Des Moines weekend for Steph's bridal shower.

We had a fun weekend in Des Moines! We got to spend some time with family and I helped throw a bridal shower for my childhood/long time friend Stephanie!

We enjoyed ice cream with my sister and parents!

My brother and his family came for supper and backyard kickball!

Cutie nephew Stuart!

So much fun to celebrate Stephanie! We have been friends our while lives and so excited for her! She's getting married in Italy in October! Love you, Stephanie, and so thankful for your friendship!

Softball camp/start of soccer 2026.

Spring rec soccer has begun! We have already had a mix of wearing shorts one day and the next wearing hats and gloves- the Iowa spring weather is all over the map! The girls are enjoying it and doing well! They each moved up to the next age bracket, and it's really nice this year because they all practice at the same time!

Some shots of Norah's game.

Some shots of Lucy and Ellory's game.

Their first game got rained out, so this was technically the second and it was cold and windy, but the sun was out so we'll take it!

Go orange and yellow!

Lucy and Ellory are also doing a three session softball camp- go girls!

Recent reads 2026.

Undistracted: Capture Your Purpose, Rediscover Your Joy by Bob Goff- Bob is such a friendly and fun author, always an enjoyable read and I love his stories mixed in with teachings too. He talks about how to live undistracted so we can enjoy the adventures ahead and live with purpose and joy.

Twice by Mitch Albom- Alfie Logan discovered when he was young that he had a special ability to relive any moment of his life over again, just by thinking of a moment and saying "twice," he can be transported right back. The catch is that he has to live with whatever happens the second time. The book goes back and forth between present tense, where Alfie has been arrested for allegedly cheating at a casino roulette wheel, and past tense where he he sharing his story with the jailer. I found myself thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it, which is the mark of a good book I think, and the ending was a little bit sad (but not in a disappointing way) and a lot sweet.

A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings- Wow, what a story! Tia was recruited into the fundamentalist Quiverfull movement as a young wife, where years of silent and secret abuse followed. Strict obedience, extreme submission, and being a silent keeper of the home became her way of life. While submission is a Biblical idea, the things she was forced to endure in the name of submission were not. Her husband's views became more and more sensational and his mental health suffered so deeply that she escaped with her children to begin a new life of healing. 

That's Not My Name by Megan Lally- This book goes back and forth between two story lines. A bruised teen wakes up on the side of the road with no idea how she got there and no memory of who she is. A police officer takes her in and a man frantically comes in claiming he's her father, saying her name is Mary. Meanwhile, in another town, a teen girl Lola goes missing and everyone suspects that boyfriend Drew had something to do with it. Too much language, but an engaging thriller. I admit that I am terrible at predicting endings or what's to come, but this ending blew my mind and the way the stories intersected and came together was wild.

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden- Debbie Mullen is an advice columnist who tries to steer her readers in the right direction, until things start falling apart. Her daughter is having bad boyfriend troubles, and both her and her husband have big secrets they are keeping from each other. Debbie has carried her secret for many years and it weighs heavily on her, until she breaks and starts seeking revenge on everyone in her life she feels deserves it. As with the thriller above, I am terrible at predicting what's to come, and the ending blew my mind with how all the secrets unraveled and intertwined. 

Easter 2026- morning photos.

Happy Easter! Christ the Lord is risen today!

Easter 2026- Family celebrations.

We were in Des Moines for a few days over Easter break at my parent's house and had lots of fun family time with the Schut side! The weather was rainy and chilly, so we didn't get to do some of our usual outings, but we still had a good time. We were able to get out a bit to play in the yard and we still had our egg hunt outside in the front where it wasn't muddy! We enjoyed lots of cousin playtime (and aunts/uncles/grandparents too), egg hunt, and Easter baskets. :)

Margo (my niece) got these glasses in her basket and thought they were so cool. She was wearing them and walking around pausing in front of everyone, wanting them to acknowledge her and say something about them. It was very funny and cute!

Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for the special Easter baskets!

I said I didn't get pictures of Stuart on this trip (my brother's 4th baby) because he was either napping or too small to participate, but I got his sweet little head in the bottom of this one! My sister, Karlie, and her family didn't come because they just had their 3rd baby last week and her husband's parents were going up to help them this weekend. Yay for the family growing!

Checking out their egg hunt findings.

Egg hunt crew.

When we came back from Des Moines, we got to celebrate with the De Jong side too! They do their egg hunt as a scavenger hunt and it's always so fun and the kids love it! Love cousin time!

Looking for one of the clues in the hunt.

We played Left, Center, Right and that was so fun and a game that all ages can play.

Love a full table!

The victory dance for Gerrit winning! He was so excited and love everyone's excitement for him!

Happy Easter- He is risen!

Easter 2026- Dyeing eggs, egg hunt, and Easter baskets.

What a fun Easter night as a family! We celebrated a little early because we were with extended family over Easter. The girls loved it and we had special time together- so fun to make holidays special for your kids! So thankful for the forgiveness and salvation granted to us as believers in His death and resurrection- the greatest news ever!

Easter baskets.

Egg hunt and candy piles! (Sometimes when we get home from school or our after school activities and we don't have to go anywhere for the rest of the night, the girls like to wear pajamas, so that happened today.)

Dyeing eggs.

Love these traditions, our girls, and the celebration of Easter! :)