But I don't think he has much to say over the weather we are currently experiencing. Pretty hard to put in a good word for global warming when it is -8 at 9:30 in the morning.
The school principal called last night to say that school was on a two hour delay, and he thought it likely that they would call the whole thing off. Sure enough, the phone rang this morning at about 7am and there would be no school. That makes a 4-day weekend for the kids, since Monday was already a scheduled day off. I am kinda glad to see it. Kathryn still isn't feeling great, and Suzanna has been fighting something all week. She hates to miss school, so had been pushing herself to keep going. She still doesn't feel 100% today and was relieved to have the day off. I got an appointment with Dr. H to get her checked out. I think a long weekend with some down time will be good for her.
Can I brag about her for a second????? Indulge me okay!!! She had a violin lesson yesterday. She is gearing up for a Fine Arts competition through the school (like Solo and Ensemble). Anyway, she has to play a memorized piece, no more than 5 minutes in length. Her instructor looked through her music books, but didn't find anything he was happy with. He turned to her and asked for a favorite hymn. The first one that came to mind was "Brethren We Have Met To Worship". He said okay, starting on an "open D" (whatever that is) play the song. SHE DID IT!! With almost no wrong notes!!!!! Wow, was her momma impressed. Lessons are paying off.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Things kids say....
Thomas had a bit of a stomach bug on Monday, and ended up spending the day on the couch. Neighbor Melissa gave me a call to check in and Thomas answered the phone. She asked him what kept him home and his reply was a true Thomasism. He explained that he was having "stomach issues". Must be just telling her he had been sick might have been too much information. She got a huge chuckle out of that.
Today, Kathryn was the sicko, running a fever and complaining about a sore throat. I suspected we were dealing with strep, and got her in to see the doctor this morning. Dr. H began asking her questions about what brought her to see him. She explained that her throat really hurt. He then asked her how long it had been bothering her. Her reply, "I believe it started Tuesday afternoon." It was adorable. You could see the smile in Dr. H's eyes as he examined her throat and confirmed that she had a very icky looking throat. A strep test confirmed it and she is now on antibiotics for a week and is out of school until Friday.
Mike and I only have ourselves to blame for the vocabulary our children use. We never talked much "baby talk" around here, and I think we are seeing the results of our conversations.
If the kids had to get sick, I am glad it hit now rather than last week. I was in Grand Rapids for the annual Fair Convention, and I would have found it rather impossible to be in two places at once. I had a great time, was busy each day and picked up some really great ideas for future use. The only bummer was the snow storm that hit back home made it impossible for my hubby to join me Saturday afternoon. Despite the fact that I was in the snow belt part of the state, home sweet home was slammed with over 8 inches of snow. Hubby was in combat mode all weekend, fighting the ever increasing piles of snow that were accumulating. He spent most of Saturday morning moving snow so he could get into the hay barn and then more time to move snow to get it put away in the barn at home. The bottom line was there was no hope for him traveling up to see me. Oh well, there is always next year!
Today, Kathryn was the sicko, running a fever and complaining about a sore throat. I suspected we were dealing with strep, and got her in to see the doctor this morning. Dr. H began asking her questions about what brought her to see him. She explained that her throat really hurt. He then asked her how long it had been bothering her. Her reply, "I believe it started Tuesday afternoon." It was adorable. You could see the smile in Dr. H's eyes as he examined her throat and confirmed that she had a very icky looking throat. A strep test confirmed it and she is now on antibiotics for a week and is out of school until Friday.
Mike and I only have ourselves to blame for the vocabulary our children use. We never talked much "baby talk" around here, and I think we are seeing the results of our conversations.
If the kids had to get sick, I am glad it hit now rather than last week. I was in Grand Rapids for the annual Fair Convention, and I would have found it rather impossible to be in two places at once. I had a great time, was busy each day and picked up some really great ideas for future use. The only bummer was the snow storm that hit back home made it impossible for my hubby to join me Saturday afternoon. Despite the fact that I was in the snow belt part of the state, home sweet home was slammed with over 8 inches of snow. Hubby was in combat mode all weekend, fighting the ever increasing piles of snow that were accumulating. He spent most of Saturday morning moving snow so he could get into the hay barn and then more time to move snow to get it put away in the barn at home. The bottom line was there was no hope for him traveling up to see me. Oh well, there is always next year!
Monday, January 5, 2009
The parties are over....
it's time to get back at life.
After a great two week break, we were back on schedule this morning. We have had plenty of parties, including Christmas three times with various branches of the family. Add to that a baby shower, pre-Christmas supper at the Pastor's house and a post-Christmas party with Trainer Mike and all the clients, we have had more than our share of good times and great food.
With all that partying, comes the need to get back on track with exercise, which I have done. In addition, I have had to remember how to cook complete meals for my family, rather than bits and fits like so much of the two weeks seemed to be.
As we head into the new year, I am looking forward to what may lie ahead. Satan would love to have all of us feel in the depths of despair over what may come, but I know that the Lord is in control, and all that is to come is from him. I just pray I can remember that promise when the road heads a direction I find uncomfortable or opposite of what I think is best.
After a great two week break, we were back on schedule this morning. We have had plenty of parties, including Christmas three times with various branches of the family. Add to that a baby shower, pre-Christmas supper at the Pastor's house and a post-Christmas party with Trainer Mike and all the clients, we have had more than our share of good times and great food.
With all that partying, comes the need to get back on track with exercise, which I have done. In addition, I have had to remember how to cook complete meals for my family, rather than bits and fits like so much of the two weeks seemed to be.
As we head into the new year, I am looking forward to what may lie ahead. Satan would love to have all of us feel in the depths of despair over what may come, but I know that the Lord is in control, and all that is to come is from him. I just pray I can remember that promise when the road heads a direction I find uncomfortable or opposite of what I think is best.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A deep thought for the Christmas season
The kids were watching "White Christmas" tonight. One of the songs in the movie talks about falling to sleep counting my blessings. Suzanna said, "wow, I wouldn't know where to start". Do we feel that way?? Or are we never satisfied enough to recognize all that God has blessed us with? Something to spend some time considering in the midst of this busy holiday season.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Can you say cold
Wow have we hit a cold spot. Sort of blows global warming out of the water when it is -4 degrees doesn't it. That was the lowest we saw the thermometer go last night. Then add to it a 20 mile an hour wind and you are COLD! Chores, which at our place aren't a lot, involved a very chilly walk to the barn. In this kind of weather, it seems like everything you do takes so much longer to get done. Might have something to do with all the layers of clothing you put on to ward off the wind.
Do to the blowing and drifting snow, we didn't have church services yesterday. When your church is on the corner of two dirt roads in the middle of no where, that is a definite problem. We hope to perform our programs next week. It does extend Christmas just a little bit longer.
Staying home gave me time to inventory where I was on Christmas presents. I finally finished setting out my Christmas village. The whole house is done now. I also spent some time in my cookbooks, picking out recipes for the week of celebrating.
This morning is still cold and there is a bit of snow in the air. It seems we have more weather coming, including snow, sleet and freezing rain in the next two days. Could be an interesting Christmas Eve.
Do to the blowing and drifting snow, we didn't have church services yesterday. When your church is on the corner of two dirt roads in the middle of no where, that is a definite problem. We hope to perform our programs next week. It does extend Christmas just a little bit longer.
Staying home gave me time to inventory where I was on Christmas presents. I finally finished setting out my Christmas village. The whole house is done now. I also spent some time in my cookbooks, picking out recipes for the week of celebrating.
This morning is still cold and there is a bit of snow in the air. It seems we have more weather coming, including snow, sleet and freezing rain in the next two days. Could be an interesting Christmas Eve.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Decadence and disaster.....
ran arm in arm yesterday.
Mom, the girls and I had a candy making day yesterday. Lots of yummy, sweet stuff was on the agenda. But it seemed everything we tried had its share of troubles.
Mom was in charge of marachino cherries, mounds bars and buckeyes. I was in charge of cookie dough truffles and pecan turtles. All were things we had done before. The first problem hit when mom realized that she couldn't find her recipes for the mounds bars or buckeyes. I looked up a buckeye recipe on the Internet and she found a new recipe for mounds bars.
Well, the buckeyes were a little on the dry side, but rolled with work. The mounds bars were a total disaster. They hardened to the point you couldn't do anything with them. And as they cooled on the marble "grave marker" mom used for a cooling rack, they became cemented to the marble. Yes, I said grave marker. Mom's parents went to auctions for years and collected some rather unusual stuff. Among them, a marble topped table that upon closer inspection several years ago, we discovered that the top had been made from a grave marker! Nobody let anything go to waste in the old days I guess.
Back to candy. I managed to scrape the stuff up, but there was nothing that could be done to make it usable, so in the trash it went. In the meantime, I discovered that the pecan turtles that I had made had permanently attached themselves to the waxed paper I had put them on to cool. No where in the directions did it say you needed to spray the paper with cooking spray. Minor detail!! They stuck so bad that the only way to get the paper off was to wet it with water. Well, of course chocolate and water don't mix, so the wet candies didn't dip well at all. Another disaster!
The most successful project of the day was the peppermint bark that Suzanna made. It was wonderful and compared to the really expensive stuff from Williams-Sonoma.
Don't feel to bad for us. Between the buckeyes, truffles, dipped cherries and pretzels we still managed to have a huge box of candies that had to weigh about 5 pounds when we were done. I am sure we will enjoy it all. Decadence wins in the end!!!!
Mom, the girls and I had a candy making day yesterday. Lots of yummy, sweet stuff was on the agenda. But it seemed everything we tried had its share of troubles.
Mom was in charge of marachino cherries, mounds bars and buckeyes. I was in charge of cookie dough truffles and pecan turtles. All were things we had done before. The first problem hit when mom realized that she couldn't find her recipes for the mounds bars or buckeyes. I looked up a buckeye recipe on the Internet and she found a new recipe for mounds bars.
Well, the buckeyes were a little on the dry side, but rolled with work. The mounds bars were a total disaster. They hardened to the point you couldn't do anything with them. And as they cooled on the marble "grave marker" mom used for a cooling rack, they became cemented to the marble. Yes, I said grave marker. Mom's parents went to auctions for years and collected some rather unusual stuff. Among them, a marble topped table that upon closer inspection several years ago, we discovered that the top had been made from a grave marker! Nobody let anything go to waste in the old days I guess.
Back to candy. I managed to scrape the stuff up, but there was nothing that could be done to make it usable, so in the trash it went. In the meantime, I discovered that the pecan turtles that I had made had permanently attached themselves to the waxed paper I had put them on to cool. No where in the directions did it say you needed to spray the paper with cooking spray. Minor detail!! They stuck so bad that the only way to get the paper off was to wet it with water. Well, of course chocolate and water don't mix, so the wet candies didn't dip well at all. Another disaster!
The most successful project of the day was the peppermint bark that Suzanna made. It was wonderful and compared to the really expensive stuff from Williams-Sonoma.
Don't feel to bad for us. Between the buckeyes, truffles, dipped cherries and pretzels we still managed to have a huge box of candies that had to weigh about 5 pounds when we were done. I am sure we will enjoy it all. Decadence wins in the end!!!!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Christmas Programs.....
I have visited several of my favorite blogs this morning which mentioned their annual Christmas programs. I have a fond memory of Suzanna's very first Christmas program. She was just a little over two years old and the part was simple. The play was based on Stars at Christmas time and played out the Nativity scene in typical fashion, complete with shepherds in bathrobes and bath towels and angels in revamped sheets with garland in their hair. The little kids, like Suzanna, were responsible for providing the starlight. That entailed holding flashlights, and shining them toward the ceiling. Easier said than done for a two year old. She flashed her light in the eyes of the cast, toward the audience, into the eyes of the director and the lady playing piano. And as far as shining the ceiling. It was mostly in a strobe light fashion, fast and furious. Not much like a simple star. It was hysterical. We laughed and laughed. I should mention that she was not alone in her endeavor. There were about 5 other kids about the same age doing exactly the same thing. A true example of what looks good on paper doesn't exactly work like you hope when put into practice.
And on the home front, unlike the past couple years, where I have happily volunteered to make the costumes for the program at our church, I have nothing to stitch this year. You would think that means I have a chance to relax and enjoy the last few days leading up to the program, right????? Not so fast. This year instead of sewing I am memorizing.....and singing. Yes, that would be correct. Hubby and I are a part of the program this year. In another weak moment, I agreed not only for myself but also on behalf of my hubby to be "older" people in the play. Seemed like a great idea 6 weeks ago. But now, with the days winding down quickly, and too few practices remaining, D-Day is fast approaching. If only everybody who has a part could be healthy, all at the same time, things would go so much better.
Three practices remain and the jury is out on how this will all end up on Sunday. If it is anything like years past, it all turns out fine in the end. Oh, and don't even ask about the Choir program. Lets just say we trimmed a few songs out of that and it should be a success. Anything beats last year when the director decided to have a heart attack the day before we were to perform.
And on the home front, unlike the past couple years, where I have happily volunteered to make the costumes for the program at our church, I have nothing to stitch this year. You would think that means I have a chance to relax and enjoy the last few days leading up to the program, right????? Not so fast. This year instead of sewing I am memorizing.....and singing. Yes, that would be correct. Hubby and I are a part of the program this year. In another weak moment, I agreed not only for myself but also on behalf of my hubby to be "older" people in the play. Seemed like a great idea 6 weeks ago. But now, with the days winding down quickly, and too few practices remaining, D-Day is fast approaching. If only everybody who has a part could be healthy, all at the same time, things would go so much better.
Three practices remain and the jury is out on how this will all end up on Sunday. If it is anything like years past, it all turns out fine in the end. Oh, and don't even ask about the Choir program. Lets just say we trimmed a few songs out of that and it should be a success. Anything beats last year when the director decided to have a heart attack the day before we were to perform.
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