Bond's 4th Birthday!

It was Bond's 4th birthday yesterday, so we helped him celebrate by going to Pella to Happy Joe's. The kids all had a great time and loved helping spoil Bond on his special day. Happy birthday Bondozer! We love you!!

100th Day at School for Beau

OES celebrated their 100th Day at school this week. Beau really wanted a Super Mario 100 Day shirt. Thankfully Daddy is creative enough on the computer to print out and laminate the backgrounds for Mario and then I glued on Bingo chips to make "100 coins" for the game. Overall, I'd say we did a pretty good job. Especially since I am challenged in the craft department :)

Banx's Dance and Cheer

It is so much fun to go to Banx's dance recitals and to watch her cheer now at basketball games. She has the best smile and expressions EVER and puts her whole heart into it. You go girl!

Beau's Upward Bound Basketball Season

Beau is doing basketball this year through the Nazarene church's group, Upward Bound. To say that he is loving basketball is an understatement. I have never seem him so excited to WANT to practice or want to play it all of the time. He asks Joe and I weekly to go to the YMCA to practice dribbling and shooting. He is doing so good! During the games so far, he is making sure he dribbles, and turns around to dribble backwards to make his way to the hoop, pivots, and shoots! I am so proud of him and just love that HE LOVES the game right now. I know that can change, and I know he might not be the best, but to see his smile makes it better than anything else!

Happy birthday, Clint and Caleb!

For the twins' birthday we went out in Des Moines to celebrate. It was the most fun we have all had together in such a long time. It was a much needed night out for all of us. I don't know of that many cousins that are so close as us, and I love that about our family. We are all best friends. And I wouldn't want it any other way :)

Piper Collins: 11 Months Old

Piper Collins, you are 11 months old. One more month left of you being a baby! It just can't be so :( You are still the best baby ever. And sleeping on average 13 hours a night! Thank you for that!!

At 11 Months:
-Favorite food is green beans out of a can :)
-starting to use a sippy cup!
-wearing 12-18 month clothes and size 5 shoes...big foot!
-weighing 22ish pounds but you are incredibly tall!
-FINALLY getting more hair :) and it is blonde like your mamma's
-your eyes are getting darker brown every day
-taking a few steps!
-love to play with your red kitchen set
-YOU EAT NON-STOP
-love to shake your head "no"
-signs for "more"
-says Mama and Dada

Ashley Visits!

My old college friend and London roommate, Ashley Snyder "Georgia", flew to  Iowa over Christmas break to visit. It was the first time I had seen her in almost 7 years! I was so excite to see her, and for her to meet my children. We seemed to pick up right where we left off in college and it almost felt like no time had passed at all. Now we both agreed we can't let it be 7 years again before we see one another. 

Just like the old college days, Georgia hasn't changed much :) At the bar, took a full Moscow mule, a sign out of the bathroom, and the bar owner's birthday balloons. Don't worry, I returned the cup the next day :) Some things never change!