Pioneer Village

I got to spend a little time with Mags at Pioneer Village recently on a field trip. She learned about a lot of things, including how to weave wheat.



And after the day was over, it was time for a little nap on the bus ride home.

We also got to see the little man who keeled over during Jake's field trip last year. He had a heart attack and one of the dads with our group got his heart beating again before the ambulance arrived. I told him it was good to see him and that his heart attack was the kids' most memorable experience from last year. He said, "I was dead for a minute and a half. My friend told me to get it done the next time, he's tired of defrosting the funeral ham." ???

Inhale.....ahhhhh.

I'm sure all of you southern dwellers have had your share of lilacs by now, but ours are just blooming. I filled my house with them the other day.

And in memory of Grandma Schoon, I filled her lilac vase. She gave this to me as a wedding gift...it was one of her wedding gifts when she married Grandpa. It makes me happy.

A Short Story

The Deadly Cliff
by Jake

Once upon a time there lived a boy that was a detective. He had blond hair and freckles on his face, and he was 9 years old.

He could jump realy high. So one day, he was in his office and he got a call from some miners and they said they were puting dinomite in a whole and they placed some in the wrong place. But the dinomite was poward buy a lectronik divice on top of a mountain and the dinomite would blow up at 8:00 p.m. and it was 7:30 p.m.

So the detective came to the digging site and he said he would figure out a very good slushen. He sugjested moving the dinomite, but the miners said that was to dangerus right then. So the detective said, "I'll deel with the proplem right now," and with that he jumped, he jumped to the top of the mounten.

He pressed the button and the dinomite didn't blow up. So the detective saved the day.

Garage Sale for Haiti

It's over. Our highly anticipated garage sale is now history. Thank goodness! This was the brainchild of Jake and Maggie; in an effort to raise money for "Children of the Promise" Orphanage in Haiti.

So, we sorted through toys, cleaned out closets, cleaned out the workshop and garage and sold a TON of stuff. For all of the garage-sale naysayers, (which used to include me), I would say there really is not a downside. You get your garage cleaned out. You get your closets cleaned out. You make some money.

There are people who just give it all to the thrift store, which is great. I do a lot of that during the year. However, there are things I hold on to, just because I know what I paid for them. For me, mentally, thinking that I can sell it and recoup some of that cost, is easier on me. So, I am thankful the kids pushed me on this one.

The kids sold coffee, bottled water and rice krispie bars, and probably made a hundred bucks. That's what happens when people know it's going for something like Children of the Promise. They will pay twenty bucks for a cup of coffee. (We only charged 50 cents, but a neighbor handed Jake a 20 and told him to keep the change - you can probably visualize how big his eyes got!) I think we went through five or six air-pots of coffee - it was FREEZING and raining all day. I sat in the garage by a little heater to try and keep warm. People were seriously showing up in winter coats and gloves.

So today, I am sitting by the fire, celebrating my clean closets and taking it easy. Now if spring would finally arrive, I could get started on my garden...

The Great Freezer Challenge

I have 4 freezers. Two are connected to refrigerators, we got a small chest freezer from Scott's grandma several years ago and we have a larger upright freezer. Every single one is pretty full and extremely unorganized. In fact, I couldn't tell you what's even in them for the most part. How sad is that?

So, I have decided to do the great freezer challenge (add "pantry" to that as well). We are eating out of the freezer and pantry for the next several weeks until they are empty. Last night, we grilled brats and had some stir-fry veggies. Tonight; baked pork ribs with frozen corn and maybe some rice. Tomorrow night, marshmallows, some over-ripe bananas and red peppers. (Just kidding!)

Best Momever & a Happy Birthday

Everything I know about being a mother, I learned from the best...some of you may know her and all who do agree that she is about as close to a saint as anyone here on earth.

Thank you, Mom, for loving me and raising me right. Thank you for the example you have been in my life, not just in the area of mothering, but in every way. You are the best and I love you.
For Mother's Day, Jake and Maggie decided to make signs for my office. Jake found a piece of wood in the lake and Daddy helped with the router and this was the result. "Best Momever" I love it.

Maggie also got in on the action and added a bit of girly touch to hers.

Since I loved them so much, we decided to make one for Herb, our neighbor, who is celebrating a birthday this week. He does a lot of woodworking (for himself and pretty much everyone in the neighborhood), so we thought this was fitting:
Maggie routered the letters (wearing her safety glasses and ear protection...wish I had taken a picture of that!!!); I painted and Jake beat it with a hammer to make it look oldish. I think he'll like it.

A Really Big Trophy and a Little Fuzzy One

We went to the "Golden Goggles" banquet tonight for the swim team that the kids are on. They both got several awards, but Jake got the "big one" for his age group - most points for the year. They collect points based on number of practices and swim meets they attend.
Isn't it cool?!? Before we went to the banquet, however, he caught a trophy of another kind.

I see 3 am feedings in my future. Anyone want a bunny?