Yes, 100 times YES!

"Being listened to is so close to being loved 

that most people cannot tell the difference."

-David Augsburger

I didn't realize this until I read it.
It is so so so true for me.

And I am lucky enough to be loved really well. 

Bloom Baby

effort

I mentioned that we were a little rusty after summer break. 

And that it was going to take bit for us to get back in our groove.

Well here is the evidence...I wont tell you whose work this is, but you can probably guess. 

Question: 

What does it mean to be 'practical'? In what ways are Beth and 

Keenan practical at the end of Chapter 2? 

Answer: 

yes. 

Pie

I'm a blessed girl. 

Last night my husband surprised me with not one, but two different types of pie. 

And why? 

In honor of my dad's birthday and his love for pie. 

And then we talked about my dad while we ate the pie. 

It was better than flowers...it was edible flowers. 

And so personal and sweet. 

One of the reasons I love Jordan so much is that other than people who shared blood with my dad, 

I think he loved and misses him the most. 

They were quite the pair and I miss seeing that. 

Happy 68th Birthday Dad!

Today my dad would be 68. 

They say 'time heals all wounds'. 

That's a lie. 

Time dulls wounds but it does not heal. 

Only eternity with Christ can heal this wound. 

I still miss him. 

Every single day. 

I think of him. 

Every single day. 

I long for a hug or a smile from him. 

Every single day. 

I listen for his laughter. 

Every single day. 

Last week Jordan and I were talking about him and I said the thing I'm missing most right now is how I could call him up with a question about ANYTHING and he would know the answer. 

Seriously, anything. 

He was a wealth of knowledge. 

Exceptionally well read and always learning more. 

Basically, he was google, before there was google. 

So today on his birthday I will talk about him and look at pictures and remember all the things that made him so 'missable' and I will be thankful that one day I will hear that laugh again and feel that scratchy beard during a hug. 

I love you Daddy. 

Every single day. 

First Day 2014-2015

School started today bright and early! 

Always so much excitement on the first day. 

Dad left a sweet note for us. 

7th, 4th, 3rd, K, Pre-K

It truly still feels like summer so its going to be bit rough getting back into things. 

We will start a little slow. 

She's in 7th...and I think we both have our work cut out for us this year. 

I tell ya, I'll be learning right along with her! 

And we have fun things like pencil fidgets to keep us smiling. 

 Bring it '14-'15

Closing out summer

School starts tomorrow...NO!!!

We closed out the last few days hard...ensuring that we will all have a hard time getting out of bed tomorrow morning when the alarms go off. 

The kids and I left Friday morning for Clear Lake to stay with Kirkpatrick's. 

Jason and Jordan met us there after work. 

It was full of fun and games. 

And then some not as fun games when I ended up biting Jason due to some issues with my competitiveness. oops. 

But as you can see here...I am so fast at ping pong that I am a blur. 

More gaming...I must have been impressed with someone's bags ability!

(Melanie takes the most beautiful pics of me.)

Pretty much I'm really good at all games...except Pepper...which was where the biting occurred. 

The weather cooperated nicely and we were able to head to the beach!

Friday night the kids slept HARD!

Getting ready to head back to the beach on Saturday. 

We had some jet ski fun as well. 

Too cute. 

(They look alike!)

After the totally fun weekend...the kids and I headed to DSM on Monday morning for the zoo, visiting dad at work, supper at Spaghetti Works and then the ICubs game. 

We were able to meet up with Kirkpatricks there too! 

So long Summer 2014...its been real. 

Truth

Best friends

Mandy took these two shopping for their birthdays and captured the most gorgeous pictures of them.

Couldn't love them more...some friendships stick...I think this one will. 

The caves

Last Friday a few of us ventured off with a whole bunch of kids for a day of hiking at 

Maquoketa Caves State Park. 

It was really a beautiful day and the hiking was fantastic. 

The older kids refused to be held back and the younger kids were determined to keep up. 

Honestly, so cute. 

A bit too brave...all. day. long.

This one for the possible wedding album. 

Or maybe this one??

(Riggs, I still owe you a quarter)

She refused my help all day...until the walk back UP out of the caves...when suddenly she had the knees of an 85 year old and had to be carried. 

How this place exists in the middle of Iowa farm land is beyond me. 

Random

Today will be just a random update via my iPhone...

My kids love when Grandma drops in...this day she sat and listened to Sullivan go on and on about his football cards, his favorite players, teams and stats. She made him feel like a million bucks. 

There are days Im just too lazy to put her down for a nap. 

She's been sending me clues that she is not ready to give them up. 

Yep. More hints. 

Figure it out mom!

Tess and her monkey, made by my mom, are seldom separated. 

She drew a picture of him the other day and insisted that we take a photo.

Contessa mastered tying her shoes on Monday. 

She was so excited and proud. 

I took Lauren and Avery shopping for some school clothes this past weekend. 

Avery LOVES it that I have to use her to try on clothes for size for Sullivan. 

This box is about the size of a small car. 

Which could only mean...our curriculum arrived!!! 

1 week til school starts! 

So so true.

a week or so

Whew, these last weeks of summer are zooming right along. 

Here's a glimpse at what we've been up to in the last week or so.

To keep busy one day the girls set up shops around the house. 

Avery started a Lillian's Clothing Store in the dining room with pretty dresses from her room and left over birthday decorations. 

She had a blast. 

Lauren opened a vet/pediatrician's office. 

Poor Tori suffered a broken arm. 

(I love their imaginations)

Jordan and the 3 older kids played UNO one night while I put the little girls to bed. 

We have struggle with being too competitive in our house. 

And I just cant figure out where it comes from. 

The library's party for the completion of the Summer Reading program was last week. 

The face painting was the biggest hit! 

This was just funny. 

I miss Chris Farley.

While going through some things last week I found this pic of our feet at prom. 

I remember taking this picture and thinking we were so amazingly cool. 

Hard to believe we were those crazy 18 year old kids! 

Tess discovered she is tall enough for the lilly pads now. 

She is on them the whole time we are at the pool. 

Avery is obsessed with painting right now. 

So one day this week she and Tess did this project from Meg. 

I love when they are creative! 

I still love him lots and lots. 

So true. 

We had this on our porch to give back to Jordan's sister this week. 

Falstaff sat here like this forever. 

His little leg is even through the hole. 

I love it. 

He's really good at helping us when we dont feel so great. 

(Poor Avery inherited her mother's migraines)

I also love avocados. 

A lot. 

Contessa and Torrance each got an overnight with Grandma Cindy recently. 

They were both slightly excited. 

And I am so blessed to have her as my mother in law and the grandma to my kids. 

There is nothing like going to stay at grandma's house. 

I dont care what age you are. 

 Sullivan starts football this year. 

And Im sick about it. 

And he literally called the first day of camp 'the best day of his life'

And then agreed to let me take his picture at drop off but only if he could hide behind this truck. 

 Today was equipment pick up...'second best day of his life'

And this is where I sobbed like a baby in a gymnasium full of football dads and out of control excited boys. 

 He REALLY wanted Jordan's # from high school but 35 was not available...so he settled for #1. 

And then decided he got a great # after all! 

Well that may have been my most random post every but I feel caught up now! 

2 weeks til school starts!