Sunday Afternoon 'Drive'

We took a Sunday afternoon boat ride on Minnewaska with my co-worker Stef and her family in their new boat. Grace wanted to drive it.



It was a little windy on the lake, but perfect temperature.



After grilling hotdogs and hamburgers the kids played on the beach and around and in the boat. During the ride they all fell asleep except for Grace, who slept on the way over.

Grace pretty much stayed on the beach since A: the water is still freezing cold, and B: she fell off a rock and face-planted in the water. She was not real impressed with that, but I was thankful she had on her life jacket. I'm hoping she remembers this experience in a couple weeks when we to the lake in Wisconsin. It seems she has no fear of water, but this might have broke that!

This week has been in the 80's and I'm loving it. It's so nice to feel some summer weather. Tomorrow we head to IL for Susan's baptisms and Memorial Day weekend. I'm ready for some R&R!

Is it April or May?

We definitely were spoiled in April with nice 60 degree days. So far May has been dreary, cold, and rainy. That's life, so I'll quit complaining:( I have 3 months to go until baby #2 arrives. I find I am more tired and more whimpy with this one. Grace is excited about "her" baby coming. It will be interesting to see how she interacts with him/her.

Mom and Dad came up the last weekend in April. Unfortunately Grace was sick with fever and flu all weekend. You know that Grace is sick when all she wants to do is sit on your lap and snuggle. Poor thing. One of the blessings of daycare! It was rainy most of the weekend so we sat around and relaxed alot. One great thing about when my Mom is here is that the dishes get done after each meal! I can't say that happens all the time otherwise. They left Sunday night and the next day I got a fever and pounding headache. I layed around for 2 days and popped tylenol. It was bad enough that I sent Grace to daycare for a little peace and quiet.

Thankfully we are all healthy and looking forward to some warm weather. This Friday is the Hancock City-wide garage sales and we are doing one with Brent and Susie Wulf. I am ready to unload my junk! Hoping for no rain:)

We are anticipating Susan's baptism on Memorial Day Weekend and then a week later going to Wisc. with the family for a week on the lake. We'll see if our family can handle the outback!

Mid-April Madness

So I've been feeling a little guilty that all I do is check blogs and don't update mine. I feel like my updates are boring and I am not a good picture taker, but I'll try and catch you up.

Busy would be the best way to describe us right now. 2 weeks ago the City called to see if I would work Monday and Tuesdays until summer. During the summer I plan to work 4 days for them, so it will be a little less hectic to just have one job. The thing is, when it's nice I love working for the city and can hardly turn them down. I've decided that being pregnant really slows a person down. Oh well, it's probably good for me. Rustin's loads have been steady so that's a good thing. Last week he went to Colorado. He had to take two-lane out there because of bio-security. That was somewhat annoying, but you gotta do what the farmer says. His bonding day with Grace is Saturday if I have to work. We have had amazingly warm weather lately so they spend alot of time tinkering in the garage or taking 4 wheeler rides. She loves 4 wheeler rides. She has a little one of her own, but for some reason the knack of steering hasn't set in yet. Grace loves to be outside playing, but if we are inside she entertains herself by reading books outloud or dancing to the piano, or messing with play-doh. She also has a doll that she yells at. Sometimes I hear sayings to that doll that I think I've said to her:S

Sundays are somewhat of a challenge because we have a very active, loud daughter. I teach Sunday School in the morning so Rustin has her most mornings. There isn't really a baby-room to take her so sometimes they have to visit the car for 'gentle' reminders. Everyone tells us they don't care and love having her around so I guess I have to get over my own complex. She really is a joy and some of the things that come out of her mouth are down right hilarious. The other day she told a group of ladies she was three. I didn't even know that she knew that 3 came after 2. I guess she's practicing for November.

Sunday eve. we went to Russ and Beth Koehl's for pizza and the evening. Dawn and JR and Mike and Carmen R. were up for a visit. It was so good to see Tremont folk. The highlight of the night was Beth calling her girls Pekin kids when they imerged from the sandbox. I could've taken offence being one myself, but rather found it amusing. Many laughs and a few squabbles constituted a nice evening. Grace thought she was queen-bee being pulled around in the wagon all night, but didn't like to be told that she had to take her turn in pushing. I of course forgot my camera but I'm sure Beth and/or Carmen will have some on their blogs.

On Friday my parents are coming for the weekend. We are anticipating a nice time with hopefully the nice weather!!!

I'm back...at least for now

Well in case you were wondering, the month of February is over so hibernation is officially done. I honestly think the the shortest month of the year is the longest one. One thing Grace and I have done this winter to pass our time is go to Nancy Wulf's for quilting on Tuesdays. Grace plays with Kara's kids and Kara, Susie, and I have been knotting comforters for overseas. Then after supper we have been battling out Monopoly Deal. If you haven't played this game I would recommend it, even if you hate Monopoly.
We have had a straight week of rain so the snow is definitely melting. Now we are back to a lake in the backyard. Oh well atleast Spring is in the air!!!
We made a trip to Illinois at the end of February. It was nice since we hadn't been back since Thanksgiving.
Here's a few px from the month.


Grace and Kylie at a calm moment.


Grace has discovered she loves puddles. Good thing for frog boots.

I can't believe Grace and Abbi would sit in the car together without fighting.

Meadowland is branching out to Morris, so we have been busy with stocking that store. Grand opening is next Friday and we are excited.

Happy Birthday to me

28 years ago my Dad and Mom struggled up the icy road, calling neigbors and uncle for help, so they could safely arrive at the hospital and have their firstborn child. It kind of reminds me of the weather we are having right now. Thank goodness for front-wheel drive and 4wheel drive technology.

Also...we are expecting #2 in early August. Maybe on Grandpa Koch's Aug. 6 birthday! Grace is excited as a 2 year old gets. We are excited for some competition for her!

Our little ballerina

It has been a couple of weeks since the last update, so I guess it's time again.

Rustin got snowed in at Sioux Falls for two days and two nights, one of them happening to be our 3rd anniversary. So Grace and I had a romantic evening at home :) We celebrated a day later by eating out at Bella Cocina. I can hardly believe we are already on our 3rd year.

Last Thursday Susan and Erica came up to visit. They helped a little at the store and then we made homemade pizza for supper. Things just weren't mixing, cooking right so it was more a midnight snack. On Friday we lazed around until Rustin got home from his pig run and then we headed to the Cities. Grace talked all day about going swimming, she even wanted to wear her suit around the house. I decided it was too cold for that. We arrived in time for a stuffing Perkins supper and then we swam for a couple of hours. She loved it and I was glad to work off some supper.

On Saturday we met the UofI/ISU young groups at a tubing hill in Eagan, MN. Grace was reluctant after her first time down, but soon she was heading down by herself in a tube. Where was her mother? I think I was warming up inside. When I first heard it I freaked out, but then I stood at the bottom and realized she did fine. We went to the Mall of America in the afternoon for an hour and then headed back to church for a Mexican Fiesta. Great Food!!! We sang in Spanish and then went to the Dill's for the evening. Grace loved playing with their dog, Nan. She did get a little upset when she claims she dropped her apple (but we think she did it on purpose) and Nan took off with it. Thankfully there was popcorn readily available for Grace to feed Nan. We spent the night at Duane and Bonnie Rocke's and Grace slept great once she got there. We have been having sleeping issues lately.

On Sunday after we said our good-byes we stopped a few places and headed home. We were exhausted when we got there so we all went to bed. What a great weekend!

And now for the post title. I don't think she's my daughter. I don't have those moves!

New Year Visitors

Grace and Maria


The week between Christmas and New Year's went by really fast. We finished up Christmases, and Michelle came up on Tuesday. Grace likes it when 'Chelle' comes. We went shopping all day Wednesday. I'm pretty sure Grace was sick of shopping by the end of the day. Thursday I had to work all day so Michelle went to visit cousin Amber. We went to New Year's service in the evening and stayed up till 2:30 talking. We had a few people over, but they left at 1:30. I don't know what I was thinking because going to bed at 2:30 and waking up at 8 don't go well for me. Tom, Dale, Meg, and Maria arrived at 12:30. Grace immediately took a liking to 'Ria' and was very aware of where she was at all times. Over the course of the day we played many games of Euchre and Monopoly Deal. I realized if we are ever a family of 8 a dish-washer will be a must. As you can see in the video we put together our little jumper thing. Grace likes it better now than at 6 mos. While Maria was in it was the only time Grace was fussing around.

We went to the store and to Rustin's truck on Saturday morning. The guys decided it was a good thing they didn't go ice-fishing this weekend since it was -teens the entire time. They'll have to come up some warm winter:) They left Saturday after lunch to head back to the Cities, and the rest of us crashed for the afternoon. We ate Pizza Hut that night and watched the annual classic 'Christmas Vacation.' Michelle left Sunday morning to pick the Koch's up in the Cities and we are now visitorless for a week. We hardly know what to do with ourselves. I guess laundry keeps calling my name! We are looking forward to Susan coming up next week.