Monday April 30

Yesterday Randy and I met up with some of my friends at Monkey Joes.  Kelli was in town and asked if we wanted to go with her family to Monkey Joes.  First, what a neat place for kids!  Second, I am so lucky to have great friends.  Ashley came along with us and it was so good to catch up with Kelli and Ashley (even though Ashley and I catch up a lot more than we do with Kelli, but I still loved seeing both)!
Kelli brought baby Landon and he was so adorable.  He looked like a little man and was the best baby.  He was quiet the whole time and no crying at all from him, but then again he was being snuggled by Grandma Kay!
Randy and I also got to go and see the Hunger Games movie and it was fantastic!  Can't wait for the rest to come out.  But I think I need to reread the other 2 books so that I can remember what the heck happened!

Ashley, me and Memphis, Kelli and Liam.  (Kelli if your picture is better than this send it my way as we were all looking at Ryan)

Ashley and Memphis having a pretty in depth conversation!

Baby Landon

Thursday April 24

Last night Noah had his first baseball game.  He did a pretty good job.  He got one hit!  But this is the first year that he is playing coach pitch and not off a tee!  He did a really good job.

However, we have to get Noah to pay attention a little longer while he is out in the field as he loves to play in the dirt.  I am just hoping no ball goes to him and hits him, while he isn't paying attention.  Noah has improved a lot since last year and that is all we can ask for.

Now, I once again forgot my camera as we were running a tad late and I forgot to grab it  :(

But I did use my phone and got one picture that is okay, minus the lady sitting in front of me.

Noah is in the red, he is batting and this was the hit he got!!!

Wednesday April 25

The other day as I was working out, I was on the treadmill and I got a text from Randy.  It was a picture text of the boys sitting together.  Now let me say that when I saw this picture I wanted nothing more than to hop off that machine and get home to play!  But I had about 10 minutes left and it was a good motivator to finish up and get home. 

LOVE YOU BOTH MORE!

Tuesday April 24

Yesterday, Memphis had his 9 month doctor appointment.  He now weighs 20.5 pounds (46%ile) and is 28 inches (39%ile).  He is finally in the normal range.  They will still consider him premature until 2 years old.  It is hard to imagine that 8.5 months ago I was so worried about how much he was gaining!  Now there is no need to worry as he is so healthy and happy!

Monday April 23

We had a wonderful weekend! 

I have finally got Noah's concert picture and I am only put one picture on as the rest of them were not good at all since I forgot the bigger lens.  :(

He is in the front row, all in black with the gray tie!  He did look handsome!

Saturday April 21

Saturday afternoon we headed down to Creston for Emma's 10th Birthday Party!  We had a great time and great weather.  We also got to go around and look at the damage from the tornado.  I was in shock of the damage that was still remaining, so I couldn't believe what it would have looked like the next day.

The lava lamp we got Emma!  She loves it!

Emma and her ice cream cake.

All the kids playing in Dad's backyard.

Tornado Damage

Apartments over by the college.

AEA Building

Car and more apartment buildings that were damaged.

Friday April 20

 This morning I woke up to a very happy baby.  I always love when Memphis is so happy. 

Today is Emma's Birthday!  Happy Birthday Emma!  We can't wait to come down to Creston tomorrow to help you celebrate!

Party like it's your birthday...wait it is your birthday!  Love you Emma!

Thursday April 19

Holy Smokes, Memphis is 9 months old today!  This little peanut is doing amazing.  He has grown and grown and grown.  I love him more everyday.  Also, I have to mention that this little boy rolls all over the house now, he has his two bottom teeth, one of his front teeth has just broke through and another one on the bottom coming in.  He is growing so fast!!!  (I will have update on his weight and all of that next week when he goes in for his 9 month dr. appointment.) 

This morning I was on facebook and a friend of mine had posted this You Tube video SWCC Strong
It is again about Creston and the tornado that ripped through there on Saturday night.  Let me tell you, I am proud to be from Creston and Southwest Iowa.  This video shows you what a small community will do to help each other.  For those of you who are not aware, SWCC (Southwestern Community College) got hit pretty good by the tornado and the video shows all of the hard work that went into helping out.  Like I said, I am proud to be from Creston.  If you have time click on that link and watch the video.  All of you from Creston, you will recognize several people!

Now back to Mr. Memphis!  Here are the faces of the little boy that I love so much....Happy 9 months Memphis Dean!

Love You More!

Wednesday April 18

Last night was a night of pure bliss.  All of us (Randy, Noah, Memphis and myself) were all lying on our bed playing.  Memphis was laughing so hard it was making the rest of us laugh.  That little baby has brought so much happiness to all of our lives.  Memphis just thought it was so much fun lying there with all of us looking at him as he tried to pull our hair, roll over or just giggle!  As I laid there, I just kept thinking that this is what pure happiness is and also wishing that I had my camera and video camera with me.

The last couple of days have been a little busy.  Monday we had Noah's school concert but I just haven't gotten to putting the pictures on the computer.  So you will have to wait to see those.  (but to be honest, I forgot the bigger lens and wasn't able to get a real good picture of Noah, but let me tell you he was HANDSOME)

These pictures here are from last week of Noah and Memphis playing with the big hamster we got when we bought my car.

You can't see it in this picture but Memphis thought this hamster was pretty cool.

Sunday April 15

Today we had Noah's Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts.  The Tiger Cubs helped with the opening ceremony and Noah got to carry the flag.  He did a pretty good job, but I think the flag was a little heavy as he accidentally let the flag touch the ground.  But once he realized he tried to pick it up so it wasn't touching the floor. 
We had a nice time with everyone that went, thank you to Peggy and Craig for coming and for making chocolate cake for the pot luck for me!  And a big thanks to Tony for coming and keeping Noah entertained during some of the more boring parts of the ceremony.

Carrying in the flag!

Brotherly love!

Marshmallow Race...Noah won for the Tigers, however, we think he might have kept his thumb on the marshmallow so it wouldn't fall off...but then again one of my favorite quotes is, "you ain't cheating, you ain't trying!"  hahaha!

Noah getting his Tiger Badge

A bored little boy!

So I had him smile for me with his Badge!

Tony and Memphis! 

Saturday April 14

Over the last couple of days we had been hearing from the meteorologists that there was going to be chances of very strong storms and possibly tornadoes on Saturday evening.  Well the meteorologists got it right this time.  In Des Moines we had very strong storms that moved through with lots of rain and wind.  But none of this compares to what my hometown, Creston went through and are still going through.
A tornado hit Creston on Saturday night and it was very close to my dad's house, thankfully they are all okay and so is his house.  However, just to the north of him is the High School where there was a lot of damage.  The hospital sustained a lot of damage as did the community college (SWCC).  Here is a link to see some photos Des Moines Register photos
We are very thankful that our family and friends were all save!

Friday April 13

I am happy it is finally Friday!  We do not have a lot planned for the weekend.  Sunday, Noah has his Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts but other than that I am hoping to get some cleaning done on Saturday!

I just can't get enough of this face! 

Thursday April 12

Last night Memphis and I went to the Olive Garden with two of my old students from Winterset.  Memphis and I met up with Dani and Shantel.  It was so nice to see these girls.  I am so proud of them as they will both be graduating in May.  Well technically, Dani already graduated at semester but I couldn't be a happier teacher right now knowing all of the hard work they put into their education, well most of the time any way!  :)
Here are some great pictures of the girls and Memphis.  Thanks girls for a great dinner and some great laughs!

Memphis was doing anything but smiling for Dani in this picture!

I think Memphis liked Shantel!  But he was not about to smile for any pictures last night.

Wednesday April 11

Two smiles that always help me get through the day!

Can this kid get any more handsome?  And finally a great smile!

Memphis says HELLO everyone!

Tuesday April 10

Sunblock on head + Wind = Crazy Hair

On another note, I have finally reached a big milestone in my working out.  I have lost 19.5 pounds!  It has been a very slow journey but a journey I am happy that I am completing.  I am continuing to work out 3-4 days a week (if not more) and still eating what I want but just less of it.  I have had bad weeks and good weeks but I am not letting one bad week set me back like it has before.  I am working hard to make life changes and I am so happy for that!  I am hoping for another 10 pounds lost by the end of May and just keep continue to lose through the summer and so forth until I hit my goal weight.  Which I am a long way from but I am closer to it now with almost 20 pounds lost.  I find that speaking on my blog is an easy way for me to try to hold myself accountable.

More Easter!

Easter at Peggy and Craig's House

We had a fun filled day and it all ended at the Palmer house.  Our last Easter Egg Hunt of the day and I think we were finally Easter Egg Hunted out.  Now we have a bunch of candy which I have taken to work with me to hand out to my students when they finish their work.  I can't leave that candy at home or I will eat it all...I have no will power at times.

Peggy helping Noah get an egg out of the tree.

Zach finding his eggs

Memphis found an egg.

Noah and Zach looking for eggs

Zach running to get eggs

Noah sprinting after eggs!

Memphis and Sara getting some bonding time!

Memphis, Tony, and Zach

Noah, Memphis and Zach.

Sunday April 8- Easter

Our Easter was busy!  We had 3 Easter Egg Hunts.  Church, Tyler and Tori's, and Peggy and Craig's. 
Easter service was nice and we were able to get a family picture and some of the boys at church.

We tried to get a nice picture of the boys...this was as nice as it got!

Memphis LOVES the grass!

Noah wanted his picture by the cross, the kid is really into posing for pictures these days.

Easter at Tyler and Tori's House

Memphis loves the swing...I have a feeling we will be outside a lot this summer swinging!  :)

Tara giving Memphis a push

The kids on their Easter Egg hunt

Noah stopping to take a look in his Easter Egg to see if it was a good one.

Grandpa Bill supervising everyone.

Tara and Jaycee going through her Easter Eggs

Jaycee showing off her big bruise from falling on the steps...poor girl!

Randy and Memphis taking a break from all of the fun.

Noah, Emma, Jaycee, Memphis and Riggins