Super Hero!

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This is an awesome goosebump giving story!

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creepy....

I'm a Dog

Go look outside... see that light post? You're welcome. All the taxes I paid today bought you that.

Happy April 15th! Hope it was happy and not depressing for you. I thought about doing coin rubbings with the daycare children in honor of this momentous day for our country. However I do speak sarcasm as a second language and not everyone appreciates that quality in a person.

Yesterday I planted some plants I started indoors from seeds. Though it is a bit early, I am optimistic they will be fine. In the process the kids and I enjoyed worms! Jack thoroughly enjoyed worms. He actually had a hard time letting the worms go back to the earth. He snuck inside grabbed a clear container. I have these on hand for collecting ants, bugs, and even once a slug. He balled up several worms and put them in the container. Unfortunately by the time I saw what he had done that worm ball wasn't doing so well. He insisted they stay with him for most of the day including through nap time. It was horribly disgusting.

The two sweetest words ever....

When Jack says, "Thanks mom." It just melts my heart, he says it in a way that each time it feels like the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Another one that gets me is when I say, "I love you" to him he will respond, "ove you, SO MUCH!" Which is another very sweet one. He is also a very funny guy, he now says, "my bad!" Defenity a daddy's boy!

I got my grades for winter trimester, at I have made the Deans List! YAY me! The new trimester started friday. I have decide to take 3 classes, 4 for just a month because my one semester class goes through April. I think because these new classes are ones that I am interested in and most of them I already have pretty good understanding of the material, so hopefully it won't be so bad.

Today I predict is going to be a productive day! At least I am starting out optemistic!

Terrific or Terrible Tuesday?

Tuesday morning brought terrible news. My Grandmother had passed away in her sleep. Though I knew she wasn't in the best health, I somehow never expected that she would actually pass away. Later in the morning I recieved a call from my best friend Katie letting me know that she would be heading into the hospital to start the process of inducing labor. She had previously asked me to be a support person along with her Fiance when she gives birth. Most of Tuesday was an emotional roller coaster, as I reflected on my grandmother and prepared for welcoming the birth of my best friend's child all in the same day.

Early afternoon Katie called me, it sounded like she was starting to have contractions, but she was a long way off, infact she had been discharged and was to go in for a check up at 4. At 5:00 she didn't awnser her phone, so I walked up to the store with Abby since it was such a nice day for a couple things we needed for supper. By the time I came back, Charlie had the lastest news, Katie had been admitted and was infact in labor and that I should check in after dinner and the kids were down. That turned out to be perfect timing because at that point they were indeed ready for me.

This was the first time besides my own children that I have had the previlige of witnessing a birth. I will refrain from sharing the grotesque details, but would describe it as nothing short of a miracle. I didn't understand the truth of that statement in its entirety until late tuesday evening/wednesday morning.

Still the most surprising event that occured is that the baby boy we were all expecting turned out to be baby, Elsa Louise! No matter how many new born babies I hold, I do believe that each time I will equally marvel at how tiny and perfect they look.

Spring Gala

Well I intended on keeping up a bit better, it may just take some time to get in to the swing of blogging again. At any rate over the weekend Abby's school had their Spring Gala and Silent Auction Event. Because Charlie is working overnights on the weekends this rotation, I was left to find another date. With my folks and sisters busy, I invited my best friend. I was getting a bit nervous that she would be able to attend, seeing as though she is 9 months pregnant and just days from her due date. Lucky for me and the Waite Park PTA, Katie had not given birth yet. The two of were excited to have one last girls night, understanding that life might get a bit hectic for her for a while, in a wonderful way! We were surprised at how well planned the event was. It was catered by the best local restaurants in NE Minneapolis. If you know this area, you know that its very rich in diversity and the buffet reflected that diversity. Katie and I sampled the spiciest foods offered, in hopes to bring on labor, and received lots of advice from the other parents on how to do that as well. The silent Auction part of the event got a bit competitive for me. Over dinner one of the parents in Abby's class told me that Mrs. G, who is Abby's teacher has offered a day with a child at her house to make cookies and play with her pets. I thought that was such a cool idea, and told the other parents that we would likely find a sitter for Abby and Jack and go ourselves! It was a tight competition but in the end we did win that auction and Abby will get a day with her teacher in a couple weeks. There were plenty of practical auction items such as restaurant gift certificates, themed baskets, and both a meat and wine raffle. All in al it was a fun night away from the kiddos and for a very good cause!

"Socks dont count for matching." ~Abby

With a title like that, one might think that this might mean that this will be an especially interesting and witty entry. Sorry folks! We have had an average morning, Abby has her own style, which I have not only come to terms with but I have even encouraged this. I only thought this particular quote was amusing because I am pretty sure one day Abby is going to think socks count for matching.


This photo is from the last snow storm of the year. It definitely speaks to Abby's sense of style.

Yesterday was a pretty big day for Abby, she got her first library card. I was pleased to find one of the books I need for a paper on CD. I think I am in love with the convenience, of books on disc. When you're juggling as many things as I am these days, it becomes all about the little things. This is certainly true of 7 year old girls as well, they certainly have a special knack of reminding us of how special the little things are. She has put her new library card in the "special spot" in her backpack so she can show her teacher today.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Today is going to be a busy one. Luckily I don't have class this week. I am loving spring break.

We are still wrapping up girl scout cookie sales, hopefully I will be done with my portion of it all today. I have never considered how much work really goes into a fundraiser. My dad did lots of fundraisers over the years with all the sports that we played and I sold girl scout cookies once too. In fact I was always my troops top seller every year, my folks just made it look easy. Last night I spent more than 30 minutes on just endorsing checks. I hadn't even put into consideration such a minimal task as taking any amount of time.

Tonight is the big Waite Park Elementary School Production, The Little Red Hen. Abby will be playing the part of the Cow. She has been practicing her songs quite a bit these past few days. I think she might be more nervous this time, seeing as though now she knows she is getting up in front of an auditorium full of people. Abby told me last night that it is a good thing that Papa is in Florida, because after her last play Papa sang the songs for weeks. Charlie and I were wondering who chose this particular week for vacation. Nana is this a conspiracy?

Today I plan on making some festive cupcakes with kiddos. I am also making corn beef and sour kraut (not cabbage) for my family including my sisters, who will be coming to see Abby's Play.

Never iron a four leaf clover, you wouldn't want to press your luck.

Go Green! Have a Happy Saint Patricks Day!

It's been a while....

Abby and Jack have gotten quite a bit bigger since my last entry. My life has gotten a whole lot more hectic as well. After much reflection, I have come to the conclusion if I wait for the right time to go back to school, I will never make it back. So I took the plunge and headed back at the beginning of 2010. I am at Augsburg and am loving it there. I have decided to change my focus a bit to Elementary Education, but I will still be keeping pre-primary as my focus.

Abby is now in 1st grade, she loves girl scouts and theater. Girl Scouts is something her and I share together. I started the first troop our neighborhood has seen in quite a while. This is something our neighbors are very excited about, or so they say, when they see us walking down the street with a wagon full of girl scout cookies in tow. I am not exactly sure where Abby gets her love of theater, but she has definitely taken to the stage. She will be preforming in her second play of the year on Wednesday, The little Red Hen, where Abby will be playing the part of the Cow. How her teacher manages to pull off these sweet little productions with a group of 1st - 5th graders is beyond me!

The little brother isn't so little anymore. Jack turned 3 a couple of months ago and is now going to preschool a couple days a week at the same school Abby goes to. This is a pretty big deal to him, because now he goes to "school" too and its even the same school as his sister! Other than preschool Jack is loving staying home with me and loves that I provide childcare to 4 other kids that he is convinced are here just to play with him. The other kiddos have become such a part of our daily norm that he blames them for messes on the weekends when no one is around but my two.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc4ke2QkTQA


I thought I would add this goofy video as well. Jack and Abby have been spending the Saturday mornings that I have class with Nana and Papa. To Jack, the second best thing about Nana and Papa's is Cheese-balls! First is Auntie Beth.