The Main Course

It was sad to part with her 3 roosters, but since we live in the city limits we had to get rid of them before they began to crow and become a nuisance.  We still have the 6 hens, and eagerly await our first farm fresh brown egg.  My husband had the perfect solution, serve them up for dinner at Boy Scout Camp.

 

The roosters were loaded up in their cage and hauled off to scout camp.  My husband had a hard time doing the "deed."  He was to attached to them.  At least he knows how to butcher a chicken, which is a good survival skill.  For his sake, I hope we can just enjoy the eggs from now on.

13 Years After College Graduation, But We're Still Fabulous!

June 15-18, I had the opportunity to reunite with some good friends from college. We're all grown up and responsible now, but we haven't forgotten how to have fun!

Brin impressed us with her tricked out car!

The fine print under the sigh that says "New," says,"This season's hottest releases." But, no, we didn't stand there on purpose. This photo was taken at Borders Book Store. I asked the teenage, heavily pierced clerk, to take a photo for me. He asked, "of what?" I said, my friends and I. What did he think I wanted a photo of??? Glad I didn't ask.

The most interesting water towers I've ever seen! We had a fun time in St.Louis. We ate, talked, and shopped til we dropped! Can't wait for our next reunion!

The Scariest Day... Beware of the Toddler Eating Mini-van!!!

A scary accident occurred in May, and I want to tell the story as part of my journal and to warn others.  It was about 8:00 pm one May evening when I arrived home from the grocery store.  Four of my children were with me and we were exhausted after a long day.  The sun had set and it was dark outside as I took the first load of groceries into the house.  As I was putting the milk in the fridge, I heard a loud cry outside, I asked my oldest daughter to go and see why my 2 year old was crying.  (Minutes earlier I had asked the kids to unstrap her from her car seat and bring her inside, but she wasn't inside yet.)

My oldest daughter came running into the house in a panic, crying and trying to speak. I just said, "run, show me, I'm right behind you, run!" She led me outside to the minivan in the driveway. All the doors were closed and my 2 year old was screaming bloody murder inside. At first I just thought she locked herself in, so I tried the side sliding door, it wouldn't budge. I quickly noticed that my daughters arm was trapped in the automatic sliding door on the passenger side. I couldn't see anything below her elbow. Her arm, from her fingertips to her elbow, was trapped in the door and the door was closed completely. I feared that her arm was severed.

I yelled' "get the phone, call 911!" My daughter obeyed. I repeatedly unlocked the door, and pulled with all my strength to push it open, with no luck. It was jammed shut. I spoke to the 911 operator and yelled for my oldest daughter to run next door and get the neighbor! Our neighbor, a large man at least 6'3" tall and an elementary teacher, came running. He pulled with all his strength for a few minutes. I begged him to do anything, break the door, I didn't care! He had to be very careful as he pulled, not to injure her further. As the police arrived, followed by an ambulance, my neighbor was able to force the door open. My toddler's arm was swollen and bruised, but amazingly not broken. The door was slightly bent and had to be forced closed.

The next day I took my toddler to her pediatrician to make sure her arm was alright. She checked out just fine. My next stop was the Chevy dealership. They told me that the thick rubber weather stripping around the door had cushioned her arm. The door has a sensor to stop it from closing on an object, but when the door is less than 1 inch from closing, if it meets resistance, it torks down even harder to force itself shut. This feature is to overcome dirt or ice build up.

I asked about a safety device and if any recalls existed.  There are no recalls.  I asked how I could report the problem and was told there wasn't a way to report it. 

 WARNING: Pictured above is the 2002 Chevrolet Venture appendage death trap!!!

Back at it...............

I can't believe my last post with pictures was on June 10th (3 months ago)!  I've been a real blog slacker!  Brace yourself for an onslaught of photos from our summer of fun.  I am at least 16 posts behind.  Now that you're on the edge of your seat, I'll give you the quick summary of what is to come, just in case I slack off again and fail to finish my 2010 summer updates. 

This summer was spent watching baseball, sending off the roosters to scout camp as the main course, visiting a cool cob (mud) house, 11 yr. old b-day, Aunt E. visited, Aunt & Uncle Smith visited, trip to Omaha, Grandma P. b-day & Uncle B visited, found stray dog, birth of 5 hamsters, 1st day of school, seminar at the lake, and son's football season off to a good start!

Oh, where did the time go?  Summer came and went much too quickly!  Looks like fall will be just as busy and fun!

Just doing our part.........

  

Over the past year, I've had a strong feeling that I should get involved in local government.  After declaring our candidacy in March, my husband and I had the opportunity last night to wait in our local courthouse for the results to pour in from the polls. 

We were both on the ballot for Republican Committeeman & Committeewoman for our township.  We both ran against an incumbent.  My husband won with 61% of the votes, and I won with 57% of the votes.  This committeeman/woman position is not a paid position.  We decided to run for the position because we felt we owed it to our community, as conservative republicans, to stand up for the values we hold dear.  They are the family values that brought us back to our hometown to raise our children.  Five days before the election, my husband, kids, and I went door to door, on the hottest day temperatures reached 106 degrees.  I loved knocking on doors and meeting new people.  I am so blessed to live in this community!  I love being surrounded by wonderful friends and neighbors who support the values that we are trying to preserve for our children. 

I would encourage all who read this to get involved in your community!  You can make a difference!  We all are, or should be, looking for those with values, character, and integrity, to stand up!  I recently re-read Gordon B. Hinkley's book, "Standing for Something," and came to realize that we can influence our community for good by electing those who bring us together in a spirit of cooperation, encouragement, and courtesy. We need to bring civility to our local government, electing those who demonstrate basic human kindness, goodness, temperance, and display respect for others in every aspect of their daily lives.  In the book, he also shared, “When righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn,” Proverbs 29:2.  It was not an easy decision to declare our candidacy for these positions, but after much prayer and pondering, we knew it was time for us to serve. 

My husband was also on the ballot for county prosecutor.  He was unopposed and won the republican nomination!  He will be on the ballot again on November 2 for the general election.  Voter turn out for this election was an amazing 40%.  (Our state projected a 20% turn out.)  We are so grateful for all those who voted for us!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

June 2010 Youth Fair

Reserve Champion Poultry!

Visiting with the poultry judge.

Getting ready to show all 9 chickens.

Goofing off in the arena.

Powder Puff Pinewood Derby

The "Rainbow Porcupine Car" designed by our 10 year old.  It won the "Artistic Flair" Award.

This is what you get when girls design cars. Thank goodness there wasn't a weigh-in, these cars would have been too heavy for boy scout standards. At least they are darn cute!

The "Evil Slug-bug Car" designed by our 9 year old.   Her car was really fast and she was awarded "Best Original Design."

The Derby was held on June 9th.  Daddy was a huge help in building these cars with his girls.

Coach's Pitch Baseball

Flying past 2nd base and on to 3rd.

Big Brother did a good job as 3rd base coach and encouraged his little brother to run to home base.

Sneaking under the bleachers with a new friend.  The little boy had a bag of M&M's to share and my little girl was smitten!  She quickly abandoned him when the candy ran out.  Girls are so fickle.

Our boy hit a nice line drive past the coach's foot.

WOW! We have a 9 year old!

She received Magic Rocks, Bakeable Clay, Mr. Doodle Face, paint, and a new outfit. 

We made an amazingly yummy chocolate chip cookie cake.

Daddy Daughter Olympics

On Wednesday June 2, my girls attended their first "Daddy Daughter Olympics" for their Girls Activity at  church.  My two girls & Cousin K. had a great time competing in events such as, paper plate discus throw, javelin straw toss, 3-legged race, and obstacle course relay.  Unfortunately, the water balloon finale was cancelled because of a lightning storm, but my girls were sent home with a bag of filled water balloons to attack their daddy with.

Onlookers were unimpressed by my husbands impromptu display of his P90X bulked up biceps. Notice he is the only one smiling. 

The girls were awarded with medals.

Some Happenings in May

Zonked out while playing with her toy fish bowl.

I had the chance to work a very interesting temporary part-time job. I enjoyed getting to meet all kinds of people and I got to be outside and walk around all day!  The perfect job for me.

Our cherry tree had the best crop ever, even though we forgot to prune the tree. We made an amazing cherry pie, some homemade cherry pie filling to go over my hubby's favorite birthday treat, cherrio cream pie, & canned several jars of cherries.

Someone discovered the pile of dirt that our neighbors had hauled in for their landscaping project and decided to enjoy it toddler style!

Fun & Feats of Strength

I am a little behind on blogging, thanks to a busy & fun-filled summer.  The photos below were taken on May 16th.
 

My innocent little 10 year old was playing a dress-up game on the computer.  Uncle J. was laughing at the "paper dolls" in their skivvies.

The pure joy of running through puddles.

Some friendly brotherly competition as these two raced to remove some old fence posts from my mom's yard.

 

Pictured above are the removed fence posts leaning against the tree and the toddler girls splashing in the puddles.  In the background is the shed/small barn that Uncle J. built for my mom.  It turned out really nice!

My little princess had to wear all of the necklaces while she played with her cousins.

This puddle of water was great fun for toddlers!

The Chordettes - Lollipop

My 2 year old daughter looooooves this song. I am posting it to my blog so I can find it quickly for her. She sings "Lollipop" day & night. "Whalallypop-whalallypop-boom-boom-boom!"

Twelve Days of Crazy!

(To the tune of "12 Days of Christmas)
Twelve year old starts weightlifting (for 7th gr. football)
Eleven people to call back
Ten year olds are moody (but, a huge help around the house)
Nine chickens clucking (in my backyard & fattening up for county youth fair)
Eight year old has birthday
Seven person family (can't fit in second car when van has no A/C)
Six(th) of June hubby's birthday
Five Little League games so far(our 12 year old)
Four kids sleeping in tree-house
Three kids too scared (to sleep all night in tree-house, thanks to big bro!)
Two mini-hamsters (to babysit all summer)
One coaches pitch game (our 6 yr old)..............

.................and toddler starts potty-training!!! 

UGH!.....and summer has just begun!