wordless wednesday

it's been a while...so it's going to be a little random....

1. We had a pretty crazy week last week. Tim was in New Orleans for a national convention, I was in Cedar Falls for a class, Ellie was with Grandma and Grandpa Weesner, and Cecilia was at the farm with Nana and Papa. It was a little stressful for me to think we were all going to be in different places. I don't like to be away from my family so I was nervous about the week. However, the girls Ellie and Cecilia were so excited to go stay with their grandparents so that made me feel better:) Everyone had a great week. The girls got some time alone and both had a lot of fun. We are so blessed to have so many people love our children so much!! My class was wonderful and gave been tons of new ideas to use in my classroom. I also got to hang out with Scott and Tina. Tim had a fun time in New Orleans and got to see old friends. So all in all it was a good week.....however we were all happy to be home together. Doesn't the song go something like...reunited and it feels so good:)

2. Last week Ellie had VBS and she had a great time! On Friday night, they had a concert. There is just something amazing about seeing all those kids together singing and glorifying God. I am so happy my children have such wonderful place to come together with friends and learn about Gods amazing love!

3. One of the things I wanted to accomplish this Summer was checking out Sam's Club to see if we wanted to get a membership. Well we did. The one thing I really wanted to buy from Sam's Club is hummus. Is it bad we got a membership just so I could buy hummus?

4. Big Brother starts July 7th! I am so excited! I love that show!

5. We are planning a camping trip to Minnesota. We are all pretty darn excited. Since we don't want to live on hot dogs alone I have been trying to come up with some ideas. Blogland has not let me down! I have found some fun campfire meal ideas. Including this great idea for campfire burritos.

6. My garden is growing like crazy and so are the weeds. I have spent a few hours over the last few days getting it cleaned up. We have already enjoyed some radishes from the garden. So yummy! I can't wait for tomatoes!!!

7. I really hope we get some pool weather.....a few weeks ago I reported we had been to the pool six times....after yesterday we are now at seven. Not much pool happening over the last couple weeks.

8. Randomly we measured Cece on the height chart yesterday and she has grown....drum roll please....almost 3 inches since her birthday in February! Craziness!

9. Ellie has been missing both front teeth since late May and now her new front tooth is starting to pop through. Not gonna lie I am a little sad, I love her toothless grin!

10. Last night, my parents were up and some how we got on the subject of when I was born. My dad told us how he had a really bad cold,  he took some cold medicine, was watching football, and fell asleep. So he was sleeping when I entered the world! In his defense (if there is one), in those days fathers were not allowed in the delivery room...boy how things have changed! (He was giving me a hard time about my blog not being updated and I told him this story was definitely blog-worthy!)

just a little flashback:)

While we are enjoying these beautiful June days let's flashback to a beautiful January day.



We are truly blessed to get to enjoy all four wonderful seasons!

This post is dedicated to my Dad....he has been asking for these pictures for 6 months....sorry I took so long Dad...enjoy:)

Nine Things for Nine Years

Honestly, I can't quite believe Tim and I have been married for nine years! I mean NINE years...that is one year shy of a decade!?!?! Holy Cow!! Just in case you don't believe me you can click here for a flashback and see for yourself! So in honor of our wonderful and crazy nine years, here are a few random facts about us! Enjoy....

1. Tim and I met while he was my boss. We coached t-ball, softball and baseball in our hometown parks and recreation program. Those were some fun times! We coached my sister, my cousins Jenny, Josh, Jill and Joy (and we take total credit for all their athletic success!)

2. When I first met Tim, I knew I would marry him. Given I was only 16 years old (and he was 21) it was kind of a strange thing! At the time, I told my good friend Lauren that he was the type of man I wanted to marry. I knew down deep he was the one. However, we didn't officially date until I was 18.

3. Tim's family moved to our hometown when he was a junior in high school and I was in 6th grade. I vaguely remember him from that time. I remember him playing basketball once and hitting a 3 pointer. My hometown is rather small....so you know most people. But before working together I did not know Tim at all. I did however know his younger brother Paul who was dating my friend...okay lets get it right my BFF Shanna. 

4. So as many of you know Tim and I got married and so did Shanna and Paul! It is just plan awesome to have your BFF as a sister (we just drop the whole in-law part!). I love telling this story to my students...they get so confused!

5. Tim asked me to marry him on April 16th. We were sharing a Papa Murphy's pizza when he totally surprised me and got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. And of course I sobbed back a yes!

6. We were married on a beautiful June day in our hometown. We were married in the church I grew up in and celebrated the night away at the local country club. So many of our family and friends were there celebrating our love right along with us...it was just an amazing day!

7. We have two beautiful girls and one angel in heaven. We make a great team and in my humble opinion doing a pretty swell job parenting together!

8. Living apart for nine months is the toughest thing I have every done hands down! We knew it would really stink but the end result would be so worth it. And it has been. Two years removed from that crazy time, sometimes we can't even believe we lived through that!

9. Tim is an amazing husband. He is dedicated to our family and we are his priority. Plus, he is an amazing cook and he cleans! Yep he cleans...his specialty bathrooms:) I am very lucky to have him by my side for all the ups and downs of life. He makes me very happy! I love him so much!

We are not the type to make a big commotion, so we probably won't do much for our anniversary. However, we probably will share a Papa Murphy's pizza:)

Cupcake Party Details

When Ellie told me her idea of a cupcake decorating party, I was excited! I thought it was the perfect "theme" for a 7 year old party. However, I didn't want it to come off as babyish. We took a trip to Party City and she picked out polka dot tableware. Perfect...we are on our way!

I used an amazing cupcake baking pan loaned to me by my neighbor to bake Ellie a huge cupcake shaped birthday cake. It was sooooo easy!

To add a little touch of the cupcake theme, I placed cupcake liners in mason jars to use as centerpieces....I got the idea from here.

I also hung tissue paper flowers over the table. I created them using this tutorial. It added a whimsical touch. Now, both Ellie and Cece want some in their bedrooms! They are pretty fun!

We came up with a couple fun cupcake themed party games--Pin the sprinkle on the Cupcake and a Sprinkle Relay Race. And what good party doesn't have a pinata?!?! Well every one I have ever planned except this one! I am afraid of pinatas...all the swinging and near misses about give me a heart attack! So when I saw this tutorial for a pull apart pinata I was very excited! All the fun without the danger!

My pinata did not turn out perfect, but it did the job! I will do a few things different next time...like spray paint the ball shape before attaching the tissue paper.

For party favors, each guest received a personalized apron, their goodies from the pinata and the cupcakes they decorated.

Also, I have to thank pinterest for giving me a place to "pin" all the ideas I saw while cruising the web. It was so nice to have a place to put all those ideas! Often I see things I like but then forget. It helped alot to be able to keep them all in one place!!

All in all it was a fun and simple party. Most importantly Ellie had a blast. Ellie was really involved in the planning which made it even more fun!

Ellie's Birthday Party!

For her 7th Birthday Ellie wanted a Cupcake Birthday Party...that is she wanted a party where her and her friends decorated cupcakes! She wanted all the goodies like frosting, sprinkles and candy...simple enough! We also came up with some cupcake related games--pin the sprinkle on the cupcake, a sprinkle relay race and of course a pinata. Needless to say she was so excited for her party!

Ellie and Cecilia before the party anxiously awaiting her guests!

Pinata Time....

 Scrambling for goodies!

Playing Hullabaloo....the weather didn't exactly cooperate so glad we had a Plan B...that actually worked!

Opening presents. She received some really neat gifts! She is a lucky girl!

Highlight of the Party....CUPCAKE DECORATING!!!

 Yum-Yum!

 Goofy Girls!

Cake Time! I didn't even have to cut it since they had so many deliciously decorated cupcakes of their own to enjoy!

I think all her Birthday Wishes came true! She had a great time!

Meal Planning Monday

Week of Monday June 13th.

This meal plan will come as a list of possible meals I can make. I have the groceries to make these meals but we will leave it up to fate to determine if these meals actually get made. I am not gonna fight it, Summer is just a good time to roll with the punches, go with the flow, fly by the seat of your pants...ok, ok you get it:)

So here is my list....

Pizza Muffins
Tuna Salad Sandwiches
Pepperoncini Beef
Chicken Enchiladas

There will be other meals...don't worry my children will not go hungry...we will make things like salad and grilled cheese and turkey sandwiches and cereal and smoothies and.....they eat A LOT during the Summer:)

a few things

1. Ellie's birthday party was a success! She had a wonderful time. I took tons of pictures and a post with all the details is coming soon:)

Here is a sneak peek..

2. Yesterday I decorated the shelf above our TV for Summer....think of it as our mantle:) While I was working on it Tim asked if I was almost done. I looked at him and said "honey it's never done!" It's the truth....I don't think I could ever have it all done...always coming across some new idea! Anyhoo, I am way happy with how the shelf looks now!

3. Good news my garden is growing well and the rabbits are leaving it alone. Bad news it needs weeded really badly! Yikes!

4. The girls and I hit some garage sales this morning. We have not been garage sale-ing yet this Spring/Summer and we hit the jack pot. I found a few clothing items for the girls and a bunch of crafty things for some projects that I have in mind. I am excited!!

5. We found out this week that Paul, Shanna and kiddos are moving. While we are sooo happy for them, we are sad too. We have really enjoyed living five minutes away from them the last two years. However, they will not be far away at all. We are so happy their family will be together more! They deserve it! And they will have no excuse for not bringing Dutch letters to family events:)

6. Ellie received the movie Tangled from my sister for her birthday. I think we have watched it everyday since she got it...sometimes even twice! I will admit I don't mind at all...I LOVE that movie! It is so cute!

7. We are enjoying this little cool down. I love having the windows open and a cool breeze floating through. We are enjoying it while it lasts...soon enough it will heat up again and we will be headed back to the pool!

8. This Summer we have been trying to do a "rest time" everyday. It has been good for everyone. Obviously, Ellie doesn't nap. However, the long days of playing, swimming, playing, and more playing tucker her out. So some mid day rest has been very benefical. Cece is on the verge of not needing a nap...yet she still needs one. Rest time has been especially helpful for her. Some days she sleeps and others she doesn't yet she still gets some down time. All together it has made for a pleasant Summer!

15 Questions

15 Questions with 7 year old Ellie Jo.

1. What is your favorite color?
hmmmm........pink

2. What is your favorite food?
I would say that Chinese is my favorite.

3. What is your favorite drink?
lemonade

4. What do you want to be when you grow up?
hmmm a doctor

5. What is your favorite toy?
a soccer ball

6. What is your favorite game to play?
soccer

7. What is your favorite movie?
Tangled

8. What is your favorite type of ice cream?
if I was to pick I would pick mint ice cream

9. What is your favorite place?
Hy Vee....because it has good Chinese!

10. What is your favorite book?
Ivy and Bean

11. What is your favorite TV show?
Good Luck Charlie

12. What is your favorite thing to play with Cecilia?
Dress Up

13. What is your favorite thing to do outside?
Play!?!?! Swing on my swingset and slide down my slide!

14. What is your favorite thing to wear?
What I was wearing at my birthday party....a skirt and tank top!

15. What is your favorite thing to help Mommy do?
Snuggle up!!

Check out Cecilia's 15 questions {here}

Happy Birthday Ellie Jo!

Ellie is 7!

While she is constantly growing and changing.....some things never change:)

Here is Ellie helping me make cakes for her 2nd birthday party....

Here she is after she helped me make cupcakes for her 7th birthday party....

We love you lots and lots Ellie Jo!!

lately

We have been a little busy lately....a good busy though!

Here is a quick recap of what we have been up to

1. we camped thursday and saturday nights with Scott and Tina out at Saylorville Lake. It is becoming a family tradition to run Dam to Dam and camp out at Saylorville. It was a great time!

2. I ran Dam to Dam. It was a hot and muggy 12.4 miles..but we met our goals and finished in 1:49.48 (my goal was to be under 1:50...just made it!!). The best part about the run was having Tim and the girls cheering for us around mile 8. I was really starting to get tired and seeing them gave me a much needed rush of energy! Running those types of races really is a cool experience...one of the neatest things is having people cheering you on.

3. Ellie Jo turns 7 tomorrow! I cannot believe it! We got an early start on celebrating Ellie Jo's birthday camping on Saturday night with my family. Tomorrow she is having her "friend" party...so I am busy getting things ready. Yesterday I paper mache-ed a pinata. Cupcake making is on the agenda for today!

4. I am planning the crafts for VBS....and I have to have samples and directions ready for tomorrow. Yes this the same day as her party! yikes!

5. Ellie started swimming lessons Monday. She is worried about passing this level. She is a great swimmer so I think she will be fine!

6. We have become frequent visitors to the pool. We have pool passes again this year and I figured up that we would need to go to the pool 13 times to break even....we have already been there 5 times..we are well on our way!

We are loving summer!

play set!!!

We had a very productive yet fun Memorial Day Weekend. Our "To Do" list included building a play set and sand box. With some much appreciated help from both Tim's parents and my parents we were able to get everything accomplished! We are so blessed to have them so eagerly help us out!!

sorry...this isn't the best picture...highlights our grill more than the backyard:)

Here are just a few pictures from our day of work....

After the play set was built I told Cece to tell Grandma and Grandpa and Nana and Papa thank you for building the play set for her. She looked at me and said, "not Grandma and Nana....they was just watchin." That girl sure does pay attention to the details! So even though they did not actually help "build" the play set they did help by entertaining girls, cooking dinner, running errands, drinking cappuccinos...

Though it looks like I am just standing there...I was actually holding the beam in place...tough job but someone had to do it!

Girls taking the swings on their maiden voyage!!

Ellie and Cecilia are loving the play set and sand box!