Merry Christmas & Happy Birthday Jesus!
This year we are here in Minnesota spending Christmas with
the Shogren family. We left Des Moines at about noon and We arrived at my parents house at about 10:30 Thursday night. We were able to stop in St. Cloud and babysit Zakery for 2 hours while Phil and Heather headed to their Home Small group Bible Study! Zak was a great boy and VERY CUDDLY! He has a little cold and all weekend he ahs had a little trouble sleeping. Friday we finished up some Christmas shopping and then that night we surprised my mom with a 50th b-day party at Poncho and Lefty's. However, Mandy & Dan were late and Mom got there before everyone else, but we still caught her off GUARD and she was VERY HAPPY! We had balloons, silly hats and presents!
After dinner we all came home and crashed. Saturday Tim, Phil, Dan and Dad headed to the fish house to fish on the frozen lake. TIM was VERY NERVOUS and he had a great time. I asked him what he thought about ice fishing and this was his response, "I prefer summer fishing because it is more interactive and....it's WARMER!!!" The boys had a fun time throwing snowballs at the ice house (they made up some game), but there was a fatality...the ice fishing gaff fell straight down one of the holes after DAN beamed the side of the fishhouse! Heather also made it out there, whilewe watched Zak, and the boys loved making her jump. Tim threw a snowball at her car and about sent her through her roof! Saturday night, we went to church, & stopped by and visited Great-Grandma Shogren. In church, Morgie did her business and was very stinky and later Zak was doing his business and grunting VERY LOUDLY (all were laughing) and so Heather and Jonna were on Poop Patrol. grandma Shogren was supposed to have dinner nad the evening with us, but she wasn't feeling too well so we all stopped to visit her, give her presents and we took oodles of pictures! We got back to the house at about 8:00, finished up dinner, and Morgan went to bed...she had refused to nap earlier in the day...that was fun! After dinner we opened presents and then I went to bed at midnight. Maddie stayed up and danced a bit with her auntie Mandy and Tim played X-Box. Today we sisn't get up until 8:00-- opened more presents (the girls). The girls got a CD/cassette/radio player, Cinderella DVD, crayons, markers, coloring books, play jewelery, purses, play pink & purple cell phones, a huge magna doodle! can you say spoiled!!?????!!!! Tim and Dad headed out to the fishhouse again today and they didnt catch anything, bummer! Mom Shogren napped, the girls "rested," and I vegged out! The girls are now in bed and we are all eating snacks and watching the football games!
Tomorrow we head home and Praise the Lord it should be near 50 when we get home! Wa-hoo!!!! Tim is back to work and I am on "break" until all of the kids go back to school around Jan. 2nd!
Merry Christmas!!!
Jonna
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Monday, December 19, 2005
Holiday Happenings via Photos....
Stout family gathers for Madison's School's Christmas Programl-r: Tom, Tim, Morgan, Martin, Dan, Sydnie, Amy, Kristin, Evan, Gma Stout, & Gpa Stout (and Mom was taking the picture)
2005 Christmas dresses
Baking Christmas Goodies & Decorating the Christmas Treemerry christmas!!!
Dearest family and friends,
MERRY CHRISTMAS! We cannot believe how fast this joyous holiday season is going past!
We have been enjoying a WONDERFUL Christmas season: family from California visting us (most importantly our niece and nephew), Maddie's debut in her school Christmas program, baking holiday goodies, shopping, decorating the Christmas tree, Tim starting his new job tomorrow at Beneficial Financial and we are anxiously anticipating a trip to Minnesota to see the Shogren family at the end of this week!
We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!
Enjoy God's GREAT gift: His Son, Jesus Christ!
Love you all,
MERRY CHRISTMAS! We cannot believe how fast this joyous holiday season is going past!
We have been enjoying a WONDERFUL Christmas season: family from California visting us (most importantly our niece and nephew), Maddie's debut in her school Christmas program, baking holiday goodies, shopping, decorating the Christmas tree, Tim starting his new job tomorrow at Beneficial Financial and we are anxiously anticipating a trip to Minnesota to see the Shogren family at the end of this week!
We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!
Enjoy God's GREAT gift: His Son, Jesus Christ!
Love you all,
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Cold....cold...cold... oh yeah! and some snow!
By the title of this Blog you can tell what the weather has been....COLD! In the last week have had a stretch of below zero temps and windchills and oodles of snow! Yuk-- usually we don't have this weather until late January! AGGHHHH- it's going to be a LLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG winter! I am so ready to move to a warmer climate and deal earthquakes, humidity and hurricanes! After 29 years in the north I am ready to head to a land of 70s and palm trees!
here at the Stout house it has been an eventful week. Last Sunday our van wouldn't start and so we charged the battery and took it to the shop. THis is the ORIGINAL battery for the van and so $100 later the van has a new battery and we did get an oil change too and they said it looked great and ready for a trip to Minnesota in 2 weeks! On Tuesday, while I was working at SEPHS, Tim was shoveling (girls watching a video) and when he was on his way in he turnes the door knob and it kept turning- it was broken and our door was latched CLOSED!!!! We called the lock people (Kwikset) and they said the only way to get it open was to call a locksmith--okay major bucks and with the Christmas coming and the afore mentioned van trouble, that wasn't an option. So all week we have been working on this locka nd we even had our friend Brad, the ahndyman, come over nad work on it! praise the Lord- today it came opena nd we were able to put a whole new door knob w/ keyed enrty and dead bolt set on! Cost $26 for door set...LABOR-FREE!!!!! Now our next project is to fix our falling ceiling tiles on the front porch...we will just use Liquid Nails and glue and staple them back up for now and after the hoildays we will take it all down and dry wall----right now the idea of dry wall dust and my Christmas tree don't mesh! Also, I FINALLY finished putting dow the peel-n-stick tiles in our bathrooom...I just had the area around the toilet to do and I asked my dad how to do that when he was here for Thanksgiving and thanks to his helpful hints (scissors and cardstock templates) I was able to get it done!!!! HOORAY!
Now not too much left to finish before Tom, Kristin, Evan and Sydnie arrive from California on Wednesday! (Tim's big brother and family) WE CANNOT wait to spoil our nephew and niece! We have yet to meet Sydnie, she was born last July 4th , and we haven't seen Evan since last April. We have begun to plan our trip out west for late May...maybe even March/early April if this weather doesn't go AWAY sooon...I'll end up in the loooney bin! Anyway back to the planning...Keep praying that we will be able to go!!!!!
Okay enough yammmering, but a funny story to finish.....
today we were out shopping (boots for the girls) and we stopped by Home Depot to get the door knob stuff and as I got out of the van Maddie said, "This is Home Depot and the lady says, if you can't build it...we can help!" HILARIOUS!!!! She's soooooo funnny!
here at the Stout house it has been an eventful week. Last Sunday our van wouldn't start and so we charged the battery and took it to the shop. THis is the ORIGINAL battery for the van and so $100 later the van has a new battery and we did get an oil change too and they said it looked great and ready for a trip to Minnesota in 2 weeks! On Tuesday, while I was working at SEPHS, Tim was shoveling (girls watching a video) and when he was on his way in he turnes the door knob and it kept turning- it was broken and our door was latched CLOSED!!!! We called the lock people (Kwikset) and they said the only way to get it open was to call a locksmith--okay major bucks and with the Christmas coming and the afore mentioned van trouble, that wasn't an option. So all week we have been working on this locka nd we even had our friend Brad, the ahndyman, come over nad work on it! praise the Lord- today it came opena nd we were able to put a whole new door knob w/ keyed enrty and dead bolt set on! Cost $26 for door set...LABOR-FREE!!!!! Now our next project is to fix our falling ceiling tiles on the front porch...we will just use Liquid Nails and glue and staple them back up for now and after the hoildays we will take it all down and dry wall----right now the idea of dry wall dust and my Christmas tree don't mesh! Also, I FINALLY finished putting dow the peel-n-stick tiles in our bathrooom...I just had the area around the toilet to do and I asked my dad how to do that when he was here for Thanksgiving and thanks to his helpful hints (scissors and cardstock templates) I was able to get it done!!!! HOORAY!
Now not too much left to finish before Tom, Kristin, Evan and Sydnie arrive from California on Wednesday! (Tim's big brother and family) WE CANNOT wait to spoil our nephew and niece! We have yet to meet Sydnie, she was born last July 4th , and we haven't seen Evan since last April. We have begun to plan our trip out west for late May...maybe even March/early April if this weather doesn't go AWAY sooon...I'll end up in the loooney bin! Anyway back to the planning...Keep praying that we will be able to go!!!!!
Okay enough yammmering, but a funny story to finish.....
today we were out shopping (boots for the girls) and we stopped by Home Depot to get the door knob stuff and as I got out of the van Maddie said, "This is Home Depot and the lady says, if you can't build it...we can help!" HILARIOUS!!!! She's soooooo funnny!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....
It's December--hooray! and that means that we have only 3-4 months left of winter!!! I know it has been a while since I posted...so here we go.....
Thanksgiving was great! We had a blast with Tim's parents, my parents and Martin! My parents brought some venison for Martin & he was ecstatic- they eat deer frequently in Ghana. Thursday we had dinner, My parents brought an electric roasting pana nd the 14lb turkey turned out wonderful! Ate lots- played phase 10 and watched oodles of football!!! Also, we (my parents, Tim the girls and I) went to Jolly Holiday Lights at Des Moines Water Works Park., asonsored by area business to benefit the Make a wish foundation, AWESOME drive through the park seeing OODLES of Christmas Lights and sceneries! The girls loved it and they especially loved the Pirate Ship! Friday we decorated the house for Christmas, watched football, ate more, napped, more football and more Phase 10! Also on Friday, we did take a little shopping trip to target , THis is VERY dangerous with 3 (my mom, my dad and me) "alley hooters." Saturday evening we took a trip a trip to McD's to eat and play. When we arrived home Maddie wasn't feeling so hot and proceeded to throw up everything from dinner- that was fun! Sunday my parents headed out early b/c of the weather, I taught Sunday school and Tim and the girls stayed home! Sunday night we put up our Christmas tree, but we are not done b/c we are buying plastic bulbs for the tree this year...Evan (my 2 year old nephew) is coming from California and it will just help him out! Also, Morgan might struggle with touching the ornaments- we do not want a repeat of last year's bloody picture taking festivities!
This week has been a good one...Tim is taking a little time off and we are just enjoying some family time! We are working on those "honey do" projects!
Last night we received a few inches of snow and so now I am totally in the holiday spirit! Today and tomorrow are paydays and so we have plenty of grocery shopping and Christmas shopping to do!!! Tonight we bought a small artificial tree for the girls' room and decorated it with purple lights, pink, purple and silver snowflakes and a silver garland, and a beautiful white-lighted star at the top!Maddie's request!
I teach all day tomorrow and then it's the weekend! We have a few more "honey do" projects to complete before Tom, Kristin and the kids arrive in 13 days!!!! And then we get to go Minnesota for Christmas! I will get to see Phil and Heather's son, Zakery, for the first time! Can't wait!
The girls are great! Maddie is going to be in her first school Christmas program on Dec. 15th! preschool is going great! She is sooooo smart! her teachers tell us how she is sooooo compassionate and always a great listener and a great friend! Maddie has a little boyrfriend named Gabe! He went on a trip for Thanksgiving and she prayed for him every night and said, "Mom, we need to make Gabe a card b/c he is home safe! God took care of him!" Morgan's verbal skills are amazing these days! Tonight at Wendy's, Tima sked her to sit own and eat and at first she was not obeying and then a few seconds later (after she had processed Dad's request) she said, "OKAY!" and sat right down! She is growing soooo fast- eating a ton these days! She is in 3Ts now, but rapidly approaching the 4T size! WOW! I cannot believe she will be 3 in 4 months!
Well- time to go to bed- working tomorrow at SEP!
Happy Holidays!
Jonna :)
Thanksgiving was great! We had a blast with Tim's parents, my parents and Martin! My parents brought some venison for Martin & he was ecstatic- they eat deer frequently in Ghana. Thursday we had dinner, My parents brought an electric roasting pana nd the 14lb turkey turned out wonderful! Ate lots- played phase 10 and watched oodles of football!!! Also, we (my parents, Tim the girls and I) went to Jolly Holiday Lights at Des Moines Water Works Park., asonsored by area business to benefit the Make a wish foundation, AWESOME drive through the park seeing OODLES of Christmas Lights and sceneries! The girls loved it and they especially loved the Pirate Ship! Friday we decorated the house for Christmas, watched football, ate more, napped, more football and more Phase 10! Also on Friday, we did take a little shopping trip to target , THis is VERY dangerous with 3 (my mom, my dad and me) "alley hooters." Saturday evening we took a trip a trip to McD's to eat and play. When we arrived home Maddie wasn't feeling so hot and proceeded to throw up everything from dinner- that was fun! Sunday my parents headed out early b/c of the weather, I taught Sunday school and Tim and the girls stayed home! Sunday night we put up our Christmas tree, but we are not done b/c we are buying plastic bulbs for the tree this year...Evan (my 2 year old nephew) is coming from California and it will just help him out! Also, Morgan might struggle with touching the ornaments- we do not want a repeat of last year's bloody picture taking festivities!
This week has been a good one...Tim is taking a little time off and we are just enjoying some family time! We are working on those "honey do" projects!
Last night we received a few inches of snow and so now I am totally in the holiday spirit! Today and tomorrow are paydays and so we have plenty of grocery shopping and Christmas shopping to do!!! Tonight we bought a small artificial tree for the girls' room and decorated it with purple lights, pink, purple and silver snowflakes and a silver garland, and a beautiful white-lighted star at the top!Maddie's request!
I teach all day tomorrow and then it's the weekend! We have a few more "honey do" projects to complete before Tom, Kristin and the kids arrive in 13 days!!!! And then we get to go Minnesota for Christmas! I will get to see Phil and Heather's son, Zakery, for the first time! Can't wait!
The girls are great! Maddie is going to be in her first school Christmas program on Dec. 15th! preschool is going great! She is sooooo smart! her teachers tell us how she is sooooo compassionate and always a great listener and a great friend! Maddie has a little boyrfriend named Gabe! He went on a trip for Thanksgiving and she prayed for him every night and said, "Mom, we need to make Gabe a card b/c he is home safe! God took care of him!" Morgan's verbal skills are amazing these days! Tonight at Wendy's, Tima sked her to sit own and eat and at first she was not obeying and then a few seconds later (after she had processed Dad's request) she said, "OKAY!" and sat right down! She is growing soooo fast- eating a ton these days! She is in 3Ts now, but rapidly approaching the 4T size! WOW! I cannot believe she will be 3 in 4 months!
Well- time to go to bed- working tomorrow at SEP!
Happy Holidays!
Jonna :)
Monday, November 21, 2005
MY HOW TIME FLYS...
So sorry I haven't updated in a while...time flys when you are just living life...Not much new to report...Tim is still busy working @ New York Life, maddie LOVES preschool and they are preparing for their Christmas concert on Dec. 15th, Morgan is great and spunky as ever and we are still working on the PT, but she is getting there and she is getting more and more verbal everyday! I have been subbing about 2 days a week at Southeast Polk High School, however I am off this week in order to prep and clean for Thanksgiving on thursday! We are excited to hae my parents coming in 3 days! We miss them so much! The girls are ecstatic to have them here and be able to decorate the Christmas tree with them on Friday! My dad and Tim will be on the roof on Friday putting up Christmas lights---don't worry I will take pictures! I have my grocery shopping completed...now we just have to finish paitning the bathroom and hallway and maybe even get a first coat on the living room...we'll see...and I need to get my Christmas décor out and ready to be put out for Christmas! Whew...I say it and I get overwhelmed!
Well- time to get the girls down for naps and TRY to get some work done!
Toodles!
Well- time to get the girls down for naps and TRY to get some work done!
Toodles!
Thursday, November 10, 2005
another day at the high school...
Greetings to all! Today I am subbing at SEP High School in the computer classes and it has been a great day so far! Tim and the girls are home hanging out and enjoying a great day together. The weather is 60 and beautiful! praise the Lord!
thanksgiving is in 15 days and I cannot wait to cook for our family: Ti and the girls, Tim's parents, my parents, and our friend, Martin. In 16 days we get to put up the Christmas tree--HOORAY!!!! That's one of my favorite things about winter is putting up the tree and this year the girls are getting a pink & purple tree in their room! FUN!
Not much going on in the Stout house, just work, school, potty training, play and church.
MAddie and Morgan are growing up so fast! it will be a fun holiday season with them!
Sorry this update is so boring...not really in the mood! Can't wait for my bathroom break!
thanksgiving is in 15 days and I cannot wait to cook for our family: Ti and the girls, Tim's parents, my parents, and our friend, Martin. In 16 days we get to put up the Christmas tree--HOORAY!!!! That's one of my favorite things about winter is putting up the tree and this year the girls are getting a pink & purple tree in their room! FUN!
Not much going on in the Stout house, just work, school, potty training, play and church.
MAddie and Morgan are growing up so fast! it will be a fun holiday season with them!
Sorry this update is so boring...not really in the mood! Can't wait for my bathroom break!
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Pictures of Stout family- October 2005
Morgan as Tigger for Halloween 2005
Maddie as Piglet for Halloween 2005
REAR view of their costumes
Stout Family at The Pumpkin Patch- October 2005
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Stout Pictures...
Stout family Labor day 2005
Madison Rae Stout- September 2005
Morgan May Stout- September 2005soooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyy. it has been so long!!!!!
As the title to this post suggests...please accept my apologies for not updating sooner...life has just been good and and I just ahven't made the time to update or post....
Last Friday we headed to Grinnell to Carroll's Pumpkin Patch! WE HAD A BLAST! We were there for about 3 hours and the girls were exhausted when we got home...they loved seeing the Baby goats and kittens, playing in the Corn shed and picking out their own pumpkins...I will post pictures when I get them back later today! Friday night we, Tim adn I, went on a date....stopped by Hy-Vee and picked out a frozen pizza & some ice cream, a movie and we came home and enjoyed a night in.
Saturday....LAZY day, football and chores.
Sunday...church in the am, naps, football and trick-ot-treating with the girls...Maddie was piglet and morgan was Tigger...so cute, tons of candy and pictures soon
Monday- Maddie school, errands, lunch @ the Hotchkiss's house, naps and housework.
Tuesday- Bible study in the am for me, errands, and home and TIm working
Wedensday- Maddie am school, errands, naps, and church
Today- subbing at SEP in high school English (basically study hall al day) Tim home with the girls!
Brief? YES! But it's time to go home!
More later!
Jonna
Last Friday we headed to Grinnell to Carroll's Pumpkin Patch! WE HAD A BLAST! We were there for about 3 hours and the girls were exhausted when we got home...they loved seeing the Baby goats and kittens, playing in the Corn shed and picking out their own pumpkins...I will post pictures when I get them back later today! Friday night we, Tim adn I, went on a date....stopped by Hy-Vee and picked out a frozen pizza & some ice cream, a movie and we came home and enjoyed a night in.
Saturday....LAZY day, football and chores.
Sunday...church in the am, naps, football and trick-ot-treating with the girls...Maddie was piglet and morgan was Tigger...so cute, tons of candy and pictures soon
Monday- Maddie school, errands, lunch @ the Hotchkiss's house, naps and housework.
Tuesday- Bible study in the am for me, errands, and home and TIm working
Wedensday- Maddie am school, errands, naps, and church
Today- subbing at SEP in high school English (basically study hall al day) Tim home with the girls!
Brief? YES! But it's time to go home!
More later!
Jonna
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Wed-nes-day....is it friday yet????
today is only Wednesday and I am already asking myself if it is Friday yet????
This morning I was getting Maddie up for school and she said, "Mom, the sun is not even up yet!??!! Mom, I want to go back to sleep!" It has started already! HOwever, after I picked her up from school she said, "Mom, I LOVE SCHOOL!!!" Ahhhhh....the emotions of a four-year-old! After Morgan and I dropped maddie off at school, we came home and picked up the house and made beds. Next,w e headed off to target for Toilet paper, paper towles and hats & mittens. It was 31 degrees this morninf and so coats and hats were very much needed and we did the best with last year's sizes, but it became very apparrent that a trip to target was needed. The blessing of it all was that hats and mittens were on sale! Thank you Lord! The girls have GREAT winter coats- Grandma and Grandpa Shogren bought some beautiful coats for the girls at the end of last winter and we still have a coat from last year that fits Maddie and a 3T hand-me-down from Maddie for Morgan! praise the LORD!
ot much else exciting to report...after preschool it was a trip to Hy-Vee for milk and peanut butter! Now the girls are playing together before lunch....church tonight and then only one more day until FRIDAY!!!! HOORAY! We are planning to take the girls to the pumpkin patch and they are sooooo excited! Also, Friday night a girlfriend is watching the girls while Tim and I go have a date! I think we are going to order in Mexican and watch a movie and just enjoy the movie and not be distracted by the girls! So fun!
Well- time to make lunch...everybody's favorite today: peanut butter nad jelly sandwiches, carrot sticks and yougurt!
Have a great week!
This morning I was getting Maddie up for school and she said, "Mom, the sun is not even up yet!??!! Mom, I want to go back to sleep!" It has started already! HOwever, after I picked her up from school she said, "Mom, I LOVE SCHOOL!!!" Ahhhhh....the emotions of a four-year-old! After Morgan and I dropped maddie off at school, we came home and picked up the house and made beds. Next,w e headed off to target for Toilet paper, paper towles and hats & mittens. It was 31 degrees this morninf and so coats and hats were very much needed and we did the best with last year's sizes, but it became very apparrent that a trip to target was needed. The blessing of it all was that hats and mittens were on sale! Thank you Lord! The girls have GREAT winter coats- Grandma and Grandpa Shogren bought some beautiful coats for the girls at the end of last winter and we still have a coat from last year that fits Maddie and a 3T hand-me-down from Maddie for Morgan! praise the LORD!
ot much else exciting to report...after preschool it was a trip to Hy-Vee for milk and peanut butter! Now the girls are playing together before lunch....church tonight and then only one more day until FRIDAY!!!! HOORAY! We are planning to take the girls to the pumpkin patch and they are sooooo excited! Also, Friday night a girlfriend is watching the girls while Tim and I go have a date! I think we are going to order in Mexican and watch a movie and just enjoy the movie and not be distracted by the girls! So fun!
Well- time to make lunch...everybody's favorite today: peanut butter nad jelly sandwiches, carrot sticks and yougurt!
Have a great week!
Monday, October 24, 2005
a weekend in review...
What a weekend....exhausting, relaxing and EXCITING all in the same breath.
Friday... Maddie had preschool in the morning, Tim, Morgan and I ran errands (the bank, the grocery store, etc...) and then we picked up Madison and headed to the amll for lunch and some playtime. Spent some time shopping for school clothes and clothes for Evan's birthday in a little over a week! We did buy a few FUN presents for Evan for his birthday, but we are still on the hunt for a few more items. After playtime we headed home for naps. Friday evening the girls went to Grandma and Grandpa Stout's house and had dinner with thema nd played while Tima nd I went to an Iowa Stars hockey game with Grace Student Ministry. It was fun. Heather and Phil headed to the hospital at 11:30 pm to start their labor process....:)
Saturday...I was at church early (7:40 am) to help with registration for Group Magazine Conference and I checked in with my mom via the cell phone and heather was dilated to 6 and was having severe back labor and she was going to have an epidural...more waiting....after I was done at church (about 9:30) I ran a few errands and headed back to church about 12:00 to help serve lunch at the conference...and I was home about 1:30 p.m.. Tim and the girls enjoyed a quiet Saturday morning and Nick, Jr. on CBS. The Hawks lost in OT- bummer! Then Tim and I hit the laundry hard! We all took naps and bummed around the house all evening... All the day keeping in contact with my mom regarding Heather and Phil's progress....Heather delivered Zakery about 4:45 pm on Saturday, but right away they took him (and Phil accompanied him)to NICU b/c of the merconium that followed him out during delivery...(see previous post for more info...) Zak was doing great, having a little trouble breathing through his nose, but it would still be 8:00 before Heather got to see him and even later until she held him for the first time---that was so hard to hear...poor new momma- I can't even imagine that!
Sunday...Maddie had a tummy ache all night (constpation) and tim, maddie and I did not get hardly any sleep...so we slept in and had a nice family morning and a good breakfast of eggs, cinnamon rolls and bacon....checked in with Zakery and his parents and all were doing well- Zak's having a little trouble nursing, but Heather is pumping to help with all of that....he should leave the NICU today....Amanda (my sister) went up to the hospital tonight and she was there when Zak was released from the NICu and she got to hold him---so JEALOUS! the rest of the day we vegged out and watched football most of the afternoon, went to home small group at Brad and Dana's house and we were home and in bed by 10:00pm..
Monday....another rough night for Maddie- broke out the Milk of Magnesia to help with her tummy...no school for her today...Zak got circumsized today and as soon as he peed they could go home HOORAY! ...interesting job at home today- I am now a plumber--- we had a clogged toilet and I was plunging until I developed a blister in my hand and then I called the plumber nad he sent me to the hardware store for a toilet auger and it worked...PRAISE THE LORD! It was only $10 for the auger and it was such a blessing to get it fixedmyself and not have to pay mucho dinero for the plumber to come out!!! Now Morganand Maddie are napping and I am blogging and then I am going to finish my Bible Study pages for tomorrow am. Love my Bible Study ladies so mucha nd I am learning oodles from the book of Philippians! Also I am really enjoying our 40 Days of Community study- today we were reminded that we were not made to go through this life ALONE, we need other believers to love and supprt us...I was challenged b/c I really strive to be independent and handle life on my own...ask my hubby about that....also this study is really encouraging my already homesick heart...I miss my FAMILY sooooooo much! I hate having to wait 8 weeks to see my nephew who lives 5 hours away, bummer those finances- with Christmas around the corner things are a wee bit tight! Praise the Lord for the subbing I can do!
No proofing...too long! Have great day!
Friday... Maddie had preschool in the morning, Tim, Morgan and I ran errands (the bank, the grocery store, etc...) and then we picked up Madison and headed to the amll for lunch and some playtime. Spent some time shopping for school clothes and clothes for Evan's birthday in a little over a week! We did buy a few FUN presents for Evan for his birthday, but we are still on the hunt for a few more items. After playtime we headed home for naps. Friday evening the girls went to Grandma and Grandpa Stout's house and had dinner with thema nd played while Tima nd I went to an Iowa Stars hockey game with Grace Student Ministry. It was fun. Heather and Phil headed to the hospital at 11:30 pm to start their labor process....:)
Saturday...I was at church early (7:40 am) to help with registration for Group Magazine Conference and I checked in with my mom via the cell phone and heather was dilated to 6 and was having severe back labor and she was going to have an epidural...more waiting....after I was done at church (about 9:30) I ran a few errands and headed back to church about 12:00 to help serve lunch at the conference...and I was home about 1:30 p.m.. Tim and the girls enjoyed a quiet Saturday morning and Nick, Jr. on CBS. The Hawks lost in OT- bummer! Then Tim and I hit the laundry hard! We all took naps and bummed around the house all evening... All the day keeping in contact with my mom regarding Heather and Phil's progress....Heather delivered Zakery about 4:45 pm on Saturday, but right away they took him (and Phil accompanied him)to NICU b/c of the merconium that followed him out during delivery...(see previous post for more info...) Zak was doing great, having a little trouble breathing through his nose, but it would still be 8:00 before Heather got to see him and even later until she held him for the first time---that was so hard to hear...poor new momma- I can't even imagine that!
Sunday...Maddie had a tummy ache all night (constpation) and tim, maddie and I did not get hardly any sleep...so we slept in and had a nice family morning and a good breakfast of eggs, cinnamon rolls and bacon....checked in with Zakery and his parents and all were doing well- Zak's having a little trouble nursing, but Heather is pumping to help with all of that....he should leave the NICU today....Amanda (my sister) went up to the hospital tonight and she was there when Zak was released from the NICu and she got to hold him---so JEALOUS! the rest of the day we vegged out and watched football most of the afternoon, went to home small group at Brad and Dana's house and we were home and in bed by 10:00pm..
Monday....another rough night for Maddie- broke out the Milk of Magnesia to help with her tummy...no school for her today...Zak got circumsized today and as soon as he peed they could go home HOORAY! ...interesting job at home today- I am now a plumber--- we had a clogged toilet and I was plunging until I developed a blister in my hand and then I called the plumber nad he sent me to the hardware store for a toilet auger and it worked...PRAISE THE LORD! It was only $10 for the auger and it was such a blessing to get it fixedmyself and not have to pay mucho dinero for the plumber to come out!!! Now Morganand Maddie are napping and I am blogging and then I am going to finish my Bible Study pages for tomorrow am. Love my Bible Study ladies so mucha nd I am learning oodles from the book of Philippians! Also I am really enjoying our 40 Days of Community study- today we were reminded that we were not made to go through this life ALONE, we need other believers to love and supprt us...I was challenged b/c I really strive to be independent and handle life on my own...ask my hubby about that....also this study is really encouraging my already homesick heart...I miss my FAMILY sooooooo much! I hate having to wait 8 weeks to see my nephew who lives 5 hours away, bummer those finances- with Christmas around the corner things are a wee bit tight! Praise the Lord for the subbing I can do!
No proofing...too long! Have great day!
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Picures of Zakery Anton Lee Shogren (middle names after his Grandpas' middle names)
What a cute little bubba!
Zakery Anton Lee and his daddy!
Zakery Anton Lee and his daddy!
Saturday, October 22, 2005
it's a boy....
IT'S A BOY!!!
Phillip & Heather Shogren
(via Auntie Jonna)
announce the arrival of
Zakery Anton Lee Shogren
at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, October 22nd, 2005
8 lbs. 13 oz. 21 1/2 inches long
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Phillip & Heather Shogren
(via Auntie Jonna)
announce the arrival of
Zakery Anton Lee Shogren
at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, October 22nd, 2005
8 lbs. 13 oz. 21 1/2 inches long
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Everybody is doing okay...Zak is in ICU b/c he had a Bowel Movement
sometime today while still in the "oven", but everything is looking good!
Heather is recouperating after a long and difficult delivery...Praise the Lord all are resting now! I will e-mail pictures as soon as I receive them!
Auntie Jonna
Monday, October 17, 2005
A Night to Remember...
Overall, a very enjoyable weekend and today it's back to "normal life" for the Stout family. Yesterday was church in the morning, home for lunch and naps, and then home small group! After small group--I was wiped out. I have this stupid cold thing and it will not go away and it is a major energy Zapper! So after small group I was ready to crash...so we got the girls ready for bed (pjs, teeth brushed and watched a video) and then they were WIRED!!! Tim and I snuggled into our bed to watch Sound-Off (a local sports call-in show- we LOVE IT!)- Morgan joined us and I was able to call in and vent about the Vikings...long story...used to this whole hype-up the season, fall short song and dance routine...Anyway after the show we all finally crashed, but Maddie was up most of the night complaining of a tummy ache (aka constipation and we had even pumped her full of raisins and veggies)& sharing a bed with me and Morgan... Morgan is getting her 2 year molars and so she is restless and i had a mild fever and couldn't really get to sleep...It was definitely a night to remember and poor timmy had to go to work today! Maddie still went to school and Morgan and I crashed until about 9:00 this morning...we were all snuggled in the rocking chair watching Good Morning America. After a late wake-up, I showered, did chores, helped get Morgie dressed and then it was time to pick up Big Sis from school. We came home the girls played on the front porch (aka their play room), read books, ate lunch, I finished some more dishes while the girls watched Zaboomafoo on PBS and now it's nap time...I am relaxing by catching up on e-mails, etc while I TRY to get Morgan to go down for a NAP!!!!
not much else to talk about...have a great day!
not much else to talk about...have a great day!
Saturday, October 15, 2005
A typical Saturday morning....Go HAWKEYES!!!!
Good afternoon! We are in the trenches of a "normal" Saturday so far. This morning Tim was up and out the door to play basketball in Ankeny at Faith. He plays with some friends from work and some their unsaved co-workers and buddies, etc.... Morgan and I crawled out of bed at 8:30ish to have a glass of milk and watch Barney...Maddie slept in until 9:20 and then it was time for Me to start housework (vacuuming, dusting, fixing breakfast, etc...) and the girls turned on Nick, Jr. On CBS! I would just like to say that I love the show Backyardigans...So cute and so imaginative...Four friends who go on these wild adventures in their "backyard." For example they were in Wyoming traveling to a Polka Party and they met a few "band members" along the way (tuba player, drummer, accordion, etc...). So adorable!! The girls and I got dressed about 10:30a nd Tim was home a little after 11:00 and we had pancakes and bacon for brunch...We immediately turned on the Iowa game....They play Indiana today and it should be a good game in Iowa City! I ran to Wal-Mart for milk, chocolate milk (for Maddie and to make this awesome cold coffee recipe given to me by Mom and her friends-- I think it's from pampered chef), sugar (for baking) and juice! Exciting, huh????!!! Now Tim is finally grabbing a shower and the girls are all dressed up in their dress up clothes (Maddie in an old Flower girl dress and Morgan in a ballerina leotard) and they are playing cookie makers, tea party, etc....So adorable-- they have great imaginations! Gorgeous weather today too!!! It's about 70 degrees and the leaves on the trees are gorgeous right now, but I am not looking forward to the raking that will be coming soon.
last night we had a GREAT evening...After Tim and the girls picked me up from school we headed to Target for diapers (morgan) and then home for naps. Tim had taken the girls out all afternoon to sell items for Maddie's school fundraiser (see previous post). She sold $120 worth of items and Grandma Shogren and I still need to place our orders- what a blessing! Thank you to all of you who bought from our little girl...thank you for supporting our little Christian school!!! After naps we had dinner: stuffed pasta shells and broccoli. About 7:00 p.m. we went on a walk around the neighborhood and stopped up at the Grandview football .game and watched from the fence for about a half an hour! It's so cool to watch G-view have football...While we there the boys scored a TD! They ended up winning the game by one point and it came down to a defensive interception in the opponent's end zone with 30 seconds left in the 4th quarter! Go Defenders!!!!!!!!! These boys have improved so much since last year! Last year was the first year for 8-man football @ G-view and they didn't win one game and now they are tearing it up....I think they are 4-2 or 5-3....Sorry....but last we they lost to the 2nd ranked team in the state and that coach said he was AMAZED at Grandview's progress in the last year! The DSM Register has published several little articles about the team this year...We are the only 8-man team in the metro area, but it is neat to see the whole teams' progress documented!
Well- I am going to head out for a while---I need some ALONE time!
Talk more later!
last night we had a GREAT evening...After Tim and the girls picked me up from school we headed to Target for diapers (morgan) and then home for naps. Tim had taken the girls out all afternoon to sell items for Maddie's school fundraiser (see previous post). She sold $120 worth of items and Grandma Shogren and I still need to place our orders- what a blessing! Thank you to all of you who bought from our little girl...thank you for supporting our little Christian school!!! After naps we had dinner: stuffed pasta shells and broccoli. About 7:00 p.m. we went on a walk around the neighborhood and stopped up at the Grandview football .game and watched from the fence for about a half an hour! It's so cool to watch G-view have football...While we there the boys scored a TD! They ended up winning the game by one point and it came down to a defensive interception in the opponent's end zone with 30 seconds left in the 4th quarter! Go Defenders!!!!!!!!! These boys have improved so much since last year! Last year was the first year for 8-man football @ G-view and they didn't win one game and now they are tearing it up....I think they are 4-2 or 5-3....Sorry....but last we they lost to the 2nd ranked team in the state and that coach said he was AMAZED at Grandview's progress in the last year! The DSM Register has published several little articles about the team this year...We are the only 8-man team in the metro area, but it is neat to see the whole teams' progress documented!
Well- I am going to head out for a while---I need some ALONE time!
Talk more later!
Friday, October 14, 2005
pre-weekend update
Whew--this week is flying past. Here I sit in the southeast POlk High Computer lab with my Advanced Communications class. Okay not really MY class, but I am subbing at the high school today and it has been a great day so far....However, their is one frustating thing about the subbing: nobody realizes that I am a TEACHER and not a student! I turn 29 next month, I'm married and have birthed 2 children!!!!! However when I am 65 and people think I am only 50 that will be GREAT!!!! Okay enough of that....
Tim is feeling better and has had a great week at work! He played b-ball at Altoona Campus with Pastor Jonathan Meyer and Terry Anderson. He is enjoying the exercise and it's a good opportunity to build relationship with soem unsaved guys with the hope of inviting them to church and to Christ.
Maddie has had a good week at school...she has started her first fundraiser fir Grandview and today she is out fundraising with Tim and Morgan at Tim's work, Grandpa Stout's worka nd the beauty salon where we all get our hair done. The ladies there LOVE Maddie and Morgan and so I am hoping for a good showing...what a sweet hubby I have...taking the girls...I owe him big time. However Wednesday night/ Thursday am was interesting b/c she woke up with the tummy flu and she spent part of the night throwing up! YUK! We are better now!
Morgan is growing like a weed and becoming more and more verbal! She still loves to be naked...she is dressed every morning, but as soon as we return home from dropping big sis off at school and/or any errand the first thing she does is strip down to her diraper...what a nut! She is as spunky as ever and still going at one speed- FAST!!! She crashes well at night!
I am busy as usual in "the mom role" and also striving to be a good influence in my community as I spend a couple of ddays a week in the public schools. I am so looking forward to a relaxing weekend with Tima nd the girls.... tonight we will have pizza and probably watch a movie! Hooray! Tomorrow is football, chores and pictures- the leaves are changing and it's beautiful---and Sunday is churcha nd home small group. 40 Days of Community is awesome and I am really enjoying my daily devotionals!
Well- class is almost over and I need to sign off. No proofing---sorry!!!!
Jonna :)
Tim is feeling better and has had a great week at work! He played b-ball at Altoona Campus with Pastor Jonathan Meyer and Terry Anderson. He is enjoying the exercise and it's a good opportunity to build relationship with soem unsaved guys with the hope of inviting them to church and to Christ.
Maddie has had a good week at school...she has started her first fundraiser fir Grandview and today she is out fundraising with Tim and Morgan at Tim's work, Grandpa Stout's worka nd the beauty salon where we all get our hair done. The ladies there LOVE Maddie and Morgan and so I am hoping for a good showing...what a sweet hubby I have...taking the girls...I owe him big time. However Wednesday night/ Thursday am was interesting b/c she woke up with the tummy flu and she spent part of the night throwing up! YUK! We are better now!
Morgan is growing like a weed and becoming more and more verbal! She still loves to be naked...she is dressed every morning, but as soon as we return home from dropping big sis off at school and/or any errand the first thing she does is strip down to her diraper...what a nut! She is as spunky as ever and still going at one speed- FAST!!! She crashes well at night!
I am busy as usual in "the mom role" and also striving to be a good influence in my community as I spend a couple of ddays a week in the public schools. I am so looking forward to a relaxing weekend with Tima nd the girls.... tonight we will have pizza and probably watch a movie! Hooray! Tomorrow is football, chores and pictures- the leaves are changing and it's beautiful---and Sunday is churcha nd home small group. 40 Days of Community is awesome and I am really enjoying my daily devotionals!
Well- class is almost over and I need to sign off. No proofing---sorry!!!!
Jonna :)
Monday, October 10, 2005
Another weekend stout update
We had a relaxing weekend...Friday we were going to go to Josh Colyer's ordination service, but Maddie came home with green snot and she was complaining of an ear ache and so we went to dinner @ Fazoli's - her favorite- and in the middle of our meal Maddie asked if we could just go home. So after dinner we stopped at the Video store picked up a few videos and headed home to chill out. We watched a Strawberry Shortcake Christmas and the Wiggles- Yule be Wiggling. Tim rented Sahara and I rented The Wedding Date with Debra Messing- okay, but a little sexual... Tim said Sahara was pretty good. Saturday the girls and I did chores and Tim played b-ball up at Faith in the morning, we had brunch at 11:00am - cheesy ham & eggs and cinnamon rolls, and then Tim and the girls headed outside to play and mow the yard. I finished some meal planning and just chilled and enjoyed some "down time." In the afternoon everyone crashed, I ran to the grocery store and then I prepared dinner for a family whose daughter just had a baby. The family's grandma is one of the ladies from my Tuesday am Bible Study! The step-mom of the daughter is battling breast cancer right now and so things are bit crazy around their home. After I dropped of the meal I came home, we ate dinner and then we all got ready for church on Sunday- put outfits together, baths and prepared Sunday school lesson stuff (on the 2nd Sunday of the month we are teaching the 4 year olds). Sunday was church, naps and home small group. We started 40 days of community and our new couples did not show up for small group...Today we plan to call them & few others to see if they need a small group to join...Please pray for more couples to join us!!!!!
This morning Maddie was at school, Morgan is watched some Elmo & Barney and Tim is still resting b/c he can't seem to shake this cold and I know the best thing for him is rest and more handwashing! I have a few projects to work on today for my homeschooling family- punctuation worksheets and info, file folder games and center ideas (for a 4th grader and 1st grader).
Funny story- we were on our way to church yesterday and Maddie was telling us all about "deciduous trees," Tim and I were cracking up...she is learning so much at school and spouting off big words like "deciduous!" :) They grow up so fast and they are so easily influenced by their teachers! It can be a blessing and a scary thing at the same time. I am just thankful we can have her at a Christian school right now and I pray that God will continue to allow that through these very formative years!
Not much else to report---it is a beautiful fall day and after lunch we are headed outside to play! We must enjoy these days before winter comes!!!!
This morning Maddie was at school, Morgan is watched some Elmo & Barney and Tim is still resting b/c he can't seem to shake this cold and I know the best thing for him is rest and more handwashing! I have a few projects to work on today for my homeschooling family- punctuation worksheets and info, file folder games and center ideas (for a 4th grader and 1st grader).
Funny story- we were on our way to church yesterday and Maddie was telling us all about "deciduous trees," Tim and I were cracking up...she is learning so much at school and spouting off big words like "deciduous!" :) They grow up so fast and they are so easily influenced by their teachers! It can be a blessing and a scary thing at the same time. I am just thankful we can have her at a Christian school right now and I pray that God will continue to allow that through these very formative years!
Not much else to report---it is a beautiful fall day and after lunch we are headed outside to play! We must enjoy these days before winter comes!!!!
Monday, October 03, 2005
stout update....
Life must be pretty normal if the title of this post is so generic and boring! Sorry!
here is a brief synopsis of weekend....
Saturday: Jonna feeling better- hooray! It was neighborhood clean-up day and so we were able to clean out the attic and get some other junk out of the house! Tim and Dad Stout were able to borrow a friend's truck and work all morning to get stuff going out of the house! We also have a new bed--- HOORAY! In our old one we were rolling to the middle every night- it was that old and broken. the rest of the day Tim, the girls and vegged, did chhores, and watched a ton of football- Go hawkeyes! Saturday evening I did meal prep for Sunday brunch (see Sunday for details) and then we all just hung out and went to bed!
Sunday: early service at church...came home did general pick-upa nd put food into oven for the Student Ministry Sponsor meeting...started late b/c church service went long...good meeting and the girls were GREAT!...everyone left about 3:15...Pastor Jonathan stayed until about 3:45...Timand vegged...did dishes,,,I ran to the grocery store for pies for home small group...hosted a fellowship night for small group...gave kids baths...read and prayed and off to bed...I talked to my sister for about 2 hours- that was awesome!
Monday: up at 6:53 am ...Maddie off to school, Tim to work, Morgan and Jonna clean-up, Morgana nd Jonna snuggle up and watched Sesame Street, siung songs and play games...picked up maddie at school..came home made lunch...girls played...did dishes...talk to Kim Pernsteiner for about 2 hours (we haven't talked on the phone for over a month)...made dinner...Maddie and our handyman, Dad Stout, worked in the yard and painted....girls bathed...Tim home...talked with kristin for about an hour and now blogging....after plan to go over Bible Study for tomorrow and talk with my hubby!
**Tim is doing GREAT at work!!! Some big things going on and he is such an amazing Life Insurance AgenT! I am sooooooooo PROUD of him!!! He is catching the attention of a lot of important people at NYla nd that is praise to GOD and Tim's hard work ethic!*****
That's about it! Sorry so boring!
Jonna
here is a brief synopsis of weekend....
Saturday: Jonna feeling better- hooray! It was neighborhood clean-up day and so we were able to clean out the attic and get some other junk out of the house! Tim and Dad Stout were able to borrow a friend's truck and work all morning to get stuff going out of the house! We also have a new bed--- HOORAY! In our old one we were rolling to the middle every night- it was that old and broken. the rest of the day Tim, the girls and vegged, did chhores, and watched a ton of football- Go hawkeyes! Saturday evening I did meal prep for Sunday brunch (see Sunday for details) and then we all just hung out and went to bed!
Sunday: early service at church...came home did general pick-upa nd put food into oven for the Student Ministry Sponsor meeting...started late b/c church service went long...good meeting and the girls were GREAT!...everyone left about 3:15...Pastor Jonathan stayed until about 3:45...Timand vegged...did dishes,,,I ran to the grocery store for pies for home small group...hosted a fellowship night for small group...gave kids baths...read and prayed and off to bed...I talked to my sister for about 2 hours- that was awesome!
Monday: up at 6:53 am ...Maddie off to school, Tim to work, Morgan and Jonna clean-up, Morgana nd Jonna snuggle up and watched Sesame Street, siung songs and play games...picked up maddie at school..came home made lunch...girls played...did dishes...talk to Kim Pernsteiner for about 2 hours (we haven't talked on the phone for over a month)...made dinner...Maddie and our handyman, Dad Stout, worked in the yard and painted....girls bathed...Tim home...talked with kristin for about an hour and now blogging....after plan to go over Bible Study for tomorrow and talk with my hubby!
**Tim is doing GREAT at work!!! Some big things going on and he is such an amazing Life Insurance AgenT! I am sooooooooo PROUD of him!!! He is catching the attention of a lot of important people at NYla nd that is praise to GOD and Tim's hard work ethic!*****
That's about it! Sorry so boring!
Jonna
Friday, September 30, 2005
Flu??? and clean-up....
Well, here I am these days trying to keep ahead of teh germ game and all to no avail... last night I had a bit of the stomach flu...that's all of the details I am going to give b/c otherwise you will end up with the tummy flu too...the frustrating thing is that I have been diligent about handwashing, lysoling the house and toys, and last night at Hy-Vee I even wiped down the cart (with the car on the front for the girls) with a sanitary wipe!!!! Ughhhhhh!
So this morning Tim took Madison to schoola nd then he and Morgan headed off to his offices in West Des Moines for 2 hours so he could finish up a few work items and so i could rest! What a fabulous husband God has blessed me with! They all arrived home at about 11:15 am and then Tim and the girls cleaned out our vehicles and played outside. they all had lunch about 12:30; I still did not feeling like eating anything. the girls took naps from2:30-5:30 and I rested. Tim ran an errand to ankeny and then he came home and we made chicken pasta for dinner. After dinner & clean-up we headed ona walk... visited with Sheila and baby isabella (8 months) and harley in Harley's driveway! All is well in the neighborhood and we found out that jeff (sheila's hubby) will be deployed to fort Riley, he teaches army stuff, for about another year. he is gone for about 2 weeks at a time and so we are just praying for opportunities to share Christ with them! Another year to keep showing her jesus by helping out with lawn mowing. etc.... from our visit we walked (Maddie and I ran-- that's soooooo fun!!!) to Grandma and Grandpa Stout's house! We had a great visit and they shared some apple pie with us that one of the ladies from their church brought over- Mom Stout is still struggling with her Shingles, but she is doing better daily! We arrived home about 9:00- did some general clean-up and then put the girls to bed! After that we cleaned up the attic b/c tomorrow is neiughborhood clean-up day- take your trash to the dump for no fees! :) Also, if we are going to have some construction up here soon- keep prayin'- then we had better everything ready to be moved to the basement. My scrapbook area still needs some major organizational help, but at least we have the rest completed. I also need to resort through all of our girls' outgrown clothing so that their little cousin Sydnie can take a good look at it all when she comes for Christmas and be able to take home a whole suitcase of used/new clothes!!!!
Now it's after midnight and with all of the cleaning I am a bit wound up and so i think I am going to showing and read a book to get myself tired.... tomorrow is housework and a few home improvement projects (painting the bathroom and hallway- long overdue) because we are hosting student ministry sponsor meeting Sunday afternoon....Jonna the perfectionist strikes again! have a great weekend....!
P.S. too lazy to spell-check tonight!
So this morning Tim took Madison to schoola nd then he and Morgan headed off to his offices in West Des Moines for 2 hours so he could finish up a few work items and so i could rest! What a fabulous husband God has blessed me with! They all arrived home at about 11:15 am and then Tim and the girls cleaned out our vehicles and played outside. they all had lunch about 12:30; I still did not feeling like eating anything. the girls took naps from2:30-5:30 and I rested. Tim ran an errand to ankeny and then he came home and we made chicken pasta for dinner. After dinner & clean-up we headed ona walk... visited with Sheila and baby isabella (8 months) and harley in Harley's driveway! All is well in the neighborhood and we found out that jeff (sheila's hubby) will be deployed to fort Riley, he teaches army stuff, for about another year. he is gone for about 2 weeks at a time and so we are just praying for opportunities to share Christ with them! Another year to keep showing her jesus by helping out with lawn mowing. etc.... from our visit we walked (Maddie and I ran-- that's soooooo fun!!!) to Grandma and Grandpa Stout's house! We had a great visit and they shared some apple pie with us that one of the ladies from their church brought over- Mom Stout is still struggling with her Shingles, but she is doing better daily! We arrived home about 9:00- did some general clean-up and then put the girls to bed! After that we cleaned up the attic b/c tomorrow is neiughborhood clean-up day- take your trash to the dump for no fees! :) Also, if we are going to have some construction up here soon- keep prayin'- then we had better everything ready to be moved to the basement. My scrapbook area still needs some major organizational help, but at least we have the rest completed. I also need to resort through all of our girls' outgrown clothing so that their little cousin Sydnie can take a good look at it all when she comes for Christmas and be able to take home a whole suitcase of used/new clothes!!!!
Now it's after midnight and with all of the cleaning I am a bit wound up and so i think I am going to showing and read a book to get myself tired.... tomorrow is housework and a few home improvement projects (painting the bathroom and hallway- long overdue) because we are hosting student ministry sponsor meeting Sunday afternoon....Jonna the perfectionist strikes again! have a great weekend....!
P.S. too lazy to spell-check tonight!
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
a cool fall day and the mountain top
This morning we awoke to a cool rainy day! However, I did remember to close the windows, but even with a majority of the windows closed our home is staying about 71 degrees! I love fall! The past two days have been rather "normal" and relaxing. The girls are great, Tim is the best and we are just enjoying our life here on earth until Jesus comes to take us home! Praise God for these times of closeness to Him on the mountain! I am trying to just enjoy these moments and not look over my shoulder waiting for a trial, but that has been a unique challenge for me! I know God is not "out to get us" and that when we endure trials they are for our good and growth! Without them how would we realize we need to change and how awesome and great God truly is!
Not much else to type...The girls are napping and I am reading and relaxing. Tonight is church: Maddie at Awana Cubbies, Morgan in Little lambs & Tim and I serving the student ministry! Tim has been helping with the praise band and he loves it!!! He loves just being there for these students and loving them!
Well- time to get back to some e-mailing!
Not much else to type...The girls are napping and I am reading and relaxing. Tonight is church: Maddie at Awana Cubbies, Morgan in Little lambs & Tim and I serving the student ministry! Tim has been helping with the praise band and he loves it!!! He loves just being there for these students and loving them!
Well- time to get back to some e-mailing!
Monday, September 26, 2005
Fall---are you here????
Is fall here to stay??? Today we awoke to a less than 70 degree house b/c we had the windows open all night! However, no need to fret I did out the girls in their warm PJs. So far today has been a typical Monday; Tim @ work and NYL classes, Maddie preschool this morning, Jonna and Morgan hanging at home working on chores and laundry, the girls took good naps and now I am about to make dinner and then we'll take a walk or play outside for an hour or so.
We had a nice relaxing & fun weekend. Friday night we went to the G-view homecoming game- see previous post. Saturday morning Tim headed up to Faith to play a little basketball with some friends up there. It is an "outreach" ministry and each week one guy shares his testimony about what god has done and is doing in his life! Good! Saturday morning the girls and I did a few chores, watched Nick jr. on CBS and made a yummy brunch consisting of waffles, bacon and scrambled eggs. The rest of the day we all just vegged out watching college football and napping. After naps, we headed to Wendy's for dinner. While we were there we telling Maddie the name of our friends' (the seylers) new baby- malachi. We were helping her sound it out - Mal (us), mal(maddie) -uh (us), uh (maddie)- ki (us), "i can't say that verse" (maddie)! it was hilarious. After dinner we headed to Target and we were in the snack aisle and Tim and Morgan were goofin' around and talking a little loud and Maddie said matter of factly, "Dad, people are trying to SHOP!" Tim and I almost wet our pants b/c we were laughing so hard!!!! After Target we gathered ourselves and headed to Lowe's to price a toilet, tub, light fixtures, railing, etc... for the upstairs. I think Home Depot might have better prices and a better selection---we going there later this week. We stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Stout's afterward to check in on Grandma and her shingles- still in pain and not wanting to take her pain meds-- she is sooooo stubborn! Then we came home bathed the girls and headed for bed b/c we had church on Sunday!
yesterday we had our combined service (all 6 churches in the grace Fellowship- norwalk, Ankeny, us (grace des Moines), grace west, Woodward and Southside)at the convention center downtown and it was good. Junior Hill gave a salvation (typical evangelist) message. The Norwalk church led the worship and it was good. We are totally pumped about this 40 days of community and how God can and will use that in our lives, the lives of our brothers and sister at Grace Church and the lives of the unsaved in our communities. Please pray for our neighbors: Jeff, Sheila and Isabella (they live right next door and Jeff has been deployed to Iraq, serving in kansas teaching army guys stuff??), Harley (the handyman), kenny and his family (that's a book- not enough time), Mike (our other neighbor- single guy)! What a time for us to witness in our own Jerusalem! last night we had home small group and then we gave the girls baths and it was time for bed!
What an exciting life we lead! Now it's time to make dinner! Bible Study in the morning- cannot wait! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
We had a nice relaxing & fun weekend. Friday night we went to the G-view homecoming game- see previous post. Saturday morning Tim headed up to Faith to play a little basketball with some friends up there. It is an "outreach" ministry and each week one guy shares his testimony about what god has done and is doing in his life! Good! Saturday morning the girls and I did a few chores, watched Nick jr. on CBS and made a yummy brunch consisting of waffles, bacon and scrambled eggs. The rest of the day we all just vegged out watching college football and napping. After naps, we headed to Wendy's for dinner. While we were there we telling Maddie the name of our friends' (the seylers) new baby- malachi. We were helping her sound it out - Mal (us), mal(maddie) -uh (us), uh (maddie)- ki (us), "i can't say that verse" (maddie)! it was hilarious. After dinner we headed to Target and we were in the snack aisle and Tim and Morgan were goofin' around and talking a little loud and Maddie said matter of factly, "Dad, people are trying to SHOP!" Tim and I almost wet our pants b/c we were laughing so hard!!!! After Target we gathered ourselves and headed to Lowe's to price a toilet, tub, light fixtures, railing, etc... for the upstairs. I think Home Depot might have better prices and a better selection---we going there later this week. We stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Stout's afterward to check in on Grandma and her shingles- still in pain and not wanting to take her pain meds-- she is sooooo stubborn! Then we came home bathed the girls and headed for bed b/c we had church on Sunday!
yesterday we had our combined service (all 6 churches in the grace Fellowship- norwalk, Ankeny, us (grace des Moines), grace west, Woodward and Southside)at the convention center downtown and it was good. Junior Hill gave a salvation (typical evangelist) message. The Norwalk church led the worship and it was good. We are totally pumped about this 40 days of community and how God can and will use that in our lives, the lives of our brothers and sister at Grace Church and the lives of the unsaved in our communities. Please pray for our neighbors: Jeff, Sheila and Isabella (they live right next door and Jeff has been deployed to Iraq, serving in kansas teaching army guys stuff??), Harley (the handyman), kenny and his family (that's a book- not enough time), Mike (our other neighbor- single guy)! What a time for us to witness in our own Jerusalem! last night we had home small group and then we gave the girls baths and it was time for bed!
What an exciting life we lead! Now it's time to make dinner! Bible Study in the morning- cannot wait! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Pictures...
Tim & Jonna at Amanda & Dan's Wedding in July
Thiis Madison's 2005-2006 School PicturePreschool 4 @ Grandview Park Baptist School
Friday, September 23, 2005
It's been a while...busy schedule....
Greetings from the Stout house! Sorry I haven't posted our family highlights, but here goes....
I am so glad it is Friday today!!! We have had a busy week so far: Maddie school (on m-w-f mornings), Tim working, Tuesday I had Bible study and we are studying the book Philippians and I love it and I LOVE the ladies at my table- I am learning soo much!!!, Wednesday night church- Maddie in AWANA and Tim and I are serving in student ministry and we are all learning about eternal CPR- cultivating relationships and planting seeds of the Great Gospel of Christ, I subbed a half day on Wednesday in elementary P.E. at Westwood elementary in Ankeny- it was a blast, I subbed all day yesterday in 8th grade Math @ Southeast Polk. Tonight we are taking the girls to their first football game- that is going to be a blast! It is Grandview's homecoming tonight! They plan 8-man football and I have never watched an 8-man game before! Also, we are doing the whole tail-gating thing with some friends!!! FUN! The weather is supposed to be in the 60s and it will be under the lights and I hope we will be able to stay the whole game, but if not it will be GREAT! Praise the Lord we live so close!
We have started the official plans of remodeling upstairs and tomorrow I get to go shopping and price a toilet, sink, vanity, light fixtures, and an attic fan! I LOVE IT! I know it will be a messy process, but it will be fun to help our contractor (he is a friend of our from college to does remodeling as a side job- his real job is designing homes). I love doing handy house stuff! I am going to take before and after pictures for all to see!!!
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Went to the G-view came tonight and it was a BLAST! It was a great night weather-wise and we had a blast watching our G-view boys play VERY WELL! They won 60 something to 30 something! We are so proud of them! We were able to visit with a ton of friends and family (in the family of God that is). I love spending QT with Tim and the girls! They loved watching the game - yelling de-fense, fumble, Go Grandview! and touchdown @ the appropriate times. They are a blast! Everyone kept commenting how much the girls are growing and that's when it really hits me that we have a 4 year-old and an almost 2 1/2 year-old. We cannot wait for next Friday's game- GO DEFENDERS!
Tomorrow is Saturday and Tim is playing b-ball up in Ankeny with some buddies from work and Faith friends. The girls and I plan to enjoy homemade waffles for breakfast, Nick Jr. (Dora, Blues Clues, Little Bill, and The Backyardigans) on CBS and doing house chores! Tomorrow afternoon while the girls nap and Tim watches college football- we are having a laundry folding party! Don't ya just want to hang out at our place! Whatever it takes to get caught up- with our busy schedule this week the laundry has suffered (aka not been done and rapidly covering the basement floor)! I am also hoping to get some scrapbooking in soon- I need to complete J&J Anderson's wedding book and get that in the mail, but I am waiting for some pics from the Anderson family that were taken at their Iowa reception, but I still could probably work on it!
Well- it's late and Tim and the girls are asleep and I need to hit the hay too!
Praise the Lord for a great week and a great family life here in Des Moines!
He has been so GREAT to us! What a mighty God we serve!!!
I am so glad it is Friday today!!! We have had a busy week so far: Maddie school (on m-w-f mornings), Tim working, Tuesday I had Bible study and we are studying the book Philippians and I love it and I LOVE the ladies at my table- I am learning soo much!!!, Wednesday night church- Maddie in AWANA and Tim and I are serving in student ministry and we are all learning about eternal CPR- cultivating relationships and planting seeds of the Great Gospel of Christ, I subbed a half day on Wednesday in elementary P.E. at Westwood elementary in Ankeny- it was a blast, I subbed all day yesterday in 8th grade Math @ Southeast Polk. Tonight we are taking the girls to their first football game- that is going to be a blast! It is Grandview's homecoming tonight! They plan 8-man football and I have never watched an 8-man game before! Also, we are doing the whole tail-gating thing with some friends!!! FUN! The weather is supposed to be in the 60s and it will be under the lights and I hope we will be able to stay the whole game, but if not it will be GREAT! Praise the Lord we live so close!
We have started the official plans of remodeling upstairs and tomorrow I get to go shopping and price a toilet, sink, vanity, light fixtures, and an attic fan! I LOVE IT! I know it will be a messy process, but it will be fun to help our contractor (he is a friend of our from college to does remodeling as a side job- his real job is designing homes). I love doing handy house stuff! I am going to take before and after pictures for all to see!!!
*************************************************************************
Went to the G-view came tonight and it was a BLAST! It was a great night weather-wise and we had a blast watching our G-view boys play VERY WELL! They won 60 something to 30 something! We are so proud of them! We were able to visit with a ton of friends and family (in the family of God that is). I love spending QT with Tim and the girls! They loved watching the game - yelling de-fense, fumble, Go Grandview! and touchdown @ the appropriate times. They are a blast! Everyone kept commenting how much the girls are growing and that's when it really hits me that we have a 4 year-old and an almost 2 1/2 year-old. We cannot wait for next Friday's game- GO DEFENDERS!
Tomorrow is Saturday and Tim is playing b-ball up in Ankeny with some buddies from work and Faith friends. The girls and I plan to enjoy homemade waffles for breakfast, Nick Jr. (Dora, Blues Clues, Little Bill, and The Backyardigans) on CBS and doing house chores! Tomorrow afternoon while the girls nap and Tim watches college football- we are having a laundry folding party! Don't ya just want to hang out at our place! Whatever it takes to get caught up- with our busy schedule this week the laundry has suffered (aka not been done and rapidly covering the basement floor)! I am also hoping to get some scrapbooking in soon- I need to complete J&J Anderson's wedding book and get that in the mail, but I am waiting for some pics from the Anderson family that were taken at their Iowa reception, but I still could probably work on it!
Well- it's late and Tim and the girls are asleep and I need to hit the hay too!
Praise the Lord for a great week and a great family life here in Des Moines!
He has been so GREAT to us! What a mighty God we serve!!!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
A professionally perspective...
Greetings from the Stout home-- Tomorrow is Friday--HOORAY!!!!!!
The past few days have been typical Stout mid-week: Maddie school, I subbed two half days (one at terrace and one at northwest= ankeny schools), Tim working and of course Wednesday church consisting of Awana and Student Ministry. Tonight we had a professional home builder come and evaluate our attic/dormer to give us some ideas, estimates and logistical building stuff information as we begin the research about whether or not finish the upstairs. It is going to cost a bundle ($45,000 for a professional) and so I do believe we will being hiring people who do it as a second job or recruiting friends to help!
Our contractor gave us valuable structural info and some GREAT ideas about how "fix-up" our upstairs room. The biggest problem is ceiling clearance- now if we were short that wouldn't be a problem but when your hubby is 6'5" that can possess a bit of a problem! The blessing is that there is a stack upstairs to help with heat and plumbing!!!!! PLEASE PRAY for wisdom for us in this area. We are in NO HURRY to finish the job- we want to do our best with our money and our beautiful home that GOD has given to us!!!!!
Okay-- I am going to vent for a minute---what is in the water around here or anywhere for that matter- almost every gal I know is pregnant or just had a baby! That's great for them, but we keep getting bombarded with questions like, "When do you plan to have another one?? What's the hold up???? Isn't it your turn??? Two years is a long time???" and so on and so forth! We are just simply walking in God's will and trusting HIM for every detail of our lives!!!!
Okay enough of that! Time to put the girls to bed!
Have a great FRIDAY!
The past few days have been typical Stout mid-week: Maddie school, I subbed two half days (one at terrace and one at northwest= ankeny schools), Tim working and of course Wednesday church consisting of Awana and Student Ministry. Tonight we had a professional home builder come and evaluate our attic/dormer to give us some ideas, estimates and logistical building stuff information as we begin the research about whether or not finish the upstairs. It is going to cost a bundle ($45,000 for a professional) and so I do believe we will being hiring people who do it as a second job or recruiting friends to help!
Our contractor gave us valuable structural info and some GREAT ideas about how "fix-up" our upstairs room. The biggest problem is ceiling clearance- now if we were short that wouldn't be a problem but when your hubby is 6'5" that can possess a bit of a problem! The blessing is that there is a stack upstairs to help with heat and plumbing!!!!! PLEASE PRAY for wisdom for us in this area. We are in NO HURRY to finish the job- we want to do our best with our money and our beautiful home that GOD has given to us!!!!!
Okay-- I am going to vent for a minute---what is in the water around here or anywhere for that matter- almost every gal I know is pregnant or just had a baby! That's great for them, but we keep getting bombarded with questions like, "When do you plan to have another one?? What's the hold up???? Isn't it your turn??? Two years is a long time???" and so on and so forth! We are just simply walking in God's will and trusting HIM for every detail of our lives!!!!
Okay enough of that! Time to put the girls to bed!
Have a great FRIDAY!
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
What a great day today! this morning I went to my first week of first semester Bible Study, we were sick last week, and I am so excited about my group & our study of the book of Philippians! God has given me about six older ladies in my group and three ladies who are at my phase of life! EXCITING! I cannot wait to see how God will grow me through this study and through the relationships I build with these fellow God-followers! Tim spoke in Grandview chapel today! He misses being able to spend all of his time with students, but we are both thankful for the ways God has provided for us to still work with students without being in full-time youth ministry: Tim coaching b-ball @ grandview, speaking in chapel, youth sponsors at Grace and working with the students on wednesday nights, Jonna subbing at G-view, southeast polk and ankeny high schools!!!! The girls are napping AWESOME today and I am so thankful! I have spent the afternoon working on some paperwork and info gathering for my homeschooling family (i am a supervising teacher again this year and I love it!). Tonight is the Gilmore Girls season premiere and as soon as I finish this blog and posting a few pictures I will go downstairs start dinner and bake some kind of dessert to have during Gilmore Girls! What's Gilmore girls without dessert: it's like winter without snow! It rained today! Fall is coming--Hooray!
First Day of Preschool & Last Days of Summer
Maddie's First Day of Preschool
Madison & Morgan on Maddie's first day of school
Enjoying Uncle Dan and Aunt Amy's kiddie Pool!
Morgan- what a cute smile!
Monday, September 12, 2005
Finally- a post and lots to post about
Today we are recovering from our weekend! We finally arrived home at about 11:30 p.m.- after dropping off the rental car at the airport, etc....Heather's (my sister-in-law who is due Oct. 26th) shower went great on Saturday- Tim had an AWESOME time @ Promise Keepers! (Tim will write more about this!) The girls traveled great and we had a great trip!
Now it's back to reality and everyday life: Tim working, maddie at preschool m-w-f, I have Bible Study tomorrow, Wednesday night church, and 1/2 day subbing on Thursday in Ankeny! We have no weekend plans- just hang out and be family!
Funny story- last Thursday night after baths we were getting dried off and getting ready to puton lotion and I couldn't get the lotion out (Bath-n-body works tube) and all of the sudden it goobed out all over and Maddie said so matter of factly, "I didn't see that one comin'!!!" So funny!!!! Where does she learn that stuff???
Morgan is still a pistol, but she does so well at Manners! We were in Target on Friday (shopping with grandma Shogren _FUN!!!) and Morgie heard somebody sneeze and she said (rather loudly), "Bless You!" How sweet is that???? She had a great time with her other uncle Dan on Saturday night- she just loves men!!!! Trouble---YES---please pray!!!!!!
Ohhh- some exciting news--- Tim's brother, Dan, and his wife, Amy, are expecting through adoption... March 17! We are all on cloud nine and we are all trusting God for all of the details! Please pray for this too!!!
Now it's back to reality and everyday life: Tim working, maddie at preschool m-w-f, I have Bible Study tomorrow, Wednesday night church, and 1/2 day subbing on Thursday in Ankeny! We have no weekend plans- just hang out and be family!
Funny story- last Thursday night after baths we were getting dried off and getting ready to puton lotion and I couldn't get the lotion out (Bath-n-body works tube) and all of the sudden it goobed out all over and Maddie said so matter of factly, "I didn't see that one comin'!!!" So funny!!!! Where does she learn that stuff???
Morgan is still a pistol, but she does so well at Manners! We were in Target on Friday (shopping with grandma Shogren _FUN!!!) and Morgie heard somebody sneeze and she said (rather loudly), "Bless You!" How sweet is that???? She had a great time with her other uncle Dan on Saturday night- she just loves men!!!! Trouble---YES---please pray!!!!!!
Ohhh- some exciting news--- Tim's brother, Dan, and his wife, Amy, are expecting through adoption... March 17! We are all on cloud nine and we are all trusting God for all of the details! Please pray for this too!!!
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Not just another weekend....
Greetings to all! It is Sunday evening and I haven't posted since Wednesday and so I have plenty to catch up on....
Thursday....a normal day @ the Stout home....The girls and I slept in a bit, as I am fighting a cold from being exposed to all those classroom germs already and YES! I am taking a multi-vitamin! Tim worked all day, I did housework and we just hung out... Ohhh then at about 4:00 p.m. I received a bouquet of flowers with a note attached telling us about a "special delivery" and to meet whoever at Stoney Creek Inn @ 3:00 p.m. on Labor Day...We know Dana nd Amy (tim's brother and wife) have something to do with it- Mom Stout received a bouquet also and so we are anxiously awaiting the DELIVERY!!!!!
Friday... I worked in Ankeny...I taught third grade , but the best part of the day was when I arrived and checked into my classroom I found out it was early dismissal (12:50 p.m. instead of 3:15 p.m.) day- hooray! A half day's work and a full day's pay! The kids were great! They had specials and I had no lunch duties so I was with them from 8:-10:45 (minus a 15 minute recess) and then they came back after lunch at 12:25ish and left at 12:50- what a day!!!! Tim & Morgan walked Maddie up to school about 8:00 am and picked her up at 11:00 and they went to Grandma Stout's house for lunch: Belgian waffles with strawberries and bacon! They love having lunch with grandma stout!
Friday night we went on a date with brad and Dana Sills. Jess Jarrell watched our kids at her apartment and we went out for 3 hours! b&D are hilarious and we love spending time with them We ate at Mondo's and went for Coffee at caribou! We picked up the kids at about 10:30 and we all came home and crashed!
Saturday... Tim was up and out the door by 7:00 am...He was headed to Iowa City to Kinnick stadium to watch the Home opener for the Iowa hawkeyes! Tim had never been to a live Hawkeye game and HE LOVED IT! Thanks nate Swanson and the Moulton clan!!!!!! The girls and I went to watch part of the game with Grandpa Stout and let the girls playa nd visit with Him. Then the girls and I headed to Target (I am waiting for some things to go on clearance) and we did lunch at Panera! Saturday night we headed out to Jordan & jessa anderson's wedding reception at Matt Johnson's home! WOW- what a beautiful home! We had a fabulous visit with the anderson clan! My girls love Jessa and she even danced with them and wrestled with them! We love that girl! Jordan and Jessa sang a bit for us all- Maddie loves it when she sings, All I Need, nd whenever it comes on the radio Maddie says, "Mom, listen it's Jessa." and the girls also sang along with them at parts- Jordan just kept smiling!!!! Also, the girls got their pictures taken with Jessa AND Jordan and Maddie even gave Jordan a hug goodbye! So sweet!!!! That family is AMAZING and we love them soooooooo much!!!! We praise God for the ministry they have to our girls and to us! They have just loved us sooo much and they will forever be soooooo special to us! Thank you Lord!
Sunday....We raced around getting ready b/c we thought we had to teach Madison's Sunday school class this morning and we get there and realize we teach NEXT week! It was great to sit in church with my hubby! Pastor Phil PREACHED the TRUTH and it was great! I was also encouraged and reminded how God is the God of second chances and no matter how often we mess up we can always start anew with Him (john 21:1-17). The rest of the day I napped, as I am now in the full blown head cold stage! YUKI! It will be better soon- lots of H2O, cough drops and ibuprofen! Tonight we ordered El Azteca for dinner and the girls are watching the Wiggles and I will close with Madison's made up song that she was singing this afternoon.....
"I love to pray, pray, pray,
everyday, day, day
In the morning or at night
when the sun is shining bright
when the moon is dark
I love to pray, pray, pray, pray , pray
because I love God & Jesus loves me...."
Thursday....a normal day @ the Stout home....The girls and I slept in a bit, as I am fighting a cold from being exposed to all those classroom germs already and YES! I am taking a multi-vitamin! Tim worked all day, I did housework and we just hung out... Ohhh then at about 4:00 p.m. I received a bouquet of flowers with a note attached telling us about a "special delivery" and to meet whoever at Stoney Creek Inn @ 3:00 p.m. on Labor Day...We know Dana nd Amy (tim's brother and wife) have something to do with it- Mom Stout received a bouquet also and so we are anxiously awaiting the DELIVERY!!!!!
Friday... I worked in Ankeny...I taught third grade , but the best part of the day was when I arrived and checked into my classroom I found out it was early dismissal (12:50 p.m. instead of 3:15 p.m.) day- hooray! A half day's work and a full day's pay! The kids were great! They had specials and I had no lunch duties so I was with them from 8:-10:45 (minus a 15 minute recess) and then they came back after lunch at 12:25ish and left at 12:50- what a day!!!! Tim & Morgan walked Maddie up to school about 8:00 am and picked her up at 11:00 and they went to Grandma Stout's house for lunch: Belgian waffles with strawberries and bacon! They love having lunch with grandma stout!
Friday night we went on a date with brad and Dana Sills. Jess Jarrell watched our kids at her apartment and we went out for 3 hours! b&D are hilarious and we love spending time with them We ate at Mondo's and went for Coffee at caribou! We picked up the kids at about 10:30 and we all came home and crashed!
Saturday... Tim was up and out the door by 7:00 am...He was headed to Iowa City to Kinnick stadium to watch the Home opener for the Iowa hawkeyes! Tim had never been to a live Hawkeye game and HE LOVED IT! Thanks nate Swanson and the Moulton clan!!!!!! The girls and I went to watch part of the game with Grandpa Stout and let the girls playa nd visit with Him. Then the girls and I headed to Target (I am waiting for some things to go on clearance) and we did lunch at Panera! Saturday night we headed out to Jordan & jessa anderson's wedding reception at Matt Johnson's home! WOW- what a beautiful home! We had a fabulous visit with the anderson clan! My girls love Jessa and she even danced with them and wrestled with them! We love that girl! Jordan and Jessa sang a bit for us all- Maddie loves it when she sings, All I Need, nd whenever it comes on the radio Maddie says, "Mom, listen it's Jessa." and the girls also sang along with them at parts- Jordan just kept smiling!!!! Also, the girls got their pictures taken with Jessa AND Jordan and Maddie even gave Jordan a hug goodbye! So sweet!!!! That family is AMAZING and we love them soooooooo much!!!! We praise God for the ministry they have to our girls and to us! They have just loved us sooo much and they will forever be soooooo special to us! Thank you Lord!
Sunday....We raced around getting ready b/c we thought we had to teach Madison's Sunday school class this morning and we get there and realize we teach NEXT week! It was great to sit in church with my hubby! Pastor Phil PREACHED the TRUTH and it was great! I was also encouraged and reminded how God is the God of second chances and no matter how often we mess up we can always start anew with Him (john 21:1-17). The rest of the day I napped, as I am now in the full blown head cold stage! YUKI! It will be better soon- lots of H2O, cough drops and ibuprofen! Tonight we ordered El Azteca for dinner and the girls are watching the Wiggles and I will close with Madison's made up song that she was singing this afternoon.....
"I love to pray, pray, pray,
everyday, day, day
In the morning or at night
when the sun is shining bright
when the moon is dark
I love to pray, pray, pray, pray , pray
because I love God & Jesus loves me...."
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
School Pictures & Pumpkin Spice Lattes....
Good morning to all! Today Maddie had her first school picture taken! So cute! She wore a red polo dress, with a Scottish dog print bottom, and her hair was half up with her curly locks (having a good hair day!) and a red bow! She is growing up! After Morgan and I took Maddie to school we headed to the back in Ankeny, my supervising teacher money, and we stopped at Target for throat drops for me because I have a killer sore throat and we also hit Starbucks and I got a Pumpkin Spice Latte- I LOVE THEM! I cannot believe tomorrow is September! Morgan PT duty is going okay- she doesn't care if she wets in her undies, but we still working on it! She loves to run around buck naked and she then peas on the floor, but our friends have a carpet shampooer that I will borrow again this weekend! We are making progress!
Tim was gone before 6:15 this morning- He is going to Crosstrainers. A men's bible study for business men. He goes with Ryan Anderson, his buddy from high school. Tim loves the speakers, the accountability and the friendships that he is developing there! GREAT!
Tonight is Fall Ministry kick-off at church and so we will be with the students on Wednesday nights and Maddie will be going to Awana! She loves Cubbies!
I love being home in the mornings with Morgan. She is spelling her name aloud all by herself and she will now tell you that her name is Morgan! We are working on colors and numbers! She loves to sing the Patty cake rhyme, the Bible, the Barney I love you song and Jesus Loves me! What a doll!
Well- Morgan and I need to get the toys picked up so that we can go pick up sis at school!
Please pray that we can get bids for finishing our upstairs quickly so that Tim can start working at home soon!!!!!!!!!!! This will save about 100 miles on the van a day and also with Gas prices on the rise this will be great!!!!!
Tim was gone before 6:15 this morning- He is going to Crosstrainers. A men's bible study for business men. He goes with Ryan Anderson, his buddy from high school. Tim loves the speakers, the accountability and the friendships that he is developing there! GREAT!
Tonight is Fall Ministry kick-off at church and so we will be with the students on Wednesday nights and Maddie will be going to Awana! She loves Cubbies!
I love being home in the mornings with Morgan. She is spelling her name aloud all by herself and she will now tell you that her name is Morgan! We are working on colors and numbers! She loves to sing the Patty cake rhyme, the Bible, the Barney I love you song and Jesus Loves me! What a doll!
Well- Morgan and I need to get the toys picked up so that we can go pick up sis at school!
Please pray that we can get bids for finishing our upstairs quickly so that Tim can start working at home soon!!!!!!!!!!! This will save about 100 miles on the van a day and also with Gas prices on the rise this will be great!!!!!
Sunday, August 28, 2005
a recap of the week and weekend....
Sorry it has been a few days since I have posted...Yesterday I had a whole post typed and I went to proof read it and voila- it was a gonner!!! So we here we start again! Wednesday evening I received a phone call to substitute teach at Delaware Elementary (southeast Polk school district) on Thursday--- a great place- except my room had NO AC and it was soooo hot and humid... I came home Thursday night exhausted! Tim kept the girls at home with him on Thursday and then headed out to appointments Thursday evening... Friday I went subbed again in the same room and it rained Friday am, but then the humidity sky-rocketed and we were back to the same old problem...NO AC. Praise the Lord their was AC in the new part of the building and for lunch and specials I spent my time in the teacher's lounge cooling off! Friday Maddie was back to preschool (this time all by herself b/c on Wednesday the only had it for an hour and mom stayed) and after preschool she and her classmates came BOUNDING out of school with neon pink SUNGLASSES because even though it rains outside it is always SUNNY in preschool!!!! :) Tim and the girls took Mom Stout to the eye doctor Friday afternoon and they also stopped by Tim's work so that Tim could pick up a few things and get a little office work done! They were able to take "phone messages" and play with tape!!!! FUN! FUN! Friday night we vegged out and ate at home, walked over to Grandma and Grandpa Stout's house and played in their front yard and visited. Saturday morning Tim went to a men's breakfast (7:30 am) at church with his buddy, Brad. Brad's wife, Dana, was at the women's retreat and so I watched Josh (2) and Trisha (7) and our girls while the men went to MUGS. The kids played and watched a little CBS Nick Jr. and I made scrambles eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast! Tim and Brad were home about 9:00 am. When Tim got home I ran to Target for a f we things and then I came home and crashed all day- we were all zonked! Last night Tim and some Grandview alumni played basketball up at Grandview and the girls and I watched, shot hoops, played a little volleyball, played at Defender Park (outside jungle gym) and then when we all done we headed to Hy-Vee to pick up a few groceries (MILK!)!!!! We came home everybody bathed and we were all in bed by 9:30! I love this going to bed early stuff--WA-HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! This morning I was up at 6:30 b/c I chose to help decorate the student ministry table for our ministry fair today! I was also in the infant nursery today for the last time- I am taking a little break...Well actually a long break so that we can get involved and serve in Maddie and Morgan's classrooms!!! FUN! Tim said church was good! Tonight we have small group and then tomorrow is Monday and we start all over again!
Morgan starts potty training tomorrow! She is already telling us when she is wet and even today took her diaper off when she had done her "business." Tim made her help clean it up and she didn't really like that, OH WELL!!! Morgan is on a growth spurt too! She is eating me out of house and home and growing like a weed. She is up to Madison's shoulder! WOW!!!
Madison has been angelic almost- she is just so sweet spirited and she really is striving to please us and help her little sissie learn too! She is learning to lead by example and she loves it! She is loving school!!!
Well- this is a novel! Have a great week!
I miss vacation--- our next trip to Minnesota is in 2 weeks! We are going home for Heather's baby shower and the men are headed to Promise Keeper's in Minneapolis! I am soooo excited to get away again!
Morgan starts potty training tomorrow! She is already telling us when she is wet and even today took her diaper off when she had done her "business." Tim made her help clean it up and she didn't really like that, OH WELL!!! Morgan is on a growth spurt too! She is eating me out of house and home and growing like a weed. She is up to Madison's shoulder! WOW!!!
Madison has been angelic almost- she is just so sweet spirited and she really is striving to please us and help her little sissie learn too! She is learning to lead by example and she loves it! She is loving school!!!
Well- this is a novel! Have a great week!
I miss vacation--- our next trip to Minnesota is in 2 weeks! We are going home for Heather's baby shower and the men are headed to Promise Keeper's in Minneapolis! I am soooo excited to get away again!
Madison's Preschool Picture...
Here is the picture that Madison & Mom colored together on her first day of preschool, August 24, 2005! She is doing a great job at writing her name! Notice that she writes her name as Madison not Maddie. I taught her it that way because if you ask her her name she repiles, "My name is Madison Stout." We still call her Maddie and we told her teachers that was okay, but on paper she will be Madison!
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Maddie's first Day of Preschool & Morgan is adjusting...
Maddie's first day at school went GREAT! The girls got up about 6:40 a.m. and we just let Maddie and Morgan veg and watch a little Clifford. At 7:10 we had breakfast: pancakes, sausage and milk. After breakfast Grandma & Grandpa Stout stopped in for pictures. Maddie brushed her teeth and put on her Ballerina denim jumper! About 7:50 Tim, Morgan, and I took Maddie up to school, but Tim and Morgan headed home and Morgan started screaming- she wanted to go to school also! Maddie and I had a great one hour (they go a short day to get them acclimated to the classroom & routine) day at preschool! Maddie painted pictures (i will scan them and post them later), played in the imaginary play area with her friends, Hannah and Madison, colored and read a few stories. After free play, we headed upstairs to play a game of Spread the Sunshine (yellow cottonballs on a little parachute) and then the kiddies played with balloons. We came back to the preschool room took our seats and grabbed backpacks and it was already time to go! Maddie cannot wait to go back on Friday- ALL BY HERSELF! We took a few pictures today, but camera ran out of film and so I will take more of Madison at school on Friday so that you can see her classroom! Tim and Morgan came home for a bit and Morgan was attached to her daddy's hip! I cannot wait to get some alone time to work with her!
The girls played very well this morning and now the are chilling out and watching Charlotte's Web! They should be asleep soon! I need a nap too! Tim and I were up at 6:00 (2 hours early for me) and so I'm tuckered out! I will get used to it! Other than that not much else going on...Wednesday night church doesn't really get going until next week and Tuesday am Bible Study starts September 6th so I am so excited about that! The ladies at my table are wonderful! I love them and they have taught me so much about the Lord and His Word!
have a great day!
Jonna
The girls played very well this morning and now the are chilling out and watching Charlotte's Web! They should be asleep soon! I need a nap too! Tim and I were up at 6:00 (2 hours early for me) and so I'm tuckered out! I will get used to it! Other than that not much else going on...Wednesday night church doesn't really get going until next week and Tuesday am Bible Study starts September 6th so I am so excited about that! The ladies at my table are wonderful! I love them and they have taught me so much about the Lord and His Word!
have a great day!
Jonna
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Typical Tuesday and gorgeous weather....
WOW! We are lovin' this 75 degree weather! The girls and I have been spending oodles of time outside. Last night we walked over to Grandma & Grandpa Stout's house, but we had to leave early because Morgan was having issues...Lately she doesn't want to keep her clothes on and at home that is okay, but in public that doesn't fly. She was throwing a hissy fit and so for her punishment we had to leave Grandma's house which is a bummer for Maddie, but a great teaching opportunity- sometimes our sin has consequences not just for us but those around us too! Today we were up by 8:00 (tomorrow maddie has to be at school by 8:00 am) and took baths, did chores, folded laundry, played soccer outside, watched Zaboomafoo and Thomas the Train and now the kiddies are napping while I catch up on e-mails. Many of you have asked how Tim's work is going and to be truthful- God has really shown up and it is awesome! We still have good days and bad days, but Tim LOVES what he does! Also, my hubby is a hard worker! Monday through Thursday he averages 10-12 hour days, but he takes Friday off (sometimes he works in the morning until ten) and then we get him all weekend!!! We love it!
that's about it from the homefront de Stout!
that's about it from the homefront de Stout!
Monday, August 22, 2005
A new kind of Sunday...
Over the past the past 7 months the Lord has really rearranged Sundays for us and we are LOVING it! Isn't amazing how we think change is going to be bad and god has something completely amazing in mind and then we end up loving it! Our church (since January 2005) has 2 services on Sunday morning (we have chosen the 8:30 b/c we then get a longer afternoon) and we were going to an ABF in the evening, but now we have started a small group in our home and we are so excited! Last night we had our first meeting and it went AWESOME! It has been neat to see God orchestrating this for both couples. Right now it is just two couples (including us), but as we (our church) get into the 40 Days of Community Campaign we believe it will grow! Last night we had our first Sponsor meeting (we serve in the Grace Student ministry with teens- we love it!) of the new school year and we are so excited about how God is going to use the 40 Days of Community to encourage the students to care about and reach out to their peers who don't know Christ! Please pray for this area- it has been a huge burden on all of our hearts!
Well- it's Monday and the girls and I are trying to get our motors started- well Morgan is revved up and ready to go as usual, but Maddie and I are a little behind! Today I called the Ankeny subfinder and was able to get two half day jobs starting the first week of September! That pays for G-view preschool! I am so excited to be able to help my husband in this way! I remember about 7 months ago freaking out b/c I might have to go back to work a bit and now I love it!!! I love that the girls get quality time with Grandma Stout or some good social interaction with other children when a friend of mine watches them!
Well- it's time to finish making beds and start the Monday morning laundry!
I still can't believe Maddie is off to school in 2 days!!! AGGHHHH! However, she is ready and very excited and that just thrills my soul! I plan to do some preschoolish activities with Morgan and also e ill be potty training too! Fun days! No more diapers-- HOORAY!!!!
Well- it's Monday and the girls and I are trying to get our motors started- well Morgan is revved up and ready to go as usual, but Maddie and I are a little behind! Today I called the Ankeny subfinder and was able to get two half day jobs starting the first week of September! That pays for G-view preschool! I am so excited to be able to help my husband in this way! I remember about 7 months ago freaking out b/c I might have to go back to work a bit and now I love it!!! I love that the girls get quality time with Grandma Stout or some good social interaction with other children when a friend of mine watches them!
Well- it's time to finish making beds and start the Monday morning laundry!
I still can't believe Maddie is off to school in 2 days!!! AGGHHHH! However, she is ready and very excited and that just thrills my soul! I plan to do some preschoolish activities with Morgan and also e ill be potty training too! Fun days! No more diapers-- HOORAY!!!!
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Weekend update...
WOW! What a weekend so far.... Yesterday we were up and out the door by 9:30 ahoy (that's a miracle for all of us except for Sundays for church) and headed for the Iowa State fair! It was a hot one- about 90 degrees, but the girls were GREAT! Maddie has finally mastered the potty training gig and We are so thankful to Uncle Dan and Aunt Amy for their help with that! First e started at the Little Hands Farm and both girls loved planting and harvesting their seeds, milking a fake cow, riding a pedal John Deere tractor and taking all of their items to market where the purchased some peanut butter crackers as their snack! Secondly checked out the modular homes and they were gorgeous!!! Thirdly we checked out all of the campers and RVs and Tima nd I were drooling over the possibility of someday owning one and taking the girls to Minnesota and other destinations! Then it was off to the horse barns- Maddie and Morgan were so in awe of these horses and some them were HUGE! The were able to pet a colt (he was born 3 months ago at Iowa State), named Cy, and they loved that! Before lunch we also took in the small petting zoo and Maddie rode a pony (they have a live pony carousel). Morgan said she wanted to, but in the end she chickened out! That's okay maybe next year! Ohhh- and of course we did a lot of our favorite thing to do at the fair- EAT!!! We had mini-donuts, cotton candy, a lunch of hamburgers and fries, lots of water, a fresh-squeezed lemonade and a Dutch letter! It was a great time- we left at about 2:00 and came home for naps. The girls napped from 3:00 until 7:00- I guess we wore them out! Tim went into work for a few hours and then I did some shampooing of the living room and hallway carpet! After naps and dinner (homemade pizza and breadsticks) we took the girls to Defender Park and wore them out some more!
This morning I slept in until 8:45 and Tim went out & cleaned & gassed up the van! It looks so great now! After he came home he took the girls on a date to a picnic at the Park, to petsmart and the library! While they were all gone I finished the dishes, worked on laundry, sorted through the girls' toys and finished shampooing the bedrooms and the porch carpet. All the while jammin' to a Kelly Clarkson CD- I think that workout was equivalent to at least an hour at the gym or so I am hoping it was! Now we are all vegging out!
this is a novel, but we are looking forward to church tomorrow and our first home small group meeting! Wa-hoo!!!
ta-ta!!!
This morning I slept in until 8:45 and Tim went out & cleaned & gassed up the van! It looks so great now! After he came home he took the girls on a date to a picnic at the Park, to petsmart and the library! While they were all gone I finished the dishes, worked on laundry, sorted through the girls' toys and finished shampooing the bedrooms and the porch carpet. All the while jammin' to a Kelly Clarkson CD- I think that workout was equivalent to at least an hour at the gym or so I am hoping it was! Now we are all vegging out!
this is a novel, but we are looking forward to church tomorrow and our first home small group meeting! Wa-hoo!!!
ta-ta!!!
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Orientation @ G-view
Tonight was a big night for the Stout family...Our first Grandview Park Baptist School Orientation as PARENTS!!! (Tim has done it as a a student and I have done it as a teacher) WOWZA! This Wednesday Madison starts 4-year-old Preschool! Time is a flying! After orientation we stopped over to our friends, Brad & Dana's, to pick up their carpet cleaning vacuum- what a blessing that is and will be this weekend! I bought the cleaning solution at Kmart tonight for $10!!! I cannot wait to clean my carpets! Also, while we were hanging out at the Sills' house their kids, Trisha (7) and Joshua (2) played with the girls! Morgan came out upset about something and she said, "Bubba....blah...blah..." It is so cute b/c my girls call every boy they know Bubba (their cousin Evan, a friend's little boy Isaac and now Joshua). It's so adorable.
We are headed to the Iowa State Fair tomorrow! Should be fun!
Have a great weekend!
We are headed to the Iowa State Fair tomorrow! Should be fun!
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Pictures from August traveling: Lake Michigan and Jordan & Jessa Anderson's Wedding
Tim & Jonna @ Michigan City, Indiana
Our rental car for the weekend: 2005 Ford Mustang
The Anderson Family
Tim & Jonna @ Woodside Bible Church in Troy, Michigan
Our rental car for the weekend: 2005 Ford Mustang
The Anderson Family
Tim & Jonna @ Woodside Bible Church in Troy, Michigan
It's back to school shopping....
Today has been a good day, except that Morgan was up at 7:00 a.m. and Maddie slept in until 9;30! These girls could not be more different! This morning I did housework, laundry and hung out with the girls- they helped do the dishes and make beds. Tim came home about 1:30 and I ran to Wal-Mart for a few supplies (computer paper, dish towels, & tarts for the tart burner) and to get some more pictures developed. Tonight I have chicken & carrots in the crock pot because Maddie has a haircut at 5:00 (with Miss Amber Kain) and then we are out the door to Merle Hay Mall (they have added a Target & so now it is the perfect Mall) for back to school items: backpack, clothes, paints, kleenexes and baby wipes!
gotta get going!
gotta get going!
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Let's Get it Started....
Hello everyone! Okay...I have done a TERRIBLE job at this whole blogging thing and now I am going to try to get better at it. Madison starts school next week and this will be a great way to update everyone on her progress! Also, Morgan will start potty training and so this will be a great way to vent and keep y'all up to date on that too!
We just return from Jordan Anderson's wedding in Michigan. For those of you who don't know Jordan or his family- we know them through our church- and they have become very Special to us all! My girls love Jordan, Meredith and Kara! Anyway, we (just Tim and I- the girls were with family) drove to Michigan in a 2005 Ford Mustang (a rental from hertz) and had a BLAST!
I am getting pictures developed and I will post them later tonight! It is weird to think that Jordan and Jessa are married and all grown up now! We are so Happy for them! it was a beautiful wedding: fuschia bridesmaids dresses, pink roses, hyrdrangeas and cala lilies, reception on the marina of Lake Eerie and a GREAT dance! the best DJ ever!
Today it is back to normal-- Maddie is fingerpainting and Morgan is all over the house, I think she is just glad to be home! I am going to get some laundry doen and then it will be NAP time for ALL of us!
We just return from Jordan Anderson's wedding in Michigan. For those of you who don't know Jordan or his family- we know them through our church- and they have become very Special to us all! My girls love Jordan, Meredith and Kara! Anyway, we (just Tim and I- the girls were with family) drove to Michigan in a 2005 Ford Mustang (a rental from hertz) and had a BLAST!
I am getting pictures developed and I will post them later tonight! It is weird to think that Jordan and Jessa are married and all grown up now! We are so Happy for them! it was a beautiful wedding: fuschia bridesmaids dresses, pink roses, hyrdrangeas and cala lilies, reception on the marina of Lake Eerie and a GREAT dance! the best DJ ever!
Today it is back to normal-- Maddie is fingerpainting and Morgan is all over the house, I think she is just glad to be home! I am going to get some laundry doen and then it will be NAP time for ALL of us!
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