Valentines Day and a Month in Missouri

The last couple weeks have gone quickly, but I am still looking for jobs.  The weather has been up and down and right now we have snow on the ground again.  However, last weekend, it was up to about 50 degrees or so.  We have found a park, (Stephen's Lake Park) that we really like and the kids were content there for 1 1/2 hours last weekend.  It has a 1.5 mile paved trail around it, so I can probably use that for running, too.  However, I'm not sure it's lit all the way around, so early morning runs might not be in the cards for me yet.

We found a climbing rock at the park and the kids love to play.  

They both went all the way to the top, but Gracie was much less reluctant than Owen to try.

A different playground at the same park.

And we found the lake.

I love that the weather is so nice.  It does get cold and snowy, but it doesn't last nearly as long here.  Most of the time it will warm up above freezing within a few days and melt the snow. 

Owen wanted to see how cold the water was.... Curiosity killed the cat... or made him really cold!  Fortunately we didn't have any freezing children this trip.  This lake also has a small swim beach with a splash park for summer.  I'm sure we'll try that out at least a couple times.

Happy Birthday River! And Grandma Kate!

We couldn't have the big birthday for River, but Nick and the kids and drove down to Linn Creek to celebrate with River on his birthday.  I'm so glad that it worked out and it actually was over 60 degrees that day, so we had perfect weather!

Gracie and Owen couldn't resist helping River with his presents.

Gracie and Owen with the birthday girl!  We celebrated with my mom, since she was going to be in Arizona for her birthday.

I think this was the only picture I got of River that he looks happy.  We had fun celebrating with him and hopefully will get to do a big party with more family soon.  He seemed to like the cake after he figured out what it was.

Of course, it got cold again, but that doesn't seem to stop the kids from wanting to play outside.  Just last week when it snowed, the kids didn't even come inside after getting off the bus.  They stopped right in the driveway to play in the snow and started making snow angels.  I had to remind them that they needed to put on snow gear.

Owen jumping from hay bale to hay bale...seems pretty normal.

We finally let the kitties out for awhile when it was nice last week.  They have been staying in a room on the front side of the garage out of the elements.  I'm a little concerned that they have too much space to wander out here.  We'll let them out again soon.  

Valentine's Day!

On Thursday last week I went to New Haven Elementary to help out with their Valentines parties.  Then the kids and I headed up to Iowa after school because they have a four day weekend!  We stayed with my Grandma on Thursday night and headed up to Huxley the next day to visit more friends.  I ended up helping with Valentines parties at Ballard West during the afternoon and the kids were so excited to see all of their friends.  I think the feelings were mutual from all of their friends!

Gracie and her friend Elin

Gracie's 2nd grade class at Ballard

Gracie and Mom at her party at Ballard

I got to help with both of their partied at Ballard because they were at different times in the afternoon.  Both were fun and I was so happy to see some of the parents there who know my kids.

After two fun afternoons of sugar highs, we headed to the water park in Des Moines for more fun!  Staggs came down to swim with the kids for awhile, too!  Going to the waterpark now is so much better than it used to be when the kids were tiny.  Gracie is a pretty good swimmer and I don't worry as much about her anymore, and Owen can hold his own.  They both were able to go down the slide by themselves.  We stayed one night and swam the next morning before heading to the district wrestling meet in Knoxville.

More Swimming

The remainder of Saturday was spent in a gym at a wrestling meet, which wasn't bad because it was so cold outside.  We got to see everyone from our Ballard wrestling family!  It was fun talking to students and parents and I miss that so much!  I'm so glad we got to go.  Ballard had five kids make it to state, which is great.  I wish Rachel could have made it, but she had a really tough bracket.  I hope Nick enjoyed watching, even though I'm sure it was difficult not being in the driver's seat as a coach.  I think the kids were probably pretty excited to see him and I hope they know how much we miss being a part of their lives as students and athletes.  

The kids will be home again for President's Day tomorrow.  I'm starting to get excited about our upcoming trip to Florida, which is four weeks away now!  I'm hoping to start working by then, but at the same time, don't want to have to ask for days off right when I start working.  Something will work out....hopefully!