Easter

I love Easter. It is my favorite Holy day. It can be very overwhelming to think about the magnitude of love Jesus felt for each of us when he died on cross for us. Our church service was perfect this Sunday. We don't normally have a choir but all the worship teams got together and sang some amazing songs. They were done just right. Not too showy, soothing, but expressive at the same time. I enjoyed it so much! I only wish I had worn waterproof mascara.



I've included some more pictures of our activities lately.
Jake's Birthday! 12 years old!!
Rainforest Cafe at the Mall of America
Lowell nad I on Easter Sunday

My goofball kids who would not cooperate for a picture of the three of them. So I cornered them on the stairs before they went up to change after church.

Finally!

Kyle is 14!!!
Allie and a friend at the Rockettes' Christmas Show
Camels crossing the street after the show. I wonder what the people in those cars were thinking?!!
Something we've done a lot of with all that snow we've gotten this year. I think we got about 45 inches, which is a lot for Iowa.
Christmas!!

Hello! Well, I am sure both of you (hee hee) were wondering where I went! I have been very busy with finishing up my classes, trying to get my house in order, and also keeping up with the kids' schedules. Since I last posted Kyle has turned 14 and Jake has turned 12!

We are all settled into our new home. It is so nice to have space to spread out. I have been cooking more in my very well organized, larger kitchen and Lowell and I are both enjoying having an office space. We just need our lawn put in and we'll really start feeling the benefits of our move. We just had a meeting with the landscaper on Wednesday and he has lots of ideas for us.....lots of expensive ideas for us!! With a 3/4 of an acre lot, we will probably just go with the basics for this year and then get creative next summer.

I only have this one last term to go for school. I will still have to take two more general education claasses this summer but otherwise, I am ready to start student teaching in the fall. At Upper Iowa, student teaching is split into two seven week terms. It is set up so that one is to be in a lower elementary classroom and the other is in an upper elementary classroom. I will be be in second grade and fifth grade classrooms if I get the placement in our school district that I am waiting for. It's hard to believe that the time is almost here!

We are on Spring Break right now. We made a quick trip to the Mall of America for a couple of days. That was fun and we'll definitely go back sometime. I dont' think I'll count on getting any shopping done though! There is so much to do at the mall that the kids were much more interested in doing stuff than shopping for clothes. Who can blame them, right? We did thoroughly enjoy the IKEA store. Wow! I had never been to an IKEA but I had admired their things on their website. I am totally hooked now. I am trying to figure out how I can get back up there in the near future.

Jake just finished up basketball and his team had a great season. I am not sure on the exact stats but they played well and were very good sports. I think they only lost a couple games. The boys' coach quit half way through the season so Lowell and another dad pitched in and the kids seemed to do even better. Ever since the weather has gotten nice, Jake has been out playing either football or basketball with his friends. He has made some really great friends this year. I am so happy for him. They are all into their cell phones and getting phone calls from girls. Jake tells me it is dumb because they don't even talk to them face to face, just on the phone. LOL I remember those days!! Praise God my middle school years are well behind me.

Kyle has started track and so far, really enjoys it. We have been so pleased with the athletic program through the schools. They do such a good job with the kids and although this town has some fiercly competive people, Kyle doesn't seem to pick up on the vibe. So far it's all just fun for him.

Allie is enjoying decorating her new bedroom with a beach/ocean theme. We keep picking up things here and there. She definitely has her own ideas about how she wants it to look. We are having a lot of fun with it. I'll try to take some better pictures of the house and post them soon.

Well, I think that is it for now. I'll try to pick some pictures from the last few months for your viewing pleasure. :-) I don't know why it always does the pictures first but there you go!