Play time

The last couple of weeks have been bittersweet for us.  We've enjoyed hanging out as a family and enjoying the beautiful weather.  Heath has been able to spend some one on one time with his kiddos.  Him and Kade spent a night at the movies and then the next day fixing our roof due to the horrendous thunderstorm that we had that tore off a few of our shingles.  Heath and sissy have enjoyed some walks and playing outside together.  Alexandria just loves being outside...it's so cute to watch her run around the yard and throw her hands up in the air!  

Yesterday I took the day off, we kept Kade home from school, and sissy home from daycare so we could all witness Heath graduating from the Academy.  I was so glad that I went!  Grandma Renae was also with us, which was nice as she was able to help me with a certain little girl that didn't want to behave very well.  We got to meet Heath's instructors, some of his classmates (he had 18 people in his class), and the Warden of the Fort Dodge prison.
Heath officially started his position today as a Correctional Officer at the Fort Dodge prison.  Life will be quite different for us now, but we are very happy that he has his foot in the door!  Congratulations, honey!!    

My Support System.

Love my Mom, I hope to make her proud.

Glad Kade was enjoying the roof repairs.

Big Brown Eyes.

Hanging with my Sweetheart.

Can't get enough of these.

1 for the road.

Sis loves to be outside.

Sis and Mommy having some fun.

Photo-op

This post is full of a bunch of random shots.  We should be all caught up with our blogging now!  Enjoy!  

Pudding Bombs.

3 Amigos.

Puppy Patrol.

Goooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sis checking into Des Moines University's options.

What a stinkerdoodle!!!!!

Human Jungle Gym.

Happy Easter!!!

We went to Easter service at Hope on Saturday.  It was a bit of a challenge getting there since some little girl didn't want to wear the dress, patent leather shoes, or headband that I got for her.  She did end up settling for the dress and shoes.  I have a feeling that the headbutting between the two of us is just beginning!  When we got to church, Sis was amazingly excited to see the Easter bunny there...so much that she growled at it!  Too cute!  The service was wonderful as always.  Alexandria did pretty well through service until the music was all done.  She doesn't do well in the nursery either, so it makes for a challenging time.  She does seem to charm the people we sit by though.
On Sunday we headed up to Hubbard to have Easter at my mom's house.  It was nice to see so much family! Renae and Jon were even able to come, which was nice.  I know Mom and Mike were excited to have ALL of their grandchildren there, which hasn't happened in at least a couple years.  After feasting on tons of delicious food, we went outside for an Easter egg hunt.  It was so cute to watch!  It was Alexandria's first egg hunt, so Kade helped her out.  I wasn't sure what she would do but after the first egg was found she got into it and giggled and ran around the whole time.  She loved it!!  After nap time, we went out to the farm to see Brandon and Jess' critters.  We got to see brand new baby kittens, baby calves, 5 dogs, and 2 horses.  Sis was most intrigued with their house cat, which kept running away from her.  Their new pup, Hank, seemed to take a liking to her.  Since the wind was blowing 125 mph that afternoon we hung out inside for awhile and visited with Dad.  Kade and Heath had gone out before us to shoot some clay pigeons.  Kade got to shoot his shotgun for the first time, which he really enjoyed!  It was a very good day and blessed Easter!!!

Sis in her Easter dress.

What did the Easter bunny bring me???

Kade, Alexandria, Will and Holden posing after the hunt.

I see it, Kade!

Easter Love.

All of the grand kids:  Jaxson, Holden, Will, Connor, Patrick, Abby, Kade, Alexandria, and Kenneth

Good form, Kade.

Shooting clay pigeons

Checking out the cows.

Where'd they go?

Brad's Birthday Bash!

Friday evening Heath and I met Brad and Steph, along with many of their friends, out downtown at Dos Rios for Brad's 35th birthday.  It was a fun evening out and ended with something unexpected.  Heath and I stopped in at Mid Air & Ink to get some tattoo ideas for me.  I have been wanting to get Alexandria's name on my foot, so we just popped in and I ended up with some ink!  It only took 15 min...thank goodness!  I love it and Alexandria already knows where it is and can say "taa-too"!

Birthday Crew.

Dave inflicting some pain.

Fresh paint (ink).

Tons of Pics

OK...so, here I go!  This is my "catch up" blog.  I'm so far behind I just told Heath to dump all the pics on here and I'd summarize.  We have been quite busy lately and adjusting to daddy's new job.  He's had 2 weeks of evening shift hours and 1 week of days, which I like much better and so do the kiddos.  The weather has been SO nice lately that we've tried to take advantage of it as much as possible.  Alexandria wants to be outside every chance that she gets.  She loves to look for puppies, go for wagon rides, and hang out on the front step.  We've gone to the park a couple times and she likes to swing, but that is about it.  She is still quite gun shy when it comes to exploring and doing anything on her own...she pretty much clings to me.

Last weekend I was a bridesmaid in one of my very dear friends' wedding.  Amber Harvey, whom I used to work with, married Anthony Brice.  They both live in Las Vegas, but were able to pull off a wedding back in Ames so all of her family could attend.  It was a very fun time and I'm so happy for both of them!!!      

I would like to thank all the grandparents for helping us out lately...Nana Pam and Papa Mike for babysitting so we could go to rehearsal supper, Dad for bailing me out when our daycare lady's father-in-law passed away, and Grandma Renae and Papa Jon for watching sissy so Heath and I could go out for supper this past weekend.  We love you all!  

Chilling with an Icee.

Nice shirt sweetheart.

The gorgeous Mrs. Main.

In deep.

Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Brice.

Trouble!!!

Sissy in her night gown.

Sis playing the man of the house.

Big girl.

Sis had a blast with Grandpa.

Just trying to be cute.

Chillin in the icebox.

Just a swing-in.

We have a Teenager!!!!

Caution!!!!  Kade is 13!!!!  We can barely believe it!  He is growing up way too fast and changing so much.  His voice is getting deeper, he is interested in girls, and has the dreaded puberty acne.  We (Heath, Alexandria and I) are all kind of a nucense to him.  He doesn't like us to come in to his room, which is where he would stay 24 hours a day if we let him.  I'm the horrible mom that makes him come out to eat, get fresh air and Heath enforces his daily chores, which induces eye rolling.  Oh, how I remember the days when I did all these things.  That is what Heath and I tell each other all the time because that is what we have to do to manage our TEENAGER!  Last weekend was dedicated to celebrating Kade's birthday.  Friday after school Heath picked up Kade and two of his buddies and brought them back to our house. We let Kade open up a couple of his gifts and then they headed to pick up Brayton and go to the Ramada Inn Waterpark in Des Moines for the evening.  They had a blast!  Sis and I went down for just a little bit to let her play in the water, but that didn't happen.  She was terrified!  My sensitive little girl was not liking this new experience one bit.  So, we headed back home and left dad with the 4 boys.  Saturday evening we went up to Eldora to the Pizza Ranch to celebrate with all of the family.  It was a great turnout and a lot of fun!  Thanks to everyone for coming to help Kade celebrate his birthday!! 

God's gift to our world. 3-2-99

Sis & the birthday boy, ready for the day.

We got Kade a case for his shotgun.

Earpiece for the WII & lava lamp.

The girls at the water park.

Kade & his crew.

Birthday cupcakes, yummy.

Sis & Grayson catching up.

Aunty Steph slow down and watch your fingers.

Kade and his Ravens.

That is not a fire, it's just a lot of candles.

Kade & Great Grandpa Dougan.

These were needed. Thanks Cathcart Crew.

Coookieeeeeeeeeeeees.