The Sindlinger Sixpack

Wordless Wednesday 2/08/12

2012-02-08T20:26:00.002-06:00

HaPpY 5th Birthday, Aftyn Alivia!! :D

2012-02-03T04:32:00.000-06:00

Our baby girl turns 5 today....ahhh, bitter sweet!! That was the FASTED 5 years in history, I swear!! She is a sweet little lady who will NOT be taken advantage of...at least not by her sisters!! I asked her yesterday what I was going to do all day when she goes to kindergarten...her response... "Sit on the couch and listen to quiet." Ahhh, I like her thinking!! Now she needs to tell her dad that that's what I need to do!! She's such a cutie with a mind of her own. Happy Birthday, Aftyn!! We LOVE you!! =) Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 2/01/12

2012-02-01T03:57:00.000-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 1/18/12

2012-01-18T03:32:00.002-06:00

Happy 9th Birthday, Teagan!!

2012-01-15T07:58:00.007-06:00

Happy Birthday, Teagan!!

Teagan and friends

Teagan skating

Chloe and Taffy

Piper and Heidi and Seijla

Happy 9th Birthday, Teagan!! She chose a skating party/sleepover. And we lived to tell about it!! Lots of SCREAMING girls!! YiKeS!! =) Hopefully, our next birthday party will be quieter ;) Hope she had FUN!

Wordless Wednesday 12/28/11

2011-12-28T07:14:00.005-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 12/21/11

2011-12-21T07:35:00.004-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 12/14/11

2011-12-14T09:34:00.005-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 12/07/11

2011-12-07T18:48:00.002-06:00

All Star Gymnastics

2011-11-30T16:13:00.004-06:00

My kids are SUCH gymnastic fans...OK, maybe I have some influence on that. I LOVE gymnastics!! I know that I shouldn't encourage them to flip on the couch but what they heck, you're only a kids once and it can only HELP their form ;) Wonder what they'll get for Christmas?!?!

Wordless Wednesday 11/23/11

2011-11-23T22:35:00.003-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 11/17/11 (a day late)

2011-11-17T07:42:00.005-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 10/19/11

2011-10-19T06:38:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 9/28/11

2011-09-28T16:17:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 9/14/11

2011-09-14T20:47:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 8/31/11

2011-08-31T16:36:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 8/24/11

2011-08-24T14:41:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 8/17/11

2011-08-17T03:53:00.002-05:00

Henry Doorly Zoo-Omaha 2011

2011-08-16T09:47:00.004-05:00

Taffy, Piper and Teagan at the Zoo =)

M-I-C-K-E-Y cactus ;)

Piper was obsessed with cactus here at the zoo today

Piper and Aftyn

Piper, Aftyn and Teagan

the girls were OBSESSED with swinging from the vines!!

Aftyn (aka Taffy)

Piper

Teagan

Piper and Teagan on the swinging bridge

Since it was my birthday (Allison's) last week, I decided I wanted to go the the Omaha Zoo = ) Chloe was at camp so she wasn't with us but she had been to the zoo earlier in the year with her girl scout troop. We FINALLY saw most of the zoo...usually we see the front half and then the kids want to leave to go to the hotel to swim...this year, we didn't get a hotel but just made it a day trip (it's only a 2 hour drive). We actually stayed for almost 4 hours!! (a record for our family!!) It was a perfect day with sun and a high of 78 degrees--also an unusual August day!! Usually it's MUCH hotter then that! On our way home, we stopped at Red Lobster...one of my favorite places to eat lunch!! anyway, we had a GREAT day and I ate WAY TOO MUCH!! (and, of course, we missed Chloe!) Enough for now...-AS

PLEASE VOTE!!!

2011-07-25T19:12:00.002-05:00

I entered Aftyn into the Cutest Kid Contest!!

Please go to this site and VOTE for TAFFY!!

Wordless Wednesday 07/20/11

2011-07-20T12:15:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 07/06/11

2011-07-06T08:57:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 06/29/11

2011-06-29T03:39:00.001-05:00

Kansas City, Here We Come...June 2011

2011-06-25T10:14:00.005-05:00

Piper...Oceans of Fun

Shane

Me, catching some rays...aahhhh...

Aftyn, Teagan and Piper

Chloe

Aftyn

Shane, Teagan and Chloe at the KC Zoo...

Teagan by the elephants at the Zoo

Aftyn gave "Bluebird" a dollar and then she put it in her mailbox...

Piper swimming at the hotel...

Chloe and Teagan

Shane and Aftyn...

Planet Snoopy at Worlds of Fun...

Teagan, Myself and Aftyn on the carousel.

We went to Kansas City this past week for a 3 day get away...what a GREAT trip!! We went to Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun and the Kansas City Zoo...could have stayed a few more days to get more things explored but we had to come home : ( We had a BLAST!!! Can't wait to do it again!! Maybe later this summer...we'll see...Luckily, it's only a 3 hour drive... enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 06/22/11

2011-06-22T04:36:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 06/15/11

2011-06-15T20:09:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 06/08/11

2011-06-08T11:24:00.005-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 06/01/11

2011-06-01T16:56:00.003-05:00

HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY, PIPER Roodle-Doo!!

2011-05-28T03:46:00.002-05:00

Our Piper is 7 years old today!! Can't believe it!! She was our "surprise" child (everyone has one, right??) And she's been keeping us guessing ever since she was born. She is the most loving child but she has a way of keeping us in line with her "other" side...(I don't have to worry about her being taken advantage of, that's for sure!!) She is a Wonderful child and can't imagine life without her!! Here's to many Happy Birthdays, Piper!! We LOVE you!! Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 05/25/11

2011-05-25T21:21:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 05/18/11

2011-05-18T19:41:00.005-05:00

Teagan's Floor Routine

2011-05-17T15:51:00.005-05:00

Teagan had her 2nd house team meet this past Saturday. She has REALLY improved since her last meet. I was VERY IMPRESSED with her progress. She looked a lot more confident this time then her meet in January. She got 4th place on the bars, floor and beam all with high scores in the 9's. She got 1st in the vault and then placed FIRST in the All-Around!! WOOT WOOT!! She did an AWESOME JOB!!

Wordless Wednesday 05/11/11

2011-05-11T17:46:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 05/04/11

2011-05-04T15:52:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 04/27/11

2011-04-27T15:14:00.005-05:00

Happy 15th Anniversary, Shane!!

2011-04-13T16:42:00.003-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHLOE : )

2011-04-07T10:33:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was my oldest daughter, Chloe's, birthday. She turned 12!! (Hard to believe I have a child that old since I'm only 29 ; ) Anyway, per her request, she wanted to go out for breakfast and then to Starbucks before school. Little did she realize that she also had early morning band practice at 7 am-YIKES!! So she and I were out the door by 6 am and we wnet up to a local diner for breakfast and then headed to Starbucks where she ordered a Vanilla Bean Frappachino. (I don't even drink Starbucks--I'm too cheap!) And then to school she went. Luckily, it was an early out day at school so it didn't turn out to be tooo long of a day for her!! Anyway, Happy Birthday to my Chloe!! May she continue to grow into a beautiful, thoughtful young lady! We are sooo **BLESSED**!! Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 03/23/11

2011-03-23T16:13:00.005-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 03/16/11

2011-03-16T22:28:00.005-05:00

February Update

2011-02-19T18:58:00.006-06:00

For Taffy's birthday, Daddy got a new ('09) Jeep!! (Totally UNplanned-the van died--BIG TIME)

Lexi (the cat) and Berkley (the dog) wrestle ALOT!! = )

Taffy's birthday morning...She LOVES Barbie!!!

On Taffy's Birthday, I went in to her classroom and observed for a little while...

Dinner at the Oby Adobe...

Hello!! IT's been a while since I've added to the blog...what a BUSY last month I've had (and it hasn't been busy with any thing EXCITING-just work. Which I am thankful I have the opportunity!)

In the last month, my baby turned 4!! Where did that time go??? She's Sweet and Sassy and knows what she wants (at least at home ; ) She has some definite opinions, that's for sure...

Shane's Van broke down to the tune of $6,500 to fix it (it was an '02 with 140,000+ miles) so we decided to let it go to van heaven and get him something new...it was bitter sweet. Usually, I get the new vehicle and he gets mine but this time, he got something he's wanted for quite a while now...He LOVES it and I'm glad he got what he wanted (for once ; ) But now I officially have the "junker". I will be taking his once it's nice enough to take the roof off though!!

Anyway, enough for now and I'll try to keep up a little better...although my work schedule doesn't slow down until late April/early May (I'm covering a maternity leave)...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 01/19/11

2011-01-19T15:18:00.005-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 01/12/11

2011-01-12T23:27:00.004-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 12/08/10

2010-12-08T09:27:00.003-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 11/24/10

2010-11-24T19:55:00.003-06:00

Our Family in a Nut shell

2010-11-13T18:54:00.010-06:00

I looked at my blog this evening and realized that I have a WHOLE LOT of Wordless Wednesday posts and not much worded posts...so here's the skinny on what's been going on...(wish (GLAD it's not) it were more interesting ; )

Aftyn is in the 3 year old preschool program (2 days a week) at a local church and LOVES every minute of it!! She's such a little social bug that she would go every day if she could. She also is in gymnastics-2 different classes. She's in the 3 year old program and also the beginner's class. She loves that too!! She helps the teacher demonstrate to the 3 year olds at the younger class (with 3 older sisters all in gymnastics, she's a bit more advanced then some of the 3 year olds without the older siblings to learn from).

Piper is in 1st grade now and LOVES it!! She was SOOOO EXCITED to go to 1st grade because she actually got a REAL LOCKER this year!! (the little things that excite her!! ; ) Last year they only had a hook on the wall to hang their coats and back packs. She's in Gymnastics and is really progressing quite well. She said she gets a candy bar on Monday from her coach because she can do a backbend and then stand back up. She is sooo EXCITED!! She's also in the local girl scout troop but I'm not the leader this year. I was last year and that's a TOUGH GIG to be the leader!!

Teagan is in 2nd grade and likes it somedays but would happily stay home if I'd let her. She goes without too much complaint. The problem is the kids next door are home schooled and get to stay home so she wants to too...she would HATE it!! (and so would I--I'm not that organized or patient ) She's also in Gymnastics and got moved to house team (that means she's REALLY GOOD!! : ) She loves it but was really nervous for the first month because she was afraid of the bigger girls...she's one of the youngest ones on the team. She also goes to girl scouts and LOVES it!! She has the same leader as last year and she's AWESOME!! I don't know how she has time to work full time and do all she does...she's AMAZING! Teagan has been doing piano lessons since the week she started kindergarten. She does REALLY well even though she says she doesn't like it sometimes. She does...and it shows when she plays the Titanic --LOVE that song!! She even made me buy her 3 new piano books today!!

Chloe is now in 6th grade...she hasn't liked school much until this year. I think she's like me-low attention span. She likes switching class rooms every 50 minutes (or whatever it is) and she is in a brand new building with 2 other schools 6th graders...her grades are really AWESOME too. (even her math, which hasn't always been FABULOUS) She also does gymnastics again...she took 2 years off so she lost some of her skills. And she does girl scouts again this year as well as piano (and clarinet at school). She complains about doing piano: she'd rather socialize then practice. She does it well though : )

I took a job recently as an adjuct instructor at a Vatterott College in Des Moines. I teach limited Xray to the medical assistant students who choose to continue on. I LOVE it!! I can't believe I like it as much as I do. I do it in the evening 3 nights a week and I have between 5-7 students each night. Small class, which is a nice for me to get my feet wet with : ) Every 10 weeks I'm able to sign a new contract or not and they have the same liberty-to either keep me on or not...WIN-WIN for both of us!! Next phase, I'll only be doing the 2 nights a week class and I'll have some of the same students. We are both moving on to the next phase. I thought 2 nights a week would be easier on my family at home. I still work at The Iowa Clinic 1-3 days a week, depending on the week. I have some liberties with that as well as far as telling them yes I can work those days or no I can't. That makes it nice. I usually work Fridays for sure and then may fill in another day if needed.

Shane still works at Iowa Methodist doing special procedures...he's been in that position since 1992---a LOOONNNGGGG time!! He is atleast team leader now though...which is good and BAD!! ; ) He's always looking for a new position. He'd like to work for a vendor of medical supplies that he uses everyday. Hopefully, one day that will come true.

That's our family in a nut shell...not very exciting but usually very busy!!

PS...kinda sounds like a Christmas letter...now I don't have to write one ; )

Wordless Wednesday 11/10/10

2010-11-10T22:47:00.003-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 10/27/10 (a day late ; )

2010-10-28T13:13:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 10/20/10

2010-10-20T23:14:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 10/13/10

2010-10-13T23:04:00.005-05:00

Happy Birthday, Grandma WIlma!! :-)

2010-10-10T22:02:00.005-05:00

My Grandma Wilma

My Dad, his sisters and my Grandma...

Max caught a FISH!

My Uncle Darb...SLEEPING!! Not more then 10 minutes after he told me he doesn't take afternoon naps anymore...GOTCHA!!! ; )

My dad caught a BIG ONE--Haha!!

Piper told us earlier that she could fish with a dress on...I guess she changed her mind and caught a BUNCH of them!!

Chloe FINALLY caught one!!

Teagan caught one too!!

A few weeks ago, we made our annual trip to SE Iowa to my Grandma Wilma's birthday party...this year it was ACTUALLY on her real birthday and she turned 90!! What a Beautiful lady, inside and out!! As always, Aunt Claudia and Uncle Bob graciously hosted it at their place...and the fishing this year was FABULOUS!! Cousin Cauy even just hooked a fish in its face as it was swimming by!! Unfortunately, Aftyn got the flu in the middle of the night so she and Shane stayed home and weren't able to come celebrate with us : ( But Grandma or anyone else didn't NEED that this year...so we left the flu in Dallas County... As always it was a WONDERFUL day, despite the weather starting out raining. We still had a BLAST with all our cousins, aunts, uncles and of course, Grandma Wilma!! Can't wait until next year!! = )

Wordless Wednesday 09/15/10

2010-09-15T22:15:00.004-05:00

1st day of PreSchool!!

2010-09-10T07:02:00.003-05:00

Aftyn posing at home...She picked out her own clothes and she requested that I curl her hair...

We are walking into school...

Inside the school...pretty sure her smile can NOT get any BIGGER!!

Found a spot on the carpet next to a new friend...

This is after school...ok, I lied...her smile got BIGGER!!! = )

Aftyn started preschool yesterday. She goes twice a week from 9:30-11:30 am. As you can see, she LOVES it!! I asked her if she'd like me to homeschool her and she said NO! (thankfully--I would NOT be good at that!! Not organized enough :( She was most excited about Goldfish for snack. Other then that and she told me she sang "I'm a little teapot" song, she didn't say much about it. She did say she wanted to go back next week when I asked her and she said she had fun when I asked her. I enjoyed the quiet time too...I got all the girls' bedrooms picked up and vacuumed--until my vacuum got over heated!! Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 09/01/10

2010-09-01T18:39:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 08/18/10

2010-08-18T16:51:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 08/11/10

2010-08-11T21:04:00.004-05:00

Happy New Puppy to ME!!

2010-08-07T21:39:00.007-05:00

My friend thinks she looks like Cleo on Clifford...Berkley is CUTER!!

We surprised Chloe at camp by showing up with Berkley...we bought her from a lady near her camp...

Teagan with Berkley...

Piper with Berkley...

SSOOOO TIRED...My SWEET baby girl... = )

In honor of a milestone birthday, I got myself (with Shane's blessing) a new Puppy!! She's a 4 month old Morkie girl. I call her my "little Blonde Bombshell" but her official name is Berkley. Had I heard or thought of that name before Aftyn was born, she would be Berkley. Teagan likes to call her BARKley...but she doesn't really bark-YET!! I couldn't be more thrilled with my "GIFT". It was Love at first sight!! Enough for now...-AS

PS...she's too small to be a dog, she's an ACCESSORY! ; )

Wordless Wednesday 07/28/10

2010-07-28T20:57:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 07/21/10

2010-07-21T08:25:00.005-05:00

Happy 4th of July!!

2010-07-04T17:03:00.003-05:00

The big girls and I did the Boy Scout Fun Run in Waukee this morning. The weather was raining and awful but despite the weather, we all had a good run. I did the 5k and the girls did the 1 mile run. After the run, we had our gaterade and fruit that is provided and we left. Little did we know that Teagan got 1st place in the 8 and under group. What a SpeedSter!! Funny thing is, originally it was just going to be Piper and I doing the run and then Piper asked Teagan if she wanted to do it and Teagan said, "Yea, but I'm not gonna run very fast cuz I don't want to get outta breath." How FUNNY is that??? Unfortunately, it's STILL raining and all the activities got postponed until tomorrow...I hope the weather is better!! Happy Birthday, America!! -AS

Wordless Wednesday 6/23/10

2010-06-23T22:09:00.002-05:00

Aftyn started "Blastball" this past weekend...She LOVES it!! = )

Wordless Wednesday 6/16/10

2010-06-16T19:40:00.006-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 6/09/10

2010-06-09T06:46:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 6/02/10

2010-06-02T12:31:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday, Piper Shalea!! : )

2010-05-31T08:06:00.003-05:00

Breakfast in Bed...scrambled eggs and toast.

Opening her gifts before school...

Piper opening a gift from Grandma and Grandpa at Open grill night at our place...

Emma, Isabelle and Piper at Chuck E Cheese for Piper's party...

Isabelle, Teagan, Emma, Piper, Haley, and Reagan at Chuck E Cheese...

Piper turned 6 this past week...what a weekend it has been. We went to a wedding on her birthday, celebrating the joining of 2 peoples lives. What a Beautiful wedding!! Saturday morning, Piper invited some friends to Chuck E Cheese for some birthday fun, pizza and cookie cake. After that, Grandma, Grandpa, Tina, Allix, Lance and Thomas came over to hang out until Lance and Thomas' game started again. They were in town for a baseball tournament. Later that afternoon, we hosted a May Birthday Month barbeque. My nephew, Jack's birthday is May 27th, Piper is May 28th and my brother, Tony's birthday is May 29th. We had brats, burgers, beans, salads, cupcakes and summer beer--YUM!! What a FUN day!! Happy Birthday, Piper!! We LOVE you very much!! : ) Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 5/26/10

2010-05-26T18:37:00.002-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 5/19/10

2010-05-19T06:51:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 5/12/10

2010-05-12T21:15:00.003-05:00

To my Girls...I LOVE YOU!!

2010-05-09T23:05:00.003-05:00

No Love like a Mother's Love

There is no love, like a mother's love,

no stronger bond on earth...

like the precious bond that comes from God,

to a mother, when she gives birth.

A mother's love is forever strong,

never changing for all time...

and when her children need her most,

a mother's love will shine.

God bless these special mothers,

God bless them every one...

for all the tears and heartache,

and for the special work they've done.

When her days on earth are over,

a mother's love lives on...

through many generations,

with God's blessings on each one.

Be thankful for our mothers,

for they love with a higher love...

from the power God has given,

and the strength from up above.

by Jill Lemming**

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there and to my girls...who, hopefully, will be moms one day and find the joy that it brings...

Taylor Swift Concert

2010-05-09T22:36:00.006-05:00

I don't know what this is...but we had seats in the SKY!! We were WAY UP THERE!! :(

Teagan, Piper (who's already tired) and Chloe...

Me and Chloe...she's trying to get away but I won't let her... ; )

Me and Piper...before she got tired...she's got GREAT eyes!!

Me and Teagan...

Piper being a little Sassafrass... ; )

Me, Piper sleeping, and Chloe...

SSOOOO Tired!!!

Teagan's eyes are getting heavy too...I think I took this around 10-ish...

I took the girls to see Taylor Swift in concert last Thursday night...It was a GREAT concert!!! The girls (Teagan and Chloe) enjoyed it while Piper fell asleep 2 songs into Taylor's performance and didn't wake up until it was time to go home : ( Teagan stayed up (it was a LATE concert) but she was asking to leave starting around 9:00 or so...she is NOT my late night girl!! Moral of the story is...you have to be 10 to go to a concert!! We had fun anyway...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 5/5/10

2010-05-05T20:13:00.002-05:00

2010-05-01T21:14:00.005-05:00

Teagan making her own pizza...

...and eating her fruit and whip cream...

Teagan and Reese working on a science experience...

Teagan working on an art project...sponge stamp art...

FINALLY, asleep...

Teagan had a Girl Scout Sleepover last weekend. I REALLY dreaded it. (I HAD to sleep over too) It turned out to be really a FUN experience!! The girls earned alot of their badges that night, making their own supper to science experiments to art projects and music. It was a busy night that went from 6:30 or so until about 10:30...I was wondering how Teagan would do that late...she's NOT my night owl and asked at 8:45 when it would be time for bed. She held in there like a trooper though and stayed up with the rest of the girls. I didn't sleep well because I was SOOOO COLD!! I didn't pack for the temp in the church basement, evidently. : ( and in the morning, when I was FINALLY sleeping well, Teagan, my EARLY BIRD, woke me up...Ggrrr... In the morning, the girls got their nails done, ate breakfast and we were home by 8:30. This made me really APPRECIATE that I got a GREAT kid!! She was very respectful of others, a good listener, and made me VERY PROUD!! Great Job, Teagan!! Enough for now... -AS

Wordless Wednesday 4/21/10

2010-04-21T14:13:00.003-05:00

VOTE!!

2010-04-15T10:43:00.001-05:00

Waukee is trying to Win a Grant to put up Wind Turbines at several of our schools...you (and I) can vote EVERYDAY until April 30th...PLEASE help Waukee Win this Grant...I think it will be a GREAT asset to our schools!! See Side bar to find out where to vote and it does make you register your email but they WILL NOT send you Junk emails or sell your email to 3rd party companies...PLEASE VOTE!! Thanks!! Enough...-AS = )

Wordless Wednesday 4/14/10

2010-04-14T06:56:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 4/07/10

2010-04-07T07:49:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday, Chloe Noelle!! :D

2010-04-06T21:38:00.002-05:00

Teagan is helping Shane cook Chloe's bacon and eggs for her "breakfast in bed".

Not quite awake...

No one has ever accused Chloe of being a morning person ; )

Downstairs, at the table but still not quite awake...

Opening some gifts...

Happy Birthday to our oldest Daughter, Chloe. She turned 11 today!! I remember the day she was born like yesterday...and I remember asking the nurse why ANYONE would do "this" (give birth) more then once. And I was pretty sure I would NOT be doing it more then once!! I'm glad I did but man, that was a tough delivery...and I don't even have any delivery horror stories-THANKFULLY!! Chloe had a GREAT day and we are BLESSED to be her parents!! Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 3/31/10

2010-03-31T07:08:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 3/24/10

2010-03-24T04:55:00.001-05:00

Spring Break 2010

2010-03-18T06:59:00.005-05:00

The Aquarium at the Mall of America...FUN!!

Teagan, Chloe, Aftyn and Piper

Aftyn and Piper in front of a REAL Beaver lodge...

The tunnel...the stingray is SMILING as Aftyn scratches his belly ; )

Aftyn and Piper on the brass turtle...

Chloe trying on a Crab hat...

Piper and her half yard of water...

Aftyn is Cheesin' it up!!

Teagan rode this ride several times...a mini space shot. I rode it once with her and it was kind of SCARY!! She LOVED it!!

Shane and I watching the kids swim...the water was COLD so they stayed closer to the hot tub...

Shane and I took the kids to Minneapolis for a couple of days over Spring Break. We spent most of our time at the Mall of America and some time at the hotel pool too. It was a GREAT time!! We went to the Underwater Adventures Aquarium at the mall and we also did the indoor amusement park. The kids LOVED it!! Even Aftyn had a BLAST riding on the rides!! Shane and I very easily get motion sick so we both took Dramamine with breakfast and it worked very well!! Neither one of us got sick--AMAZING!! = ) Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 3/17/10

2010-03-17T06:53:00.002-05:00

Wordless Wednesday 3/10/10

2010-03-10T17:34:00.005-06:00

Out of the Mouth of...PIPER!!

2010-03-03T13:50:00.003-06:00

Piper Shalea..

Last night, Piper gave me my English Lesson...she was teaching me what letters were vowels. She couldn't decide if "O" was a vowel or not and she wouldn't take my word for it that it was. When I recited ALL 5 vowels, she looked at my with an astonished look on her face and said, "How do you know?" I told her I learned that in Kindergarten too. ; )

Today when Piper got home from school, she said, "Mom, you know why I'm so fast everyday? Because Chocolate milk has 100 calories and I drink it everyday." Really?? Where does she get all this information?? CrAzY Kid!! Gotta LOVE her!! Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 3/3/10

2010-03-03T12:29:00.006-06:00

ps...sorry these are ALL of Taffy but I've been sick since last Friday and I try to post recent pictures and she and I went to the mall today to get out of the house and then we spent some time outside when we got home so here she is!! March 3 and look at ALL THAT SNOW!! (it is melting though!! = ) -AS

I Wish You Enough...

2010-03-01T16:11:00.009-06:00

A friend of mine forwarded this on to me and it really struck me. I don't know who wrote it but I REALLY like it...Enjoy!! -AS

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.'

They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'.

'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone...' He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

He then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

The Onion...

2010-02-28T15:48:00.005-06:00

So Friday, Aftyn and I both had the flu. She woke up at 3 am sick and I woke up at 5 after taking care of her with it. My mother in law calls Friday night and I'm still feeling ICKY!! She said she just got a paper from one of her nurse friends saying that in the olden days, people used to place onions around the house in bowls and that was suppose to take the "Flu germs" away from the people that had the flu. I'm feeling so bad that I have Shane run to Dahl's to get my an onion. He brings it to our room and sits it on our bedside table. A little while later, Chloe comes in my room to ask me something and then she said, "Mom! You smell bad!!" I say, "Like what?" ( I had just taken a relaxing bath so I couldn't possibly smell bad) She said, "Like rotten Subway." (as in the sandwich restaurant) I start laughing and told her it was the onion on my night stand and that Grandma Linda told me about it. She busted out laughing and it obviously didn't work because it's now Sunday and although I haven't vomited since Friday, I still don't feel too hot. You can go to snopes. com and find out all about the onion story...but what did I have to lose?? Nothing...Enough for now and have a good night...-AS

NO MORE SNOW!!!!

2010-02-27T21:14:00.005-06:00

Chloe with her find!!

Either trying to get more down or knocking them down...not sure which...

(ps..can't wait until that area is filled with FLOWERS instead of SNOW!!)

This is where she got her huge icicle...

We tried knocking them down with a basketball but it didn't work...

Iowa has seen a record number of snowfall this winter. We are in the number 5 spot in the history of snow...only 10 more inches and we break the record set in the early 1900's. At this point, I'm SICK of snow but I would like us to break the record. We're this close so we may as well just go for it and be done with it, right?? According to the Farmer's Almanac, we are suppose to get ALOT of snow in March. One person telling the story said 40 more inches...that, to me, is hard to believe but I did hear from others that this will be a bad month. Only time will tell...Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 2/24/10

2010-02-24T06:50:00.004-06:00

Wordless Wednesday 2/17/10

2010-02-17T06:30:00.004-06:00

Chloe's Band Solo...

2010-02-16T20:25:00.005-06:00

Chloe had a band solo today after school. She plays the clarinet and did a GREAT Job!! She actually played two songs but I only uploaded the shorter song. This is her first solo in front of a judge and she's only been playing since September. I am SOOO PROUD of her!! = )

Enough for now...-AS

Conversation with Teagan...

2010-02-13T20:08:00.003-06:00

Today, we stopped by Best Buy just looking around and I went over to look at the tv's. Teagan followed me over there and she said, "How much are these?" I told her that that particular tv was $649. She looked at a price tag and said, "Who would spend $699.99 on a Tv? oh, wait. Do they do checks here?" I said, "Yes." "Ok, Mom. Do a check and get that one." Obviously, she thinks a check is NOT real money...funny kids... Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday 2/10/10

2010-02-10T21:44:00.004-06:00

Stella's

2010-02-07T20:48:00.005-06:00

Teagan and Isabelle eating cheese sticks...

Piper...

Piper getting a shake poured on her head...

Isabelle getting a shake on her head...

Aftyn getting a shake on her head...

Teagan getting a shake on her head...

Chloe's lying on the floor for a shake on her head...

CrAzY kids in the photo booth...Teagan, Isabelle, Taffy, Chloe and Piper (counter clockwise from green coat)

Teagee, my little WALRUS!!

Aftyn and Piper...with shakes on their noses...

Teagan trying to catch a bite in her mouth...he missed a little ; )

We met my sister and her family out at Stella's Friday night. My kids LOVE that place...the atmosphere is very FUN!! 50's style diner with mediocre food. But the shakes are fantastic and the fact that they pour them on you head is VERY FUN too!! My kids are always curious to see the "soda jerk"... The kids had a blast!! Enough...-AS