We are 30!

How can it be? Sarah and Joe are turning 30 today.

Where oh where has the time gone?

Happy Birthday!!!!! Love ya!

Congrats Lauren!

Our daughter-in- law, Joe’s wife Lauren, was recently honored by the Waterloo Courier newspaper as one of their annual Twenty under 40 recipients.

(Photo from Waterloo Courier)

Each year they honor 20 people under 40 who are recognized as the future movers and shakers of the area. The Courier officially says this:

“Twenty under 40 reaches across the Cedar Valley to recognize the area’s leaders of the future who are just now establishing themselves as centers of influence. Winners typically bring an array of skill sets and backgrounds; what sets them apart is their ambition includes building a better Cedar Valley through the generous donation of time, as well as that special expertise. They are seeing a dream through to reality and share a tireless work ethic that benefits all of the multiple organizations they touch.”

Here is the entire article:

Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier Twenty under 40 Lauren Finke

Congrats Lauren…..we are very proud of you!

Christmas

We had 2 lovely little girls in pretty Christmas dresses

3 grown kids

Two goofy guys giving their sister a smooch

5 puppies (with 2 that were decked out for the day)

A horse

A few tears (joe had a couple sentimental gifts this year)

Smiles

Musical T-shirts (they actually worked, although you can’t actually play a “tune”)

A car that drives on a black marker track

And a couple photos of Sarah and Erin mid-sentence (sorry girls)

And best of all….no snow!

We had a great day and I hope everyone else did as well.

4th of July

I’m behind, and I don’t have anything to say……so here are photos of our 4th of July festivities. We didn’t make it to see any actual “fireworks” this year (come to think of it we didn’t last year either). But we did all make it to Joe & Lauren’s for grilling and feeding the mosquitos. :)

It was hot and buggy and humid, but it was nice to just sit and enjoy everyone’s company.

Ava and Ryleigh are new best friends. Although Ryleigh kind of just goes along with it when Ava grabs her hand. It’s very cute. They aren’t quite at the sharing age yet so there are a few issues and a few “mine” and “mine”, but for the most part they get along great.

Matty brought sidewalk chalk as well as pinwheels for the girls which they loved. Joe, however, was a bit worried when Ava started to draw on the side of the freshly painted house. Luckily Lauren didn’t see (although now she knows!).

Matt tried to get them to stop, and he did a pretty good job….just one small mark got on the wall

Of course, since we live in Iowa, we can’t legally have anything more than snakes and sparklers. And since Al is a peace officer, we really can’t have anything but snakes and sparklers. Darn it! The little ones liked them anyway….and the big ones, too. Ava and Ryleigh liked the 'nakes. Goofy girls….we don’t like snakes, don’t you know that?

We had wonderful red, white & blue popsicles that Sarah made. Ava (as well as everyone else) loved them.

Lauren’s mom and dad and sisters were there, including Emily all the way from London. They were practicing holding a brand new baby with Trevor.

And what would the night be without a little 3 on 1 basketball?

It was a good night

Joe & Sarah

Joe & Sarah turned 28 years old last week. I cannot believe that I actually have kids that are 28 years old! It seems very strange…….I can’t be old enough to have kids that old, right?

Everyone came out to the house for dinner Saturday to celebrate. It was a perfect evening outside. We grilled and had a nice fire. 

I made their favorite (although not very good for you) treats for desert. (and made them take any leftovers home with them!)

Joe even helped “cook”.

Ave played with the dogs and loved on her aunt Lauren.

And met the buffalo and some snakes….

And went for a walk around the park. Obviously from this photo you can tell that Ava and the dogs didn’t walk much.

Matt bought Joe toys for his birthday…….so Ava has something to play with at their house. :)

Now we just need to get Trevor old enough so he can join in the fun.

Happy Birthday guys!

Christmas 2010

We had a great Christmas this year. Ava is finally old enough to run around and be excited about opening presents. She had the prettiest Christmas dress.  Too bad I didn’t get a good picture of it, I’m sure her mom did (hopefully).

It was nice this year to have my mom and step-dad in Iowa to celebrate with us.  Since the kids are older now, we haven’t been able to spend Christmas day with them for several years. It was great to have them here, and I hope they had fun. Even though they did have to do the driving this year, they didn’t have bad roads, which was a blessing. It was a little strange to not be in Wyoming over the Holidays, though we will be out a couple times this year I’m sure to see everyone else.

None of my pictures turned out great, so here are just some of the day:

Even though the “kids” are all older now, I still make sure they have “toys” in their stocking.  This year Matt also got into doing the same thing, giving something fun to play with. I’m not sure who this was to, but it was fun for a little while at least. It’s like the football game that everyone plays in school. The football even looks like it was made out of lined paper.

(Morgan was playing against Joe. Do you think she was a little worried how hard he would hit it?)

Sarah is due to have another baby (BOY!) in April and Joe & Sarah compared bellies. I think Joe wins!

Nice, Al.

I have no idea…..but it was funny!

On Christmas Eve we had a big storm. Waterloo officially had 9.5” but I swear it was more. It made for a picture perfect morning.

But it also made for some very slick roads, as evidenced by the Big Monster being towed to the body shop after it slid off of the roads (in the park, no less) into a tree. Bumper, hood, fender, both doors and front end totaling around $6,700.

That’s a bummer, Al!