Book Reccomendations

I just thought that today I would share some books that are very good.  If I can, I'll try to remember some of the author's names...


The Bronze Bow - Elizabeth George Speare
The Wedding Planner's Daughter Series - Colleen Murtagh Paramore
Any book by Gloria Whelan
The Dear America Series
The Hunger Games Series - Suzanne Collins

Now, these are just a few, and if you don't know I LOVE to read!  Out of these, I have to say my favorite is The Bronze Bow.  It's about a teenage boy in Bible times who hates the Romans because they killed his parents.  He starts seeing Jesus and is very confused about whether to keep hating the Romans or to forgive them.  I love it SO much, and have read it at least 5 times!

Race for the Cure

We did it!  Our whole family completed the Race for the Cure!  It was on Saturday, June 9th, at the i-wireless center.  We had a blast!!!!  Thankfully, my mom remembered the camera, so here are some fun pictures!

the Grandview group...

pre-race...

stretching...

(sorry about Joe's - I can't figure out how to turn this around :)

about to start...

the starting line...

fun fact: It took us about 6 minutes to get from where we started to the starting line!

mid-race...

this picture brings back memories... painful memories!

Peter had started to get really tired and he kept begging me for a piggy-back ride.  So I finally said yes, and I carried him for about 10 minutes.  He kept choking me to death hanging on my neck, so I told him to hang on to my shoulders.  I had forgotten one little thing - I had gotten a sunburn on my shoulders the day before... ouch!

the finish line!

Me, the boys, and my dad ran the last mile or so.  We had to stop a few times for Sam to tie his shoe and for Peter to catch his breath - but otherwise we made it!

post-race...

My mom disappeared for about 20 minutes after the race, and she showed up with a few donuts in hand from the "Survivor's Village".  Lucky... :)  The Post-race activities were very exciting.  There was apples and bananas, water, (melted) freezer pops, and free sashes!  There were a few bands playing as well.

It was a really fun morning, but my one regret is that I should have stretched more.  :)

Ok, I just realized this when my mom pointed it out.  She said, "Janie, you really need to rephrase your last post.  You said we're going camping with dad's baby..." So now when I say that we're going camping with my dad's baby, I mean the camper. :)

Summer!!!!!

I find it ironic that I'm posting about summer at school.  Yes, I'm posting during free period in the computer lab. :) Go figure!!!  Anyway, I can't wait until school get's out!  Moline gets out on Wednesday.  YAY!!  Our family is taking a camping trip the day we get out at Scott County Park.  We'll stay there for the rest of the week with my dad's baby.  If you didn't already know this, my parents just recently got a pop-up camper.  It's sitting in our driveway right now!  The boys have had almost every single meal for the past few weeks at the little table in the camper.  Ha, ha!  Anyway, we've been having a great time with it.  Also, we just got a brand new trampoline last week.  So long, swing set!!!  We all love it!  So, just thought I'd update you on our summer plans, at school. :) Have a great few more days of non-summer!!!

- Janie

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

My mom's birthday is not until Sunday, April 29th, but I have a feeling I won't remember to blog about her then. :) Here are a few pictures that bring back memories....

loves her family...

and friends...

Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!

New Look

This new blog decor is in honor of my mom :)

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Love you!!!!!

Whoops!!!

Well, sorry it's been so long.  I've had a few requests for a new post, so here goes.

Spring break started on... ummmm...... Monday (not counting the weekend) and I go back to school on Tuesday.  Sigh.  I was sick Monday-Wednesday of the week that Easter break started, so I've kinda been overwhelmed with all of the makeup work.  I finished most of it, but now I have like 5 ginormous projects to work on.  Yikes.

Other than that, it's been a great spring break.  On Monday, we drove up to Dubuque to the Mississippi River museum.  It's a really fun place - really family friendly.  The boys had a blast!  It had a lot of fish (it was part aquarium).  There was a catfish that was at least as big as me!!!  And the little man that some of you have come to know was fairly quiet throughout the whole trip.  :) We took a ton of pictures that hopefully will be uploaded soon!

Last night, Grandview had their first Good Friday service.  Really laid-back, a few songs, some scripture.  It was really nice.

Easter!!!!!  It came so fast, didn't it?  Haha, I just thought of this morning when my mom was thinking about ideas for a fun shape for the cake to bring to my grandma's house tomorrow.  My dad suggested the tombstone that the angel rolled away. :)  Speaking of which, I really enjoyed hearing my pastor read the Easter story.  I love really understanding it more each year.  Of how Jesus Christ was crucified to save us from our sins.  How he rose again on Easter Sunday.  I think about how I sometimes forget the meanings of holidays like Easter and Christmas.  All of the worldly things that distract us from what we are truly celebrating.  As a very childish person, (ha ha) I try to get better at that each year.  So with that being said,

HAVE A HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!