School's Done

This year is really flying by fast. Jake has finished up his first year of pre-school. We had a picnic on Friday where all the kids could just come and play and say their goodbyes! Jake had a lot of fun! Ben is finishing up this year this week. They are done of Firday and then this summer he'll be working at the school in the weight room and gym. I will continue to take care of Trenton this summer atleast some days and I am now the head girls b-ball coach here in Ark City, so it will mean a lot of bulldog basketball for our family! This week the softball girls go to state, they are 2 time defending champions so we are the ones to beat! We play on Friday and if we win continue on to Sat. It should be a fun weekend! Abby is really into her potty right now! I ask her all the time if she wants to go and she goes and sits on it... so we're starting early with her, we have a little bare bottom running around our house right now! But she's interested now so I'm all for it!

Mother's Day!

Here are a few pictures from Mother's Day... We had a great day spending time with Ben's Mom and Dad and then some friends. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful time with my kids! I am reminded daily of how special it is to be a mom and how wonderful my kids are!!! I love you Jake and Abby!

Lots going on!

Finally got the tire swing up

Jake's before shots!



This is Adrianna and the kids at the softball game on Friday

Jake at the fire station

Abby and Trenton

Well I'll try to fill everyone in on the last couple weeks.
1. Jake started t-ball and Ben and I are the coaches... coaching 4yr olds is crazy!
2. Softball ends for my JV team this week! It really went fast but we've had a lot of fun!
3. Jake took a field trip to the fire station... he wasn't sure why Uncle John wasn't there!(he's a fireman in Washington:)
4. Ben started the P90X fitness program and I'm trying too, I start tomorrow. We had to do the before pictures and jake thought he would join in:)
5. I started babysitting a newborn baby, his name is trenton. He was just 4 weeks old. Last week was my first full week. His parents are only 15 and trying to finish up the school year! I'll probably be watching him while he grows up! He's a good little baby and my kids just love all over him!
6. Jake's little friend Adrianna has another round of chemo this week, keep her in your prayers. She was telling Jake about her wig... and Jake kept asking me, "what's that hair on Adrianna's head?" She was feeling real good at the game on Friday and her Jake and another little girl played the whole game.
7. Jake finishes up school on the 15th of May and Ben finishes up shortly after that May 23.
8. Happy Anniversary to you Byron and Jen, thinking of you guys today! WE love you!
9. I went garage saling on Sat. the first time I really ever did it, found a few things and missed out on a bed for Abby...:( i was upset about that all day!! but I really liked it, never thought I really would... but kudos to you Grandma Meenderink I know why you liked it!! It will probably become my new hobby.
10. Still working on the house trying to figure out some ways to make it more functional for us and liveable for me... paint colors etc. Jake and I planted some seeds this weekend so hopefully we'll be able to watch some flowers grow! well that's about all I can think of now, I'm trying to keep up but just don't seem to find the time lately!

Thank You!

Thank you 2Ma and 2Papa for the cool t-shirts and bracelets from Hawaii! Jake wants to wear his shirt everyday and Abby tries to say fishy when she looks at her bracelet! We love you and miss you!

Jake's First Trike-a-thon!

Jake's first trike-a-thon was quite the experience! This little boy was determined to get many, many laps! He was on a mission and not about to smile too much! Jake biked 34 laps! He just kept on moving right along! I was pretty proud of him! They were raising money for St. Jude's Children's hospital and earlier in the week one of Jake's little friends who was in remission for cancer found out her cancer was back! It really hit home watching even the littlest kids make a difference for those who are sick!

Happy Easter!

Easter was a beautiful day here by us! We went to church and came home just to be with our family. Jake is so sweet and can tell us the Easter story now. I love hearing his own little rendition of the story. He knows it well just of course doesn't quite understand it all. At church we sang a song that goes "oh happy day, happy day, he washed my sins away, oh happy day, happy day, we'll never be the same!!" Jake loved that song and so did Abby and we were singing it on our way home and they were both singing and clapping along!!

On Saturday we had our Easter dinner with Ben's family. We had a good meal and a nice time. The kids got to stay with Ma and Papa and got to make a bunny cake and do an easter egg hunt! They thought they were pretty special (which they are)!! anyway I know my family was together and I talked to some of them including all my grandparent's which I continue to be thankful each day for them and their health! My parent's made it back from Hawaii celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and were home to celebrate Easter! Baby Kaleb we know you were celebrating right there by Jesus' side and we want you to know we continue to think about you all the time!! Happy Easter to everyone we hope you felt the closeness to Jesus during this wonderful celebration!

Spring Break!

The kids in the hot tub.... then our trip home.... Jake was pooped out.... Abby had Jake's glasses on and when I say "cool dude" I stick two thumbs up... that's her own cool dude look!

Our spring break was kind of busy. My friend Renee VanKooten from College came to visit us! She was here from Sat. til Wed. We shopped, hung out and just played with the kids! It was a nice visit She gave Jake the piranha panic game which we play almost every night and jake pretty much beats me every time!! We left to go to Southeast Kansas to visit our friends the Spanglers on Wed. Jake found his new hero... He did absolutely everything Caleb did and wanted to be at his side every minute. They stayed busy on the trampoline, playing b-ball, going to the park, playing nintendo, watching ping-pong,sitting in the hot tub etc. The adults stayed busy playing guitar hero... I'm not very good yet but I was getting better... Ben and Jeff also played a little ping-pong... Teresa and I didn't make it that far she was enjoying beating me at guitar hero though:) Abby followed Kaylee around the house and played with anything Kaylee gave her! It was good times and hopefully we can make it back there before another year passes! The rest of our break we just spent together as a family, playing games, hanging out and watching some b-ball games!