Today we left for a long weekend family vacation – something we have not done in a long time (with just our immediate family.) A friend of ours (Shecklet #3’s godfather) lives in St. Louis and we haven’t seen him in 4 1/2 years. The timing finally worked for us to make a trip down to see him. We decided to make a stop in Iowa City overnight so the kids could swim and visit the children’s museum tomorrow. We’re all looking forward to getting out of town and having some fun!
Jake’s employer planned a company outing and employees were allowed to bring a +1. We had 7th row seats right to the left of home plate and watched the home team win by more than 10 runs. It was a fun night out!
My sweet, sweet girl –
Wow! Five years have gone by so fast! I can’t believe how you continue to grow! Your love of Jesus, others and yourself truly does bring JOY to all of us! Your dad and I pray that you keep that spark about you that draws others to you. We love to see you extend a friendly hand to new faces, try new things, play, experiment, cook, swim, scooter (with your unicorn helmet, of course!) learn, write and be the wonderful young girl you are! We love you so much and can’t wait to see all that you do as a 5 year old!
XOXO
Mom
Friends of ours (Shecklet #4’s godmother and her kids) are in town visiting this week. We were able to spend several hours with them yesterday afternoon as well as today. Since Minnesota refuses to give up winter, we ruled out a park gathering and instead opted for the zoo. We scurried from building to building to see all of the animals and then ended up in the conservatory, where things were quite tropical.
Back in early October, Jake agreed to do a 10-week fitness challenge with a friend of ours at Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping. In addition to increasing his sit-ups, push-ups and endurance, he has become friends with a fun group of people.
I’m so proud of him for sticking it out through the entire 10-week challenge (even after missing a week due to being sick.) He’s continuing with the program and I can’t wait to see how the coming weeks and months go for him.
Twenty-some years ago, when my family made the move from Iowa to Minnesota, my mom was faced with packing up two houses – our house and the house of Sammy, a lovely lady who was a grandma to Tony and me (though we called her “Aunt Sammy.”) Growing up we spent hours upon hours with her – at her home, out on shopping trips, even overnight adventures – like one to DeSmit, SD, to see a pageant about Laura Ingalls Wilder. In her home, she had a chair that Tony and I would fight over take turns sitting in. When it came time to move the furniture from her house, I mentioned how I wanted to keep the chair. At the time, there wasn’t a place for my family to store it safely (it was Sammy’s dad’s chair, so quite old.) My mom’s friend, Marilyn, came to the rescue and unbeknownst to me, offered to store the chair until we were ready for it. Fast forward 4 years, and the chair made its way up to Minnesota…surprising both my brother and me that it was still around.
It sat in my parents’ home (with a slip cover and later in storage again) for another 19 years until finally, this fall, we had it reupholstered. Here is the chair before:
And here is the chair after. Drum roll please…..
Can you believe that is the same chair?! (The ottoman was part of the original pair.) I am beyond thrilled to have this piece of furniture (full of so many wonderful childhood memories) in our home. Many, many thanks to our family friend, Marilyn and my parents for keeping it safe for so many years!
My sweet friend, Jess, watched my girls this morning while I had two cavities filled. She texted me this photo of them playing outside. When I sent it along to Jake, he questioned the color of the helmet that Shecklet #4 was wearing, saying the colors were not correct. 🙂
Shecklet #3’s birthday party took place a few days after her “official” birthday. She requested a tornado cake and wanted to go bowling (like her older brothers had done.) She had also been asking for a Barbie house for quite some time. Jake and I talked and thought it would be a fun surprise to pass along the house that my parents gave to me when I was a little girl – complete with furniture & accessories. (My were kind enough to dig it out, dust it off and decorate it for the big surprise.) The look on her face when we presented her with the house was absolutely priceless. She gave me a huge hug, which was the sweetest response I could have asked for. It brought a smile to not only me, but my parents as well. I am sure she has hours of make-believe play time in store!
Many moons ago, (enough to total 40 years,) two twenty-somethings started their life together as husband and wife. Together, they made a wonderful, loving home in which they raised their two children.
Today, 40 years later, their family has grow five-fold.
Mom & Dad – today we celebrate the commitment you made to one another back on September 7, 1974, and have lived out every day since then. Thank you for saying “I Do!”
We love you!
