What Do You Do?

My fun blizzard turned into a slight nightmare - kind of. During the afternoon I heard many bumps and thumps, but throught nothing of it since it was like the Wizard of Oz outside. But on our way back in the garage, Jason pointed out several shingles in the front yard. He hoped they weren't ours. We couldn't tell from our front yard so he headed over a street to use the binoculars to check it out. He didn't think it was too bad, but really what are you going to do. There was no way that I was letting him get on our roof especially since it would have been three stories to the ground!

As the night progressed the winds got stronger and by the time Ally had to go to bed it was at its worst. It sounded like someone was snapping a huge rug on top of her room. She slept in our room for awhile. We wanted to put her in the guest bedroom (aka Grandma Rhonda's room) but there was a terrible hissing/buzzing noise outside that window. At one point it looked like everyone was going to snuggle up in our bed - sure would have kept it warmer! The winds proved to be very powerful and finally died down about 3 a.m. Still didn't get much snow just more cold air!

We woke up to MANY shingles on the ground. Jason got up there in the afternoon when he got home from work. After hammering away for a couple hours, we think we have it fixed. Jason is quite sore from the experience though.

A Great Day

I feel like a little kid! The weather forcast is for a blizzard.

From my friends at Wikipedia...
A blizzard is a severe winter storm condition characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, and heavy blowing snow. Blizzards are formed when a high pressure system, also known as a ridge, interacts with a low pressure system; this results in the advection of air from the high pressure zone into the low pressure area. The term blizzard is sometimes misused by news media to describe a large winter storm that does not actually satisfy official blizzard criteria.

According to Environment Canada, a winter storm must have winds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or more, have snow or blowing snow, visibility less than 1 km (about 5⁄8 mile), a wind chill of less than −25 °C (−13 °F), and that all of these conditions must last for 4 hours or more before the storm can be properly called a blizzard.

Most adults look at this and go - ahhh slow going on the way home from work, but me NOPE!!! It means school (or work to me!) has some changes hopefully! In Iowa if you make it to school it counts! We found out about 9:00 that we were getting out THREE hours early. This means business if it earlier than our 1:15 early out time! We moved lunch times around - the elementary ate at 10 and I was out the door by 12:25 and home in our nice warm cozy house by 1. The only problem - I have to run Ally to the dr for her stinkin' green snot and low grade fever later.

They have closed some of the interstates already - it is heading our way! The wind is crazy. I got out to get the mail and had a hard time getting my door back open. And think I saw several girls with flip flops on and boys with no coats! Maybe we can get a late start too! I just still want to get there. I hate making the days up!

Now can I get something done while I am here or do I lay on the couch like I want to?

For a Future Wedding Video

Drew had his pjs off one day and found his Puss -n- Boots costume before we could get out of bed. Pretty sure this will make a video or picture board someday!

Henry

When asked about having a new baby SOMEDAY - he says no. He did enjoy holding Henry our newest addition to our small group.

Only Ones

I think that we are the only ones in the neighborhood to shovel our backyard. You might think we are crazy, but this is a ingenious concoction created by my dad, Jason and I to make our lives much easier! On Friday we had about 100 pieces of dry wall delivered - good thing Ally and I were home to accept the delivery! She was "sick", but only threw-up once!

In STL when we finished the basement, we paid the guys to carry it to the basement. They huffed and puffed for over an house carrying it down. I felt so sorry for them, but could only offer my condolences and some Mountain Dew - I was prego with Drew. This time we couldn't get them to carry it down so we were stuck with it in the garage. Now don't forget it is quite chilly outside and vehicles don't like to start and are very cold when they sit outside!

We shoveled a path to the backyard, pulled off a fence section, shoveled a path tot he patio door and tada! Dad brought over his truck so the drywall would lay flat and we bribed a couple good friends to come over on a Friday night to help. I know that Jesse didn't know what he was getting into! We originally thought that they would have to carry it from the fence to the door, but the truck BARELY fit through the fence!

Drew was a great help and stayed up late while Ally was asleep by 7:30 - she really wasn't feeling good!

Thank you good friends and dad!

Start with a Bang

Today started with a big bang - or to be more exact a hiss. Jason had hopefully his final sleep study last night - we don't know the results, but the tech told him he had very little snoring on his back only but heavy breathing. He didn't qualify for the breathing machine test which is good.

He was coming home and usually calls me in the mornings if he isn't home - my wake up call so I can't sleep in! I was in the shower so obviously didn't get out. He didn't show up for awhile so I gave him a call and didn't answer. I just thought - oh he is in the subdivision and will be home in a second. Nope he called a couple minutes later to tell me he had a flat tire.

I usually would freak out here since it was 10 minutes til I need to leave and I had a sub for the day so I could go to a conference, but I had my plans done so I had more time to grade in the morning - not gonna happen. I hurried to get the kids ready to run him a tool since the nuts were striped. I contemplated leaving them snuggled in their beds since I was only going 2 miles, but thought that this would be the day that they would wake up on their own.

We are fairly used to flat tires, but today was COLD. My car registered a -24 plus some windchill to put us about at -40. Changing a flat in this was going to be rough in the cold. He finally decided that he couldn't get it and he would tow it - company car so doesn't cost us a penny just time!

I am thankful for company cars, warm vans and tow trucks!

My Big Day

I am now one less than 8 times my daughters age - which puts me at old. I had one girl tell me that you are a year younger than my mom - YIKES!!!

It was a good day for all of you that played apart. The first present actually came last Friday afternoon about 3 bells - a call from the attorney's office that said the court date had been postponed - not cancel though. So to my 5th hours delight I was there - which was what they wanted!

I got up and Jason made me some pancakes and we got a LATE start which is pleasant any day, but made is extra great. The roads weren't too bad either. At school my "birthday buddy" Marla made cookies for the lounge and gave me a basket of goodies. She was so thoughtful and brought a smile to my face - unexpected surprises are the best.

I made cookies for my students which brought smiles to their faces, but not quiet mouths - snow never does. My 5th hour class is my birthday class. They each bring treats for their birthday. They sang to me and made some beautiful cards. Whoever said that 8th graders are crazy - I disagree - I love them very much.

I got a special call from my dear friend Ann and a message from Amy that brought smiles to my face. Family is suppose to remember and they all did but friends that take the extra time out of their day are blessings!

Supper - a mexican theme but ribs and a cake (that I didn't get to blow out the candles - Thanks Aunt Rachel (and Drew and Ally) made by my mom was delicious.

The only disappointment was that my kids on Friday had voted for Jason to decorate me a Little Mermaid cake. He let my mom do it since he ran out of time. They were upset and think that he still should try it - maybe for Valentines day!

Only 364 days til my next big day!

The Artic

It is bitter cold here! We typically don't have extra blankets on our bed, but the last couple nights have required more. We woke up to NEGATIVE 11 degrees and a cold bathroom floor. We dressed in layers for church and asked the kids to get their shoes on. What does Drew come in with - not his snow boots which he wore all day yesterday and to bed? Instead my creative little guy found his sandles in his closet and continued to argue with us to let him wear them.

I tried - you'll get snow in your socks. Didn't work - You can carry me, Mom.

I tried - your feet will get cold. Didn't work - I will take them in the van and put them on at church.

Finally I decided that reasoning with him wouldn't work, so we pried them off his feet and put his tennis shoes on. I wish some of my 8th graders' parents would stop them from wearing flip flops to school in this weather!

Subpoenaed

Yesterday I got a lovely surprised towards the end of the day. I got called out of class (which RARELY happens) to the office. I was met at the door by a county sheriff. I was a little flustered at first, but he handed me a pink paper and I quickly noticed, "Subpoenaed" and the date - January 22 - ARGGGGHHHH. At first I was confused on why, but noticed the last name of a kid that I had for a couple months - custody case.

So I get to go to court on my birthday. I hope it doesn't last too long and that it is only one afternoon. I don't have much to say since I didn't have the student long and have met one parent for 30 minutes. Should be interesting!

Looking back - I should have been freaked out that the officer had other news for me. Praise the Lord he didn't!

It is freezing here in the promise land and the outlook for warmer weather doesn't look good. Bummed out that the snow predictions didn't come up to what we wanted for a no school day, but oh well - earlier summer break - positive outlook!

Puss-in-Boots

Maybe our kids have watched too much tv lately or maybe they have great imaginations! I try to switch the movie in the van about once a week - I get tired of them quickly! They have been watching and playing Shrek for a couple weeks now as you know by the post a couple days ago.

Tonight my little imagination boy walked into supper with his black snow boots on and his cowboy had and a tool belt on with a "swor" (or saw) drawn. He is Puss In Boots from Shrek 2 and 3. He is crazy! This is Puss.

I think he resembles Puss pretty good! What do you think?

I wonder what his teacher think of us at home?

Dominoes

We have started teaching Ally and Drew how to play dominoes like we did with Grandma Arlene and Grandpa Melvin. They don't play all the rules, but like matching the colors. They haven't quite figured out the dots. They have also enjoyed making domino trains and knocking them down. Picking them all up at the end is fun too - believe it or not!!

We are practicing to beat Grandpa Melvin. Ally (and Drew) does cheat like Grandma Arlene - they look at everyone else's dominoes!

A Fun Surprise

Have you ever got a new coat out to find that last year you left money in the pocket - even if it is just a buck it thrills you!

I have been working on cleaning out/organizing the picture boxes since before we left STL. I have been a bad mom and haven't completed (hardly started) Drew's baby book and Ally's is halted at 10 months (about the time I got pregnant with Drew). I was going through Drew's cards (from BIRTH) and a $20 dropped out. That puts $20 more in his college fund than he had before!

Little surprises make me so happy!

Some Weekend Funnies

Jason came home on Friday and yes we survived with no mishaps! Praise the Lord.

I wish I had something significant from the weekend, but we spent it cleaning and wiring stuff up in the basement.

We did have a great movie night with pizza and popcorn. The kids have been into Shrek. I have seen the first one too much so we headed to Wal-Mart to get the others! The kids have been playing Shrek this whole week - Drew is Shrek, Ally is Fiona and our horse on a stick is donkey. The only funny with this is that one night Drew was telling Daddy on the phone what he had been doing. He said - I am Shrek, Ally is Fiona and mommy is the donkey. In the background I said - yeah I'm the a**. Drew quotes me telling his daddy - yeah mommy's the a**. Goodness. Let's hope that one doesn't go to school.

If you didn't find that funny - try our newest quote from tonight. The kids were suppose to be cleaning up their stuff before supper. Jason asked Ally - What shape is YOUR room in? She pauses and says - uh probably a big rectangle. I picked myself off the floor 5 minutes later. Jason said - I guess I walked into that one.

And finally our dramatic little boy. The only movie in the van this week has been Little Mermaid. They got to watch it several times with Thursday the whole thing since it took so long to get home from school. Drew has been singing like a crazy man and finally I asked him what he was. He told me that he was a white bird. After listening carefully I figured out that he was Scuttles in the love scene - Kiss the girl.

And the movie - my bootlegged version...

Drew's immitation...

How do you think he did?

20 hours Left

I am starting the countdown until Jason comes home. Really it hasn't been bad at all and we have been free from trouble - knock on wood! I know that he misses us more than the kids seem to miss him. I can't wait for a squeeze, but I don't think/know that Ally and Drew don't understand how long he's been gone. Drew asked this morning if Daddy could get him dressed. Ally told him that Daddy was in Wisconsin at meetings.

Tonight we returned some Christmas stuff and ate at Culvers. We got a surprise snow "storm". I don't classify it as a real storm, but it did make coming home from school on the slow side!

I had big plans tonight of having the kids sing their night night songs to Daddy on cmaera, but we were going potty and heading to bed when I remembered again. My best judgement said to just keep moving towards the goal due to the yawns of Thing 1 and Thing 2. I am going to go and sit and enjoy some tv as I await my good night phone call! Hope he is not too late - he is probably singing his favorite songs since he is required to karoke to eat supper!

Day 2 without Jason

I just didn't want to get out of bed this morning. My heater is in WI sleeping with 6 other dudes (not in the same bed)! It seems like forever until he will come home, but I know that it is just a few days. I was lucky that in the first few years of our marriage he didn't have to travel for work. Now it is really only 1 or so day a month which really isn't that bad, but I would much rather him be home. He says that he would rather be home too, but I know how much he likes to sprawl out in a hotel bed!!!

He told me this morning that I could send emails to him since he has his blackberry with him, but I thought that today would be crazy and it was. President Bush has blessed teachers with standardized testing which I don't like, but it really makes me think about what my kids are learning and IF they are learning. We take a computerized test 3 times a year and today was my turn. Typically it isn't bad, but things just didn't seem to be flying my way today. Wrong test uploaded - sorry to my few that had to retake it:( Crashing computers, lack of computers, talking kids, impatient teachers (including me!) By the end of the day I did get all but 10 finished and the scores look pretty good. We talk a lot about growth goals and working hard. It is fun to see the excitement on their faces when they reach the goal that I encouraged them to get.

Tonight we were going to do some shopping, but my instincts told me that continual fighting between Thing 1 and Thing 2 when we got home would probably not be a great idea but my van DESPERATELY needed a bath - I was embarrassed to drive it to school today - gravel roads.

So my sweetie - I hope that you are having a great night laughing and being a witness. I know that you are bummed that you had to eat a Cesear salad, steak and baked potato instead of our hot dogs and KRAFT mac and cheese. I know you miss the hugs in the morning and at bedtime, but we will give you extras when you get back.

We love you and miss you and pray for your safe return on Friday!

Presto!

We gave probably one of the best presents to Grandpa Melvin this year. It was a Presto Mailbox. He obviously doesn't have a computer and said a few months ago that he wishes 15 years ago when they started getting big that he would have learned to use it, but he thought it was a fad. Humm some fad.

We send him messages and they print off in his printer 3 times a day. He looks forward to getting mail. I know that for him to get a message from us or any other family or friend it makes his day. He told my mom he loves it and that he looks forward to the time that it dials up! I pray that we can be an encouragement to him and share our family with him as much as possible.

Now - if you are one of my cousins or family members reading this and you aren't sending messages - do it! I try to send a short message every other day and if I use up all the paper and ink - I'll buy more because he has done so much for me that this is the least I can do for him!

For Our Special Daddy

We love you Jason!

Every year Miron takes their project managers on a retreat which I personally think is crazy but I am not paying or for - at least not financially. It seems that every time Jason heads out of town life on the home front falls apart. So far on Day 1 everyone is well and all tires are still on the van. Our small group reassured me last night that they were there to help which is a HUGE blessing.

We had a good night playing cards and taking a shower with rags - Daddy doesn't let the kids have rags because he says they make too much of a mess, but Mommy just closes the curtain and all is well. I did learn that Ally cheats as much as I do in cards. She was continaully watching Drew's hand to see if she could ask him for a Go Fish card - stinker! Drew is showing off his car book puzzle that Mommy finally got put together - it is a slide puzzle.

Other than that - uneventful. Now I have to get caught up on a grant project that I am working on for a HP notebook tablet, multimedia projecter, camera, printer/copier and some more stuff. I don't know if we have a chance on it, but we are working hard to get it! Let's hope that I can stay awake.

Productive and Busy Weekend

All the Christmas stuff finally got put away - or most of it the lights haven't made it to their resting spot for the year, but a nice balmy 45 degree day made it nice to take down the lights. The kids made a mess of their clothes in the mud - at least they had their farm boots on!

We have also been working on the basement quite a bit - the goal is Rachel's wedding which is only 60 days away. Scary!!! The major task was getting rid of all the junk down there which most of it made its way to Goodwill. This week, Jason got it the bathroom and most of the circuits. It is a bummer that he will be gone playing in WI this week for work. I know that he doesn't really want to go, but a short vacation away from this mad house is always welcome!

This is the bathroom (which might have heated floors???). The stairs are on the left which you can't see. I am stading on the corner of the tv room.

This is looking at some trash and the bedroom in the way back. It was hard finding a place for all the furniture that was in the basement of the "red" house.

Finally Over...

Last weekend we had several Christmas's and our kids were exhausted every night as we brought them home in their pjs - straight to bed, BUT they had to take their medicine for their darn colds. One night Ally fell over on the counter and Drew obviously never opened his eyes.

While we were in Aplington at Jason's parents house, we decided to try out our new GPS. The problem though was that the temperature was a mere 2 degrees and there was a good 6 inches of snow on the ground. We (I mean Jared) did manage to find one cashe (but broke the container when he was banging his foot on the tree).

I will leave you with a couple picture of our snow fun (Jason's nightmare of shoveling). He was trying to get it off since it was weighing the springs down and the mat costs WAY too much to replace!

Here is our friend, Mr. Snowman, that wanted a ride with Jason and Drew.

New Store!

Updated - I guess I missed half the email since I didn't scroll down so I added the rest.

Instead of getting this as a forward email - I'll post it instead.

A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:

You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs. She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids. 'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.' So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking. 'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going. She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework. 'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!'
Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak. She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

PLEASE NOTE: To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.

First floor - H as wives that love sex.

Second Floor - The second floor has wives that love sex and have money and like beer.

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.

3 Musketeers

Starting Them Young

Ally and Drew got A LOT of games for Christmas. We are heading into a stage of game playing which is really fun unless you are a person that hates to lose. We have enjoyed Hungry Hippo, Kerplunk, Sequence for Kids (this one rocks), Go Fish, Uno, Veggie Tales one, Backyardigans and Dancing one (not a good one for me or Jason). It has been interesting and difficult to teach taking turns, who deals, who starts (because you know that the oldest starts and Ally thinks that is her).

Drew has really surprised me too. He is not quite able to hold his cards without showing the neighbors, but he is a good Go Fish player. He also only likes to ask one person for cards - preferably Daddy. He loves to say, "Go Fish" and squeals like a little girl when he gets a match!

We are heading into a stage in our family that has no babies and the kids are old enough to have family game night and it not be a complete disaster!

On a side note for the proud Mom and Math teacher: My daughter randomly counted by 10s the other day (learned on her own), skip counted to 14 (2, 4, 6...), skip counted backwards from 9 (9, 7, 5, 3, 1) and told me that 3+3+3+3+3+3=18! She has a knack for numbers - I wonder where she got that???

Quotes From the Weekend

The time has come to publish some of the newest quotes in Jason's book. We really should dedicate a whole blog to his favorite quotes, but the quotes have slowed down since we don't see Scoggins often, but Ally and Amy K are taking over!

First (but not the funniest!), heading home from church Ally informs us that she is going to since her new song all the way to Aunt Linda's. Oh my it is an hour drive and that would be too much for any sane mom or dad. We told her she could sing it til we got home and then we could put the video on (what did our parents do?). Her song was "Away in the Manger." She sang the first verse beautifully and went on to the second... "the cattle are exploding - the baby awakes" What??? "exploding?"

Second (but still not the funniest), was our game night at the Klaassen's. Amy and Chris got out their Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader Game. Rachel was on her 2nd grade math question - True/False: All irregular rectangles have 4 sides. Chad and her contemplating the answer (this made the math teacher very upset). Amy in her tiredness (it was past 11) blurted out "all rectangles have three" as she tried to skid off the last word hoping that no one would hear, Jason grabbed the paper to write down the newest of his quotes. We love you Amy and thank you for the great giggles that it brings to me and my class tomorrow!

Thirdly (and to me the funniest), we were at the dr. office for some lovely colds and green snot. The nurse was going through her list of 20 questions when she asked if Ally was allergic to any medicines. I told her no and we finished the qu's as Ally tugged on my sleeve. The nurse got up to get something and Ally whispered in my ear - mom you forgot to tell her that I was allergic to ******. Trying not to fall on the floor, I told her that she needed to tell the nurse. Kindly the nurse asked her - and Ally's reply - I'm allergic to skunks. Quite surprised the nurse said - oh that's a first, I am sure that the dr. won't give you any medicines with skunks in it.

I am sure there were more, but these are the ones that keep coming up. There are a few quotes in life that you can't get enough of. My ultimate favorite is by Daren Aldag - You can't swing a dead cat in there without hitting an old person. Or Bobby Etherton's - Not saying I have the bird, but if I did would it be a good time to play it.