Read this !?*ing post!

Had to share this story Jo wrote for school.

OMG!  Did she just swear in her writing?

FOR SCHOOL?

"YES SHE !?*ING DID!"

Thank goodness her teacher has a sense of humor.

It also shows that Jo is reading all the time, books, comics,
and more.  Apparently much more.

Love our Jo.

Kids, Oma and Mostly Me

Does Mother Earth seems to be spinning really fast this 2012?  Maybe She knows the end is near and she's ready for retirement.

Age 9 has been a challenge, putting it mildly, but we are working through life lessons and all learning a great deal from them, which makes life even more rich and wonderful. The best lesson the kids are learning is that the way you feel today will not be the way you feel tomorrow.  Each day brings new joys and sorrows, so enjoy each experience for what it is and keep moving forward.

The kids worked together and built a very large fort in the living room!

So we ate dinner in it as Doug guarded the entrance to make sure no food escaped uneaten!

Cole joined OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books) at his school. Though he read a few of the books, his team didn't do well at the competition.  I really think it's more of a social thing for him.

As you can see his team decided that for the rest of the school year they would wear "nerd" glasses each Wednesday.  Homework time is a good time for them as well.

Origami with an edge!

Cole loves to fold paper
and becomes more
creative every day. 
This new creation is
an arm knife.

He invented it to
hide in his long sleeves
and with a little sliding
pops out to fight off his enemies.

My 16,802nd Day on Earth

Started out eating breakfast with the family.

We tried our regular neighborhood restaurant but they were too busy so we grabbed or local donut shop.  Mmmm, nothing like gravy from of a pump.

We then watched Cole play his last Beaver basketball game of the season.

Here he is going up strong for a rebound!

His team was 100% for the season (0 wins and we lost count). He had a pretty good time and definitely got better as the basket height went up this year.

Kids are getting along so well they stood together for a picture and even smiled. (Don't tell them I said that)

Back home so Oma could start working on some slow moving plumbing.

Draining much better and no leaks.  Good Job Oma!

My Birthday Pie

Yummy home made apple pie!

Off to dinner, drinks and dancing with friends!

I tell everyone that I only drink water while out dancing but no one believes me!

The proof is in the glow I think!  If my drinks just didn't light up under the black lights I might be able to pull off the water story!

And yes, all these drinks are mine.  I'm allowed two and a half dinks while out.  Oops, I lied, the water on the right is not mine.  Who put that there?

Cutting a Rug with some of our BFF's!

You should have seen DL do the "worm" out on the dance floor!  And Barry just couldn't Smile Without Me!

Barry may Write the Songs but I Create the Photos!

Ok, I do understand that putting your photo out on the web is forever.  Our friends didn't want their mug's on here so I promised that I wouldn't.  Took the photo for the memory.

Thanks You Two!  Made my evening GREAT!

And THAT was my 16,802nd day on Earth.  It was a day to remember.

Tune Up?

Never to early to start teaching the kids how to work on engines.

Dress attire: Pink shirt with matching sweatshirt and tights.  Why tights?  Well you must wear tights if your going to wear a skirt on a cold-cold day.
I love my girl!  Grease and Pink!

Jo helped me change plugs, wires and the air filter on the van.  Thought she might burn out towards the end as two of the plugs were very hard to reach but she hung in with me and seemed to actually enjoy this.

Our next house project came blowing in the other day!

One of three sections that came down.

Anyone want to help?

A Leap Year Post!

Cole is having a very good time with his basketball team even though he is teased often by friends and family that he is now a "Beaver".

He likes to take point as often as possible and has gotten much stronger this year with this shots.  Three pointers are becoming more of a reality for him.

Cole has been watching Bear Grylls on tv lately. (Bear Gryllis has become known around the world as one of the most recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure.)

Yes, this is Cole on the roof of our shed.  He has also taken to walking the top of our fence and trying to run and scale the fence in a quick jumping motions.  (are we seeing a broken arm in our future?)

Strings Concert

Cole had his first strings concert and the only thing he was nervous about was the color of his shirt. (had to be "jewel" color)  He asked quite a few times "Other kids will have this color on too?"

It was a good concert with lots of kids from different schools playing together.  Cole was quite happy to perform in front of people and we think he has a renewed interest in playing again.  (now to get him to actually practice)

Oh, and he wanted me to note here that he didn't like the clip on tie either.

Jo...Oh, Jo!

We know many of you do not see this side of her but she is truly a hoot!

No, music was not playing at this time. She just came out of her room and said "Look at me Mom" followed by "Take a picture of me".

And then we have this...

I believe Oma has a similar looking picture when she was a kid.

Oh Jo!

Daytona 500

Gma Marie and Gpa Norman went to the 54th Daytona 500 as this was on Gpa's bucket list.  They have spent over a week in Florida and we have enjoyed reading and seeing their adventures on their blog posts.

Here they are actually in their seats at the Daytona 500.

I snapped this photo of our TV showing the whole race track and the lines down from their picture shows where their seats were.

The BS Family sure got excited to watch the race this year only because the Grandparents were in the stands.  Excitement through association.  And I think Gma & Gpa had a good time too.

Pie!

I love it that Jo likes to bake because we get some yummy things around here.

Cherry pie this week!  It's a breakfast food don'tcha know.

And on the 29th day of February ... .

SNOW!

M & N on the Road

Well, the folks have been having a GREAT time at their first Daytona 500!

http://mar8nor.blogspot.com/
Check out their Blog on this adventure and more!

 

The Volcano Experiment