Pillow Man

Our new way to avoid injuries...

Oh Yes He Is

For those of you who were wondering if Scott really is that crazy about getting in the lake...wonder no more. He is.

This year, he decided to put the dock and boat lift in by himself. Usually, a crew of 6-8 guys comes and it takes them a good hour to do it. They were here today, doing a few other things and asked if I had to take him to the hospital when he was done. "Mental instution," I said.

Our boat lift is steel and weighs, well, I'm not sure, but usually the 6-8 guys are not saying nice words by the time they're done. And the water temperature is still only about 40 degrees. (That's Farenheit!)

One of them noticed that a few trees were also gone (Scott's been cutting some down for various reasons) and asked if he ripped them out with his bare hands. I think he was half serious.

All I can say is, I married a MAN.

One Project Down...

The mustard yellow seemed like a good idea at the time...looking back now, not so much. I have been planning to redo our bedroom for a few years now, ever since a contractor put a hole in our ceiling in the wrong place, patched it and I never painted over it. Every night, I would lie in bed and see the patch and the various places where mustard yellow sort of hit the ceiling and think, "I really need to get that done."

So, I finally started on a recent Saturday morning. First - the cleaning of the closet. Seven garbage bags full of clothes later (just from my side - and they're waiting for you, Maddie...), my closet and dresser were livable.

Then, we moved all of the furniture into the dining room and front entry - no front door for awhile. (Goodbye, dark oak furniture, you are so last decade...never really liked you anyway, but you were cheap...) And then the painting began. First the ceiling; then the walls; then all of the furniture (two nightstands and two dressers); then the ceiling fan blades; then caulking around the woodwork and repainting all of that and the doors and the window trim, even the parts that would be hidden behind the bed (because Grandpa Schoon always said to do it right the first time...).
Two coats on everything and four on the furniture. Hang new blinds (a one-hour project that turned into two days and involved a hack-saw). Make new drapes - I can sew straight lines at least.

Finally, aaah.
Scott said, "Wow, that looks great...we should do that in the other rooms, too." I think I'll just crawl into bed for awhile and rest first.

So Proud...

Maggie was recently selected as "Student of the Month" for 1st grade at her school. Students are selected based on academics, kindness, respect and general good behavior. It is a surprise to the students, but the parents are notified so we can attend chapel, where the awards are given.

We couldn't be more proud of our little girl! Way to go Mags.

Monday Madness

The males in our household are crazy. This is what Jake did on Monday:

He is getting paid a dollar for every chipmunk he catches - we relocate them so they don't dig in our landscaping. He's pretty clever with his trapping techniques. If Daddy had his way, he'd "relocate" them in a whole different way, but that makes Maggie cry, so we let them go in a field down the road.

And this is what Scott did on Monday:

Unfortunately, we didn't get the picture of me and the kids bundled up in COATS in the boat. April 5; a new record. His goal is to get out in March, but the ice has never been off the lake that early since we've lived here. Here's hoping for next year...

Happy Easter

He is risen! For the first time in many years, we were able to go to church as a family this morning and celebrate the Risen Savior. We are so very blessed by His grace and mercy.

The kids were on their best behavior...

And after a very uplifting service, we went home to do a few things before a late lunch and egg-hunt with some friends.

Scott decided he'd just put the dock in quick...(as I was in the house reading by the fire...) He also got the boat out of storage and plans to wakeboard later today. Then I'll take him to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

Oh, the Glory of Spring

It's spring in Minnesota; which means wearing swimsuits with mud boots and stomping on the remaining ice on the shoreline, while the rest of the lake is freed from winter's grip.

It means hunting (and sometimes catching) chipmunks, frogs and snakes. (In your swimsuit and mud boots.) It means trimming trees and starting new landscaping projects. And hopefully finishing the landscaping projects before the wedding in your backyard in August. To be continued...