Calendar

By the way, I was browsing through this year's events and noticed that Tyler's birthday got missed on the calendar. Could someone with the ability to fix that? I would myself, but I sign in under yahoo, so I don't have a gmail account. His birthday is Sept 17. Thanks! Love you all!

New crib - Husband = NO Sleep

So, Tyler's at Youth Conference this week. Yup, in the middle of the week. They decided this year to do YC this week after school got out for all the kids and go camping at a Girls' Camp in Heber. Because they need two Priesthood Leaders and two Young Women leaders from every ward at all times, Tyler volunteered to go and stay the whole time. As such, I've been playing single mom this week! Honestly, I don't know how real single moms do it...I've been going slightly crazy, and not just from lack of sleep!

Speaking of lack of sleep....Last weekend, Tyler put together Katy's new crib. She had a REALLY hard time adjusting to it at first, and is still a little iffy. I think she's to the point now, though, that she would have a hard time sleeping in either one of her beds, the crib or the port-a-crib. She's extremely cute, but extremely tired most of the day. I think it finally hit her yesterday. She took three--yes, three!--2 1/2 hour naps. That's a long time! And, silly me, I figured she was on the same track as the previous four days and didn't take advantage of that time to catch up on my sleep! Every time I've tried it before yesterday, I would barely get to sleep, or only sleep for maybe half an hour when she would wake up and scream to be let out. The half naps just weren't doing it for me...I ended up more tired and cranky, so yesterday, I decided to just stay up. *sigh* Oh well. Maybe today she'll do it again...after all, she was up an awful, AWFUL lot last night.

Ahhh, the joys of motherhood...

Dad

Dad- It is incredibly hard to choose one memory of dad. I find myself thinking about his laugh and his hugs and most of all his smile. I love how he always thought of others before himself.

I remember him taking us camping for a week and waking up every morning to go home, shower and change then work for a day before going back home and changing and driving back up to the mountains to sleep on the cold ground. Now that I’ve actually done a hard day’s work, I understand better the need for a comfortable home to come home to and am even more impressed with his desire to give that up for us.

I know that as I get older, there will be more reminders of this and more memories of his great example as the best dad ever!

Cracked Wheat at the crack of dawn...

Interestingly enough, my memories of daddy this weekend have centered on those days in high school when he would wake up with me in the early, early mornings before Seminary. Usually, he was up long before I was (at least during tax season). Already on the table when I came downstairs were two bowls, two spoons and two cups. He would be at the stove, finishing making either Cracked Wheat or Cream of Wheat and when I said good morning to him, he would usually give me a hug and tell me to get the sugar and the milk on the table. Then, we would talk about life, school, my friends, occasionally even Tyler and any other boys I was interested in (although not often) and anything else I wanted to talk about. It was only about 15-20 minutes every morning, and sometimes not even every morning, but those times are precious to me. The fact that he would take the time in the mornings to fix me breakfast and make sure that he was caught up in my life, meant so much to me.

He also taught me the importance of being cheerful in the morning, for no matter what time it was, he was always smiling, sometimes even singing, when I came downstairs. That's a lesson I still haven't quite mastered, but I try to be cheerful for Katy in the morning, at least. I hope that I can be as happy and caring of a parent as Daddy always was to me.

I learned so many things from Daddy, but those mornings taught me so much about our father's love for each one of us and especially for me. They carry a special place in my heart that I hope I can pass on to my children. Thank you, Daddy. I love you.

Levers, Rocks, and the Example of Hard Work

Memories of Daddy have flooded me this weekend--partly for obvious reasons, partly more the less obvious reason of yard work. Some of my most vivid recollections of Daddy have to do with early summer mornings and Saturdays outside of the new house, picking up rocks, weeding, raking up rocks, spreading manure, digging up rocks, watering trees...did I mention rocks? As we've labored in our yard this Memorial Day weekend, I found myself remembering a particular day...

It had to have been in that first year after we moved into the "new" house, and I'm pretty sure it was a Saturday. The yard was still a wasteland of rocks and construction waste. Do you remember the "dumping" place for all our rocks--along the side of the front yard, near Nancy's fence? We were digging and picking up rocks in the backyard when Daddy (or someone) hit a big rock. Not just a "big" rock, but a truly gigantic boulder. My memory insists that it was the size of a baby bassinet, but perhaps it was a trifle smaller. Daddy dug all the way around it, and started to try to pry it out. No luck--it was too big. Even with Mommy's help, it was just too big to leverage into the wheelbarrow. I remember someone saying that maybe we would have to leave it there, or perhaps get a back hoe or something similar to get that boulder out of our backyard.

That was when Daddy (inadvertently, I'm sure, because he probably just wanted that boulder out!) taught me a lesson on simple machines and hard work that I've never forgotten. He got a big 2x4 from the construction waste pile, and instructed his children to grab littler pieces and bring them to the boulder. Using another rock as a fulcrum, he wedged the boulder up, and we frantically shoved our smaller pieces under. Then he wedged the boulder up a little more, and we'd shove more under. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. I don't know how long it took--at the time it seemed like hours--but eventually Daddy and Mommy were able to tip that giant rock into the wheelbarrow somehow. Success!!!!

I vividly remember the feeling of pride and excitement at this accomplishment. We'd fought the rock and we'd won! Take that, stupid caliche-ridden yard! You can't beat us! We are too smart and strong for you!

A silly, inconsequential event? Perhaps. I doubt anyone else in the family even remembers it. I'm sure it didn't mean much to anyone else. But this experience, along with a thousand million others throughout my childhood, taught me that perseverance and hard work can solve many, many problems. Thank you, Daddy.

Rocks

Keryn,
MAYBE for a nickle a rock, but even then Benjamin might think it is not enough!

Rocky project

Very busy putting in sprinkler system. Sort of intimidating project. Many many rocks in our yard. Wish for Benjamin, Heather, and Jacob to come pick up rocks for a nickel a bucket or something. Any takers?

Wish us luck!

Re: LaDale

I just wanted to say congrats as well. I am so glad that you can realize the difference between your dreams and reality. I sometimes forget where to draw the line. But I wanted to share in the joy with my siblings that you were dreaming of an enchanted forest. Nice dream.

Other then the normal congrats on your dream I am very happy to hear about your recent job acquisition. That is very exciting news. I love you tons and hope all the best for you. SKT

Congratulations, LaDale!

I just wanted to add my congrats to Jen and Keryn's! I'm so happy for you! Congratulations! I hope that everything works out the way you want it to. =) I love you!

From the Ross Family

This was Gideon's reaction upon hearing LaDale's great news:
And then Ezra and Mercy spontaneously created a sign to commemorate the happy event:

I love you, LaDale. Congratulations.

Re: Dreams

Congradulations LaDale!!!!

I am so excited for you. I LOVE to dream. I think I have mentally redecorated my house, my wardrobe and my yard thousands of times. Sometimes it is the only way I get through the day!

Dreams versus reality!

It is strange what dreams can do to you. I teach piano lessons in Black Forest, about a 30 minute drive. As I was driving back out of a fairy tale forest with dark, lowering sky (it had been raining unicorns and dragons earlier that afternoon)and the spring grass was a deep, dark green and beautiful. I passed a sign, stapled to a telephone pole advertising lab puppies and I thought, "I want a house out here and a lab puppy and ... Wait, a puppy, me! What am I thinking. I would probably fall in love with it and then become deathly ill because of my allergies and besides, I can't afford a house in never-never land without prince charming and... If I lived here, I would let the dandelions grow because I love the look of the yellow dots poking out of the green grass and then those weeds would overrun the charming looking ..." etc and etc and etc.

Ah, dreams crushed by reality!!


By the way- I got the job. I interviewed for a fifth grade position at the school I am at now (Rockrimmon Elementary School) and I GOT the job. Whew! Here we go....


Up, up and away to the future and beyond!

BEE Careful

One great thing about traveling is how it broadens your horizons--you can learn so many things when you step out of your home comfort zone and seek adventures in new places. Or, you know, when you and your three small children accompany your husband to a conference in Missoula, MT. For instance, I learned that Missoula has one of the fastest merry-go-rounds in the country, that children can be just as happy in a little neighborhood park with one slide and gravel as in an elaborate dragon-guarded two story wooden castle, that I have the cutest kids in the world (oops, I already knew that!), and that honey bees get really mad when the semi truck hauling their hives leaves a rest area.

Want to see some pictures? And an explanation of that last bit about the honey bees? I wrote about it on our scrapbook blog.

Re: Everything!!!

I am so excited that we finally have internet back! I'm pretty sure I talked to all of you about it earlier this week, but we moved last Saturday, and since then, we haven't had any internet. We've spent the better part of the last two days trying to figure out how internet was going to work here, but we finally got it last night! Yay!!

Jen and Jeff, I'm absolutely thrilled about the job! Congratulations and I hope it's a great job! Samuel and Caren, my goodness, what an absolutely beautiful piano! I'm so jealous!! =) I want one so bad...but we're just have to content ourselves with our little keyboard right now ('little' being the operative word here). And Keryn, thank you so much for your mother's day post. It was beautiful and it made me cry (of course, that could be the pregnancy...I'm crying at the most random stuff these days!). And I hope you're having a marvelous time in Missoula! I can't wait for you to get back and come see my new apartment with all my stuff in it! =) We'll have to go for a walk down by our river!

Just so everyone knows, and everyone does know, I'm pregnant! *gasp!* It's been a little bit of a struggle this week to get used to the idea and be okay with it, but I think I'm finally getting there again. The benefits of being poor while being pregnant are shining through again in the form of Medicaid and WIC. It's so nice that the government provides these services for those of us who really and truly need it. We really are grateful for it.

Well, I'd better go now. I love you all so much and can't wait to see everyone for the reunion. I'm pretty sure we'll be able to come for the whole thing, but we won't be able to leave until Friday morning. I hope everyone has a wonderful day and a fabulous weekend!!!

Happy Day!

Yay, Jen and Jeff, I'm so excited for you!!!! That's fabulous news! And what a gorgeous piano, Samuel!

So, Missoula. What a gorgeous town! A River Runs Through It. The drive up was bee-YOO-ti-ful (and not all that traumatic. Golly, I love my babies!), and we have been having adventures by the bucketload--when I download my pix I'll write a post about it. And I finally have internet--our first room was too far from the wireless and we couldn't pick anything up AURGH! But this morning we moved to a different room and internet has reentered my life.

Anyway, talk to you all later--we're going for a walk along the river!

Job update

Jeff accepted Wells Fargo's job offer today. We were able to nogotiate it up to a point where we can survive and still go on a date once a month. He will be starting as soon as the background check is compleated. Hopefully by the begining or middle of next week. We are thrilled about this. Jeff will be able to expand his resume and get some experiance that he didn't previously have. Jeff is a very loyal person, so he and I have discussed the fact that he will be staying at Wells for at least a year. He has already gotten Friday June 15th off so we will all be coming to the full reunion. Thank you all for your prayers!

New paino

I thought I would post a picture of our new paino. The boys absolutely love hitting the keys. Here you go. It stands 4 feet 10 inches high.

Job news

Jeff recieved a job offer today. We are hoping for another before the end of the day. With any luck we can negotiate the best of both worlds and all. Regardless of negotiating, Jeff will be back to work by Monday. We are all very happy. Thank you all for your prayers!

cutest kindergardener on earth!!!!!!!!!!!

Just look at this adorable boy. Isn't he just the cutest almost first grader ever?!?! He offically graduates on May 28th at 1:00 pm.

Reunion

Well, I haven't heard any new ideas lately. Everyone weigh in on what we have. Personally, I think we should do "Duck, Duck, Splash!" and bottle rockets. Fun for many ages and no coordinated teamwork required!

pictures

I wasen't able to post any pictures on the blog. But I was able to post Heather's glasses picture on the myfamily.com webpage. Go there to see it!

Happy Mother's day!!!

Happy Mother's day to all of the wonderfull women in our family. Especially our special mother. Mommy, I love you and will always try to be exactly like you because you are the most perfect mother I have ever met!

Thank you

"While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living”– and they did so before she ever bore a child. Like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born….Motherhood is more than bearing children…It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us...Motherhood is not what was left over after our Father blessed His sons with priesthood ordination. It was the most ennobling endowment He could give His daughters, a sacred trust that gave women an unparalleled role in helping His children keep their second estate. As President J. Reuben Clark Jr. declared, motherhood is "as divinely called, as eternally important in its place as the Priesthood itself."" Sheri Dew, General Relief Society Meeting, 2001

I have been blessed in my life with wonderful women who have taught me so much about being a mother--about my divine stature, nature, and identity.

For my own wonderful mother--thank you for choosing to marry Daddy in the temple, to work at your marriage, so that we could be surrounded by love and security and happiness and laughter all our growing up days. Thank you for teaching me patience, compassion, song, the Gospel, to cook, to play, and to read.

For my darling sister LaDale--thank you for teaching me the pure love of Christ. Thank you for your laughter, our silly jokes, our grand plans, the radiant love you give my babies, the patience with my struggles. Thank you for your care, your hospitality, and a certain sparkly green hair clip.

For my fabulous sister Jenafer--thank you for teaching me how to be more patient with my kiddos. Thank you for your example of selfless giving to your children. Thank you for helping me know that although sometimes it feels like they are sucking the life out of you, it's never fatal and always worth it.

For my sweet sister Telima--thank you for teaching me friendship. Thank you for supporting me in my need, for being silent when that's what I needed, for laughing with me when that is what I needed, and for giving me adult conversation when one more "why-mama?" was going to turn my brain to mush. Thank you for letting me spend a little time mothering that darling red-head of yours. (And here's to our smoothie summer!)

For my terrific sisters-in-law Amy and Caren--thank you for making my brothers so happy. Thank you for your example of determination and grace under trial, for your humor, and for your embrace of our (more than slightly) weird family.

I have been richly blessed. I love you all.

"My First Lesson in Motherhood"

This is a beautiful story about a mother and father who adopted a little girl from China. Natalie, as they decided to call her, had physical problems that the prospective parents hadn't been informed of before flying out to China to meet and take Natalie home. They were faced with this decision:

I pictured myself boarding the plane with some faceless replacement child and then explaining to friends and family that she wasn’t Natalie, that we had left Natalie in China because she was too damaged, that the deal had been a healthy baby and she wasn’t.

What they chose to do, and the results, are amazing and reassuring--so much of what we hear about in the world is sad and evil. It is good to be reminded how much love and goodness there really is in the world.

Merry Christmas

Well, if you're Rudolph, just wait until it "snows" (pealing is the next step!)

Spelling

You're right cherry not cheery, although my nose right now is Christmas time, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, cheery.

I'm sorry!!!

Oh, LaDale,
I am so sorry about your "misses" with the sunscrean!
Is that cheery or cherry red?

SUN

I have a beautiful, cheery red triangle positioned boldly between my collar bones where the suncreen was obviously forgotten, two stripes, one each along both arms where the sunscreen obviously missed, and a very tender part across the top of my head where the suncreen could not go.

Ahh- field day.

And, oh man, do my feet hurt.

End of Semester

Another semester has finally ended here at ASU. I have already taken a few days break from all the last minute cramming. Now time to start my summer research toward my dissertation. With the end of the semester comes many different things.

During the semester I was able to pass the last of my qualifying exams and now I can truely focus on my research. This is a great hurdle to be over and I am so happy to be on this side of the hurdle that I want to tell you all again, and again, and again, ....

I have a friend who is moving into an apartment closer to campus tomorrow, 12 May. He and his wife are looking to give away a few items that they don't use. This is because they will be moving into a slightly smaller apartment then before. I will giving them a little help in the move and as we were swapping information about the move he asked if I wanted an old computer monitor. I refused as we have a monitor that works fine for us. He then proceeds to offer us their upright grand piano. After some discussion with Caren, namely as to where to put it, we called my friend back and told him we would love the piano. This was a shocking idea. Both Caren and I wanted to get a piano but neither one of us thought it was in our budget to get one while I was still in school. But this piano is the right price for us, free. I think I might even get some beggining piano books and try my hands at playing again. Hope the family can stand my playing.

Can't wait to see you all in about a month. Sounds like loads of fun for all. See you then. SKT

pictures

I have been TRYING to upload some pictures, of Heather in her glasses and Jacob in his cap and gown, but I keep getting error messages. I'll keep trying!

The Last Cast

So Gideon will have his cast removed for good on Thursday--it's the Last Cast (not the same as the Last Doll), and I let the kiddos decorate it for him this time. They've been so patient and sweet and generally good-natured about all the trips and waits and all, and every time I decorate a cast they--Ezra especially--wanted to help. They had so much fun! I posted some pictures here.

Re: Teacher Appriciation day

I actually don't know if Teacher Appriciation week is national or not, I know that we have dubbed tomorrow, Tuesday Treat Day. I made whole wheat bread today and made 6 little loaves, two for each teacher for the kids to give out to their teacher tomorrow. I thought they would get enough sweets.

Re: Teacher appreciation

Thanks Jen and Keryn. Is teacher appreciation a national thing or state or school district because there has been nothing said at my school about it. I remember it coming up in Vegas but maybe I missed it here. Instead, they gave us a two hour delay today because of the snow (I KNOW, I KNOW). Personally, I think they do it deliberately so we can't complain when they change the last day of school to the last day of MAY- sigh.

And yes, Keryn, unfortunately.

P.S. It is pouring rain outside right now- AH Colorado weather- so different from the 365 days of sun I grew up with- alright 364.

Teacher Appreciation

For LaDale:

Hey, at least it's not one of these:

Unfortunately, it's not one of these, though:

And for Jen and Jeff:

Teachers

Well, it is Teacher Appriciation Week. I know that I am the only one of us, at this moment with kids in school, although David and Amy will be joining me next year, but I did want to say to the most important teacher in my life. I love you, LaDale!!!! I appriciate you and all of those like you who find your jobs more important than the money that I, at least, think you deserve!!!

Have a great week!

Re: Balloons

Sorry, Jenafer. I even read your post and all, and then promptly forgot all the games you suggested except the duck-duck-splash one. I...um, I'll blame it on nursing. Yeah. It's Gideon's fault I'm such a flake.

So Ezra gave his first talk today in Primary. He spoke about Joseph Smith, and it was so cute and funny--that boyo is NOT shy in any way, shape, or form. None of the other Sunbeams would do their parts--they all either buried their faces in Mommy/Daddy's shoulder or just stood there silently with huge eyes. But not my Ezra! Oh, no--he hopped up there, pulled the microphone down, and repeated every word I whispered with gusto (causing much laughter from the Primary). He was fascinated by his voice coming out of the sound system, I think. I was grateful I convinced him to stick to the talk I'd written--for a moment at the beginning he told me, "No, Mommy, I will do it ALL BY MYSELF" and if you've ever heard him give a prayer by himself, you know that this might be a long and convoluted and repetitive event. So, thankfully, all went well. And it was cute.

HEY! New question of the week: what is your favorite Primary song?

I really like "Love is Spoken Here". But "All Things Bright and Beautiful" is nice, too. So is "Give, Said the Little Stream" which Mercy seems to like, too, seeing as she started belting it out during the sacrament today. (Wait, I just remembered, it wasn't GSTLS. It was "A Pirate Says ARGH!" Ooops. Well, she really likes GSTLS too.)

Sponge Throw

One water game that I liked was a sponge toss game. A full bucket on one side, an empty bucket on the other side. People work in pairs. The person next to the water bucket has two sponges. (Big sponges are best.) They fill a sponge with water and then toss it to the person at the other bucket who squeezes the water into the empty bucket and tosses it back. Having two sponges per team increases the complexity, but also makes it more likely people will get wet. :)

Twists

I have cable. It is only for a month and is suppose to help bring the cost of my internet down, as long as I remember (as I fully intent to) cut it on the 21st of May. In the mean time, I have about 300 some odd channels. The strange thing is- they drive me crazy.

Now, as many of you know, I've been putting different television series seasons on hold at the library. Funny thing is, I would rather watch them than what it on t.v. right now. I find myself choosing MacGyver over whatever else and missing him when the dvd's go back to the library. Why can't they play MacGyver or Knight Rider over and over again.

Come to think of it, I think what I like best is being able to stop and start, rewind and fast forward when ever I want, not to mention- NO COMMERICIALS!!! And, well, they're free, which is why they must be returned.

(P.S. I'd take MacGyver over just about any other hero any day!!! He doesn't drink and hates guns and can rescue anyone at anytime from any situation. 'Course he never stays around long either- none of them do. SIGH!)

All and sundry

This is all and sundry because it has been a while since I have written. It has been a busy week and a half or so. We finally got back to school a week from last Thursday, so I spent Thursday and Friday with Exhibition, which went well. My kids got on the news Friday night and in the paper Saturday morning. We even had an e-mail from a newspaper reporter in New Zealand. Fun. We then spent a productive- non productive week which ended in me only have one day to teach (Monday and Tuesday were spent in testing for reading- Wednesday I was sent to a training with the other fifth grade teachers and the principal, Thursday was World Tour Day- which you should ask me about some time because it was incredible but again another day in which I did not have my own kids in my own classroom teaching!!!)
Now we have that end of the year rush to finish everything. I am trying to get through the Revolutionary War, Simple Machines and a novel in two weeks!!!! Yikes!! This plus two field trips, one to the middle school for a morning of shadowing and one to Denver to the Natural History Museum and the IMax theatre, then field day and another music program. Third grade at Lois Craig was never this busy, I am SURE!!! We find out tomorrow when the official last day of school is based on snow days, extra minutes and other miscellaneous factors I do not know. I'm hoping for the twenty-third but my home teacher (who teaches middle school) thinks I haven't a hope. We'll see.
Now, about those water games. I haven't really thought up any others, but the afternoon of field day, which is Friday, is suppose to be water games, if any of those stand out I'll let you know.
Jenafer, I know I wasn't very communicative Saturday night when you called. I think my brain had turned off about two minutes before Heather called me and I could not seem to stay awake. I have been thinking about you all day today and praying for you and your family. I hope something comes through quickly for you. And, although I understand your reasonings for not looking in Colorado (some for the same reasons I chose not to move to Arizona- although because it is too hot not too cold), I will miss even thinking about you out here by me- which would have been fun!!! Keryn, where's that instant transportation device you are always talking about. Haven't you figured it out yet??

Don't we all wish.

I love you all tons and can't wait to see you in June.

Water Ballons

Keryn,
I am a little confused. Of the three games I suggested and the dunk tank, none of them use water ballons. I don't know about anyone else, but I really don't want to use ANY water ballons, knowing our family, we could spend HOURS after the carnival, scouring the ground, picking up little, tiny pieces of colored rubber, and that just doesn't sound to me like a great time!

Water Balloon Question

Are we going to have games that don't use water balloons, too? I don't know that it matters--but it might--but water balloons are latex-y, and Joey and Aaron are on a latex precaution, aren't they?

It probably doesn't matter, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

A fun game can be when you get a big piece of plywood, and you cut a hole in it at head-height, and you get a giant sponge really wet--and you try to throw the sponge at Uncle Leland, (or Steve, or Mema standing on a box hee-hee) who is standing behind the plywood with his head through the hole. Sort of like throwing pies at someone, only without the pie.

Another game could be a relay race--each person has to balance a water balloon on a spoon across the lawn (or some such) without dropping it. When they get to the end, they have to sit on the balloon to break it before running back to tag the next person.

I love the duck duck splash game, too. I think Ezra would love it and Mercy would scream and run around excitedly without getting the point, but have a marvelous time.

Re: Water Games

When you think of water games that DON'T have anything to do with cell phones, right Telima?

(ducks)

Happy Birthday, Samuel!

First of all, I wanted to apologize for not getting this up yesterday. Samuel, I really was thinking about you all day yesterday, I was just really busy and couldn't get to the computer. As for calling you...well, I was going to, but (and don't laugh) I dropped my cell phone into a cup of water the other day and it won't even turn on anymore. We're still figuring that one out. Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! And I hope it was a great one!

Also, Momma and Jen, that sounds like fun! If I can think of any water games, I'll let you guys know. I love you all!!

family reunion

Ok, just got off the phone with Mom and she asked me to pass this along. As of last night, the family reunion has been turned into a two day event. Mom and all of her siblings were talking and they apparently thought that one afternoon party where all of Grandma's friends and ward members are invited was not enough "togetherness" for us cousins. So the reformed plans are laid out like this: Friday afternoon is lunch and pool fun at Leland's house. Friday evening, all of the grandparents are supposed find babysitters for grandkids, and we are having an over 18 only dinner. Saturday morning is now the family carnival with 12 water games at the park. Each of Grandma's kids are supposed to come up with 2 games each. Mom has now put me in charge of finding our 2 games. Aunt Kaylene is hunting up a dunking booth, and everyone else is supposed to run their ideas past Mom. I googled water games and found a few that looked like fun. They are asking for some that are fun for the little ones. I found one called "Duck, Duck, Splash!" It is a standard duck duck game with the "goose" getting a large, wet sponge and wringing it over the persons head instead of just yelling "goose!" I think that this will be fun for the little kids and also has the added benifit of being able to include as many or as few kids as want to play. I'm not sure Erica would want to do anything else. The other game that looked like fun was called the "Raindrop Relay." This is when there are two teams, each team gets two buckets, one empty, one full, and one baggie with about two dozen pin holes in it. Each team takes turns running as much water as they can from the full bucket to the empty one and the team with the most water after five minutes, wins. Another that I thought might be fun is one that we played with the cub scouts. Bottle Rockets. You get soaking wet and the 8-12 crowd LOVES it. Everyone chime in now. Mom will suggest our "leftovers" to anyone with thinker's block.
Love ya all!

Birthday for the Samuel

Darn it, Jen beat me to it. (That's what comes of going to the tree nursery "first" thing in the morning instead of getting to the REALLY important job of blogging.)

Happy Birthday, Samuel!!!!

And right now the wind is blowing all those ANNOYING little seeds from off the elm trees in the park. You know the kind? They are falling as thickly as snow right now. And then every one of those THOUSANDS of seeds will sprout and I'll have to fight them off like gnats.

Can you tell I'm in a gardening type of mood? I bought strawberry plants and two types of lavender and lemon balm and lemon thyme today. And drooled over some lovely lilac bushes (we have to wait till we get our sprinklers in to buy those) and other flowers and bushes. The nursery was a treasure chest of ideas!

Happy Birthday, Samuel

Happy, Happy Birthday, Samuel Dear,
Happy days will come to you all year,
If I had a wish,
Then it would be,
A happy happy birthday, to you, from me!

I hope you have a wonderful day,

PS I think you are now officially old!!!!!!!!!!

Jobs and such

Well, for everyone who doesn't know, today Jeff's job did just about the worst thing ever. They closed the entier office with 1 hour notice and a three day severance. About the only thing that could have been worse is if they did it the week before Christmas! Jeff stayed late in town to try to make some contacts for tomorrow. His first stop tomorrow morning is Ampro. He left there on good standing. He does have a few other leads. Hopefully, one of them will pan out and we won't even miss a paycheck. We are fine for a while. Thank you all for your prayers, (I know that you are all sending them!) We will keep everyone updated on everything. The kids are only excited about Jeff being home for a while. Benjamin, of course, as the oldest, is the most sensitive about this. I think that he might be a little scared but has enough faith in his Daddy that everything will be alright.

Kidnapped, not quite

Yesterday, Monday, Caren received the scare of her life as a mother. It all started when Adam's bus didn't show up and he was supposed to be in school in less then 10 minutes. Caren calls me and I make a few calls, including one to Jenafer to make sure it wasn't a school holiday. When I called the preschool I was informed that there is a new bus driver starting today. Eventually I received word that Adam was picked up by this new bus driver. Now comes the scary part. A little while after Adam was picked up a second bus arrives at the house saying that Adam was missing. WOW, that could be the beginning of long sleepless nights. The second bus driver asked for the bus number but we never check the number. So Caren described the bus driver and was glad to know that the second bus driver did know the first bus driver. What happened is that the second bus driver was on a different route and when they dropped off their kids at school they were told to go get Adam. But the first bus driver, being new, was only extremely late. Adam did make it to school and home again, but this sure made out hearts skip a beet or two.