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!

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!

The Wedding

Joe and Lauren have been dating for over 7 years. We knew we would having a wedding eventually and Joe finally popped the question this spring. Since then Lauren has been planning the perfect wedding, and she accomplished just that.

Everything, including the weather, was beautiful. Before and after the rehearsal dinner and wedding nights the heat index was crazy hot, but for those two days we couldn't have asked for more perfect weather.

We had the rehearsal dinner at our house and it turned out wonderful. (Thank you Mary & Mandy.....I could NOT have done it without you!)

Lauren wanted a very simple, but elegant wedding and it was just that. A mix between Martha Steward and Shabby Chic, it was beautiful.  I normally always have my camera with me, but it was so busy, I didn't take many pictures which is upsetting. I will have to rely on everyone else to send them to me!

The wedding party:

First kiss (okay, first kiss as Mr. & Mrs.):

 

Ava was a ball of the reception, she can't walk yet, so she just was handed around. She was still up until 11:00 or so, then she just crashed and there was nothing that would even make her move she was so sound asleep.

Joe & Ava:

Matt and Ava:

  Sarah & Craig: (Sarah was a bridesmaid and the first one down the isle. She didn't make it half way up when she started crying. Her twin brother was getting married!)

This one was taken right before an unfortunate fall:

 

Congratulations guys! We love you and are so very happy for you and for Lauren to officially be Mrs. Finke!

For the photographer's pictures you can look at them here in 2 weeks or so: http://www.catchlightimaging.net then click on proof. The password is: finke.

4th of July

Matt says no more biology lessons. That's pretty hard when you live where in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary, though. That's what I see everyday, but I will try to not do it as much. Part of the problem is the last few times we have been together, the pictures I have taken haven't turned out great. But then again, even though they aren't technically great, I guess it does show what's going on, right?

We went to Joe & Lauren's for 4th of July. And as has been most of the time lately, it rained. And rained some more. It was still fun to be with everyone, and Ava got to see her first fireworks.

Sarah & Craig made Lauren an official Aunt, which she loved. (not that she wasn't already Aunt Lauren, but you get the idea)

For some reason, Ava just appears in almost every picture that I took that night. She is kind of the center of attention lately.

And here are the rest of the pics. See, this is why I don't post them all!

I wish I knew how to do this so that you would see the whole thing, because it was pretty cool, but this will have to do. Matt made a "flip me" book out of a Post It pad about a stick figure that is walking along and gets run over by a VW Bug. A little morbid perhaps, but cute.