Beautiful day in Iowa

Today was one of the most beautiful days you can get in January in Iowa. The temperature hit 61 degrees. The kids were outside without jackets on. It was gorgeous!!!! On the news we saw that we crushed the last high record temp by 6 degrees. Our normal temps for today should have been in the 20's. Oh we'll take 60's anyday in January!



Simeon and Joe played football in the back yard.



The girls were swinging and playing in the sandbox.




Ammon was jumping fences and escaping the camera!



The trees must be confused because they're budding in January. There were so many planes out flying today soaking up the blue sky and warm temps.

They made chalk houses on the driveway, rode their scooters, rip sticks and bikes.

The long shadow shows it's winter, but the light clothes shows spring temps.


Then we spotted the giant bird that's been hanging out in the neighborhood today and we were able to get some pictures of it. We're pretty sure it's a hawk.



This morning Simeon went early to school for science club. I was getting ready when I spotted a big bird in the tree behind our house. I called the kids to come see it. Ammon saw it, but Corrine looked after it flew away. We left for school and about a block up Corrine realized that she forgot her backpack so she ran back to the house. I went back with her because I had the garage door opener, which decided to stop working right then. AARGH!! I told her to run around back because the back garage door might be unlocked. AS she went around the house she saw the bird in the tree and she said it was staring right at her and she was scared to go back by herself. The back door was locked, so I said lets walk to school and I'd bring it up later. I got out my cell phone to call Johann to ask him if he could come unlock the house, but my cell phone was dead. I said I'd use the phone at the school. I told Corrine it could still be a good day even with all the things going against us right then (and it was a great day). I had a short meeting at the school and as I was walking out the lady I was talking to said there's your husband. When he unlocked the house he grabbed Corrine's backpack and brought it up.

Tomorrow is suppose to be beautiful day too. We are getting so spoiled and loving every moment of it!

When the cousins come by to play...

there is lots of fun and movement and smiles, but not directed at the camera!! Oh well-you can tell they were having fun in the pool out front even if they didn't want to stop playing to take a picture!

A day out with Ammon & Rebecca

Today I just had Ammon & Rebecca. Simeon is at camp and Corrine is spending the day with Grandma Smith. So the 3 of us headed to the Quad Cities to play at some of our favorite spots there-the Family Museum and The John Deere Pavilion.
The outdoor area of the museum was the hit of the day, besides the goop Rebecca played in for 20 minutes before we convinced her to go somewhere else.
During the summer they have different activities throughout the museum. Today they had bubbles outside. Both the kids were having a great time playing with them. Ammon somehow lost his footing and ended up sitting in the container of bubbles. We laughed about it saying that I wouldn't need to put any laundry detergent in the wash today!! He thought that was funny.



Then we went over to the water area. This is by far the funnest thing for the kids to do. Endless water for them to fill, pour, dump, and splash in. Rebecca got her pants soaked, so off they went to dry while she played some more.



We then headed over the bridge to Illinois to play on the tractors. Theses tractors hold the kids attention for a long time. They are HUGE and full of gadgets to touch, steering wheels to drive, seat belts to buckle, tires to climb in, and tractors to walk under. If Ammon loves playing here, then Rebecca is in heaven!! It was hard getting her to leave.
When we left I went in to ask for directions to another ramp, since ours was closed due to construction. Then Ammon asked the man how they got all the tractors into the building. He showed us the massive doors they open to bring them through, and how they do it.



I loved this old tractor. It was super rusted and really showed it age, but that also helped show the hard work it had done. If had run into this out at a farm, I'd had taken dozens of pictures of it!





When we left we went to the entrance ramp the guy told us about. He said it was taking him 45 minutes to get home instead of 20 at 5pm, so I thought no big deal it's 3pm we'll get on quickly. Boy was I wrong. I saw a long line of cars and thought that's the wrong lane, so I got over and ended up missing the ramp. So I decided to just make a u-turn and get on from the other directions. Miles later the line ended and I knew we had to find another route home. I knew the 80 was north of where we were and figured I could find it. My GPS kept trying to send me back where we had come from. I started going north and had a feeling that I could find my way to the 80. We ended up on a beautiful road right next to the river. There were the most beautiful parks and walking paths along the river. It made me want to stop and get out, but I was also not totally sure where we were and how long it would take to get home, so we kept going.
After driving for some time I started to recognize the area and then I saw the name of the town we were about to go through. I knew that town. I knew it because it was the town we went to for lunch after Becky's funeral. We drove right past the church where we had lunch.
Another 10 minutes and I saw what I was going towards. A ramp onto interstate 80. I knew we could find it and we did. It made me feel good knowing that my instincts were correct. It took us 40 minutes longer to get home then normal, which I'm sure was shorter then the wait at the ramp to get onto the 74.
Now I can't wait to go back on that road again to explore some of the fun things we saw, like the over look hike, the parks and the John Deere plant with a visitors center. I wonder what they have there. I'm excited to find out!

Playing @ Lemme

When did my little girl become big enough for the big swings?


Rebecca is such a little monkey girl.




Climbing in the trees.


Simeon showed Ammon how to do backflips off the bars. Ammon LOVED it. He flip over and over.



Rebecca was so jealous that the big kids were higher then she was.


She's happier now being up with the big kids.


We have so much fun walking up to the school to play. Everytime we go up to play there are always a couple of other groups playing up there. There are 3 different playgrounds, a space net, a big blacktop, 2 huge soccer/baseball fields and another big field for football or kite flying.

Future Builders

When Simeon was probably 3 years old he got this really cool tool bench complete with tools from his Uncle Jake. Fast forward 7 years and it's still entertaining kids minus a few screws that have grown legs or gotten smashed. This is one of those toys that gets put away for a few months, and then when it reappears it's fresh and new and gets so much love!!


Tonight Ammon asked to get the tool bench out and when Rebecca set eyes on it, she was all into it too. It was such a pleasant night that we set it up out on the front porch to enjoy the evening. After our recent trip to Lowe's and building Rebecca's bed I wasn't surprised this made an appearance.




Rebecca LOVED putting the glasses on and hammering the porch. Luckily we have 2 pairs of goggles. Rebecca is in a "MINE" stage, so having 2 pairs of goggles was a major benefit tonight!




What I LOVE about it, is that it folds up super compactly. Everything goes into the 2 benches and it gets screwed shut, and everything stays nice and all together inside, with a handle to carry it!

Where's Rebecca?

One of Rebecca's most favorite games is "Peek A Boo". She has found a few favorite places to hide. She'll stay hiden for a minute or so until you find her, then she comes out with a BIG smile on her face.

Some of her favorite places to hide are:

In the kitchen underneath Corrine's apron. "Peek boo, fish, kitchen"


In the front room behind the couch. "hidden, couch, mom"



In mom and dad's shower. "shower, head"



Behind mom and dad's bed. "mom bed"



Some of her favorite words to say right now: "favorite, self, my, more please, Ammon did it (or add another name there), move, George, help please, coming, running, bathroom, potty, scared, friend."


As I was writting this post, she decided the library basket was the perfect spot to read a book, so naturally all the library books had to be out of the basket!

Fast Reflexes

What do you get when you use 2 lightsavers to block nerf bullets shot at you? Fast reflexes!


This is exactly what the boys were doing today after school. They took turns shooting and dodging. Simeon was rally fast at moving out of the way.


I love Ammon's HUGE smile in this picture!

As they were doing this the dryer repairman was down in the basement. He probably thought the ceiling was going to fall down!