times today

Mike and Marcus joined us after they were done fishing - enjoyed cooling off some in the waves - if you can see Marcus is way on the right side in the wave - I was under the umbrella since had enough sun for the day!!!

We walked out on the pier at Cocoa Beach right before we headed back to our house - it was really neat out there as well!

And this was the catch of the day - Marcus caught a Sting Ray and he got to keep the barb from it - their guide cut it out and Marcus just got finished bleaching out the poison and is taking it home - the guide cut it out and let him go again and he said that he would grow another one back - that seems weird to me but cool for Marcus!!!

Last day tomorrow already - wow time flies when your having fun - we are sleeping in and talking bout going back to Sea World - Good Times!!!

Florida - Part 1

2011-06-23T17:41:00.001-07:00

there is a dolphin in this picture - hunting for food - hard to see but he is there

Kids swimming at Canaveral Beach - was an absolutely gorgeous beach - found many shells here too

Marcus feeding the birds at Discovery Cove

Mike-Marcus and Jamie snorkeling at Discovery Cove

Airboat ride on Wed - seen lots of alligators - wow - crazy!!

On airboat!!!!

Shopping at Ron Jon Surf Shop

Sea World on Thurs - AMAZING

CUTE

Mike and Jamie getting along well - :)

Dolphin show at Sea World - more later when we get back !!!!!!!

Now we have 4 vehicles!!

2011-06-14T18:17:00.001-07:00

Jamie is the proud owner of Marcus' car and she is thrilled - she already has girlified it according to her - she now has a pink and blue flowered wheel cover instead of a camo bullet one!!!

It's very nice having a reliable car for her as she has a school permit and I am thrilled not to be stuck with the moped when both need a vehicle!!

Marcus purchased a 2002 Bonneville - it's in great condition - has lots of miles but runs and rides really nice - he is excited as well and gets the garage until he leaves for college and then Jamie gets it back and yes Mike is still stuck outside for now :(

Have lots of smiles here tonight - fun times for the two of them to be busy making it their own vehicles!

He graduated!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-06-04T05:31:00.000-07:00

Yep finally got around to putting the graduation pictures up! Been a little crazy here but all good crazy.

Marcus had many friends and family at graduation and enjoyed being finished with high school and moving on to the next step! Karlie and her mom came for the graduation

These two are quite the pair - Jamie will miss her brother not always being around next year and also not being here body guard at school

Proud dad and mom

grandpa and grandma

My sister Bonnie and niece Alex

and grandma Altena - was so fun to have her here for the long weekend of celebrations and graduation!!

and these three Marcus - Brandalyn Van Zee - Patrick Kooima - have been classmates since Pre-school - always hung out together and still do - today (Saturday) they are all together with probably another 6-8 friends at Patrick's lake home on Lake Cochran for the day - boating and having a great time - they were up and gone by 7am. It is a great blessing to have such wonderful friends, Congrats to them all!!!

Marcus' weekend

2011-05-24T06:44:00.001-07:00

Grandma and Cindy got here on Friday evening - on Saturday as we were getting ready for Marcus' graduation party on Sunday - Marcus took some time and took grandma for a ride on his motorcycle around the neighborhood!!

All set up and ready to go!!

Football quilt grandma Pollema made for Marcus

Pictures before everyone started showing up!!

And opening a few gifts after everyone left - was a very fun-filled day and now tonight is the ceremony!! Way to go - Marcus!!

Marcus has 8 days of high school left!!

2011-05-10T05:06:00.001-07:00

Time flies - been looking through pictures and Marcus is putting some together on his laptop for his graduation party - here is a sneak peek!!

1st birthday

This is a park by Bella Vista - we went to it many times while visiting and I can't remember the name of it - pretty sure it starts with a G - this is Marcus with his cousin Kelsey

Marcus doing Jamie's hair one evening

Decorating cookies with friends - Patrick - Brandalyn - Marcus and Jacob

Marcus' 7th birthday cake

fishing with Grandpa Altena at Roaring River state park

Jacob Faber and Marcus being boys

Survivor fans way back then already

One of Marcus' first trips to Canada - picture is with Dave De Ruyter

First whirlpool bath at new house - lots of bubbles!!!

Harvest time and the big pumpkins!!!

Enjoying visitors from Arkansas

8th grade party

Trapping times - always good family time

Freshman football ..........

Senior football and a girlfriend - TIME FLIES - but all is good - wishing him the best in college!!

Senior Boys and their toys!!

2011-05-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

At 6:30 this morning and only 28 degrees out - Marcus and Patrick took off on their motorcycles to school today - they are soooooooooooo ready for Spring weather - it is now(2pm in afternoon and around 55 degrees) gorgeous out and they will have an awesome ride home - but he did text me when he got to school that it was pretty cold. Oh to be young again!!!

More Senior Serve Pictures

2011-04-28T12:23:00.001-07:00

This was at the after school program - kids loved this and so did the seniors!! Marcus playing ball !!

Patrick Kooima with one of the students

Brandalyn and I think they said this little girls name was Tia - she cried when Brandalyn left :(

Kristin and another student

Marcus and this cutie - he helped teach this one how to pound fists.........

Very cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even got to play some football :-)

This picture is now my desktop background - these next ones are back by that park

Not sure if they were hiding from someone or just resting

And yes mom I asked Marcus if he made it all the way to the top of the amphitheater and he did - I would have definitely been sitting by you front and center :)

Full group before heading home!

Senior Serve 2011

2011-04-25T06:06:00.001-07:00

Here are a few of the pictures from Senior Serve - don't have them all on computer yet - so just the beginning - this group of 12 Seniors and 4 leaders left on Tuesday evening around 6pm and returned last night (Sunday) around midnight. Mike is second from the right in front row with the hat on and Marcus is 3rd from the left in the back row. This picture is in front of Mile High Stadium - home of the Denver Broncos - had some free time one day and went and walked around here.

Also at the stadium

Saturday evening they stayed at this cabin in the mountains - said the view was amazing

This is at an ampi-theater at a huge park surrounded by HUGE rocks - this theater could seat 10,000 people - one side of it....

Marcus running up it

and the other side - I haven't heard yet if he made it to the top running the whole way - both boys are still in bed :)

They had a great trip - little lack of sleep - but fun times - they did a prayer walk, worked at an after school program - Mike has some adorable pictures of this on his phone - hopefully we can get them off there so I can put them up too, worked at a food pantry and also a thrift store - on their day-off they went to the mountains and went snow-boarding and skiing.

Glad to have them back - will post more later - off to work - have a great Monday!!

Prom 2011

2011-04-17T10:35:00.001-07:00

Marcus as he is just ready!!! Friday was Western's prom

Family picture before everyone gets here

The senior boys that were at our house for pictures before prom

and the girls - Karlie - Brandalyn Van Zee and Kristin Den Boer

Guys needed some garage time too - getting warm in the house

The couples that were here - Kristen and Brian Hengeveld - Matt Westra with Brandalyn and then Marcus and Karlie

Getting ready to leave in the pickup(Marcus used Adam Kooistra's truck) it was cold and raining all day here on Friday so no outside pictures

This is at the prom inside Western!!

Then here comes Saturday night in Hinton for Karlie's prom - it was still a bit chilly but at least the sun was out and not raining!!!

Morgan and Karlie - Morgan is her neighbor and also best friend!!

Had to take one with Marcus too!!

Yep - he is loving this now!!!

This was the group of Karlie's friends at Katie's house on the golf course where we took some pictures - don't remember all their names :/

Jamie took a picture of the back of Karlie's dress too - it was beautiful and she looked so nice!

Showing off their garters and legs :)

Hinton had a grand march and this was at that - they were announced to the crowd and then stopped at 4 different spots for people to take pictures and this is the one we were sitting at!! The announcer killed the name Altena - he said something like atna - we got a kick out of that. They had a fun filled weekend and now are sleeping - might take a few days for them to recover from this weekend of not so much sleep.

It's Marathon Prom Weekend!!

2011-04-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

This week Friday - April 15 is Marcus' Prom at Western and then on Saturday - April 16 it's Karlie's Prom at Hinton. SO these two won't be getting much sleep this weekend but will have fun and hopefully will get some sleep on Sunday. Karlie's mom LOVES to take pictures, so this will be another fun thing for Marcus - I'm sure he will be a good sport about it but I'm laughing already!! I'll post some pics of Prom next week!!

Marcus' New purchase

2011-04-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

Marcus bought this bike a few weeks ago - got it home last week with his father and it was in the fifties today and it was out early and went on a few rides today - He took it to Grandma's house last week Sunday to show everyone but it was quite cold yet - today was nice and he enjoyed it much more!!! It is an '08 Yamaha V-Star and only has 1300 miles on it and looks awesome - he bought it from Power Brokers in Sioux Falls.

Jamie was very eager to get a ride today - they just cruised around town - then came back he put his helmet on and went for a longer ride alone!! Fun times!!

State AAU Tournament on Saturday

2011-03-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Jamie played in the state AAU volleyball tournament - their were 15 teams that qualified for the gold tournament in Newton IA (by Des Moines). Jamie played in 8 matches of 2 games a piece - long day but they had a great day!! 1st game she played was against Newton high school - a little later in the day we found out that Aunt Harriet had a granddaughter playing that first game against Jamie - she was playing against her distant cousin and didn't even know it! Aunt Harriet was there and so was Kathy so we visited with them for awhile too which was nice.

After the final game this is Western's two teams that were there and MOC's team got in a big circle and one of Western coaches led them in prayer - was very neat to see - they played FOR HIM and then gave HIM the glory for the great day.

This is Jamie's team - they got 3rd

Both teams from Western!!

Tairin Van Tol - Amber Westra - Josie Kollis and Jamie - great friends of Jamie's

And then pics with her parents!!! MOC got 1st - Western got 2nd and 3rd and Sheldon got 4th. We all drove 4 hours to play and all top 4 teams were from NW Iowa!! Pretty fun and we had a great time - now Jamie is started Golf today - no rest for her I tell ya!!

Pictures from State Basketball

2011-03-22T06:08:00.001-07:00

At this game they had a white out - I crawled through the crowd and took pictures of Marcus and Jamie before the game started but only this game didn't want to embarass them at all the games - This is the Seniors - Marcus has a great group of friends and they get along really well - if you can see it - Mariah the girl in the front way on the left has a 20 oz. pop can in her hair - was quite unique and the guys are sporting headbands with hair that Peoples Bank handed out when tournaments started.

Here is a close up of the hair - Marcus is impressed with the picture as you can tell and Brandalyn is inbetween Marcus and Brandon :)

And the freshmen - hard to get their attention - but I got a few!!! Hard to believe that this year is almost over already.

White-headed Robin!

2011-03-15T05:07:00.000-07:00

Marcus has spotted this Robin lately around our home and last night right after supper - he found him again and quickly got the camera and got a great picture!! He was busy running in our flower bed and by our mailbox - we watched him for the longest time - so fun to see Spring on its way - the weather this week is in the 50's all week - we are almost feeling a bit spoiled!!

PAINTING!!

2011-03-03T09:22:00.000-08:00

We will haved lived here 8 years come this August - the guy that built our home said that routine maintenance on a house is that you should repaint the inside every 5-10 years, to keep moisture in your home and keep the drywall good - well I am repainting!! I started in the office, did the entry, the downstairs bathroom is finished, started the sunroom and the big room downstairs will be finished after today - no big color changes but just warming it up and staying pretty neutral - I am having fun and doing major house cleaning at the same time - good insentive that Marcus is graduating in a few months!!! Well, I better get back to work - next week I hope to do kitchen/family room upstairs and the master bedroom!!

What a weekend!!!

2011-02-20T07:40:00.000-08:00

BIG DAY here yesterday - but a great day - Marcus is now an official Red Raider!! Jamie had a volleyball tournament in Hull at Western yesterday - so she and I took off at 7:15 this morning for that - Mike came around 11 and it was running quite a bit behind, so we had Marcus come to Hull as well since we didn't have time to go back home and get to Orange City by 3. Well Jamie's tournament didn't get over till 2:45 - Mike and Marcus took off at 2:30 (we didn't want to show up late) Coach was visiting with someone else when they arrived so it gave Jamie and myself time to get there as well (thanks coach)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marcus signing and getting the low down on the schedules and times when he is required to be there and moving in date!! August 14

A parent also had to sign - GO Mike - this is head coach with him Kyle Achterhoff

The three football coaches that were there for the event and of course Marcus

and a very proud little sister(and quite a tired one too)

From Norhtwestern in Orange City we went with two vehicles to Sioux Center to go to Dordt's basketball game - Mike and I had some of the players in youth group and have been trying hard to get to a game - we saw a very good game they played Doane and beat them 101 to 71. Well, from there Marcus took Jamie home to shower and Mike took me to Walmart to get a few things and then we had to go back to Hull and get Marcus' car. On the way home from Hull, I made reservations at Cedar Rock Grill in Rock Valley, picked up Marcus and Jamie and went to celebrate Marcus' day with a nice supper - YEAH!

Home by 8 and Brad and Kerri brought Sawyer around 9 to stay with us for a week while they go to Cancun Mexico.

And this is now Sunday..........

We are in the middle of an ice storm - churches are all cancelled for the morning for sure and the storm warning is until 6am tomorrow - so we might be home for the day. Here Mike is trying to save his Swamp Oak - it was really bending lots - he shook the ice off it and put a pole under it to hold it up - hope it works!

and our other trees have branches falling like crazy - this one is a big one and Mike just came and told me we lost another big one too :( As of now he is hoping the wind doesn't come up cuz that would cause a big mess.

Brad and Kerri were suppose to fly out of Sioux Falls at 6 - all planes were grounded - they drove to Omaha - which took them a LONG time cuz the roads were horrible till they got passed Sioux City and then they were in just rain - she just called and they have tickets in their hands to fly out at 11 to Dallas and then from there on to Cancun - so glad all worked out for them and hope they enjoy the sunshine for awhile!!

Special Prayer concern

2011-02-11T13:06:00.000-08:00

Western Christian would like to extend our Christian sympathy to the family and friends of Trisha Wood. Trisha, a junior at Western Christian, was killed Friday morning Feb. 11 on her way to school in a car accident. Trisha is the daughter of Todd and Deanna of Sheldon, Iowa. Please keep the Wood family and the extended Western Christian family in your prayers. Details of the funeral are pending.

This was posted on Western's web page today - very sad day at Western.

Kim's birthday was Sunday Feb. 6!

2011-02-07T05:31:00.000-08:00

Not sure if you all know but Kim is working on a cruise ship sailing around the world - She departed from Germany in November and will be back next May. This is her dream job and she is loving it and having a great time seeing the world. This picture is on magic mountain in Moorea. Yesterday on her birthday she was in Apia/Samoa snorkeling on the beach on her afternoon break. The ship usually ports every day or few days and she has break from 1:30-5:30 every day to go site seeing or just relax. I was at a ballgame the other night(before Christmas) and she called me from Hawaii on her afternoon break - she was just walking along the beach and was in the states so decided to quick call. So happy for this experience she is getting to go on and from this picture - it looks like a gorgeous place! On the ship she is a head waitress in the top 12 rooms on the ship and I'm sure she is extremely good at it.
What a birthday to remember - Happy Birthday Kim!!

Another Snow Day!!!

2011-02-02T05:45:00.000-08:00

No school yesterday because of lots of snow and now today no school again because of blowing snow and extremely cold temperatures!!

Marcus already got called to go work at VIP - hanging parts to be painted - so he is gone and Jamie just got called from Becky to babysit her kids today since they don't have school and she needs to work!!

Time flies!!

2011-02-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

This is Marcus' first day of high school his freshman year - Aug-'07

This is his first day of Senior year - Aug-'10

I have been working on some things for graduation and just can't get over how much he has changed in 4 short years!! He is becoming such an awesome young man and we are very proud of him and all that he has accomplished - he is now 80 lbs heavier than when he started high school and just developing into an individual. As he plans for his next chapter in life we wish him the best as he has some big decisions to make!!

Sledding at Inspiration Hills

2011-01-26T17:20:00.001-08:00

Sunday afternoon Mike, Jamie, and myself bundled up and went to Inspiration Hills to go sledding - they have a nice set up there and are only open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

It was a chilly day but if you dressed for it - it was fine - we actually kept warm from the workout - so all was good !!

Here Jamie is coming down - fast - she had snow pants on but as you can see they are almost capris on her - not quite long enough anymore but they still kept her warm and dry!!

Mike waving as he flies by also!!

This was the nice part - our arms were sore from hanging onto the rope but so nice to be pulled up the hill instead of having to hike it back up everytime!

We had a great time and felt so good to get some fresh air for a change - we will for sure have to do this again sometime soon.

Some ramdom Christmas shots!

2011-01-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

Paco opening his stocking - he was very excited and even more when we opened his treats so he could have one!!

Jamie and her new bedspread

Marcus got a camo sweatshirt at grandpa and grandma Pollema's house

The newest addition to the family - Levi of Dave and Amanda with his proud Aunt Alex

Our annual sibling shot - Becky - me - Bonnie - Barry and Brad

And the annual grandkid shot - seems to get more and more every year - good times and always good to come back home where it is a bit quieter after having all this excitement in one place. Actually the older generation taught the 3-9yr olds a football drill to help them use up some of their energy - I got tired watching them and yes it worked and was quite funny to watch!

Beautiful Smiles!!

2011-01-17T06:40:00.001-08:00

Jamie is braces free - she had them taken off last Monday and is loving it!! I keep looking at her and she gets mad at me but she all of a sudden looks older again. She was mad that I wanted a picture but finally gave in!

One more step that we are finished with - YEAH!! I know it's probably not very interesting to most but was a big deal for us - so just wanted to share!! Hope you all have a great week!

Paperwork Time!!

2011-01-11T11:29:00.000-08:00

At the end of each year comes LONG HOURS of paperwork - found this picture today and thought was quite appropriate!! Although some might beg to differ that I am not too sane most of the time. My stack is getting smaller everyday and for that I am thankful for. Well, back to more paperwork!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-24T05:51:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and the best in 2011!! We woke up to 3 inches of fresh snow this morning - it is very pretty and always fun to have a white Christmas - everyone is home today - we are hanging out and just enjoying the season! So many things to be thankful for - health, awesome family and friends, the list could go on and on. Hope this finds everyone enjoying their weekend with family and friends!! Love ya all and sending a warm holiday hug your way :)

First Big Snow

2010-12-12T05:49:00.000-08:00

This picture is from ICE AGE the movie - we had a Big blizzard yesterday - wind all day long too - and this is how Mike felt after plowing the driveway - it was 30 below wind chill here. Now it's Sunday morning and all activities are cancelled this morning - the wind is calm and the snow is still piled up. But there is traffic moving today - downtown Rock Valley stores didn't even open yesterday - the grocery store closed at 4 - I think that Winter is officially here.

Stay warm and cozy and wish you a very blessed day!

Family Pictures - 2010

2010-11-21T15:07:00.000-08:00

Took some pictures by the bridge between Hudson and Fairview SD - last week - I have been sitting here trying to upload them for the last 45 minutes - gave up on some - will maybe post more later - I have some patience but not that much!!!

Love this picture - didn't even know that she took it

Marcus and mom - tried 6 different times to upload the one with Mike and Marcus - quess the computer can't handle that much good looks in one picture :)

Mike and Jamie looking good and tall!

Jamie and mom - mom is feeling shorter all the time!

Fun times and Paco is checking something out - he did good but was getting sick of it at the end!

Awesome Year Wolfpack!!

2010-11-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

We couldn't be more proud of all you guys!! Awesome year - 9 wins 2 losses

The Wolfpack season is now over - but was so much fun!!

Game two of play-offs tonight!!

2010-11-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

Captains taking the field! - these pictures are from the last home regular season game!

During the BIG win - 41-24 was final score!! Game was against OA - BCIG (Ida Grove)

Seniors walked the field at the end of the game and took pictures with just the seniors!

19 of them in all - AWESOME YEAR GUYS!

Volleyball Tournament Monday Oct.4

2010-10-05T10:42:00.001-07:00

Jamie is yes number 5 and one of the two setters for the team - they played Hartley/Melvin/Sanborn first match and won pretty easily 21-6 and 21-8 I think if I remember right!!

Here she is back setting to the girl behind her - they like to run this play :) and it is fun to watch too!!!!!

Must have been a good bump-set-spike - high 5's all around!

Serving - the second match we played George/Little Rock and beat them 21-4 and 21-4

Got 1st in our pool and then went to championship game against Rock Valley!!

Jamie can jump higher than I can even think about getting off the ground - she had a really nice block in this game!!

Coach Barb giving a pep talk!!

Nice blocking ladies!!

This could be the one she blocked - we won the tournament beat Rock Valley 21-2 and then 21-16 was a very fun night of volleyball!!

Great work Wolfpack and thanks to Joy for coming and taking such nice pictures again!!

Homecoming against Unity

2010-09-30T13:45:00.001-07:00

Here is the first touchdown 3 minutes into the game on Friday night - thanks to Joy and her awesome picture taking you get a play by play!! Here he comes

diving for the endzone

feel sorry for that guy under there

he made it

and quite excited bout it and rightfully so!!!!

Celebrating - Western won this game 38-21 - was a super fun game to watch and lots of action as always - and NO ONE GOT HURT - YEAH!!!!!

Some Football pics!!!!!

2010-09-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

Joy Faber does an awesome job taking pictures every game night - here are some from Friday night's game - This one was at a time-out and yes Marcus is number 20!!

Running off the field

Getting a tackle :)

Here is where he sacked the quarter-back - the next one is him taking the quarterback down - he was pumped after this play!!

Here he is on offense -running the ball

Just liked this picture since their numbers are on their helmets and 10, 20 and 30 were all right there!

Quarterback handing the ball to Marcus

Marcus diving for a first down and yes he made it!!

These next ones are before the game starts - coach pumps them up and they do a little move and run in together

They link arms and move back and forth bout 4 times and then start running - it's pretty cool to watch!

Coach Kooima giving them last minute instructions and just thought it was a neat picture with his hand on Marcus' helmet.

This was during a penalty during the game and deciding with the umpire what they wanted to do.

We are having so much fun with football season and it's going fast already - this week is homecoming against Unity - will also be a good game - kids are having fun with all the extra activities this week.

Opening Duck Season Today!

2010-09-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

Mike and Dave De Ruyter had a successful opening day duck hunting today!! After the exciting win for the Wolfpack football team last night, Mike left for Spirit Lake. Dave and him were up extremely early this morning and had fun shooting some ducks!!

They got their limit - even the dog (Mia) has a coat on today - it only got to be 46 degrees today - quite chilly but good hunting weather!!

Church Retreat 2010

2010-09-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

Our church retreat was this past weekend at Inspiration Hills - we had a great time and here are some of the activities we were involved in! Jamie and Sawyer are having minnow races here - each have a minnow on their side and you have a straw and help blow your minnow over the finish line! Sawyer is winning - I think Jamie's minnow is fighting her :)

They also had many crafts along - here they are making sand crosses with colored sand (Mike's pickup is in the back of this picture and that is the cabin we stayed in - I really should have taken a nicer picture of it b/c they were really nice and the girls loved it) We had 7 freshman girls in our cabin with Mike and I - they had a loft area and they camped out up there which was awesome since they also had their own bathroom up there too!!

Then there was the volleyball tournament(two teams - some dads and sixth grade girls against the freshman girls)

This is the winning team - not by much though - all three games were very close - these are the girls that were in our cabin as well plus Josie she came later!!

And the 2nd place team - they were very competitive as well - even had some grass stains on those white shirts!!

Then in the evening came the dunk tank - that number six is yes Jamie and yes that is her mother up on the tank - and yes she got me in on her first time up to throw - she must have her dad's arm because there is no way I would have hit the target - I got dunked as least 8 to 10- times and it was quite chilly too - but it was to raise money for Feed My Starving Children so it all went to a great cause.

I would just hold myself so tight cuz you never know when they are going to hit it - Mike didn't try to get me in - just gave the girls money to try and enjoyed watching them get me - I think out of the 6 girls that were there at the time - 3 of them dropped me - I gave Jamie a big hug when I was finished.

Was a very fun weekend and the weather was perfect - we had church out there on Sunday morning and then dinner was served to us and then we came home and took naps in the afternoon!!

Football and Volleyball

2010-09-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

Before each game the captions go out on the field and talk together with the umpires for the night - #57 Brian Hengeveld - #2 Jake Granstra - #75 Trevor Van Den Top - #20 Marcus Altena :)

Just a shot during the game

After each game coach takes them and gives them all a talk before they leave - He (Travis Kooima) is a great encourager and really gets the guys excited to play and keep them pumped up during the games - hard to see but he is dead center in the huddle - So far the Wolfpack has won both of their non-conference games - so the record is 2-0 BUT we also have three seniors with broken bones from these two games - we are hoping that that is all for the year and we continue to play well!!

Jamie had her first tournament on Thursday - they came out on top and won all the games and were the champs YEAH - here she is serving!

Here she is setting - Kim took all the pictures - Mike and I decided that maybe we need a different camera - her's take really good pictures and quite clear for action pictures and inside a gym and in the evenings at football.

Happy 62nd Anniversary!!

2010-09-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

September 1, 1948 - was the beginning of a very special relationship and also the beginning of a great family!! Sentner and Ladene were married - what a great looking couple!!

This is February of 2007 - we were all together at Cindy's home

This is March 2009 - we were ALL together celebrating 60 years of marriage - WOW - what a blessing - thanks Mom and Dad for all your love and support and most of all your Christian example. Reminds me of the song "May all who come behind us find us Faithful" by Steve Green - here are the words:

“Find us faithful” -

We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road

And those who've gone before us line the way

Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary

Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses

Let us run the race not only for the prize

But as those who've gone before us

Let us leave to those behind us

The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

CHORUS:

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

May the fire of our devotion light their way

May the footprints that we leave

Lead them to believe

And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone

And our children sift through all we've left behind

May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover

Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

REPEAT CHORUS

IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT GAME TIME!!!!!

2010-08-27T06:19:00.001-07:00

GO WOLFPACK!!!!
Tonight starts Marcus' football season with game night - we play BoydenHull/RockValley in Hull and we are the visitors tonight - we are all super excited and anxious at the same time.

I asked if i could take a picture of him this morning and he let me but also said that this was the only time he was going to smile today - I guess it's time to think about the game and get game face on - so consider yourself priviledged to see his only smile today (until after the game hopefully!!!!) Wish you the best this season number 20 - we will be cheering you on all year!

post number two today :) - first day of school

2010-08-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

Here is Marcus' last, first day of school picture for high school :(

and Jamie's first day of school in high school picture :)

Jamie - Josie and Tairin went on the bus together this morning - look out Western here they come - good luck with these three!!!!

Slip-n-Slide/Salsa Party - Saturday

2010-08-23T09:17:00.001-07:00

Marcus had his gatorade scrimmage on Friday night this week(inter-squad scrimmage for parents) = from there we took home 8 extra freshman girls to spend the night - well 3 of them decided not to sleep at all :) the rest did sleep a few hours - not near enough for me but they were fine - then on Saturday a few more people showed up around 1pm and the games began - SLIP N SLIDE time!! Here they were just getting geared up - Mike is watering the tarp since it was black and it was really hot and humid on Saturday.

Tairin ended up in the tree on this time down - time to move tarp over :)

Kyle Fopma is on his stomach and I think the other one is Mitchell Rozeboom but can't tell from this view

Abby Pollema on the blue floaty - Tairin Van Tol behind her - Erika Douma with big smile and Bethany Van Lingen trying to sit up and slow down in the back

Drew Van Sloten on left and Philip Lammers on the right

Here come the girls again

Oh here we had two of the guys make it to the creek - and when they got there they started to wrestle - they came out full of mud!!

Here is Jeffrey Granstra - glad he is still smiling

These three from left are Amber Westra - Bethany Van Lingen and Josie Kollis - they are the ones that pulled an all-nighter - they are still smiling though - oh to be young again!!

After a few hours of slip-n-slide they came in and showered first and then we started the salsa!! Here Jamie is helping the boys cut up all the peppers and onions

Abby and Tairin were in charge of boiling the tomatoes

and did a fine job too

Mitchell Rozeboom chopping the peppers - I recongnize him from this view :)

This is Jeffrey again - he cleaned up pretty well - no more mud!!

Bethany - Amber and Josie peeling and chopping the tomatoes - we had a super fun day again and did 21 pints of salsa and everyone took some home - we finished between 6 and 7 - after three loads of towels and mopping the kitchen floor - Mike and I sat down around 8:30 and were quite tired - and even Jamie was tired. On Sunday she kept saying "my abs hurt - my abs hurt" - I think the slip-n-slide was a great deal of fun but also a good workout.

Canada Fishing 2010

2010-08-17T06:06:00.001-07:00

The guys flew to Kenora and from there flew into Bear Lake Lodge - hope that plane can hold all that stuff !!!!!

Dave De Ruyter's daughter Emily went along the the first time - she is 9 yrs old and extremly excited.

During the flight - hope there are some fish down there

Caughting them already

This is Ron from Des Moines - Mike fished with him all week - Dave fished with his daughter and Marshall fished with his son

Cabin they all stayed in

Looks like some good eating here

Mike's big walleye - he now tied me - we both caught a 28inch walleye - he knew better than to beat me :)

a picture from the water - they were out on the island all by themselves - was very enjoyable

Relaxing one night - playing cards

Here comes the plane to bring them back home - they had a great trip and we are glad to have them all back!!

Some more Senior pictures

2010-08-13T04:58:00.000-07:00

Some we took the middle of July - and then we buzzed his hair for football and took some more - this one he still had his hair - these are some of the favorites - we took 138 in July and 94 more in August - I am having a hard time picking - Marcus did a great job and they all turned out really well!!

Marcus was helping Sawyer get ready and Shelli snapped a picture - I just love it!!

He is trying to look tuff - and he did - love that you can only see the whites of his eyes

We put Jamie in on a few too!! What a pair!! Very proud of them both!!

One of Bonnie and Steve's good friends have a beautiful waterfall in the back yard - so we went there for some too

Marcus' fan club

Sawyer - Nicholas Kooima - Austin Van Zee - Morgan Kooima and Marcus

And this next one is the TUFF GUYS - Go wolfpack and go 20

I like this one too - Marcus looks good in this Orange shirt - we bought it for after prom and his friend Brandalyn told him he had to wear it for senior pics - she was right!

Marcus and Sawyer

2010-08-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

Marcus took many senior pictures and then some more with all the boys that got his number jersey for football - he scanned this one in the other night and put it as his profile picture on facebook - It is of him and Sawyer his cousin(Brad and Kerri's son) and I love this picture so much - just thought I would share it with you all and hopefully I can scan some more in soon and share some more - still can't believe that he is a senior this year!!??!!??!!??!!

just a few updates!

2010-08-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

Last year on Jamie's birthday Dave Roberts asked Jamie if she wanted to scuba dive for her birthday - this is a guy from town that has all the equipment and is certified to dive - well he was at the pool the other day and asked me if Jamie would like that again - Jamie was standing right next to me and I said you can ask her and he didn't recognize her from last year - he was amazed how much she had grown-up into a young lady - well she said yes and we went scuba diving on Sunday afternoon at the pool and yes Marcus got to go this year also - he thought that was pretty cool.

Jamie remembered it all and took right off - was a good time again!

He even took Jamie and Marcus to the bottom of the deep this year - they enjoyed that too.

Jamie and Josie spent quite a bit of time together - Josie came with us on Sunday and she stayed over night as well - this picture is Monday morning - they went to Western and lifted and worked out from 7-9am and then came home and is was pouring rain outside and they decided to go play in the rain - was fun watching them run around - here Jamie just realized she had on white shorts and they weren't so white anymore :) Not a big deal - I treated them like they were football pants and soaked them for a good hour and then washed them - they look fine again.

This is our parking lot by the garage we got 2 more inches of rain on Monday - the ground is so wet - that it takes awhile for it all to soak in lately - and yes they do say we might get some more rain before the week is up - we might have a chance for another play date :)

Jamie has her permit!!!

2010-07-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

Jamie turned 14 yesterday - YEAH - she has been waiting for this day for a long time - we took her to try for her permit and she missed it my one question(a bit disappointed) but still had a fun day - had volleyball open gym and went out to pizza with dad, mom and 2 of her great friends.

So today we tried again for that permit - lucky little girl got the exact same test and passed with flying colors - so I am no longer in the driver's seat when she is along - I have a permanent spot on the passenger side for the time being and yes she can LEGALLY drive her moped now too which I'm sure she is making plans for tonight already. She played basketball in Sioux Center all day - had a little shootout - they won one and lost two - eating at Subway now and then should be home shortly - it is raining outdoors though so we will see if she ventures out on the moped :)

HAPPY 14th Jamie - enjoy your freedom on the moped!!!!!

Wild Water West

2010-07-26T06:08:00.001-07:00

Jamie and Alissa Pollema on the go-karts!

Here is Marcus

Marcus - Jamie - Alissa Pollema and Katie Pollema went on the go-karts at the same time - next came......

Tairin Van Tol and Abby Pollema

Abby - Tairin - Kelsey and Kortney Pollema

They had a great time on the go-karts - it was an awesome evening - weather was great - wasn't too busy and food was good too.

I didn't take my camera out by the water stuff - but we went on the lazy river, wave pool, fast slides and the tube slides. We had a catered meal of hamburgers, hotdogs, brats, fruit, chips and pop and also recieved a free ice cream voucher when we arrived. Was a good family fun night!! There was also batting cages and some of the employees went and did paint ball - many activities and different things to keep everyone entertained.

And if anyone is wondering yes all 5 Pollema girls are sisters - Katie will be a senior - Abby and Alissa are the twins in Jamie's class - (freshman) and Kortney and Kelsey are also twins and going to be 8th graders. Jamie took Tairin along she is also going to be a freshman.

Western Graduate 2007

2010-07-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

This is a story from the Sioux City Journal - Brandon was a '07 graduate from Western and now attended Dordt - our prayers go out to his family and friends:

Searchers find body of Dordt student in Grand Tetons
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By MATT JOYCE The Associated Press Posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 2:03 pm No Comments Posted
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Brandon Oldenkamp, Sanborn, Iowa, plays basketball for Dordt College.
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Rescue workers found the body of a missing climber Thursday who had fallen from a cliff when a thunderstorm struck his climbing party on an exposed mountainside in Grand Teton National Park, a park spokeswoman said.
Searchers on a helicopter found the body of 21-year-old Brandon Oldenkamp after several hours of searching, park spokeswoman Bobbie Visnovske said. She said Oldenkamp is from Sanborn, Iowa.
Rescue workers are still trying to reach the area he fell and recover Oldenkamp's body. He had fallen at least 1,000 feet in the Wednesday storm.
The cause of death wasn't immediately known, but Visnovske said the helicopter searchers had been able to determine Oldenkamp suffered injuries incompatible with life.
Teams on Wednesday used helicopters to rescue 16 injured climbers in three separate groups from elevations above 13,000 feet on the mountain. The parties were climbing the 13,770-foot Grand Teton mountain and all three reported injuries after severe lightning hit the area at midday Wednesday.
All the climbers suffered injuries from lightning, and those included burns and neurological effects such as numbness, park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs said.
Park officials have not released the other climbers' identities and hometowns.
Suspended from helicopters by rope, rangers plucked the climbers from the mountain and carried them to aid stations at lower elevations. On Wednesday night, the climbers notified emergency officials of a 17th climber who had not been accounted for, Skaggs said.
A helicopter and three park rangers who spent the night in a high-altitude hut at Grand Teton National Park began their search at dawn Thursday for Oldenkamp.
The routes up Grand Teton are challenging and technical climbs that require ropes and climbing skills, said Paul Horton, a manager and former climbing guide at Jackson Hole Mountain Guides.
The best thing to do when a storm with lightning hits is to try to descend, but that can be a slow process on difficult terrain, said Horton, who didn't know the lightning victims.
"It's incredibly, terrifyingly loud," he said. "It's just a flat out terrifying experience."
Short of coming down, climbers may try to move off ridges, insulate themselves by sitting on a pack or move away from weaknesses in the rock that lightning tends to follow.
"But it all feels like whistling in the wind," Horton said. "It just feels like a matter of fate, and depending on where you are, you can try to lessen the odds. But you're facing not just a direct hit, I think that's pretty unusual, but the lighting hits the mountain and then there are ground currents and I think that's what really gets people."
Nine climbers were taken to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, said hospital spokeswoman Karen Connelly.
The hospital discharged three of the patients and transported a fourth to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment of potentially serious injuries. Five others were still in the Jackson hospital Thursday, Connelly said.
"All of the patients that we saw were evaluated and treated for injuries related to lightning strike, and those injuries included minor trauma and burns," Connelly said. "Most of the patients are in fair to good condition."
Connelly said some of the rescued climbers had declined to go to the hospital.
Horton said Jackson Hole Mountain Guides normally starts climbs in the early morning to be able to finish before summer's typical afternoon thunderstorms. Wednesday's storm moved earlier than usual.
"Guided parties I think are extra cautious, but I wouldn't say that anybody was particularly late at all," he said.

This past week's events!!

2010-07-16T06:58:00.001-07:00

This one is a bit older - this is when we rode 25 miles around Okoboji on the last Saturday in June - from back to front is Marcus, Brandalyn Van Zee, Jamie, Hope and Emily De Ruyter.

These next three are of the tractor pull - Extreme Pleasure is a big tractor and they took a lawn mower and made a little model of the big one and they let Sawyer drive it around for awhile - he was pumped and had to put on his extreme pleasure t-shirt before he drove it - was quite cute.

Josie working with Jamie

Jamie's turn to look :) - the food booth took in $14,000 the first night - I'm sure about the same the next - we were busy all night - is fun though.

Marcus had his senior pictures taken on Monday - Jamie snapped a few with our camera - I will get some proofs soon and share with you then

We did inside and out - was fun and only took 2 hours - not bad!!

And then the hair was gone the next day - he is now at Northwestern Football camp until tomorrow and is probably glad his hair is gone since it is quite warm here this week.

He was way excited to go - I texted him this morning and he said he is sore all over - which is good means they are working hard and having a great time - Mike and I are going to go and watch them scrimmage tonight - I'm excited too - should be a great time.

Outlaw Tractor Pull

2010-07-09T05:28:00.001-07:00

The BIG Outlaw Tractor Pull is in Rock Valley this weekend - it is both Friday and Saturday nights and yes we are in charge of the food booths again :)

The fields are ready for the vehicles - the tractors are rolling into town - the food booths are ready - the weather is perfect and should be a good time once again.

It's fun to see all the different tractors and pickups and trucks that pull - but also fun to be soooo busy serving the food that you don't see much of the pull.

We start setting up today at 3 - start serving at 5 - the pull starts at 7 - and hopefully clean up will be finished at midnight and then we do it all again tomorrow. But on Saturday we get served breakfast and dinner at the track by others from town before we need to start working again - it's a fun-filled busy weekend but so neat to see that many people at one place.

Marcus weekend at Lake with Kooima's

2010-07-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

We had a pretty relaxing weekend - Marcus went to the lake with Patrick for the weekend and had an awesome time - he LOVES to wakeboard and did it as often as he could - here are some of the pics they sent me!

He is pretty strong and loves to do some tricks too

He could be showing off a bit here - :) but way more talented than his mother - she couldn't even get up on this board thing called a wakeboard.

Glad he had fun - Jamie spent some time in Inwood at the celebration there with a friend - Mike and I went kayaking down the river and had a great time - it was really nice out and we just enjoyed each others company this weekend = was good and relaxing.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

2010-06-29T05:56:00.001-07:00

These pictures are from Easter 2007 - we celebrated dad's 80th birthday and had a great time with everyone - it's his birthday today and we love him very much and hope his day is enjoyable.

Vanessa's farewell and Mike's Fishing

2010-06-23T06:22:00.000-07:00

Got together with some friends and family in the park on Thurs night to so good-bye to Vanessa - we had pizza first with just the family.

Then played some sand volleyball - girls and Mike against the guys and of course the girls won :)

Then we had some ice cream sandwiches - Vanessa left yesterday and hopes to be home to her family tonight - just this morning she got to Brazil - now has two more flights to get to her family and friends who are waiting there in Victoria.

Mike had a great time fishing too - they went small mouth bass fishing and caught quite a few - this is Dave De Ruyter

This is Marshall Vander Linden and his son Travis (I think they look exactly alike-WOW)

Fun summer times - we are riding the Okoboji Campus ride this Saturday - 25 miles around parts of the lake - it is always the last Saturday in June and we always have a great time - it is suppose to be pretty warm this weekend - so we might have to get an early start and then go swimming later to cool off :)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

2010-06-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's day to some of the best dads that I know :) Some of my favorite pics - this one is Mike with his trappers ready for trapping day - this was the first time Jamie used her waders and she was so proud of them!

This one is from a couple Christmases ago - Dad is always such a fun lover - he couldn't find a chair so just sad down on Dave - no big deal - see all the snow out the back windows - very pretty early evening picture

Evonne and Gerrit spent a day with mom and dad awhile back and took awesome pics - was going through them the other day and just wanted to share - dad looks really good here and mom is busy taking care of him and he loves it.

I have no idea what was so funny but it must have been hilarious!!!

Happy Father's day dad we love you !!!

This one is Mike in Canada in '07 - Mike is fishing this weekend in South Dakota with some guys - hope he has a great time and catches some good eating.

Mall of America Pictures

2010-06-09T05:38:00.000-07:00

I took Jamie, Josie, Vanessa and Brandalyn to the Mall of America on Friday and Saturday first weekend school was out!!!

We got to the mall around 2 on Friday and closed it down at 9:30 that evening - here we are eating at a Villa Pizza (it was where they all wanted to go for supper)-we must have been in need of some good carbs :)

We had a very nice hotel(thanks to Evonne's help) and the girls then closed down the pool :)

The next morning - getting ready to head back to the mall!!!

Everyone got dressed and I couldn't resist a pic since they all had stripes on!!!!

They were finished shopping early today and then bought all day passes to the rides and away they went - here they are just finished on the log ride(I think they were having a great time)

This is a new ride at the mall - it looked like a huge skateboard and went back and forth and the circles they are sitting in went round and round-the girl on the bottom ring and way on the left with her hair straight up and legs straight out is Jamie - we stayed at the mall till 6pm and then headed home again - we had a super time and it was just a very fun weekend!!

Graduation 2010

2010-05-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

Kayla Hoogendoorn - Abby Pollema and Jamie getting ready for pictures

Abby - Tairin - Josie - Alissa and Jamie -- what a good looking bunch!!!!!!

Pictures from after the ceremony - proud Grandpa and Grandma

Teri Bretey and her girls came from Le Mars and surprised Jamie(very sweet)

Brandalyn Van Zee and Jamie

Amanda Dykstra (Jamie's cousin and teacher)

The whole gang - was a great evening and we are very excited for Jamie and Marcus to have a year in high school together!

Graduation chapel and open house

2010-05-25T05:09:00.000-07:00

This was at chapel on Friday - This is the banner and Jamie's closest friends - Josie Kollis, Alissa Pollema, Jamie, Tairin Van Tol, and Abby Pollema

These students achieved the Presidential Academic Award - they had a GPA of B+ or higher in grades 6-7-8 Jamie is way on the right side.

This is her cake we served at her open house on Sunday - this is their theme verse for graduation.

Love this picture - Jamie - Brandalyn Van Zee - Vanessa - Austin Van Zee and Marcus. The Van Zee's have been our friends forever and our kids get along really well. I am actually taking Brandalyn, Vanessa, Jamie and her friend Josie Kollis to the Mall of America on Friday and Saturday. Girls weekend :) Vanessa is SOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED - this is her request before she goes home on June 22nd.

Josie had her party also on Sunday - we went there right after Jamie's - they are going to have fun in high school together!!! Congrats young ladies!!

May 19th - WOW

2010-05-19T04:58:00.001-07:00

Just another Prom picture - these three have the same ties - just in different colors

Jacob Granstra - Marcus and Brandon Van't Hul

Well - just yesterday is seemed like May 1st - time is speeding lately here!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Monday - we had the Dordt track meet for Jamie - I am staining some windows in Sx Center this week - so left at 9am did windows - track started at noon(same time we finished with windows :)) - then Jamie had a volleyball party with moms in Hull got home at 10

Tues - did windows in morning - quick Walmart run - got gray roots taken care of - thanks Kerri - then went to our last Jog-a-thon as school - set up at 2 - clean-up finished about 9

Today and tomorrow- windows and then hopefully start cleaning up around home since haven't been here much lately

Friday - finish up windows in Sx Center - then we are helping with the 8th grade party at the campground in the evening - so going to set that up at noon and the 8th graders have their farewell chapel at 2:30 - Mike and I will be asked to stand since it's our last child at the grade school :0

Saturday - back to Sx center to pick up Jamie's cake for her graduation party here on Sunday and we have 4 graduation parties to go to (I love cake)

Sunday - party for Jamie here and have two other parties to hit this day also (more cake)

I think I might have to start walking twice a day for awhile since we will be eating lots of cake in the next week!!

Marcus in track

2010-05-12T05:26:00.000-07:00

This is Marcus at the Sibley/Ocheydan meet throwing shot put - he did really well throwing this day - got his best throw for the year in Discus and did well in shot put as well!

Track is over this week and he had a good time but keeps talking bout football - last night he said football never ended for him and he can't wait for the season to start - we are really excited for him as football will be here before we know it.

Went to his track meet in Le Mars last night and I felt like I was at a football game (long johns, under armor, winter coat, two blankets, etc.etc.etc.) it was 45 degrees outside - he thought it was perfect for running :)

Prom 2010

2010-04-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

Marcus - Alex (Steve and Bonnie) - Jesse (Barry and Patty) - and Vanessa

4 grandkids with Grandpa and Grandma

Marcus and Brandalyn Van Zee - they have been friends since birth and are still the best of friends - Brandalyn has a boyfriend and went with him but stopped over to take a few pictures with Marcus

Yes Marcus does look alot like his father

All the Guys!!! Very handsome bunch!!

Our beautiful family

Marcus asked a friend from church if he could take his truck and he got too - here they are ready to go!!

Be good !!!!! Fun times!!!

Dresses are purchases!!

2010-04-15T20:50:00.001-07:00

Vanessa has her prom dress and prom is April 23 for her and for Marcus - yes his tux is rented :) and Jamie has her graduation dress - which is May 27 - can't believe that we only have one month left of grade school - WOW

It will be fun and yes I will try take lots of pics :)

Senior Serve Jackson, MS 2010

2010-04-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

Here was our group of 19 - 15 teenagers and 4 adults - ready to take off at 5pm on March 30!! We arrived safely at 11am on Wed. morning and went right to work in the afternoon. The teenagers slept pretty well on the way - the 4 adults took turns driving :)

We worked at the John Perkins Foundation in Jackson, MS.
We did mostly outside work which was awesome since it was 80 degrees and sunny the whole time!! Here we are finishing up a foundation that was started

We cleaned up around all the fences and houses too!!

After the foundation was completed we cleaned up the parking lot

We had devotions every morning with John Perkins!!

These guys were getting tired so Mike offered them a ride - it was quite the load

On Saturday we had a day away and went to the Ross Barnett Reservior and rented two pontoon boats and enjoyed the whole day on the water - was gorgeous!!

We went to the Voice of Calvary Ministries on Easter morning and worshipped there - was really neat - we have a sermon on 1. having an attitude of love - 2.being an extension of His love and presence - 3. showing an expression of His power and person. Was very fitting for our trip and he ended the service saying "Our purpose is to Glorify God ALWAYS"

After the service I couldn't resist holding this little doll - Mike seen me heading in her direction and immediately said "I know exactly where you are going and what you are going to do" and yes he was right - I could have so taken her home.

Was a super trip - we left on Sunday after church around 10:30am and returned safely at 4:30am Monday morning - Mike and I are still a bit tired but all is well - we can tell we aren't 18 anymore and yes we do need our rest!!!

Marcus' pig story

2010-03-29T05:37:00.001-07:00

We had a pretty busy week last week - but one thing I forgot to mention about last week was Marcus' drive to school on Tuesday morning!!

Marcus left as always around 6:45 to go lift weights - about 5 minutes after he left I got a call from him - "Mom, I hit a pig" My response was "YOU HIT A WHAT!" Marcus was a mile out of town and there was a farm place loading out hogs that morning - well one got out and Marcus found him for them - He was meeting many cars and it was dark out - when he met the last car all of a sudden there was a fat hog on the road and he tried to miss him but hit him with his right front end of his car. The hog went rolling into the ditch(Dead pig) and no one was hurt except the car has some damage to the front!! I called Mike and he had the same response I did "HE HIT A WHAT!" It's actually one of Marcus' friends place and they are being really good about it - Marcus' car will be fixed this week.

We wish everyone a very blessed Easter week - maybe we should have some pork chops this week :)

Good Day Fishing!!

2010-03-20T19:01:00.001-07:00

Mike went fishing today in Yankton below the dam and they snagged some BIG fish - Dave De Ruyter is in this picture with a big carp!!

This is Nate Van Kley and Dave with a Paddlefish!

Dave caught this one

And Mike caught this BIG ONE - they had an awesome day and lots of fun - no walleye today but good times fighting these big boys!!

They didn't even break any poles?!?!?!?!?!?!

GOOD TIMES!

State BB 2010 - Des Moines

2010-03-17T10:55:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pictures I took at state - this game on Thurs - was a rainbow theme - Seniors wore blue - Junior green - Sophmores yellow and Freshman red - here are a bunch of Juniors that Marcus hangs out with quite a bit!!

This is Marcie Kooima - I work with her everyday and go to Des Moines and she is there too - looks really good though with no paint on her!!!

Here is Jamie and her friends with two cheerleaders - the outside ones are cheerleaders - Chelsea on the left and my niece Alex on the right

Mike teaching the girls to play blackjack at the hotel!!

Marcus taking a swim!!

Wasting time at the mall playing mini-golf till game time on Friday !!

WESTERN WON 2A state championship -YEAH!!!

Bridges Bay 2010

2010-03-09T20:00:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures from last weekend with the Pollema's at Bridges Bay in Okoboji - we spent most of the time by the water park - was tons of fun and good to forget about the snow and cold for just a little while :)

Bonnie with her grandbaby - Kaylee

relaxing by the hot tub - Dad - Mike - Marcus

Great-grandma with Kaylee

The two babies - Brendan and Kaylee - they will both be one this month - WOOHOO

We celebrated Sawyer's 7th birthday while we were there - he turns 7 on March 10 - he was excited to celebrate in the hotel room!!

Grandpa and Grandma with the babies on the lazy river - was HUGE to get mom in the water - she doesn't like water and then we had her in a tube too!

This is how we got that accomplished - we had reinforcement on all sides of the tube :)

Just another part of the pool - they could play basketball and cross over the lilly pads - they had a huge part for the babies too - but I didn't get a picture of that

Vanessa coming down one for the big slides

Jamie and Alex - they are growing up so much!!

Then on the way home on Sunday - we took Vanessa to walk on the water - they are standing on the lake but can't even tell since there is so much snow on the ice yet - we had to kick lots of snow away to get to see the ice - was fun-filled weekend!!

On to state basketball!!!

2010-03-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

These are pictures from state basketball 2009 - well Western made it again and we are planning on going next weekend if they win on Monday.
Marcus is going on Monday with his friends and one of their fathers - if they win we play again on Thursday at 2 - win or lose on Thur. we play on Friday either consilation or championship.
Marcus is going to stay with friends in a room at the same hotel we are at(we need to watch them a little yet :))))

Mike and I get to chaperone these three cuties on Thurs and Friday. We play at 8pm on Monday the 8th and then hopefully we will have a fun, filled weekend in Des Moines after that. These girls have school all week - so we are staying home on Monday so they don't have to miss quite as much school(which they weren't too concerned about but it's better this way) They have the next four years to come yet and with Western's track record - I'm sure they will get their chance of going again!!

Vanessa's Birthday Today!

2010-02-22T16:25:00.001-08:00

It's Vanessa's Birthday Today(Monday) but we celebrated yesterday with family and friends!

This is before church - we took the cake to Grandpa and Grandma's house for lunch after church

Sawyer took a picture with Vanessa

She got a John Deere sweatshirt from grandpa and grandma

Here is the gang - we did a number on the cake - was very good - Vanessa leaves for Hawaii on Wednesday for her YFU trip - so her cake was a Hawaiin theme - she is very excited and is looking very forward to being WARM again!!!

Winter Festival at school!

2010-02-19T12:36:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the Winter Festival at Rock Valley Christian School. Since I am an eighth grade mom we get to help with serving the supper - It's seems like just yesterday that Marcus was starting Kindergarten there and now Jamie will be graduating in a few months and we will no longer have any children going there WOW - time flies - we have had many last this year - last time for chapel at the beginning of the year - last time I needed to help with Pie day and Jog-a-thon - last time for helping with the Winter Festival - but with all the last there will be many firsts as well - just the next step for us on our journey.

Snowman Day!

2010-02-10T09:54:00.001-08:00

We decided Sunday afternoon that everyone needed to help make a snowman - so we all got dressed for the weather and headed out!

He turned out to be really cute and one thing lead to another and the fun began!!!

First a snowball fight and then Mike tackled Marcus and yeah you see what happened!

Well, Marcus couldn't let that be the end - so it continued!

I sure was glad I had the camera - we all had a great time and got some much needed fresh air!

Sorry it's been awhile!

2010-02-06T05:43:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-25T06:02:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-24T08:36:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-08T04:40:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-06T14:50:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-29T13:32:00.001-08:00

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.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

2009-12-25T09:34:00.001-08:00

We woke up to a very White Christmas this morning - church was cancelled last night already - so we slept in and then Mike and Marcus started to scoop us out.

The snow blower is working good this year and getting lots of use :)

We opened presents last night - funny story - Mike's shaver has not been working well for quite some time - I bought him one for Christmas a month ago and had it under the tree - well two weeks ago he started to grow some facial hair and when he opened his gift he thought I was hinting to him that he needed to shave :) It has pretty funny and I do like his face with or without hair - was not a hint just a needed gift!!!

These are the gifts that the kids recieved from Grandpa and Grandma Altena and they were thrilled - Marcus showing off his new hat and shirt

Vanessa showing off her two IA Shirts - the green one and the hot pink!!

Jamie showing off her IA shorts and her shirt is behind her!

Posing for the camera

Three great kids in their Iowa apparel - we had a very nice evening and are enjoying hanging out this morning - waiting to hear if my brothers are going to make it to town today - it's still snowing now and the wind is suppose to come up later too!

Winter Wonderland!

2009-12-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

These pictures are from a couple of years ago - we will see what we get this week and see if we can match or top them!!

It's suppose to start snowing Wed. evening and last through Friday - predicting around 20 inches for NW Iowa - Kids are excited hopefully we can do some sledding and fort building!! Marcus is leaving on Monday for Terry Peak in South Dakota to do some snowboarding with friends - should be a great break from school for them and lots of fun outdoors time!!

May you all have a very blessed Christmas!!