Fun in the snow!

Last weekend - the kids were stuck in the house for three days in a row - because of blowing snow and cold- cold temps. By day three they were ready for a change so they bundled up and headed outdoors - as you can see you can't even see their faces - but they were determined and had a great time together - they really do have quite a bond - even though they would be embarassed if they knew I was writing that right now - I was taking these pictures from our bedroom window - I wasn't quite as crazy as they were!(at least not at this moment)

Gotta love IOWA!!

WHY I LOVE IOWA

AT

CHRISTMAS TIME

When it's Christmas time in Iowa,

And the gentle breezes blow,

About seventy miles an hour

And it's fifty-two below.

You can tell you're in Iowa

'Cause the snow's up to your butt,

And you take a breath of Christmas air

And your nose holes both freeze shut.

The weather here is wonderful,

So I guess I'll hang around,

I could NEVER leave Iowa.

My feet are frozen to the ground.

NW Iowa Blizzard!

This is what we woke up to this morning - we also had this much snow yesterday and school was cancelled - snow day number 1 this year.

On the news last night so far in Dec. this year is in second place of most snowfall ever, and if this keeps up we might just break the record :))))

I took Paco for a walk he loves to walk everyday - it really wasn't too bad - just alot of extra work with boots and snow pants on - good workout for me which is good too!!!

Mike and Marcus just started to move the snow for the first time today I have a feeling it might be a couple of times today - the wind is suppose to pick up at noon and blow hard till noon tomorrow and since there is sooooo much snow we might get some big drifts.

All activities for today have been cancelled already too - we were suppose to have a Christmas party with the Rens' tonight in Sioux Center and Western was suppose to have a basketball game and Jamie was suppose to have a Basketball tournament - might just be a soup and movie day at home.

Arctic Cold!!

It is brutually cold here this morning - we had church yesterday morning and it was cold and breezy and expecting 2-4 inches of snow with the high winds - so they cancelled church for the evening in the morning already. Also before we went to bed we already knew that school was 2 hours late this morning - we really didn't get that much snow - it's just the windchill is 25-30 degrees below zero. The wind is suppose to let up around 4 this afternoon and then tomorrow we are expecting to get a little more snow and it will be a very cold week here. But we are all nice and warm inside and doing well - have a great week!

Christmas Poem

We recieved a Christmas picture and poem today from John and Darlene Van Holland. Darlene loves to write poems and I would love to share her Christmas poem with you all.

As you grow older, you really will see,
How quickly time passes and you need to be:

Thankful each day as the dawn starts to break,
That you are alive, alert and awake.

The white snow is falling, the seasons they change,
And God in His wisdom never fails to arrange-

A time to be quiet or singing for JOY,
A time for retirement or a time you're employed.

The season may crunch you, your funds they are low,
But thank God for the Savior He sent here below.

There is food on your table, roof over your head,
And no one I write is without a bed.

We are thankful for friends and family as well,
If it is cold where you live or in the sunshine you dwell;

May God Bless you this Season; with His arms hold you tight,
If you are lonely or fearful at night;

We care and really wish you the best,
A Joyful Christmas and A New Year that's blest.

Love, John and Darlene Van Holland

Successful Deer Hunt!!

Patrick and Marcus with the deer stand in background that they hunted out of!

Patrick's deer on left and Marcus' on right!! - Great job guys!

During the hunt in the deer stand.

Marcus had a 115 yard shot and nailed him and Patrick had a 140 yard shot and also nailed it!

Took a few pictures today also - Jamie got in on the deal.(The stand that they shot the deer out of is in the backgroud.)

The proud fathers with their boys (which aren't really boys anymore - I should say young men)