100th day of school

Friday, January 24th was the 100th day of school.  It's always a fun day at school.

 

Madi got to dress up again.  She always gets into character. :)

Olivia made a lot of fun things in class to celebrate!

Family day

After Jason got back from Utah on Wednesday he had one more day off so we surprised the kids and took them to the Ramada in Urbandale that has indoor waterslides.

I spent the day trying to pack in secret so Austin wouldn't find out.  Jason got home around 3pm so I picked the girls up from school, drove straight to the airport and then right to the hotel.  The kids were very surprised and thought it was cool that they got to miss the next day of school. 

 

This is probably the last time we can fit them all on the pull out bed. :)

hard trip to Utah

 

Jason went back to Utah January 18-22 to see his grandma one last time.  The week before she found out she had lung cancer and didn't have much time to live.  Jason's parents were going to come out and visit us but after grandma got sick so fast they decided to stay home and be with her, which ended up being a good decision because she died only two week after they found out she had cancer.

After we found out they were sending her to hospice we thought Jason should go out and spend some time with her before she got really bad and couldn't communicate. 

It was a really really hard thing for Jason to do but he's glad he did it.  It was very emotional for him but he had some good quality time with her and the family.  The day after he left she went downhill pretty fast, he got home Wednesday afternoon and we got the phone call Saturday morning around 2:30am Iowa time that she had passed away. 

 

We lost a very special lady today

 

 

We love you grandma!  We will miss you here on Earth but know one day we will be reunited in Heaven.

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam

Austin is so excited to be a Sunbeam!  It was a long extra year in nursery and he was ready to move on.  He loves his teacher Sister Scott, she is very sweet and he enjoys going to class every Sunday.

I'm glad that I'm in the presidency get to be there every Sunday to see him too.  He sits so reverently next to his teacher, sings the songs, and raises his had to answer every question.  It is so fun to watch him so excited to learn and grow.

"Frozen"

Wednesday Grandpa Gardner sent us to see the movie "Frozen" since we weren't able to go with everyone on Saturday.  We had a great time and everyone really liked it.  Madi now wishes she had magic freezing powers so she can make a beautiful ice castle. 

 

I thought it was appropriate to go since Monday and Tuesday they cancelled school because the temperature was so cold and they couldn't have kids waiting for the buses out in that kind of weather.  Sunday night January 5th the coldest I saw it was at 10pm it was -8 but felt like -34.  Then Monday around noon it was -9 but with the wind chill it was -36.  If you have never felt what that feels like, you are immediately freezing especially your fingers.  I had to take Austin to the doctor for his yearly appointment that day and just from running from the doctors office to the car.  Austin's coat was frozen and made a crinkling sound and my purse handles didn't flop over they stayed straight up when I put it in the car.  Now that is cold! and we can all say that we have felt what -34 degrees feels like.

Austin's 5th Birthday!

 

Our 4 year old boy!

 

 

Austin got to celebrate a day early since Jason had to work Friday night so we had his little party Thursday night.  He was so excited to finally get his party since all the girls just had all theirs.  Saturday he went out with Jason to eat and go to the gas station for a treat... his favorite thing.

 

I can't believe he is my baby.  It kind of makes me sad that he is already growing up.  He is still my sweet little boy even though is starting to act more and more like a "big" boy every day.

 

His favorite color blue

 

His favorite primary song is "Follow the Prophet"

 

favorite dinner is Pizza

 

favorite book my truck books

favorite show of TV "Paw Patrol"

 his best friend Greydon

favorite thing to play with is cars, his shark car ramp, race track and remote airplane
 

He is excited to go to Sunbeams this Sunday

 

He is a good brother and loves to play with his sisters.

 

He loves his siblings, parents and grandpas and grandmas

 

 

We love you Austin boy!

 

We are so glad you are in our family.  We love your sweet happy face and cute smile.  You bring so much joy to our family and we are glad you are apart of it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!

 

We had a great New Year Celebration.  We dropped Savannah off at a friends for a birthday sleepover.  Then went and picked up some dinner, and brought lots of treats.  Came home had dinner and ate lots of treats.  Then had our count down and sprayed silly string and were in bed by 8:00pm.

 

Jason and I stayed up and watched a movie barely staying awake until midnight.  It was great!