First day of School 2013

 Getting ready to enjoy our annual back to school supper.  They requested spaghetti this year.

 Our guiding verse for this year is from 1 Timothy 4:12

 Here they are before heading to Lincoln Elementary and Yankton Middle School

Lauren is 11 years old and starting 6th grade at the Yankton Middle School

 Jillian is 9 years old and in the 4th grade. Her teacher is Mrs. Rehurek

 Madelyn is 7 years old and starting 2nd grade.  Her teacher is Mrs. Hoesing

Owen is 5 and starting Kindergarten.  His teacher is Mrs. Moon. 

Summer 2013, Part 2

SOFTBALL!  We played lots of softball this summer!  Each of the girls played on a different traveling team so that kept us plenty busy.  Here is Jillian after her state tourney in Sioux Falls.  She enjoyed playing for the Fury.

Here is Madelyn giving pitching a try at one of her games.  She played for the younger Fury team and loved it as well!  She referred to her uniform as her costume and loved getting dressed up as she would say :)

Here is Lauren with her Shamrock team after the state tourney in Rapid.  They had a great summer together!

Dad and Owen practicing for the Mutton Bustin event at the 2013 Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo

The ride was so quick we didn't get a picture.  But he sure was cute!

We had lots of fun this summer, but also found time to work and help out around the house and yard.  Here is a before shot of some of our trees before we pulled weeds....

After.....  Those poor baby trees have to feel sooo much better now!

Will and the kids after a successful morning of weeding!

Can't beat ending a long summer day of fun and swimming with s'mores around the fire pit with the neighbors!

Summer 2013, Part 1

We started the summer off with a trip to the Black Hills for a Yankton Children's Choir tour.  Lauren and Jillian sang at Wall drug, Mount Rushmore and Story Book Island.  Here they are with Lauren's friend Paige and our neighbor Annika.

After the tour the rest of the family met up along with both sets of grandparents to take part in the Crazy Horse Volks March.  We had a great hike and really enjoyed the experience.  Will and I and our parents had completed it 11 years ago.  Lots has changed since then!  We stayed at our favorite place .  The Pulmer Gulch KOA.  We did some horseback riding, saw the Badlands and even had time for an old time photo!

July 4th at Grandpa Cliff's Farm.  The cousins love being together!  They always line up their chairs and take in the firework show being put on by the adults.

End of the year....

 

Proud Mom Alert!  I have lots to share as it's been a very busy Spring. 

 

 

 AWANA awards night.  Of all the things the kids have accomplished this year, these are the awards that I am most thankful for.  They have spent many hours learning verses and completing projects.  I know having that knowledge of the bible and the word of God in their hearts is going to take them far!

 Celebrating with our neighbor Austin at the reception after an awesome Yankton Children's Choir Spring concert!

 Mother's Day 2013.  I am blessed!

 

 Lauren and Jillian with their piano teacher Muriel.  We loved hearing them play at their recital.
They also earned blue ribbon superior ratings at our local piano contest this past Spring.

 Owen graduates from preschool!  Here he is recieving his diploma.

 

 Lauren recieved the President's Academic Excellence Award at her 5th grade awards banquet.  She works very hard and we are very proud of her!

 She is leaving behind many great memories at Lincoln Elementary School. She is looking very forward to Middle School.   Here she is with her Principal Mr. Struck. 

 Owen's Last day of Preschool at Webster.  Mrs Vondracek and Mrs. Mclure

 Madelyn's last day of 1st grade with Mrs Haceckey

 

 Jillian's last day of 3rd grade with Mrs Fitzsimmons

 

 

 Lauren's last day of 5th grade with Mrs. Roth

 

 

Madelyn preparing for her ballet dance.  We loved watching her in the Dance Recital!   She is a beautiful dancer.

Disney World Trip

 We took an amazing family vacation to Walt Disney World back in February.  It was a wonderful trip with so many memories and good times!   Here we are getting ready to ride the "Tower of Terror" 

 Having fun in "Mexico" at Epcot

 

 Owen completed Jedi Training.  He is officially obsessed with Star Wars!

 

 Enjoyed lots of 3-D shows.  Disney does it all so well!

 

 

 Another beautiful day.  Getting ready to attack Epcot!

 

 

 We stayed at the Disney Hotel "Art of Animation"  Loved it!

 

 

 The shows at Hollywood Studios were amazing! 

 

Had time to spend one full day by the pool.  Weather was perfect!

 

Everyone that goes to Magic Kingdom has a picture in the Tea Cups:) There was a huge downpour about 4:30 the afternoon we were at MK.  It ended up working out great, because it cleared out tons of people and allowed us to ride just about every ride with no lines.  We were soaked but it was well worth it! 

March, Easter 2013

                                                         Owen got a big boy bike!

                   Lauren's basketball team won their division at the Roger Haas Tourney.  Go Zelles!

 My favorite part of hosting holidays is setting and decorating the table. The girls helped me this year.  We had 20 at our house for Easter. It was a wonderful day!

                       Nailing our sins to the cross.  Lauren made this cross for Will years ago.

 

Heading to church

  

2 days to prepare it (Thank you Darlene for helping me)  and 20 minutes to eat it all!

          We finally had Owen's official family birthday party on Easter as well.  It was a very full day!

Student of the Week

Lincoln Elementary Student of the Week!  Way to go Jillian!