What a beautiful fall!

October
This fall truly has been beautiful...especially for Nebraska.  60-70 degree weather most of the whole month with children who have been involved in outdoor sports was definitely a display of Gods blessings!  Also as always I am very thankful for each and every one of these moments of joy experienced with both friends and family:)

For four Sundays we spent our afternoons up at the GISH practice field for some flag football action.  This year was really fun because it is neat to see the boys starting to learn the ins and outs of football.  It was also enjoyable to watch Mike help coach Joden's team:)

Here is Joden celebrating scoring a touchdown.  Of course as a parent it is great to see your kids perform well at anything they do, but one thing I LOVED about our team is that all of the boys got an opportunity to attempt many of the positions.  At their age it is really important to allow them to do so.  Therefore I enjoyed watching many of the boys try out all the different positions!

Harvest of Harmony parade in Grand Island.  These moments with my children are ones that bring me such joy and ones that I will cherish forever!  

She loves to takes pictures of herself on my phone:/

Everyone except Mike got a school picture this year:)  It is pretty neat to see the progression of pictures for Joden!  

Our staff encourages us to post on Twitter from time to time.  So, I occasionally take pictures of my students working and post them on Twitter.  This was a snapshot of the students doing a performance task, which was writing a nonfiction narrative.  Although I definitely feel much more physically exhausted, I have thoroughly enjoyed the middle school world!

Each year I create a scrapbook for both of my children. So, one Friday after work I ventured to the Chocolate Bar for a beverage and scrapbooking time.  I love being a mom, teacher, and wife, but some days me time is very much needed:)  For the opportunity to do so I am very grateful!

Dinner group for October included a visit to Third City Christian Church, which is where one of our friends goes.  They had a family fun night so we decided to go check it out.  The kids really had a blast!  Thanks Olsens for inviting us:)

This picture almost looks as if Joden is tired of being the only boy...in all honesty he was mad that no one wanted to be on his back for the picture:)  So pouting was the way he handled his frustrations.

Reeve and I had a girls trip to Kearney to visit Target and Old Navy.  We had a blast together!  

Mike and I sure LOVE spending some one on one time with each of the kids every once in awhile.  It really is fun to spend that quality time together and every time we do this they behave so well without the other sibling there to pester them!

Gates night out at Helgoth's Pumpkin Patch.  Dad was deer hunting so we went without him.  It was a beautiful night!

Several of us who either coach basketball or are married to a basketball coach thought it would be a great idea to do some meal prepping prior to the season starting.  Not only did we have fun, but we were able to stock our freezer with 10 meals.  I am for sure thankful for this opportunity as well as these ladies' friendship!

We enjoyed a wedding here in town for one of my co-worker's daughters.  Reeve enjoyed doing the sparkler as a send off at the church and of course Joden enjoyed doing the 'Wobble.'  I love the fun loving nature of both of my children.  They put a smile on my face every single day, which is definitely one of the greatest joys of motherhood for sure!

Football championships!  The boys worked hard and earned 2nd place. They championships are played where they start the ball on the 20 yard line and if a team scores the other team has a chance to match that.  Whenever the other team does not match it the game is over.  I thought it was a fun way to move through a championship tournament quickly!  

Snapshot of my students working in groups!

Our October date was our first ever Husker football game together!  We have tailgated many times, but I really wanted to go to an actual game together.  We had a great time, the weather was beautiful, and the Huskers won!  With all that being said though I do believe that I enjoy watching the game from my couch just as much:)  It is an experience that is a must to experience, just not one I would want to do every year for every home game.  So thankful though for the ability to do these types of things with my spouse!

Oh my goodness!  Reeve was looking through an old scrapbook of mine and came across this picture.  This was a beauty from middle school and not sure why I ever thought it was a good idea to do my bangs like that!  Oh to be in middle school again:)

Reeve has begged us to be in dance so we decided this year we would give it a shot.  These pictures are from the first parent visitation night.  She has loved it to say the least!  

These two LOVE going through the FROG car wash.  I let them unbuckle and they watch each cycle and pretend they are being attacked by zombie juice:)  Most importantly what I love is their bond as brother and sister...another blessing for sure!

Finally as for everyone else October is always wrapped up with Halloween!  I allowed both kids to pick their costumes this year.  Joden picked Darth Vader on his own and Reeve and I sat down and scrolled through Amazon for her to choose Bat Girl.  They got to wear their costumes three times: once Saturday for the downtown Halloween, then Sunday for Trunk or Treat at church, and finally for Halloween.  I would say it was a successful Halloween--especially because we did not have to carry Reeve at all this year:)

Pano of my class working with partners now!  I have absolutely LOVED this chunk on partner work because they have all been doing really well with it.  

I always feel I say this, but I truly hope that my appreciation for the gifts in my life and those around me is apparent.  My blog is never intended as a way to gloat, but more importantly as a way to reflect and truly thank God for each and every hardship as well as gift he has laid out before me!

~For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29:11

SePTemBer!!!

September has been such an amazing month!  Not only have we fortunately gotten to enjoy fun activities, the weather has also been beautiful.  

Sometimes I sit back and often ask myself why is our family so blessed with the gifts we have been given....especially when you see how tough life can be for others OR the chaos that has been going on in our world lately.  It leaves me very thankful, but is also leaves me sometimes feeling selfish!  Or like maybe I don't deserve it...Therefore as we embark on these joyous times, I always try to make sure to thank God for the blessings in my life!

~Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord...Jeremiah 17:7a

 We started off September by scalping some Husker volleyball tickets.  We ended up having some awesome seats!  I LOVE any type of sporting event and have really enjoyed taking the kids to these types of venues...especially since the Nebraska volleyball team are the defending champs.

 After the game we ate at Lazlos and then hit up the Railyard to watch the football game on the big screen.  Since we had the kids it worked out great to sit at Mellow Mushroom.  They enjoyed a game of Uno while we watched the game and then we took off at half time.  

 We enjoyed our fun in Lincoln with Mike's oldest sister Heather and her boyfriend Chris :)

 Mike LOVES taking the kids with him to the woods and as you can see they sure have a fun time with him.  I love that going to the woods is something they always do with their dad!

 They shot a few doves while in the woods the next weekend!

 Now that I am working at Barr they ask that we work a few events.  I got to be on the chain gang and actually enjoyed it!  These were my partners:)

 Miss Reeve unfortunately got sick the 3rd week of school I believe.  So we worked on some puzzles while home one day.

 This year we chose to put both kids in the Heartland soccer league.  Joden still really enjoys the goalie position--especially when he gets to kick the ball out.

 Here is Reeve's team.  They play 4 on 4 for her age group and it is pretty fun to watch:)

 One Sunday at church our pastor preached a sermon about the prodigal son and then had us create a prodigal son.  We prayed for this person and then hung them at church so that we could keep the visual reminder in front of us for awhile.  The teacher in me thought this was a great hands on way to really walk away with a great understanding of the message that day.

 Oh Joden...while talking to a lady at customer service Joden decided to entertain himself.  These are the crazy things he does that I know probably are naughty, but they sure bring a smile to my face and warm my heart!  

 Reeve really wanted to do dance this year.  I really struggled with this because she is currently in dance, gymnastics, and soccer.  I know that is quite a lot for a 5 year old, but I thought we'd try it-we can always stop if it is too much.  

She has a good friend Adeline from preschool that was already in dance.  In order to keep up there friendship we put them in the same dance class.  We were afraid that being in different elementary schools they would eventually not remember each other:(  To say the least, they were SO excited to be together the first night of dance!

 Gates open house!  They sang a song to kick off the night.

 This year I embarked on a new journey-teaching 6th grade language arts.  To say the least it has been very rewarding, challenging, exhausting, fun, and such a true blessing!  The letter below is something all teachers appreciate seeing from time to time because it reminds us that we are doing something right:)   

Mike's sister texted me this picture of her with Mike's grandma.  It was one I had to keep!  This is one amazing woman who is still going strong.  She raised 10 children, lost one child, and now has something like 52 grandkids, and who knows how many great grandkids.  She raised a wonderful son-Mike's dad and that trickled down to Mike.  I am so thankful to call this woman 'great grandma'!

 Flag football!  We have had such beautiful weather for all these outdoor activities and I am so thankful for that!!

 One thing I enjoy doing in the fall is going and watching the basketball girls play their fall sports.  These sweet girls asked if they could have their picture taken with Reeve.  My kids spend so much time with me in the gym that these girls are like family to my kids and I just love it:)

 Why not add some extra chaos to the month of September!  Mike's brother Dan turned 30 so his wife planned a surprise trip to Mexico.  Low and behold it happened to be at an H10 resort which Mike and I have a membership for.  So, we thought we have to go.  We left bright and early on a Friday morning!

 We went a day earlier than everyone so that we could enjoy some time to ourselves.  It was much needed!

 Trying out the robe and slippers in the room:)

 With our membership we get privilege status so the breakfast is wonderful!  

 It was fun watching the crew get off the shuttle:)  Dan thought he was going to the Husker game so that is why Lisa and him are Husker'd out!

 Here is our group: 

Mike's brother Dan and his wife Lisa, Mike's sister Kati and her boyfriend Nate, Mike's sister Shannon and her friend Amanda (her husband had to work) and of course Mike and I.

  Siblings!  We sure missed Mike's oldest sister Heather:(

  This is the privilege lounge where we enjoyed hanging out!

  This lady Denise was from England and was sort of a joke to us on our trip.  She thought Mike's sister Shannon was someone else on the resort.  :)

  This delicious shot was called pink p**** :/

  Shannon brought this hilarious game with her!  I have not laughed that hard in a long time!

  This was Dan's actual birthday so we started off his day with a nasty shot!

 Why not try out some headstands on the beach!

 

 

 This was our last night:(  We enjoyed dinner at the Italian restaurant, which was delicious.  We also sang happy birthday to this 30 year old!  *The guys decided it was sexy to unbutton their shirts a bit:)

Thank you God for the blessings in my life!  I pray that I continue to trust in you Lord today and everyday....