more sledding pics

Snow Day Fun!

On our second snow day of the week we dug ourselves out of the house to join our dear friends The Hadley's for a sledding day in their backyard. We had an absolute blast sledding and spending time with friends!!! What I learned from today: MY FAMILY NEEDS SNOW PANTS!!! Wet jeans are NO FUN!!! It was totally worth the numb toes, and wet clothes though. (sorry the pics are so small)

Kari's Daybook

I got this idea from my friend Crystal and wanted to share my day book with you all.




Outside my window~ 3 acres of land that I love...

I am thinking~ That I need to open my Bible and read some while Jameson is napping.

I am thankful for~ Jesus, my husband, and my boys

From the learning rooms~ I am learning to sew, learning to put others before myself, learning to be patient and kind every day.


From the kitchen~ is cleaned...I swept floors, mopped and the dishes are in the dishwasher.

I am wearing~ my work out clothes still...Jameson wasn't very cooperative this morning so I didn't even break a sweat!!!

I am creating~ my children's scrapbooks and cards to share with others.

I am going~ to make time for the Lord each day.

I am reading~ The Bible cover to cover.

I am hoping~ for a home of our own one day soon.

I am hearing~ silence which is wonderful.

Around the house~ laundry to be done, clothes to be put away, and carpets to be vacuumed.

One of my favorite things~ my husband!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week~
*cooking homecooked meals for my family
*buying fabric to make a room divider for Jaden's room.
*keep de-cluttering my home.
*Ladies Bible Study

Iowa Family Pics.

My family
Grandkids and Great Grandkids
My Grandparents
The whole group!
As I posted before, we traveled to Iowa for Christmas 2 weekends ago and got a whole group photo done. This was the first time in about 3 years that we were ALL together.

Klondike Derby

The Cub Scout Pack meeting for January was the Klondike Derby. Each Den was a town and they had to complete a challenge using team work and travel from town to town getting their passports signed off on. Jaden's town taught the boy's about recycling and Jakob's town was called Code Town. They had to figure out the code and complete the challenge which was folding the flag. It was a lot of fun and interesting to watch the leaders emerge when trying to complete the task. Some of the other towns taught first aid and tying knots.

Pinewood Derby

Jakob's car crossing the finish line in first!





Jaden's Lightning McQueen car crossing the finish line.

Daddy taking some weight off their cars so that they don't get DQ'ed! :)


This past weekend Jakob and Jaden raced their cars in the Pinewood Derby. Their cars did very well and it was very exciting to see them cross the finish line. Jakob and Jaden's car's both averaged about 215 mph which was in the middle of the pack. The fastest car went 230 mph if you can believe that!!! It was crazy. Daddy is already trying to figure out what to do different this next year!

Learning something new everyday!

We sure do learn something new everyday in this house. Today Jameson is learning that it isn't always wise to repeat the things that he hears his brothers saying to each other to mommy and daddy!

Jameson: Can I have a sucker? (Asking for about the 16th time)

Mommy: No, Jameson we are going to have supper really soon. You don't need a sucker right now.

Jameson: (growling) You are making me really MAD!!!

Just use your imagination for the end of that conversation!

Jameson's new horse

Nana found this treasure of a horse for Jameson and he absolutley LOVES it!!! He was riding on his new horse today and I thought I would capture the moment. He is truly our little cowboy! His horse collection is growing and we might actually need to get a real barn to keep all of his barnyard animals in.

Upward Basketball

Basketball season is upon us and we are way excited!!! Practice has already started and Jakob and Jaden's first game is the last Saturday of the month. They will have 8 games, each on Saturday mornings. Let me know if you would like to come see them play and I will get you the schedule and location.

CORRECTION* Their first game is NOT the last Saturday of the month, but is January 24th. I forgot that the 31st is a Saturday as well.

Pinewood Derby Cars

Jakob and Jaden will be participating in the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby race on Saturday, January 17th. They are very excited about the race and are just sure that their cars are going to win!!! Here are some pictures of the boys painting their cars, with a little help from mommy. :)

Christmas in Iowa

Was a complete blast. We had so much fun with my side of the family. Getting together at my Grandparents beautiful home with people everywhere! Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, grandparents, great grandmother, brothers, parents, sister in law, nephew, my own family, and other family friends made the weekend so fun. Friday night we got to Iowa around 8pm and it was COLD. Later that night the snow started to fall. We were playing games and eating of course!!! :) On Saturday morning we woke up to a white coat of snow all over the ground and the roads. Jakob and Jaden were thrilled!!! Puzzles were put together with my Great Grandmother threatening to turn the table over with frustration!!! :) Board games and Wii Bowling was fun for those of us who aren't much help with 1,000,000 piece puzzles. We got a group picture of all of us on Saturday morning b/c it was the first time in a very long time that we were ALL together. My cousin Travis and his girlfriend Erin were able to come from Arizona this year. He hadn't been back to Grandma's in like 3 years. It was really good to see him and meet her. On Saturday night we did something different after the kids opened their gifts, the adults did a White Elephant or Dirty Santa gift exchange. There was LOTS of laughter and I think everyone ended up with something they were excited about. We had a $5 limit so some of the gifts were duct tape, homemade beef jerky, many flashlights, 20 questions game, candles, and fuzzy blankets.

We headed home on Sunday morning after eating way too much homemade ice cream on Saturday night. After 5 hours of traveling we took Jakob straight to a birthday party at the bowling alley and went to Cornerstone Christian Church to celebrate 2 baptisms. Then we came home and CRASHED!!!!!!

A Big Thank You!

Just wanted to tell all of my dear friends THANK YOU so much for the Birthday Wishes for Jillian. You all are so thoughtful and I appreciate that others remember her. Jillian is a part of our family even though we only were able to hold her for a moment. She left a lasting impression on our whole family that we will carry through until we see her again. Thank you again...I treasure all of you.

Happy Birthday Jillian Gayle

The song playing in the background is sort of grainy and I realize that. It is the only copy of "I will Carry you" that I can get a hold of so far. It is an amazing song! I just wanted you all to know that it's not your computer speakers crackling! Happy Birthday Jillian!

Our daughter Jillian would be celebrating her 4th birthday tomorrow the 7th of January! I cannot believe it has been 4 years since she went to be with Jesus. The pain of her not being with us is sometimes too much to bear. There are good days and bad, but not a day goes by that I don't think about her and what we would be doing with her. In December of 2004 when we found out that a little girl was going to be joining our family we were soooooo excited. I was elated. Jakob and Jaden were so enthusiastic about the dresses, bows and all the new things that were about to happen. At the beginning of the New Year 2005 everything came crashing down. It was very hard to handle and at times didn't think I would make it through. Jakob and Jaden saved my life in those months after she past away. I had to keep living for them if not for myself. I also knew that Jillian was with Jesus and in a much better place. The Lord brought me comfort and peace and many friends to be there for me even when I didn't know what I needed. Michelle and Amy were there for me in the evenings after the kids would go to bed and Matt would be working the night shift. We would sit, talk, and watch movies. I just needed them there to be with me so I wasn't alone.

It is really amazing how I could carry someone in my tummy for 21 short weeks and have such a bond that can never be replaced or broken. I cannot wait to see her in Heaven and spend eternity being with her.

Happy New Year

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! My resolutions for 2009 are as follows...to read the Bible to completion in chronological order and to get my house ORGANIZED, free of clutter and things we do not have any use for. Those 2 things don't seem so hard huh? Well, with 3 little boys running around and a crazy life that is full of activities these things are sure to bring me a challenge. I am up for the task though and am determined to do them.

I can do EVERYTHING through him who gives me strength! Philippians 4:13