Thursday, May 17, 2012

April-May

We celebrated Brooke's 5th birthday at my parents with my sisters and families, and my grandparents.  It was beautiful and we enjoyed time outside, played cards, and visited.  The next weekend we had Easter at Dan and Kim's and also celebrated birthdays for Jenae, Cooper, and Brooke.  The kids had a great time playing together and the weather was wonderful.  We have been so blessed this spring. 
For Brooke's birthday I attempted to make Kumla ? not sure on how to spell that.  Let's just say I have a lot of learning to do!  It was definitely entertaining.  She is sure growing up too fast, and very special to us.  I don't know what we would do without our "Brookie."  Allyx and Jace got to enjoy the ride for April,and enjoyed seeing and playing with everyone as well.

At the beginning of May we branded calves.  It was a rather hot day, but everything worked out well.  Allyx kept asking: "will they get me", and we kept reassuring her no they are on the other side of the fence.   Tyson, Cooper, Kellen, Brooke, Allyx, and Riley all got to ride in the pickup with Grandma and loved it. 

We had my Grandma Mestl's 80th birthday party at Franzluebbers.  It was a great night.  We played a silly golf game the family made up, had great food, and lots of fun watching the kids play.  I always thought having a lot of cousins growing up was fun, and now it is fun watching my kids play with their cousins as well. 

Mother's Day we met Dusty's family at the L Bar B in Clearwater. The food was great, and afterwards we went to the park to let the kids play.  It was a beautiful evening.  

The school year went fast, but now I guess we will adjust into our summer routine :) We are anxiously awaiting our move to town.  A month from now it will probably not seem chaotic at all, but I have a feeling the next few weeks will have a different story. 


Jace is 6 months old!

My chefs busy at work.


Cooper, Brooke, and Jenae

Grandma & Grandpa Mestl, Grandma Troyer & Jace

Brooke blowing out her candles on her actual birthday! 

Friday, March 30, 2012

March

Jace after his first haircut from Grandma.
Jace before his haircut!
 The girls enjoying the nice weather!



 A few pictures Aunt Halie took for us when he was 4 months old. 
Well March has really gone fast this year.  At the end of February we helped my Grandma move to an apartment.  We have had beautiful weather and have gotten to be outside a lot.  I am not even sure where the time went or what we got done, but we sure seemed busy. 

Monday, February 20, 2012

January-February

Well January came and then we ended up with several funerals within one week.  Dusty's Grandma Forre passed away.  She was a wonderful lady who was loved by many, and is deeply missed by all of her family!  My cousin lost a baby, and we had a friend pass away also.  After that very sad week, we seem to have continued with the rest of the business that life brings. 

The girls and I went along to the Lincoln rodeo with Dusty, they had a great time!  They sure don't like to miss anything.  The last weekend in January Dusty was in Rapid City.  Dusty and Troy placed in the rodeo, and had got to mess around a bit while they were up there.  Amanda and Kathleen came to hang out for a few days.  The girls loooove it when they come to visit!  They played hide and seek, for a very long time, played with games and puzzles, played the wii, and ate and ate! 

The first couple weekends in February were pretty calm and we stayed home most of the time.  It is great to feel like we are somewhat in a normal routine for this semester of school.  This past weekend we worked cows and then moved a few to a different field.  On Sunday the kids and I went to Beemer for the day.  It was nice to see my grandparents, and be around Grandma Troyer's as they sort for the move. 

Allyx with sticky cotton candy fingers.

The girls at the rodeo.

Brooke enjoying the cotton candy.

Troy, Dusty, & Travis

Jace 3 monts old!

He likes to sit in the bumpo and check everything out!

Playing on our huge hill :)

The girls were busy playing, and then I hear..."take a picture of us"

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Back to School!

We are now in the third week of being back into school full blown for the 2nd semester.  It is a must to be organized the evening before, otherwise our mornings are not so "smooth."  Allyx always asks the night before, "where I go tomorrow."  She then follows with wondering about what everyone else is doing.  She does like the fact that Jace goes with her to Deanna's and Brooke comes when Preschool is done. 



Last week we went to Mom's on Friday and came home Saturday evening.  It was a nice trip.  The girls love to go and they really like it when Laura and Nolan are around.  Brooke got to go into town and spend the night with Laura and Nolan.  She sure thought she was pretty big, and Nolan enjoyed the company.  On Saturday morning Allyx woke up at 6:00 asking Grandpa if they could go feed cows.  I got to ride with Dad in the afternoon, and do some work outside which was wonderful.  One of the biggest changes for me with the kids is the fact that I cannot just go outside whenever I want.  I will enjoy the summer again when the kids can all be out.  The girls got to decorate little cakes that Mom made for them, and Allyx helped make cookies earlier in the morning.   She may have ate more dough than anything else but she loves to HELP!  

On Sunday we went over to Danielle and Kevin's for Jaxson's baptism.  The girls love to go over there to play.  They even got the go cart out and Tyson gave rides. Brooke was telling Dusty that she needs one.  I think that is scary :)  When we got home later in the afternoon the girls went with Dusty up to Grandpa and Grandma's and I got some cleaning done which was nice.  Makes me feel better Monday morning if the house is in order. 



Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Pictures over the past several months!

Nolan's Baptism

say cheese :)


Brooke at her first "Dummy Roping" at Hermelbracht's Roping


At Twin Rivers

Allyx's Birthday




 Jr. Rodeo in Albion
 at the lake by Burwell
 First day of Preschool 2011-2012
 Mid-State Finals
 Crilly's Roping: Dusty, Brooke and Grandpa Forre
 Baby Whitney
Brooke, Nolan and Allxy

 Kevin holding Jaxson.


 Being silly at Danielle's
Whitney, Jaxson, Jace, and Colin!  

Catch Up!!

Well it has been way too long since I have posted, so I will do a recap of what has happened since.

May- We finished school, painted and put carpet in a room upstairs for Brooke and Allyx.  Got them all moved in, they do really well sharing a room.  I think sometimes there is a lot of mischief going on up there!! 

June- I started taking 3 graduate classes.  They were all online,and very useful to my teaching which is not always the case.  Dusty was rodeoing, the girls and I played outside, the girls rode Pepper and just that fast June was gone. We went to Twin Rivers with Danielle's family for a short camping/ fishing trip.  It was really neat there, we stayed in old cabooses.  The weather was nice,  but not hot for swimming.  I think there is a good chance we will go back there again. 

July- My cousin Nina got married in New York.  The girls and I went with my parents, Amanda, Laura, Kevin and Nolan in a roadtrip out east in a large RV!! We had a blast.  On the way out we stopped in Chicago and watched the White Sox play the Minnesota Twins.  Kevin is a big Twins fan.  The wedding was at Beaver Camp so we spent a couple days there, hiking, canoeing, playing games and enjoying wedding festivities.  On the way home we went to Howes Cavern, the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum, and Niagra Falls. We did manage to get to a few rodeos with Dusty, the girls and I like to go along when we get the chance.

August- We went out to Halie's for a few days.  Went to the lake at Burwell, and Halie took pictures of the girls for me.  The kids had a lot of fun, we really need to get out there more often.  I started volleyball, then school started up again.  Brooke is in her 2nd year of Preschool and just loves her new teacher.  Allyx is still going to Deanna's, and made a new friend this year Brynn started coming and is the same age as she is. 

September- The Mid-States Finals were in Madison again, so we got to go watch Dusty and Uncle Kyle.  Aubree came to spend the night one evening, the girls just love to play and giggle, giggle, giggle. 
We got a new cousin!  Halie and Kyle welcomed Whitney Faith into the world on the 29th.  She is such a little doll.  We went out to see her for an afternoon.

October- Allyx was Super Woman and Brooke was Tinkerbell for Halloween.  I had sub-district volleyball so I had to miss the fun, but they went Trick-or-Treating with Dad, Danielle and the boys. 

November- Volleyball came to an end.  And.... more babies.  Danielle and Kevin welcomed Jaxson Daryl into the world on the 4th.  He sure is a cutie and has some very proud big brothers.  On November 8th we were blessed with a baby as well.  Jace Daniel was 7 lbs. 4 oz and 21 inches long.  Brooke was a big helper right away, but it took Allyx a little bit to get used to us in the hospital. 

December-I really enjoyed being at home with my kiddos over my maternity leave, we had such a busy fall it was nice to get to see the girls a lot more.  I got to spend some time at my parents which was great, and we watched Nolan for 2 days.  Although a few mishaps happened I do think Kevin will let me babysit again someday :).  I went back to work for 2 days right before Christmas break.  Lacey and Jacque welcomed Colin Robert into the world on the 16th.  Danielle and I went to see them in the hospital.  Another cutie.  All four babies are here and healthy we have been very blessed and I am thankful everything went well for all of us.  The girls really enjoyed the holiday season.  They are at such a fun age, and enjoy playing with all of their cousins. 

January- Wow, 2012 is here! I am back to work, Dusty is busy working and the kids are all going to daycare (Brooke still has Preschool in the morning).  We are looking forward to all of the wonderful moments and events as 2012 moves along.  I do hope to stay more caught up this year :) !