New Favorite

I know I've shared this on FaceBook already - but this is my new favorite family photo!  Taken November 2012 for our next Church Directory.  I think I like it so much because in the midst of my family - I have peace, and joy, and can smile!  I hope you print this off and use it as a prayer card for 2013.

Memorial Day Fishing

We went fishing. Dan knew of a farm pond. Boy was he right. I'm not sure Dan got to fish much.

Milo got one.



Danielle got one or two.




Mansel got several.




Look at Wayne's fish!



I'm smiling because I got four all together.




I'm not sure if Dan got to relax much - even now he is still out there cleaning them. Fish for supper tonight.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

posted from Bloggeroid

Memorial Day Fishing

We went fishing. Dan knew of a farm pond. Boy was he right. I'm not sure Dan got to fish much.

Milo got one.



Danielle got one or two.




Mansel got several.




Look at Wayne's fish!



I'm smiling because I got four all together.




I'm not sure if Dan got to relax much - even now he is still out there cleaning them. Fish for supper tonight.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

posted from Bloggeroid

We are a Bunch of Goats

We took a trip to the dentist yesterday.  Milo needed to get 4 teeth removed, maually, and Wayne needed to get 1 cavity filled. 

In the past when the kids have gotten teeth pulled -- some of them have fainted in the doctor's office, others have made it to the car before feeling light headed... so I warned the nurse... watch him, he may faint.

Milo did just fine. See his holes? 

Wayne on the the other hand... didn't fare so well.  Wayne had 1 tooth filled... he made it to the waiting area -- happy go lucky -- looky at my motorcycle toy I got.... made it to the car... told us all about it... made it into COSTCO after jumping through puddles and being scolded by his mommy... made it to the picnic table, waited for his lunch.  I ordered several things, so was making several trips.  I'd given him his yogurt and was picking up the hotdogs... on the way back to the table... I saw him with his head down on the table... I said, "Oh buddy -- do you have an ice cream headache?"  No response... huh?  I felt his head... clammy... looked at his hands -- white as a sheet.  What?  A fainter with delayed reaction?  Apparently so. 

I say our family is a bunch of goats.  When Danielle got 5 teeth filled in one visit -- nary a thought of passing out -- ever, there or at home.  Milo -- four teeth pulled a bloody mess... nothing.  Me?  When I see myself bleeding -- watch out... I may hit the floor.  I've got bragging rights... I've never officially fainted, but I get pretty woozy.  LOL  I know enough to sit down -- even if the onlookers are mocking me.  Dan... he's a fainter, Tori... she's a fainter... Mansel... he's been close -- pretty white and clammy.  Wayne -- one tooth filled, laughing and chatting and eating... then BAM... well -- not really BAM literally... I gently laid him down and put his feet up. So he never went completely down - like others have, but he definitely inherited the fainting gene from his parents.  Weird, huh? 

Dan thought he might faint just after seeing Wayne feeling like fainting.  Funny huh... guess he chose the right line of work -- no blood or guts or fainting when working on machines.  LOL

CrazySheep!!

I found a great deal for you.

CRAZY SHEEP is having a 15% off for the rest of your life deal.  What kind of coupon is THAT?  You'd better go check it out for yourself.

Crazy Sheep is just starting off and they are wanting to spread the word... that's what kind of a deal it is.  My kids LOVE these DVD's.  They are made by their uncle... but they are funny too.  And they get your mind to think.  That's the kind of DVD's I like.  °Ü°

So -- do you need a sample?  OK -- here is a sample

Another Sample?  You want another sample?  You sound like my kids at COSTCO... ok -- push the cart down the aisle and then back again and you can have another sample.  ::giggle::  I won't tell.

Another sample??? Go find your own.  LOL  They have more on their Web-Site.  Really -- you should check it out. 

ENJOY!!

My Niece -- she can sing

I'm an aunt -- doesn't that mean I can exploit the nieces and nephews?  Oh my word... I have a niece Sophia who loves, loves, loves to sing.  But only when she wants to.  So her other Aunt -- Aunt Karen tried the Candy Corn route... apparently -- it was only worth 1/2 the song.  She should have grabbed a bigger hand full.  LOL


Sophia Singing for Candy Corn from Jennifer J. on Vimeo.


Oh we laughed and laughed this past week.  Oklahoma is too far away... wouldn't you agree Becky?

17 DAYS UNTIL THANKSGIVING!! Remembering Past Thanksgivings

I tried post 4 pictures... only 1 shows up. Grr... I try again -- there are 4 listed there still... Oh where oh where have my photographs gone? Oh where oh where can they beeeee????

Anyway... we are looking forward to having company here again for thanksgiving. I love family! Can hardly wait... better go clean my house. LOL

Sing With Me

I get to see my Sister
On Wednesday
On Wednesday
On Wednesday
I get to see my Sister
On Wednesday Afternoon!!

La la la la la laaa etc...

Woo Hoo!!

Trainer Becky

I wonder if my sister minds me putting her on my blog.

Hey Becky!! Do You Mind??

We had a blast at our sisters week-end deal!! Oh my... I'm still recovering.

Here we go a visiting.

I'm going to visit one of my sisters.

She is having all 4 sisters and my mom over for the week-end.

it's a BIG DEAL!!

I'm so excited I can hardly wait.

I feel like a kid!

My kids are staying home with my dear husband. If you think of them you can pray for them. If you think of Dan, you can pray for him. Ü I'm sure it will be different with mom not around.

I can't wait - pics will be forthcoming.

Prayers for Tyler

My nephew Tyler C. could use your prayers.

He was riding his bike, and somehow flipped over him handle bars. He broke his noggin. After surgery (they inserted a plate), he is disappointed that he has to miss baseball try outs today. Typical 12 year old boy.

His parents need some sleep... they could use prayer too.

We love you Chris and Genell. Trevor and Ann... we will pray for you too as you will probably end up with Tyler's chores for the next few... days...weeks probably. Ü

Cutting FireWood Warms You Twice Unless...

... it happens to be 20°F outside while you are cutting. LOL

Brr... it was a cold day this day. But we still managed to have a good time cutting wood as a family.

Neat jungle gym.


Bundled up against the cold.

OK -- I swear -- I did not pick this photo... where is the neat one of Milo? Hmm...

Well -- here is the man using the chainsaw. I bet he kept warm. This wood will warm him twice.

We've learned this year to be picky on the type of wood we cut. Oak warms us nicely... slowly... less filling of the furnace! I get more sleep that way.

Thanks to the Kingerys and the Bebouts we are staying WARM this winter!

Merry Christmas!!

My sister Claudia gave us a neat gift. It was a family gift. $$ to go out to eat and then attend a hockey game and get treats while we were there. What FUN!! We went to BeBops. (I have no idea how that's spelled.) It's a burger joint. Yummy-licious!

I had never been to a hockey game. I will say that she sent along the schedule for the Buccaneers and Dan outvoted her saying the IOWA CHOPS were a better team. Who knew? I didn't even KNOW we had a team called the IOWA CHOPS. If you are not from Iowa... do you know what an IOWA CHOP is?

I'll tell you -- it's a pork chop that is cut thicker then a normal chop. Like 1" thick probably. Really, really good grilled outside and served with other Iowa stuff, like Sweet Corn. You all think you have good sweet corn... but you would be mistaken. IOWA sweet corn is sort of like IOWA CHOPS. Something to behold! LOL

So -- we were rooting for the Iowa CHOPS! They were playing the Manitoba MOOSE. These teams are very inventive with their names. Funny funny funny to hear the cheers they fan were yelling! (I guess ya had to be there, plus this is a family blog).


It started off slow. This was the score through the entire first period. 20 minute periods. But that gave us a chance to tell the kids, "Watch the puck." "See the puck?" "There goes the puck." The older 3 finally got it.

Here is our goalie. I took a photo of his because I wanted to see his shirt. The mascot is a PIG. LOL I wasn't entirely sure of the Iowa CHOPS deal. I thought MAYBE it was about chopping someone up with the hockey stick. Who knows. Well -- there is the proof. A pig -- right there on his shirt. Sure'nuf. They are the PORK CHOPS.

OK -- Dan decided that during the first intermission he would go get some snacks. He brought back some popcorn and some pop. What a guy! Too bad that while he was gone the 2nd period started and the CHOPS SCORED!!! Woo Hoo... what a deal. The crowd hooted and hollered!! It was very loud.....

As Wayne can attest to. Ü



Mansel was brave enough to stand by the IOWA CHOPS mascot. A pig -- what do you think about his glasses? Funny pig.

I had to keep standing in the aisle, waiting and waiting and waiting for the mascot to get up to our row. He kept sitting down. I was thinking... "What is the world?? This must be the most out of shape mascot ever." I must have said something to the kids about him getting up and down, up and down. Finally someone behind me said, "He has to sit down while the puck is in play." Ohhh.... I see... I smiled at the nice man... he smiled back and said, "Actually everyone is to be sitting while the puck is in play."

Ohh... I see. Ya learn something new every day, don'cha.

Here are the cheerleaders. Actually -- they have real cheerleaders in skimpy outfits... but they stand around and do nothing. LOL THESE guys on the front row start cheers that the whole crowd does. They bang on the glass and REALLY make the game entertaining! They were fun to watch!


Oh look!! Our goalie got injuried. Bummer!


Oh my.. he was a good goalie apparently. They scored 5 goals in the last period. Hmmm... See the # of "shots" underneath the score. The IOWA CHOPS had more shots taken, but they won. Just like soccer... the team with the better goalie usually wins. Apparently we had a good goalie... until he got CHOPPED, or something.

I think I learned that once you start losing... you just start punching every one. We got to see 2 fist fights. That was Mansel's favorite part. Dan mentioned "He was hanging on to the other guy's jersey with one hand and punching with the other." I said, "Maybe that was to keep him from sliding away after he punched him."

What do you think?

And it is a rule that they can fight as long as they stay standing. We noticed the referrees standing there watching the fight until one fell down. Then they stepped in and stopped it. Is that to keep them away from the ice skates?

Anyway -- something to think about. LOL

We had a BLAST!! Dani said, "I think I'll save my $$ for another hockey game." She never did see the puck... those cheerleaders on the front row must have been enough for her!

Uncle George & Aunt Joyce

Uncle George
Aunt Joyce

These dear folks are Dan's Uncle and Aunt. They have taken to us. We love them. They found out that our kiddos did little league softball and baseball this spring. Uncle George is an assistant baseball coach for Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. This man is full of knowledge.
He gave a little bit of his knowledge to our kiddos today.

He brought with him a net... a big enough net fit on our big garage/shed thing from floor to ceiling. We park our car in there. Well... now we've got a battling cage thing. I know -- my verbiage is so technical... I hope I'm not losing you. He also brought a "Tee". Tees are not just for t-ball apparently. Amazing... he stood Mansel up to the tee... showed him how to hold the bat in his hand. Hand him relax. Demonstrated how to lift the bat. Get ready. Elbow down... Relax... tense muscles are not as reactive as lose muscles. Get your bat off of your shoulder. Keep your legs relaxed. Get ready... swing... WHILE twisting your hips. Turn your back foot on the ball of your foot. Swing the bat so the heel of the bat "breaks the window" and then follow through with your wrists. Hit the ball with the sugar. Ever hear of the sweet part of the bat... that's your sugar. Let's do it again. Let's do it again. GREAT swing. Let's do it again. Good hit. Let's do it again. Did you feel that? The sweet of the bat? Let's do it again.

I mean -- he had a steady stream of information... just flowing out of his mouth. He stopped once and said, "I'm coaching them like I coach my Senior High kids." It was GREAT! He coached Tori, Mansel and Milo. When he was done... finally took a seat and sipped some tea... Milo, the 6yo was hitting the ball off of the "T" every time. He never ounce hit the rubber part of the "T". Amazing... It is amazing what good coaching does. I really am amazed.

He showed Tori and Mansel how to "soft toss" the ball to each other. One crouches down and tosses the ball and they hit it into the net. Did I mention he brought bats and balls and gloves for the kids? He found a left handed glove for Mansel. It's a Nokona brand. Leather... I did a search that glove new is worth over $100. This is stuff kids leave laying around. Can you imagine that? I can't... We were blessed today.

He left a bat bag, full of bats. One is a neat bats that is weighted so you can feel if you are swinging correctly. If not the weight slides to the end of the bat early, if so, then the weight slides to the end of the bat at the right time.

Ever hear a bat go "woosh"? Well -- if you hear the sound too early -- you are not swinging correctly...

He pointed out that good coaching is about teaching young kids correct technique. He named a baseball coach who didn't even play professional baseball... but he is a wining coach. That reminded me of Tony Dungee... he wasn't a FANTASTIC football player, but he IS an OUTSTANDING coach. I'm pretty sure Uncle George has athletic ability -- but I know for SURE he is a great coach.

I found an article in the Des Moines register about his Roosevelt Team. He was an assistant coach... he helped turn that team around.

I feel so blessed that we could squeeze a little bit of wisdom out of him today. In just a few short hours he poured himself into our kids! Thank you Uncle George.

Those photos above -- they totally capture their personalities. Uncle George -- layed back, deliberate, OK -- what's next. Aunt Joyce -- happy go lucky, laughing and hugging!

We really enjoyed their visit!

We can't wait to see the fruit from the seeds you planted today.

PLAY BALL!!

Team Work

Dan is so happy that the kids are getting old enough to help him. In a few years - he'll probably be out of a job, which he won't mind too much. I don't know if he'll give it up entirely... he likes his job, I think. Right now he can mow/trim/etc in 2.5 hours. That's down from 4 by himself.

Tori helps push mow.

Mansel mans the weed eater.

Danielle rides along for fun.


Notice how foggy that picture is... it has been so moist here. It's so moist now that my plants are rotting in the garden. My MIL said I could put some straw under the zucchini... who has straw? Not me. This has been a weird gardening season. It's been good season for weeds.

New Blog

I found a new favorite blog.
(OK -- she's my sister... I have to say that!)

BONDORAMAFAM

Yeah -- say that 10 times fast...

betcha can't
betcha can't

While you are trying -- go check it out!

I'm putting it on my google reader!

If I know Jeremy and Becky -- it would be a MUST READ for you too...
they CRACK me UP!!

SURPRISE!!!

Leora, my dear Mother-in-law, had herself a SuRpRiSe tonight!!
Since you aren't to tell a ladies age... lets just say she celebrated successfully breathing for 70 years straight, with out stopping.

:giggle:

Look at that neat cake with her picture on it.


Here she is with Olivia , Izabel, Christina, Brad, Tori, Brady, Milo, Mansel, Wayne, Trenton (a great), Braxton, Danielle, Aurora, and Marshall. Michelle was gone on a missions trip, other wise all the grands were there. What a blessed thing to be able to capture on film. Doesn't she look happy? She loves her grand children -- and they can tell.

She was having a ball. We finally made she and her family sit STILL for a photo. Delano, Randy, Dan, Debra, Leora and Rhonda.


Tucker got tuckered out. He was ready for us to scoot, I think.

Her friends and family came to celebrate -- and it was a grand time!

°Ü°

Me in 35 Years

Isn't she beautiful?

I only pray I age as gracefully as she has.

She is such a pleasure to be around. My children love her. She loves them back. She appreciates my dear husband. She affirms me every time we are together.

I love you Mom!

Tori and her Grandmas

Tori is 12 now... soon to be 13. I so rarely get to see her smile for the camera... you know what these photos tell me? She loves her grandmothers! She loves them so much she will even smile for me and my old camera!

Thanks ladies for teaching her about hard work, loving God, and being a beautiful young lady. I couldn't have raised her to be like she is with out your help!

World Mission Video

"Jeremy" is my BIL!! Can you see why my kids love him to visit?

AND -- I wonder where my cute niece inherited her hilarious facial expressions from.