Cow Eyes

A few weeks ago a paper from the girls teachers came home informing us that they would be doing cow eye dissections on March 21st. Well, I just thought "gross" and decided that other parents could go volunteer. Well, due to a "snow day" on Fri. they changed the date to today. Again, I thought, "let someone else do that." But this morning Kambrie tried the whole faking sick routine, which made me wonder why she didn't want to go to school. Then I remember the cow eye thing, and sure enough, that is why she didn't want to go. Well, I decided to be the supportive parent and told her I would go and help if that would help her feel better about it, and of course she agreed.
So I'm thinking this entire time, no big deal, I can help these kids. Silly me was thinking THEY would be the ones doing the dissecting. I was still doing the mind over matter talk to myself as I entered the school for "training" on what we should do. It only took a few seconds to realize that WE would be doing the dissecting, at which point I thought "has any parent ever thrown up doing this, or passed out. . . how embarrassing THAT would be. . . .hopefully I won't do that." Have you ever seen a cow eye? They aren't pretty. So we learned exactly what we should do, which was good, I actually got myself talked into doing it. Then. . . when we found the group of kids we would be working with there was another mom that was more than willing to do the cutting, which was FINE with me! So in helping in both Kambrie and Becca's class I was able get out of actually dissecting both times. YEA! Now, I would have done it if I would have had too, but I didn't mind letting someone else have that experience.
Overall it was pretty interesting and not as "gross" as I thought it would be. The kids were really into it and it was fun to see their excitement.

Oh Deer

I still love that fact that pretty much everyday we see deer somewhere close to the house. This picture was taken from our kitchen. I know they can be pests, but they are fun to watch. Give us a few more years of fighting with them in the garden and other vegetation and we might not like them so much.

Spring in Minnesota

Did I predict this or what? School was even cancelled today. . . I don't think it needed to be, but it nice to have a relaxing day. The kids went for a hike up in the woods. At least they aren't too disappointed about it snowing, it probably has something to do with the fact that they didn't have school today.

A wonderful sound

This morning as I ran out the door I heard something that just made me happy. Something very simple, something that has been missed for several long months. It was the beautiful sound of birds! It means that the weather is really warming up or they wouldn't be returning, yea. Maybe this will help me have a better attitude since I just looked at our weather at we are under a winter storm watch, Thurs. night through Fri. Just the ups and downs of spring in our lovely state.

In The Dark

Last night just as I was getting the younger kids in bed, the power went out. It was so dark we had a hard time making it from the girls room to Kyson's where he was crying because he was scared. Once everyone congregated in there, I went in search of a flashlight. Thankfully I knew right where it was. It was a little spooky walking through the house in the dark, and with Phil gone I made sure that all the doors were locked. I then got the creeps because I saw a shadow pass by the window, I'm sure it was mine, but my imagination started envisioning all those horror movies where the power goes out. . . then the scary guy comes crashing into the house. Well, that didn't happen, and the kids soon thought it was a great fun finding candles to light and pretending we were back in the Laura Ingalls time period. So I read some Little House to them, got them all calmed down then they went to bed. The power finally came back on a few hours later. I didn't realize until the power came back on that there is a hum about the house when the power is on. And it sure is quiet when it is off.
I learned a few things. One, have a flashlight upstairs. And two, don't let the kids carry around a candle that drips dark red wax. Anyone have any great ideas on how to get wax out of carpet??

You've got to be kidding

So we got a little glimpse of spring last week. . . but it is snowing this morning. I'm so depressed!

Outside

After MONTHS of having to bundle up to be outside the kids are all loving playing outside without even a jacket on. I think it is still a little cold for that, but I'm not running around like they are. Kambrie, Becca and Kyson are getting plenty of use out of the scooters they got for Christmas and Kaden is loving his rip-stick or wave (I'm not sure what he calls it these days). They are so eager to go out they are asking what job they need to do before they play. I love it when they are this helpful. . . I wonder how long the "newness" of this lovely weather will last and I will have to kick them outside to play. However long it ends up being, I will just enjoy it.

Whew. . . crazy week is over.

We are slowly returning to normal after the craziness has ended. I'm just so glad that we aren't always that busy. . .I would go absolutely crazy!
The great thing these last few days is that the weather is beautiful. Sunny and warm. Yea, spring is coming. We have lived here long enough to know that there will probably be another large dumping of snow, but the bitter cold is gone until next year. Wahoo.

You know you are a Minnesotan if. . . .

The current temperature is 22 and you feel too hot in your coat. There is just something wrong with that. I'm a true Minnesotan.

I will survive. . . I hope.

So this week and part of next is just crazy. Here is a list of what is going on:

• Co-chairing middle school book fair. Didn't realize how time consuming that would be.
• Kambrie and Becca's school play. I don't think I've seen very much of them this week.
• I need to have my elementary school yearbook pages done. And it has taken longer than usual.
• Phil is having minor surgery today. Poor guy won't get much tlc from me in the next few days.
• Our church is having a Book of Mormon Read-a-thon for the youth. So as YW Pres. I will be there all weekend.
• This list is just in addition to my normally busy life. Yikes!

So why am I on here you may ask. Just needed to take a break. I will emerge again next Wed.

Cross Country Skiing

So I decided to be adventurous this last Saturday and try cross country skiing. One would think that after being in Minnesota 10 years and growing up in Wyoming this wouldn't be a new thing, but it was. Let's just say I was more of a comic relief for the group than anything else.
I think I only fell about 4-5 times and was really tired by the end. I had fun and will probably do it again, but next time I will know what I am getting myself into.




Jen, Prudence, Tracy, Me, LaNae


This fall felt like someone just yanked my feet out from under me. It felt really funny and I guess it looked pretty funny too. In fact, someone behind me said "good one".



Me and Kim

Just Starting Out

After reading several friends blogs I've decided it is time to start one for our family. Although I'm not a super creative writer, I'm hoping that what goes on in my head will come through o.k. on this blog. I think I'm pretty funny and have lots to say, but once I start writing it just doesn't come out. So maybe with some practice I will get better. So be patient with me during this learning process and enjoy a glimpse into our crazy, but fun life.
I have to start out today with a couple of funny things people in our family have said lately. In the car a few days ago Kyson (this is where we seem to have quite a few interesting conversations, could it be that we are in the car a lot?) asks me how old I will be when he is my age. So after some quick math I realized that I would be my moms age when he is my age. So I told him I would be Grandma Walton's age. To this he exclaims, "That old! But she is all wrinkly!" I was a little thrown off by that knowledge as well. I always thought I would be a younger mom than my mom, but not so. I'm still trying to adjust to that reality.
Then today, Phil says, "I'm going on strike." "From what" I sweetly ask him, "From wearing a coat. I refuse, it is March it should be warmer that this." So this is Phil's way of rebelling against our long yucky winter. By not wearing a coat when it is 20 degrees outside and snowing. And it will be even colder the next few days. Yes, I think he is loosing his mind. But I guess he is showing the Minnesota winter who is boss.