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!

Monday, October 24, 2005

Pictures of Zakery and his parents....

Heather and Baby Zakery















Phil & Zak- his eyes are open!!!

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!

Sunday, October 23, 2005

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
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!

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!

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 :)

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!!!!

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