Finally Celebrating Alex's Birthday with Friends!

We planned to celebrate Alex's birthday with friends a bit AFTER her March 23rd birthday...however, our lives got crazy and I kept putting it off.  Finally, after she got pretty upset with me one night (understandably so!), we locked in the date (it is now MAY!!) and called her friends.  So thankful that they could all go!!  So, we have a date and friends...now to figure out WHAT to do!  While talking with my mom, she brought up the local pottery painting place and said that Alex had enjoyed doing that when she took her a while ago.  WONDERFUL IDEA!!!  Alex agreed and that was the plan.

The girls had a good time together and enjoyed painting.  They painted for a few hours and then we headed to Culvers just down the street.  They were able to enjoy lunch and ice cream while Alex open her gifts (even though she told them no gifts!!). 

We are so thankful and blessed by the young lady that Alex has become.  Her choice of friends proves this as well - they all had a good time and got along with each other really well.

Anniversary #17 Getaway

Matt & I were able to get away for a quick weekend trip in April for our 17th anniversary.  17 years!!! 

This past winter, I found out that all of our favorite worship bands would be together on tour in the Spring.  I looked at dates and found that they would be in Indianapolis over our anniversary weekend!!  We confirmed dates and child care, finding that everything would work out great!

We headed out Saturday morning...giving us enough time to letterbox a bit at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indy.  Wow!  What an amazing cemetery!  There were too many boxes to find in our short time there, but we were able to locate a handful and we explored while driving around.  We drove to the top of the hill in Crown Hill (also called Strawberry Hill) and discovered these beautiful buildings and amazing view of the city skyline!

These two pictures are of the 23rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison (family plot)

We drove to the hotel and got ready to head to the concert which was downtown at the Banker's Life Fieldhouse (home of the Indiana Pacers).  We LOVED the concert (Kari Jobe, Hillsong, Elevation Worship and Jesus Culture) and headed back to our van (over a mile of walking) around 11:30/12:00.  We found a 24 hour Denny's a few miles out and stopped for a very, very late dinner!  We finally arrived back at our hotel around 2:00am.  A late night for us!!

We awoke the next morning to rain.  This was sad as we were hoping to hit a few parks on the way home. We ate breakfast then hit the road, heading home.  We decided to try a few quick stops near Turkey Run State Park.  This was our favorite stop by far!  What a neat covered bridge and overlook. 

We had a great time - albeit short.  It was great to have one on one time with each other as well as worshipping our God with 12,000 other believers!  A glimpse of Heaven for sure!  I still can't believe it has been 17 years!  I think it's time to start thinking about our 20th - a big trip possibly??

Spring Band Concert - 6th Grade

Alex performed at Wilson's Spring Concert last month.  She plays flute for the band and also performs in the choir. She has a talent for music (a quiet talent because she is very shy about performing or singing on her own).  I have spoken with her band teacher a few times this year and he always tells me how impressed he is with Alex.  She has a general knack for reading and understanding music and rhythm, which is wonderful! 

She is looking forward to 7th grade music where they will participate in marching band as well as play with the 8th graders (6th graders are kept separate). 

State Reports - Final Go Around

Our Final State Report!!! This is a huge deal!  All students in the Moline School District prepare a state report for 4th Grade and perform a Wax Museum exhibit for 5th Grade.  This is our final state report! 

While both kids didn't get their first choice (or their second or third)...they were both excited with the states they picked.

Will went from wanting to choose Alaska (the largest state) to picking Rhode Island (the smallest state)!  While we researched Rhode Island, we came up with some great ideas for things to do while visiting Rhode Island this summer! 

Maddie chose Kansas because it was a state that she had been to.  I think she was disappointed when all the things she kept mentioning were located in Kansas City, Missouri and not Kansas City, Kansas...but she got over it! 

Both kids received an A+ on their report and presentation and are happy to have them done and over with!  Now to start thinking about their person for the wax museum....

Kaitee - Growing up!

Kaitee has had quite the year so far!  In March, she got braces on.  Then in May, she started to wear contacts.  This picture is a culmination of these things...but with nice "side effects"!  Because of the contacts, she's been able to wear sunglasses for the first time since she was a toddler!  It is hard to see in the picture, but her nails have grown tremendously also.  Because of the brackets on the braces, she's no longer able to chew her nails...and consequently has grown them out and they look beautiful!  We love to see how she is blooming into a lady!

Another Awana Graduate!

We graduated another kiddo from the Awana program this past month! Alex worked very hard and finished 2 books this year so that she could earn the Timothy Award.  She is looking forward to helping with the younger kids next year.

After placing our kids in the Awana program as Cubbies (3 year olds), it is amazing to look back and see how much they have grown both physically and spiritually.  God has worked in their lives through these years and we pray that He continues to do so in coming years.  His Truth has been placed in their heart(s) and He has promised that His words will never come back void (Isaiah 55:11).