Can you believe that school is almost out, and the real summer is getting ready to start?!? For the last few weeks, my kids have been counting down how many school days they had left. We have been busy with the end of the year activities, etc.

Nicole & Jennie on a field trip to the Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Oh.

Patrick "petting" a snake on a field trip, as his teacher just watches.

As you know, this past weekend was Memorial Day, aka the official start of summer. We go up to our (Ivan's), family cemetery in Bath County on Sunday. We decorate all of the graves, then have a picnic lunch, and then fondly talk about/remember those who have gone before us. This is a tradition that my mother-in-law did, from the time that she was a little girl. All 7 of the kids in Ivan's family were here, so it was kind of like a mini reunion. That evening we went to my father-in-law's for a combined b-day celebration. One of Ivan's brother & his family stayed with us. I am so glad that we live here in Ky, so that we are able to visit with our extended family more than just once a year, and have them stay with us.

A couple of weeks ago, my youngest brother graduated from Easter Ky University!! This is the first, and only graduation ceremony of my siblings that I have been able to attend. My youngest sister, and her family came in from Texas, for almost a week. Again, I am thankful to be living in Ky, where we get to see our families when they come in to visit.

As some of you may know, Ivan has taken on a part-time job with Com-Air. He is working ticketing, gate, and other customer service-related positions. He has been gone quite a bit to Chicago for training. We have talked about this type of job since we lived in Cheyenne. I think so far he is still enjoying it. This is all new for him, he has been working in pizza/food since he was like 8 or 10 years old. So far, his schedule hasn't been too sporadic, which was something we were concerned about. His flying privileges have already gone into effect, so we might just come out and see you all someday soon!!

Next time you go to put food down your disposal. . .

This past Saturday night, Ivan and I were going out on a date, (and it had been quite a while since we had gone out because of ball games/practices, Ivan out of town, etc.) Well, I don't cook on date nights, just pull out leftovers for the kids. Since we hadn't gone out for a while, we hadn't had L/O in a while, so there were quite a few, some that just went straight to the trash. Well, therein lies the problem. If I had thrown them in the trash can, instead of the disposal, I wouldn't be writing this right now. Yeah, I kind of put too much old, rotten food down the disposal, pasta, re-fried beans, sloppy joes, etc. I just kept rinsing them down, with the disposal running. Then I noticed that the water was over-flowing on the other side of the sink. We plunged it a few times, but then left on our date. Later that night, I tried to fix the problem, I took some of the pipes apart underneath the sink, (and broke one of the pipe fittings/rings), but couldn't see any clogs. After breaking the ring, Ivan came down, (from watching the NBA play-offs), to help me. We worked on it, snaked it, but to no avail. On Monday Ivan bought a longer snake, but still no luck. Finally we figured out we were going to have to cut the pipe in the basement to find the clog. So, we went down, buckets in hand, and he cut the pipe, and almost hit the clog right on. Just imagine rotten food and water raining down on your heads. Yeah, that was really gross!!! At one point Ivan said, "I have had to do a lot of yucky stuff in my life, but this is just about the worst, because it's on my head." I felt real bad for him, since it was pretty much my fault. But, he didn't get upset w/me or anything. Just kind of said, that I should probably double bag it, and throw it out in the trash next time. We used the snake, and a broomstick to clear out the food, then put it all back together, and it is working fine, no leaks or anything. I spent a couple of hours today cleaning it all up. So, be warned some of these pictures are kind of nasty!!

Spring Break

Last week was our Spring Break. But, you couldn't tell it was Spring by the weather we had. It was cloudy and rainy most of the week. We didn't go out of town, or do a whole lot, just a few different activities. We went to the movies, played with friends, stayed up late and slept in, and went roller skating. Which, I quite enjoyed! I got a pair of skates for me, and after all the kids were ready to go, I joined them on the floor. And, I think that I was just as good, maybe slightly better/faster than my kids at roller skating!! And it doesn't happen very often that I am as good as my kids when it comes to any type of sports. I had fun, and it reminded me of when I was a kid, and our parents would drop my sister and I off at the skating rink on Saturday afternoons. And I think we even had lessons at one point. I can still remember how to skate backwards, and demonstrated it to L & M. (Then when I went to turn around to skate the right way, I fell, which is the only time I fell.)

This isn't a very good picture, but I am wearing skates.

Pinewood Derby

A couple of weeks ago, O had his Pinewood Derby. He has been so excited about it, drawing the pattern, getting it cut out, and sanding and painting it. We let him draw his own design, and pick out the paint color/pattern. We talked to him ahead of time, and basically told him, that he wouldn't win, just to prepare him. Then when they started racing, he was consistently winning, with the exception of one other boy's car. We were all very pleasantly surprised. So, when it was all over and done with, O came in second place, for speed. Way to go!! Several of my older kids were just about as excited as the Cub Scouts.
Getting the car all weighed in. That is the top of P's head, watching, waiting till he's old enough. almost everytime O would work on his Derby car, P would ask/beg me if he could do/have one, and I just told him he had to wait until he turned 8:(

P talking to O's den leader. Probably asking her when he can have a car to race.

Watching the cars cross the finish line. (See I told you my older kids were just as excited as O.)

With his second place trophy!!!

This past Thursday evening, was something that N has been looking forward to, and talking about for several months now. In the 5th grade at their elementary school, they have an entrepreneur fair. They have to come up with a concept to market and sell, and hopefully make money. They have to pay for any expenses that come along with running your own business, like cost of the product, marketing, rent, etc. A few summers ago, N & M took a craft class from Michael's, and they learned how to make duct tape wallets. After taking hers to school a few months ago, and all the kids asking her how to make them, N came up with her idea for the entrepreneur fair. Duct tape comes in other colors, besides gray and camoflouage. They have neon pink, neon green (N's 2 favorite), purple, blue, yellow, white, & red. N made $75!! She and a good friend of hers did their booth together. Her friend sold record bowls. The name of their shop was N & E's 80's Shop. Both of their concepts were a big hit, and they sold out towards the end of the night.


N, making more wallets, while her "customer" browses the record bowls.




Their booth.

Dislocated finger!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Dislocated finger!

This was from the only game that I have gone to see DH play this year. And since I had my camera with me, he actually asked me if I wanted to take a picture. (He knows me so well.) In case you aren't sure which finger it is, it is his ring finger.

Basketball season is over!!! YEAH!!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Basketball season is over!!! YEAH!!

Here, I have started a blog. When I was asking the kids for suggestions for the name, a couple of them started complaining, and saying they would never pose again for a picture. I'm sure they will forget all about it real soon, since when getting computer time, reading mom's blog I'm sure is not at the top of their list.

It was fun, and I enjoyed going to everyone's basketball games, just very hectic!! 7 of the kids played basketball, and R was a cheerleader. Ivan coached the 4 oldest, all on the same team. But, of course, now other sports are starting. K is playing LaCrosse for Dunbar, and is really liking, and doing fairly well at it. M & N are going to be starting soccer soon. They will be on the same team, and have practice only once per week, which helps a lot. O & P have started practicing for baseball, they are also on the same team. Most of their practices, and all of their games will be like 2 min. from here. And that was a very big plus for me! For right now, the other kids aren't involved in any extra curricular activities. My mom tells me I won't know what to do with myself when I don't have kids to run all over creation. But, I can think of a few things to do, like, scrapbook more, read a book, clean the house, actually spend a night at home, etc. Q will probably be getting his driver's license in the next week or so, and that will help out a lot with all of the running.

Our little cheerleader!!

Way to go N!! She is looking forward to playing on the church team next year.

P has definitely improved since last year, when he played defense the whole game!!

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