Ski trip, Over the Hill and White Christmas

It's been a busy, fun-filled December for us. We went back to Steamboat Springs for a Ski trip Dec. 13-18th. We ♥ it there (it wouldn't take much to convince me to move there). Thanks to my brother Jim, who has a time share we can get the 2 bedroom/2 bath condo for about $50. bucks a night. It has a parking garage so no scraping the windshield, washer/dryer, complete kitchen and FREE shuttle to and from the ski mountain and also the city bus that takes you into town etc. that's free. I was able to go downtown to shop and sight see one day, too. We took the 4 wheel drive and I wouldn't drive it downtown, to snowy and BUSY for me.


We left Marysville Sunday noon after morning worship and drove 300 plus miles to Paxton, Nebraska which is west of North Platte where we spent the night at the Days Inn there. It was only 5:00 Colorado time but we had pre-reserved the room or we could of probably gone another 100 miles or so. The room was clean and cost the same a night as the condo did which was WAY bigger then the motel room. We watched a movie and they all fell asleep but I couldn't sleep. Finally, Dan woke up about 5:00 and we ate their FREE breakfast (fresh Waffles, rolls, cereal juice etc.) and got on the road to Steamboat.


We drove to Laramie, Wyoming and dropped down south to go through the mountain pass/ Continental Divide and the roads were slick and tricky the last 60 miles or so, it was a white out and we had to use the 4 wheel drive a few times. Dan took his time and we made it safely to Steamboat about noon. We couldn't get the condo til 5:00 so we went to the waterfalls (frozen of course) and walked the trails there. Then Dan and the kids went to the ski place and got fitted for skis, boots and helmets (YES, I MAKE them wear helmets) and got their lift tickets etc. so everything was ready for them to Ski Tuesday morning.


Ski mountain in the distance-taken from inside the Condo

The kids used the hot tub and swam awhile and Dan went to the office for the T-bar I needed for the laptop so I could have internet for the week. It was only $15.00. We had Pizza's delivered to the condo and Dan and the kids were all in bed before 8:00. I couldn't sleep once again so I watched the local channel that told stories about Steamboat Springs and the guy that brought skiing to the area way back in the early 40's. I'm a night owl and can function on little sleep.


This is where they ski- Elevation: 10,000 plus feet

The kids were ready to go bright and early Tuesday so we all went to Village Inn for a big breakfast. They don't take time to eat lunch while their skiing. They skiied from 8-5 (only stopped because they close at 5:00). When they got back to the condo we all drove into town and found the Steamboat Smokehouse Restaurant. We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table but it was worth the wait. Not only was it great food but the service was great, too. They give you a bucket of peanuts to eat while waiting and the kids loved throwing the shells on the floor.


KJ ordered her usual meal: chicken strips with seasoned fries (she ate this same combo when Gma O. had the cafe for 5 years). Nick ordered his favorite meal: BBQ ribs (Dan rarely orders anything when we eat out, I call him the "Clean up crew" cause he gets plenty of food that the kids can't finish). Tony ordered the BBQ pulled Pork with baked beans and mashed potatoes (clean plate) and I ordered BBQ Hot Wings and a salad. The wings were huge (the chicken's they got them from must of been on steroids). We had to get a doggie bag.


After supper we went back to the condo and again they were all in bed by 8:30. I got on Facebook and uploaded some pictures and got to bed around midnight. They were up about 5:30 again so this time we went to McDonald's and got Hot Cakes sausage meals (better and cheaper then the Village Inn) and then they went to the mountain for the day. I had planned to go to town on the bus but it was snowing and cold. I "colored" the calendars I had "Stamped" the week before and got them all finished. They got back to the condo about 5:30 starving so we drove into town and ate at a Mexican food place. Again, the food was great and huge portions and again a doggie bag. They don't have Bible Study there on Wed. night so we had our own at the condo then they all went to bed about 9:00. They're all having so much fun skiing and were bummed that they only had one day left to ski.


They met the 1964 Olympic Silver medalist, Billy Kidd on Wed. and he said meet him at the top the next day at 1:00 and he'd give them some pointers and tips and they had their picture taken with him. They all met him there at 1:00 except Nick. Nick didn't want to miss one second of skiing on his last day so he did his own thing. Nick is like Evil Knievel... on skis. He's been on every trail there including the hardest ones. That boy has NO FEAR. I was thankful when they all walked into the condo that night knowing the skiing part of the trip was over and no one was injured, just a few aching muscles.


I took the free bus to downtown and did a walking tour of Steamboat Springs that afternoon. I took lots of pictures and even bought a few souvenirs. I got a dark blue coffee mug with Steamboat etched in gold letters on it and some pens and a few postcards, too. Oh, and some wonderful fudge, too, that was gone in 60 seconds when they got back from their last day of skiing.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory-best fudge I've ever had

I had washed all the laundry and re-packed suitcases so that was done and we went to Wendy's for supper. We went to bed about 10:00 and got up at 4:30 and loaded the truck and left Steamboat at 6:00 a.m. it was still dark and the roads not so good again the first 60 miles or so but we're at 8,000 plus feet elevation (the top of ski mountain is over 10,000 ft.) and have to go through Rabbit Ears mountain pass. Dan drove very slow and we never had to put the chains on. Once we got pass Cheyenne the Interstate was better.


Cabela's-Sydney, NE Shot in Africa by Scott Cabela

Nick is the official reader of the Tom Tom (GPS) and that kept him busy round trip. KJ had her DVD player and watched movies (she looked at the scenery, too) and Tony had the Game Boy and his IPOD, to help pass the time. We stopped at Sydney, Nebraska at Cabela's and spent about and hour and a half there. The kids' loved the mounted animal displays. We ate at Runza (Dan's favorite place) and got back on the road. It ended up taking 13 hours to get home and Dan drove all the way (to and from). We took the 4 wheel drive and I don't like to drive it to much plus I was on medication for Shingles and didn't feel the best. It was nice just driving half way and getting a room on the way out. When we went there almost 2 years ago it only took about 10 hours. We did a lot of stopping this time. It went pretty fast to me course I kept dozing off and on (I'm 50 now I'm entitled to doze off) and the kids keep Dan company. We unloaded the truck and it was nice to be able to put all the clean clothes away and not have to face a MOUNTAIN of dirty laundry. Smart move on my part.


I went to Lincoln alone on Saturday to shop since my birthday fell on a Sunday. It's a tradition I've done for many many years. It was a mistake though cause Lincoln was BUSY everywhere I went. Note to self...never shop on the last weekend before Christmas. The parking lots were crazy with crazy drivers, the checkout lines were as long as a football field and I was still worn out from the ski trip and was back home by 8:00, which is about 3 hours earlier then usual.



My dad always took us to look at the Xmas lights on my
birthday. I like how the snow surrounds the lights.



Sunday the 20th I turned the big 50, yep, Over the Hill. Sometimes I feel 50 sometimes even 80 but I usually act 20. We ate at the local Mexican food restaurant with my parents, too. I managed to get in a short nap (I'm entitled to that too, now) and then Dan surprised me with cake, ice cream and even candles after p.m. service. All day the kids kept saying "Happy Birthday Mom" over and over, so sweet. Just another day to me but Thankful God has blessed me with 50 wonder years and with my family. God is good...all the time.


The kids had school the 21st and half day the 22nd. On the 23rd they had their dental check ups and we had hoped to go to Missouri but we got a Blizzard so we couldn't go. The kids were so bummed, we all were. The wind were up to 40 MPH and we had drifting, too. We had a White Christmas. Dan put the chains on his truck and picked up my mom and dad and Gma and went to Oketo to get my brother Raymond Donna and Levi. They stayed over night here because Raymond HAD to WORK Sat. a.m. or loose his holiday pay. The country roads are blown shut in places and they have quite a story to tell about how they finally made it to town. We ordered Pizza's from Casey's and played Apples to Apples and Book and Runs and called it a day. One of the most unusual Christmas' I can remember and I've had 50 of them.


It's Sat. the 27th and it's 3:00 p.m. and it's still snowing and blowing. We had hoped to leave for Iowa today but the Interstate is closed from Lincoln to Omaha and I know Hwy 77 hasn't had any snow plows on it so I'm hoping maybe we can leave tomorrow. Hooyer Christmas isn't until Tuesday and Dan thought maybe he'd take the kids to a Ski place up by his hometown on Monday. Always fun in Iowa because his mom rents out the rec. center of the local college. It has a 4 lane bowling alley, pool tables, Foosball and lots of board games and enough food to feed an Army. We then do the grab bag gifts game, my favorite part. One mans junk is another's treasure. We have to leave Wed. a.m. because Tony has an Orthodontist app. in Seneca that afternoon. Tony sees him there every 2 months and that's the day he'll be there.


We're planning to have a New Year's Eve get together at the church building and then we re-scheduled the Oehm family Christmas for New Year's Day. I hope we don't have another blizzard then and have to cancel it again. Besides, I have a freezer full of Christmas goodies that need to be eaten up and NOT by occupants of this house. (Kristen, if you read this, I hid some Oreo Snowballs just for you).


It's a good thing I ♥ SNOW or all this white stuff could get old real fast. The kids' shoveled at the church building, Great Gma's, my parents and the neighbor ladies today even though it's still snowing and blowing yet, it's suppose to quit here pretty quick. I wouldn't mind if it kept snowing but we do want to go to Iowa.


Well, there's way more pictures on my Facebook of the trip. I might add more on here later. I probably won't post again til 2010 so Happy New Year everyone!!!

ONE FOOT OF SNOW

What else can you do with a foot of Snow but pile it in the middle
of the downtown streets?!?

Nick peeking thru one of the tunnels of the Snow Fort

The street in front of my parents...I just about got stuck...in our 4 wheel

drive...sure was fun to ride around in though.

Kids shoveling Grandpa and Grandma's sidewalks.

What flavor of snow cone syrup for ya?

This looks like a huge snowcone to me.

So much for Global Warming. We got over a foot of snow in 3 days, that just shows whose in control... God is.

It snowed 5 inches Monday and by bed time they had already announced "No School" for Tuesday. The kids finally got to dig the sleds out and went across the street to enjoy an extra 3 inches of fresh snow on Tuesday morning, 8 inches so far. The boys played SNOW Football with a bunch of their friends all afternoon and KJ had her friend over, too. BRRR!

We ended up getting a total of 12.4 inches...over a foot of snow. Brought back memories of the 17 inches we use to get, when I was a kid. It was announced No School for Wed. so the kids stayed up later. The boys had a friend stay over Tues. and Wed. and they played PS2 and Monopoly. Dan taught KJ how to play Chess and now she's hooked.

Wed. I took the kids to shovel Gpa/Gma's and my Gma's sidewalks and then they helped Dan do the walks at the church building. After some hot food from Sonic they started working on a Snow Fort (why did I just shiver when I typed SNOW?) They spent hours on it. It's huge. I kept checking on them because I was worried it would cave in on them. They sure had fun.

By Wed. eve. the wind was up to 40mph and the wind chill at sub-zero, so another NO School day Thursday. I joked that "the kids had a 3 day weekend...in the middle of the week". Today is Friday and they had school and all 3 said they were ready to go back. I'm pretty sure it was more to see friends then for actual school. Plus they have to get homework assignments for next week because we're leaving for Colorado early Monday.

The kids don't miss much school but my brother Jim has a timeshare, at Steamboat Springs and was able to get us a condo (THANK YOU JIM) for Monday-Friday so looks like the kids are getting a Ski trip for Christmas this year (and it's my 50th Birthday present cause you all know Colorado is my FAVORITE State). We've been there before and the condo is huge and even has a parking garage under the condos so there's no scrapping windows on the truck. They have a shuttle running all day to and from the ski lodge so we're set. I plan to do a little downtown shopping and sightseeing while they ski (they Ski ALL DAY) and just chill out at the condo. Probably doesn't sound like fun to you but I can't wait. Thank you Lord for blessing us so much.

Well, as some of you may have heard I went to the Dr. Monday and found out I have Shingles. Let me tell you I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. It is a constant pain and you can't itch them either. I had started taking Penicillin on Friday for what I thought was swelling from an infection from my dental work but it turns out it's one of the symptom's for Shingles. He said that the Penicillin might have helped keep my case of shingles a little milder form then what most get. So I was thankful for that. I'm taking 2 types of meds (one bout makes me heave every time I take it and it's 5 of them a day). One helps with the pain and I know just when it's wearing off and it's usually right about the time I should take it.

It's funny cause before I even went to the Dr. Dan woke me up to tell me he had done some symptom searches (like I said I thought it was infection from dental work) but I couldn't figure out why my forehead was so tender. Only thing that helped relieve the pain was if I took my finger and pressed against them, strange I know but it did help. Anyway, he read the symptoms to me and sure enough it sounded like what I had but he had to rub it in when he said "most cases occur in people 50 and over" FIFTY!!! Well, I'm not 50 yet. What's even funnier is they have a shot you can get that's suppose to help you NOT get shingles again but...you have to be 60 or older to get the shot (Dr. recommended). I had a mild case of chicken pox as a kid but my kids should be OK because they had (extreme) Chicken Pox. Pour KJ had them so bad, it still haunts me.

Well, I can't find my dining room table cause that's where I'm trying to organize the suitcase packing so I need to get back to work on packing. Monday will come before I'm ready if I don't get on it. The boys are going to a basketball game here tonight and KJ is going skating with her friend and tomorrow we go to Wamego for NCKL Wrestling. It will be the boys' last matches for the season. It'll be all day and Sunday is church and we'll load up the truck, too. Dan wants to leave at 5 a.m. Monday. That reminds me better get the Tom-Tom (GPS) programed.

Well, maybe just maybe I'll be able to update on here with some Colorado pictures while we're out there. Last time our camera was being "MOODY" and only worked on rare occasions, so this time I hope to take plenty of pictures (or maybe I should say Dan will take pictures, I DON'T SKI). I doubt I'll even ride the Gondola ride to the top this time. It scared me so bad last time I didn't want to get back on it to ride back down the mountain and I sure wasn't going to take a snowmobile ride down.

Prayer request: I just read on the Internet that the Duggar family featured on 18 Kids and Counting, on TLC, gave birth last night (3 months early) to their 19th baby, a girl, Josie Brooklyn, who weighs only 1 lb. 6 oz. Please pray that God will keep this baby in His loving hands and she survives.

December...already.

From the Salt Mine in Hutchinson, Kansas

Kick your shoes off and stay awhile-Thanksgiving Feast-2009

It's December already. Where did November go...where did 2009 go? The older I get the faster the days seem to go. Seems I was just addressing last years holiday cards and when I look to my left there's a pile still laying there just waiting to be addressed and put in the mail for this year. Every time I think I'll get started on them I get side tracked so they are still there. I'm using the excuse of turning 50 for the reason I don't have a cute poem or Xmas letter to go along with the cards this year. My brain has turned to dust so maybe I will and maybe I won't send a little something extra this year. You'll have to see what happens.

Thanksgiving is behind us and we had a great time in the Kansas City area. The kids and I went over on Wed. morning and stayed with my brother, Jim and his family. Dan worked Wed. so he rode over with my parents, Grandma and my aunt Barb, early Thanksgiving morning. My sister, Judy and her family hosted the big feast and we all had plenty to eat. We had the "traditional" Thanksgiving meal. I made Sweet Potato Casserole and a Pumpkin Roll (that was almost gone before we even ate at 1:00) and Donna made some wonderful looking pies. My mom brought dressing and her awesome Baked Beans. My sis took care of the Turkey and had my favorite dinner rolls and her Broccoli/Rice casserole. May I just say now "we're awesome cooks".

Raymond and Jim the offical turkey carvers-Judy the offical back massager.

Turkey and Dressing (and Mom's Baked Beans).

My Pumpkin Roll and Donna's Choc. and Pecan Pies. Ummm

All my parents Grandkids (minus Ashley and her Husband Douglas)posing for a picture

Someone hollered "Time to eat" and they all scattered...except Kourtney.

You can't beat time with family. The kids played some football with their cousins and the adults sat/laid around and visited and laughed and ate leftovers for supper. I just enjoy the "down time" not having to throw in a load of laundry etc. just relaxing, laughing and playing Boggle.

At 11:00 p.m. I took my 3 kids and 2 nephews and a niece to Zona Rosa Shopping Mall. From Midnight till they were gone, they were handing out $25.00 gift cards to the 1st 500 people. Needless to say we didn't wait in the line that wrapped around the building not ONCE but TWICE when we arrived. The boys stuck together and the girls and I went to their kind of stores. Some stores you couldn't even move around in them but I still enjoyed the whole experience. KJ got an Aeropostle shirt for $5.00 and I found Tony a pair of his favorite jeans at Aero for $20 bucks after coupon and he bought a nice Colts cap for $5.00. Nick bought 2 Missouri (???not sure why) stocking caps from LIDS and a Corvette calendar (to go with the Corvette poster he got the day before). Brandon, Kourtney and Kyle each found a few things, too. I hope it becomes a tradition that Aunt Janet takes them all out shopping and hopes the older ones come along next time).

We got back to Jim's at 3:00 a.m. then Dan, the boys and I went to Wal-Mart. Let the games begin. Dan had his eye on the 42 inch flat screen TV (we had a 21 inch) and the GPS for $59 bucks. Tony had heard the XBOX was $99.00 and you also got a $100. gift card but after he waited in line for 2hours he discovered they were $199. and NO gift card. I had to chuckle at how he was saving his place in line...he was setting in the back of a shopping card, dozing off and on. Poor kid was worn out and was so bummed he missed his needed sleep just to find out he wasn't getting an XBOX (they have a PS2 they can continue to use for now). We were able to get the 2 things Dan had in mind but only after being there 4 hours.

I could tell you some interesting stories about our 4 hours at a huge Wal-Mart but it was more something you had to SEE for yourself. I will tell you Security had to be called at 5:00 when 2 ladies were shoving to get to the XBOX's. I stood back and laughed at how funny 2 grown adult women, who hours earlier, looked like intelligent, career women, turn into Greedy monsters over a $200.00 item. Shameful!!! I did like how the Wal-Mart had sectioned off aisles for the big ticket items. It was interesting trying to maneuver a big cart with a TV in it through the aisles, though. We were trying to get to the front of the store and each person we passed seemed to think we were trying to take their spot in the line for what they were waiting for.

I wandered if Dan had lost his mind when he said he wanted to go to Black Friday (this coming from a man who has been in Wal-Mart maybe 10 times in his lifetime) and refers to Wal-Mart as "The Evil Empire" (sorry honey). But when we finally got out of there with the 2 things he wanted and I said "That was kinda fun" he thought maybe, just maybe we'd do this again next year. I can hardly wait...maybe after 29 years of marriage I'll have a new shopping buddy.

After our 4 hour shopping experience we went back to Jim's and woke up KJ (she was well rested) and the 5 of us headed for Hutchinson. Nick figured out the new GPS and we had fun listening to "Samantha" now known as "Sam" giving us directions for 3 hours. Those GPS's are wonderful. How did we ever live without them. (I can't wait til Garage Sale season so I can find even more Garage Sales in Lincoln, all those tricky little Cul de sac's).

After arriving at Hutchinson and eating at Frazzol's, we decided that we'd take a tour of the underground Salt Mine in town. KJ was a little leery of going 650 feet below Hutch. but once we got down there her fear turned to happiness. We were all happy we did the tour. They just opened it to the public 2 years ago. Besides producing Salt it is also home to many Hollywood costumes and props and they store their old movie reels there because of the low humidity and a constant 65* year round.

KJ, Tony and Nick in their Hard Hats and Oxygen masks (for Safety)

We had a great tour guide and that made the tour even more fun for the kids. They say the salt "vein" runs all the way to Carlsbad, New Mexico and the supply would last another 2,000 years. We were each allowed to take a palm size chunk of salt with us but told "NOT to lick it".

I'd highly recommend the tour if you're ever in that area. We actually did the packaged deal and got tickets for the Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutch. also. Funny thing, it's right next door to the football stadium, where the Marysville Bulldogs were playing for State, the next morning. We were all tired and went back to the motel and decided we'd do the Cosmos in the morning.

Space Suits at the Cosmosphere/Space Center

Stain-glass window at the Cosmosphere/Space Center in Hutchinson, KS

After a nice warm complimentary breakfast, we headed to the Cosmos/Space Center. We had the place to ourselves but also found that the IMAX movie wouldn't be playing while we were there and also the Planetarium wouldn't open til 11:00 and the gates for tickets for the game opened at 11:00 so we missed out on both of them. Tony and I had been there 2 years ago on a field trip and those 2 things were what we really wanted to see. Also, Dr. Goddard's Lab wasn't open either. That is a really cool show. He's a science nerd and his audience is caught in his lab where you never know what he will "discover" next. We considered going back into the Cosmos after getting our tickets for the game but the way the stadium was filling up we thought it best we stay in our good seats. (By the start of the game I think the whole town of Marysville was there, it was packed).

The 5 of us were the first in line to go into the huge stadium, so we picked the chair back seats on the 45 yard line and on the end of the aisle. Great seats even though before the game even started we lost 2 kids...Tony went to set in the student section and KJ sat by her best friend. Nick was by us for the 1st quarter then a buddy of his asked him to come set with them. So Dan and I sat there, actually we stood up most of the game, without our kids by us.

The Bulldogs played a private school, Wichita Collegiate, who recruits only the best. 2 players were 6'7. The Bulldogs made Wichita work for the victory. It was a very exciting game but we ended up losing 37-30. The Bulldogs gave 110 percent and had a great season. I know my kids sure enjoyed watching them play...Dan did, too. Before the sub-state was even decided Dan had me call and reserve a motel room in Hutchinson. I was surprised by his decision to pass on the Iowa Thanksgiving and the 5 of us would go to watch my hometown team play at State. This was their 1st trip to State in 19 years. They placed runner-up then, also. Great Season, DAWGS!!!

After being away from home 4 days we no more walked in the door and Nick wanted to set up the new TV. It didn't take them long to get it ready but then we had to rearrange the room. That room now houses the big screen TV, on a stand until we decide if we want it hanging on the wall or not. I say on the wall, so we have a little more walking space in there. The piano is also in there plus a big sofa and a chair. Me, not being much of a TV watcher, I can't really say if I like the new TV or not. Dan's trying to decide if we want to get the HD hook-up for it or not. It's only $7.00 more a month but no more then we watch it...

My brother Jim is here for deer season. He just called (2:10 p.m.) and was still in his deer blind, he wanted me to check the weather and wind. The wind is at 25-28MPH and that isn't ideal for hunting but don't feel sorry for him, being outside in the cold, with all this wind, etc. cause he just informed me he has a propane heater in there and his tummy was full. He saw 4 doe and a small buck. Yesterday, in Missouri, he got a buck on the last day over there. Oh, lovely another dead deer hanging from the rafters here. LOL

One of Dan's 8 brothers, Loren and his family came down the 18-20th. 3 of their 5 kids participated at a Tai Kwondo Tournament in Manhattan. We went down to watch that morning, very interesting sport. Their 2 boys earned some medals, too. We had to get home in time for Sub-State. That night we played a few games, one was "R U smarter than a 5th grader" having a 5th grader, I know the answer to that...NO!!! so I didn't play, so I wouldn't embarrasses myself. I know when to say WHEN!!! It was fun watching/listening to our kids and their cousins think through the questions. I've been out of school 31 years and I don't think I learned any of the stuff they had questions about. If I did it was deleted from my memory chip in my brain.

You know you're getting old when you go to the dentist and he tells you it's time to get Dentures!
Just kidding. I think it would be easier and cheaper, though. I had prep work done for 4 crowns, all on the left side of my mouth. I was there over 3 hours and when I was finally done, I couldn't get my mouth to close. He didn't hurt me (just my checkbook) one bit but my jaws were killing me. They fit me with my temporaries and I went home. Then 5 days later I started having extreme pain (yes, I will compare it to labor pains) and I called up and they got me in right away and he took an x-ray. I remember when he came into the room after reading the x-rays and I said "How long I got, Doc." and we all laughed and then he told me I needed a root canal done on another tooth. He went ahead and took care of that and I was done in time to go to the boys' double dual (more on that later)...fat lip and all. The new crowns come in the 9th. Happy it's not dentures but why does it seem that my teeth are failing me...I'm only 50 not 80!!!

Well, I should say ALMOST 50. I'm not officially 50 til the 20th (18 more days). You know, had my mom waited 11 more days to have me, I could say I was born in the sixties instead of the 50's!!! I remember when I was 20 and 40 seemed OLD. I remember when I turned 30 I said 50 was OLD now that I'm almost 50 I think 70 is OLD but having a mother who is 70 I would say 80 is old but having a Grandmother who is 87 and gets around better then ME I think I will play it safe and say 100 is OLD. There, I'm only half-way old... I feel younger already.

At Thanksgiving I let it be known I DID NOT want a party or a surprise or even a cake and I told my husband he better listen to me but what's really bad is I didn't listen to him and he we had a surprise for his 50th, I didn't listen to my sister and we threw her a big surprise party and then I did it to my Mom in July for her 70th (and if you 3 are reading this... I BEG YOU PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T try to get even with me and do this to me. PLEASE!!! Pretty Please. It's just another day OK hmmm,it's gonna be hard for me to sneak away when it falls on a Sunday. I usually go SHOPPING all day, by myself on my birthday, course having it on Sunday will make it hard for them to get away, too, especially this time of year. Guess we'll see what happens. but just in case PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T!!!

At the double-dual Nick pinned both his guys in less than a minute. Yes, his nickname is Lightening Bolt. Tony only had one match. He wrestled a kid who pinned him in the 3rd period last time but this time he didn't get pinned. Keep trying Tony you can do it. I think Nick's 4 years of Kid's Fed Wrestling has helped him so much. I will miss watching him at State unless he changes his mind and does Kid's Fed instead of Jr. High Basketball. Time will tell.

I don't have to buy Christmas gifts for anyone this year so I have no stress from that. We're taking the kids skiing again so that will be their presents. We're planning to ski Christmas Eve day at Snow Creek by KC but in Feb. we want to go to Colorado again to ski. We always tell the kids Christmas is year round here cause if they need something we usually just get it for them, then.

They wanted a boat, we got them a boat (plus a truck to tow it), they wanted a puppy (whose now the size of a calf)and all the expense that comes with having a pet and they wanted IPOD's we paid half on them. They got to go to almost ALL the football games and got the fun of staying in a motel where they had the pool to themselves. We got the big TV and the list goes on and on. I can't think of anything else they need. KJ does keep asking to get contacts so maybe we'll let her get them. She's even cried when she begs for them. I think kids at school tease her about wearing glasses and that's sad. I know they teased me, too and I didn't get contacts til I was 30 (mostly cause I was a wimp and scared to put them in). I was a wimp about getting Lasik, too but I'm glad I did and it's been wonderful not wearing glasses or contacts for 10 years now.

KJ helped me almost 3 hours yesterday changing my Sunday School classroom theme and putting up 3 bulletin boards. She's a great helper and has a real interest and is very creative and I can see her taking over this job someday.

WOW, this is another long post so maybe I'd better sign off now and actually tackle that To Do List...or maybe NOT. Perhaps tomorrow!?! Funny but this song just popped in my head "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth" but I think I'll sing it to fit me "my 4 new crowns" and finish that root canal. Next time I update I'll probably be 50 or it will be 2010. Which makes me think "Do you say "Two thousand Ten" or can we just say (twenty-ten)Hmmm! Let me know!

Extra Extra Read all about it.

1st Place Team-Marysville 36th Annual Bible Bowl Sabetha

Nick (12) Kate (16) KJ (10) Tony (13) WINNERS!!!

Well, did that get your attention? I know you're all surprised to see that I have updated my blog again and it's only been 2 weeks. I just have to share some Happy news with all of you.

1st- The kids and another girl from church, placed 1st Place in the Bible Bowl at the Youth Rally Saturday. It was over the book of 2 Samuel and if you're not familiar with that book of the Bible check it out and look at all those names, places and numbers. I am so proud of them and even more I know God is proud of them for all the hard work they did in studying since July for this.

Nick (12 yrs. old) also took 1st place in Top Individual - he only missed 2 questions out of 60. Way to go Nick. KJ (10) took 2nd place and missed 3 out of 60 and Tony (13) took 3rd he missed 5. The other girl on the team, Kate (16) missed only 12 which is great considering she hadn't studied as long as our 3 had and this was her first time to do a Bible Bowl.

This is the 3rd year the kids competed. The first year they took 1st place and last year they took 2nd (it was close). They were happy with finishing in first again. How it works is each team has 4 players and each player has to answer the questions, which are multiple choice. I think it would be more enjoyable to watch if my kids weren't in it, as I get VERY nervous for them. (And may I add here that Tony and Nick attended this Youth Rally instead of wrestling in a tournament for school that same day...You know God was smiling on them when they picked the Youth Rally/Bible Bowl over a school sporting event.

When my sister, brother and I competed at it in the 70's they had one bell per team and the first team that rang the bell answered the question. Well, my sister, Judy would ring it every time and would always give the correct answer. Well, one time she couldn't think of the answer and my brother Raymond rang the bell. Judy and I were shocked and hoped he knew the answer and he did. It was Jocabed, the mother of Moses. Raymond remembered her name due to my mom's clever way of helping us remember names etc; he remembered "BED" etc. (If I remember, I'll tell you later, how we remembered the Great Lakes). But years later they made it where all 4 team mates have to put up their choice of either A B or C. You may think it would make it a little easier to have multiple choice but sometimes all 3 choices just seem correct.

Well, when we did it they gave the team that won a plaque (which I still have). Now, they give you a certificate and dollar amount to be used towards a purchase of anything from the York College Bookstore. For winning 1st as a team each player gets $20.00 Nick got an additional $20.00 for High Individual. KJ additional $15.00 and Tony $12.00. So all 3 put their winnings together and they were able to buy 4 York College Hoodies (they got their team mate, Kate one, too) with their prizes. Dan took them out to Dairy King on the way home and when we got back in the truck to leave, I jokingly said "Shall we review...and before I could even finish saying "some more of 2 Samuel on the way home" they all 4 said "NO" in unison. Funny!!! I am so proud of them and their commitment to study the Bible. Not only in Sunday School and Wed. night Bible Study but Dan would review one chapter a night with them. All that studying paid off. Next year it will be over the books of Romans and James but they won't start "STUDYING" for that til about July or so. And a big THANK YOU to Gma and Gpa for the Happy Ad in the newspaper for the kids to Congratulate them on winning.

In other NEWS: allow me to brag/share more news with you. Tuesday night was the Kansas Standard of Excellence Achievement Honors. All 3 kids were recognized for this. KJ was the only one who attended (Gma and Gpa took her). Tony and Nick had a double dual in Chapman that Dan and I went to watch. They should've both wrestled 2 matches but Tony didn't have anyone in his weight class (110 pounds) and Nick only wrestled once. He wrestled at 80 pounds and he weighs 75#. They were evenly matched though and it went back and forth. It could of gone either way and he held on all 3 periods but he was pinned with a few seconds left. This Saturday the boys have a Wrestling Tournament in Concordia. I/We hope they have someone in their weight class to wrestle. Although we enjoyed watching the other matches it's a lot more fun to see your own kids wrestle, too.

Anyway, I was bummed we missed KJ awards (I missed it last year, too). Nick and Tony's names were announced and their pictures and subject they mastered were shown on the big screen. KJ was honored for all 3 subjects: Science, Math and Reading. Nick: Math and Reading. Tony: Reading. They suggested that they move it to a Wed. night so the athletes could attend since they don't have athletic events on that night but what about those of Us that have Bible Study? The song "This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine" comes to mind.

KJ started Violin lessons last Thursday. She loves it and she's a quick study. I enjoy listening to her play. She still takes Piano lessons once a week as well. Nick has shown an interest in the violin and it was cute to watch KJ show him some of what she learned at her first lesson. Tony will be taking piano lessons through the school next semester. He plays by ear now like Jingle Bells and Mary had a little Lamb. As for KJ and learning my favorite classical song, Canon in D she is now on page 3 and it sounds pretty good to me. I think she thought it would automatically sound like the version I have on CD (it plays for one hour-yes, I love that song).

Yesterday, I got to spend the day with my 87 year old grandma. She's trying to find some jeans that fit her (not sure what keeps her from blowing away) and we checked at Wally World and ended up driving up to Beatrice (30 miles) but had no luck up there either...but we did have some yummy chicken at KFC. Have you tried their lower fat grilled chicken-can you say YUMMY??? Got home in time to get KJ from school and run her to piano. Last year on December 7th Gma fell and broke her hip and on the 10th we thought she was going to go be with God and Gpa but God had other plans and today she is like the energizer bunny Go Go Go. for which we are Thankful.

Well, Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away and I'm looking forward to spending time with family on both sides and getting away for a long weekend. (I can taste that sweet potato casserole right now, yum). KJ asked if we could make some Oreo Balls and I told her that I usually only make them for Christmas but she seems to think we should start a new tradition and have them at Thanksgiving, too. I suppose if she helps me make them we could do that. Well, I've done it again. I turn a Reader's Digest version into a full blown Novel but anyway, I think I'm done... for now.

Oh, I almost forgot, my mom taught us the 5 great lakes by remembering who we are...we are "OEHMS" (get it) O=Ontario E=Erie H=Heron M=Michigan S=Superior (you can remember by HOMES also... if you're not an OEHM. =)

Let's Skip FriDAY and go right to FriNIGHT!!!

This picture brings a SMILE to my face!!

Yep, it's finally Friday and the kids are ready for Friday NIGHT!!! This week has gone by so FAST. Nick thought today was Thursday and when I told him it was Friday he smiled BIG and said "This school year is going so fast maybe when I wake up tomorrow it will be the last day of School". He's so funny. He ♥ Jr. High so does Tony and KJ is loving 5th grade, too.

Report cards came out and I am happy to announce that they all got A's in everything (Tony had one B plus). They have an awards assembly at the Elementary Level and KJ got 3 awards. One was for all A's, one was for being the Top Reader in her class and another for being one of the TOP 10 readers of the whole elementary school. She gets her LOVE of reading from her Dad and my Mom...I HATE TO READ, I could probably count on two hands, no make that one hand, the books I have read in my 50 years. I'm glad she likes to read and if it's a good book that pulls her into it she will sit for hours and you literally have to go to her and say "KJ time to ..." I ♥ my kids!!!

Today is KJ's Halloween class party and now that she is in 5th grade they plan their own parties, for which I am so happy cause I never did enjoy planning class parties. She was telling me all they planned to do and I'm curious to see if they get it all squeezed into the one hour. She took choc. chip cookies (BORING but that's what she wanted to take).

Tonight is also "Black Squirrel Night" and this is the first year since Tony was born (he's now 13) that there's not at least One Hooyer child in the costume contest. I have mixed feelings about that. I loved planning each and every costume they would wear and getting all their "Props" ready, too. The boys didn't enter last year but KJ did but she said she was "getting to old to dress up for it" even though they go up to 15 years old (and she's 10)! I guess it's time to let other kids win now. KJ said she doesn't even want to go Trick or Treating either and between you and me, that's alright with me. It's a Win Win situation: I won't be tempted to eat the Tootsie Rolls and I don't have to try to keep up with her, with this bum knee of mine. Just a side thought: Can you believe we still have candy left over from last years Halloween, it just sits there in the pantry and nobody touches it, course all the Good stuff is gone but there's still plenty left, maybe if we get any Tricksters stop by, I'll pawn it off on them. LOL

The Flu hit the kids last weekend and Monday all 3 kids were home and Tuesday Nick went back to school and Tony and KJ went back Wed. It wasn't H1N1 because the highest fever was 103* and it came down after meds, "cool" showers and "cool" wash cloths, on the forehead. No Puking =) just very sleepy, muscle aches, chills and stuffed up. I'm so thankful that I didn't get it, too, although watching them sleep and staying bundled up for hours at a time did look pretty inviting. When their headaches would allow, we played some games like RACKO, SEQUENCE and PASS THE TRASH, to help pass the time. (We still limit TV time, even when you're sick and home from school and BORED or they might be tempted to play HOOKIE if they can lay around and watch TV, etc. all day).

The kids have been studying 2 Samuel for the Quiz Bowl/Youth Rally on the 7th. They are doing great. I'm so proud of them. Dan is a great coach/teacher and he's going to be one of the speakers there, too. WOW, I just got butterflies typing that and I'm not on the quiz bowl team or have to stand in front of a large crowd of people, thankfully.

I need to get busy on my calendars for 2010, it's just 2 months away. I have them stamped and now comes the fun part, coloring them. I also have to do my Scrapbook Calendar, too. I also need to come up with a unique idea for my Holiday newsletter. I did "Twas the night before Christmas" (cards) Poem last year and I racked my brain on that one. Maybe this year, since I'm turning the Big FIVE- O I will just claim that I am to OLD to be Crafty anymore and be done with it all. Now that's something to think about.

Come on SUN-almost there-Come out from behind that cloud. It's trying! It has rained so much lately and it would be nice if the sun would come out and warm things up a little. It's very windy, too and it's suppose to be 35* tonight. If it's bearable tonight you'll find me at Black Squirrel Night trying to get one of those 15 FREE Turkey's they give away each year at it but if it's cold you'll find me at home tonight. Brrrr! (Update: Sun is hiding...it's raining again, another WRONG forecast).

I also want to Thank the Lord and my brother Jim who found a Dr. in KC area that has helped my Mom find relief for the first time in oh how many years, for her back pain. She is able to stand up straight when she walks (no more walking hunched over) and does NOT use a cane anymore and when she talks she sounds like the same Mom I had years back "Happy and PAIN FREE". She was told she has Arthritis (BAD) in her back but so far she is doing great. She even went shopping with us last week and even got out of the van. =) She still might have to have knee surgery because it's bone rubbing on bone but SHE CAN WALK!!! Praise the Lord.

KJ has decided to take Violin lessons and we ordered her violin. She had hoped it would come in yesterday so she could start her lessons last night but it hasn't arrived yet. She's so excited. Her violin teacher is AWESOME. She has over 35 kids and she said she hadn't planned on taking on anymore but that since KJ has such a desire to play she will take her. KJ will continue piano lessons on Wed. after school, also. She's on sheet 2 of Canon in D and it is a tough one but she keeps working on it.

It's almost 1:00 already (why does it take me so long to type these post)? and I need to run some errands so til next time...Count your many blessings!

October

Well, it's been almost a month again since my last post. I figure anybody that reads my blog is also my "friend" on Facebook so they know what I've been doing to keep so busy that there's no need to blog it here, too. Besides I'm not sure anyone reads this anyway. (WOW, that was a long sentence). Let me stop and think what has happened around here this past month. Hmmmm!

Well, Jr. High Football season is over and I miss it already. Both the 7th and 8th grade teams were 0-6 and both boys saw a lot of action. They loved playing and we loved watching, although a few of the games were damp and cold. One week after their last football game they started wrestling practice. I love wrestling-it's an individual sport and only they can win or lose their match. Nick's not sure if he wants to continue doing Kids Fed wrestling also when the Jr. high season is over. If he chooses not to do Kids Fed then he won't have a chance to go to Kids State. He went the last 3 years so we'll see if he changes his mind. It is his and only his decision if he wants to go to it or not. Jr. High Basketball season is during State Wrestling, curious to see which Sport wins out. I'll keep you posted...if I remember.


The kids are preparing for the Bible Bowl November 7th. They have been studying it since August, it's over 2 Samuel and I think they're doing great remembering so many names, places and even numbers. The 7th happens to be the boys first wrestling tournament but they will have to miss it.


KJ is still working on Canon in D it really is a tough song ans she is on sheet 2 of it and it sounds so beautiful. It makes me cry when she plays it. She feels bad because she's struggling to play it with perfection but I know her she will master it soon.

Happy to announce that all 3 kids got all A's on their report cards- well, Tony did get one B plus but we're very proud of them and all their hard work in school. I've said it on this very blog many times that they do NOT get their intelligence from me-they get it from their dad and God has truly blessed them with great minds. KJ's teacher told me Monday that she wishes all her students would put forth the effort that KJ does. She said "She is meticulous"... she gets that from Dan, too. She's a great kid and Lord Willing I will get to see what she does with her intelligence. She use to say she wanted to be a doctor but the other day she said she'd like to be a teacher but then said "but I heard it doesn't pay very well". She must be soaking up some of what dad's been telling them about saving $$$ for the future, etc.



Tonight is 3rd Wednesday at church so I don't teach class. We all stay upstairs and having singing and prayers and a short devo. I love singing, I always look forward to singing night. The boys usually lead a song or two also. Nick still gets a little nervous but he makes it through. Please remember dear Nancy when you say your prayers as she battles cancer, she means so much to the kids, Dan and I. How blessed we are to know such a wonderful loving christian woman.


Well, I have made it to 5 months without drinking POP. I also gave up chocolate (with the exception of one bite of a dessert I had made). I never thought I had it in me to give up the 2 things in life that I liked so much. I don't feel as sluggish and I don't feel winded any more. Dan had been trying to convince me our whole married life to drink less pop or even give it up and I guess it finally clicked in this thick skull of mine. I do feel better and sleep better, too. I only drink water and I drink a glass of OJ almost daily. Maybe it has something to do with turning 50???





I started working on the calendars I give as Christmas gifts to my friends, my beautician and the kids' teachers, well, actually just KJ's teacher this year. I stamped them all yesterday and today I have to color (yes, I still love to color) them, coloring is so relaxing.


I got to go shopping in both Manhattan and Topeka this month. Manhattan was a successful trip Topeka...not so much. I still like Lincoln the best. KJ has been shooting straight up and needed jeans and tops and she's set now. The boys wear short sleeve shirts year round so they are set, too. I find most the kids' clothes at garage sales or thrift shops and that helps save money. I DO NOT buy used shoes for them though. All 3 kids like to wear "Hoodies" and I've been lucky to find them some at garage sales this summer. KJ probably has 10 or 12 of them but her favorite one now is the one I found last week for 25 cents it's like NEW it's a KU hoodie. Sorry to Uncle Jim but she loves it course if it said KSU it's be better but it's a pretty blue and it's real soft on the inside (it has to be soft inside or she won't wear it). Tony has about that many. too. His favorite is his Hollister one I bought on sale new it's heavier and he says "It's my winter coat". His 2nd favorite is probably the Texas Longhorns one I bought at Lincoln. Nick as 5 or 6 and he's my NIKE boy. It was new but on sale. He likes NIKE shirts, socks, tennis shoes even cleats and wrestling shoes. I always look for clearance prices on them. Tony is more of an Adidas boy. You just got to keep your eyes open. I like to shop at Once Upon a Child in Lincoln. They buy your "gently used" clothing (they don't give you much for them I can usually sale them at a garage sale for much more then they pay you for them, that's why I've been just giving them away to friends that I know will use them). Anyway...

Well, I have been riding around Marysville taking pictures of all the pretty trees. The leaves are turning and they are beautiful. I ♥ fall. Here's a little saying I read in Family Circus onetime. "Do you know why it's called September October November and December because they are the "BRRR" (ber) months". I thought that was pretty cute.


Black Squirrel night and Halloween are right around the corner but KJ said she wasn't dressing up this year for Blk. Squirrel night and she said she might go Trick or Treating and if she does we have plenty of dress up clothes she could find something to wear. Kinda sad that my kids are growing up so fast. I should measure Tony cause I noticed this morning he's taller then the fridge and he seems like he shot up over night. I know Nick wishes he would grow (he doesn't read this so I can say that without embarrassing him) but he's fine with it, I'm just thankful they are all so Healthy. The Lord has truly blessed us.

I'll close with a "Happy Fall ya'll" and in case I don't blog again before then...Happy Thanksgiving everyone and be sure to Thank the Lord for all that he has blessed you with.

Time flies when you're having FUN.

KJ got page 1 of my favorite Classical piece
"Canon in D" by Pachebel...life is Good!


Look close...do you see E.T. ? if so "Phone Home!!! LOL
Why do I always have so many stuffed animals?


Only 1 rack of clothes this year because I give most of the
kids' clothes away to those who don't mind hand me down's


Grandma's Karmel Korn- Gone in 60 seconds. I made a
double batch (this is one batch) it SOLD OUT right away.

Hard to believe it's been 3 weeks since my last post, it seems like only yesterday I posted. It's true what they say "Time flies when you're having fun". My days go by so fast and the nights even faster. I see KJ more than the boys due to sports practice, etc. I basically see the boys from 6:15 p.m. til 10:00 p.m. bedtime and in that 4 hours they eat supper, do homework, play with the dog, Dan studies with them for the Bible bowl and do their computer/TV time (if not grounded). If time allows we play "Sparkle" or "Books and Runs" Tues. night they went to the 9th grade Football game, last night was Bible Study and tonight they play football here. Nick's game starts at 4:30 and Tony's follows Nick's. I love watching them play, they give 100% when they're in the game.Go DAWGS! Tomorrow night (Fri.) the high school game is at Clay Center not sure we'll go to it and if we don't, we'll go eat out with my parents, Gma and sometimes Raymond Donna and Levi and the Downie's, as is the Friday Night custom.

Well, last weekend I had a Garage Sale here in our garage. I know, I know, I said last year that this year I was going to GO to all the sales but Dan said he'd rather see me make $$$ then Spend $$$, so I had 10 days to prepare what "stuff" I had and I had it all set up and ready to Open Friday a.m.

I was VERY PLEASED with what I made and I was happy to see almost everything sold. I closed early on Sat. because I didn't have enough to stay open for. It was the 4th annual Treasure Hunt along the 300 mile long Highway 36 route. Friday I was swamped with buyers. Saturday wasn't as busy but steady.

I loved to hear the stories of where everyone was from. Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Iowa (she said she typed in Garage Sales on Craigslist and the ad I put on there telling about the 50 plus sales here in town plus all across the state and she told her husband they were "Going to Kansas" and he said "To see Dorothy" (as in Wizard of OZ)and she told him of all the sales and they headed out that evening to make a weekend out of it). I had an interesting guy from Lincoln who saw it on Craigslist, too. I figured I might as well put it on there, it's FREE. I DID NOT advertise in the local paper (it cost $20just for a small ad) or put it on the maps they hand out ($5.00), I just relied on my signs (that Dan hangs around town) and the signs did what they were suppose to do. I would guess over 400 stopped here on Friday alone.

The kids sold some of their "stuff" and they each bought an IPOD Nano with their money. The boys had been asking for them for quite sometime and had been saving their $$$ to buy them. They listen to music (we monitor what songs they put on it) when they ride the bus to ballgames and homeroom, etc. but we discourage listening to their IPOD's when they're in the car with us, as that is family time.

Tuesday was my Mom and Dad's 52nd Anniversary and I had to make a quick trip to Lincoln so I asked Mom (Dad was to busy) and Gma Jelly Beans to ride with me. What great company they were, they made the trip go faster.

HAPPY 45th BIRTHDAY (tomorrow, the 25th) to my baby brother, Jimmers. I hope you have a great birthday, Bud. I heard Marysville is a great place to spend your birthday but I'm sure you'll go to the FB game if you're not working, right?

Fall is here and I love the cool crisp air as I take the kids to school. It's weird how in the morning I have the heater on in the car and when I pick up KJ at 3:40 I have the A/C on in the car and when I pick up the boys from FB practice at 6:15 p.m. I turn the heater on for a minute to take the chill out of the car. Welcome to FALL in Kansas. I love it. Can't wait for the leaves to start changing colors so I can take some pictures. Saturday night, Lord willing, we'll all go to the Holst for a Hay rack ride, singing and cook out if Nancy is up to it. Please pray for my dear sweet friend Nancy (she is our ministers wife) who is battling cancer.

I will end this post for now (you wouldn't believe how long it takes me to type up these blog post) for I have things to do and places to go.

Is it really September already?

Nick did NOT want a cake so I made these
cookies instead. Yes, they are as good as they look.


Nick- my handsome birthday boy. Almost a teen.



Nick with his Football gear ready to leave for school.


Tony with his Football gear heading out the
door for school. Yes, that is a paper airplane
in his hand. It was a homework assignment
and he got 1st place for Design and 1st place
for construction design. I jokingly asked if
he was the only one that made one and he said "No".

KJ playing Piano Video at the end of this Post!
I think I'll make her play it 5 times through so I can have a longer version of this.

My calendar says it's September 2nd as does my cell phone and even my computer but where did August go...all 31 days of it? School is in full swing and the kids are adjusting to an earlier bed time and a much earlier arise time. They get up pretty good compared to some of the horror stories I've heard over the years of parents trying to get their kids out of bed (and I can remember a few times mom had to get on me to get out of bed actually most the time it was to hurry up and pick an outfit (I was known to change my outfit 3 or more times a morning and I was in high school not some kindergartner that wanted to wear green striped skirt with a purple plaid shirt). I make the kids lay out their clothes the night before and they have to stick to that outfit (unless they spill breakfast on it or something) and that helps save a lot of time in the morning. It also helps that all their school/church clothes are on hangers and they are not allowed to have clothes all over their floor (yes, my room was like that growing up. I didn't have wall to wall carpeting in my room, I had wall to wall clothing in it) it drove my sister and cousins that visited, CRAZY.

Thankfully, I've matured since then and I can't stand to have anything out of place. I do the same with their homework...once it's done put it on the homework misc. shelf so that when it's time to leave they can grab it as they walk out the door and you won't have any of this "MOM, WHERE'S MY HOMEWORK?" or "Where's my... book bag or lunch cooler. It pays to be somewhat Organized (I said SOMEWHAT) it makes everything run smoother.

Monday morning it was pretty chilly out and the kids knew right where to look for their Hoodies, too. I remember growing up Mom would have to honk the horn a few times for me to get a move on it and me not being able to find my school books or homework (yes Judy I did bring home school work...on occasion). Plus we had to deal with the trains, also. We lived on the "other side of the tracks" which was a double-track but I don't remember being Tardy, so Kudos to you Mom, for that. I'm just glad that they moved the train tracks out of town a few years ago. Best thing Marysville ever spent $$$ on.

Another problem solving thing I incorporated was "Who gets Shot gun" It use to drive me crazy that I almost never got to ride in the front seat so when my kids finally all got out of Car/Booster seats (and I thought that would never happen) and they all wanted to ride up front with me, I came up with the plan that they rotate each week, who gets shotgun. KJ gets her week Mon-Sun then Nick a week then Tony and they know exactly where they have to set each time we get in the car. I know you may be thinking "Just wait til they start fighting over who gets to drive" well, I have that all figured out, too. They WON'T get their license... Problem Solved!!! I wish it was going to be that easy. Probably have to use the same rotation as they do for "Shot gun" but we'll see. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it" and it will be here before I'm ready for it.

Nick turned 12 on the 26th. He insisted I did not bake him a cake (none of the kids nor Dan care for cake) so instead I made him cookies, which he liked. It's a quick and easy recipe. Buy a tube of refridgerated cookie dough, cut 1 1/2 inch thick then cut that circle into 4th's. Spray a mini muffin pan with PAM and put one of the "fourth" in it, press down and bake at 350* As soon as they come out of the oven place a MINI candy bar in it. I used Mini Reese's cups and Mini Snicker's. They LOVED them and so did everyone that I shared them with. You can use any flavor dough and candy. Quick and EZ. My type of recipe.

But anyway...Nick is growing up so quick and all he really wanted was for just Nick and I to go shopping together in Lincoln and since his birthday was a School/Football/bible study Wednesday, he and I made a quick trip to Lincoln Sunday afternoon. We both enjoyed our one on one together time and he got a new pair of tennis shoes out of the trip.

Tomorrow's a big day for Nick as he prepares for his First Jr. High Football game. The boys had to get their pads etc. ready last night and I heard Nick asking Tony a few questions about it. They both LOVE sports and I'm thankful God has kept them safely in His loving hands so far and I look forward to watching them play. The game is in Nebraska and they get to ride together on the same bus to the game and they plan to ride home with us. Nick's is at 4:00 Tony's will follow Nick's. Nick is #26 (he was born on the 26th) and Tony got #13 again. He had that # last year for FB, Basketball and also Baseball and he is 13 years old but he plans to make that his number up to his Senior year, we'll see if that happens. I better throw our jackets in the trunk as it has been chilly lately and I couldn't be Happier. It feels like Fall.

Kids have been studying 2 Samuel for this years Bible Bowl. They never cease to amaze me how they can soak up so much information and retain it. 2 weeks ago they had a Mini Bible Bowl in the church basement with our 3 kids and another teen girl verses 4 adults. They did 5 rounds (50 questions) and the kids Won but it was close. Out of 50 questions KJ only missed one question. Nick missed 2 and Tony missed 5 or 6, which I think is still remarkable. Have you read 2 Sam. lately? The names all seem the same and is a very complicated book. They review a chapter a night before bed. Keep up the great work Kids I am very proud of you.

Dan's done some shingling jobs lately. He still needs to do the church building and another guys. That June hail storm did a number on most the houses in town. You see crews all over doing shingling. I think Dan likes concrete work better but he don't say much he just likes to WORK!!!

KJ continues to practice piano on a daily basis. I put a video on Facebook of her playing a new piece she got last week. I could listen to her play all day. She practices each song 3- 5 times a day (she usually has 5 different pieces a week) and she likes it if I sit an listen to her and mark down (for her teacher) each time she plays a song on her chart. The other day she found an old music book Aunt Judy gave her and she played "Chopsticks" a long version of it, just for fun and I think she enjoyed learning a song that wasn't required. Maybe I can upload one on here of her playing (if you don't see a video it means I couldn't get it to upload).

Well, this City Girl is coming out of her shell. This week I actually pet our dog Comet for the first time since we got him in May. Yes, I was wearing gloves but then the next day I gave that stinky dog a bath (without wearing gloves even) with the help of KJ and even put his leash on him all by myself. (this is a major accomplishment people) I tried to take him for a walk but HE walked/pulled me and that made my Bum knee hurt even more. He's the size of a COW OK maybe a calf. Tony was riding his Rip Stick and had Comet on his leash and he was pulling Tony. I know some of you may be saying "I told you so" referring to the many of you that told me I'd get attached to Comet and soon I'd be his Master, well, I will say that the kids (and Dan) still are his main providers but I at least pet him now and would probably miss him if something were to happen to him. He's like having a 4th child, a baby that you have to feed and clean up after, nurture and even discipline (he likes to "ATTACK" us) and the kids have even taught him to " Sit" and to "Shake". Well, enough about Comet. (For some reason I keep calling him "Patches" and it drives the kids crazy but Jim had a dog named that and it's in my head.

Well, the noon whistle is sounding and I realized it has taken me over an hour to compose this blog. As always, just a bunch of mumble jumble but all the same, I blogged. I'm still figuring out my new computer Dan got me last week, it's so nice to have it, though. Thanks Honey!
Until next time...God be with you.

29 years ago today...

29 years ago today, on a warm...OK Hot summer day at 2:00 in the afternoon with knees knocking, hands sweating and butterflies in my stomach, I said "I Do" to the best "thing" that ever happened to me, Dan. He was and still is my "tall dark and handsome" skinny Dutch boy from Iowa. We picked the 23rd of August because our first date was August 23rd, 4 years earlier. And now, 29 years later, we have so many things to be thankful for. Our 3 precious gifts God blessed us with after 15 years of marriage Tony 13 Nick 12 in 3 days and KJ 10. You know how much we love our kids. I'm so thankful Dan has his own business, that allows me to be a stay at home mom and we're thankful for our health and for our extended families. But most of all we're so thankful that God brought us together so many years ago and that He is still the head of our house.

I ♥ U Dan! Always and Forever!

Back 2 School

Tony-8th

Nick-7th

KJ-5th

Summer is officially OVER...the kids went back to School today. KJ is in 5th grade and the only Hooyer in the elementary school (which means no brothers to tease her). Nick, who turns 12 in 6 days, is in 7th grade so he now goes to Jr. High. Tony's in 8th grade.

All 3 got up great, ate breakfast...quickly and ready to go to school (25 minutes early) but NOT before I took the traditional First Day of School pictures on the front porch. I've been doing that since Tony's first day of preschool oh so many years ago. I also take their pictures on the porch on their Birthdays. I like to go back and compare the pictures and see how they've grown and changed.

The house seems so quiet this morning as I type this. All I here is the drying running and the AC just kicked on. I actually miss the commotion that having 3 kids in the house brings about BUT it is a nice quiet. I feel like I could go take a nap and catch up on all the sleep I lost this summer. What I'd really LIKE to do is go SHOPPING but what I NEED to do is catch up on things I put aside for the summer like putting pictures in their albums and clean out My closet but today I am just going to take it easy and enjoy the "Calm before the storm" so to speak. They get out at 1:20 today so KJ will be home with me but the boys have Football practice til 4:00. Tomorrow will start the regular school schedule.

On another note the kids are preparing for the Bible Bowl in November and last night at bible study our 3 kids and another teen took on 4 adults over 2 Samuel and in 5 rounds (questions from chapters 1-5) the kids beat the adults in 3 rounds, the adults beat them one round and one round was a Tie. KJ only missed one question out of 50. Nick missed 2 and Tony missed 6 (he was "OFF" last night for some reason) the other teen missed 18 but this is all new to her and I give her credit for trying. I wasn't one of the adults who played but I did keep answer the questions and I missed 9 or 10 out of 50. They decided to do this again next month, too. I think the kids enjoyed it. This will be the third year the kids go to the Bible Bowl. The 1st year they won and last year they took 2nd. We're proud of their dedication to studying God's Word. They're blessed to be able to memorize and retain so much. Have you noticed some of the names in 2 Samuel?

Well, just thought I'd update this real quick. Didn't get to do all I'd planned to with the kids this summer, we were just to busy but I am looking forward to Football season that starts Sept. 3rd. Thankfully, Nick and the 7th graders play at 4:00 followed by Tony and the 8th graders at 6:00 each game so I can see both play at the same location on the same day.

One more Week til School Starts!

My dad's Parents on their 60th ann.

Oehm carved in a Melon- Cool Name

Dad with his 4 sisters Ruby Velda Laura Grace

The Gabriel Family of Branson, Missouri

Doug playing guitar behid his head! I just wish I could play!

First things First: Happy Birthday to my sister! (how was your first year going "down the hill" Ha Ha 51 seems so...YOUNG!

Summer is coming to an end, school starts in 6 days! The summer went by so fast. I didn't hear "I'm bored" to many times either, with ballgames, the dog,
camp and fishing among other things to keep them busy.

On the 6th our friends Doug and Cheryl Gabriel from Branson came up and we had supper together and a great visit and then on Friday night the whole Gabriel family performed at 7:00 in the High school auditorium. Their 3 kids are also in the show. Doug wowed the crowd with his singing, playing his "Mufftar" (guitar his dad made him out of a muffler) and also playing the piano. Then we gathered again for sandwiches and said our goodbyes. Cheryl and I got to visit while our girls splashed in our pool late Thursday night. Their time here always goes way to fast. If you ever get to Branson go see their morning show at the Jim Stafford Theater, tell 'em Janet sent you. visit: http://www.douggabriel.com/

Also last weekend was the Oehm Family Reunion. New this year was the "Oehm Homestead Tour". My aunt Grace and Ruby mapped out a route for all to travel to see where the 11 Oehm kids lived growing up, went to school and where the grand and great grandparents are buried. There were 8 or 9 vehicles in the caravan and at each stop everyone heard stories, from my dad (some of his I'd never heard) or his sisters about the places we stopped at.

The family of my uncle George, who sadly passed away 5 years, provided the evening meal. Pancakes, sausage, eggs and even Oatmeal. The meal that Grandma Oehm always seemed to prepare for anyone invited or that stopped by. Then we played Oehm Trivial Pursuit. All questions pertained to the Oehm Family and Marysville. What fun it was, too, although the team I was on took last place. But I'm glad we did because last place finishers received KSU purple/white hackysack balls, etc. First place received Nebraska Big Red "Junk" HA HA. George's family is 100% Big Red Husker fans. We joke about it since Jim played for KSU. One of the questions was "What was Jim's number when he played for KSU? Of course, I got that one right, #78, same year I graduated high school. Unfortunately, one family member, who shall remain anonymous, said #70, and was asked to leave the building. Ha Ha! Great questions and so fun.

Sunday was Potluck and there was so much food and a great turnout. It's my dads turn to host the next reunion, in 2012. It will 100 years from the year that Gpa and Gma Oehm were married. They got married on 12/11/1912. Would've been cool if they'd waited a day an married on 12/12/12, huh? After lunch it was family picture time and clean up. It was a long busy weekend and I had to take a nap before evening services. Yes, I'm getting old and need a nap now and then.

Thursday the kids and I went to Lincoln for some Back-2-School stuff. The boys had to get football cleats and KJ needed new tennis shoes and shirts (she has plenty of capri's etc. but needed shirts to match them with). Got the boys some jeans for fall and picked up some tools for Dan. We were gone ALL DAY but it was fun to be with the kids for the day before they start back to school again.

To update from my last blog entry: Levi made it home safely from Africa. He promises he will share some stories with us Sunday. As for Ashley I think she finally has relief from her tooth pain, which we are thankful to hear. She has had
so much happen to her since they returned back and I think this is finally the "Calm after the Storm". Praise the Lord for answering our prayers on their behalf. God is Good...all the time.

Well, Dan asked if we wanted to go eat out tonight with my parents, Gma, my brother Raymond, his wife and Levi. It didn't take me long to shout out "Yes"!!!
What normal woman turns down a chance to eat out and not have to COOK!!!
Thankful the Lord has blessed us that we are able to eat out and for providing us with money to buy all the back to school stuff and to eat out, too.

KJ is practicing her Piano, the boys are putting their cleats etc. in their sports bags and I need to make sure everyone is getting ready so we can go eat out with some very special people.

You did WHAT???

KJ @ VBS

Nick with a friend from Camp

Tony with Bailey (she was KJ's counselor)

KJ with her counselors Bailey and Sarah

Nick Tony and dad put the new boat in the water, finally.

Dad gives KJ a ride around the lake

This is where I start praying and my heart starts to work

overtime...but they both were very careful.

the 4x4 Dan bought to haul the new "toy" to the lake

OK so a lot has happened since my last post 20 days ago and I mean a lot. First, to explain the title "You did what?" refers to my comment when Dan told me he ordered a mini bass boat for the boys. I hear the word BOAT and I cringe. I HATE BOATS and I HATE WATER and to think that he ordered a boat for the boys to use at the local lake scares me. I was just starting to get comfortable with the boys fishing on the shore then he throws in a boat now. The boys couldn't wait for their "Ship to come in" (HaHa) and when it finally did come in I DID NOT share their enthusiasm. Course they wanted to go put it in the lake right away but then we did a web search and found out you have to have it registered and of course they can't do it in town so they had to wait til the next day and drive 35 miles to get it done.

Also we found out that the boys had to take a Boat Safety Test and pass it (if you're going to run the motor and ours has a trolling motor) so anyway they studied it and studied it (online) and they finally passed it (3rd times a charm, for both boys). They both know they MUST wear their Life Jackets AT ALL TIMES!!! No, it doesn't make me feel any better knowing they wear their LIFE JACKETS, I still worry. Anyway, finally last night we all went out to the lake and I watched from the boat dock as the boys put the mini boat in the water, each had a huge smile on their face (I had butterflies in my stomach and tears in my eyes, I'm a mom I WORRY). Tony caught a fish with not much effort but they had fun getting to know the boat etc. Dan gave KJ a few rides as well and NO, I DID NOT GO FOR A RIDE in it!!!

The kids went to church camp July 12-17th. KJ got the counselor she wanted but nothing could convince her to stay when she called me about 10:45 Tuesday night begging me to come pick her up. She was beyond homesick. After talking to her counselor and finding out she had cried herself to sleep Sun. and Mon. night I told her I'd come pick her up. Thankfully, I was at Jim's house which is 45 minutes from Camp. She was still upset on the ride home and would not let go of my hand and fell asleep only after I wrapped my arms around her, tight. The boys loved camp and wish it was longer. They have so many friends there and made even more (yes, some are girls).

While at camp I had to pick Nick up for baseball games (I did this last year with Tony). They had a tournament (it's like playing in the State Championship) and they kept winning and he had to play cause with him there were 9 boys. Nick insisted he would not leave Camp on Friday nights closing session (awards meal etc.) and it turned out they didn't have enough guys so they didn't play, yes, Nick was happy he got to stay for the last night.

I stayed at Jim's the whole week and helped my sister with getting things ready for their VBS. KJ, Kourtney and I picked up the boys on Friday night and drove back to Marysville, did some laundry and re-packed mine and KJ's suitcase and then Sat. afternoon KJ, Kourtney and I went back to Jim's, where we stayed 5 more nights til Thursday (KJ wanted to go to their VBS since we aren't having one this year and it was awesome) and KJ and I returned home and I re-packed suitcases again and Dan and I and the kids went up to Iowa to see Dan's mom and some of his siblings. I hadn't seen them since Christmas. We stayed through Sunday and all in all it was like a 2 week Vacation for me (no cooking or housework for 2 weeks is a vacation for me). So thanks Dan for taking care of the home front and Tony and Nick while KJ and I were in Liberty. I put a lot of miles on the car but it sure was a fun, relaxing 2 weeks.

Speaking of car and mileage not only did Dan order the boat for the boys while I was gone he also traded in our old "boon dockin" van for a 4x4 Ford truck so I can haul the new boat to the lake with it. I miss that old van. We got it new the year KJ was born. I have no idea how many hundreds of miles it had on it (I think 255,000) but the memories of all the fun times WOW. I miss it but I'm also glad I wasn't home when they "cleaned" it out I probably would have cried. All the fishing poles and tackle boxes in the back, the lawn chairs from years of ballgames, oh the many memories. I'm sure he found a few crayons and color books in the pockets on the back of the seats (and a few OLD salt and ketchup packets). Dan had one of his workers clean it out, I wish he would of taken a picture of it. He got a good trade in value for it and we're already making new memories with the pickup.

School starts in 3 weeks!!! The summer has gone by so FAST!!! Won't be long and it will be Football season. =} It has been another fun-filled summer and I hope the kids will have fond memories of their youth and all the things they got to do. They did miss out on 4 fairs this summer though but they didn't seem to mind. Maybe I'll surprise them with a trip to World's of Fun before school starts, we didn't get there this year, as we went to Branson's Silver Dollar City. That seems so long ago because we went 4 days after school was dismissed for the summer.

Also want to ask for Prayers of safety for my nephew, Levi as he prepares to leave Africa, August 3rd after doing mission work there for 6 weeks and also my niece Ashley, in Brazil, as she is having severe/extreme dental pain. I love them two, like they were my own and miss them terribly and so proud of them, too.

In the good ol summertime

Wow, July 9th already. Summer is going so fast. Baseball season is almost over (SMILE), tournament play starts tonight for Nick and tomorrow night for Tony and the kids leave for Camp Sunday. The kids insisted we pack their suitcases yesterday (even though they don't leave til Sunday) so that is all done. I'm happy they are so excited to go to camp but I will miss them and I know they will miss us, too, but it is a great camp and they love going. Dan is to busy to get away but I might go to visit my brother Jim and my sister Judy since I'm so close (45 minutes). I might even drive up to Iowa to visit Dan's mom, Lois. I haven't decided yet, that's a long trip to drive alone. Oh what fun Lois and I could have playing Boogle, Scrabble and Anagrams without any kids interrupting our games. I also need to hit a few of the great thrift stores they have up there, Tony and KJ have both outgrown their school clothes. Tony is almost as tall as me and KJ is moving on up, too.

We managed to surprise my mom with a 70th birthday party Sunday. Her birthday was Wed. the 1st and we ate lunch with her and all gathered at Sonic for ice cream after Bible study that evening but Sunday all 4 of her kids managed to Surprise her at the church building. Needless to say, she was SURPRISED. We had sandwiches, salads, brownies and apple crisp, etc. later we sat around in our living room visiting (in the dark, by choice, we were all worn out and it was so relaxing and cooler in the dark, I know it sounds weird, I laughed out loud while we were setting there, but all agreed to leave the lights off in there, the kitchen light was on). Anyway, Judy and family spent the night Jim's had to get home. 7 of mom's 10 grandkids were there. Ashley (and Douglas) are in Brazil, Levi is in Africa and Kyle is at church camp in Nebraska. I still can't believe my mom is 70 and dad is 75. I see them as in their 50's but that can't be possible when I'm almost 50.

I became a GREAT Aunt when our niece, Hannah of Gregg, had a baby boy July 2nd. Little Tobias Gerrit, he's a cutie. Click on Hannah's name to the left to see pictures of the little cutie. KJ is cross-stitching him a bib...if she doesn't hurry and get it finished he might be starting Preschool an won't need it. LOL

Firecracker season is over and the boys had a blast. They are very careful and for that I am thankful. I bought a couple of 1,000 count blackcats, I love to hear all the noise they make. Next year I think I'll buy a 2,000 count. We went to the city's fireworks Sat. night. It started to mist but stopped shortly after and they were able to have the fireworks show, it's not as good a show as the one in Hanover (15 minutes from here, town where the kids were born), they have them synchronized to music and the sky is full of fireworks. KJ and I were in Colorado when they had it there and the boys and Dan were in Sabetha.

Kids are in the pool right now and Nick has the first game of tournament play tonight. Tony has his tomorrow night. It's been really cool lately. Hasn't hit 90* most the week, which I'm thankful for not just because I hate HOT weather but Dan has to work in the heat. I hope it continues into next week while the kids are at Camp so they don't get sick from the heat. It was very HOT last year for them.

Just had a few minutes thought I'd update the blog, need to upload some pictures from the other computer, too. Won't be long and the kids will be heading back to school, August 20th. Will be here before I know it. Enjoy your summer!!!

Here-There-Everywhere

Here it is June 30th already and I'm finally taking the time to post again. This summer is going by so fast. We seem to be in the car more then home. Going to ballgames 4 nights a week has really been putting a lot of miles on the car. We got it a year ago July 7th and it now has 23,235 miles on it (it'd be way more than that if I drove it fishing but we use the old van). I sure wish the boys were on the same team like last year. Oh well, the season is almost over and then they're off to church camp for a week. I don't know what I'll do without the kids all week. Maybe I could talk Dan into taking me on a little road trip or something. He's to busy though.

Well, I took a little road trip Saturday morning through Sunday night. I drove my mom dad Grandma and KJ to Denver, Colorado to my nephew Levi's graduation from BVBID, a school of Biblical studies. We left at 6:00 a.m. and was home by 10:30 Sunday night. Gone 41 hours and I drove all 1,000 miles. I would do it again tomorrow if asked too. I got to see "MY MOUNTAINS" and spend some quality time with my parents, Gma and my daughter. We laughed so hard sometimes that I couldn't see the highway. KJ was so good we forgot she was with us sometimes. She took her DVD player and watched movies and played the gameboy and took her cross-stitch, too.

I LOVE COLORADO and always wanted to live in the mountains, not in Denver (it's to big) but farther out. They didn't have snow on them which makes them look even better. It wasn't to hot either even though it was 90*. When trying to leave Denver I took the wrong exit. Donna warned me it was tricky and that it could happen and it did. I ended up in downtown Denver and wouldn't you know it the streets were packed with people everywhere. Turns out it was Gay Pride Weekend and a parade had just gone through. Finally found our way back to I-70 and headed home. Looked in my rear view mirror and saw my mountains fading away. KJ took a lot of pictures (at 55MPH) and I took some when I stopped for lights etc. I was so happy I got to go out for his graduation. Levi leaves tomorrow for Africa for 6 weeks, on a missions trip. He'll be in my prayers as the area he's going to isn't the safest place to be.

Well, tomorrow my mom turns 70. I'm thankful God has blessed her with 70 years of life and praying she'll be with us many more years. Love her dearly!!! I put her Senior picture in the local paper with a caption that read "She use to serve you coffee or tea...now she's turning seventy". I also put a picture of her on the local TV with Birthday wishes and it plays many times throughout the day. Plans are to take her out to Sonic for Ice cream after Bible study tomorrow night (she's not fond of cake) and the kids like to have a Firewoks Show for Gma too, since she was almost a Firecracker baby. HAPPY 70th MOM!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

The boys are back from weight lifting. They go 3 times a week and one day a week they go to basketball practice. They have Fridays off from everything and they'll do this til school starts.

Tony got braces on last week in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Tony, KJ and I (Nick stayed home with Dan cause he had a ball game) drove over to Liberty and stayed over night then Tony and I drove the 28 miles to the Orthodontist office Tues. morning. It sure beat leaving at 5:00 a.m. and driving 3 hours that morning from home. KJ stayed at Jim's and hung out with cousin Kourtney. We won't have to go back to Shawnee again for check ups etc. because he comes here a couple times a month. Tony had extreme pain the first few days and barely ate anything but he is adjusting to life with braces and has found ways to eat his favorite foods. He'll wear them about 20 months. He didn't have crooked teeth just a major overbite. We've already been told Nick and KJ will need braces, too. I think they will thank us later in life.

Comet, the kids and Dan's dog (no, not mine, I have nothing to do with that mutt) is getting bigger and bigger. Nick has taught it how to "shake hands" and sit. He is a cute puppy and I suppose someday I will learn to like him. I've been told by Nick that when school starts I will have to take "it" for a walk...we'll see about that.

It was HOT last week but the last 2 days it's been "bearable". I feel sorry for Dan and his crew having to work in this heat. I couldn't do it, that's for sure.

Well, I suppose I better be planning lunch it's getting late. Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July.

Fish Fish and more Fish

Summer wouldn't be summer without FISHING! I think we've gone fishing everyday this week and yesterday (the 11th) was the most successful. We kept 32 bluegill and 5 bass. As soon as they put the line in the pond down the bobber went. Monday and Tuesday they brought home 10 bass each day. Wed. they only caught 6. I fried all the fish Wed. night for supper. There never seems to be enough fish though. Not sure when I'll fry this last batch maybe tomorrow and let Gpa and Gma come over too.

Nick caught most of them until Tony switched to worms, too. I've told him many times I think he could catch fish in a bathtub. He reminds me of Gpa Jellybeans fishing, pulling in one bluegill after the other. We're going fishing again today. They didn't want to stop yesterday but it started to sprinkle and there's a mama cow out there and she let us know we were on HER Turf. Also Nick had a ball game at 8:00, which they WON!!! Lately the games have been canceled due to RAIN, lots of Rain.

I've never seen Tony move so fast but he caught a nice bass and the line snapped above the bobber and the fish started swimming away from shore and Tony whipped off his shoes and socks and reached into the pond and on the 2nd try he grabbed the bobber and the bass was still on the line. He was all smiles.

Apparently fish weren't the only things biting yesterday. When I woke up this morning my left eye was swollen shut. I was bit by a gnat yesterday and it still stings. I'm using an ice pack and put vinegar on the bite (I Googled and found that home remedy, it helped a little). Who knew a tiny little gnat could pack such a punch.

It has been in the 60's here lately and made it to high 70's yesterday so the boys got in the pool for the first time this summer. Dan ordered a new liner for it and now we just need some warm weather. I'm fine with this cool weather. I've actually had to put on a jacket at the last few ballgames and I'm not complaining I wish it would stay cool all summer.

The kids like "walking" their dog (notice I said their dog, not our dog). He's a feisty pup and they seem to be taking good care of him, so far. I think Dan spends more time with it then they do. It's Nick's week to keep the dog pin cleaned out and to make sure he has food and water.

Tony has a game tonight if it doesn't get rained out. He loves to play and Tuesdays game was rained out so it's been week and he's ready to play. It's here so that's nice. The boys have been going to weight lifting/training 3 mornings a week and on Wed. mornings they have basketball for an hour and a half. Nick says he's going to do all 4 sports too this fall. Hard to believe we'll have 2 in Junior High this fall. 2 more years and KJ will be there, too. Time does go by so quickly. Won't be long and Tony will be asking for the keys to the car (there's a scary thought) LOL!

Thankfully, my knee is getting somewhat better. Praying that the small mass they removed from mom's leg is not cancerous. KJ had her cast taken off last Wed. and the Dr. said "We maybe should have left this on for 2 more weeks" he considered putting another cast back on her but they put a stiff brace on instead that she has to wear 2 weeks and then we'll go from there. She's been very good about it and she can still practice piano.

While I'm very jealous of my brother, Jim and his family as they are in Hawaii for a 10 day vacation, I am also thankful they can go see that beautiful place. If Hawaii is that beautiful imagine what Heaven will be like. I went to Hawaii in '94 (that's when I discovered my fear of flying) and loved Hawaii and if it wasn't for having to fly there I would love to go back there again (and no I won't go by ship either) =)

Just some pictures I took when I got bored while the boys were fishing.

Well, that's all I've got for this time. I thing blogging has gone by the way side for many people but I continue to blog away. Enjoy your summer I know mine is going by so fast.

Branson, Baseball, Big Fish, ER and a new puppy!

It's still May and we've already taken our family vacation. We went to Branson, Missouri the 16th-20th. My parents, my 87 year old Grandmother, my 13 year old nephew, my brother, Jim and his 2 kids (his wife had to work but they leave in June for their family trip to Hawaii, yes, I'm jealous). Anyway, Jim has a condo we can use in Branson so we stayed there.

The 5 of us and the 3 kids went to Silver Dollar City. The kids loved the roller coaster, Wildfire. I don't ride roller coasters anymore, you know the saying "the older you get the smarter you get" rings true for me. I think KJ rode it 50 times in the 2 days we went. We bought tickets that you can go the 2nd day free. Believe me one day would've been fine with me but the kids enjoyed it. They had their cell phones and knew where to find me, under the same shade tree both days. I walked through the area where they made things the old fashioned way like brooms, candles and stuff, that was kinda interesting.

The 2nd day Dan golfed in the morning with Jim so I took all the kids to a Go-Kart place where they could ride for 2 hours for $25.00 (our kids each paid $10.00 of it, they had $$$ burning a hole in their pockets). It may sound expensive but if you ride them at night you pay $25.00 for 3 rides and you're done in 15 minutes. They could also ride the bumper boats that had water guns on them, Laser Tag and also a ride called G- Force. Again, I set in the shade and watched them have a blast. (I had fun watching them have fun).

We all went to lunch with our friends who have a family show down there, The Gabriel Family, at Jim Stafford theater. We met them the first year we went to Branson, 1990, when Doug pulled me up on stage and sang "Pretty Woman" to me (stop laughing, it was dark in there and he grabbed the wrong lady. LOL) as I kept trying to exit the stage. After the show he told me to pick up one of his cassettes and I met his lovely wife Cheryl and we hit it off and we've been friends with them every since. They come to Marysville once a year and put on their show here in the high school auditorium. It sells out each year. They'll be here August 7th this year.

Anyway, after lunch the 5 of us went back to Silver $ City to use the 2nd day pass. The kids rode the Wildfire numerous times and Dan and I sat in the shade. YES, BORED but the kids had fun. We left there at 6:00 and went into old Branson to the new mall they put there and went into the Bass Pro Shop and then headed home but only made it 50 miles to Springfield and got a motel there. Yes, were getting old and tire out fast but the kids keep us young. LOL

We stopped at a cheese factory where they had so many flavors to sample. I liked the Jalapeno cheese the best. We got some ice cream (reminded me of when my parents opened the Big Dipper 30 years ago, wow that's along time ago). We made it back to Marysville in time for KJ to go to Piano Lessons, yes, she can still play with a cast on. We unloaded the car and I kid you not the pile stayed there for 2 days cause we started baseball season and I am the taxi driver.

Yes, another summer of Baseball. KJ isn't playing this year (cast) so the schedule is a little better. Nick has games on Mon. and Thurs. Tony's are on Tuesday and Friday. I'll just say neither team is doing very well. They both have lost 3 games, no wins. But they do play and they like it so that's all that matters, right?

Well, I've been taking the kids fishing and we had fresh fish for lunch yesterday. Nick caught a 4 pound large mouth bass the other day. It was huge. I can't remember a time I've seen Nick smile so big. We checked it isn't a State Record, like the one he caught a few years back that was a record (he's got a certificate to prove it) but it's in our freezer and it's going to the Taxidermist Monday to be mounted. He wants to put a plaque on it that says either "This ones for you Grandpa Jellybeans" (my G-pa) or "In Memory of Gpa Jellybeans". He taught Nick so much about fishing. He misses Gpa as we all do. Anyway, we're going out after lunch today there's more big ones to catch.

As for the ER, this time it was for me. Wed. night at church I felt a sharp pain in my right calve and it wouldn't stop and I felt a bulge, everyone thought it was maybe a blood clot and I was hurting bad and was worried so I had Dan take me to the ER (again, why does everything happen after Dr. office hours?) Anyway, the Dr. said it was a pulled muscle and I was having spasms. He asked what I'd been doing and I told him I drive alot (ALOT) and all the walking on vacation at S$C etc. and he gave me some pain pills and muscle relaxers and told me to ice it and elevate it, too. The bulge is still there but I can at least walk. I let Dan drive more cause it still pulls on my calve to push on the gas and brake. I go to the Dr. Monday about my knee that I hurt in April, so I'll get a second opinion on the calve, too.

Well, we got our new puppy yesterday. It's a male black Lab. The pedigree theme is like Dreamer, Nighttime etc. so we considered Galaxy and call him Husker but Tony came up with Comet and they all agreed on it. We came home from the ballgame and he had already gotten out, not sure how he did but we poured a cement slab to put the fence on and that should take care of it.

Why is May so BUSY???

OK this month has been crazy busy and it's only the 11th. WHY??? Besides the usual School, church, practices (track, baseball and Piano) that make up the kids' schedule there just seems to be someplace I need to be on a daily bases. I'm not complaining because I'm very happy the kids have made the decision to play sports or piano, etc. I just wish it wasn't so...daily.

Also, it's the month of graduations and celebrations. 3 nieces graduated from college, one from high school and we got invitations from several for H.S., too. Levi graduates in June.

The 5 of us went to Missouri, with my parents, grandma and Raymond and Donna, yesterday the 10th, for the graduation Open House for my niece, Kristen. She graduated Sat. but it was in Arkansas and Nick had a Baseball tournament all day Sat. Also, my niece Kari is leaving this Wed. for 6 weeks in New Zealand for a mission trip, so it was a Bon Voyage, too. Nick seemed to be happy Aunt Judy served cake, that kid loves cake and seems like every bday or wedding we go to there's NO CAKE. I'm not sure just how many pieces he ate but I know I saw him at the table 3 times. Dan was pleased to see all the fresh fruit. We left here at noon got there at 2:30 visited til 5:30 all went to church, ate supper together and got back home at 11:00. Quick trip but it's always nice to be with family. I just wish we could be in 2 places at the same time, so we could have spent some time with Dan's side, in Iowa, this weekend, as 2 of his nieces graduated, too, but it's even further and like I said Nick had a baseball tournament.

Speaking of which...they got "Smoked" all 3 games. It was almost comical how bad they all played. First game they got beat 19-1 (game called after 4th inning, because of score) 2nd game 18-1 (shortened again) and 3rd game 24-2 called after 4th inning again. These boys all know how to play baseball and I still can't figure out how they did so poorly. I won't even tell you how the coach reacted. Well, Let's just say I don't know who was redder...me from my sunburn or the coach from anger. The coach, who is known for his quick temper and VERY animated in everything he says and does (one guy was standing close to where I was setting told me, he just came to see how the coach behaved, I was sickened by that comment). What does this kind of behavior do to these poor kids spirits. It scares them and then they are afraid to even move, I think. As the day wore on he seemed to get worse and the last game ended with the coaches face in the face of the umpire who seemed to be made from the same mold, it got ugly, and these 10 and 11 year olds had to witness this kind of behavior. Real classy. If I had my way Nick would be off the team but he wants to play baseball but if this continues to happen he might have to quit because he deserves better, all those boys do.

Tony had a track meet in Concordia Thursday. It was so HOT. Poor kid said his legs felt like Jell-O while he was running the mile. He finished in 7:01 but he got sick. Did I tell you it was HOT??? We went to the car and I turned on the A/C to cool him off (and me) then we found a shade and he laid on a blanket awhile. Bless his heart he ran the 800 also. He also did Pole Vault. They have NCKL this Thursday, thankfully it's here and it's suppose to be Cool Thursday.

They get out of school in 2 days. Nick and KJ went on the 200 point club ( for reading) field trip today. Tomorrow they will clean out desk/lockers etc. and Wed. is awards, the cookout and then they go to the track for FUN. Then SCHOOLS OUT FOR THE SUMMER!!! And when school starts in the fall I'll have to kids in Junior High. WOW!!! They are growing up way to fast.

KJ is doing great with the cast. No complaints. I'll tell you what that cast is heavy and it hurts if she bumps you with it. She's managed to keep practicing piano and do her normal routine. Not sure how she'll keep it dry on the water rides at Silver Dollar City but we'll sure try.

My mom and I went to Lincoln Friday for the annual Mother's Day Get Away. Just the 2 of us. Went to garage sales, etc. and we were back home by 5:00. Sat. was the 31st annual Flea Market in town and my dad set up a spot to sell the Pop Can Whirly Jigs my Grandpa made before he passed away. He probably sold 75-80. There's alot more yet in my grandma's basement. Gpa made so many of them, it took him along time to make each and everyone but it's what he did to help pass the day while he was dying from cancer. (I have to change the subject, I miss him so much).

My brother Jim came over last night to turkey hunt a few days. I haven't seen him yet today so maybe he got one. One of his friends came over today he was going to help him try to get a turkey, too. They stay here at the house.

11 of us are going to Branson next week and thanks to Jim having a time share, we can all stay in his condo for so much cheaper then a motel and have so much my room (sleeps 6) and have a stove, fridge washer/dryer etc. Has a golf course, that I hope Dan will take the time to play Jim and a pool and tennis courts and game room and Internet (now if I just had a Lap Top, nope, I didn't get one for Mother's Day, either). After going to Branson since 1990 we have never gone to Silver Dollar City so we are this time. It's only open from 9-6 (until Memorial Day weekend) so when you buy the ticket for one day you can go back the VERY next day for FREE.

The kids are so excited because we usually go to World's of Fun the day after school gets out but we thought we'd check this out. It has alot of rides like World's of Fun but not as many roller coasters. Jim's kids are going too so KJ can hang with Kourtney and the boys can hang with Brandon and they all have cellphones to Check In and Dan and I can check out what SDC is known for and that is the little shops that make things like they did way back in the 1800's. Brooms, candles, horseshoes and Fudge, etc. Did I mention FUDGE?

Just on a side note we had another bike stolen this weekend and thankfully it wasn't a new one. The week before Tony's new bike was stolen and the police found it down by the railroad yard, handle bar grippers are missed up abit but at least they found it back and now an old one is missing. I did purchase bike chains for the 3 new bikes and wrote the combinations down in a safe place (do you know how many passwords I have to remember, I'm not about to memorize bike combinations, too). Last year, during the Flea Market, one of our bikes was stolen, too.

Well, I need to get going I need to run some errands before I get Nick and KJ. Just a little side note...NOBODY CALL BEFORE oh let's say NOON on Thursday cause we are SLEEPING IN, that's right, I won't be setting the alarm clock. NO SCHOOL that day. You know my kids will be up at the crack of dawn, which means I will be, too.

FOR SALE by Parents 1 RipStik G

RipStik G and Tony


OK so in case you're wandering what a RipStik G is and why it's FOR SALE I'll explain. A RipStik G is like a modernized Skateboard. The kids got to use one Saturday and on Sunday Nick got one. Well, all 3 kids used it and they did fine with it...until today.


KJ decided she was ready to get her own so we went to Wal-Mart and bought one for her (we pay 1/2). All 3 went to City Park (you can see it from our house) and I get a phone call from Tony "Mom, come quick KJ broke her arm" and Hung UP!!! I called him back and I hear her crying and I knew she was hurt cause she can handle pain (when she had 8 stitches put in her head, when she was 5. she didn't cry, she sang ABC's with the Dr.) anyway, I got there and I could tell she needed to go to the ER (everything happens after hours you know) and they took x-rays and the Dr. said "Well, this confirms what you already knew". He said there's a broken bone by her "growth plate" and he said he thought she should see the Orth...(bone dr.) the next day. He said he was 99% sure she shouldn't need a pin but she would be getting a cast, if no swelling. So...

She was more upset about not being able to go to Piano lessons tomorrow (her teacher said she should be able to practice once it's in a cast) than her pain etc. He put it in a splint and sling and told her to ice it and take Tylenol etc. She's doing great, considering. Sad thing is when we were in the check out today I was telling both kids they needed to get some knee and elbow pads and of course that was vetoed right away even the checkout lady said she'd wait to total the sales but Nick said "Nobody wears them Mom." blah blah blah. The boys are pretty good at it. I suppose we'll keep them but not sure KJ will get back on...anytime soon.


UPDATE: KJ picked K-State Purple for her cast. Took about 10 minutes and she went back to school. She'll wear it 4 weeks. She can't get it wet.

It's my favorite season

Yep, it's my favorite season. No, I'm not saying Spring is my favorite season and it's not summer, fall or winter, I'm talking about the 5th season. GARAGE SALE SEASON!!!.


I love garage sales. You either like em or you don't and actually I LOVE them. It doesn't bother me to wear used clothing, after you wash them of course. I have saved us so much $$$$ over the years buying clothes at sales. I don't buy used shoes, for obvious reasons, but shirts, jeans and jackets etc. why not?


Tony really likes Hollister, American Eagle, Aeopostle etc. but why pay 30 plus dollars for a shirt, when you can get it for a dollar at a garage sale. I have even bought shirts at garage sales, with the price tags still on them, for $2.00. I'm not judging anyone for buying them new, at a store, its your money spend it how you like but Dan works really hard for the money so I can be a stay at home mom and I feel like this is one way we can save $$$. I'm also not saying I haven't bought the kids clothes new but they have to be marked way down before I do. Kj gets alot of clothes from her stylish cousin Kourtney and we're thankful for that, and I always offer them money for them.


Anyway, KJ and I went to city wide garage sales Saturday in a town 20 miles from here. We hit the jackpot at the last sale. The lady has a daughter 2 years older then KJ and she was selling her clothes for 75 cents a piece. WOW. We had so much fun looking through it all. We got 3 big bags full. The pictures of the clothes lying on her bed shows what all we got from it. She had Limited 2, Hollister, American Eagle, even found KJ 2 dresses for church. She got a really cute hoodie from AE. and the girl never wore it, 75 cents, I couldn't believe it. KJ was so excited. She didn't want to go at first cause she was tired and wanted to sleep in but she was happy she went and she even said she enjoyed spending the day with me, without her brothers. I did, too.



This is what we got at ONE sale

KJ really needed summer clothes. That girl is growing, straight up. She found alot of shirts and modest shorts (No Daisy Duke shorts allowed) she can wear this summer. I found shirts and shorts for the boys, too. It use to be harder to find clothes for my boys when they were younger because boys are harder on their clothes and they usually have to be thrown away. I know my boys were.


After we hung them all up


I found a few things for myself. I found a wire potato masher for my mom, in a FREE box. She's been looking for one since she sold her cafe last year and hers sold with the cafe. (It's in my trunk mom, remind me to get it to you). I just love going to them. This Friday my mom and I will go to Lincoln. Every year they have tons of sales on Mother's Day weekend and I've been going up for 6 years now. It's my Mother's Day gift to myself, you might say. Mom and I went up last year and even if we hadn't bought a thing, spending the day with just my mom, was Priceless. we had a blast. We didn't want the day to end. We were both worn out when we got home and I'm sure we will be this year also but it's worth it, it really is.


Well, in other news: Baseball season is here again. The boys are on different teams this year so looks like my Mon. Tues. Thurs. Fridays are spoken for. Nick has a tournament Saturday and Tony probably forgot to tell me but his team is probably in it also. Hopefully it's Sat. only cause Sunday my sis Judy is having an Open House for my niece Kristen who graduates Sat. in Arkansas from college and Kari who leaves the 13th for 6 weeks in New Zealand through the college.


I jokingly said had I known that you can travel the world while going to college (I have nieces who have gone to Spain, Australia, Peru, Chile, Germany all to study abroad) that I would have gone to college and do you know what my sister said "You have to actually go to college you can't miss 120 days of school". Referring to my Senior year in HS when I had all my credits and actually skipped more days then went, but I had all my credits and didn't want to get out on Work Release cause I already worked 5 nights a week 4:00-10:00 and Saturday's I worked 5 am to 5 pm. Raymond still blames me for the new policy the next year that you had to have a note from your parents why you were absent. My mom was usually with me when I skipped. You would not believe the classes they offered to the few of us that had all our credits. I took 2 music and 2 home ec classes an art class and one called 'Looking upside down and backwards' that class was awesome and one was 'Plains Indians'. Please don't ask me to name all the Indians it's been 30 years and I have a hard time remembering my own name.


Saturday after ball practice I barely saw the boys. Living 2 blocks from City Park and friends they go there and play Baseball alot. KJ went with her friend too. The boys have cell phones and I call and check on them and KJ often (I know why does a 13 and 11 year old need a cell phone) but it has come in handy, really. With different practice schedules and Tony having track practice after school he can call when he's done. He got home from a track meet at 11:00 2 weeks ago, we couldn't go to it and I would have had to set by the school and wait for him. I got things I can work on I don't want to set around and wait.


School gets out in 9 days. I don't think any of them have "SCHOOL" next week. Monday KJ and Nick made it to the 200 point Club in reading and they will go on their field trip for that (it's still a mystery where they will go) and Tuesday is Pizza Party and a movie and Wed. is Awards Assembly then at noon the principal will cook Hamburgers then they go to the track for Fun Day then SCHOOLS OUT FOR THE SUMMER. They cut a week off due to Budget Cuts. I usually take them to World's of Fun the day after school is out but I have a little surprise for them, so SHHHHH don't tell them. OK.


Well, I'm going over to Grandmas to go through old pictures with her and my mom. I love old pictures. Some day maybe my kids will thank me for all the photo albums I put together for them. Better get goin. Happy May.

Here's what's happening in My knick of the woods

I'll see if I can keep this Update, short and sweet. To say I have been busy these last 3 weeks is an understatement. Seriously. Besides doing the normal things a mom does, it seems I'm always in my car (almost 20,000 miles on it in 9 months).
* Take the kids to school
* pick up 2 after school
* pick up Tony after track practice
* go feed the horse
* take K to Piano lessons
* run to Wal-Mart (sometimes 2 x's a day) ;(
* go to Track meets
* clean up day at the building (Tony Nick and KJ painted all the railings) :)
* run to Manhattan to pick up supplies for Dan
*Had company over Easter weekend, fixed Ham Roast sweet tator casserole ...


Sunday -Wednesday we had a Gospel Meeting/Campaign at the church building so we had that each evening. I volunteered to prepare the evening meals (Tuesday I fried 58 pieces of chicken...the house still smells like fried chicken) and I don't regret it but I am glad I don't have to worry about what to fix for supper tonight because we have leftovers I can use tonight because Nick and KJ have a music program at 6:30. Unfortunately I'll have to miss Tony's track meet in Wamego. He told me to stay home and watch the program that "there will be more track meets, mom". Truth be told, I'm kinda glad I won't have to go set through another track meet. Last week Monday he had a track meet in Abilene. I set there from 1:00 p.m. til 9:22 and he was only in 2 events, that took a total of 10 minutes to compete, then we drove home, arriving at 11:00, on a school night. Thursday it was here and it started at 2:00 and I had told Tony to call a little before his events, he called at 4:00 and needed $$$ to get something to drink and said he would probably do his first event about 5 so I thought I'd stay (after all, I had a great parking spot, 4 blocks from the school, it would of been closer to park at home and walk). I sat there 5 hours again just to show my support to Tony (my kids don't read my blog that's why I say what's on my mind). He ran the mile in 6:29 and the half mile in 2:57. he is practicing the pole vault but has not competed in that event yet. He might today. My cousin Tracy's son, Seth, broke the Nebraska High school record in Pole Vaulting 2 years ago and is on the University of Nebraska's (Go Huskers) pole vault team, where he took 5th in Nationals with a height of 17' 4" this month. Seth makes it look so effortless but I know that he has practiced, practiced and practiced some more to get where he is today.


Well, the school board here decided to end school a week earlier (budget cuts) so now the kids get out May 13th which is just around the corner and that means MORE TIME IN THE CAR because of Baseball and our traditional trip to World's of Fun, etc. There's times when I wish I wasn't turning the big 50 this year and that I was 15 years younger so I could keep up with these kids God blessed us with. I use to be a night owl and now bed time can't come around fast enough (I've been known to sneak a cat nap in once in awhile).

I also want to post a few pictures of the "STAMPED CONCRETE" job Dan did last week for a customer. He did a great job and it was time consuming but it sure looks nice (the customer is responsible for putting dirt back along the edges). This week Dan and crew are actually re shingling the roof of a Motel here in town. I have noticed that this spring the phone hasn't been ringing near as much as in years past and I totally think it has to do with the economy. People are watching their $$$ and a new sidewalk, driveway or even a new house are not top priority right now. But God is good all the time and He continues to bless us and for that we are so very grateful. And yet again another long post, I really did try to keep it short I left out alot of "stories". You can til spring is here cause there's 6 GARAGE SALES today so Til next time... Happy Spring!

KJ with the kids WEBKINZ collection ******* Cute Dutch cookies with my Dutch magnets

April Fool's

My Lilac Bush...in April

Dan's sand pile

Pony Express Rider

Although I don't promote lying, I always like when April Fool's Day rolls around and I can "Fool" everyone that day. This year was no different. My 1st lie was when I went in to wake up the kids for school that morning. I use the same "lie" every year and I think they are getting use to it. You know the ole "Kids wake up it snowed last night" lie. The boys said "Sure mom sure" KJ had her daily response "Just 5 more minutes mom" and ducked under the blankets.

When Tony got up he headed to the pantry and took out 4 boxes of cereal and proceeded to remove each bag from the 4 boxes and put them back in... the wrong boxes. Well, the joke was on him because KJ and Nick wanted waffles, but they told him that would've been a great April Fool's Joke and after all that work, Tony had to put them back in their right boxes.

Well, the only thing I could think of to post on my Facebook status was "Janet...is due in October". Then put "April Fool's". My sister-in-law said "Oh good, now my kids will have a cousin their age to play with" and called me a "Stinker".

Well, one wise guy wrote "Now Brian will have another niece or nephew" Brian is another one of my "lies" that got out of hand. I made him up to tease my 2 nephews. It all started when they were discussing how the birth order of me and my siblings went. One, had me older then Judy the other one had me younger then Raymond and he went "No, it's Judy, Raymond, Janet, Jim" and I being the sarcastic one of the family said "Don't forget Brian" their jaws dropped and one said "Whose Brian" and I said "Your parents haven't told you about Brian?" and then I acted like the "topic" was not to be discussed. They kept nagging me to tell so I said "he was my twin, that my parents gave him up at birth, due to his handicaps and their lack of money" etc. and one "lie" after another. How he lived in Wichita and worked as a greeter at Wal-Mart and hoped he'd get to come "Visit" us all sometime.

Well, this "Lie" got out of hand even more when everyone else started "feeding" this lie with more details of "Brian" the brother who doesn't even exist. When I told the boys it was all "lies" they both said they knew it was a lie and I asked God and the boys, to forgive me and I thought the subject of Brian was DEAD!!! Until I got e-mails and even a X-mas card from him. So then I wrote a story about his life and in the end he dies and when I read it to mom and dad my dad, with tears in his eyes said "He can't die" and to tell the truth, I was starting to think I had a brother...named Brian. Now, every once in awhile, someone will mention "Brian" and it reminds me WHY I SHOULD NOT TELL A LIE. My mom use to say when we were little "If you tell a lie, you have to tell another and then another then another, to cover up the first lie". Which was sure true in my "lie" about Brian.

So back to this year and April Fool's and me waking the kids to "see the SNOW" that we didn't really get. Well, what makes this story funny is that the very next morning Dan woke up the kids saying "Kids, look outside, it SNOWED" and Nick said "I'm not falling for that dad and April Fool's was yesterday". Well, it took a little convincing but they looked and sure enough we had 3 inches of snow. Even stranger... by Noon, it had all melted. The kids tried to get us on a few "jokes" but it's all in fun.

The bikes with snow (we got 3 inches)

The bikes 4 hours later...snow is gone

I'll post some pictures I took that morning. Nick wanted me to take a picture of the bikes so I did and then I took another picture of them 4 hours later all the snow GONE. Seems weird to have SNOW when my calendar says it's April but I guess you could say "April SNOW Showers bring May Flowers" which just reminded me I need to put up my 2 new April Bulletin boards at the church building, soon.

Well, it's Monday and I have 3 loads of laundry to do and I need to go to Wally World and mental note to self...hang up the bulletin boards... Nick wanted to go fishing again after school but the high is only 48* today and it's windy again. Course he went out last Monday and it was about the same and caught a nice bass before he decided his fingers were to NUMB to take the fish off the hook and he threw it back in and we came home (and thawed out).

Tony has his first track meet Thursday in Abilene. He's running the Mile. He wants to do more but I guess theres alot of boys out for track this year. He loves his sports. Baseball is next. KJ said she didn't want to play Softball this summer, which Dan and I didn't try to talk her into because Tony and Nick will be on different teams this summer, so I'll be busy enough driving to the boys' games. She did say she'd play soccer in the fall though.

Nick's Going to State

Well, Nick was hoping he'd make it to State 3 years in a row and bless his heart, he did it. He took 3rd place today in Sub-State Wrestling. Next Fri-Sun. 27-29 is State in Topeka. We'll get the kids out a little early on Fri. so we can head to Topeka for Weigh-in that night. Then stay at a motel. (the kids always look forward to that, I guess I do too. No cooking or cleaning for 48 hours).

I noticed today that so many parents put so much pressure on their kids to WIN. We DO NOT put pressure on Nick to win and just let him wrestle to the best of his ability. I heard a dad offer his kid big money for each win he got and even more $$$ if he took 1st. We have seen so many people that get so mad at their kid when they lose. We've seen them shove them against the wall, yell at them and say such hurtful things and act more like a child then their own kid, throwing a temper tantrum. How sad.

I think Nick will be ready for the season to be over with, though. It started in Oct. so after 5 months, he's ready. He's had a pretty good season. He's added more trophies and medals to his display. He'll have his picture etc. in the local paper and they put out huge signs with their names on them that you see as you head to State.

Well, when we got home Nick was insistent on going fishing so we got there at 3:00 and fished 4 hours. Brought home 9 fish. We brought home 5 Thursday night. Maybe, just may, I'll fry them for lunch tomorrow. =) (Update: I fixed the fish and they flew off the tray we'll have to go catch more, too windy today).

The kids were on Spring Break all week and we couldn't go out of town cause Nick had wrestling practice 3 nights this week. Believe me they kept plenty busy. The neighbor kids, a boy Tony's age and a girl KJ's age, came over on Wed. and played and spent the night 2 nights. We went fishing, Boondocking, they played tennis, kick the can, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, even some Hide and Seek. They had so much fun together. I tell you what my housework was neglected but it was so worth it to see the kids have so much fun and it wasn't because we went Skiing or took a "mini vacation" and it was pretty cheap, too. =)

Dan told the kids last fall that if they sold their bikes at the huge garage sale (he didn't want to store them all winter cause we tore down the "Old Mansion and the kids had outgrown their bike size) he'd buy them new Bikes this Spring. Well, this being the first day of Spring, KJ promptly reminded Dad of the deal they made and off to Wal-Mart he took her (don't get the impression that KJ has daddy wrapped around his finger cause she don't, OK, so maybe she does, you'll have to ask Dan). When the boys got back from fishing Dan took them out to Wal-Mart. (I just realized that Dan was at Wal-Mart twice in one day...that just can't be right, he NEVER goes to Wal-Mart, he calls it the "Evil Empire" =)

Well, it has been a long week and a long day (4 hours of sleep and NO I did not get a nap while out fishing) so I'll sign off for now. I'm looking forward to the maid returning from her Spring Break and getting our house back in order, oh wait, that's me. Just between me and you...I had a load of laundry in the washer 2 days before I got around to washing them again and getting them to the dryer. But you know what...like Dan said to me "Laundry can wait the kids are your top priority this week and I think they enjoyed it.

...and they lived Happily ever after.

That is what my niece Ashley had on the back of their wedding programs. She and Douglas were married on Saturday the 7th. She had said for many years that she wanted it to RAIN on her wedding day and God who is an awesome God sent rain. It had been so nice all week, in the 70's and low 80's but on this special day He sent rain and it was chilly but it did not ruin their special day.

She was a beautiful bride and the look on Douglas' face when he saw her for the first time that day, in her beautiful white dress that he hadn't see before she walked down the aisle toward him. PRICELESS.

The preacher Douglas has known for over 7 years from Rio, who is now back in the States, performed the ceremony. He said it in English then in Portuguese, for Douglas. Douglas can usually understand English but he wanted to be sure he didn't miss anything. I have no doubts that Douglas is a sincere christian young man who will love his "Princess" "til death they do part". They are now Mr. and Mrs. and their wedding day has come and gone but our memories of their special day will last forever.

Today, I tear up, as I think about the 2 of them flying back to Brazil, as I type. They are in my thoughts and prayers for a safe flight home. The past 2 months went by way to fast and I know Ashley didn't get to let Douglas experience everything on her list that she had hoped he could, but she sure tried. But Lord Willing they have many years ahead of them to work on that list of things for him to do.

Last night as we all set around the table at Ricky's my mom asked him what he liked about being here and he said "The family" and he said he loved us all and will miss us and thanked us for making him feel like part of the family. It was hard to say our Goodbyes and all 3 kids (and I) cried as we pulled away knowing we won't see them for 5 years. That's the hard part. My kids got so attached to Douglas. He made each one of them feel so special and talked and played games with them. He is so patient and caring. When I asked him what his favorite food was here he said "Bacon Cheeseburgers (my mom made them) Fairbury Hot Dogs, Tacos, Pizza and my Potato Soup". He fits right in with Raymond and Levi because Dr. Pepper has another FAN. He loved it and even bought a pair of sweatpants with Dr. Pepper written all over them. He loved 3 Musketeer bars but no other sweets. He says "Lettuce is over rated" and only cared for grapes and pineapple here. He didn't care much for Green Beans or Peas. He is used to a rice and black beans diet and as much yummies as he tried here, he was able to fit into his Tux. (I wasn't worried).

Ashley used all 8 of her Oehm side cousins in the wedding. Tony and Nick were ushers with Kyle, KJ was a flower girl with Kourtney and Kristen and Kari were 2 of her 6 bridesmaids and Brandon was one of her groomsmen with Levi, Ashley's brother. Her colors were shades of Purple (GO KSU) and it was a beautiful wedding.

Ashley's mom and grandmother, Donna and Joyce, made the wedding cakes. They were beautiful and you would never have known this was their first time trying their hands at making wedding cakes. We just had enough cake and only had a handful of mints leftover from the 700 we made.

They served Potato Soup, Chicken Noodle and Chili and deli sandwiches for the rehearsal dinner. I made 2 crock pots of Potato Soup and it was gone right away, soup hit the spot on a cool March evening. Everything went smoothly and I'm glad I got to be a part of their special day.

Everyone came down to our house and we visited, had supper, laughed some more and some of us finished the puzzle I had on the table. Sunday my brother-in-law preached a powerful sermon and then all came back here for homemade Tacos. Donna didn't get to make it because during the night her mom Joyce fell and shattered her ankle. She'll have to have surgery after the swelling goes down. They live in Texas so they'll be at Donna's longer then they'd planned.

The happy couple flew out of KCI this a.m. and will arrive in Brazil tomorrow and Douglas will return to "college". He is so smart that his schooling is paid for. Only a few make the cut and he was one of them. He told all of us that their plan is for him to finish school and they want to return to the States to live when he finishes which makes us all so happy, but it will be 5 years. They will have a small ceremony with all his family next month in Rio. You would not believe all the paper work it took to get him over here and even for Ashley to do her passport. But their faith helped calm their nerves and in the end the Lord provided all that they needed. God is Good...all the time.

Well, Tony has another Scholars Bowl today that we're going too so I need to get ready for that. He's not afraid to buzz in and he's been correct more then incorrect, so that's a good thing. He's also going out for track, too. So, here we go again. This weekend Nick goes to Emporia for Districts. He has to place in the top 4 to go further. He pinned all 3 of his guys, in the 1st periods, last week but it's only going to get tougher now cause these boys are all going to give it their all so they can go to State. I better get going.

March...in like a Lion

Yes, March came in like a lion here in my nick of the woods. Brrrr. I am not complaining because I love snow and we finally got a little Saturday but not enough that we couldn't go out. We have had the best winter. Just last week the kids were digging out shorts from their summer clothes drawers as it got in the 70's and played outside. I was beginning to wander if Douglas would see SNOW before they return to Brazil next week and he did.

The roads were ok Sat. morning and Dan took Nick to Fairbury to wrestle. The little stinker pinned all 3 opponents in the first period (one he pinned in the first few seconds). They gave out trophies for 1st, which he likes better then medals, so he added another trophy to his shelf. I should be able to go to the rest of his matches now that Tony's BB season is over. Next up is Sub-Districts at Emporia. He has to place there to continue for State.

Tony's last BB game was Sat. at Clay Center. They took 4th in NCKL. He really loved playing and he gave it 100%. He can sure hit the 3 pointers. In the "Elite 8" 7th/8th grade 3 point contest Tony got the honor of "Most 3 point shots in a Row" with 8. Why couldn't he do that in a game? The boys want dad to pour a concrete BB court so they can shoot Hoops this summer.

Today, Tony makes his Scholars Bowl Debut with their first match at Hanover. He begged me to come watch him, so I guess I will. I have no idea what to expect, nor does he, but I have been told they are fun to watch. Tony has a great memory (all 3 kids do) and I think he'll do just fine. Tony made it on the Masters Honor Roll this 9 weeks and KJ got all A's again and Nick got 6 A's and one B (Math gets him everytime).

KJ continues to bring home the A's. She loves 4th grade and her teacher. I am very impressed with her teacher. She gives them challenges and expects them to meet them and they in turn have fun learning without even realizing it was work. KJ is on page 3 of "Fur Elise" (her teacher only gives her one sheet (double sided) of the music at a time, until she plays it pretty much flawless). I tell you what when she plays it for me it brings tears to my eyes, it's real close to taking Canon D's place as my favorite song, well, maybe not, I LOVE CANON D.

Well, 5 more sleeps til Ashley and Douglas say "I DO" on the 7th and then they go back to Brazil. Time went to fast while they were here but we sure have grown fond of Douglas and we will all miss him, and Ashley too, of course. The kids really took to him and what a fine christian example he was for them. We wish them much happiness as they begin their life as husband and wife. Douglas if you read this ...Agradeco a sua christian exemplo. Vamos sentir saudades. Ashley and Douglas we love you and will miss you and keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

I'm excited to watch the next Hooyer DVD we got. Dan's mom has done to alot of work getting pictures put together to make DVD's for us. This is the 5th DVD, yes, 5th. With 11 children and over 30 grandchildren you can really fill a DVD. In June, her first great-grandchild is due, and so this guarantees another DVD in the series. Her nieces' husband in California did the work, complete with captions and music. Grab the popcorn..

Happy 10th Birthday KJ

Another milestone...KJ is now in double digits as today is her 10th birthday. Just a few short weeks ago our oldest became a teenager. So far we have not seen any significant changes in him, that so many parents talk about. He is still the tender hearted, fun loving and smart Tony, which we are thankful for.

KJ had 3 of her "best" friends spend the night on Thursday the 12th due to the fact there was no school the next day. Seems our Saturdays are filled with Basketball and Wrestling. They had so much fun (and Tony and Nick didn't seem to "bother" them to much, well, accept for an occasional "BOO" when no one was expecting that).

They built a blanket fort, colored, giggled, played KJ's new piano, "sang" giggled, played Hide and Seek, watched a movie, giggled and even got to "eat out" at the Hooyer Cafe with yours truly, as their waitress, Mavis, complete with my "Southern Drawl" y'all, and they won't forget my British accent for "a spot of tea". More giggles. They made cookies, in the Easy Bake oven to go along with their TEA (apple juice in a teapot). They played "Hairdresser" and who knew you could create so many hairstyles.

I didn't think they would ever stop giggling and go to sleep. About 12:30 I went in and said "OK girls if you ever want KJ to have another sleepover you need to go to sleep, now, or you all will be cranky tomorrow and to tired to do all we have planned." The room was silent for the first time in 2 hours. Mission Accomplished.

It seems KJ's birthday celebrations have been going on for weeks. We went to Champions Fun Center on Tony's b-day which was for hers also. Then the sleepover, then a shopping trip to find her flower girl dress where she also picked out a dress to wear to church, that she loved and as if I needed to be convinced she needed a dress she said "This could be one of my b-day presents" then when she wanted a Subway Sandwich after school the other day she said "Please mom it could be one of my b-day presents" I have a feeling I will be hearing that phrase for the next few months but I will give her credit for trying to pull a fast one on me. She's on her toes.

Some friends invited us all out for Chinese (Yes, I went but I didn't get my money's worth, I HATE Chinese) Sat. night then they came over here to visit and the mom shares a b-day with KJ so I had made a cake (if you call it that) and KJ blew out the candles. She wanted me to come eat at school with her today but I said we'd eat supper together in Clay Center after Tony's BB game.

This is NCKL and they could only take 10 boys and Tony made the cut, so we're going to leave for the game right after school. If they loose they're season is over. But if they win they will play Thursday. For 7th grade games they have been very exciting. They are always nail-biters. They are close and we pull it off with last second baskets. I think Tony likes BB the best. He told me he was thinking about doing Pole Vault for track (he took an interest in it when my cousin Tracy's son, Seth, set a new Nebraska High school record of 16' something and just this past weekend he broke his old college record with a vault of 17' 7 3/4". Tony has watched Seth's video of him vaulting so many times (I must say it is an awesome video of him complete with music) and we're all in awe of how he runs and then uses his pole to vault himself (his head is to the ground and the rest od his body is straight up) and go over a bar 17' 7 3/4" off the ground and the bar stays put. It brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. But between you and me (Tony doesn't have time to read this) I'd rather see him go out for Baseball, after all he has the same DNA as me and I am a Klutz and I'm afraid he has had a few Klutzy moments himself. But we'll see what happens, he could surprise us all.

Well, I have been so busy lately. I spend more time in my car then my house it seems but I love my busy little life. Sometime soon I will post about my niece Ashley and her fiance Douglas and their upcoming wedding and all the fun things we've been doing together. He must really love Ashley if he can still say I DO after meeting not just ME but our whole Crazy extended family. He totally gets my Stamp of Approval, he's a keeper. He loves the Lord and he loves his Princess and they are so totally cute together. I smile as I watch them together and remember back 30 plus years ago and the feelings I had for Dan and how much I Loved him and wanted to be with him for the rest of my life. I still feel that way but sometimes he gets shorted of my time due to these precious little gifts from God but we know we will be together 'til death do we part". WOW That just brought tears to my eyes. (I LOVE YOU HONEY, if you read this).

I think I better close this post as the keyboard has become blurry as I think about my wonderful life. I hope all that read this are just as blessed as I am. Have a wonderful week and in case I don't get back on here in the next week...month...year...decade...Enjoy the life the Lord has blessed you with.

P.S. I added a picture of Tony at one of his BB games and a picture of my almost 88 year old Grandmother, taken at her HOME, showing me the beautiful 2 piece light purple outfit she's wearing to Ashley and Douglas' wedding in 12 days (yikes, 12 days). Just 2 months ago we thought we were going to loose her, but God had other plans, for which I am very Thankful.

#13 turns 13

Happy 13th Birthday Tony

Tony was #13 in Football and Basketball this year and he'll be 13 tomorrow. The 5 of us are going up to Lincoln to celebrate this milestone. They don't have school tomorrow (Teacher's In Service, last year they didn't have school on his b-day either, SNOW DAY). When I asked what he wanted for his b-day he said "I just want to spend time with you and dad". You know what, I hope he has that same answer for the rest of my life. We're going to go to Champions (bowling, arcade etc.) and eat out. It's for KJ's birthday also. She turns 10 Feb. 23rd. She wants to have a few friends over to spend the night. Sounds like fun to me...ha ha ha. Oh to be young again.

Tony scored 4 points in tonight's game. He has scored at least 2 points in every game so far. They are 5 - 2 now. Next week both games are away. I have to miss KJ's Valentine party I signed up to help with but the teacher totally understood when I told her Tony really wanted me to be at his game. I haven't missed one yet. He gets to ride home with me so that's always nice to spend some quality just the 2 of us, he makes me smile.

13 years seems so long ago but I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. It was a Tuesday (all 3 kids were born on a Tuesday) He was born 4 hours after we arrived at the hospital at 6:39 a.m. I cried tears of joy when I realized I WAS A MOM. A mom after 15 years of marriage God answered our many prayers and gave us a SON. One thing I remember well is how Levi reacted, he was so worried we wouldn't be "Buddies for life" anymore. I remember when my dad walked into my room, tears rolling down his cheeks. The weather was beautiful, for February and that Dan's parents drove down from Iowa. I remember the nurse coming in to take him so I could rest and I'd say just a little longer please and she'd smile and let him stay in my arms longer. What a precious gift a child is. I am so blessed and look forward to watching Tony (and Nick and KJ) grow up.

Has it really been 2 weeks?

Yes, it really has been 2 weeks since my last post. I guess I really shouldn't be surprised, you know the old saying "Time flies when you're having fun". Then I must be having a BLAST!!!

I've been to 3 of Tony's basketball games since my last post. They've won all 3 so far. First game his coach made him captain. He scored 2 pts in the 1st and 2nd game. He made a 3 pointer last game (when it went in, he made the cutest face, couple parents asked if we got it on camera, NO) and one free throw point. He has a game at 4:30 today, it's here. So far all have been HOME games, makes it nice not to have to travel and I don't have to get Nick and KJ out of school early. Tony found a new past time: Duct Tape Wallets, made out of, you guessed it, Duct tape. He's made several now and a kid wanted to buy one Friday but Tony wasn't sure I'd want him too so he said ask me Monday (he offered him $7.00, I told him just charge him $5.00). He sold one last night. He used Camouflage duct tape. They're kinda cute, unique.

Nick's wrestled twice this season and I haven't seen him yet. :( First time he wrestled Tony didn't feel good so I stayed home with Tony and KJ and Dan took Nick, he took 4th. This past Sat. KJ was up most the night with a terrible earache so I stayed home with her, Tony stayed home, too. Nick took 3rd this time, and added another medal to his display.

KJ continues to delight us with her piano playing and her drama (for lack of a better word). She is excited that her next piece will be "Fur Elise" and has told me that later she gets "Canon D" (no biggie, just MY FAVORITE SONG). As for the Drama part, we've come to notice that she is very expressive in her conversations, and also noticed she's not alone. After watching her with her giggly friends, we see now where she gets it but I do hope it's just a phase she's going through. DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA!

Well, Dan's been busy working on Taxes and the shed (if I could only get him to tackle the "Honey Do List"). As for me, well, Sat. I cleaned house for company on Sunday. Noon meal we had the 5 of us, mom and dad, Ray and Donna, Ashley and Douglas. (Douglas, is Ashley's fiance', they're getting married March 7th then going back to Brazil to live while he finishes college, then maybe move back to the States to live, HINT HINT! The kids have adopted him he's really good with kids. He "talks" to them and plays games with them, he's a sweetheart and gets our "Stamp of Approval"). Anyway, we had Ham, Sweet Potato Casserole, Jell-O and Pumpkin Cake. I missed my Sunday afternoon Nap (Hey, I'm almost 50, I need a nap). Sunday evening it was the same bunch, we just added 2 more, our preacher Dennis and his wife Nancy. I made Chili and Potato Soup and Hot Ham and Cheese Buns (with mustard, butter and Poppy seed, like they serve in Iowa). I like when company comes over, I wish we made time to do it more often. It was a long day and bedtime could've come sooner, but a Happy rewarding Day, and I hope to do it again sooner than later.

On Sat. the 17th, Dan and the kids went skiing at Snowcreek, (http://www.skisnowcreek.com/) by St. Joe, about 120 miles from us. I dropped them off at 9:00, it was already getting busy, and I watched them ski awhile, but the lodge was getting so crowded I decided I'd go to Liberty and hang out at Judy's. Thanks Judy for letting me crash at your place. Jim worked graveyard so he was sleeping so I didn't see him or his family. I picked up the worn out skiers at 7:00, they were ready to leave, even though the place was OPEN til 2 a.m. I guess it was so busy they ran out of ski boots and they had 600 (yes, 600) Boy Scouts there plus several other groups. But they still had fun. We drove into St. Joe and ate at Fazoli's (Nick could hardly stay awake). We got home about 10, all 3 slept on the 2 hour trip home and all 3 asked "When can we go again"? Not sure but maybe for Tony's 13th b-day Feb. 6th cause they don't have school that day, we'll see.

We're still waiting for snow. We had a little powder yesterday, after it was 50* Wed. and Thurs. My Gma might get to go home Thurs. from the nursing home if Doctor says she up to it. She needs to be home getting back into her normal routine. Her roommate died yesterday, 91 yrs. old. This is the 2nd roommate to pass away, which is hard on Gma, but she doesn't have a private room, so this is what you deal with. She'll be getting a new roommate today.

Well, I have things to do and places to go. I hope you're staying warm this winter and have good health, too. Til next time...

SNOW where are you? (and grab a cup of coffee, this is a long one)

Once again the snow missed us. We got the wind and cold (it's 3* right now @ 9 a.m.) but no snow. When I picked up KJ and Nick from school yesterday we went to Wal-Mart and it was SNOWING a little and the kids were so excited but when we came out a bit later it had STOPPED already. They want snow as much as I do. They want to get out their sleds, make a snowman and another reason, they want a SNOW DAY from school! (They already have Friday off for Teacher In-Service).

I remember when Tony was 4 or 5, when he'd say his prayers, sometimes he'd pray for "snow" and sometimes it was still summer when he Prayed for it. God is in control of the weather. I guess that's why I'm not a big fan of the Weather channel. Is it me or do you all notice that over 3/4 of the time it's not accurate anyway? I use to have it on my "favorites" and check it often, it would say 80% chance of rain...we got NOTHING. High of 70* it would get 90*. Dan would call me from a job site and ask me to check to see if it was going to rain, so I'd check, call him back and tell him what I read. More than a few times I'd tell him it wasn't going to rain and within the hour it would RAIN, not a good thing when you're pouring concrete. But like I've always said "The weatherman doesn't get paid to be accurate, he just gets paid".

Ashley's fiance', Douglas, from Brazil, hasn't seen a Kansas snowstorm, yet. Poor kid arrived here in Dec. hoping to see Snow for the first time (coldest he's seen prior to Kansas was 55*) but it had all melted. It was so cute (I hope he doesn't mind I tell this story) for New Years Eve we all got together at the church building and we were talking about Douglas not seeing Snow yet and Tony remembered there was a little snow mound at the end of the parking lot so he took a cup outside and scooped some "snow" into it and brought it in and set it in front of Douglas, who said in English (he speaks Portuguese) "SNOW, nice to meet you". We all had to laugh, not making fun of his English, just his happiness of seeing snow for the first time. He was going to eat it but we all said "NO" at the same time. It was frozen solid and Dirty. So just another reason we want snow. He's been here 2 weeks and still NO SNOW!!! They're getting married March 7th, WATCH IT SNOW THAT DAY!!! Knowing Ashley, like I do, she'd probably go outside and make a snow angel, in her wedding dress and I know a few kiddos that would be right beside her, in their "church clothes" making angels, too.

Brrrr. I just had a chill. The sun is shining through the window and Dan's worker is coming in at 10:00, they're going to work on the shed. They got the doors on yesterday so it's all enclosed now. Sure looks better then that old "haunted mansion" (that's the name the kids gave the old building that use to set there). I look around at this place and I see Dan's handy work everywhere. When we bought this property in 1993 all that was here was a small house and a huge empty lot. He soon put up a 2 stall garage then one cold snowy November I heard the skid loader running outside and looked out the window and there's Dan on the skid loader digging a huge whole in the ground. I holler out to him "What are you doing?" and he said "digging the foundation" I said "For what'? and he said "the addition" and I said "You have to have a building permit if you're going to add on" and he said "I already checked into it" (as many of you know, Dan is a man of few words and this is not uncommon for me not to know what he is going to do next). So when he came in later he told me I was getting 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms out of the deal. Can't be upset about that, huh.

He did this to me again on Dec. 7, 2004. I was walking out of the laundry room (part of the build of 2000) and he said "If you can have everything out of the living room by tomorrow morning I'll start tearing into it". I leaped up for joy (I stopped myself from leaping into his arms, I didn't want to knock him over, and stop progress, due to a broken back). Well, a couple days into the project my dad said to Dan "You should remodel the kitchen too since you've already got this big mess". (I owe my Dad big time for that comment, cause I got my dream kitchen with that one comment). Now the whole house is totally different then when we bought it 15 years ago (except this one itty bitty closet, it still has the same UGLY shag carpet in it but I told him to leave it that way, it helps me remember all the work he's done on this house, to make it what it is today, and it just houses the vacuum and "stuff".

We are so blessed. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways. We have 3 wonderful children who are blessed with health, smarts and are the love of our lives. Dan has a job that has enabled us to have a house that he has worked so hard on to make it what it is. We have more clothes and shoes then we need and we've never missed a meal. We are truly blessed. And thankful for all our many blessings.

My Grandma just called me from the nursing home. She has not been eating and it's partly due to the food they serve there so yesterday, when I went up to see her, I took a cooler with an assortment of food to her. A bologna sandwich (I know it doesn't sound like a special treat but Gma loves bologna) some orange Jell-O with peaches, some summer sausage with hard cheddar cheese and crackers and some popcorn. She ate the popcorn right away and said how good it taste to her (finally, something she'd eat). Anyway, she let me know that if I was coming up to see her today that she wouldn't mind having some more cheddar cheese to go with the few crackers she had left over. I told her I'd see her later. She saw her surgeon yesterday and he said she could start putting pressure on her right hip/leg now. She told me she had just walked the halls and said "I want to be HOME by Friday". Well, I'm not sure she will get to but she is determined to try. She calls herself "The Comeback Kid" and she should, cause we almost lost her 2 days after surgery. She was telling me yesterday how she'd had a nice visit about the Lord with 2 of the nurses and I told her then that "See, the Lord had some more souls He wanted you to share the Word with." She smiled.

She also got a new room mate because the one that was there when Gma went in, passed away Sunday night. The 5 of us went to see Gma Sunday night after church and I guess like a half hour after we left her room mate passed away. Sad thing is she was my age. 49. I went to school with her. She'd been there over a year. She had diabetics and her kidneys and liver were failing her. Her husband and daughter were with her when she passed away. Gma said her husband kept saying "don't do this to me, Jo, breathe, come on, you can do it". Glad I wasn't there, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Gma got a new room mate yesterday already. I was there when the lady came in. The nurse asked her if she knew Gma and she said "No, but that is Marilyn Oehm's daughter". :) I've waited on her for years, in both cafe's mom had and the dress shop, too. So we had a nice visit up til the time I left to go get Nick and KJ from school.

On the way to feed the horse (yes, we still have the horse, and like Dan said "It'd be cheaper to have a rock" meaning Nick never rides the horse (Dan's to busy in the summer and I have no idea how you saddled up a horse) and all Nick does is feeds it daily). Anyway, KJ starting talking about her birthday which is next month and how she wants to have a sleep over and invite 5 girls (8-10 if I'll let her) and that they could all go skating and then go to Pizza Hut and I said "It's your birthday, not your wedding day...think budget here" which she had no idea what I meant. She seems to think that since she will be 10 and she's only had ONE birthday party with friends she'd invited (I was never much into this whole big birthday bash business) that she wants a "real" party. Did I mention she's turning 10, not 21. So we'll see what she really gets to do for her birthday. Tony will be 13 and he could careless about a party or even a cake for that matter. Just give him some cash (or Football cards) and he's Happy. Mr. Happy go lucky, he is. Nick's the same way. Maybe it's a girl thing.

Well, this time I really am ending this long post. I hope we get some snow soon and I hope everyone stays warm and healthy and count your many blessings.

"A funny thing happened on the way to the..."

Do I really look like a Senior Citizen? I mean really now, do I? I just turned 49, not 69. So I'm at Pamida and I check out and I think to myself that seemed cheaper than I thought it would be so as I put the cart away I look at my receipt and on every item I purchased it would say "Sr. Discount" then it'd have "you saved 12 cents"... and at the bottom it said "You saved $3.58 ...Sr. discount". I didn't know if I should Cry...because I looked OLD or celebrate the Savings. I looked at the sign on the door and it said Thursday is Sr. Discount Day.

Well, in most places if you're in your 60's, you get the Senior discount. I know I'm getting older but I'm not 60, yet. A few times when the kids have been with me I've been asked if they were my GRANDKIDS and I can see where that could happen because I have a few classmates with Grandkids that are my kids' age.

I remember back when Jim was wrestling and I'd go to pay to get in and they'd charge me the Student admission price and I'd tell them I'd been out of school 6 years and then I'd pay the difference. Those days are history!!! I've been getting mail from AARP...won't be long an I'll be getting Medicare and Social Security benefits, well maybe not that soon.

I always wished I'd been born at least 12 days later so I could say I was born in the 60's but mom had me on Dec. 20,1959 making me a child of the 50's, barely. So if you did the math you'll notice I turn the big 50 this year and let me tell you that doesn't bother me near as much as the fact that I will have a Teenager in the house come Feb. 6th, when our oldest turns 13 and KJ leaves the single digits when she turns 10, on Feb. 23rd. Seriously though, I'm just so Thankful God blessed us with these 3 precious gifts (and that's what I kept telling myself this morning, as I sat at the awards assembly, noticing that I was the oldest parent there) and it didn't seem to bother Nick and KJ that I'm so old. (Side note: KJ was the Top Reader of her class again this nine weeks and also got all A's on her report card. Nick got 5 A's and 2 B's).

Well, it's a beautiful day here today, 50*. Dan and his crew are working on the shed he started last fall, Nick will be happy to see all they've done today. I need to go visit my Gma at the nursing home here pretty quick. We'd always go out to eat with her on Friday nights but haven't been able to since her accident and we're all hoping it won't be long and she'll be able to go back home and get back into her normal routine. She's ready for a Steak dinner, maybe I'll surprise her with one, she's not to fond of the food at the nursing home. I've seen some of it, I wouldn't feed it to the neighborhood dog. It's hard to encourage her to eat it but she needs to get her strength back so she can go to Ashley's (her great-granddaughter) wedding in March.

The kids want to go skating tonight and tomorrow we go to Concordia to watch Nick wrestle. Tony went out for Jr. High Basketball and they have 2 games a week til March (plus practice after school til 6) so he has decided not to do Kids Fed. Wrestling, which I support his decision, he's done Jr. High Football, Wrestling and now Basketball and then he said he wants to do track also so I say enough is enough. He loves Sports no doubt about it. As long as his grades don't suffer (he got 4 A's and 3 B's) and he still wants to do them, we'll let him.

Well, look at this long post and I just posted one yesterday, too. Things to do and places to go...til next time.

I'll be Home for Christmas (Missouri and Iowa)

I can't remember the last time I was "home" for Christmas. I'd have to look it up in my Journal. The Oehm side goes to Missouri to either Judy's or Jim's and we go to Iowa for Dan's side.

This year on x-mas eve we went to Jim's house after church. We did Grab Bag, which always fun, especially when you can steal it, right Levi? I got a squeegee (for windshield) and a $5.00 roll of dimes. When it was all over Levi asked me if he could have the squeegee (because it could expand) and that way he could wash his windshield on "Jolly" his big green truck.

Christmas, we all went to Judy's for Turkey tators corn etc. The 5 of us headed for Iowa about 3:00 and got to Sioux Center about 8:30. We stayed with Dan's mom. On Saturday we all gathered at the local college where we rent out the rec room. It works great for us because Dan is one of 11 and then add their spouses and 31 grandkids (and one great grand on the way) we have plenty of room. It has a 4 lane bowling alley, pool tables, fooze ball and all kinds of board games we can use. 31 of us played "grab bag" you can imagine how long that took. There were 3 hot items: a scarf and mitten set a pair of PJ's (Lacy works in the fashion industry in NY) and Natasha had a deck of cards made with Dan's dad on them where he's playing cards, and with him passing on last year it was a "gift" everyone wanted. But #31 (Phil) was able to "steal" the special deck of cards and keep them. I came home with something I won't say what but I will tell you this it will make an appearance next year on Grab Bag. :)

We cleaned up the place so we could be out by 5:00 then most of us went out to Phil and Judy's house. 8 of us played the game "Would you rather". Now that is an interesting game. If you can play that and still have friends when you're done "YOU WIN". :) On one of the challenges Julie had to write her own "Would you rather" questions and she came up with this...

"Would you rather be a Hooyer or be married to a Hooyer" and I being the sarcastic gal that I am said "What if you don't want to be either one" course that got a huge laugh from everyone in the area. Of course, I told them I was kidding and happy to be married to a HOOYER. I won't tell you all the thought provoking questions of the night but I hope we play it again. (OK Jolene)

Well, Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is right around the corner. Time goes so fast. 2009 will bring a "teenager" into our household as Tony turns 13 Feb. 6 and KJ will be "double-digits" at 10 on Feb 23. It really seems like just the other day my kids were babies, time flies when you're having fun. 2008 was a busy year and it doesn't look like signs of slowing down in '09 but I can do without some of what we had in '08.

My dad had a light stroke in May and he seems to be doing better. Gma had to have her heart "put back in rhythm, 2 times and had surgery on her hip and a dear lady has opted to forgo anymore cancer treatments so she is in our prayers. But we are healthy and happy and thankful for that. My parents sold their cafe so they have been able to go to sporting events with us and Mom and I made a few trips to Lincoln just the 2 of us. I leave you with this... HUG YOUR CHILDREN, PARENTS, Grandparents and loved ones and tell them how much they mean to you, you never know how long you'll have each other. HAPPINESS to all in 2009.

How I spent my Christmas break

How do you wrap a ski trip? I don't know about you but Christmas is all year round, at our place. Our kids did not need anything this year (they have all the gizzmos & electronic stuff they need and if they want other stuff they save up for it and buy it). Last Feb. the 5 of us went to Steamboat and they all went skiing for the first time and LOVED it. So Dan got to thinking maybe just go skiing again over winter break and they did.

The first day, skiing came right back to them and they skiied 10 hours, yes, 10 hours. They had a blast. Even Dan improved... it was harder for me to spot him on the slopes this time cause in Feb. I just looked for the long legs in the "splits" position but not this time, he looked liked he'd skiied for years. Day 2, they skiied 7 hours and they would have skiied longer except for the fact that they CLOSED at 4:00, Christmas eve. On day 2 they all skiied the "Black Diamond" trails (slopes) the "hardest" trails.

Day 2 Tony and Nick took Snowboard lessons but they quickly went back to skiies. Nick did OK with the snowboard but being the Evil Knivel that he is and his need for SPEED he opted to just ski. He says when he's older he's going to move to Steamboat and ski all day and be a VET at night and have a ranch and do the chores on a snowmobile and of course "Be a christian". (Just what every mother wants to hear, "Be a Christain". Bless his heart. He skiies so fast he really looks like he's skiied since a toddler. While I was in the lodge I'd talk to people and we'd point out "our skiers" and 2 people thought he'd skiied for years. All 3 are good skiers. They put their heart and soul into it and I thank the good Lord when we leave with no broken bones (well, maybe broken ribs, poor Dan, he's a little sore in the rib cage area).

Skiing just might be what we (they) do for vacations from now on. Don't worry about me, I enjoy watching them ski in the comforts of a warm lodge and I did a little shopping, too. I'd rather see my kids having the time of their life and see the big smiles on their faces, as they come down the hill and get right back in the ski lift line. And besides, Nick already told me I could live with him in Steamboat, when he gets older. Now that's an offer I can't refuse, right. He knows I love Colorado and MOUNTAINS.

Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow...

What an AWESOME surprise when I looked outside this morning. SNOW! Alot of SNOW! The kids were so excited but upset because they had school. They should've canceled it or at least have a 2 hour late start. It's still snowing and I keep checking the school website incase they do decide to send the kids home. I drove them to school and I'm surprised I made it up the hills. There was a traffic jam on the highway because a semi couldn't make it up the hill, so I took the side streets, which hadn't been plowed yet, but I made it home without any dents.

This is the first Big snowfall this year. I'll have to dig out the snowsuits, boots and sleds and have them ready cause I know they'll go sledding, Nick's been waiting for it to snow.

I've been working on Christmas cards and this year I'm pretty much only sending them to people who don't have internet. Yesterday I sent out my "Twas the Night before Christmas" (cards) Poem that I wrote and it told about the highlights of 2008. If you want a copy of the Poem and our 2008 highlights leave a message in the comment section and I'll e-mail it to you OK. I know it seems odd to e-mail greetings but it seems to be what more and more people are doing.

My Gma fell Dec. 7th and had to have 3 screws put in her hip on the 9th on the 11th she gave us all a scare and we thought we were going to loose her. They had to put a tube down her throat to help her breathe and she has improved daily since then. God is Good...all the time. She's still in the hospital 75 miles from here and wants to come home but they said she isn't strong enough yet. I spent most of last week up there not only to be with Gma but to be there for my mom and aunts. I do all the driving...mom won't drive in the city. I feel bad for Gma cause no one will be able to drive up to see her today. I don't think it was suppose to snow this much, but God is in control and I LOVE SNOW so...

Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow.

Goodbye Charlie...hate to see you go.

So, how many of you are disgusted with the 2 mouse pictures I put on here? How many are surprised I put them on here? I think I finally conquerred my fear of MICE (did I just type what I think I typed?) I hate mice, always have. I got this fear from my dad (he use to jump on chairs when there was a mouse in the house, sorry dad, but I had to tell that story to make my fear seem "acceptable" and to go along with why I hate them.

Well, I've heard a mouse off and on in the house for a couple of weeks and have like 8 traps setting around the house. When I set down at the computer I put my feet up and walk cautiously through the house. Couple weeks ago I was folding laundry and one came out from under the washer I SCREAMED and the mouse JUMPED (NOT KIDDING) and slid across the floor, but he scurried his little body right onto a glue trap. :) I'd hoped when we got back from the Thanksgiving trip we'd have at least one mouse in a trap (a couple of years ago we returned from Iowa and there was a mama mouse with 4 babies on one glue trap, I know GROSS HUH? I hope you aren't eating lunch while you're reading this).

Anyway, one ran past me the other day and he kinda "ruled" the house. I never saw him but we'd all here him. He was in the bedroom the other night so I slept on the couch, I know not to smart cause he probably followed me in there. So anyway yesterday I went to the Farm Store and asked for the little ultrasonic thingy you plug into the wall and it puts out a high pitch we can't hear but Mice can so I bought the 4 pack and put them around the house... one was right by the trap that caught the mouse, so the device either lures them to it or it was a DUMB mouse.

Well, my little (6'3 200 ? lb.) brother is here for a few days to deer hunt and he was setting at the dining room table working on my jigsaw puzzle and I was upstairs saying prayers with the kids when I heard Jim say something about a mouse. So Tony and KJ went running downstairs and NO ONE would volunteer to get rid of the MOUSE for me. (Oh may I say that Jim is more afraid of MICE then I am, if you don't believe me read his blog). He had goosebumps and stayed as far away from "it" as he could. I offered $5.00 to whoever carried it outside and then all of a sudden I thought to myself "Face your fears you big wimp" and I got a broom and dustpan and was opening the backdoor to throw it outside and "It" fell off the dustpan and I screamed then Tony decided he wanted to take some pictures of it and actually held it up and had a fork in the other hand and took the above pictures. THEN WE THREW IT out the backdoor, yes, trap and all, for Dan to deal with this morning. (Guess I need to work on that fear factor alittle more, you really didn't think I'd remove it from the trap too did you)?

I actually had a dream that a cat swallowed the trap and all and when I saw the cat it had the trap stuck in its mouth. Creepy. I just hope that's all of them. I HATE THEM MIECES to PIECES, I do.

December...already.

December... my favorite month of the 12. Why you ask? With December comes SNOW. I know, most people hate snow, but I love it, although I miss the snows we use to get when I was younger, much younger. The flurries yesterday melted as soon as they hit the ground. But it's not "winter" yet so I hope to see more of that WHITE stuff.

With December comes winter break. 2 weeks of NO SCHOOL. Now that the kids are older and can "find" things to do the 2 weeks go by fast.

Also with December comes the Holidays. We travel to Missouri and Iowa to
spend time with family playing games and telling stories 'bout the good ol days.

It's also my birthday month. I'll be 49 years old on the 20th. I don't feel 49 and as you know I don't act 49. Next year is the big 50. I remember when my dad and mom turned 50 I thought they were so OLD. When my mom turned 50, I was 30. When I turn 50, my daughter will be 10 (ouch). (it hurts bad enough to say 50 but to read that last sentence, oh the pain...) It really isn't a big deal to be getting older. I'm just thankful for the years God has blessed me with.

Today was a busy day. The washer and dryer have been running all day. We were gone 5 days and with 5 people comes lots of laundry. I baked some cookies (Jimmers is coming over to hunt) and made potato soup and used up leftover Turkey. Took care of a sick boy (Tony, whose trying to catch up on Homework right now) and as I type this I have the other son leaning on my shoulder reading this... HI Nick) and KJ is reading her school book about Abraham Lincoln. It's been a long day but I thought I'd update real quick. Maybe tomorrow I'll take the time to post some pictures of our 2 Thanksgiving Feast, we had one in Missouri and one in Iowa. But for now it's over and out good buddy.

THANKSGIVING PICTURES: Kourtney & KJ (who looks like her cousin Lacy with the cute hairdo Kourtney styled for her) Grandma with some of her grandkids (there's over 30) and KJ playing Grandma's Piano.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Count your many Blessings!!!

My sons Wrestle, I Brag...

Have you ever seen the T-shirts or buttons parents wear that say "My son wrestles, I brag" (or plays FB or BB or soccer)? Well, I don't have one myself but I've seen enough of them over the years. Now that my kids are growing up and getting into sports I guess I can brag alittle, as Charity told me "You're a mom, you're suppose to brag".

As you know Nick has been out for kids wrestling since 2nd grade (5 years) and he starts practice tonight (another LONG season ahead of us, we're talking til March, if he goes to State again). Anyway, Tony surprised Dan and I during FB season when he told us that he was going to go out for wrestling so he could stay "conditioned" for BB season that starts in Feb. I must admit that I never thought I'd see the day that Tony would wrestle again. He went out for it in 3rd grade and had success but the next season he said he'd rather play BB (just know that I grew up going to my 2 brothers wrestling matches for like 8 years, (and then 3 boys from church wrestled, too, that we'd go watch) only time I saw a basketball court was with wrestling mats on them and I wandered what my brothers, who were awesome wrestlers that went to state, would say knowing Tony was going to be a "Pumpkin thumper", ). So imagine how happy I was when he came home from practice and told us he beat out 2 boys and would be on Varsity. So last Saturday the whole family and my parents went to his first tournament. The first round he had a bye (other team had no one in the 100 pound weight class). Oh how exciting it was to see him out on the mat again, after 5 years of BB. He had to work hard but he PINNED the kid. I don't know how many people came over and told us how happy they were to see him wrestling again. The 2nd match was a nail biter too but in the last period the kid got Tony on his back and Tony just couldn't break his hold and he got pinned. You know Tony, he walked it off and got over it and was looking ahead to the next dual.

Well, Monday he had to wrestle the 2 boys again for his spot on Varsity and he beat them again, so Tuesday he wrestled in a double dual. He had a Bye first round and then I saw the BEST Match I've EVER seen (this is a proud mom talking) in all my years of going to wrestling matches. I saw his opponent walking to the mat, he was taller and as Tony put it "ripped" (Tony said he had like 2% fat and 98 % muscle and six pack abs, anyway, I always ask the Lord to keep him safe and I have to tell myself not to yell and scream like some of the other mothers (in this case it was the father of the kid Tony was wrestling who was out of control). So after the first period of being tossed around the mat like a rag doll Tony looked winded but seemed to be getting some energy and he could here the Marysville crowd cheering for him and by the end of the 2nd period he was down 15-4. Well, we have this one mom who is like a coach from the bleachers and yells for every kid on the team and she yelled "Tony, you have to pin him to win". and then the crowd started stomping for Tony and he could here them. The kid would almost pin Tony and Tony would get out and then he'd almost pin the kid and it went back and forth and then with 28 seconds on the clock Tony got a hold of him and he held him down and the crowd was going CRAZY "Pin Him, Pin Him" and the kids dad was hollering "don't you let him Pin you" and I was shaking so bad and then the ref slammed the mat "PIN" Tony pinned him with 8 seconds left. Our coach leaped into the air, his team mates all ran over to him, the 5 people setting behind me (parents and grandparents for the other team) congratulated me with taps me on my back and the grandma said "That match was worth the $3.00 I paid to get in" and another one asked me "How did you stay so calm"? (if she only knew what was going on inside of me, I really did stay pretty calm). So Marysville won both duals. Tony told me that 2 other boys want to wrestle at 100 so he might have to wrestle 3 or 4 guys tonight at practice to make Varsity for Saturdays match at Concordia. They only take varsity so we might be in Concordia Sat. Tony told us one of the boys' mom said if he beats Tony she'll give him $20 and the kid told Tony he'd give him $5 of it, if Tony would let him beat him. I told Tony don't expect us to Bribe him with money to be on Varsity. The thing about wrestling is it's an individual sport, the team can't Win for you, you have to work at it yourself. In everything the kids do, sports, bible bowl, piano, homework etc.
I tell the kids "If you did your best, you won".

To brag a little more, the reason Dan KJ and Nick and my parents didn't see the "Match of all Matches" is because that same night KJ and Nick were being recognized for their success on the "Standard of Excellence" testing. All 3 kids received certificates even though Tony didn't get to "walk across the stage" to get his. Tony and I got there late and a few parents commented on how neat it was that all 3 Hooyer kids were recognized. I've said it many times on this blog that the kids get their smarts from their dad and I always thank God for blessing them with smarts. We are so blessed. We have great kids and I pray daily for them and their young lives, that we raise them up to love the Lord and to live a life that is pleasing to Him. (the monitor is blurry again, when I think of my kids and how much happiness they give me I can't help but tear up).

Last Thursday KJ Nick and I made a QUICK trip to Iowa to get stuff for Dan and got to spend the night with their grandma (Dan's mom). It started snowing that night and we watched it come down as we visited and worked on a jigsaw puzzle. I had planned to go see the fire damage of Dan's brothers work shop but the snow was not letting up so the kids and I got on the road by 8:30 a.m. or so. The roads had slick spots for 60 or so miles and by the time we got to Lincoln the sun was shinning and we got the supplies Dan needed from there and headed home. We've (mostly me) put on 8,500 miles in the 4 months we've had the car and may I just say once again how happy I am we have a car and not the van that was a gas guzzler. I don't fill up near as much.

Well, the election has come and gone and although it didn't turn out the way I voted, I just have to trust the Lord on this and learn to say "President Obama". That's all I'll say about Politics. (Smart!!!)

The Marysville HS FB team will play here tomorrow night. We plan to go, if we can find a place to set. They are 12-1 they have to win 2 more games to go to State. The 5 of us went to their game last Saturday after Tony's wrestling was over. It was 2 hours away. We had to sit in the other teams section but we WON. This is a young team with the QB and linemen only Jr.'s, just a few seniors, so next year should be a great season also.

Well, I think I've brought you up to date from 10 days ago, when I last posted (cough, cough, more than most of you can say). I heard it through the Grapevine (aka: Facebook) that Heather will be coming home from Australia where she studied abroad. Praying God blesses her with safe travels. My cousins daughter just got back from Belgium were she too was studying abroad. (Just makes me wander "IF" I would've gone to college had I known you could study abroad, lot of "Ifs" in life, isn't there)? I'm happy where I'm at, hope you are, too? Have a great day.

November already

UPDATED at 8:38 p.m.- TONY made the Varisty Wrestling Team ( 100 pound weight class) Go Tony!!! His first tournament is Saturday.

It's the 3rd day of November already, and I still haven't changed the calendar yet (and some of the clocks are an hour off yet). It's a busy time around our house. Teacher conferences, football games etc. Busy!!!

After many months of studying the book of John, the kids put that knowledge to work and took 2nd place in the Bible Bowl at Sabetha, Saturday. Oh, how I beamed as I watched all 3 put up correct answer after answer. Each team played 6 rounds and then our 3 kids (plus a 9 year old from another town, you have to have 4 on each team) played for 1st and 2nd and they took 2nd. Tony took 3rd in individual, he missed 8 out of 70 questions, KJ missed 9 and Nick 11. (The kid that took 1st only missed 2 questions out of 70). For winning 2nd, they each got $15.00 and Tony got an additional $12.00 for 3rd place individual. Dan was an excellent teacher/coach. I was proud of all the kids that participated, they could have been anywhere else on this nice fall day but they chose to attend a Bible Bowl. I cheered inside as I saw my kids correctly answer question after question. My parents went also and I saw a tear run down my dad's face as he saw the results of the hard work and dedication the kids had done the last 4 months, pay off. I know one thing, they didn't study John in Bible class yesterday.

Last week we kept busy, nightly. Tony has wrestling practice til 6:00 M-F. KJ continues Piano lessons each Wed. after school. We went to the high school football game Thursday, they won districts and will play tomorrow night, here. They are 7-1. They aren't boring, that's for sure, they're ready to WIN STATE!!!

We survived Trick or Treating. Nick didn't go, he stayed home with Dan. I was just the driver, Tony (Hippie) went to the doors with KJ. I can still remember taking Tony for his first time, when he was 1. Where did the time go.

We try to go walking at the track, nightly. It's been beautiful weather. Dan is going to town on his shed he's building and still doing jobs for other customers. At this pace, he'll have it done before winter.

Had a great surprise yesterday. We had Potluck at church yesterday and we were all eating and visiting and I looked up and I saw this lady standing in the hall and I thought at first it was the lady that picks up an older lady that's in a wheelchair and then I thought "that looks like Arlene (Jim's wife) but couldn't figure out why she'd be here, then Jim walked in right behind her. I was so excited it was them that I stood up and said "I can't believe it" (rather loud). They came over for about a 2 hour visit and had to get back home. It was like medicine for a sick person seeing them again. When their son walked in Tony just about knocked him over "Brandon"...and KJ was even more excited to see Kourtney, her best bud. The kids thought I knew they were all coming over but I didn't. I love/hate surprises.

The church pulled off a surprise, too, for Dennis and Nancy, our preacher and his wife, for their years of service to the church here. Their 2 daughters , and families and his mom all from Nebraska came. We had cake, mints nuts etc. and a money tree for them. Nancy, who has had 7 bouts of cancer has, after much thought and prayer, decided to do no more treatments. She has Hospice come once a week right now. So we wanted to show her/them how much we all care for them (just a minute I have to get a tissue, wow, this is hard for me to write about). She has had the best attitude throughout all of this. I pray it goes into remission, you pray, too. My kids adore her, she was their Sunday school teacher for so many years and she pays so much attention to them, she's amazing. Change subject...

The kids continue to get great grades and good reports from the teachers. All I can say is I'm glad I am OUT OF SCHOOL. KJ's math continues to make me sick to my stomach. I explained to her, to please go directly to dad for help, as it really does make me sick to look at it. Again, I'm glad they got their dad's smarts. Tony will be taking the ACT test in Dec. so he will be studying for that in his "free" time. He was in the 98% tile and DUKE invited him to take the test. (they sure have alot of rules etc. he has to abide by though, we actually had to get him an I.D. card ($20.00) and copy of Birth certificate etc, just to take a test).They will then keep an eye on his grades over the next few years, and keep him in mind for scholarships in the future.

Well, its Monday and that means Laundry day for me, plus dust etc. So I best get on it. Have a great week. And if you're old enough, VOTE tomorrow. I'm praying God gives us the best man for the job.

Trick or Treat

Well, here's a TREAT, I'm blogging, after a 17 day hiatus. I'm going to post pictures of my kids in costumes from over the years. You might say a little stroll down memory lane.

Last night as I took KJ to the annual Black Squirrel Night Costume Contest, I remembered way back to Oct. 1996 when, for the first time, there was a Hooyer kid on stage. After many years of going with Ashley (a bear, ostrich, old lady and a Squaw) and Levi (a Jack-in-the box, a dice, old man and an Indian) to it. My dad made him a little Indian outfit (Ashley & Levi, too). And now, 12 years later, he's "to old" to dress up (last night they combined 12 and up to one group, so OK, he's to old). Although I laid out a Hobo outfit for Nick, he too said he was to old. So only KJ dressed up, she went as Pippi Longstockings. One of her friends didn't have anything to wear so I looked in the dress up box and we found enough "Stuff" for her to dress as a 50's girl (I'm amazed how many outfits were in that box). She could of gone as Laura Ingalls cause we always tell her she reminds us of her, we even had the bonnet, but she liked the poodle skirt better. She wanted to go as a witch but I've never let the kids dress up as witches, devils, ghost or monsters. They didn't win but they sure had fun.

Let me tell you the parents go all out on these costumes. I wish I had pictures, they were elaborate. Jewelry box complete with the ballerina spinning around, a gnome setting on a mushroom. Really cute stuff. The chamber gave away 20 free turkeys and I got one. The rain held off tell later, it was chilly but it's fun to go too.

I'm not good at lining up the pictures but I still want these on so here ya go. Got questions??? Leave it in the comment section. It took over an hour just to load these.My computer is so last year... Happy fall ya'll.

This and That

Almost all hauled off now. Wander how many truck loads to Raymond's ditch they've made?

Before they started tearing it down After a few good hits

Well, I'll try this again. I just did an update (a long one, imagine that) and now I can't find it. So...

Well, one exciting thing happening around here is Dan tore down the "Haunted Mansion" today. (Jim you'll have to find somewhere else to hang your deer now). It needed to come down. I know we made at least one grandma happy now that it is down. It was an old 3 story wooden building, it was the first Bank in Marysville, back in the day. The kids, their cousins and friends liked to explore in it, even after all the Scary stories I told them. Dan's going to build a new shed there. The kids had been banned from going in there lately.

In other news...Nick was baptized Oct. 1st. The kids have been preparing for the Bible Bowl that is Nov. 1st. They WON last year. This year it is on the book of John.

Tony's football team is 0-5, with 2 games left. He carried the ball for 25 yards last week, the highlight of his season. He loves sports. Nick started FB, too. Nick made 3 goals in soccer Sunday, he was all over the field. Fun times. KJ plays soccer , too, and did a great job of dribbling the ball. She wants to play football and she'd make a great wrestler, but we won't let her do the "boy" sports, although there are plenty of girls out for these sports. She is quite the Piano player and I love to hear her play.

I did go to my 30th Class Reunion, although I said I'd rather have the dentist plug all my teeth, without medicine, then go to it. I'm actually glad I went. I got to talk to several old friends and get "caught up" with everyone. My cousin and her husband came down for it, too. We left by 9:00, although I heard later it didn't break up til after midnight, but people who seemed so pretty and handsome and nice at 7:00 don't look so great after they start downing numerous beers etc. That's not for me and I don't care to be around it.

Well, we only have a horse and a chicken now (Aden's from last year). The lady where we keep the horse and chickens called and told us the 4 chickens we took out there in June were now digging up her flowers and mulch, so we asked a lady from church, who has chickens, if she wanted them and she took them with her Wed. So, no more Farm Fresh eggs for Omelets, etc.

The car we bought 3 months ago, we've put 5,545 miles on it. Glad we bought the car, we don't seem to be at the gas station near as much. It gets great mileage. It has Flex fuel but Marysville doesn't sell it but towns around do, and it's about 60 cents cheaper a gallon, that's a big difference.

Well, it's been a nice cool, crisp day and I think I'll make some Chicken Noodle Soup for supper. Tony will be Starving when he gets home from FB practice. Til next time...

I survived the Highway 36 Treasure Hunt

Yes indeed, I did survive. After months (yes months) of preparation I can now set back and relax a day (and count my $$$$$) because the huge garage is now History. Again, I am VERY pleased with the money I made (it takes alot of 25 cent items to sale to make what I did).

I started gathering things for it in April and would mark thing's when I had a little free time and I worked on it during summer break whenever I wasn't in the car driving somewhere. Finally, Thursday after school the kids helped bring the "stuff" up from the basement (that's where I stored it after it was marked and when the shelves got full there I had to start a pile along the bedroom wall, I should clarify that it wasn't just my "stuff" in the basement, everytime my sister came over from K.C. she'd bring a van load of "stuff") anyway, after we loaded Dan's big truck we parked it in the garage and then Friday after the kids got out of school we unloaded it at the sale site (we rent the community center, lots of room, tables, air conditioned and bathrooms, etc.)

We started at 4 and didn't leave til after 1 a.m. (it takes awhile to organize it all, 9 of us in on it). I didn't get to bed til after 2 so I just sat on the couch and rested my eyes cause the alarm went off at 5. We opened at 7:00 and it wasn't to busy at first but then the crowd hit. We had so many people there. I sold Hot Dogs, Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, chips and I made 2 big pans of Brownies, one lady bought the whole pan. The other pan sold out right away. I made up 40 bags of my homemade Caramel Popcorn and sold them out (I could of sold 100 more, I think) and I sold over 40 popcorn balls.

Once again I sold alot of the kids' clothes. That always makes me happy. I use to give them to someone who could use them but I need the money so I can replace the ones they outgrow. KJ has grown so much. She put on a couple pair of jeans that looked more like Capri's. I did find her 5 pairs of jeans in Lincoln a few weeks ago. $2.50 a piece at a children's consignment store. Doesn't bother her any and I wash them first although 2 of them looked brand new.

We closed the sale at 7:00 and had everything cleaned up and at home by 10:00 pm. I was worn out. I had hoped for a Sunday afternoon nap but Nick and KJ had soccer then evening services. We all talked of making this an annual event but we also think it would be fun to go across Kansas and shop them, too. You never know, I'll see how much "stuff" I have next April. :)

In other news: Tony's team is 0-3. He's played some in all 3 games. He loves it. Although he did get whiplash at practice yesterday and he is home sick right now. You know he is sick if he leaves school (he always goes for a Perfect Attendence) and will miss practice. Nick and KJ love soccer. I like to watch them, they give 100%.

Well, I dread this weekend. I committed to going to my 10 year (ok, 30 year) class reunion this weekend. I think I'd rather go to the dentist and have all my teeth pulled, without pain meds, then go to it. Course, maybe Tony is contagious and I'll be to sick to go, "Come here, Tony, mommy wants a BIG HUG"...

Just a shout out to Jimmers...Good job on posting, you're doing better than me (and most others). I really enjoyed the Branson pictures of you with the Gabriel's etc. Only one thing missing in them, ME. : (

Fall is in the air, leaves are turning colors, maybe I can talk Dan into a quick trip to Branson, and spend all that money I made, the leaves there this time of year are beautiful. Ouch, that hurt, I just pinched myself to see if I was dreaming. :>

I hope #13 is a "lucky" number

I'm not superstitious but Tony is #13 on the Jr. high football team and I hope he proves 13 isn't an unlucky number. They have their first game today at 4:00. They play Auburn, Nebraska. We'll see how much Tony loves football after today's game. He's to play tight end and wide receiver. I love this picture of Tony in his uniform with Nick flung over his shoulder. They asked me to take it of them, I like Nick's expression. Funny!!!I'll post here later what the score was (and how many more bruises Tony added, his left leg is full of bruises from cleats, ouch).

It's a beautiful day, today. Excluding the STRANGE door-to-door salesman, that rang my doorbell then proceeded to bang on the door. When I finally opened the door (which startled me cause he was right there in my face) he said "Can you step outside" I thought "Do I look stupid" but then I thought yeah I probably do, and I said "No" and he said "You won't step outside" and I said "No". He said" I want to show you something" and I said "I'm not interested" and he said" But you don't even know what it is" and I shut the door real quick and locked the dead bolt, which I'm sure he heard, which is what I wanted him to hear. I saw him walk towards my elderly neighbors house so I called her real fast and told her not to open the door, she listened cause I saw him walk away. Creepy. He was scary looking and talked weird. (I could be a door to door salesman :). Later...

Happy Birthday Mitchell

Happy Birthday Mitchy Mitchell (Sept. 1st). We hope you have a fun-filled day. The Kansas Tornado's

Happy 11th Birthday Nick

Nicholas Wayne is 11. Happy Birthday buddy. He's growing up so fast. 6th grade already. He's handsome, smart, funny, sensative, caring and loves the Lord. God bless you Nick with many more. Nick, we love you so very much.

My aunt Genie died today, unexpectedly. I was at the hospital last night til she passed away this a.m. so Nick has no cake (he's fine with it, at least I had his school snacks ready for him). She turned 68 on the 9th, she had an aneurysm.

We're going out for supper now, Nick chose Sonic. He wanted a bow (and arrows) so he picked them out at Wally World. I couldn't get some pictures to post, so maybe later.

Mr and Mrs. for 28 years

Happy Anniversary Honey! 28 years ago today we said our vows in front of friends and family. It doesn't seem like 28 years ago. I have so many memories of our special day. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful Christian husband. He is a great provider and works so hard. How he's put up with me all these years, I don't know, I would have left ME years ago. :) Lord willing we will be blessed with many more happy years.

What goes UP, must come Down

Uncle Raymond shows you can still be limber, at 46. You know what they say "a Dr.Pepper a day keeps the Doctor away" or something like that, or maybe it's all that Dr.Pepper that runs through his veins. It runs in the family. Nick has always been limber, too. He can do the splits, without effort or pain. It comes in handy when you're a wrestler. Raymond's nickname wasn't SNAKE because he liked them, it's because he could wiggle his way out anything. I get a kick out of watching him trying to master walking on his hands and having someone time him to see how long he can go before he comes down. Can't believe he's going to be 11 next Tuesday.

Back to School

School started the 14th. KJ (4th grade) and Nick (6th) go to the elementary school, Tony, a 7th grader, now goes to the Junior High. Dad had to get them off to school the first day as I went to a funeral in Hannibal, MO. He got them up at 6:30 (about an hour earlier than I wake them), they ate breakfast and he took their traditional, 1st day of School pictures, on the front porch. I will have to re-take Tony and Nick's as the flash didn't go off. I am so happy they like school and get out of bed so easy.

Tony starts football practice today after school. I wander if he'll still like football after today. He's use to flag football so we'll see now the tackling goes. He's a tighend. I really wouldn't mind if he didn't play football, after seeing what playing 6 years of high school and 5 years of college football has done to my brother. The Denver Broncos wanted Jim to play for them but he decided his body had already taken enough beatin, smart choice.

Nick likes school. KJ loves her teacher, who is the daughter-in-law of our neighbor, Lola. I'm so happy the kids like school. I can't say that enough, as you all know how much I HATED SCHOOL. No homework so far but that will probably change soon. Brandon told Tony to remember his locker combination by thinking of a sports player with that same jersey number, well, it seems to be working and he has 2 lockers he has to remember the combinations for. If it was me I'd forget what player went first etc. I still have dreams where I can't remember my combination or what class I'm to go to next. Glad my school days are OVER!!!

Well, looking at the clock I see it's time to go pick up Nick and KJ, although they want to walk home, I'll get them so Nick can run Tony's football cleats into the locker room. He forgot to grab them this a.m. and probably hasn't even thought about needing them yet. At least it is cooler today. Keep Tony in your prayers that he'll have a safe season. Go Bulldogs!!! Wonder what his number will be?

Sweet Ride

Just like 30 years ago, I got to "drag main" in this last week. This is my brother Raymond's 46 truck. Back in the day I use to drag main in this. So did Raymond until I missed up the clutch in it (he made it an automatic now). I think this was Raymond's first vehicle and he didn't even have a license to drive yet. He fixed it up and had it ready to go when he did get a license though. All eyes are on this truck when it comes down the street, way back then and even now. He put an air horn in it that sounds so cool. Raymond has had many many vehicles since this one, not sure he even knows how many, but I'm pretty sure it's hundreds. Seriously. He has a full time job but in his free time you can find him in his shop working on a car, truck, motorcycle or something with wheels. So happy to see this truck on the road again and THANKS Raymond for letting me drive it again (and for making it an automatic).

Fort, fifty and friends

When summer becomes a bummer build a fort. Not just any fort...a MEGA FORT. You know the kind, where you use every blanket, sheet, pillow, couch cushion and chair. The kind that makes mom say "You have to put everything back where you got them" fort. I kid you notoday Nick's friend came over and they played in it some more. I told them that it had to come down today though because I leave at 3 a.m. for a funeral in Missouri and I don't like to go out of town and leave the house a mess. And also school starts tomorrow. And they put everything back where they got it. I know they'll build it again sometime. They had to put fans in there it was so hot but the conversations I heard while they played in there, PRICELESS. They got along so well. So when life gets crazy...build a Fort.

Fifty: Well, we managed to pull off the surprise 50th birthday party for my sister, Judy. I still can't believe it. We got to Liberty about 3:00 and Kristen and I decorated the church basement. We didn't go all out. We laid pictures of Judy on each table and had a table for cards and gifts and the guest were able to "sign" the table cloth with Wishes for her. Then at 6:00 we (all 3 siblings our spouses, her parents, her grandma, and 6 of her 7 nieces and nephews, her in-laws etc.) managed to sneak into the pews towards the back of the building.

Following service everyone was visiting and she was walking out when she spotted all of us and it didn't dawn on her we were all there for HER. She's like "what are you all here for" and I said "just a last trip to see cousins before school starts". That was true and she bought it. About that time her husband Roger asked over the PA system if Judy would please come up to the front. And it was then that it hit her and she looked at us and said "You brats" (such a Judy response, she's called us that since we were kids). Her husband made a slide show of her, it too, was PRICELESS.

He started out with real pictures of her but then he super-imposed her face on such things as a bull rider, fisherman, deer hunter, etc. But the funniest one was "Judy with her classmates". It had 6 old people in front of a school and he put Judy's face on this old lady outfit and there's an OLD guy "checking" her out standing behind her. It was hilarious, but the one that got me laughing so hard that I couldn't breath was of this little baby hand clasping this old old hand and the caption read "Pull my finger" which too was a popular saying of the "guys" in our house growing up. Well, the inside joke was that when dad had Open Heart surgery in 2000 Judy found a card that when you open it up reads "Pull my finger" and dad starts laughing and when my dad get tickled he can't just quit, his whole body spasms and his face turns red, well, not the kind of card you give to someone that has just been cut down the whole front of his body. We had to remove the card from the room, but it made it way around the whole nurses station first. Anyway, I looked back at dad and it was that same "spasm" I saw 8 years ago, and then I couldn't quit laughing, I almost hyperventilated. And you know I don't laugh soft. It's kind of a snort, laugh, snort laugh.

Anyway we made it through the end of it and went downstairs for the cake etc. So many well-wishers. Judy didn't even get a piece of cake. I'm just surprised that in a congregation of that size (400) that someone didn't spill the beans. We cleaned up said our goodbyes and we all left Liberty at 9, and got home at midnight. And what followers is why it was such a long day.

Sunday the 5 of us got up at 5 a.m. and got on the road about 6 and went to church in St. Joe, MO where the kids have several friends from camp. Needless to say, Dan and I sat by ourselves. Nick and Tony each sat between 18 year old girls. One even drew a tattoo of a heart with Nick's name in it. They just think our boys are the BOMBS. Then we all (10 of them) went out to eat (Dan and I didn't set with them there either). The girls are super nice and so cute. Most of them are Seniors. The boys never really e-mailed anyone but now they have to check their e-mails all the time. They always say "They're just friends, mom". Tony starts Junior High tomorrow and I wander how long it will be before he starts "liking" girls. Well, actually I already know he likes girls but he has no girlfriend, just friends that are girls, as he says.

Can't believe the summer vacation is over. Where did summer go? KJ starts 4th and Nick 6th and both are ready to go. I love that they love school, sure makes the morning routine go smooth. Course, dad will get them off to school tomorrow, hope he remembers to take the traditional "1st day of school" pictures on the front porch. Time really does go fast. I really can remember Tony's first day at MES preschool after I walked him in and I got back in the van my eyes filled with tears and Julie comforting me, and now her little guy starts kindergarten, wandering if she'll need comforting. Can't say this enough; Hug your loved loves and tell them how much they mean to you. I'm really emotional these past few days as I think of our dear friends the Lanes who lost their 39 year old son in a traffic accident Saturday. I don't ever want to experience what they are going through right now. My kids are my life. Enough for today...

Where did summer go?

Is it just me or did summer fly by? School starts in 9 days. Nick (6th grade) and KJ (4th) found out who their teachers will be. KJ also found out she will be in the "mobile" this year. They put a "Mobile" (like a mobile home) up last year due to overcrowding in the school. (She's actually happy about). They are adding on to the school but it will be a few years til it's ready. Tony starts Jr. High, which is 3 blocks from home. He's going out for football. Go Bulldogs! He's growing up to fast. Won't be long and he'll be driving.
It's been extremely HOT the last few days. When I went to Wal-Mart Sunday the highway sign that does time and temp read 110* and the humidity was 100%. The kids stay inside and play Probe or Life on the Farm or work on their Bible Bowl worksheets then get in the pool a little later when the sun isn't as HOT, like 5:00 or so. I don't know how Dan does it working in this heat. He never complains.

Well, VBS was Sat. we had 17 kids there. Kids now days have so many other activities and choices. Course, it's the parents that need to "decide" if VBS is important enough to get them up and ready to go. My sister brings over the material they use in Missouri and uses it here. "Grow in God" was the theme and the "cast" came over also and acted in the skits. They're from a larger congregation (400, we average 40). It's sad because Nick and KJ invited 34 kids and not one of them came this year. But for the 17 kids that did come I know they learned alot because Judy has a way of telling the Bible Lessons. All eyes are on her as she tells them, using visuals or even "drawing" the lesson on the marker board as she tells the story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho or how the son leaves home and spends all he has, even works with pigs and then his father welcomes him back home. Priceless!!!

On Friday our friends the Gabriel's who live and perform their family show in Branson arrived about 5:00 and we all ate supper together and when Doug saw my "Excellent Condition Piano" and set down and played 3 songs on it, I was blown away. (If I remember/figure out how, I will post the video of it here) WOW!!! He saw it as an Excellent Deal and it didn't seem to bother him that half the keys are missing the tops. Before he started playing it though, I asked him if his Fingers were insured because his fingers are basically his bread and butter, and warned him about "slivers". But he played without incidence. His wife and mother played it also.

Doug is an awesome guitar player as well. His dad owned a Midas muffler shop in Iowa in the 60's and Doug asked for a guitar and his dad made him one, using a 1969 thunderbird muffler by adding the bridge etc. He still has it to this day and plays it in every show. Matter of fact there is a replica of it in the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum in Branson. It has been featured in many magazines etc. You can see a picture of it on Doug's website at: http://www.douggabriel.com/

His wife Cheryl and their 3 kids are all in the show. Their daughter is KJ's age and the 2 of them get along great. They put on a great 2 hour show Sat. night. They have performed here 8 times now and they will probably come back again in a few years.

We all ate together again after the show and it's actually funny because I have been nicknamed "Betty Crocker" of Marysville. Friday night they all asked "who made the apple and peach pies" I said I did. They loved them. Then Sat. night we were all eating (about30 of us) and Doug said "who made the Taco Salad?" Mom pointed to me and he later asked how I made it cause he loved it. About 20 minutes later Cheryl asks "Who made the brownies?" and mom again points to me and Cheryl said "Janet you win the best cook award" I said "What do I win" she told me I should OPEN a restaurant in Branson or come cook for her. I was so embarrassed because there were other ladies there that made yummy food, too. Who doesn't like a Potluck. Sunday was Potluck dinner and I told KJ to carry the few brownies leftover to the car and she dropped them on the steps outside so goodbye Brownies.

Sunday Dan said we had to get rid of the momma cat and her kittens and can you believe I actually CRIED when he talked about it. He let the kids pick one kitten to keep here so they kept KJ's kitten Jewels. A couple from church who live in the country said they would be glad to take them and the kids can come see them anytime. I was like "How can you separate the momma from one of her kittens" I know they are animals but still it bothers me. I feel sorry for Jewel and I seem to "talk" to her more now that she has been "ABANDONED" by her momma, with help from my husband. I said either they all go or they all stay but I lost. He quickly reminded me that when we found the momma cat last year as a kitten we did keep her from her momma. So life goes on.

Well, I still haven't started working on the big garage sale stuff yet. Maybe when I get done with this blog or maybe not, the kids want me to play a game of Probe. Maybe I'll use the word BLOG with a bunch of blanks on both sides!!! (OOPS KJ just read my blog so I guess I'll have to think of a better word.

Well, I sure wish all of you that haven't blogged lately (cough Mitchell, Sarah, Becca Charity, Jimmers...) would update soon. Some people watch TV or read a newspaper but I like to read BLOGS. So do me a favor and update...now...yes you...don't look at my blog like that...BLOG on your own. I'll be checking back before bed...don't make me ask again. THANKS!!! YOU made my day.

I'm BACKKK!!!

This is for Rene and Jimmers who thought I was abducted by aliens or ran off and joined the circus, which in away might be Half true, the circus part, anyway. This has been the craziest summer EVER!!! I can't wait for school to start the 14th so maybe just maybe I can get caught up around here. I don't know where to begin.

All 3 kids went to church camp last week. They loved it and made so many friends and memories, I however had planned to CLEAN SWEEP my house and get stuff ready for the huge garage sale in September...didn't happen. Instead I put on 1300 miles (yes that's 1,300) in 6 days thankfully July 9th we traded the van in for a car that gets better gas mileage.

The reason so many miles is because the baseball team the boys played on had District Play offs the same week. Tony being the loyal team mate decided he wanted to play ball and attend Camp also. I being the devoted mom decided I'd pick him up on game days and he'd play and I'd return him to Camp the next morning.

Camp was 112 miles from our house so on Sunday I dropped off all 3 at Camp and said my goodbyes and Dan suggested I drive on over to KC area (45 miles from Camp) and visit my brother and my sister and their families since I had to pick up Tony on Tuesday (Nick is on the team but doesn't play as much, the coach let him on the team so the boys would be on same team so we didn't have to travel so much (That last comment will sound funny after reading the rest of this blog). My mom went, too. It was great to see my siblings again and the 38 hours I was there went fast. I got Tony back to Marysville where we swung by and picked up Dan and my Dad and drove another 36 miles to the ballgame.

To be honest I think we all thought they'd lose because they were playing the team that won STATE last year (and they'd already beat us twice this season) and favored to win it again. But WE WON!!! And what a game it was. (If every game was that exciting I might become a Baseball fan). Tony wanted to go back to Camp for Wed and part of Thursday so I drove him back to Camp EARLY Wed. a.m. (my mom went also, oh the freedom of Retirement) and we went back to KC to stay the 24 hours there. Well, about 5:30 my niece Ashley (whose brother Levi was a counselor at Camp) had a brain storm that she and I would drive the 45 miles that night back to camp to see "Everyone" and took Kristen and Kourtney also. I got to see all 3 of my kiddos there and went to the Devo. (Glad I went that night because KJ was feeling homesick and seeing me helped her make it through Friday).

SO then on Thursday I left KC area picked up Tony that afternoon and we all went to the game, and they WON again. Which meant they were going to STATE!!! So Fri bright and early (my mom stayed home to recoup) Tony and I headed back to camp with the intention of getting his suitcase and stuff and bringing home Nick and KJ also but they didn't want to miss the Closing activities that night so Dan said that KJ and Nick could ride home with their cousin Levi who was following our minister back to Marysville after the awards etc.

So, Tony and team played Friday night to see what "seed" they'd play at State, well, they lost by one run (in my opinion they didn't give 100% knowing they were going to State anyway and after playing 3 games in one week and some are in 4 H so they were getting ready for the County Fair and I know Tony was worn out from camp (and traveling).

So anyway, Monday a.m. the kids and I (Dan had to work) headed out west for State. They only had 9 players so Nick HAD to play. Top of the 3rd we were ahead 4-0. Other team then put in their main players and we got "SMOKED" (and I don't mean just because it was 102* degrees) final score us 5 them 9. So ball season is OVER!!! And hopefully I won't have to Drive any distance anytime soon.

The things we do for our kids. It meant so much to Tony that we would allow him to go to Camp and play in Districts, also. He's a great kid. On Sunday he was baptized, bless his heart. He's growing up so fast and loves the Lord so much. Hard to believe he'll go to Jr. High this year. He plans to play football this fall so I guess we'll be putting on even more miles. So thankful we got rid of the van the car gets way better mileage.

As I set here typing I'm looking around my desk, that has become buried under a stack of Enrollment papers, football camp news, a letter about my 30th Class Reunion in Sept. that I need to send them updated info about me and my family. Vacation Bible School invitations to send to the kids' friends and 4 huge empty boxes that I had hoped would be FULL of "stuff" for the garage sale. OH AND UNDER ALL THAT... ARE PICTURES THAT NEED TO GO IN Photo albums yet, but what's the hurry, they've been there about 2 years now.

Tony has football Camp starting Mon. - Fri. next week then VBS is the 2nd (that's pretty much ready to go thanks to Judy). Oh, I forgot to mention all the laundry I have to catch up on, even though I've done 12 loads since they got back from Camp. And as I look at the clock it's about time I start supper. (Always something to do). Kids are only little a short time and before you know it they go off to college or travel to Australia or Germany or Brazil or Italy (you know who I'm talking about...my travelin nieces).

Sorry this is so lengthy (Mitchell I tried to use Paragraphs so you'd keep reading it to the end) :) This is only the Readers Digest version of July, it's kinda like keeping a Journal that you let the whole world read but it will be here for me to read so I can remember these precious years with the children God has blessed me with for I am Truly Blessed.

Oh and just so you all know how it feels to keep being reminded that "YOU NEED to BLOG"... BLOG already!!!
Quote of the week: "Mom, I didn't miss you while I was at Camp, because I saw you every day" KJ (except Monday). Oh and my roadtrip wasn't near as "cool" as Heather's.

P.S. That is KJ in the Catchers gear, her games are OVER also. And the boys in their baseball uniforms, up to bat. (click on pictures to enlarge)

FOR SALE: PIANO in Excellent Condition

Well, I did it again. Remember a few post back when I told how I stood at an auction 4 1/2 hours to bid on a Piano just to see it go for more than I planned to bid and then heard of a piano, in excellent condition, for $25.00. Well, I guess some people have a different opinion of what "Excellent Condition" looks like. I asked the lady what shape it was in and she said "Excellent Condition." I asked her if it was one of those old fashioned ones that stand so tall or if was a short one (even pointed to the high schools piano that is short, I'm sure there's a name for each type of piano but it escapes me right now) and she said it was short and was OAK and her mother (in her 70's) was agreeing with everything her daughter said. When I asked the price she said "$25. and you (us) haul it off". So Dan called and talked to her and she pretty much gave him the same descriptions and he told her we'd like to buy it and made arrangements to pick it up.

Well, Dan and his crew went to pick it up and Dan knew I would not be a happy camper when I saw it but Dan being the nice guy that he is (we did commit to buying it... site unseen, which we won't do again) proceeded to load it on the truck and bring it home. Meanwhile, I moved out KJ's keyboard and stand and was so excited to see our great buy, when I opened the back door and saw this HUGE DARK UGLY PIANO and said something like "WHAT IS THAT???" as I fought back tears and felt so disappointed. What happened to my "short, excellent condition piano" Was this some kind of joke Dan was playing on me as he proceeded to show me that it was "In Tune" although KJ will never really be able to "TICKLE the Ivories" because there's no Ivory left to tickle!!! As you can see by the picture that half the keys are worn down to the bare wood, (maybe I should check and see if this once belonged to Bach or maybe even my favorite, Pachebel, then I wouldn't be so disturbed by the fact that it's in such poor condition, although I only paid $25. for it).

Anyway, one thing she said that is true about it is that it is in tune. It does make me happy that it doesn't stop KJ from playing it, or composing a few songs for us. Nick and Tony even play it and I've heard Dan a few times. Today, when my Grandma was here for lunch, she played a song she learned over 75 years ago, on our HUGE UGLY PIANO. Special memories I'll have of this HUGE UGLY PIANO, but I guess I'm still in the market for a Piano. If you know someone who has a SHORT PRETTY PIANO for sale and it's in "Excellent Condition" take a picture of it for me, THEN I'll decide.

"Mom, you're crazy"

You decide! Am I crazy? Every one's in the basement, except me, plus the family of one of Dan's workers, 5 or 6 people. I'm upstairs watching the weather (and blogging about it) on the computer. The sirens went off at 5:08 and KJ insisted we go to the basement (and called me CRAZY). We lost power several times and had marble size hail. They said a tornado was "up and down" since Clay Center (50 miles from here) and there's reports of damage. I did not see a tornado but the wind was 50-70 mph and I did take some video of it. They installed new tornado sirens in town and it is LOUD and it has a computerized voice that said "This is a tornado warning. please seek shelter" It sounded WEIRD.

There's several reports of tornado activity in the area, both south and north. Another ballgame canceled due to weather. I hope the storm chasers team from the discovery channel got what they were in the area for. They call this the "30 year tornado" meaning every 30 years we've had this kind of weather ( I do remember going to the basement in the 70's I think on Jim's b-day) because of a tornado, it wasn't to severe. I do like to watch storms ( I use to follow firetrucks but Dan made me stop) even though in 1976 lightening struck right behind me and knocked me to the ground. My dad thought it hit me and thought I was dead. I remember looking up at his face with tears streaming down his cheeks...(I've got goosebumps).

Anyway, it wasn't my time to go and I believe God is in control but I do hope it's not soon, as I'd love to see my kiddos grow up. Well, they still haven't given the "all clear" yet because there's still strong winds in the area. They say there's another storm coming during the night.For some reason KJ wants to stay in the basement, wrapped in a blanket I suppose, watching everyone play pool and ping pong, in a very dusty basement.

So much to do...so little time.

To borrow a line from Heather's blog, I too "just want to be BORED". I want to have a day where I do absolutely NOTHING!!! A day where I don't have to go work at the cafe', a day where there's not one item in the 6 laundry baskets in the laundry room (or a load of towels forgotten in the washer). A day where I could sleep til I WANTED TO GET OUT OF BED. A day where I didn't have to get breakfast, lunch or supper on the table. A day where I didn't have to be taxi driver, maid, beautician, dishwasher, or even a referee. What am I thinking? I had days, weeks even years of being BORED (well not totally bored) when I didn't have these 3 precious kids the good Lord blessed us with. I don't want those days back, for anything. This is the job I signed on to do when I said "I do" almost 28 years ago. It's just sometimes it gets a little over-whelming.

Today I had planned to start "down-sizing" our house by going room to room and taking out anything we don't need/use and then start marking stuff (when time allows) for the big sale in Sept. (I'm not one to wait til the last minute to work on it) but it didn't turn out that way. Tony had to be at summer weight-lifting at 9:30-10:30 which I drove him too, then I got home and put in a load of laundry, and at 11:00 my mom called from the cafe' "Janet, can you come in today, we're swamped". (It rained and that brings people to town). So I went into work, daddy was home with the kids. I got home at 2:00 made Spaghetti and put a roast in the crock pot for tomorrow then Dan needed me to pick him up at the job site 8 miles from town. Got home sun was shinning so I decided to hose down the driveway and sidewalks (have I mentioned I'm a neat freak) and while the kids got in the pool I started this post (with many interruptions... Schwan's man came, got boys to get their ball uniforms on...) Oh and told Dan to call the lady that has a Piano for $25 bucks. We're getting it, site unseen. (Did I tell you I stood at an Auction Saturday in the HOT SUN for 4 and a half hours just to bid on a Piano that went for $325. (Truth be told, I think the lady (niece of the couple having it) that got STUCK with it was Bidding it up Dan told me not to go higher than $300.00 and when I wouldn't go $350.00 the lady looked a little upset she got it. Anyway, a lady at the sale told me she knew of a lady with a nice piano that only wanted $25.00 and we haul it off. So Dan called her tonight and we'll get it Sat. KJ is so excited. No more keyboard. She'll set an play the keyboard for quite a bit. I love to hear her play. I hope she sticks with it, forever. I begged my mom to let me take lessons but all I did was play with her cats (yes, I really did love cats back then) and my sister learned to play. We have to go to the boys' game. Have a good week, ya'll.

Memorial Weekend Activities...

Let's just say my Memorial Weekend was very Memorable. We had a house full of relatives here for the long weekend. We all ate at my parents cafe' Sat. noon, then stopped by the new Veteran's Wall of names, where we found the plaques for my dad Grandpa Jellybeans and some uncles. Then we all went to the cemetery where we stopped to see the rows and rows of white crosses they put up every Memorial Day that has the names of Veterans who have passed away. It is so hard to see Grandpa's name on one of them, and also my sister-in-law Donna's brother Brent's name, who served our country but was killed by a drunk driver.

Then we went to Grandpa's grave where Grandma and mom placed flowers, and then to my dad's parents grave. (see picture of KJ with my dad). It's always an emotional time for me to go to the grave sites. I'm glad Sarah took Grandma to Grandpa Hooyer's grave.

Everyone came to our house where we visited and Dan grilled Hamburgers and Hot Dogs for 18 of us Sat. night, then we sat around and played "Last Word" and "Taboo" (you all know how much I dislike that game). On Sunday, my brother-in-law, Roger preached one of the best sermons I've heard. Then we all went to my parents cafe' (the last meal the KC bunch will ever eat there, as my parents turn it over to the new owners in June) for Potluck (25 of us) and help my Grandma celebrate her 86th Birthday. I had e-mailed all her family and told them to e-mail me Birthday wishes for her and I made a booklet of them for her (see picture). Some wrote short messages some long, one even wrote an awesome Poem for her, if you guessed Judy, you're right. But one message everyone wrote was how much they love her and happy that she is still with us. Some thanked her for sharing the Lord with all of us and what a faithful servant she has been and how much she loved Grandpa and led by example. (where'd my keyboard go).

Well, Dan and I had planned to take the kids to World's of Fun on Monday (we both had the day off) and then the kids asked the cousins to go also so Dan asked if he could stay home cause "I'd just be cranky and boring and no fun" (his words) so then the kids talked me into going over Sunday and staying at my sisters house (she lives just minutes away from World's of Fun) so we packed really quick and got to Liberty in time for p.m. services there and got to hear Roger preach again (a different sermon but another great job). The kids then went to a young kids devo and I went to Target and Price Choppers to get World's of Fun discount tickets (saved $9. per ticket).

We all stayed up late visiting but I knew the kids could sleep in cause World's of Fun didn't open til 10:00. We got there right at 10:00 and stayed til the park closed at 8:00 p.m. (I was happy it closed at 8:00, not 11:00 or midnight as it does on weekends). All 7 of us stuck together the whole day, we didn't even use our cell phones. It was the perfect day, nice and cool (for me) and NOT BUSY at all. Some rides the kids could just stay on it and ride it again. KJ finally decided just an hour before leaving she'd ride the Mamba (the scariest roller coaster there, go to http://www.worldsoffun.com/ and check out the video) she loved it and rode it again. (I said so many prayers that day for their safety). I found $23.00 dollars on the ground and when I went to turn it in she told me to keep it because they didn't want it because kids would come ask if anyone turned in cash and then take it and then when the real owners came asking if cash was turned in it was already taken, so they told me to keep it, I hesitated but another manager came over and told me to keep it too. So I did, and I used it to let the kids climb the "rock wall" that cost $5.00 each for 2 climbs (had I not found the $$$ they wouldn't have climbed it). I was surprised how well they climbed it, one was a little scared (I won't name names).

Anyway, I just looked at the clock I gotta get to work, I might get fired... by my mom. I tell everyone World's of Fun should sell t-shirts that say "I survived World's of Fun with 6 kids" on it. We had fun but we were ready to go by 8:00, we stayed overnight at Judy's and headed home early Tuesday in time to go to work.

So much has happened since my last post...

On Tuesday the 20th the last day of school the kids got out at noon. I was working at my parents cafe' (the new owners take over in June) and looking back now, I should have noticed the signs of a stroke. By 3:00 that afternoon I was setting in the Emergency room at the local hospital while they ran some test on my dad. By 5:00 I watched as they loaded my dad in an ambulance and it took off for Lincoln, about 75 miles from here.

I took mom to her house where she grabbed dads medicines and some clothes stopped by my house got a few things for KJ and I (the boys stayed home with dad) and by 7:00 we were standing in dads hospital room, we slept (tried) in there that night. He had a restless night, too. We had to watch 2 videos about strokes. The key word to look for in a stroke victim is: FAST F= Face drooping lip A= Arm limp arm, they can't hold up the arm that is affected S= speech and T= Take action. Looking back on that day, when dad was washing dishes I remember thinking when he was talking to me he seemed to slur his words and I remembering thinking "Dad must be worn out". And he had said earlier that his feet felt like lead etc. When dad came back about 2:00 mom noticed his face looked like it was drooping and dad said he just felt "Worn out" and mom noticed his slurred words and the salesman ( who had to drive himself to the hospital last fall and ended up having a bypass) told mom he needed to be checked out. So mom called the hospital and they said bring him right up.

Dad was struggling to walk and they did some testing and the dr. said his heart was ok and said he thought dad had a light stroke. He asked dad to walk across the room and dad tried to walk but couldn't. Dad starting crying. The dr. asked if he was having any pain and dad said No but that he knew he was trying to walk but his legs wouldn't. And the dr. recommended he go to Lincoln and called for the ambulance. It all happened so fast. I prayed that God would let me have my dad just a few more years, I need him in my life. When KJ came in the room she was crying and said "First Gpa Jellybeans died (that's what they called my gpa) then Gpa Hooyer died I don't want Gpa Oehm to die". To make a long story short, dad will have to do both occupational and physical therapy.

He insisted on coming home the next day and so we got home Wed. eve. about 9:30. We won't let him help at the cafe although they told him to get back to doing what he was doing. Maybe this week. Won't be long and mom and dad won't have to go to work at the cafe. Dad plans to keep doing upholstery, just small jobs, no couches.

Well, we had a house full of people over last night Dan grilled burgers and hot dogs. We played some games and I crashed ( I stayed up all Friday night, couldn't sleep, still trying to catch up from no sleep in the hospital). The boys helped out at the cafe' Thursday and Friday. They made about ten bucks a piece a day in tips. It's burning a hole in their pockets. They did a great job, people liked them and kept telling me how cute they are and so well behaved and grown up. Which reminds me that I now have a son who will go to Junior High in the fall, which means he will play "Real" football not flag (ouch). Just reminds me how fast my life is going. Seems just the other day I was bringing that same little guy home from the hospital and here he is 12 years old already.

Well, I will post more later. As I often say, hug your loved ones and tell them how much they mean to you, dad's stroke reminded me that you never know....

God is so Good...He answers Prayers!

SOLD!!! SOLD!!! SOLD!!!
Last night, I literally fell asleep praying, praying to God that if it is His will my parents would sale their cafe, and this morning at 9:30 my mother called me with the best news...they sold the cafe. I screamed, I cried and I thanked the Lord for answering our prayers. This couple looked at it Saturday and talked to mom and dad for an hour and a half. Monday the man came in an asked for a profit-expense report which mom gave them and he came in Tues. and talked to them awhile and this morning he came in and told them they were going to buy it and he followed through with a handshake. The realtor is getting the papers ready for them to sign etc. Mom had planned to close this Friday, the 16th, if no one bought it, but Thank the Lord He answers prayers. He asked mom if she would keep it OPEN til June (so it doesn't close up) and help them out while they learn the business. She said she would. The lady that has been working with mom since she opened it 5 years ago will continue to work there also. They asked if I would stay on til they hire another girl and mom told them I have 3 youngins at home but that I could work the noon hour until a new one is hired. Tony said he'd help out also (he helped over Spring Break and he loved it, especially the Tips).

I am so happy for my mom, maybe now she can get off her feet and know what semi-retirement is... ha ha. Dad will probably never retire, he loves doing upholstery work to much. Mom puts in LONG hours, by the end of the day her back and feet are killing her. She's not one to set down, she just keeps going, no matter how bad the pain.

I just can't believe this, it happened so fast. I'm happy but yet sad, too. As I know mom would still be doing this if her back would let her. Sad, because we made so many friends in the 5 years, regulars that come in on a weekly basis, some that come in daily. The kids are sad because no more Sunday dinners or birthday get togethers at Grandma's cafe. KJ's sad because she won't get her Bacon & lettuce on a croissant sandwich and homemade cinnamon rolls. But what I'll miss most is spending time with my Mom, because since I started working for her 8 weeks ago (it was only going to be a week or two) I've gotten to spend so much more time with her. We have so much fun together. She's my best friend. I feel sorry for people that don't have anything to do with their mom, and I know plenty that don't. Well, I just looked at the clock on the wall, it's time to leave for Bible Study. God Bless.

That Cat!

Click to enlarge

Leave it to the kids' Cat to steal my "limelight", on Mother's Day, of all days. She goes and has 4 kittens (one died,but 3 are still alive). Can you believe that, what nerve she has stealing my Special day!!! I'm just kidding. I was so excited when Dan came in and told me. I woke up the kids and told them to go look in daddies work truck (I'm glad my van door wasn't open, I draw the line with kittens being born in MY vehicle). They were so excited. They stayed out there for the longest time and I had to NAG to get them to come eat breakfast (so much for my breakfast in bed for Mother's Day). They couldn't think of names so Tony went online to "Pet names" for ideas. Last I heard Tony named his OREO HERSHEY TACO KITKAT (KITKAT IS LIKE the LAST NAME:)Nick went with POUNCE, just Pounce. KJ named hers JEWELS NACHO KITKAT.

We really never agreed on what the mother cats name is. We each called her a differant name. Tiger, Smokey, Scratchy I usually just said "Here, Kitty Kitty". Dan left his truck door open by mistake Sat. and sometime after that the momma cat decided to have her babies on his truck seat. (EEEEWWWWWW) Anyway, they seem to be doing great. Dan put them in the old garage and the kids spend alot of time "watching" them. I told them I'd call Swap shop and advertise FREE KITTENS but they didn't like that idea. We'll have to keep a close watch on them because we don't want what happened to the 2 baby chicks to happen to the kittens (a dog or something came in the garage and got ahold of one that we found dead, the other was never found). I'll post a picture of the 4 we got left. They should be going out to the farm pretty soon.

The lone surviving chicken from last year is still alive and is so pretty. We "find" 3 or 4 of her eggs a week (Nick has to look high and low for the eggs, she never lays them in the same place). We're all going for a walk, so...ta ta.

TOP 10 REASONS I haven't BLOGGED, in 3 weeks

10. I was in a COMA, no wait, dead (Charity)
09. I was taking a class about PARAGRAPHS (I flunked)
08. I went to Hawaii
07. I went off the deep end.
06. I lost my mind.
05. I lost my password.
04. I was bored. (Mitchell)
03. I took Sarah's advice,"Ignore them".
02. I was worried Becka would pass out from holding her breath.
01. I HAVE BEEN CRAZY BUSY!!!!!

Seriously, I have been so busy. I work at mom's Cafe, I go here go there, ball practice has started, end of school activities to go too. I went shopping in Lincoln with 10 ladies from church last Saturday (that was a BLAST)Course there's the other job I have, WASH COOK CLEAN. By the end of the day I am pushing the kids to go to bed earlier just so I can. I feel WORN OUT!!! All I want to do is SLEEP!!! (like right now). I'm not 50 (yet) I shouldn't feel so tired all the time. Oh well...

Well, tomorrow is Mother's Day. Tell your mom how special she is to you. The kids each gave me things they made at school for me, and they keep replacing the Lilac's on the kitchen counter for me with fresh ones. I love Lilacs I wish they bloomed longer. Well, I know this is no where close to being as long as the last blog (I don't want to bore Mitchell) but maybe what they say is true... absence (of blogging) makes the heart grow fonder. Ignore that... I am brain dead. Nite Nite!!!

Here comes the WEEKEND!!!

This week has flown by, it's Friday already. May is just around the corner and school gets out the 20th. Today it's cold and misting, another day Dan can't work. He did dishes at my mom's cafe yesterday. We were so busy we ran out of plates and glasses. (That's a good thing). When it rains the farmers (and their wives) come to town and eat out. I've worked everyday the last 2 weeks.

My mom is trying to sell the cafe but if it doesn't sell by July 1st my dad wants her to close it up, that's my mom's 69th birthday and my dad wants her to be able to RETIRE. She doesn't want to sell it but she has a bad back and she puts in LONG days. I wish I had the energy and time it takes to run a cafe and take it over for her, but the kids keep me busy with all their activities. When I was in junior high my dad owned a Standard Gas station and I loved going there after school and "helping" pump gas and wash windows and then in '78 he turned the back room shop area into an Ice cream parlor "The Big Dipper" then they added Hamburgers and Hot dogs then meals and I worked there for years and I loved it.

Tony has helped at Gma's and I think it would be fun to have my kids growing up working a few hours a day in the cafe. The Tips are great and a little work never hurt anybody. Nick is a hard worker already. He's the type where if he sees something needs done, he does it. Tuesday and Wed. it was so windy here and the garage was full of dust and dried leaves and it bothered him to see it "dirty" so he swept the garage. He feeds and waters the chickens (down to 4 now, a dog or something got into the garage and managed to take the lid off the chickens and killed 2 of them, Whipper Snapper (Kyle's) and Furball (Gracie's) and we found the other 4 hiding behind a wood pile). Nick also feeds our horse and gets the eggs (he never knows where she's going to lay them). Kailoni likes to make cookies and dust for me and Tony, well, Tony will do the jobs when I ASK him to. He'd rather be outside shooting baskets or something.

NEW THOUGHT (insert paragraph here) :) :) :) :0.
My brother and his 2 friends and my brother-in-law from KC area are in town Turkey hunting with my other brother. I would never set out in this COLD, WET weather just to get a Turkey, especially when I can go to Wal-mart, get one out of the freezer section and be done with it. Don't have to get up at 5 a.m. bundle up, carry a gun, chair, turkey caller etc etc set in cold rain and use a turkey caller to lure them in and you know the rest of the process. I guess I could say "Turkey" calling a Turkey. Ha Ha (this is where you laugh, Ray and Jim, at your favorite sister, who makes you cookies and caramel popcorn and gives you a warm place to stay). :)
New thought, new paragraph, how am I doing Charity?

They still haven't been able to do that heart procedure on my Grandma yet. She's weak and her blood is to thin yet. (Maybe God's way of answering my prayers, I'm worried she won't make it through the procedure this time, I just keep thanking God for each day He's kept her, still in my life). (Blurry keyboard again, time to change the subject)

[New thought...] I can't wait til Garage Sale season starts. Kids and I like to go to them. Well, I guess we're having another Huge sale like we did last year in that huge building again. We found out the date of the US 36 State to State Treasure Hunt (official name) (garage sales) and reserved the building. It's Sept. 20th. I won't have as much "STUFF" this time. Course, I always have kids clothes and they'll have toys etc. They'll sell Hot Dogs again. And Tony will probably sell some ball cards, like last year. The kids each made enough money that we went to World's of Fun again. (Thought: All you Iowans should meet us at World's of Fun (amusement park) this summer. Wouldn't that be fun. I can get discounted tickets. SWEET!!! Well, I think I have actually run out of things to "Talk" about, I know, don't be so surprised. (DO you realize I have posted 3 times this week...to bad the same can't be said about some of you, HINT HINT!!!HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

Little Bunny foo foo...

Nick found this little bunny (or is it a rabbit or a hare?) Saturday, named him Thumper, fed it, made a cardboard box "house" for it, held it, spoiled it with carrots and held it some more and woke up this morning and found it dead. It got really cold last night, we probably should of put a heat lamp over it, like we have over the chickens, which are HUGE now. It got up to 57* and I knew that Nick would ask to go fishing and he did and we went right after school. It was so windy (and COLD, I wore 3 layers and gloves). We had a few bites but they were ready to leave after an hour of fishing (NO FISH FOR SUPPER TONIGHT). Nick and KJ learned that sometimes mommy is right when she tells them to wear pants instead of shorts and will listen next time, BRRR, I just shivered. I need to give Tony, Nick and Dan haircuts yet and start supper, too yet. The boys are playing baseball with friends at the park 2 blocks from here, KJ is doing her homework Dan's still working and my niece Ashley just left to go who knows where (not to Brazil) and I am typing yet another post (without paragraphs, no doubt) and checking blogs, since my family is busy. I've been helping at my mom's cafe over the noon hour and need to get some laundry started. So I guess that's it for today. Ahhh, life in the fast lane. Wouldn't want to be anywhere else, well, maybe shopping.

Welcome Home Ashley (Howie)

As mentioned before my niece, Ashley,(known as Howie to my kids, that's how Nick pronounced "Ashley" when he was little and it stuck)surprised us all March 31st when she flew back from Brazil without telling anyone, except her dad who picked her up at the airport, that she was flying home after working in an orphanage in Rio. As you can tell by the pictures we were all so happy to see her, and that she made it home safely. My mom 'bout had a heart attack. That's my Grandma she's setting by on the couch, she has heart problems but she remained calm. She had so many neat stories to tell. Her brother Levi is coming home from Denver this weekend, can't wait to see him.

This is for you Mitchell

Your wish is my command, Mitchell. You asked for a picture of me so here you go. My mom "Cropped" the picture...and my hair. Do you think Nick looks like me or Dan?

To Go or Stay

I had a tough decision to make...should I go or should I stay. Dan's side of the family reserved a Lodge in Iowa this past weekend and all 10 of his siblings and most of their families went, except me. All week I couldn't decide, yes I'd go no I'd stay home. You see my Grandma, who'll be 86 next month is having health problems. She was suppose to have a procedure done for her heart Thursday but they canceled it until next week ( don't know medical term, but they put her out and "re-start" her heart, it's out of rhythm, last time they did it she had a hard time recovering from it and they can only do it 2 more times) She has to use oxygen and her 4 daughters take turns staying at her house 24/7 with her (she was in the hospital over a week). Friday after Dan and the kids left for Iowa, without me (I cried after they left) My mom and dad called and took me out to the new Mexican food Restaurant then my mom and I went to see Grandma. My Aunt Barb was there and I jokingly said " Grandma, let's play some Books & Runs" and she lit up like a firecracker and I asked if she was up to a game of cards and she insisted we play, so we moved a little table into the living room and the 4 of us played, for 3 hours. We kept asking her if she wanted to quit, but she didn't want too. She said it made the night go faster (she didn't know it but it made my night go faster too, without my family home). I took some cookies to her (cause mom said she hadn't been eating much) and she ate a chocolate chip one and she said it was the first thing she'd eaten that taste good to her in a long time. She takes 11 different pills a day plus uses oxygen so her taste buds are shot. It is very hard for me to see my grandma like this. I drove my grandparents many places and made so many memories with them. It was horrible when my Grandpa died in 2006, I miss him more than you'll ever know and then I lost my father-in-law this past October, to cancer, and I cry often when I see his picture and think of all the memories of knowing him over 30 years. I know we all have to die sometime but it is so hard to say Goodbye to a loved one. I better change the subject the keyboard is getting a little blurry. Also, I had a wonderful surprise Monday night. My sister-in-law called and asked us to meet her at Grandma's about 8:15, so we did. Well, we didn't know it but my niece Ashley had flown home from Brazil. WHAT AN AWESOME SURPRISE!!! She worked in an orphanage in a very scary part of Rio De Janeiro since July 1st. She came home because of something to do with her Visa passport. She's not sure what she'll do now. Her fiance' is still there. They had planned a Feb. wedding here in the states so we'll see what happens. She came over that night and we stayed up talking til 12:30. She had so many interesting stories to tell. I give her credit for staying there as long as she did, her living conditions were ridiculous. Bless her heart, I would have left the day I arrived. Oh, back to my family being gone 2 sleeps. I hope I never have to do that again. I came home Friday night to this BIG HUGE DARK HOUSE (mom said I could sleep at their place) but I thought I can do this so I checked the house and motioned for her all clear, but I slept with most the lights on in the house and with my HUGE Butcher knife on the night stand (and the blankets pulled up to my eyes) I didn't sleep the best, I heard all kinds of noises... heater kicking on, dogs barking, the house settling. SCARY!!! But I'm still here and I got to spend some time with my gma and mom and had a quiet weekend but I sure was happy when they all got home safe and sound yesterday with stories to tell (and laundry to do). Mom just called and I have to work today (and Tues. and Wed.) so I'll close for now. Hug your loved ones.

My last Post

What you are reading right now is my last post. I've decided the time has come to shut down.

April Fool's!!! Did you really think I could shut down. I've got to many stories to tell. Got ya.

Wrestling Season is OVER

It's official...wrestling season is over, finished, done!!! After almost 6 months of wrestling the season has come to an end. You know how happy that makes me Nick hasn't really said much though. He had a great season and even went to State but 2 and 3 nights a week practice and then traveling most weekends has come to an end. They had a pep rally/send off for the 11 kids that qualified for State Thursday night. The coaches did a skit and then they had the 11 boys leave the room and dimmed the lights and they played the theme from Rocky then they'd announce each kid one at a time and say his record and how many times they'd been to State. It was awesome and yes, it made me cry. They each got a T-shirt to wear to State also. Then they each got 3 red balloons and put their name on them and they all went outside and let them go. They got goodie bags with gator ade, a deck of cards and healthy snacks in them. We got the kids out of school early and drove to Topeka and Nick weighed in at 4:00. Then we all got to go eat, finally. (we don't eat til we know Nick makes weight)Nick picked Cracker Barrel and he ate a Steak Sausage salad and had a malt. He's been eating even more now that the season is over. Nick lost his two matches so he was done on Saturday but we stayed over night at Topeka anyway since the room was paid for. Dan took us back to the motel and he went back to watch some of the local kids wrestle. The kids had the pool to themselves then we watched TV then we all went to Steak and Shake and rode around Topeka. Sunday morning we all went to worship at the church building Dan helped build in 1981. Then we drove home. Grandma and Grandpa Oehm put a huge sign on the backdoor for Nick saying how proud they were of him and making it to state. And that he's a WINNER with them. Made his day. He wore his State T-shirt to school today. And I washed his singlet for the last time this season and I had to smile at all the memories he gave us this season and also to know that the season is over...until Oct. Next comes baseball and the boys will be on the same team. They will play towns around Marysville. They were going to play on different teams and they play towns 70 miles away and so Dan and I would have to divide up on Tues. and Thurs. to take them to games and then one of Tony's old team mates dad called and asked if the boys would want to play on his team so that will save us from splitting up and also gas money. Now, I just hope KJ's games aren't on the same nights or we'll be right back from where we started. Guess we'll have to wait and see. Til next time...

Just Say NO

If I could "JUST SAY NO" we wouldn't have old McDonald's farm here, in town. Once again we're Chicken "farmers". The kids talked me into buying baby chicks again, 6 of them this time. We had family visit last week and so they each picked a chick out and named it. Last year at this time we bought 4 and only one is still alive and she gives us an egg a day, usually. When we get 6 eggs Nick makes scrambled eggs, so he made some last night with sausage. Here's their names : KJ's is Fluffy; Nick=King; Tony= Fuzzy Wuzzy; Kourtney=Fuzzy; Kyle= Whipper Snapper and Gracie= Furball. We'll see what happens. Right now we keep them in the garage under a heat lamp and away from the cat. They will move to the farm when they get older. I will admit they are cute and fun to watch and they've changed in the 6 days we've had them.
JUST SO YOU KNOW The kids DO NOT have black eyes. For some reason when I take outdoor pictures there's always that "black spot" on the pictures in the same location, which in these it's by their eyes (Nick & KJ).

Saturday, March 22, 2008

NICK'S GOING TO STATE

Nick took 4th place today wrestling @ Districts and now he goes to State. WOW he had four tough matches today. Each one was a thriller. He pinned the kid in his first match, lost his 2nd match in the 3rd match he had to win it to be able to go for 3rd and 4th. He won the match which guaranteed he'd go to state and the last match for 3rd or 4th was a thriller it ended in a 2 /2 tie (although Nick should have gotten 2 points, that's his coaches words not just his moms) so they had to go into overtime and the rule is the first one to score wins and the kid scored and Nick ended up getting 4th. He was very upset (with himself) and after a little time went by and so many people telling him what an awesome job he did he was back to Happy camper Nick on the way home. He got another medal to hang up and he'll get a t-shirt and his picture in the paper and they will put a huge banner in a store window this week with his name on it. And we'll get to stay in another motel this weekend. After he weighed in Fri. night (he was under weight :) he chose Applebees and he ate a whole rack of BBQ Ribs, salad, fries he had ice cream later, this morning his request for "2 pudding filled donuts" was granted when we found a Daylight Donuts open at 5:45 a.m. (You know that was Dan that got us all up that early) and then at 7:00 Dan took Nick to find some "Sausage and Bacon and eggs" (T, K and I had to stay at the gym or we'd loose our great seats) and Nick fell asleep in the van so Dan went sight seeing around town for an hour while Nick got some much needed rest (the things we do for our kids). We got home at 9 p.m. and I decided to post the results while I'm waiting for my dozen eggs to boil (you have to have Angel (deviled) eggs on Easter don't you). The timer is going off and I am EXHAUSTED.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Tony's time to talk

Tony decided he wanted to become a "blogger" so he created a blog today. It's Spring Break and it's pouring so we worked on it awhile. Just click on Tony's name in my "blog of Interest" on the left. Not sure how often he'll post... by for now things to do...Jim and family coming over today for a few days.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

UPDATE: Nick took 2nd Place today

Districts...here we come. Nick took 2nd place at Sub-Districts today so we'll be heading to McPherson this Friday. He has to place at least 4th there to go to State in Topeka the next weekend. He had tough matches today, he really had to keep moving. He was seated First (meaning the kids he wrestled shouldn't be that tough). So we'll see what Districts brings.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

They take after their father

READING

Report cards came home today and all I can say is "They get their smarts from their dad (and God)". KJ and Nick got A's in all 7 subjects, and Tony got 6 A's and a B+ (in Math) plus an O (Outstanding) in Music. Maybe it's all that fruit and veggies they eat daily, too. I'm so Thankful they are smart and do so well in school (you all know how much I HATED SCHOOL). This is the truth, KJ asked me for help with a Math problem and I actually got a nervous stomach from it, it's 3rd grade Math, I don't think we had Math problems like that in High school, course I've been out of school 15 years, (cough cough) alright 30 years. They know to go to Dan for help with school work (at least they come to me for hugs when they get an ouchy, unless there's blood, then they know to go to Dan). Well, enough about grade cards, just had to do my Motherly duty and brag a little about the kiddos.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Good Luck at Sub- Districts Nick (the Quick)

We know the end of wrestling season is upon us when Sub- Districts take place (this Saturday). After months (and months, like 5) of 2 and 3 times a week practice, it all comes to an end this month. Hopefully, later than sooner, meaning we're hoping Nick goes to State again this year. State is March 29th in Topeka. But first he has to do well at Sub- Districts and Districts. Don't tell Nick I said so but I think he's ready for it to be over and I am too. Although we love to watch him wrestle it is a very long season. He never complains though, well, once in awhile he's said he'd like to stay home from practice but still goes. He took 1st place at Beatrice and at that tournament they have a "Champ of Champions" match where Nick wrestled the winner of the weight class above him and he WON !!! And got the huge trophy shown in the picture. He has a good record this year, although I have No idea what it is exactly and Dan's not here to tell me but it's way more Wins then Loses. I worry more about him getting hurt then if he wins or not. I worry about his neck etc. But God has kept a safe grip on him so far and I pray He continues to do so. Happy Spring everyone. (Side note) On the wall is Record Holders for Beatrice High School and you can see my cousins sons name Seth Burney, he took 1st in the state (Neb.) in Pole Vault. He has the new record at 17 point something.

Friday, February 29, 2008

We're Back!!!