Just wanted to share

Our little tree in front of our house is full of blooms right now - and I couldn't resist taking a picture. With the wind lately it probably won't last long - but it is gorgeous right now.

Adjustments

School is out - and it seems to always be an adjustment peroid for them that first week. We have to figure out chores and where we need to be and how we are getting there. But the good thing is that it seems to be getting easier all the time. Marcus starts work already on Tuesday and Jamie has a basketball camp all week in the mornings. They are becoming more independent all the time and seem to be loving that as well. We will need to have more food in the house all of a sudden but Jamie is a big help there too already.
Marcus is planning a big bond fire with 20 of his classmates next Friday evening - they are having a hot dog roast and hope to do the slip-n-slide if weather permits - so he is pretty excited about that as well. He went along with Patrick Kooima to his lake house at Lake Cochan for the holiday weekend.
Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.

Busy/Awesome Week

Monday - Mike golf league and Marcus mowed 4 hours for Brad and Kerri
Tuesday - Jog-a-thon on RVCS fundraiser for Jamie's school
Wednesday- Dordt Track Meet all afternoon and Marcus had spring vocal concert at night (beautiful concert)


6th in softball throw

4th in sack relay race

ran in the 200 meter dash

Thursday- watched the finches eat and Mike sprayed the lawn for weeds

Friday- Mike came home at noon and we planted both gardens....

then started to cut down 4 trees

#1 went quite well

#2 needed a little help

but fell the right way!!!! YEAH

Saturday- cleaned up 2nd tree and cut down 2 more

Saturday projects number 2,3,4 and 5 (turned on the sprinkler system) all got completed this weekend - it was gorgeous outside in the 70's and we had fun working outdoors again.

Mike and I went to a graduation party tonight of his co-worker's daughter - we have 3 to go to tomorrow - 1 on Monday - 1 on Wed. and 1 on Thurs. We are popular this year since we are CREW leaders at church but that is good - great kids and glad they want us to come and I get out of cooking all WEEK - what a deal - and get cake - spoiled rotten I tell ya.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Mike and I wish two of the most special people in the world a very happy mother's day today - we have the priviledge of calling you mom and just want to say thanks for all your love, support, and guidance over the years. You are with us always!! Also, to all the moms - have a great day and enjoy your children - what a wonderful job we have and one job that is never over - it truly is a blessing to be a mom. Love you all!!!!!!!

MARCUS' CAR

Hey, this is marcus I just recently bought a car. It is a 2000, silver pontiac grand prix. It is a four door. It gets close to 30 miles to the gallon. This car has a 3800 v6 engine in it. My little cousin, Sawyer, wantd to see it when I got home. I showed him the car and in it you can get to the trunk from the back seat. he thought that was pretty sweet. I took some of my friends to school and they said that thay were jealous. they also said that I am spoiled but, I guess that is ok. I just thought you would like to know. Have a great day.

After the storm!

This is the farm place right to the east of Brad and Kerri's farm - they got hit the hardest. They ended up boarding up the windows in the house for the time being.

There were 3 sheds ( one machine shed, one truck shed and one commodity shed ) that were scattered through the trees and the fields.

This is the creek in Brad's field!!

Brad's field

These are pictures from Bonnie - I will have to mention to her that her date is wrong on her camera :) It was 5/1/08

Tornado Pictures - during the storm!!

I have more pictures coming of after the storm - stay tuned!!!! The Netherlands high school left out all the students today and they helped with clean up all day - the place by Brad and Kerri's was all cleaned up by 2pm - raked the grove and everything - people were awesome and more places tomorrow that people have lined up to go already and the word is out to come and help - neat to live in a very caring community - good to see them all come together in good and bad times.

Rock Valley is on the map this morning

We had a tornado come through Rock Valley last night - everyone is fine but did lots of damage on some places. My sister Becky lost a building on her farm and the swing set is all twisted up. Some of her neighbors had quite a bit of damage - 2 buildings of hog finishers by one place is gone - then it came right toward our house (very scary ) and at the last minute it took off toward the west - our neighbor a mile away had his machine shed taken - its gone!! then it hit 3 businesses - C & J Construction, Midwest Pro Manufacturing and Dairy place. Everyone lost power for awhile since there was 1/2 miles with lines down. Then it headed for Brad and Kerri's - their neighbor got hit the worst - he ran a livestock trucking business - all three of his buildings are down - livestock pots lifted and laid on the road - one of their corn bins is spread out in Brad's field and tin all twisted up in the trees - windows blown out of the house but the house is still standing. One of those things you think you only ever see on TV - was right here. Mike is still gone to Connecticut he is on his way home today - Jamie was really scared and Marcus was excited and taking pictures with his phone - everyone deals with these situations differently. I'm just very thankful everyone is OK and damages were to fictures and not lives. Much to be thankful for again and God is good. Kerri was on the news since she videod the whole thing from her porch - hopefully I can get some of her pictures to share with you soon.