5.25.13 Laundry

Matt, 7 years later, family members are STILL wearing these! Who'd have thought! 

5.25.13 Small town fun

This afternoon there were some free events on main street.  First of all, free inflatable bouncy activities.  Always a draw for families....

Joe

Indyra

Crayon Castle fun...

Katie got this great photo of Indyra! Love her hair flying!

and this one of Joe....

DeeDee in the train! Ride one. 

Joe in the tractor pull....first time ever for anyone in our family. 

Lots of beautiful cars to see....

DeeDee and Caleigh.

Such vibrant colors!

Last but not least, caleigh on one side, joe on the other.  However, the line was a LONG wait to get a turn for just a couple of tries for a basket. 

At last we have sun, and it was just good to get outside. 

5.19.13 Happy Birthday Zach and Dan!

Zach's birthday is May 19th, and Dan's the 21st.  Last year, Zach was in the "stans" for his birthday, and we had no contact with him.  So glad to be able to celebrate this year.  By a miracle, he had his birthday off from work and it fell on a Sunday.  Renia was scheduled, but able to trade it off.  Another act of God!  We celebrated with grilled burgers and hot dogs, tables in the driveway.  Also wonderful, both our mothers could join us, and our dear friend, Joanna.

Caleb, left, Corbin, right.

Dan, Zach, Indyra.  Laughing at Emily's wrapping....duct tape around a Special K protein drink box! 

As Tim Gunn would say, "That's a lot of look."  Joe had assembled a collection of items, such as some spare change, and a coon skin cap for Dan's gift. Zach's apron was centered around his "grill theme. "

Renia had surprised Zach with a grill as a gift.  

Matthew Thomas, Dan, Zach, Joe, Caleb, Caleigh.

Here's some debris from the birthday poppers Dan supplied.

Katie and Jordan's combo birthday/father's day gift for Dan, enjoyed by Joe....a reclining lounge chair!

I have not uploaded camera photos yet, so will add more photos later this weekend to update.

5.18.13 First visit to the lake!

Saturday Renia and Zach both worked.  We invited "whoever wanted to come" in from the farm, but we had to be at mass, which was being said for Jerry. Matthew Thomas, Indrya, and Caleigh joined us, and the older brothers enjoyed some rare, quiet time at home.
First, the kids played.  Then, we went to mass.  Matthew has matured a lot, and was so good in church.  Last year at this time, he would talk out loud, and now, he whispers.  He was tired, hadn't napped.  His thumb went into his mouth, and he looked all around, commenting on the stained glass windows, the candles, Fr. Larry, and people.  Matthew loves music, and he now looks up to the balcony to see who is playing or singing.  He fell asleep during the homily, which made me smile.  Joe used to do this too.  I just enjoyed this rare time with him, sitting there listening to the mass, and enjoying holding him, and seeing him close up.  Soon he will grow out of this and be too busy! Indyra was more restless.  The children's offering was helpful to her.  It gave her a chance to get up and move, and then she could draw on the children's bulletin.  Caleigh was good as gold, just as usual!
We decided to go out for supper, not to reward the kids, but just because it was easier, and we wouldn't have to cook.  The kids wanted to go to Dairy Queen.  Following that, Dan suggested a drive around the lake.  Caleigh and Indyra had not seen the lake before. For Matthew, I don't think we had ever gotten out of the car and walked down to the beach with him.  The city has done a lot of work, and the public beach looks really nice.  There is now a picnic shelter, terraced walls, and fresh sand.  We could not resist walking down.  Joe, Caleigh, and Indyra were wearing flip flops, so off those came and into the water they waded.  We had to laugh at matthew, because he wanted the same thing, and went right in, shoes and socks on! It's a good thing Grandma Stacie had the foresight to buy cheap Kmart shoes with velcro, for adventures such as these.  Boys need to live!

The kids loved the sand and water, and I'm sure the water is pretty cold yet! We were there for a good 40 minutes, and none of them wanted to leave.  You can be we'll be going back when the weather is nicer.

Stick below is marking dead fish, which the kids covered in sand! 

Sand artists Joe and Matthew.

I 

I got a few pretty pictures of the sun on the water.

Sand artist Caleigh!

Sand artist Indyra! Hearts a big theme.

We'll go back another day. 

5-16-13 Presidential Scholar

We had the pleasure of attending Caleigh's 5th grade recognition ceremony.  Caleigh received the Presidential Gold award.  This....is a big deal!  In order to qualify for the Presidential Gold honor, you must score at the highest levels in reading and math from your acheivement tests the year prior, and maintain a 4.0 grade point average for your entire 5th grade year.  This is an exceptional accomplishment, but here's what makes it even more amazing....Caleigh accomplished this during a 2 year period when her mother was a working single mom, working 12 hour shifts and commuting, when Zach was deployed to Afghanistan and absent from their lives for about 13 months, and her family moved, so she maintained this in two seperate school districts.  This is a a sign, that whatever Caleigh puts her mind to, she will accomplish.  She will not let obstacles slow her down or stop her.  I applaud her determination! Congratulations Caleigh!

5.13.13 Spring Concert

We attended the spring concert last night.  Indyra had a speaking part for "The Three Little Kittens" and performed beautifully!  Not a great photo, as I only had my phone, and they turned out the lights on the stage right away.  Here are our pretty girls!  Great singing and performing!

5.12.13 Rejected, and Accepted!

No photos to go along with this post.  I was looking for casserole recipes for supper.  Pulled out the "Jaycette Cookbook" from 1981.  Holy cow.  We have all changed the way they eat.  I would read recipe after recipe to guage Dan's reaction.  Here's one of the rejected ones...

"Penny Supper"

6 wieners, sliced

4 potatoes, cooked and sliced

2 tbsp onion, minced

1/4 cup butter

1 can peas

1 tsp. mustard

1 can cream of mushroom soup

salt and pepper

Combine wieners, potatoes, onion, and butter in 2 quart casserole dish.  Combine remaining ingredients and toss with first mixture.  Place whole wieners on top if desired.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Serves 6.

I just don't see this as going over with the family~! 

What I opted for instead, was fresh, roasted brussel sprouts, and a recipe from the Catholic Foundation for Education Cookbook.

"Swiss Chicken Casserole"
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast

6 slices swiss cheese

1 can cr of chicken soup

1/4 cup milk

2 cups herbed stuffing mix

1/3 cup butter, melted

Arrange chicken in a greased, metal, 12x8 pan.  Top with cheese slices.  Combine soup and milk, stirring well.  Spoon this mixture over the chicken.  Then sprinkle wiht stuffing mix.  Drizzle butter over crumbs.  cover and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. 

What I did instead:  Non stick spray in a 9x13 pan.  (Does a 12 x 8 pan seriously exist?)  I also bought fresh chicken breasts from the meat counter, and used 8 in the recipe.  I used 1 can cr. of chicken and 1 can cr of celery soup, and probably 3/4 cup milk.  A box of stove top stuffing measures 3 cups, and I used it all. i melted an entire stick of butter to pour over the crumbs, then baked at 350 for 50 minutes.  I didn't cover it, because i didn't remember to! The chicken turned out moist and delicious, and the stove top stuffing was croutonesque.  We all liked it, and I would try it again. 

5.12.13 Signs of Spring

Finally, the weather is warming up, and I can begin thinking about spring.  Due to the snow in May, I would say I am a good three weeks behind normal in flower work.  Today Dan seeded our front lawn.  I am going with something a little different this year for the front porch...

This is in the wooden garden gazebo by the garage.  Let the flowers begin! 

Also fun, is that Dan was able to find roller blades for Joe at Target.  No one in Mitchell even carries them anymore.  We were lucky to find the sticks and balls at Kmart for roller hockey action!

5.11.13 He's here!

Zach brought Matthew today, and he will be here for a week or two.  

Joey and I had gone to a rummage sale at his former back up daycare lady's home.  Ann was selling her son's toys, and we found this cool space shuttle, which opens up and has several astronauts, a crane, and even a motorcycle.  It's a hit!  

We are so excited that Matthew is with dad at the farm, and that we will be able to spend time with him! 

5.10.13 Feliz Cumpleanos Caleigh!

Caleigh had to wait an entire week for her family birthday dinner!  I applaud her for her patience.  Here's the birthday girl with her sunflower cake!

And candles...

and guests...

and presents!

Cool shoes!!

And Flowers! You deserve to be celebrated Caleigh!  

So glad we could be there too.

And a gift for DeeDee! 

A good time was had by all. 

5.5.13 What I'm reading....

Book Club is tomorrow night.  Sharon chose this book:

The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout.  This is a fictional work, but it beautifully explores the impact of diversity in our country, and how people struggle with assimliation.  It also delves into family relationships.  I enjoyed the story.

Every day, I have been reading I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life.

It takes 2-3 minutes to read daily, and it lifts my spirits and restores my faith.  Sometimes I stall out on a reading because I love it so much.  I have read days 6, 7, and 11 three times! This makes me very aware of the negative track so many of us have in our minds, self criticism, over and over. it reminds me that choosing to be positive is a practice.

Also started this book:  Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown. I purchased 2 copies of this book for gifts, and for myself on my kindle.  It is not exactly what I expected, but I am loving it! I like it so much, that I ordered the author's 2 previous books.

Finally, a selection from a favorite author and person of mine, Dr. Maya Angelou.  i enjoy her poetry, her cookbooks, and her autobiographic work. Just ordered this today, and will enjoy it when it arrives.