Nile's first official Bible!

At our church the 2nd graders receive a Bible from the church for them to use on Sunday mornings and for Wednesday night activities.  It is not the same version we use in church but more geared towards kids.  Hayden has read a significant amount of his since he got it two years ago.  This past Sunday was Nile's turn to get his Bible.  Our church is working to instill in parents and kids the importance of being in the word daily and to encourage parents to be the lead in their children's faith walk.  We now have each parent write a blessing to their child in their Bible and then we read it to them in the front of church while the congregation prays for all of us.  It is a very emotional experience/service for me.   When Hayden got his Bible two years ago Jeremy had to read the blessing since I was too busy trying not to cry!  This year with Nile was the same case.  After church we headed to Culver's, Nile's pick, to celebrate the occasion.

Last first day

Today is my last first day of undergraduate classes forever!!!  Should I decide to pursue more classes in the future they would be grad courses.  I am excited for this semester but also dreading it.  The class is Intermediate Spanish II and it is probably the last class I would choose to take but my degree requires a foreign language through the 4th semester so this is it!  I am glad that I will only be taking one class this semester and hopefully the semester goes by quickly and with as little stress as possible!  Any extra prayers are always appreciated.  ¡Buenos días a todos!

First day of school 2014

The boys ready for the first day - Sis ready for more Mommy & Aubrey days!

Nile - 2nd grade  Hayden - 4th grade

Hayden is riding his bike to school this year!

And he's off!

Nile getting on the bus

I have to admit that this year is a little tough for me.  It is the first year since both boys have been in school full time that they are no longer in the same school.  It really hit me last night when we got an email from Jefferson about the drop off/pick up process.  I guess it is just more proof that they are growing up so fast!  Hayden will be 10 in a few months and if the next 10 years fly by as fast as the last 10 have all three of my kids will be practically grown in no time!  I am trying hard to enjoy and savor everything in the present, even the tantrums and fights!! 
Hayden is riding his bike or walking to school this year since he can cut through the path down by our house to school, more prayers from this mommy for his safety to and from school!
That means Nile is riding the bus in the mornings by himself, Aubrey and I walked with him today but from now on he will be pretty much on his own, more prayers that he grows with this new responsibility and blossoms. 
Aubrey is home with me still full time, we will be doing a home school preschool with her this year and then off to Kindergarten next fall!
I have my first day of my final undergraduate class next Monday and then will graduate with my bachelors in December.  Hard to believe I will have finally accomplished this goal and even better yet we have no debt from my classes, we have been able to pay for everything up front!  Truly a blessing considering we are a family of 5 on a single income other than the little I bring in from babysitting a few days.  
Here's to a great year for all the kiddos, and adults, heading back to school this fall!

Meet the teacher

This afternoon was meet the teacher for the Pella schools.  This was our first year going to two different schools for the boys.  Hayden is going into 4th grade at Jefferson and Nile is going into 2nd grade at Madison.  Walking through Jefferson was kind of surreal since I went to school there for 5th grade when the building was brand new!!  Praying they both have a wonderful year of learning and growing!

Spencer videos

Spencer car show 2014

Nile and Aubrey dancing

Aubrey and Grammie dancing

Hanging out in the tent

Peek a boo!

The kiddos with the 38

Hayden jumping

Aubrey jumping

Aubrey on the carousel

Nile & Aubrey on the little roller coaster

The second weekend in August we headed up to northern Iowa to Spencer for a car show.  We had great weather again except for the mosquitoes!  Friday after we arrived we set up the camper and tent and waited for supper to be ready.  Then it was some fun kids games before bed.  Saturday after breakfast we headed over to Arnold's Park for the day and had a fun time in the amusement park.  Aubrey was finally tall enough for the bumper cars so she was thrilled.  The kids and I all jumped on the bungee trampoline.  That was quite a work out!!  Hayden and the grown ups rode the big roller coaster several times and Nile and Aubrey rode everything they wanted to multiple times too.  When we were done at the park my parents headed back to Spencer with the kids while Jeremy and I went to check out The Barefoot bar.  It was a little tricky to find but worth the search.  We will definitely be coming back again next time we are in the area.  We headed back to Spencer and enjoyed a yummy meal and the band.  Aubrey won a prize for the water balloon launch and Nile won the coloring contest for his age.  The ended up giving Hayden a prize too since he was the only one of our kids that didn't win something - super thoughtful!  Sunday we headed back home.  We stopped in Pocahontas to see my college roommate and her family.  It was great to see them and visit for a little while.  After we got home, unpacked, and showered it was time to head to church for a bbq and then small group.  The weather was great even though we were a little worried about rain and we had a great time. 

Jeremy's birthday

August 6 was Jeremy's 38th birthday.  He went to work for the day and the kiddos and I cleaned the house.  We had a piece of his 4 layer dessert/cake after work and then went out to Applebee's for supper.  He got to open his presents after we got home from supper.  I learned that if you use almond milk to make pudding it does not set up the same way regular milk does!  Happy birthday Daddy/Jeremy, we love you!

Rozenboom camping weekend

The first weekend in August we went camping at Howell Station with Jeremy's parents and his sister's family.  The weather was amazing!  The big boys were gone most of the day Saturday and the kids had a great time riding bikes and scooters around.  We made lots of yummy food over the fire and played bocce ball Saturday night in the grass - quite entertaining!  Sunday morning after breakfast we took a little walk to the bridge and saw several eagles. 

Last Thursday night in Pella

Last night was the final Thursday nights in Pella for the summer.  It was the farm theme so that is always a fun one.  The kids love to play in the corn, ride the ferris wheel and train, and of course the inflatables.  It was the first time this year that we ate supper downtown and then enjoyed the beautiful weather walking around and then finished the night off with Mango Tree!

Nile & Aubrey in the ferris wheel

Aubrey was super happy to have a steering wheel!

Nile

my animals!