A Trip Back

Over Memorial Day weekend Dan wanted to go back to where he served his mission in Iowa.

We stayed in Clinton, Iowa, right next to the Mississippi.


Clinton is an interesting place, there are two factories there, a corn rendering plant and the Purina Dog Food factory, so, there were some interesting smells!

The kids just wanted to swim




One of the many old mansions.

Dan's old apartment

A lot of these midwest towns were settled by the Dutch so you'll see windmills. This one was across the Mississippi in Illinois.




On our way home we stopped by Le Claire, IA. at the Antique Archaeology store. This is the antique store featured on the show American Pickers, which Dan and Danielle love!

It's a little smaller than it looks on TV.
Most of the stuff wasn't for sale but Rayce found some tin action figures

Iowa is beautiful, and very green.

The Color Run

Back in February I signed myself, Dan and Danielle up for The Color Run. We also had some friends from church that were going to do it with us as well. May 25th came and it was overcast and a little chilly, but the rain held off until after we were done. I thought Danielle would be fine with three miles, even if she had to walk a little.


We're ready, sweat bands and all.



Danielle was such a trooper, the race started at 11, but we didn't even get to start running until noon, because there were so many runners. She was tired and hungry so everyone was excited to finally start.

Danielle ran out of gas around mile 2, so Dan stayed with her and I kept running with Meredith and Kari, it was fun, but I think I like regular races where you don't have stuff thrown at you, still, I'm glad we did it!


Blue got me the most!

All That End of School Year Stuff

I think my biggest concern in moving to a new place (since I've had kids), has been the quality of the schools they would attend. The concern was no different moving to Omaha. I didn't know what to think about their school at first, but this year has turned out to be wonderful! Both Rayce and Danielle's teachers were fantastic and they had a great year. Danielle was involved in everything from dancing classrooms to safety patrol. So it's bittersweet to move on. Danielle is going on to 6th grade and has attended 5 different schools! I'm hoping she'll see this as something cool one day, not sure she thinks its too cool now. So for the end of year festivities the kids had field trips and room parties and of course field day. The weather here has been strange, lots and lots of rain and cooler temperatures so field day was a little chilly.


Field day for Mrs. Anderson's kindergarten. We showed up, took a few photo's, then Avie couldn't take the cold anymore so we left. Poor kindergarten's kids hands were freezing!




Danielle didn't really want me to come to her field day, I think she's afraid I'll do something to irreparably damage her reputation. I tried to tell her I could be a lot more embarrassing than I am although I don't think she's convinced.


End of year class party. It was even nice enough to have it outside.


In hindsight I probably could have dressed him up a little.


Thanks Mrs. Anderson!

Rayce and Ellie, he may or may not have had a little crush on her. I heard a lot of "Ellie is the smartest in the class", although he said she asked him to be her boyfriend and he told her not until he's fifteen!

First Day, Last Day

First day of school..

...and last. I can't believe the school year is over; big changes are on the horizon. We'll miss Omaha, it's been a great year!

Volleyball and Soccer

Saturday was the last day of a couple month Saturday black out of sports! Our lives were taken over on the weekends by volleyball and soccer...it was a good thing. We couldn't ever miss because I was coaching Danielle's volleyball team, they were a great group of girls.


Danielle played awesome this season! She scored many points for her team and had a few great assists, so proud of her!

These girls are awesome and they improved so much in a short amount of time.

And then onto Soccer



This boy is a natural, he scored two goals this game!




Now onto Baseball and Swim Team.

Carnival!

Thursday was the kids' school carnival. We were glad the weather cooperated, with this crazy late spring it had to be rescheduled once before.
The kids were loaded up with tickets and snow cones and we stayed for three hours. Mom's job was to photograph and to hold all the cheap prizes that one gathers at a carnival.


Danielle with Molly and Lizzy


Nice shot Avie Jo.

Danielle with Negil and Lauren. The kids have made so many new friends and are a bit dismayed to have to move again. We have just under three months left here in Omaha!