Ain't no party like a Kindergarten party....

We just got home from Ella's Kindergarten program and thought I would share some pictures. She did great and didn't appear to be nervous at all. Of course, being placed between Ty and Max, her two best boys, probably didn't hurt. As you can see, she wore a special outfit today and also had her hair curled. Not surprisingly, when I asked her what she thought of her hair, she replied, "I love it. I hope Max doesn't try to kiss me." To my knowledge, he didn't so we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief for that! (***Max is in the red shirt to her left, your right.)

Yep, we even got a little taste of the Macarena!

They closed out the show with a rousing performance of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" that brought the house down. No one can rock that song like a group of Kindergarteners! Enjoy!

The more things change, the more they remain the same....

April 24, 1999 was a warm-ish Spring day filled with sunshine. The Green Mile and Star Wars-The Phantom Menace were topping the box office. Mambo #5, Hit Me Baby One More Time and Genie In A Bottle were topping the charts. My morning was spent in hair and make-up at the Holiday Inn Express in Brandon, SD. Izaak Walton League was the setting for the remainder of the day. Pictures were snapped, vows were exchanged, dancing and celebrating ensued. Ten years ago today, Jason and I were united in wedded bliss. Friends and family surrounded us while we pledged our lives to each other, for better or worse. Over the past ten years, we have seen some worse but mostly better. Thinking back over the past ten years, I realized how many things are different about our lives now. We used to live here with the sewer rats:

Now we live here with the rug rats:

Our primary means of transportation was this cute little sportster:

And now it is this family truckster:

Our free time was often spent with these crazies:
And now the majority of our time is consumed by these goofballs:
Since the day of our nuptials, many things have changed but many have remained exactly the same now as they were then. I still call Jason too many times a day and he still wears the same grey Nike shirt he wore ten years ago. I still really like to hide and jump out to scare Jason and he still really likes to make jokes about pretty much everything. We still love to go out to eat, I still take too long to do my hair and Jason still hollers out "A couple over here!" while gesturing to empty seats near us whenever we go to a movie. I still rock to the Backstreet Boys and can't miss an episode of 90210 and Jason would still choose "Baby Got Back" as his go-to karaoke song (and I would still leave the area while he was singing it).

And then there are the things that have changed and yet remained the same~more like a variation of the original. Our love for Mexican food has not waned but we now frequent Casa Del Rey when 10 years ago, Carlos O'Kellys (ahhh, sweet Carlos O'Kellys) was the fav. Our careers are the same but different also. Jason is still a carpenter but for himself rather than for Lemme and I am still a Group Home Manager but the home I manage is mine and so is the group! Friday nights are spent together just like they were ten years ago but they are spent at home, rather than Homers.

It is into this category I would put my feelings for Jason, exactly the same yet vastly different. One aspect remains the same, I love Jason with all my heart. Being the type of person I am, I find it difficult to feel comfortable, really comfortable, in most situations. With Jason, I am comfortable, really comfortable. I feel safe. I feel secure. And most importantly, I feel happy. Even when I am mad, sad, anxious, overwhelmed or stressed, I feel happy. I know my life is better because Jason is in it. However, I can honestly say, I love him more today than I did on April 24, 1999 and in a more real, substantial way. Everything was so exciting, romantical and also so unfamiliar. It was so much fun planning the wedding, wearing the pretty dress and having the big party but then it was over and the real stuff began. Working together through the career, financial, personal and family highs and lows. Figuring out how our lives, beliefs and personalities really fit together and could mesh. This is not an easy task especially when the meshing personalities include one extremely Type A, emotional, impulsive and whimsical woman and one fairly Type B, laid back, logical and literal man. But here we are ten years later and my love for Jason has grown immeasurably. He balances me, he respects me and he listens to me (not in a "Hey, you need to be home at this time!" or "Take me out for supper tonight." type of listening~although that would be nice too) but in a "I get what you are saying and also what you are not saying" sort of way. We have grown to understand each other, know each other and better work as a team. I am beginning to figure out that at times it is better just to let it go and he knows when to really hang on. On April 24, 1999, I pledged to be Jason's wife until death do us part but really, if pressed, could not envision what the future truly held for us. Now that we have a past, I can truly see our future and I like what I see.

Thank you Jason for being the man that you are, a perfect father for our girls, my rock, my comic relief, my garbage taker outer, my sounding board, my personal handyman, my meal suggester, my level head, my everything. Happy Anniversary!

"Don't marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can't live without."~James C. Dobson

Life With Lily.....

Lily is quite a character and this week she has provided me with much entertainment. Monday we had to make a quick stop at Shopko. She, of course, had Ralphie with her and asked if she could bring him in. I told her it would be best to leave him in the car so we didn't lose him. Reluctantly she agreed but told me, "When we get home, I am giving him a treat for being so patient." I thought maybe she would forget or she was just making a point but no way, as soon as we got home, she set about preparing Ralphie a little snack of chex mix and together they enjoyed their treats.

During our Shopko trip, we were in the Payless Shoes section and all three girls were going crazy, trying on shoes and trying to talk me into purchases. Lily is just as shoe crazy as the other two and was hopping up and down the aisles pouring over all the selections. Finally, she brought me a pair of Dora flip-flops and said, "Oh Mom, these shoes are incredible!". I almost cracked and bought them just because of her little face, expression and voice but I held strong and we left without the "incredible" flip flops.

Today she and I had volunteered a couple of hours of our day to help set up for the John Harris Elementary book fair. After selecting a beautiful butterfly adorned dress as the main course of her elaborate ensemble, she decided to do a little accessorizing......

Apparently she hasn't heard Coco Chanel's quote about looking in the mirror before leaving the house and removing one accessory. She was definitely the star of the book fair show today!

It is impossible to remember all of the funny things she says and does even though I try to write most of them down. Writing them down just doesn't even come close to doing her justice. How would I even begin to actually capture her essence? Beautiful, innocent, enthusiastic, wide-eyed, loving and sweet. Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve an every day companion like Lily. I have the best job in the world.

"A daughter is a miracle that never ceases to be miraculous....full of beauty and forever beautiful...loving and caring and truly amazing."~Deanna Beisser

Soccer Saturday......

Yesterday Grace and Ella both had their first soccer games. There was a bit of an overlap of times so Jason took Grace and Lily and I went with Ella.

It was cold, windy and still a lot of fun. In spite of a cold, Ella put her normal 125% into learning the ropes and had an "awesome" time.

She told me yesterday afternoon that she loved playing soccer so much so that she might play until she is 7 or maybe even 8. In her world, that is quite a time commitment. Unlike Grace, Ella is fortunate in that she has two of her classmates on her team so she knew two people going into it which makes a big difference. Katie, teammate and classmate, greeted Ella as soon as we arrived on field and told her, "Ella, we brought Gatorade and Doritos for snack. Do you want to see?". They scampered over to the cooler excitedly, realizing that snack is generally one of the most important parts of any event!

When it was time to play, the girls were divided into two teams of six. Ella and her two classmates hugged, as only five year olds can do, upon learning they secured spots on the same team. Enjoy some game time action photos......

Lovin' it, typical Ella style....

Jason and Grace showed up and saved the freezing cold day with hot chocolate for Lily and I. Grace said her game went well but they lost 4-2. She isn't quite as demonstrative with her feelings but does seem to be enjoying herself and is already looking forward to her next game on Thursday. Ella's teammate Katie is a ringer and so their team won hands down to the tune of 6-3 but they play 3 on 3 and do not use goalies. Ella scored one goal and Katie scored the other five.

Hopefully it's warmer on Tuesday.....

Chasing it down....

Sweet, sweet victory...

Good game, good game.... Soccer is an interesting game. We have spent Grace and Ella's entire lives instilling the characteristics of sharing and generosity in them. On the field though, we encourage them to "get in there and take the ball away" from their opponents. I think it is going to take some time for them to sort that out in their minds but once they do, LOOK OUT Sioux Falls Soccer!

As fate would have it....

With one week to go until Jason and I's 10th anniversary, I have been thinking about how we met. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, a friend of mine was seeing a friend of his. They decided we might enjoy each other's company and set us up. Stacy and I sauntered in to Nutty's (South now, the only Nutty's 12 years ago) and she quickly introduced me to "these really cool guys that I met". I wouldn't say Jason and I hit it off immediately but there was interest there. The following Tuesday (Tuesdays were the big Nutty's nights back in the day) we returned with our refillable beer mugs in hand and at that point Jason and I began to find we had a lot in common. Our respective friends ditched us leaving me with the task of giving Jason a ride home. I clearly remember dropping him off in front of 718 W. 4th and telling him, "I will give you my number but I do not want yours. If you want to talk to me, call. If I don't hear from you, I will know you are not interested." For the next 7 days I waited increasingly less and less patiently for the phone to ring. Finally on the next Tuesday, the phone rang in the late afternoon and it was Jason (typical man to wait so long) wondering if I would like to go to Nutty's and that was it. Our friends who set us up ended up not being a good match but Jason and I turned out to be two sides of the same coin.

I realize this isn't the most unique "how we met" story but it's ours. And if you think about it, everyone's story is really pretty interesting. Thinking back, I realize how very easy it would have been for me to miss this opportunity. Maybe I turned Stacy down for a night out. Maybe Jason didn't show up. Maybe Jason decided not to call me. So many things had to all come together for this fateful meeting. I really believe the one moment that altered the course of my life and ended up leading me to Jason was a moment I had no control over at all. A moment that was dictated by people who knew nothing of me other than my name and basic information. I believe that moment was when I was assigned to the dorm I lived in my freshman year of college. This may seem like a bit of a stretch to some of you but just go with me for a second. At Augie there were two dorms freshmen lived in, Berg which was exclusively freshmen and Solberg which housed all levels and held just the overflow freshmen. Had I been placed in Berg, I would have met a completely different group of people and quite possibly never even known who Stacy was. Of course, being friends with Stacy is a very integral part of our story and so it stands to reason, I then would have never met Jason and so on and so forth.

My point is this, our lives are really just a collection of moments. Moments who create by our own choices (our career, our friends, what to do with our days, etc.), moments over which we have no control (accidents, sicknesses, winning the lottery, etc.) and those obscure moments that pass by every day without notice. Obviously the day I received the letter assigning my dorm and roommate was exciting and noteworthy. However, at that time, there is no way I could have predicted the road it would have led me down.

It is because of this, I firmly believe every moment, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, needs to be handled with care. We are all interconnected whether we like it or not and need to treat each other as such. You never know how something you say or do may affect another person. Would Jason and I found each other had I lived in Bergsaker Hall rather than Solberg? Perhaps, but I am sure glad the guy in charge of Augustana Residential Life didn't leave it to chance. Take care of your moments.

Here is a poem that I wrote for Jason two years ago that is a not so brief synopsis of our collection of moments: (I apologize for the length. I think we all know I tend to get a little wordy.)

JESSICA'S ODE TO JASON

Once upon a time

Actually ten years ago

I met my true Prince Charming

Of that I was fo' sho.

Never did I imagine

My life could be so sweet.

Until you came around

And I was literally swept off my feet.

Graduation night at the Ramkota

With you underneath the tree

I knew deep in my heart

You were the one for me.

From Boomer's to Homer's

We let the good times roll.

WeFest, Kansas City and Florida

We even liked to bowl.

When I turned down a walk,

You took me on a bike ride.

And on the bridge over the river,

you asked me to be your bride.

My life was forever changed

By that one magical moment in time

When you asked me if I'd be yours

And in turn, you would be mine.

You wooed me with your bird seed.

With your strength my heart was won.

On April 24, the year 1999,

I knew my life had just begun.

Your Bronco was your first sacrifice

It took all the courage you could muster.

But I guess you do whatcha gotta do

When you need a family truckster.

Our little apartment on Walts

Was our diamond in the rough.

Rats and laughs and the sunshine sleigh,

We thought, "This isn't so rough."

First came Gracie Lou,

She has a flair for drama.

She's 100% a daddy's girl

But acts just like her mama.

From there we moved to Goldenrod

And Kolb Construction was founded.

Our dreams continued to grow

But our feet remained firmly grounded.

Ella Bella came next.

Our little midnight creeper.

She arrived on Tornado Tuesday

And we knew she was a "keeper".

And here we are on Orchid.

It was a true labor of love.

Our marriage remaining intact through it,

Is really a blessing from above.

Lily Jane, our little moocher

Was the third to come along.

Clicking, climbing, smiling

Even crying, she can do no wrong.

Diapers, cleaning, laundry

Boring, some may say.

But obviously, we both know

We wouldn't have it any other way.

Gina and a Subway cup

Labot, Ralph, Kurt and Rita

The Gerbopples, Misner and Pablo

All friends we've been glad to meet-a.

Your patience is unending.

Your love is deep and true.

I know without a shred of doubt,

I can always count on you.

Our life together amazes me.

Of you I am so proud.

There are some times however,

I wish you didn't chew so loud.

You make my life worth living.

You make me feel complete.

Even though in bed at night

You have ridiculously cold feet.

From Izaak Walton to Mexico

We've been on quite a journey.

Sometimes you make me laugh so hard,

I think I'll need a gurney.

They say the eighth year is bronze

But I think it's pure gold.

It's you I see beside me

As together we grow old.

"Fate only takes you so far. Then it's up to you to make it happen"

Never in a million years....

I became something last night that no one who has known me my entire life would have ever predicted I would become......a soccer mom! After weeks of weather-related cancellations, Grace had her first night of soccer and I could see just a hint of Pele coming out in her.

She ran, dribbled and kicked with the best of them. Of course, with old Stoneface, it's hard to tell if she truly was enjoying herself or not but after practice she said she had fun. Here are some action shots....

Ella and Lily occupied themselves by running back and forth in the mud while Jason and I stood proudly back watching Grace participate in her first team sport.

The playground in the distance was beckoning so after watching Grace practice for awhile, I took the other two knuckleheads over to play and Jason stayed to supervise Grace. Ella needed to make a quick pit stop on our walk to the playground......

Ella's best advice for porta potty use is, "You do not want to look in that toilet." She walked away with a wrinkled up nose and a disgusted look on her face.

Ella, Lily and Lily's ever present pal, Ralphie swung and slid until Grace was finished.

Jason was telling us that Grace did great but then was telling her one thing she could work on at home. Always quick to defend her sisters, Ella interrupted and said, "Dad, it was her first time." Jason told her he knew that and thought Grace did terrific but working on this particular skill would help. Ella then told Grace, "You did everything right except for one thing. I think you did great!" What a nice sister!

Both Grace and Ella have their first games on Saturday so that should be interesting, especially since Ella hasn't even had a practice yet. According to her, she knows all about soccer though and is really good at dribbling. I guess we will find out on Saturday!

One thing I do know Ella is good at is putting together outfits that make her strut around as if she just won America's Next Top Model. Last night upon returning home from practice, she disappeared and when she finally reappeared, we found out she had been down in her room selecting today's ensemble.

She walked out the front door this morning with a spring in her step and a smile on her face, sure she was going to knock Max's socks again.

Jess and Jason's "Egg"cellent Adventure....

Saturday night the girls went to bed planning out their Easter basket hunting route for Sunday morning. Grace made the bunny a card requesting that her basket be hidden in a very hard spot. Mr. Bunny attempted to do so however, he had underestimated the girls' detective skills and all three were found within five minutes of receiving the green light to search. All three girls were thrilled to find their baskets filled with goodies including a webkinz for each of them.

Grace and Crystal, the bottlenosed dolphin....

Ella and Paco, the parrot....

And Lily with her new friend, Ralphie the weiner dog....

Even though the girls were anxious to begin the "adoption" process, Jason and I needed to complete our final preparations for the Easter dinner that was to commence following Mass. We peeled 15 lbs. of potatoes, prepared 20 lbs. of ham and various assorted delicacies to accompany the wonderful dishes supplied by his sisters and mom. Ham and potatoes baking away, we were on our way to church....after a short photo shoot.


Following Mass, we booked home to hide the eggs for the big hunt, make lemonade and put the finishing touches on the meal. As the house began to fill with hungry Kolb's, it was decided to place the egg hunt on the back burner (much to the chagrin of the little ones) so we could get right to feasting. Everything was delicious and once we were all sufficiently full, the kids were turned loose.

The hunt didn't last long as there really aren't any super awesome hiding spots around the house but they seemed to enjoy themselves. Luckily the weather cooperated and most of the kids spent the rest of the afternoon/evening giving our swing set a much needed workout (with some help from Uncle Clifford and Grandpa John)

while the adults chatted, ate some more and relaxed.

Eventually the kids began to peter out

(Exhibit A)

(Exhibit B)

and so did the adults and before we knew it, the party was over. Another wonderful holiday and celebration under our belts.


Unfortunately Monday didn't go quite as swimmingly as Sunday. Lily hopped into bed with me around 6AM which was a lovely little surprise. What wasn't so lovely, however, was when she proceeded to throw up in my bed shortly after 630AM. I thought maybe it was a fluke puke following a coughing fit. Ahh, wishful thinking. I was dead wrong and spent the next 4 hours holding her bucket while the poor little thing heaved (sorry for the graphics, I'm done now). I asked her what wasn't feeling good and not wanting to lead her into saying "my tummy" I offered many options: toes, tummy, arm, leg, bumpah and even her eyelashes. In a weak little voice she responded, "My eyelashes." Although I didn't want to completely discount her feelings, I decided it would be better to treat based on her symptoms and kept her on a diet of apple juice and water for the morning. While the rest of us were eating lunch, she surfaced and was interested in having some noodles. Against my better judgement, I allowed this only to be rewarded with a second viewing of above mentioned noodles. My Moocher is a trooper though and wasn't about to be deterred by this minor set back and finished her lunch, all the while assuring me, "I feel better, Mama." and "Aren't you proud I'm done puking?". What a little sweetie. She is currently in hour three of a hopefully healing nap and I am looking forward to her bright eyes and bushy tail returning.

Obviously this bout of the flu or whatever it is, pushed our originally scheduled plans of bridesmaid dress measuring and soccer accessories shopping on hold. Fortunately I have two wonderful little girls and big sisters who were extremely sympathetic to their baby sister's ailment and after producing some beautifully adorned get well soon wishes, entertained themselves for a good portion of the day as I alternated between caring for Lily and participating in my least favorite event of the house cleaning Olympics, on my hands and knees floor scubbing.


Ella was saved by the bell when the phone rang and a play date offer sprang up unexpectedly. After a brief freak out of, "I decided I don't want to go. I'm scared." and a proper good old pep talk from me, she was sitting in the backseat of Lexi's mom vehicle with not so much as a second look at me. Grace is milling around desperately looking for something exciting to occupy the remainder of this last vacation day of the school year. I think maybe this is my perfect opportunity to out and teach her the finer points of the best sport around....volleyball.

Looking forward to a week of good health and awesome weather!


***Update~I was having some technical difficulties and was not able to publish as soon as I finished writing this post. Lily woke up and informed me, "Mommy, I am feeling much better." She went outside with Grace and I and rode the Rocket Rider like it was going out of style. She has maintained a sunny disposition and the contents of her stomach since waking.