Where Willy Went

I went to the library tonight to return the kids' books and to pick out new ones. Jason is/was getting tired of them and he is sick of all the holiday books we have. The kids ask (after their nightly ice cream - just like daddy) how many books? Jason replies a number and quickly - and NO HOLIDAY BOOKS. They giggle and run to get their favorite Halloween, Christmas or Easter book.

There are so many books out there and some are better than others. I picked up this book because of the cover and the title. How can you put down a Willy book? I don't usually read the books completely through before taking them home, but the first sentence caught me off guard and I decided to read on. "Willy was a sperm." I took a double take and looked at the tadpole picture on the first page.

I turned the page and read on to see a very detailed story about this little guy - "he wasn't good at math but he was a good swimmer..." It had detailed pictures of his swim route and of the "big race."

I was a little appalled that it would be in the children's book area. Do we really need to read this to our pre-schoolers?

How Fast Can Your Big Wheel GO?

The kids love to ride their bikes. Ally is getting good on her Dora bike and Drew is finally able to get that big wheel to move. The only problem is that Ally ALWAYS has to be in the front or WWIII starts.

Jason dug out our bikes on Sunday from the basement. We weren't sure if the tires would still hold air since we haven't rode them since probably before Ally - being pregnant or small baby doesn't work well with riding a bike. I wasn't sure if I would remember how to ride it. Jason was already making fun of me since I am a SLOW and wobbly rider back in the olden days.

We took off for a ride through the subdivision. Drew kept up on his silly big wheel. Those poor little legs were constantly pedaling as fast has he could. He was so cute driving down the rode. I wish I could have taken a picture, but I would have fallen off my bike. On Monday my behind was feeling the ride.

Point of this entry: I forgot to thank the lovely youth auction people for my great bike from almost 7 years ago that I love - it will never be for training for a triatholon and it isn't worth much, but the moments I get to spend with my family makes it priceless!

It's a Good Sign!

Jason's nose is slowly getting a little better each day. I wish that we would have thought about allergy season when we did scheduled this, but really when is a good time?

The last two mornings Jason has gotten up and told me about dreams. He never dreams. That is one sign of sleep apnea because you never get into a deep enough sleep to dream. So two nights ago we were at a camp being CSI's investigating girl's smuggling in something. Watch out Sarah and Ben!!!!

Last night we (why do I get pulled into the dreams???) were on a freight train trying to get off all the animals to keep them safe before it exploded. Then we had to round them up once they were off.

Anyone want to interpret the dreams' meanings?

Take a Picture of Me!

Look Mommy I am a statue! We came home a little early today to relieve Daddy so he could go to a meeting. Drew stayed home sick today. Ally is becoming very technological. She has figured out how to take pictures with our camera even though she is scolded each time. Her pictures are getting better though. Now whatever she intends to take a picture of is really what comes out. This is her newest photo.

She has lost computer time for Tuesday for playing with the camera. She like to read books and play games. She does really good for not being able to read. She can even print pictures which is another way to lose computer priveleges around here. So if you need a place for your young child to learn how to use the computer try out Nick Jr. or Playhouse Disney. Believe it or not, Pre-K curriculum national standards are calling for some general computer usage like being able to manipulate a mouse!

Helping Change the Tire

Remember way back to care group when Jason asked everyone to write the steps of how to change our tires??? Many of us wrote down cell phone numbers of our spouses. Last spring I don't think I blogged about it but a tragedy came when a high school friend changed my tire when Jason was in Wisconsin. The tire fell on his hand and blew out his ring finger. Five months later and it looks pretty good except that he has completely lost his finger nail.

As I was driving home from the hospital on Friday night on the curvy river road, I was afraid of a herd of deer running in front of me. Who would I call? Jason barely remembers that I was at the hospital. Rachel can't come help me, she has the kids. Thus I drove slowly (speed limit) so that I would hopefully have plenty of time to stop.

I really depend on Jason so much for all my heavy labor - I like to think that I am strong but we all know better. I know that I can mow the lawn, but he does it faster. I tried to weed eat earlier this summer and went through the whole lawn, but it looked the same as I started. I wanted to cuss at the stupid thing. (Actually I think it was broken, but I will claim helplessness.) Every time I go to the shop to get my oil changed, they tell me I need other things. Never happens to Jason.

But my tires. Mr. Oswood purposely made us learn to change a tire in Drivers Ed. UMMM I have a dad and hopefully some day a man for that! But Mr. Oswood knew that someday we would be stuck on the side of the road not being able to call anyone (that was when cell phones were still in bags!). I learned and could probably get through it if it happened but I would drive straight to a mechanics shop to get it fixed.

This morning on the way to church we had some strange bumping. Being late as usual, Jason didn't want to stop, but I thought I wanted to check it out and of coarse - completely flat. Should Jason have changed that tire - probably not since the dr. said to avoid strenuous labor, but I helped as much as I could. This afternoon I told Jason that I was going to put the good tire back on with him watching so that I for sure knew how to do it. I did it, but promised him that if I was an hour from home he was still coming to my rescue!

Side note: Drew is hitting the tire with the mallet to put the hub cap back on.

No Picture

Wow I am exhausted! I would post a picture and Jason asked several times yesterday if I was going to get one for the blog. What has my life come to? I can describe what he looked like. Picture Jason in a hospital gown with ties in the back not afraid to show his panties - I mean underware. Face - tired wishing he could breathe and tapped to the bottom of his nose a big piece of gauze that was changed about every hour. Nothing changed on the outside - still the big nose that Ally inherited during delivery. (inside joke if that didn't make sense.)

I have been running around with my head cut off making sure everything stays inline and everyone is taken care of. I hate being gone, but I was confident in my sub on Friday - the kids hate her because she doesn't let them mess around!!! Good for me!

Jason had surgery on Friday morning for 2 reasons. First - because his sleep study said he had sleep apnea and the dr. thought that straightening some stuff out up there would fix it hopefully. Second - because he loves his wife and prefers that she sleeps beside him instead of a jail cell. Mostly during allergy season it sounds like a freight train is going through our room and once I am awake there is no going back to sleep. (I slept very little from March to May.)

It is not a painful surgery since there are very little nerves there, but for the first 24 hours they stuff about 90 tampons up your nose - making the only way to breathe out your mouth. If you have ever tried to eat or sleep like that it makes it tough.

Due to my wonderful sister infecting my mom with a horrible cold, she was out for kid patrol. My dear friend Kate came to my rescue. She took the kids to school with her and picked them up. She got the taste of being a mini van momma for a day. Then her husband and her came back to watch them during the evening til Rachel could get here so I could be some company to Jason. I am not sure what Jim (Kate's husband) thought - it might have been some birth control for them.

We picked up Jason the this morning after a trip to the Golden Arches. I took Drew to the dr. since he sounds like Ariel on the Little Mermaid - no strep and his lungs are good - man he sounds like crap though! We are home and I have more to do than I can imagine.

Jason isn't under any restrictions except to not blow his nose for 2 weeks and if you know him well this will be one of the hardest tasks to do. This causes slight problems since it has rained like 40 inches this week and our grass is almost hiding our cars - he is allergic to the outdoors and the dust. I am going to attempt to mow and now hurt my arm but if you are in the area and know how to weed eat - I would love a visit!!!

Off to finish the laundry and cleaning the house. Hopefully the kids will nap good since they woke up at 6:23 this morning.

Breakfast in the Van

I wish this picture showed the true mess Drew made in the car this morning. The story begins a couple days ago when my never-forget-anything daughter remembers that when we go to school we can stop at the store on the way and get donuts. Really, I didn't stop much last year, but I guess enough to ingrain it into her brain. I refused to stop, but promised that we would go to the grocery store and get some donuts for the next day.

We got what I thought everyone had wanted. Ally said she wanted white ones with no sprinkles and Drew is into anything with chocolate on top or powdered sugar. This morning we only had powdered sugar donuts and one chocolate but with pudding it in - my favorite. I am not a good sharer of my pudding donuts and had hoped to hide it while I got in the car. My excuse - it would make too much of a mess.

I didn't do such a great job as Drew spotted it immediately. Can I have a little bite? (repeat) Can I have a little bite? No I want a BIG bite. Okay I gave in and licked the pudding out so the mess wouldn't be made and he ate the remaining top of my chocolate donut. Does that count as being a servant???

Drew bragged to Ally - I got TWOOOOO donuts. On the way he managed to have powdered sugar everywhere and chocolate on his shirt. His face had the chocolate frosting to help the sugar stick even better.

I didn't plug in the video so they both talked the whole way constantly about the corn, beans, barns, tractors, and train (which we have managed to be stopped by everyday).

Kate (my wonderful science teacher friend) is taking them to school on Friday so I can go with Jason to the hospital for his nose job. I think that I won't give them donuts for her sake!!!

Supper prayers

Dear God - thank you for the food. and dear God, I don't know why I have to go to school everyday, but I have to go to school every day and dear God Amen.

Ohhhhh no we are in trouble - 3rd day of Pre-K and already is questioning why we have to go everyday! Let's just say that we were laughing so hard that we ended the prayer there.

When asked to use her spoon to eat her corn at supper - Ally said, "But I love my hands - They're great!"

These are for Jason's quote book. I wish I could make the quote book.

$11.92

As I write this I remember our good friend Jenn Milliken. I remember Jenn's air being out on their good car all summer, but she was afraid that it would cost too much to fix so she drove around without air.

We have not been driving the pick-up because the blower on the fan went out in March. It is butt hot here in the promise land. The air is so thick with humidity that it is hazy - look what you are moving into Allie L!!! Knowing that I needed to save miles on my van, I drive the truck to work, but I have refused since it doesn't have air. I am not quite like Jenn in her suffering with small children!

I finally talked Jason into getting it fixed when he started doing research on the internet about the problem. He found out that there is this small transitor or something that sometimes burns up and you can spot it and fix it. uHHHHH good luck finding it honey! After much searching he and Ally found it. It was "broken" so they went to the store to replace it for $11.92. Now the air works great. Why didn't we look into this back in March????

Hats off to you Jason!

Another Start

Another start to another school year. I wish I didn't have to post this picture, but we must document the day. Someday I will embarass my kids by taking the picture with their bus driver while everyone waits and snickers on the bus. Much to our surprise, Drew was the one excited to go and Ally wanted to stay in bed! By the time we got to school, they both were running down the hall to their class. Their preschool teachers reported a good day by both (and they supposedly took naps!)

My 8th graders were happy to see me back and I am happy to be back in 8th grade. Quite surprising since many were happy to say good bye last spring! What I miss most is the air conditioning from STL!!!! It is hot in my room and full of humidity. I told the boys I was leaving a bottle of deodorant by the door. I also seem to get heat headaches that don't go away very easily. My voice is soar and I think I am getting a cold from temperature changes. Enough complaining - pray for a great year and that God will use me in mighty ways with these kiddos!

Top 5%

Once again Jason shows his intelligence. Our kids are drinkers - they get it from their parents. Jason guzzles a glass a water before bed (and then wonders why he has to get up 3 times in the middle of the night???) Both kids like to have drinks before bed and would guzzle it if you gave them the chance.

So what did Jason come up with? Our teeny tiny glasses we got as toys from A&W kid's meals. They don't hold more than 2 tablespoons! Best thing - the kids think they are so cool and don't realize they aren't getting a lot of water!

And for the title - Jason was tested at Paric for problem solving skills and the test given placed him in the top 5% problem solvers in the nation. What does that mean - absolutely nothing.

Too Slow

Jason (and I) were too slow in getting to the couch to read tonight. We were reading the all exciting Erector Set (the ISU ConE's annual). It has updates of all the graduates that send stuff back. I think it is everyone's way to brag how successful they have been over the last year. But it is fun to see where some of our friends ended up.

Then I started listening to what the kids were doing - Ally was reading Drew's cow book to him. Well she was making up words but they did make sense! Share Bear also got in on the action!

Today's Chuckle

Jason gets to stay home and spend quality time with the kids today! He sent me an email of today's adventures as of 10:00 this morning.

We cleaned out the truck and now we are at the museum. On tne way here Drew looked out the window and yelled 'I see a hooker'. (Crane)

As we were pulling in, Ally said - Dad, youre freaking me out!

I wish I could have been there to see the tone in their voice because that would have made it even better.

What's That?

I am not sure how Chris talked Amy into this but I think it is cool. Can you guess what plant is by their front door? And yes it is a legal plant!

Also isn't Kaylee's swimsuit so adorable? I was calling her kay kay at the funeral and she would just giggle at me. She was trying so hard to call me Aunt Brrrenda instead of Aunt Bindie. Who cares what she calls me - I love her!

Hats off Allie

I don't have Allie's blog on my sidebar because she would prefer remain anonymous, but she is a very talented song writer. I have to to link her blog for Monday called Unafraid because I think that it paints a picture of what so many people go through in life. I just finished a book on fruit of the Spirit by Beth Moore (recommend!!!) and it talked about FRUIT that only God can give you when you are a Christian. But you have to take them and use them. I found myself not willing to grab some of them but wanting them so badly.

My prayer this summer has been to trust God's faithfulness. You might say - duh but it is harder than it looks. We like to say God is in control, but really are you letting him be in control. Are you having peace with him steering the wheel?

Allie - I hope that Unafraid goes a long ways because the words are a testimony of the person that I want to be because God is in control.

Silly Girl

School has started for me which means I don't have as many stories or pictures for you. It is hot and I am ready for about 8 inches of snow!!! This year was the hardest to go back. I had such a fun and relaxing summer with the kids and I didn't want it to end. I am also not looking forward to SOME of my kids this year. I need to keep a good attitude and pray that they have grown up slightly over the summer. A majority were great but a few apples spoiled the bunch.

I am looking forward to 8th grade again. Algebra concepts are hit hard this year and that is my specialty. Does anyone want to retake 8th grade math this year???? Highlight of this week were ordering a much needed new book - yes late, but it has taken me 2 months to talk everyone into it!

So I leave you with some of Ally's funnies from the past week.
In parking lot at Culvers on way to Minnesota
A: Why are we stopping here?
B: To eat supper.
A: I thought we were going to heaven.
B: mmmmm not quite Grandma Lil went to heaven, we are going to her going away party
A: Can we go to heaven?
B: Yes but I would rather not today.

Conversation while at breakfast in Minnesota
A: I am going to marry Daddy?
B: Really? Why Daddy?
A: Because I love him (break for thinking) and I love weddings!

Stacey (babysitter this week) gave me this one from when they were playing on the swingset.
A: (in the middle of playing stops) Dear Jesus Thank you for letting Stacey come babysit. I love her. Dear Jesus Amen.

At least we have done a good job of portraying the thought that you can talk to God anywhere!!!

(The above picture is of the kids playing kitty. I don't know why they feed kitties with bottles, but they weren't fighting!)

Blue Earth and the Green Giant

The highlight of the trip was seeing the Jolly Green Giant on the way home. As children this meant less than an hour to Grandma's house! We would have a game to see who could see it first from the interstate! This is the headquarters for those great veges! I know that you are all jealous and would want to go. It is about 1 hour from the intersection of I-35 and I-90! You too can get a picture with the Jolly Green Giant! They even had a tourist shop where we signed the guest book. I think that counts for our vacation this year!

Drew, Ally and I are the speck at his feet.

A mini giant with my giant kids!

Jason shaking the elfs hand.

Playground

Chris and Jason took the kids to the park a couple times. All three of them did great. We were blessed by a lady that volunteered at the last minute to watch them during the funeral. I don't know if she knew what she was getting into, but we had videos and colors for them.

Drew's scary look!

Ally coming out the sticky slide.

Twins! I know Amy this isn't the outfit you had picked out, but I couldn't resist since we had the same shirt!

We were in Minnesota a couple years ago at this same park. First picture was taken in June 2005!

This one was harder to get since neither wanted to sit and smile at the top of the slide, but instead race down!

And yes - the hard hat barely came off.

Trip to Minnesota

I know that this trip to Minnesota wasn't suppose to be fun, but like Grandma Arlene's funeral - this trip was full of fellowship and rejoicing. I am sure that Grandma was sitting on a cloud watching us, but not wishing to be with us since she was in such a better place. The funeral was full of testimony of her love and true devotion to Jesus.

I am very sad that she is gone because I wanted to know her more. I learned so much about her that I didn't know about. She had this devotion book that everyone kept talking about. I asked to look at it when we got back to Grandpa's apartment. I flip through all the pages. She started the book Streams in the Desert in the late 50s and read it over and over again. She had comments or underlining on about everyday - what was special to her, a tough time or a praise for that day.

I did enjoy seeing my family that lives so far away. I wish that we didn't have to get together for this sad times! Here are a few picts of the fun we had!

Here is Kaylee feeding Grandma Rhonda a chip. The donut in the other hand wasn't about to be shared. She was also telling us all the colors of sprinkles!

Grandma Lil's twin sisters - Mary and Martha. I am doomed. Grandma Arlene was also a twin. I praying that Rachel will get the blessing of twins.

Picture of all kids playing rockets. Amazing that my kids would stand still for this picture of 2 minutes earlier wouldn't for a family picture.

Aaron was inside washing dishes and didn't get to play with the little kids.

Aunt Lou, Uncle Mitch and crazy Matthew

Aunt Laura, Uncle Chuck and Nicole had to hustle back to Arizona to start school on Monday. On to have one more week! We missed Tyler - who is in Air Force tech school.

Pray for the Blyckers

My OLDEST cousin Debbie and her family are home for 3 months from Mexico. Tim teaches pastors and others how to lead "Walk through the Bible". I know they do so much more too. It was fun to share supper with them at Aunt Linda's before they headed back home!