Labor Day Weekend

With a long weekend we decided to head to Ogden for Saturday and Sunday.  Mark had asked Sarah if she wanted to go to the Iowa State game Saturday night so it was me and the girls with Grandma Sue and Papa Jim.  We had a good time making cookies and dinner.  Sunday, before Sarah's pictures, we went to Mark's to have lunch.  We also went to the cemetery to see Jane's headstone.  We had not been out there since it was put it.  It is one of those moments that you look at it and go, "It looks beautiful." and on other the other hand it SUCKS.  To see something that you had never wanted to see is a weird feeling.  Watching Layla go up to Jane's headstone broke my heart.  To know this is the only physical way that she will remember Grandma Jane was very hard to watch.  My girls loved her so much and we talk about Grandma Jane all the time.  They will not forget that she loved them everyday and that she is looking down on them now.  Jane was my Mother-in-Law but she was more then that to me.  I spent many times with her at home, on vacations, at Iowa State games, and I loved her very much.  There is such an empty feeling when I leave Ogden knowing that she is not at the house, knowing that she is not giving me a hard time and me back to her.  I alway tell people that Mark and Jane were not like the typical In-laws.  They were so much more to me.  I have known them for a very long time.  Longer then Sarah and I have been together and there was a closeness that Jane and I shared.  She was a Mom to me and I will always see her as that.  Sitting there today and reading the prayer quilt that people gave Mark after the funeral filled me with happiness and sadness at the same time.  She was such a wonderful woman and we miss her everyday.

 Layla looking at Grandma Jane's headstone.

Very beautiful.

A Night with 2 Girls

Last night we were short one girl, Ava. She went to spend the night with Papa Mark. Sarah's dad called yesterday and asked if Ava wanted to spend the night, just her. Of course she said yes and was so excited all afternoon waiting for Papa Mark. They went out to eat and back home to ride the John Deere. It is pretty neat that Papa Mark took Ava home to spend the night. They were having fun and just enjoying some 1 on 1 time.

As for the other two we went to Kmart to do some school supply shopping for Ava and then to Tropical Sno. It has been years since I had one. It was the first spot that Sarah and I went together as a couple way back when. Ella and Layla just loved them and by the pictures there was enough to go around. Layla kept shacking her head yes whenever she wanted a new bite. That girl knows how to eat her sweets. It was fun just taking the two of them out and having some time. It is amazing how much they talk making up for Ava's absence:)

Vacation Bible School

This week the girls had Vacation Bible School at Lutheran Church of Hope. It is truly amazing to see that many children celebrating the Jesus and his message. On average there is about 1000 kids for each one week session. The 3 hours is filled with crafts, message, and wonderful music. The videos below are just a small example of what goes on each day. God Bless the Word and how my girls just eat it up.

A view of the 3 and 4 year olds singing at the end of the day.

Trying to Stay Cool

Hopefully everybody is trying to stay cool in the crazy heat. We have been spending a lot of time in our new pool and we have decided it was well worth the money. Sarah spends as much time in it as the girls do.
Last Friday Papa Mark took us to the I-Cubs game in Des Moines. It was Ava and Ella's first Cubs game and the were not that impressed. It is so funny coming from the baseball background that I have and trying to explain it to them. It makes me love my girls just that much more. All they wanted to do was eat and play in the water, which they did a lot of each. We had a great time; saw a win, which the big Cubs can't do this year, and some great fireworks at the end of the game. We might be back but without the girls this time. I will be back to Principal Park next week. My dad, brother, and I make it our annual trip to the State Baseball Tournament. We spend a whole day watching some great baseball. It is fun just to hang out with them, we don't get to do it that often anymore.
With that stay cool and safe.

Two of my 4 beautiful girls!!

View from our seats.

The girls playing in the water out in right field.

Summer and the Pool

Summer at our house means busy, busy. Sarah has been super booked with pictures and we have not had any time to make it to a public pool. So because of that we bought a pool for the backyard. Not that big, 12' x 32". The girls love it and are in it from sun-up to sundown. With that, the new play set, and the playhouse we hardly ever see them. This week Ava and Ella have had swimming lessons. They have been going to the same private lessons for that last few years. Ava has really improved and can swim the length of the pool. Ella has gotten over her fear and is really making strides in the water. Layla loves to watch and wished she could be in the pool with them. Next week starts Vacation Bible School so another busy week is in store.

We are back.

It has been a while since I have posted on here. With everything that has gone on in the last 3 months it is amazing we are all halfway sane!! These past 3 months have been the most trying of our lives. We lost Jane, Sarah's mom, in May to her courageous battle with cancer. That was by far the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. Seeing my wife battle with the pain, sadness, and all that goes with it solidifies how much I love her and that she means to me. She was so strong through the whole ordeal that I truly admire her for her bravery and courage. With that we have spent a lot of time in Ogden and with Sarah's dad. Through June we got done with dance and had the big dance recital in Ames, also 3 birthdays and an anniversary June is a very busy month. Now that we are halfway calmed down hopefully I will be better at getting this blog updated. Thank you to all for the continued support and thoughts through the difficult days.

Layla's first year