Supermom!

Well, maybe not Supermom, but I'm going to give it my best!

This has been a very busy week, thanks to my new full-time position
with Simpson College!
I just accepted a 10 month, full-time position as the Academic
Support Coordinator with the Student Support Services program.
I am very excited!
So far, I really like the program and the people I'll be working with.
It's a small group, 4 in all, and they all seem very passionate about
helping students succeed, so I think I'm in the right place!

Big changes for me mean big changes for my family.
Luckily, they were all in great positions for this change to happen.
Dave is taking over as primary morning caretaker, okay I'll admit it,
he has always been the primary morning caretaker, but now I won't
be in bed, I'll be at work! : )
The girls are all heading off to their own schools this month
Claire will be in 4th grade at Shuler.
Ella will be in 2nd grade at Sayre Montessori.
Avery will be in the pre-K program at Sayre Montessori.
Jack, well, he'll just sleep a little more during the day.

What does this all really mean?  It means that God has blessed our
family again; with change, with challenge, with opportunity.
Sometimes I don't really know what I want until it's right in front of me.
I didn't seek this out, it came to me.  It came to me at a time when we
were wanting to make some changes with the girls school and trying
to figure out how to make that happen.  It came to me at a time when
I was struggling with what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be.
It came to me at a time when I was willing to trust and walk with faith
that I am stronger, braver and more capable that I often think I am.

I am so grateful for the road that has led me here.  So grateful for my
husband that always supports me, unconditionally and passionately.
I am thankful for my family that loves and encourages me in all that
I do.  I am thankful for my awesome friends that listen to me and
laugh with me and help me see the absurdity and beauty in my life!

So, don't think you'll see fewer pictures or crazy Avery stories on here.
I will find that ever elusive balance, oh yes I will, says Supermom!

Avery

My beautiful, passionate, wild, brilliant, strong-willed Avery...

Iowa Games

I am so proud of Claire!  This last weekend she competed

in her second Iowa Games!

Last year was awesome!  She was at the top of her

age group, with very few 8 and under swimmers 

participating at this level.  Well.....

this year was slightly different.

She is at the bottom of her age group, with a lot

of fierce competitors.  Just as an example, two of the

girls that she swam against each broke more than

one Iowa Games record over the weekend!

Oh, and did I mention the heat?!  Iowa is currently

in the middle of a record-setting heat wave, and sitting

in a non-air-conditioned pool house is kind of like

sitting in a very hot sauna!

But, despite all of that, Claire suited up and did her best!

I am so proud of her.

She has the spirit of an athlete, with a heart of gold.

My favorite moment of the whole weekend, was

when Claire noticed a young boy struggling to get out

of the pool (this is a college pool, ISU).

Without hesitation, she leaned over and grabbed

his hand to help him out.  That is Claire.

Kind, smart, strong, caring, funny, and fast!

Overall, she had a good weekend.  She beat

several of her best times, got to hang out all by herself

with mom on one day and dad on the other,

and gets to say that she is an Iowa Olympian!

Way to go Claire!!

Claire during warm ups.  Why so hazy?  That is

because it was so hot and humid, I couldn't get

my camera lens to stop fogging over!

 Sitting in the stands with me, waiting for her next event.

Claire was the only girl, under the age of 10, from our

team to go to the Iowa Games this year.

Parade of swimmers.  She's on the left, above the blue flag.

Coach Kim, who was serving as an official not a coach,

giving Claire a pep talk before her relay.

I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to experience

these great moments with my daughters.

I am so grateful that they are growing up to be strong,

and proud and brave, as a result of these experiences.

Now, if only we could do some of this great

character-building somewhere a little cooler!



Happy 4th of July!!

Happy Birthday America!

The RouseHouse had a great time celebrating!

We had great weather, great family and

great friends!  What a wonderful holiday weekend!

First stop was my old stomping ground.

I grew up in Urbandale and we went to the

Urbandale 4th of July carnival every year.

I always enjoy taking my girls there and

reminiscing about my childhood.

The big girls in the "fun house". 

Avery behind the wheel ~

We even had the chance to hop over to the

park right across the street from my elementary school.

While most of the playground equipment was new,

there were a couple of things there from way back when!

 Avery never backs down from a challenge!

The girls on the tilt-a-whirl.  Hold on!!

One of my favorite pictures of Aves ever!

Next stop was Grammy and Boppas for some

smores and sparklers!

Sparkler fun!

The next day we headed out for a RouseHouse tradition:

the Waukee Parade!

Daddy getting in on the action.  Where's the candy!?

Aww, my cuties!

Daddy and Aves catching a break in the shade ~

That night we headed out to watch the Waukee fireworks

with some friends.  It was our first time to watch 'real' fireworks

as a family and we loved it!!

Happy 4th of July!~ 



Swim, baby, swim

Avery has grown up at the pool.

Claire joined the swim team in the fall of 2008,

right after Avery's 1st birthday.

Since then, we have spent countless hours at

swim practice and swim meets.

Aves is as comfortable in a hot, humid pool room

as she is in her own bedroom.

So, it is no surprise that Avery can't wait to swim!

She has been talking about swimming and swim team

all winter and finally, this summer, it is her turn.

She started her very first swim lessons at Dowling this

summer and wow! she is a fish!!

Aves loves everything about swimming!

She jumps, dives, splashes and swims!

She loves to wear her goggles, they are almost always

on her face!  She loves to dunk underwater

and count to see how long she can stay under.

She loves to practice her "starts" off of the pool steps.

She can do her "scoops" and kicks and

front arrow.  She is even working on her

underwater handstand like the big girls

(if only she wasn't so buoyant!)

While I swell with pride and joy watching her swim,

I have been reminded lately that no matter how

comfortable she appears, she is still only beginning.

I am careful to sit with a watchful eye while

she continues to practice and grow stronger.

I am very grateful for swimming.  I am very grateful

that my girls have found something to be passionate

and excited about.  Now, if only I could find

a way to enjoy it without sweating to death on

the sidelines! : )

Aves on her first day of lessons!

She loves the "knee pose"

She was so proud of her own swim bag ~

Summertime fun!

Summer fun has begun!

The Rousehouse is in full summer mode;

sleeping late, playing hard, having fun!

Today was a beautiful day so we decided

to head out to the DSM Zoo.

There was a special Dinosaur Exhibit

going on and Avery loves dinosaurs.

As we were walking through the zoo,

reading the "Dinofacts" and collecting

stickers for the Dinosaur scavenger hunt,

Avery kept saying (to anyone who would listen)

"I'm a Dinosaur Expert!"  Too cute!!

This trip was special and sad for a couple of reasons.

1. All big kids. So crazy!  All I had with me

was my bag with 1 water bottle and a camera!

2. Again, big kids.  I noticed a few changes from even

just last year.  ~ No one wanted to feed the animals,

not even the fish.  Who doesn't want to feed the fish?!?!

~ We spent 1/2 as much time on the playset as last year.

~ Claire was "too cool" for some of my pictures.

~ Claire spent most of her time reading all the info at the exhibits

instead of actually looking at the animals.  Not a bad thing,

just a big girl thing.

3. My kids.  We still had a great time! Even though they're

growing up and maybe don't want to do all the

same things they've done in the past, they're still my girls.

They still loved the rope bridge, the giraffes and the ice cream stand!

They still ran around, played tag, picked on each other,

helped each other and occasionally grabbed my hand

for a brief moment, just to make sure I was still there.

My girls ~ 2011

My girls ~ 2010

My girls ~ 2011

My girls ~ 2010

Avery, the Dinosaur expert, with her Diego hat!

Avery loved the dinosaurs, until they roared.

Then she was outta there!

Despite being a little scared, she couldn't resist getting

up close to her favorite dino, "T-asaurus Rex" as she calls him.

We spent quite a bit of time talking to and watching Rex.

We all agreed, cycle of life or not, this was gross!

I had to get a shot of Claire, doing what she loves the most ~

All three girls got to feed the giraffes.  I was very impressed

that they each did such a great job.  Avery was so

proud of herself and "her giraffe".  Ella walked right up

and fed this one like she did it everyday!

We are blessed to have so many fun and educational things

to do around here.  I love getting to go out and enjoy

life with my 3 sweet, beautiful girls!

Enjoy ~

Why do they always do that!?!?

I love traditions, you know I do.

But, some traditions I could do without.

Like this one, "the cutting of the hair"!

Like all 3 year olds before her,

Avery decided to "cut her own hair" today.

We have a haircut scheduled for this afternoon,

but apparently Avery thought she could do better.

After a strong talking to (trying so hard to hide my

smile and giggle), Avery agreed to never, ever, ever,

cut her own hair again!

Notice the chunk of hair on the stool?

Avery upset about getting in trouble!

Trying to explain to me, "what's the big deal!?"

Happy to know I still love her, less hair and all!