New Roof.....Done!

Today we came home from our errand running to this (During photo) and a LOT of noise. But it just amazed me to find that by 2:00 this afternoon they were pulling out....and the roof was complete! I love our new shingles....thanks to the hail storm in May! Now to just wait until the siding is replaced - but that is only the west side of the house so that should hopefully go pretty quickly as well.

Scrubbing floors is....FUN?????

Yesterday, the girls asked if we could scrub the floor "the old fashioned way" before school started. In the past, Gpa Dale has told them the fun he had in helpin his mom wax the floors so they felt they have been missing out on something that would be great fun. Well, the kitchen floor did need scrubbing and if they were asking to do it the "old" way, who was I to deny them the fun? Especially on their last day of summer vacation, right?!
The pictures certainly do not show just how much fun they DID have, but they had a blast scrubbing and then slipping & sliding around on the floor! It made me realize that any mundane chore can be made fun....if we look at it through the eyes of a child! Thanks for my clean floor, kids!

Moving on......

Emily and Erin are by the sign of their "new" school when we went to take the school supplies, etc. in the other night. They will have the same teacher they would have had out here along with many of the same classmates - and a few new ones from town - so there will be a lot of familiar faces with them. Their new classroom is great - with a view of the courtyard below them! I am looking forward to helping out in their new classroom again this year!

Ready for homework!

Or not...... The kids and I each spent a bit of time over the last week getting their little corner ready for doing homework. No, they were not the least bit thrilled but the result of their efforts was appreciated! Emily and Erin each have a desk in their (little) bedroom but it makes for a nice area to do their work away from noise. To protect the sewing table, I have a glass top ordered to put on top. Erin also already has ideas of fun little things to put between the desk and the glass! Emily spent quite a bit of time getting her little desk organized just right - that is just something she loves to do! Trevor's desk is in the landing room at the top of the stairs just outside of his bedroom.
Now....we'll see just how long the desks stay clean enough to even DO the homework on them!

Chemistry in the Kitchen

In the recent Kids Discover magazine, there was a recipe for making slime. This intrigued all three so they sat down to make a few batches of the stuff. It turned out to be so entertaining that it kept them at the kitchen table for nearly two hours! I commented that they were having school a few days early. The return comment was that this was sooo much better than "boring ole school"! Ah....but they didn't know all that they actually learned from it!

A Lazy Afternoon

I just do not think this poor dog is very neglected! The best time of his life is when someone is down on the ground so he can snuggle right in! Later in the afternoon, Emily was spread out next Terry reading her book when Jake decided there just HAD to be room for him in the middle! Gotta love him!

Faithful Bulldog Fan

As much as Erin wanted her cousin to do well in the football game on Saturday, she certainly had a very difficult time to keep from cheering on her own home team! I just loved how she sat taking in the Bulldog's plays and quietly cheering on her classmates!!

Football

We were "invited" to watch Shawn's first football game - and it just happened to be against the Bulldogs, our hometeam! Although, I truthfully do not know much about football, it was fun to watch the game. Trevor even took time out from his "job" of working for his dad at a local show to watch the game. I enjoyed listening to Trevor asking questions to Uncle Chris. Chris patiently explained the game - and Trevor came away thinking that really looked like something he would enjoy. Hmmmm-he DOES like to charge & tackle so.....
Great job, Shawn. Keep up the hard work and you'll do terrific!

School Time Tradition

The girls and I started what we hope to become an annual tradition. We went to a local beauty school for a manicure for Emily and Erin and a pedicure for myself. (The pedicure was L-O-N-G overdue!!) We ended up going with a friend of theirs and her mom and it turned into lunch before hand followed by school clothes shopping at (gasp) Macy's. I think I can honestly say that I have NEVER shopped there but ended up finding some terrific deals & was given the coupons that our friend had! My kind of shopping, indeed!
During our mani/pedi session, the girls got a little bored so Erin and her friend ended up getting their hair done (Emily chose not to??). We had a great day out.....so fun that the girls are already planning for next year!

Garage Sale Find!!!

One day this summer, the girls and I stopped at a garage sale on our way into town to get Trevor. Normally I scoure the garage sale ads and circle the ones that have items we are looking for....however, I have now decided that the best garage sales are the ones you just happen upon! The girls immediately found these American Girl Doll lockers. Not knowing the cost of them, I of course offered them less (and they took it!!) & asked them to hold them for an hour or so as we needed to get to town ASAP but we'd stop back & look some more. On our way into town, I called Mom to see if she could check online as I wanted to know if I got a decent deal. The girls and I were sooooo thrilled to learn that they cost $175 EACH (for a total of $350!!!) and we paid only $30 total! The doll clothes are now hung up and ready to go!!

Butterfly Garden

Emily got a stepping stone kit from a friend for her birthday.....nearly six months ago!  A bit ago, she pulled it out and made one stone & let Erin make another.  After they were done, I found the perfect spot for them in the garden around their playhouse.  The driftwood piece is filled with hens & chicks that Trevor planted there last year...as seen in the picture they have multiplied several times over.  At Goodwill, I found the metal butterflies that are perched on the driftwood with the stepping stones next to the wood with Bee Balm planted (from a garage sale this spring) on each side of the wood piece.  I am hoping for a butterfly house.....someday!! 

Then....and Now!

After several many years, I finally got my act together and found a time that worked for both us and Logan's family to have him over for a few days.  He and Trevor had a blast playing on the WII, the DS, LEGOs, and staying just a wee bit past the normal bedtime...playing chess of all things!  Trevor thoroughly enjoyed having a buddy with so many of the same interests & his own age!  While they were playing, I remembered having the above photo from a time when Trevor & I stayed with Logan's family while Terry was on one of his Austria business trips back in 1999. 
Thanks for coming, Logan!  But I promise not to wait 11 years for the next time! 

You like it? I do it again!!

Last weekend we went to a WI Dells waterpark resort with another family - hard to believe the last time we did that was two years ago!  We soaked up the water, the sun, stood in line for some bumpy wooden rollercoaster rides, the go-cart racing and enjoyed the Carribean food at Marly's while sitting outside.  We also decided to go to the Tommy Bartlett H2O show for the first time in about 6 years I think. 
Emily did get brave enough to try one of the rollercoaster rides....and had a pretty terrified look on her face all the way through.  As we pulled back in she looked up me with the same terrified look on her face saying "That was fun....but I don't think I want to go again!"  Just priceless....later she did go on Hades with us~another woode coaster that goes beneath the parking lot.
Erin was begging for someone to go on the bunge-type swinging rides with her but none of us were brave enough to go on.  Thankfully by the end of the day on Saturday she had realized how fun go-cart driving was so I was spared.  She knows that I am a sucker and would have probably gone with her (to prove that I am NOT too old for the "fun" things???).  Whew!
During the water ski show, there was a comedy/juggler that had the saying "You like it?  I do it again!" whenever he was encouraged with clapping.  It has gotten to be quite the saying around here now - and sometimes at very serious times and helps to lighten the mood!

The "most photographed" water ski pyramid

This "airplane" was pulled behind a boat w/rope and floated 650 feet up in the air!

There were some pretty tense moments....in the audience.  The husband/wife were just fine!

Human "juggling"

You like it?  I do it again!

Erin, Emily, Garret, Marshall, Jennifer, Trevor & Melody
7 kids & only 5 adults!

Thanks for a great weekend, Ron & Jeanine! 

Getting Technical

Trevor attended three days of classes as a local Technical College.  He was able to choose from many different classes ~ his choices were World Wide Web Master and Electronics.  He enjoyed the Electronics class and brought home a little robotic creature with a flashing light that they had built themselves.  He found out that he enjoys soldering.

He absolutely LOVED the World Wide Web Masters class.  Each night he was anxious to get home and try out what he had learned and made his own web page on his own here at home.  He is already talking about taking all the computer courses he can in high school....and a career with Google is his dream! 

A Fun Day on Monday!

 For once this summer, the kids and I had a day with no planned activities.  Due to circumstances, Mason and his mommy also had a day with nothing planned!  I told Mason on Sunday that he should come down and play with "Jay Jay" soooooo...We had company on Monday!  It turned out to be quite hot outside so Erin came up with the idea of getting the hose out.  As you can imagine, Mason had absolutely NO problem with that (Jake, however, hid as he has a big fear of water!) and managed to take possession of the hose from start to finish! 

Remember when it was okay to drink right from the hose?  In Mason's world, that is still okay!  It was so funny to watch him put the hose to his mouth and then pull the trigger....but it only brought a giggle with more of the same!

Just what can be better than fun with water on a hot summer day?

 And to spray water at someone that is wanting it?! Now, THAT is just too much fun!  But spraying water at someone that gives the reaction that he is looking for (squealing, running, laughing)~that is just more fun than one little boy can handle! 

Mason had so much fun running after the girls, squirting his face and the occasional squirt sent the way of Mom and Auntie Kara.....hmmmm.  I think THAT was the reaction he was REALLY looking for! 

But, Mom, I don't WANT to get cleaned up and go home!  Can you not see that this is my kind of fun?!

THANKS FOR COMING AND BRINGING MOM WITH YOU, MASON!

Chain O' Lakes

Auntie Al & Uncle Chris rented a pontoon boat and a jet ski with a tube for the day and invited us to join them.  Terry took a vacation day so we could go as a family.  It was a great day to be out on the lake until it started getting a bit too chilly in the late afternoon.  However, there weren't many boats on the lake and the water was very warm.  Thanks for another awesome day, guys!

 None of us had been on a jet ski before and only Trevor had ever gone tubing.   Emily wasn't too keen on going on the tube but she did give it a try and did very well until our tube started taking on water and we sunk!  She loved riding on the jet skit, though, which kind of surprised us!  In the background is a crayfish skeleton that we found on the bottom of the swimming area in the lake.

 Erin had a blast on the tube until she was thrown 20+ feet into the air!  After that she was a bit more cautious on the tube.  But she also loved riding on the jet ski.  In the boat on the way back to our dock she is wearing her new dress that she made with Granny's supervison a week or so ago.  She is also playing with Auntie Al's cell phone after it was swimming in the water with Auntie Al.  We were all a bit confused why Erin kept asking if her phone was the only water proof phone...until Auntie Al remembered she had stuffed it in her suit & forgotten about it!  Erin's perseverance paid of as she did get the phone working again....after Auntie Al got a replacement phone!

Trevor had a great time riding on the jet ski with Uncle Chris.  Though he had a blast on the tube, he was tossed up in the air pretty good as well so he took a big break and just played with Shawn in the water.  He loved just riding on the pontoon sitting in his chair with the wind blowing around him....until the ride back to dock got a little cool!  That's him wrapped up in his towel trying to keep warm!

Terry enjoyed just swimming around in the water near the boat and playing with the kids on the extra tube that he kept tied around him to give them a little more fun! 

I went out on the tube - what a blast!  Emily and I sunk it the first time and I did fall off a few times but, ah, what fun!  

Our library has gone batty!

During the summer reading program at our local library, one of the presentations was about the fruit bats.  They learned about the Egyptian Fruit Bats and how bats are good for us.  As long as they are OUTSIDE I will agree with this!  The look that they shared brought a laugh when they learned that mosquitoes are the deadliest insect with 3000 deaths caused by them!  I was pretty shocked when the girls were anxious for me to take their picture with the bat hanging onto their shirt -- shiver -- EEK!

MuggleFest

 At the close of the school year, Trevor read through the Harry Potter series in a matter of one week and proceeded to reread several of the books....not just once but 3-4 times each!  All I can say is, THEY MUST BE GOOD!  Upon learning about the Harry Potter "MuggleFest" he was very anxious to get there.  Though I was "lost" through most of it, the kids did take time to explain what they could to me!

 Erin has started the first book of the series and has listened with enthusiasm to Trevor talk about it so she enjoyed going through the museum as well.  During the sorting ceremony she was put into the "house" of Ravenclaw.  The tea leaves in the bottom of her cup was "read" as a starfish that will come to her - I just love the look on her face as her leaves are "read"!

Emily's tea leaves were in the shape of a "3" but we couldn't understand what was being said so.....  Emily went through the sorting ceremony by being asked her favorite subject in school (reading), what sport she likes (soccer), what she likes to do after school (play with friends).  These questions were asked b/c she admitted she wasn't familiar with the books.  Emily also held up a plant that is a "man eater" in the stories - what a brave girl, eh?!

Trevor had a blast seeing all the props from the book and getting his picture taken by the Hogwarts 9 3/4 Express sign, in the car and behind a Wizard "jail".  During the sorting ceremony Trevor was put into the "house" of Gryffindor and learned during the tea leaves reading that he needs to practice is spells!

I did go through the sorting ceremony but was "briefed" on it before hand so I knew what to say!  The kids had a great day and I enjoyed seeing the landscaping around the museum!

Vista Royale

Alicia & Chris spent the weekend at a campground and invited us to join them for the day.  We all had fun and enjoyed a relaxing day.  The kids were invited to spend the night there with them....and of course they were all over that idea!

 The pillow-top trampoline was a hit with the kids.  We would love to get a trampoline but that is not something that Terry would appreciate so we enjoy one every chance we get!

Riding the golf cart around the campground was fun.  It was neat to see all the seasonal sites and how they are fixed up.  Terry even put his feet up and RELAXED (the way the rest of us do!).  This is NOT something we see him do very often so a picture was needed!  Emily loved floating around the lake in a tube with Daddy not far from her side.  Trevor played in the sand while Mason watching longingly!  Mason's giggles could be heard from a ways away when Trevor lifted him up on his shoulders to pretend to chicken fight with Uncle Chris & Shawn.  Erin loves water and will swim, swim, swim.  The middle of the lake is 20+ feet deep but that didn't stop her from swimming out there to do the inflated slide, etc. that was out there.  Auntie Al went out with her but this mom does worry even though Erin's swimming ability exceeds her mom's.....by a long shot!

After this relaxing day, Terry and I came home to prepare the house for company the next day.  Alicia & Chris came back after meeting for lunch and we also had Trent and Sandra Nelson from Nebraska for lunch as well.  It was fun to get to know them a bit and Mom got to see someone from her NE days as she knew Sandra back then. 

After our afternoon fellowship there was a group of young kids here (9-20 yrs old) to get together and share some thoughts.   The efforts to put this together is much appreciated by all.

All in all, it was an awesome weekend!

We're up & rolling again!

After 20 hours (not consecutive!!) on the computer with the Tech Support team at Dell we have our (very) old computer back up and running!  I am SO happy to say that the fix didn't cost as much in $$$ as it did in my time.....and we didn't lose any data photos!  And, with that said, I do have to put in a "plug" for Dell Computers.  Our computer is SEVEN years old but they still walked me through the necessary steps to retrieve the info from our hard drive, reinstall the programs/drivers, etc. as well as help us update the necessary software via download.  And their patience with someone so NOT into the computer jargon was tremendous!

I have several posts to get caught up on so the memories aren't "lost"! 

A Crash Can Bring Everything To A Hault!

Even when it is as minor as a computer crash!  Our desktop decided to "bite the dust" so I  have been waiting patiently quietly....well, we'll just say I have been WAITING for the important information pictures to be removed and put on the "new" hard drive.  I guess I need to be happy that we didn't loose any of the memories that are stored on said computer. 

The house has been quiet with the girls up visiting Granny and Trevor has been gone during the day to the Technical College in FdL for some classes.  I think this is the first time the girls have spent this long with Granny and I know they are having a blast.  Erin has been looking forward to her sewing lessons for awhile now.

Pictures will be posted shortly (I HOPE!) about our past few outings....the campground, Harry Potter exibit, Technical Knowledge College, etc.  In the meantime, I didn't want anyone to "worry" about the silence on this blog!