outside fun!

we have been outside A LOT lately...the weather has been just perfect!

i love just watching them play...especially when they include edyn.

edyn however doesn't always like to be included. they play house and she is always the baby that they try to put to bed! this doesn't make her too happy!


oh the joys of watching them be kids!!

mother's day...

What a fun day we had yesterday, celebrating mom's day! my brother curtis came through town (on his way home from iowa) and we met him and his girlfriend barbara, and mike, sara and owen in the park for a kfc picnic and some fun!

mike, curtis and jared took the girls out on a pink paddle boat (thank goodness they had 2 pink ones!) and they had so much fun!

Then they fed the ducks some peanut butter cookies...hopefully today they aren't belly-up in the pond :)

I just LOVE being a mom and although it's a hard job, it's the best job and I am thankful for being able to be Emma, Ellie and Edyn's mom. I treasure our 3 girls and can't wait for all that there is to come with having girls...shopping, dance recitals, prom, weddings...and the list could go on!!




Thank you God for choosing Jared and I to raise these 3 princesses! We are so blessed that you entrusted them to us and we are so thankful that we aren't alone as we parent them. Thank you that you are in control. And that "you know the plans you have for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11

And in everything, help us to Rejoice...in everything. the little things. Even the hard things. And help us to not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present our requests to you...and your PEACE which surpasses ALL understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus" (somewhere in Philippians, I'm too lazy to get up and get my Bible :)

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms I know! Hope you were able to enjoy your day!

it was a success!

The first ever benefit golf tourney was such a success! I'm so proud of Jared for taking on this task and for all the other coaches and his golf players that helped!! They raised a whole lot of money for Team Tongie and we are so thankful we could be a part of getting to bless families in the midst of tragedy.

The girls had a BLAST...in fact we didn't see them ALL morning!! They were out with the older girls on the golf carts selling root beer and golf balls!! They had the most fun and they keep asking when we are going to play golf again....and Jared just beams with joy :)



Cheer on the Tongi golf team! They are playing in the league tourney today!!

practice makes perfect...

The girls are getting ready for their second dance recital on May 23rd.

They will be performing in 5 numbers with 5 different outfits...backstage is going to be a blast for me, helping the girls change and get ready 5 different times!!



They are SO EXCITED and can't wait for the big day! Here they are practicing their dances and us moms are putting the finishing touches on their "Itsy Witsy Teeny Weeny, Yellow Polka Dot Bikinis!!!" (my favorite!!) Their teacher actually made these costumes for them...she is quite talented!!

Avocados and Rhubarb...

Yes, that is what my girls have been munching on these days! I now have to buy the bulk pack of avocados at Sam's because the girls have been eating them like crazy!!


And my mom brought me several POUNDS of rhubarb last weekend so I've been busy making strawberry-rhubarb jam and honey-lemon rhubarb pie (which is making my mouth water just thinking about how GOOD they turned out!!! The girls both said, "This is the best jelly I ever had". (I think so too, ha!!)

Our little models...

The girls were asked by some high school girls from Tonganoxie to be in a fashion show to benefit "Team Tongie", which is a fund to support students and families that are going through tragedy. The girls got to go to a local boutique (Tutu Cowgirl) and pick an outfit to model! And they LOVED every minute of it! Unfortunately, my battery died on my camera and in the short time with them on the stage, this is all I got!!

The high school has experienced some tragedy recently with the death of one student, another battling cancer, one with a severe brain injury due to a tragic and heart-breaking accident, and another student needing a kidney transplant. Please pray for all these students that are fighting so hard and for strength and peace for their families. Jared and I are helping with a benefit golf tournament this weekend and we are hoping to be able to raise money for this fund and bless many families in the process. Pray for great weather and a great turn-out! There are about 100 golfers so far! Praise God!

My hot prom date...

Another fun part of being a teacher's wife is that we still get to go to prom every year!

Wow, have times changed, though! I learned alot that night about what high school kids are up to these days and I became very thankful when I realized that when our girls go to prom, we will be there at every one of them :)

Grandma & Grandpa Great!

The girls and I stopped to visit Grandma Donnis and Grandpa Joe in Clifton one Sunday on our way back home from Cuba. The girls were quite entertaining, putting on a show for them, as they danced along the fireplace!

What a fun visit we had!

Just a few of her favorite things....

Edyn loves having her sisters push or pull her in the laundry basket all over the house....

....and playing with bubbles has become one of her favorite things to do!

...and we can always find her chatting to someone...she will call people at random when she can get a hold of our phones...and have quite the conversation :)

Memories of Easter...

We had so many fun memories of Easter this year...

...visiting Mr. and Mrs. Bunny (I never knew there were two!!) Edyn wasn't so fond of the Easter Bunnies :)

...being in an Easter parade in Cuba while visiting my parents (we think they stole the show...we are a little biased, I know!)...

...coloring Easter Eggs...

...going on Easter Egg Hunts...




...and the most important memory that we pray stays with them forever is getting to play with the resurrection eggs...These are awesome and tell the story of Jesus so perfectly for their little minds :)

I bought mine at a Christian Book Store but I was looking online and you can make them! I copied a little bit of how you can do this...
Into each egg place the item and scripture reference written on a small piece of paper.

Egg #1:
Message -- Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people waved palm branches.
Passage -- Matthew 21:1-11
Item -- Piece of palm branch. Another option for those of you with extra leggo parts or plastic novelty beads would be to place a small plastic leaf in the egg

Egg #2:
Message -- Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.
Passage -- John 12:2-8
Item -- Small perfume sample or cloth with perfume or a piece of cotton with cologne on it

Egg #3:
Message -- Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples.
Passage -- Matthew 26:17-19
Item – a piece of Chex cereal; or take clay and make a small bread-like shape

Egg #4:
Message -- Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Passage -- Matthew 27:3
Item -- 3 dimes or plastic “silver” money

Egg #5:
Message -- Jesus carried His own cross.
Passage -- John 19:17
Item – toothpicks or Popsicle stick cut and glued in a cross form; or, a small plastic cross from a Christmas ornament or necklace.

Egg #6:
Message -- Soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.
Passage -- John 19:2
Item -- Small thorny branch, or a large thorn all by itself.

Egg #7:
Message -- Soldiers parted Jesus' garments and cast lots for His coat.
Passage -- John 19:23
Item -- Swatch of burlap and a nail. I’ve also seen miniature dice used for this one.

Egg #8:
Message -- Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.
Passage -- John 19:18,37 & John 20:25-29
Item -- A nail

Egg #9:
Message -- They gave Jesus vinegar mixed with gall on a sponge to drink.
Passage -- Matthew 27:34
Item -- A small sponge

Egg #10:
Message -- Spices to prepare Jesus for burial.
Passage -- John 19:40
Item -- 7 or 8 whole cloves, or other whole spices

Egg #11:
Message -- The stone covering Jesus' tomb was rolled away.
Passage -- John 20:1
Item -- A small rock

Egg #12:
Message -- The napkin around Jesus' head was lying separately from His linen clothers. He was not there. He has risen!
Passage -- John 20:6-7
Item -- A scrap of linen-type fabric

The girls took turns opening the eggs (well, that was the idea...a lot of times, they just fought over who got to open the eggs) and telling the story of Jesus (the days that led up to the crucifixion and resurrection.
We are letting the girls play with them all year long...and trying to reinforce to them that it is ALWAYS important to know and share the story of Jesus.

Lazy Days...

Yesterday was the best day ever!

After I picked up Emma from school, Ellie and I surprised her with a picnic lunch that we spent SO MUCH time making (Ellie made sure everything was just right!) and we went straight to the park.

We spent the rest of the afternoon there.


The weather was just perfect and the girls had so much fun....I look forward to many more "lazy days" where we can just go to the park and hang out and lose track of time...

LONG time, no blog!

April was such a whirlwind and I'm not sure where it went! I've got to get better at this blogging thing! Between being a mommy to 3 BUSY girls, birthday parties, Easter, Jared's golf season in full swing, my Arbonne business and working part-time, Bible Study, MOPS,(and the list could go on and on)...I had a hard time keeping my head above water!! But...it's a new month and we are nearing the end of school (which I am SO thankful!) I love having Jared at home and I am going to love having Emma at home more too! I do miss her on the days she goes to school (which happen to be my days off!) So...you will hear from me lots! I'm off to down-load the 700+ pictures on my camera right now! Lots of catching up to do :) More to come...

Happy Birthday Emma June!

Our firstborn is five. SO hard for us to believe as it seems like it was yesterday when God blessed us with her! I love to think back at those times in Michigan bringing home a new baby as new parents and so full of joy...

And so it is with every birthday. Kind of bittersweet. Sad that she is growing up so fast but SO thankful for every year that we have her in our life.

Although she has a sparkling personality she does seem to be our "calm one". She definitely fits the role of "big sister" quite well. She embraces it!

She LOVES everything to do with "High School Musical" and knew about a year ago she was going to have a High School Musical party! I had a fun time with this theme!

Emma had a 4 day celebration! On Wednesday the 1st, Emma had her party at school! She LOVED helping me make cupcakes for her birthday!

On Thursday the 2nd (her actual birthday) we celebrated by going on to the T-Rex restaurant for dinner...

...on Friday the 3rd, we went to Disney on Ice...

...and on Saturday, she had a BIG party with family and friends!
And of course, Ceresa came and did hair and my friend Lindsey did make-up! Look at those up-do's!!

And you CAN'T have a party without a pinata!! Uncle Mike almost got nailed SEVERAL times! (I was actually hoping to get that on camera ha!)

We think she had fun turning five!

Thank you Jesus...

Reflecting on the death and resurrection of our Savior has been even more meaningful to me the closer I grow to Christ...the more I see my sin...and the realization of the HUGE sacrifice HE made for us. I can't imagine sending my own child to be scorned and beaten, then hung on a cross to die between two criminals. I think we often forget about the magnitude of what happened on that day. It brings me to tears. This has always been one of my favorite worship songs...

Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
I'm in that place once again


And once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life


Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow
But for now, I marvel at Your saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
I'm full of praise once again

Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross, my Friend