Perrrrfect!

A perfect weekend! 2 days of enjoying friends and family and watching my husband rope.

Colby on the ever faithful Lady!
Emma found her courage and rode Joe by herself today. Hopefully, that continues!
Bronson hops on Joe like he rides every week. Right back in the saddle.
I hope to have many more pictures like this as my children grow.
Pretty girl:)
I love this picture. I'm thinking sepia.....

The weather was great, the kids were good, mom and dad came to watch Vance....and my laundry is almost done!

Great weekend!

The first night...

I loathe and despise indoor recess.
Since the wind chill factor is making the temp. feel like 6 degrees...we are inside.
YUCK!
So I'm blogging, tuning out, ignoring the mayhem that is happening.
Everyone is safe.
Just loud.
HEY! They've been learning for an hour and 1/2 they need a break...and so do I!
On to my point...
The first night.
Jenn took the pics so I just got them.
Both kids chose a friend to spend the night with them. I thought since they have slept a foot a part from each other for almost 5 years, they might be a little lonesome. All went well.
As you can see, Colby chose Bronson. They were very excited to sleep in the "man cave." They did well.
Emma chose Sylvia. Sylvia brought Emma a special princess tree to keep the bad dreams away. It seems to be working. They also did fine after the giggles died down.
My kids are still doing well in their own bedrooms. Emma and I have gotten back into the routine of reading every night. Colby ventures up sometimes too! Can't wait for you all to see it!

Our adopted child....

Our adopted son, Bronson, went with us to celebrate my mom's birthday. When I told my kids to hug my mom and tell her Happy Birthday, he went over too! Anyway, on the way to Ottumwa, the boys ASSURED me that they would NEVER get married or kiss girls! Check it out...

p.s. for those of you reading this that do not know me, Bronson is not really adopted. he is the neighbor boy we find standing on the side of the road sometimes. we feel sorry for him and let him tag along!

Too much?

Last night when Bree got in my van to go to swimming lessons, between the two of us we had a pile of clothes 2 ft high to trade. She had clothes that are my kids and I had Bronson's and a sweatshirt. Good thing, cuz Bronson needed clothes for after swimming lessons. Think we're together too much???

Boys and Story Hour

Yesterday, we went to the last Story Hour. They got to decorate cookies, listen to stories, and have a picnic lunch outside. Then Bronson came home with us. I stopped by Aunt Joanna's to see if a dress that her daughter used to wear would fit Emma for Miss Pioneer days. Yep, it'll work...a little small. Maddie was there, so Emma got to go home and play with her. A nice treat!


The boys thought they were being jipped, not going to Maddie's house, so they got to put the sprinkler on the trampoline. Loads of fun!

They also spent HOURS in the sandbox making ponds and such. I wish I could have taped their conversation, they were too funny. A glimpse into the future.

Splish Splash

Thursday, Cindy and her girls plus Quinn, Charlotte Cohagan and her 2 kids, and myself and my two plus Bronson went to THE BEACH in Ottumwa. We had loads of FUN! and the kids were wonderful! I am very proud of their manners, commen sense, and kindness. The listened to the rules, ALWAYS told me where they were going, and were nice to others. The only pictures I took were at the otter slide in the kiddie area b/c my camera was safest there. We also spent lots of time in the wave pool where every child wore a life jacket and we relaxed at the indoor water slide. That was nice b/c they can do that one all on their own, if the short ones wear a lifejacket so they don't have to be caught when them come down the slide. It took some convincing but Bronson finally accepted being short at that time! Afterwards, we all enjoyed happy meals from McDonalds. That is a special treat for my kids b/c I HATE happy meal toys. It was definitely a fun day.

Emma and Haley
going down the slide
Miss Emma
Colby down the slide.
Bronson, apparently that pose makes him go faster:)

What hunks!

Rachel and Quinn

Hello

Not sure what to blog about. It's funny how I'm dying to read everyone else's blogs, but then realize it's been 3 days since I posted one myself. Nothing too exciting happening here.
Monday was a hot, hot day. Hung around the house with the kids and didn't feel the greatest.
Tuesday, I didn't go to Curves b/c Vance was called out, but Bronson came to play for a birthday treat. I ended up helping Jenn move some big stuff from Schuyler to Scotland. The kids were great while we were at Schuyler. Vance got sent home and was going to work on the bathroom at the farm so he kept the kids while Jenn and I took her stuff to Scotland. We had lunch at Pizza Hut and they have awesome new chocolate breadsticks! YUM!!! That afternoon, I watched Vance fight with a toilet, went to the library board meeting, and then cooked supper for the Shaws. We then raced down to Bronson's birthday party. He got lots of fun stuff. I pay attention all year and remember the stuff Colby has that he convets. We got him work gloves, an umbrella, and a hooded towel. All things he uses of Colby's when he is here.
Today, I went to Curves and mowed part of the yard as soon as I got home. Some of it was pretty wet so I had to wait. We went to the story hour at the library. It was fun, the kids got to make dirt pudding. We swung by the farm and Kelly was working on more walls in the basement. We then came home and the kids had lunch and a nap while I finished mowing the yard and did laundry, dishes, and picking up.
We think we might have the house sold, which is exciting but scary. I can't decide whether or not to start heavy duty packing. It's all a little overwhelming.
Right now we're waiting for Vance to get home from an outage so we can go over to the farm. We are going to mow a little and try to make it look like the start of a yard. Wish us luck!
K, just reread this post and realized how boring it was....sorry:)

Treed!!!

This post is not for the animal lovers. Not that we are not animal lovers, but also practical hunters. Vance got a coon from the Ulrich's in town and is using it to train his hounds. The first video is of Copper alone and then with the other two hounds.
This post is more for the relatives in ND, that share the love for hunting with us!

Copper very anxious to check things out.

All three dogs, Ticket, Tobin, and Copper...Ticket kind of blends in with the tree.

WOW!!!

What a week! I've never been so emotionally drained. It all started last week, with the request for a special board meeting and then preparing for it. I feel like I would make a pretty darn good reporter after all of the investigating I've done. I also think that I am going to just enjoy my children this weekend, b/c I have neglected them this week.

No details, but we felt very prepared for the meeting and hope the board was receptive. KTVO put it on the news which was interesting. I guess now the word is out and there is no turning back.

This week was VBS at my church. I feel like I haven't helped with it at all...oh wait, I haven't. I'm going to ride the bus to I-MO tomorrow which will somewhat make up for all of my absences this week. Colby had a game tonight and they did so great! We are very proud of their hitting progress and Colby is individually figuring out when to tag the base and when to throw the ball. I am proud of him b/c I still don't know when! Our third inning, EVERY kid got a hit. That is such a great feeling.

Yesterday, Miss Jenn aka...my sister, came into "my room" where I'm teaching 3rd grade summer school. She wanted me to go to the lunchroom and check on Bronson, he was crying. Bronson-cry...no way. Sure enough, there he sat with big tears running down his cheeks and he jumped in my arms when I walked in. A good feeling, but I hated that he was sad. He wanted his Da. I said that Da could get him off the bus, he thought that would be o.k. Needless to say, the tears would not stop and I told Bree I couldn't leave him there, so I brought him to her when I left at noon. I guess he wasn't ready, but I'm glad I could be there for him.

Speaking of being there for Bronson, I am also glad that I can be there for my kids too. That is why NO ONE will push me out of MY school. I was born in Schuyler County, went to school here, and got my first teaching job here. Now I am raising my children here, and I will remain here. I can OUTLAST anyone! Maybe we should get a motto...OUTLAST, OUT STAND, OUT THINK???!!! What do you think?

I'm pretty sure this blog does not make sense, b/c I'm rambling...sorry. I appreciate everyone keeping me and my colleagues in their prayers/thoughts last night. We will need continued support throughout next month. The next board meeting is June 19th if anyone wants to show their concern/support by being there!