Alexis' giving spirit is shinning through too!

The other day Jeremy had a meeting in DesMoines and the kids were on spring break so the kids and I went with. Gave me some "out of the house" time and got to enjoy some new things with the kids, and shop of course! Anyway... we were at the mall and I decided to let the kids go in Build-a-bear! I was just going to have them look around but then Mark wanted this tiny lil stuffed animal for $5. So I thought hey why not. So I told the kids they could each spend $5.

Well, after MUCH deliberation they had mostly come up with what they all wanted. Then Alexis got to thinking... she realized.. Mark doesn't have a Build-a-bear at all and I have 2! Hannah has 1. So if we all pool our $ Mark will be able to get a Build-a-bear like the rest of us. So she began her campaign for Mark's Build-a-bear. Ethan was easily convinced.. Hannah not so much! LOL! But she sold mom! LOL!

Anyway to make a really long story short. I felt very blessed by her giving attitude and willingness to give up what she could have had to get her brother something that I decided to get the kids all something anyway! I was greatly blessed to see her maturity in the situation!

I will post a pic of the kids and what they got as soon as I can get them together to do the pic!

Deb's Memory Card from the funeral

For those of you who don't know.. My MIL passed away on Dec 31st at 5pm in the evening. She passed in her sleep. We were all thankful for that. She will be greatly missed! God has provided so greatly for us in this tough time. Thanks to all of you who prayed and provided support and love and a PLETHERA(JR's word) of FOOD! We are all so greatful for your support in this time.

I know this is late but not too late for NewYears Eve! LOL

Tips for enjoying the holidays to the fullest



Enjoy the spirit of the festivities.



1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.


2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!


3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.


4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.


5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?


6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.


7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies or pralines in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.


8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always hav e three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?



9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.


10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:



"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"



Have a great Christmas season

Job Interview!

Well, I thought I would let you all know I had a job interview today! I was informed of this job through Matura here in Creston. It is a Breastfeeding Peer Councilor! The job will consist of an average of 10 hours a week mostly phone calls and such from home. They will provide me with a cell phone. Then I would have to go into the office on Monday AM's to turn in my time card and check e-mail etc! But it seems that this job will fit into my schedule nicely and I like that I can still, for the most part, stay home. Their might be meetings where I have JR watch the kids or need a sitter but it sounds like a very good fit for me. Plus I am very pro-breastfeeding. I should know next week for sure if I can get the job or not. Please pray for the Lord's will in all this. Thanks in advance for any prayers!

Some pics of Ethan! (on his 2nd B'day)

Ethan just being a cutie batootie!




This is his excited face when he saw the "boons".



"Boons up!", it was hot air balloon days here in Creston the day we had his b'day party.

More Pics from the Memorial Garden

The camera man getting a good shot of the garden!



I was watching through the church window bc Ethan was so FUSSY! So I had to wait and watch from in there!

The reporter talking to JoLynn's family.


Two Friends of Kali's that got tatoos of angels with "Kali Moore" above them.

I am not a tatoo gal but I thought they were very tasteful and honored her nicely.

On the news, FINALLY!

The garden was on KCCI on Monday night and I totally missed it but they did post it on the site! LMK what you think?

KCCI here Tuesday... for the dedication of the Memeorial Garden!

Tomorrow KCCI will be here for the dedication of the memorial garden! It is supposed to be on the 5pm news either on Wednesday or Thursday they didn't know! You can also check it out on KCCI.com! Well to update .. we did find out it will not be on until Monday evening on the 5pm news!

Some NYR photos!

ome kids in our youth group we camped with!



Stage and MT view!





Jumbotron!



Praise and worship band!

Beautiful Photos of my Beautiful KIDS!

My stud Mark!



Lil E's curiosity!



Hannah Enjoying the fragrance!



Gorgeous lil MONKEY!



Lex's gorgeous blonde locks!



I love having great subjects to practice my photography on! Took these on a trip to Des Moines with daddy and Gpa Dave! Was a nice day to take pics. Great lighting and all.

Potty Training at it's finest!

We are introducing Ethan to potty training! Thought we would share some fun photos!

"Where's your toes?"



What now?



Had to have a drink!



Button!!

Hannah's Main Squeeze!

This is a pic of Hannah and her "friend" from school Garrett! They are at their pre-school program. They started their first year of school this past year and will be in class together all through school! He is also going to MHCS!



They could easily end up with red head kids in 30 years!!!

JR on the 5 o'clock News! (awhile back)

We got a KCCI grant to get a memorial garden for the 3 killed a little over a year ago here. JR was the one who wrote the grant so he is the one they interviewed on the news. Kinda neat really! I hope this will help those who are mourning to grieve their loved ones.



In this photo is Denise (Kali's mom) and Chris Lowe's mom. Also in the back is Adriana (a friend of ours).




This is a neat project and JR did a great job on it last minute too!!

Happy Anniversary JR!!

Just wanted to tell my hubby Happy Anniversary publically! Thanks for the best 9 years of my life! You have been a great husband and father! LUV YA! Angie

Boy's camp!

Well Mark went to boy's camp and came home on Friday! He had a blast! They got to go canoing, fishing, learn how to shoot a gun(but I didn't allow Mark to shoot one), had a big water fight against the staff! And many other things I am sure he didn't tell me about! LOL! He was honorary mention for "camper of the year" which allows him to go free next year if were to have won! That is quite an honor!

Ummmm... what else? Well he came home and just started crying when he walked in the door! I asked him what was wrong, he said nothing, he was just happy to be home! That was so sweet! The kids went running to him when they heard the door open and hollered "MARK"!!!! It was nice homecoming for the first day or so then things got back to normal... fighting and bickering...LOL wouldn't be my life without that.

Oh, when I asked him which week he liked best, Junior(which is bible camp) or Boy's (which is not) he was very quick to answer he, "Junior b/c I like that there was a lot of Bible!" That's my boy! Make Mama proud!

NYR here we come!

I am so excited! We fianlly get to go to NYR this year. We haven't went for several years. We found a sitter for the 2 youngest kids and we are taking Mark and Alexis with us! And also maybe our friends daughter too! YAY! Please comment if you are going to NYR or know ppl who are. I would love to know who we might run into!

The Rounds kids are FISH!

It has blown me away how the kids are so much like fish this summer. We have been blessed with enough money to get a pool pass this summer and they have been swimming all the time! Alexis can now back dive and flip off the boards! SHE IS SIX! No floaties!
Mark can swim awesome too, he hasn't got quite as brave as Lex though! Hannah wants to go without floaties too but mommy insists. Ethan will beg and beg to go down the slide! "Ride, ride!" He will say time and time again!

At our pool he can only go down during family hour and same with Hannah! Unless they can swim from the bottom of the slide to the edge by themselves with no floaties then they have to go with a parent or be caught, and that can only happen during family hour which is 6-7pm. Ethan doesn't quite understand that. I am thinking about doing a pool party for JR's B'day too! I think we would have a great time. Kinda depends on the $ situation, too.

These pics were taken at the cub scout pool party on July 5th! They were rewarded for cleaning the park after the 4th celebration!

Mark's first year of camp! YAY!

Well, our oldest is getting so big, I can hardly believe he is old enough to go to Bible camp, but he is! YAY! We are leaving this Sunday to go to camp and will be back Friday! I am going with and planning to work in the kitchen! I am so excited. A friend of mine is keeping Hannah and Ethan for me so I can go and be there for her daughter and Mark. Also I am taking Lex with as well. She isn't old enough for camp but she can go and have fun and such with us. I hope it isn't too HOT! Pray for me, I am also going to be the dorm mom!

Happy Mother's Day

I know, I know, it's not quite Mother's Day yet, but I am going to be busy for the rest of the week and don't know if I will be able to post anything. So Happy Mother's Day to you all! ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Clogging... MUD

This is Lexi and Michaela(SP?) she is the kids' friend who is also in clogging with Lexi.



Their song is called, "MUD" so they went with a farmer theme!



Not sure how I am going to do their hair for recital yet?



Michaela in her costume too!