The pool is up and in working condition - BUT it is WAY too cold for Jason and I. Ally and Drew tried it one night, but found out that their toes froze in the pool.
While working on the pool, Jason took off his shirt. Drew asked if he could too - then Ally. She might only be four, but we decided to implement the little girls must wear some type of top outside thus her bikini. Notice Drew trying to be mad at mom! He can barely keep the smile off his face.
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We had an AWESOME weekend in STL without the kids. I don't think they missed us either. I will blog later about all the fun, but we got to head to a Cards game. Why we went I am not sure - they always lose when we go!!! We had a good view except for left field. The problem was the family behind us. We don't mind it usually. The kids weren't the problem - it was the DAD and the play by play telling his 8 year old what was happening. "You see the 3rd baseman move - he thinks they are going to hit it to the other side... Did you see the center fielder get it and throw it in???"
The most frustrating part - which I didn't hear much of but Jason did was the degrading comments about his wife to her or about her. "I am sorry about my wife - she is slow." "What do you mean you don't know how long it will take to get ready for the party when we get home..." I wish I could have turned around and told him off!!!
Maybe the next time we will win and have good company around us!
Positives: During the 1 hour 1 minutes rain delay we were under the roof because our seats were so high!
A good friend from college has started a BLOG!!! Kim and Cory are blessed????? with 3 boys. Kim and Cory were in our very first care group in Ames. We played RISK with them - even by candle light until we had kids. Check out her start of a great blog!
I miss my dear friends at Cross Keys. Today was the last day of school there - ohhhh and we have 2 more. I miss my dear OLD friends too. Connie sent me this email this week about getting old and how they are all losing their memories. If you ask me - they lost their memories a long time ago!! This would be much more funny if you knew these ladies -
And the story goes....
One day Marilyn paid for her lunch at the drive thru and then drove off without her lunch. She thought the guy would say, "People do that all the time." But he said, "I've never had that happen before." Marilyn also said wherever she drives, if she isn't thinking about where to go, she ends up at Patrick's house. June said she never can find Barb's house unless she goes one way. She always gets confused. The best one was Barb complaining about leaving her I-pod on the front seat of her car - While we were at the Elephant Bar. She asked Marilyn to go and check to see if all was OK. (This was after we all had lunch and were just shooting the breeze.) Marilyn came back laughing hysterically. Barb, Marilyn and June rode together. Barb had driven her car. Barb had not turned off the engine, locked the car or taken out the keys, or hidden the I-pod. Fortunately, everthing was OK. Barb was glad she had Marilyn check. I guess Marilyn and June didn't wait for Barb when she got out of the car. Are we loosing it? Maybe - But we are having fun in the meantime.
Having fun making a mess with the play-doh bucket. Drew is making a rainbow - Did you recognize him without his hat? It was the first time all night it had been off!
And I can't get enough of my favorite little girl who was going to out-do Drew's rainbow and add 8 different colors. Unfortunately her parents are sticklers about keeping the colors seperated and wouldn't let her get them all out.
Scoggins I know you will be smiling, but Jason took Drew's binky away last night while I was in STL. He called and was very proud that Drew went to bed without it. I cried. He just took away the last thing that made Drew still a baby. He has made it today without it for nap and a second night. I think that he did get it in the middle of the night. Jason got up when he was crying but couldn't remember what he did - Drew walked into our room with Binky so you tell me what happened.
The kids have been BEGGING for water to plan in. It has been fairly chilly this week, but it was really nice today. They put water in the wagon to splash while I mowed and Jason continues to work on the fence. They also shivered while running through the sprinklers. Wish we could remember where we put Ally's new swimsuit!
I went to St. Louis last week with our 8th graders for the end of the year trip. My kiddos went to Fun City and indoor arcade/bowling alley/go-carts/laser tag/waterpark/etc.... It sounds like they had fun, but we did too.
We left at 5 bells - goodness I haven't seen that hour for awhile. We got to the science center at about 9:30 and saw a show at the planetarium. We went to the stadium for a tour and then to the zoo for three hours. We pulled back into Iowa City at about 10:00 for a very long day.
I took JR (7th grader) with me since he was unable to do much of the stuff at Fun City due to his accident earlier this year. He is a big Cardinal fan which made his day. When he was in the dug out, I could see thoughts of MLB running through his head. He is playing ball for their traveling team now - AMAZING! The guys (picture is below) in my group were AWESOME with him and really took care of him and made him feel welcome - Thanks boys! JR wore a monkey mask around the zoo - which startled his mom when we walked in the door at home!
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Sometimes Drew just plays too hard and doesn't know he is hurt. Tonight after I helped Drew and Ally fill my flower plants, Drew got on his bike (barefoot) and flew up and down the sidewalk. He was giggling and laughing and yelling the whole time and going very fast. Ally on the other hand was complaining that I wouldn't let her spray us with water!
We got upstairs to take a bath and noticed Drew's big toes all tore up from the sidewalk. My-you would have thought someone took his favorite toy away! We got him cleaned up and I brought in 2 Backyardigan bandaids that I had to fight to put on. While Jason read to them, Drew had to have "Bob" the icepack on his feet. He is now limping because of coarse your knees don't work if you have bandaids on your toes and you can't walk! I will let him be my baby tonight!
Notice he still has his cowboy on and Mater and a tractor wagon is beside him. The tractor is under "Buggie." We don't go ANYWHERE without them - kind of like your American Express.
Everyone has a post telling how great their mom is - I fully agree. My mom has been there for me, my brother and sister whenever we needed her and sometimes when we didn't think we needed her. I love her dearly and am thankful that she is around for my kids to play with.
We headed to the park on Sunday for a picnic. Grandma and Grandpa joined us later to play which is Drew and Ally's joy especially when dad is tired of pushing on the swings.
I am not sure what Ally is doing???
Enjoying the bug ladder!
I did enjoy a cooking-free weekend! Jason had made breakfast and grilled lunch on Saturday. I woke up to blueberry pancakes on Sunday and pizza for supper on Sunday. Pretty good - I think we might be considering a change in household jobs but our meal variety will be limited with Jason cooking!
I have gone to several track meets this year. I used to run track a LONG time ago. Believe it or not - I was fairly good for our small school. My one accomplishmet was the state track meet - we barely qualified in the 4x100 but we did and we had a blast. I also ran hurdles and high jumped.
I wish I could coach now, but first I don't have my coaching endorsement - which is not hard to get (one Saturday) AND most importantly I have 2 kids which I would barely see for 2 months. For now I will stick to watching and cheering on my kiddos.
Ally and Drew love to go to the meets. They like the BIG kids and love to play outdoors. We went to a meet about 30 minutes from our house on Friday night. Leaving had 2 purposes - 1. I wanted to support my kids and 2. Jason needed time to work on the fence without his 3 helpers.
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Does every child try to put something in their nose????
I know that my mom would claim that I put peanut M&Ms up my nose.
The other day I picked Ally up from school and their first comments were - "You would never believe what your daughter did today!" Usually they continue with a story about her wanting to do our laundry or something, but today was unlike the others.
Ally was sitting by the restroom waiting for others when she started screaming. Her teacher asked what she did and Carson said "She put a rock in her nose." They pulled it out and made sure that there wasn't anything else up there. We are trying to get her to stop eating playground rubber and putting things in her nose. YUCK!!!
We aren't sure where he gets it - since we know that Jason and I can't dance!
We are getting our lawn re-hydro-seeded since the rain a day after it was sprayed washed it all away. It wasn't meant to get that much rain POURED on it! Jason was working on getting it ready again. Drew decided to help. He is actually doing a good job! Or at least better than Mommy!
And the story goes...Ally has a great Christian video, Boz the big green bear,(great movie - go buy one!) In the movie Boz and the kids, Drew and Gracie, build a birdhouse out of all kinds of shapes left over from their grandpa's wood pile. The movie has a great impact on our little girl. She believes that she is Gracie and that her new sister (not pregnant) will also be named Gracie.
With Bob the Builder in our house (Jason) was working in the garage, Ally found his scraps and decided that she was going to build a birdhouse. She has been BEGGING her daddy to help her and he finally gave in when she drug all the wood to the backyard while he was working on the fence and the plastic tools from the playroom.
In 15 minutes, she (with Daddy's help) had a birdhouse. It makes me sick that in 15 minutes he had the cute birdhouse, but it takes FOREVER to get some of my "simple" projects done!!! Ally has Daddy wrapped around her finger!
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This is taken from an email that my lovely husband sent me. I wonder if he thinks that I use them often. If he has me figured out then I think that I am going to have to change to keep him on his feet!
Words Women Use:
1.) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3.) Nothing : This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4.) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
5.) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6.) That's Okay : This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pa y for your mistake.
7.) Thanks : A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome.
8.) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying F___ YOU!
9.) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking "What's wrong?" For the woman's response refer to #3.
Here are pictures of my two adorable nieces!!!
Kaylee will be 2 on May 19th! She is getting SO big and looks so much older now with piggies! I love the curls - if only Ally had some!
"Baby #2" comes to use hopefully before on on September 17th. Good birthday present for Grandpa Charlie!
My husband's love in life is seeing the weinermoblie. Today he saw it on his way home from WI in Madison. Haven't seen it for awhile. Have you seen it and where????
Ally's teachers sent me an email today....
Ally makes me laugh! She said to me at lunch, "You know what I want to be when I grow up? I want to do my mom & dad's laundry for them!" Sounds like you and Jason have it made! I knew this would put a smile on your face!
Michelle
I think we have done good - don't you think so honey!!!
I haven't had any pictures of Joe - my student teacher up, but here he is. For computer tech, the kids are doing vidoes about something with big hair???? I'm sure it is very educational!
This is a self-portrait of my good friend Kate - the 7th grade science teacher.
We have been working very hard on the backyard - hoping that someday it will be a great place to play. We had it seeded last Monday and then came A LOT of rain. We aren't sure how much we lost to our neighbors yard???? Jason started the fence. We were outside a lot this weekend. 
Drew is VERY hungry after a hard day's play in the backyard.
Ally enjoys playing outside with eeFAN (Ethan) our neighbor in the back. He is also 4 and loves to play tag and house?????
Today is beeeee - youuuuu- tiiii - ful!!! The sun is shining and supposedly is it suppose to be in the upper eighties today! There is a girls' track meet this afternoon which will be fun to work at.
I have been reminded by my good friend Kristy on the power of prayer. A few months ago I was reading in a book by Beth Moore about having faith - Not just faith in the big things like God healing my dear friends little girl with cancer or that God would be near in circumstances that we don't understand. I was reminded that I need to have faith in the small things that God cares about every little thing. If he can heal the cancer or the broken leg - could he possibly heal my cold? Do I believe or ask him to?
Ally was coughing frantically all day yesterday and was running a low grade fever. As she laid in bed I prayed that he would heal her. Not gradually but over night. Well this morning she had a cough and I said - God I believe. She still has a runny nose but 2 coughs later and haven't heard any since. I am going to believe and pray that God will heal BOTH of my kids' spring colds. Please pray and believe with me that our big God is in control of the BIG and SMALL things of our lives!
Kids say the funniest things and DO the funniest things. One from yesterday... I was the concerned parent in this situation. Ally's teachers were telling me about a bathroom incident where the teacher had just taken all the kids to the bathroom but Ally hadn't told them she needed to go. She told them a minute after they left. The teacher told her she would have to wait. Being the spoiled rotten kid she is - she make a mean face and stuck out her tongue. Her teacher was so surprised because Ally typically doesn't do that. To say the least, Ally had to apologize to her teacher this morning for not using her nice face and sticking out her tongue. Thanks to Sherrie for keeping a straight face while my darling was devestated!!!
On another note, one of my very bright kids was being silly. He was messing with my wooden stool and got it stuck on his head. It wouldn't have been a huge deal except that he freaked out and wouldn't calm down to get it off. After several minutes of calming him down (as the others are rolling on the floor) we managed to talk about rectangles and how the diagnol is the longest side so if you can get head going the longest direction you will get it back out.
Did you ever think that I would create a teachable moment in the silliest situation?????
Chris came home this weekend to be a farmer. We would have loved his help at our house, but he had fun running the tractor for my dad.
To keep our kids safe from the skid loader that Jason rented to work on our yard, my mom volunteered so kindly to watch Thing 1 and Thing 2. Thing 3 showed up too with her Daddy and they all got a mess. Kaylee was standing at the tub wishing she could get in with Ally and Drew, so we threw her in the fun. She isn't a big fan of getting her hair washed and is soooo tiny according to my big monsters. For the most part they all get a long pretty well.
We (Amy and Chris) find out on Wednesday that they are going to have a boy - or at least that is my prediction. Everyone else says it is a girl. We will see!
Picts from the yard didn't show up so I will wait until Tuesday to take them in the daylight!
More advice needed....
Does anyone have any good children's cough medicine that they use? Drew is coughing while sleeping and I hate it when he throws up due to coughing too hard! We have used almost every kind and are now on something called Dyselm (12 cough). The dr. is trying some Singular with Drew since we have been in every three wks with the same thing - wheezing rattling lungs/cold. He is a pro at the breathing treatments and the steriods have worked well with opening up his lungs, but the effects are going to wear off if we have to continue the use.
This will only be funny to me and if any of my kids at school see this, but if you knew Josh Bern you would laugh too. Josh is very smart and asks more questions than my Ally.
My seminar kids have several "building" projects going on. On the floor was three kids' stadium that they were designing and building. Well Josh found some extra foam board and made an angel halo and a captain's sea hat out of it and got in the building and was singing something silly and pretending to ring a bell. I just take a deep breath and remember 27 days left to go.
My house is beautiful. I love it. But we need some extra work on the front! Any ideas? We do plan on someday putting a rail on the front porch. I am thinking about rock around it but what kind of plants should I put. I kill most everything because I water good for the first month and then forget it. I believe that the tough will survive. I guess I have learned that plants aren't so tough.
He can only wish that we would let him go out and drive. He likes to sit with Grandpa Charlie and drive the hic-up-mup truck or the tractor.
Jason's work car has had a broken window for a LONG time now. He has a couple things wrong with it, but "headquarters" want to do some of the work themselves. They have their own mechanics to help save some money. I think it is a great concept but NOT WHEN YOU LIVE IN IOWA AND THEY ARE IN WISCONSIN!!!!! So we are waiting for some "dude" to respond to Jason. For now we are thankful that we have the extra truck for him to drive. What did families ever do without two cars???
Many of you know me well enough to know that I like to be in control. My husband is nodding furiously I am sure wherever he is reading this. This semester I have been given a patience tester. I have a student teacher. Many think this is the dream of any teacher. Someone to do all the grading, copying, teaching, etc..... ummmmm not quite.
I enjoy working with Joe, but I WANT MY CLASS BACK!!!! I am learning to give advice and keep my mouth shut when it doesn't go off quite like I wanted. Joe usually responds like wow you knew that was going to happen or how did you know the questions they were going to have or parts they wouldn't get. You know where they are going to struggle. Well 8 years of teaching has been 8 years of learning over 800 learning styles and 800 ways of learning and 800 different kid's questions.
I want control back! Call me selfish. He time is coming to an end quickly. On a feel good note for me - kids are asking when are you teaching again I don't understand him.....
Yesterday we got some news that was very sad for the Willis family. Jason's cousin in South Carolina has 2 kids both slightly younger than each of Drew and Ally. Winston (almost 2) was taken to the hospital last week after he started to lose balance. They found a tumor at the base of his brain. They operated, but the swelling in the brain was too much and this little boy went to meet his maker. I sit hear with tears in my eyes thinking about my little guys and not knowing how I would get up each morning knowing that I wouldn't get the snotty kisses and big hugs.
Please pray for Laura and Jeff and their 4 year old daughter Maggie. Laura is also pregnant and due in June. Pray for all the families and friends that love Winston so much.
I do know that we serve an awesome God. I know that HE is greater than any sickness. He is my Savior, Healer, and Comforter.
Please note: We are not having a baby - we are not pregnant - our little girl has a prayer that God is saying WAIT!!!!
Prayer at supper tonight made me break out laughing....
Ally:
Thank you god for me to get a hair cut like Drew and Daddy.
Thank you for me to have a baby sister because sisters are really fun.
Thank you for this LOVELY food. (Side note for Scoggins: Lovely food was MEATLOAF in which both of my kids ate 2 helpings)
Amen
This isn't the greatest video of her singing this, but Jason said we needed it on camera.
Words are:
Oh I won't Back down (repeat)
You can stand me up at the gates of "smell"
The words continue and she has a much better memory of song words than her mommy!
It was bitter and all the little girls had to be freezing their tootsies off. Luckily I found a white sweather that would go over Ally's dress. It will be really cute when she can wear sandles! I wish I could get them to smile with out yelling and holding the "cheeeeze!"
Isn't the serious side funny of them -
What in the world??? Snow on April 10th. This is an evil trick. Of coarse my kids want to go out and make snow angels - hummm how about you wait until your daddy gets home! It is the icky wet and sticky snow that soaks right through the shoes and snow pants.
A lot of schools north of us have canceled or let out early, but we are sticking it out. Jason said to look at the positives - if you have a snow day you don't have just 4 hours on the day after Memorial Day - you get a day and a half of non-sense!!
The wind is blowing and the snow is falling feriously - I want my 60 degree weather in STL. The capri pants and sandles not the sweaters and snow boats. Pray for Jason he has to drive to Davenport to deliver a bid!
This is an email from a teacher friend.
Email:
I have a funny story about a little girl in 6th grade with Down Syndrome. She was all excited today b/c she brought her lunch and even packed it herself. Well, her aide decided to take a little peak inside and see what she was so excited about...2 yogurts and a beer! :) I told my mom if I could pack beer for my lunch, I'd do it too!
And some days I feel like doing that too!
Well we have been slowly letting Drew get interested in the potty - but really aren't diapers easier? I don't have to ask or remind him to go! Today I got to Pre-School and Amanda - who works really hard with my monster - said that he needed diapers but she would like pull-ups. HUH?!?! She said that he tells her when he has to go and does but can't get his diaper off. They have been using extra pull-up that they have there on him.
Man - I hate reminding myself to ask him and being consistent, but just think of the money that we get to save. I can't imagine no diapers - WOW over 4 years of diapers. I guess here come the Diego pull-ups and soon the undies. I need practice in that area, Jason says that I can't call them panties anymore, HE IS A BOY!!
I know that some of you are praying for this day, but that means my baby is gone - Do I need another???? Not yet!
We headed to Minnesota last weekend for a Klaassen get-together and had a good time. Ally loved all the attention and playing and Drew was happpy that Grandpa was around. We stayed with Chris and Amy in a bed and breakfast. Ally doesn't understand though that it wasn't Kaylee's house.
Ally and Drew with GG Klaassen
Kaylee and Rachel with GG Klaassen
There is an exciting upcoming geocasheing blog coming if I can figure out how to put a quicktime movie on my dropshots account!
We enjoyed our little girls big day with lots of fun and cupcakes - it seems to be the cake of choice of a lot of people!!! We went to the park to play. I am glad it was nice last week. This week is SOOOO cold. I am glad that I didn't put the winter coats away. We ate at Culvers and Ally ate ALL of her food - man her appetite is growing so much which is amazing that she still only weighs about 32 pounds. Her stupid pants that I bought at Christmas are too short again though but the waist is still drawn all the way.
Jason is amazingly cool.
Finally a good picture of my children!
She made a good wish she said - I think (I know) she wants a sister, but she isn't getting it for awhile and this is not announcement!
Yes we both look gross but we had fun taking the picture.
We had lots of fun with presents - but Drew doesn't understand why she got all the presents. We did wrap something small for him to open. Believe it or not her favorite present I think is her VERY OWN glue stick to glue daddy's w-2 together after she cut it with her VERY OWN sissors.
Yesterday a teacher and I that had been to Thailand gave a presentation to our social st. kids studying Southeast Asia. It was really fun and the kids enjoyed learning about somewhere else. I love showing the kids a different side of me other than the ucky math teacher. Sometimes they can't believe that teachers have a life outside of school - or at least that is how they act when they see us in Wal-Mart shopping.
Hopefully in a few weeks I can share about our adventure to Istanbul!
(Steph this is for you a great reminder of lovely squatty potties!)
I love to watch kids grow. I miss my little girl being a baby. She is sooo old now and gets to go to Pre-K next year - and swim (she is thrilled about that! - Drew won't be so happy) Can you ever believe she was that little.
Wow has she grown!
1 day old!
1 year old
2 years old
3 years old
4 years old - 
