Fall 2014

Since school has started we have been very busy.  I will have to admit getting into a routine was good for us, but we do miss not having a schedule, sleeping in, etc.  Between sports, piano, robotics, harvest, and homework we tried to stay sane! :)  Here are a few pictures from this past fall. 

Jaren took advantage of the nice weather for some outdoor reading, including a free kitty back massage.  We are now up to 10 cats running around the yard.  It makes leaving a little tricky as we try to dodge cats.

We had the annual VM campout.  There's always lots of fun games, crafts & food.  We all look forward to it every year. 

The kids grabbing candy from the piñata at the campout.

Erica played soccer for the first time this year and LOVED it.  She is definitely our sports girl.

 

We added a puppy to the family...Saige.  She is a really good dog, but has an over abundance of energy!

 Kate turned 4...her favorite color is blue and she is fascinated with horses.

Kate had a trampoline accident which resulted in her breaking both bones in her lower arm.  She earned an overnight stay in the hospital to have it set early the next morning.   

 

I had surgery on my ankle to fix an old injury.  Kate thought it was so cool to having matching blue casts!  Hopefully this is the only time.

VM Christmas

We spent Christmas day with my family.  It gets a little crazy with everyone, but we wouldn't trade it for anything!  The kids are at a great age that they go off and play/entertain themselves.  They have so much fun together.  Enjoy the pictures.

Brynn, Bethany & Hailey loves spending time together

Kate received this Packers cheerleading outfit and couldn't wait to show Grandpa, a huge Packers fan.

These two are only brothers with 3 sisters each.  It's good for them to pick on each other and wrestle.

Klayton, Bethany & Hailey - Can you tell Bethany is the oldest girl cousin and a wonderful mother hen to her younger cousins? :)

Grandpa reading the Christmas story to the kids

Lunch time!

Waiting patiently for gifts

We let Grandpa & Grandma open their gifts first...good way to teach some extra patience to the kids

Kate got her much wanted horse stable complete with a tack room!

Erica really wanted a skateboard and has been having so much fun with it.

Bethany's Orbeez hand spa.  It is actually quite relaxing to use.

Jaren's gift from Lauren this year was a donut maker.  They are pretty tasty and easy to make.

He also got a Wii game and a Nano blocks set which was fun for him to put together.

Both older girls got nerf bows for Christmas.  There have been some rowdy wars in our basement.

Bethany loves her Big Joe chair and hauls it from room to room.

It was so nice outside so Kurtis & Erica took the skateboard outside to try it out. 

My dad has been busy making lamps out of old cigar boxes.  They are really cool!  He gifted each family one for Christmas.

Kate trying out her new skates. :)

 

More Christmas pictures coming soon!

A New Year, A New Blog

I guess if you don't update your blog for a very long time, you will have difficulties accessing it.  So here is the link to our new blog that I can hopefully keep updated throughout this coming year.  Here are a few highlights from 2014 through August:

Kurtis & I went skiing in CO with Jennifer & Ryan

These 2 girls thought they needed to get older

We participated in the Relay for Life in memory of Aunt Myra.  Uncle Howard donated money for each bracelet the kids earned running laps.  They did awesome! 

Jaren played in the OSCI band for Tulip Time

Planting into the evening by our house.  The semi in the background is Kurtis' 2nd home between hauling crops and livestock.

Erica played softball for the first time and LOVED it!

We celebrated our 14th anniversary by taking the kids to Adventureland.

We headed to MI to help Mark & Betsy celebrate their wedding

Jaren participated in 4-H and the Southern IA Fair.  He had a leadership project advance to the State Fair this year!

Bethany & I went to our church's GEMS camp

The kids loved getting out on the boat...notice the awesome skier in the background!?!?!  (It's Kurtis if you can't tell)

We made it out camping several times.  Kate could live at the campgrounds if we'd let her.

School started back up for the oldest 3 - Jaren 6th, Erica 2nd, Bethany 4th

 

Now I'll have to get the rest of my pictures off my camera to finish out the year.