Update

Haley is recovering very well. Still a little sore, but she should be able to do volleyball next week again. She's looking forward to that.

The following pictures were taken within the last 10 days. Case is starting to get the hang of standing, but gets pretty frustrated about not being able to walk!

"Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten."

-B.F. Skinner

She's Home!

Haley was discharged around 1:30 pm today. She's home, napping on/off, and watching a little tv. Thanks for your prayers & wishes everyone!

Haley

This is Friday evening in the ER. Haley has had her blood drawn, had the CT scan, and if you look at her left arm, it's ready for an IV. Moriah is giving her a hug.



This is immediately before the surgery outside of the OR. I think the time was around 12:15 am (Saturday). The doctor & nurse gave Haley a little black bear. Dan was trying to convince her that she would not remember any of this. But, she says she does.


This is Haley on Saturday afternoon, probably around 4:30 pm. She was not looking too well, and she still had quite a bit of pain. She went back into the bed after about 15 minutes in the chair.



Here's Haley on Sunday morning, around 9:30 am. She's looking better and is doing better with the pain. Her IV will come out sometime today, they'll have her walking a little more, and maybe she'll come home tonight!

Acute Appendicitis

Well, I will probably go into more detail about the Unity Experience at a later date (suffice it to say, we realize now why many people opt to use an ER 35 minutes away instead of the one in their own backyard).

Friday, around 4 pm, I called our pediatrician to get a "second opinion" of what I thought MIGHT be a possible appendicitis in Haley. She looked green. She couldn't stand without feeling dizzy and nauseous, she had a fever, and her side ached.

Around 4:20, the pediatrician's nurse called and said it'd be a good idea to go the ER and get Haley checked out. So, by 4:30 pm we were there. Within a few hours it was definite that she had atypical acute appendicitis and she was prepped for and emergency appendectomy.

(Note the time....All the details left out here might come in another post)

By 2 am, Haley was finally without her very inflamed appendix, which was also wrapped around her colon. No wonder she felt so horrible all day.

So...there she is for another night. We hope to bring her home Sunday and perhaps everyone in our household will get a nice long nap.

Oh...she asked if she could keep her appendix in a jar.

Nope.

It has to be examined in a lab.

Bummer.

Update in Pictures

so, it's been three weeks or more. Oops! Here are some pictures from Halloween, November 1st in Mason City, and some from around here:

How Many?

Ok - so it's been a few days now. I've recovered from the outcome of the election and am ready to vent again. I won't lament, weep, wine over the outcome of the presidential election. It was quite obvious that the people spoke and the people are now getting what the people asked for. Change (as in quarters, dimes, and nickels, right?). Hope (ain't just a small town in Arkansas). So, the next 8 years (the girls remind me it's only a 4-year term, but I've already conceeded 2012) will be a long ride.

Let me direct you to this site http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml
where you can look up information on any of the ______ federal agencies. The fill-in-the-blank isn't for a colorful adjective, although I'd probably agree with your choice. It's for a number. If you would like to spend the next 45 minutes actually counting the number of departments, email me or post the number.

Is it necessary to have this many?

Every administration has added some department or beefed up spending. Reagan added the US Department of Education (mistake, by the way). Clinton directed more spending in the Department of Defense. Bush added the Department of Homeland Security. What will Obama add? Unlike families' budgets or even a business' where when we add some spending, we obviously eliminate spending elsewhere (you know - to BALANCE our budgets), I have a grave feeling that our elected officials won't be taking the same approach.

I'm not an economist, but I remember some basics from Econ 101, and I'm pretty sure this "bailout" government intervention into our economy is only going to prolong the recession. If the banks, auto industry, and manufacturing industries are allowed to "fail" naturally, the economy will bounce back, and rather quickly. People, especially Americans, are resiliant. Yes, there will be unemployment for a certain amount of time. Politicians are so fearful of that that they will do anything to avoid it - even risk the economy by enacting emergency funding.

It all comes back to those _____ politicians (this time, choose a colorful adjective). If anything needs to be stopped, capped, regulated, it's them. Put term limits on all of them, not just the executive branch. There should be no such thing as a "professional" politician.

So, how many departments does a nation need?

Happy O'BamaWeen

By Moriah

Our lives can be compared to an orchestra.

The leader is the Lord our God,
the instruments are his people
the notes are our actions.

If there is a misprint,
or if people misread the music wrong,
they get lost and stray away.

Sometimes the instruments that have strayed away
from the Lord our God
will distract others and they will stray away.
Pretty soon the orchestra will sound like mush.

But the Lord our God will straighten it out
and we will play praises to the Lord
for the rest of our days.

******************

So, just a note: this was a languages arts assignment which required her to use symbolism in her writing. She was to create an 11-line (or more) poem in the style of the Psalms. I thought this was pretty good - I wanted to share it! Wow...she must have a really good teacher, huh? :)

Too Funny not to Share!

Not a Good Day

Today is not a good day to be Case. He had four shots, including the flu shot, and a finger poke to draw 2 small viles of blood. The blood test is to test for lead levels.

Just out of curiosity, I inquired about the cost of the blood test in our visit to the Lab. The lady looked it up for me and quoted, "$173." THAT is what is wrong with the health care system. C'mon, does it really cost $173 to put a drop of blood on a slide and look under a microscope? And, good news for you Iowans under the age of 6, the lead test is now a state law and is required before attending any Iowa school (or home school, or private school). Let's see, $173 times 37,866 kindergarten students (check out the DE website statistics page) equals $6,550,818. That's a whole lot of money to you and me.

Now, I'm all for people making money, please don't get me wrong. So, let's say there's a 50% markup on the test, like in retail products. So, $86.50 is gross profit to cover expenses like the lady who took the blood. Incidentally, she was also the same lady who was the receptionist (that's multi-tasking and keeping expenses down). The overhead of the building is worth something, too. Now, I'm fairly sure that the 180 seconds we saw her in the blood-drawing room will be covered by that $86.50 and then some.

I'm not sure how OBama or McCain or any of the other legislators are planning on attacking the health care "crisis" we supposedly have (for the record, I think of a crisis as "a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change" and it's obvious that we can all obtain adequate health CARE...perhaps not affordable insurance, which is something other than a health CARE crisis....rather, it's often a lack of priorities to allocate a portion of one's income towards pricey premiums), and I'm not for price regulation, but there's gotta be something that can be done with regard to medical prices. Can't they post a menu or something of their prices online? We choose our doctors...in this case, I didn't choose the lab, but if I had a choice, could I see the prices first? Does it take all of us to start questioning our doctors about what they're charging and why?

I know that in a few weeks, I'll start getting my insurance "This is not a bill" bills that will give me a heads up for what our portion will be, and I'll still stand amazed with it in hand, thinking, "How can that cost so much?"

Incidentally, the four of us girls all got flu shots, too, and suddenly, I'm feeling a little tired! Clearly, it's affected my thinking!

1st Birthday

We are (not) doomed!

To the pessimistic woe-is-me ecomonists/politicians/regular Joes (this might even include "Joe the Plumber"): you are doomed to fail in your efforts to doom the economy.

An article in the LA Times a few weeks ago addressed the resiliency of the American economy. We have seen rough spots in our history and have always managed to bounce back. Albeit, it took some time, but I'm guessing there were plenty of investors who recovered their losses and then some.

Anyway, the article by Max Boot cited the results of this year's World Economic Forum, which ranks nations in certain areas. For example, USA was ranked first as the most competitive economy in the entire world for the past two years. The per-capita gross domestic product in the U.S. has consistently grown faster than in other developed economies since 1980.

Why? Because of our domestic market size, the time required to start a business (No. 3), venture capital availability (No. 1), the cost of firing an employee (No. 1), ownership of personal computers (No. 2), university/industry research collaboration (No. 1) and quality of scientific research institutions (No. 2). Those are just a few of the areas where we came out on top.

I can think of other reasons. Competition. When you're shopping for really just about any product (except public education, of course), you have a huge variety to choose from because of the amount of producers. Competition drives lower prices. Competition causes improvement in products, improvement in wages & benefits packages for employers, higher standards for all.

This is America. Even if the Dems take both ends of Pennsylvania Ave as a result of this November's election (*gasp*), we will not be kept down. Unfortunately, if that happens, it'll take even longer to pull out of this sticky mess, because they will only continue to do two of the most "problematic" areas for doing business in the US (according to the World Economic Forum Survey): -- high tax rates and cumbersome tax regulations.

America is the best place on the planet to live. Truly a rich nation. Let's keep her that way.

A Response to Tonight's Presidential Debate

Overseas markets are tanking as I write this. Tomorrow’s Wall Street performance will be bleak, once again.

My friends, what the federal government is doing with this “bailout” is likened to a consumer who is way over their head in consumer debt, so he decides to “pay off” his credit card bill by taking a cash advance from another credit card. Instead of paying off that balance, he continues to spend carelessly, oh, there might be a necessary item here and there, like gas or groceries, but most of it is frivolous. The card gets maxed out. What to do? “Pay it off” with yet another card.

What’s the remedy for this poor guy? Stop spending! Put his earnings towards his debt, and then towards savings. Why is it that we “unqualified to be president” people have it figured out, but the big wigs in Washington & our own state capitol seem intent upon spending money on needless programs?

Onto the debate that was held earlier tonight. Moriah rushed off to her room to listen to it on the radio. She became angry during many parts of it. I see a future filled with anger towards elected officials, unfortunately.

My blood pressure was 120/80 until the portion about education. The question began something like this: America spends the most per capita on its pupils, yet fails to be the highest achievers in the world. What would you do to fix that?

Of course, Obama said a combination of more money and reform. Higher pay for qualified teachers in exchange for higher accountability. Make college more affordable. $4000 tuition credit in exchange for community service, which might include military service (last I checked, there was something called the GI bill that already does this). Both he and McCain were for charter schools, while McCain mainly harped on Charter schools.

First, when we compare nation to nation, the statistics are skewed. We are the only nation who guarantees a free education to every child. Therefore, students are tested and it’s the TIMMS test in 8th and 11th grade – not the ITBS. Every district has a random number of students take it – it’s completely random, so you have special ed students, high scoring students, and students of many different achievement levels taking this test, which is used to compare internationally. When we compare our students to, say, Japan’s or Germany’s, we are comparing our scores against the scores of their best and brightest. Because, you see, their education system tracks children from about the age 9 into the areas of strength those students show. If you have an exceptionally bright 3rd grader who shows aptitude in science and math, then they will likely follow a more scientific/mathematical approach to schooling, and follow a university course. A child who is average across the board will likely follow a vocational path, learning core subjects, but eventually by 10th or 11th grade be tracked into vocational type subjects/courses that will give them a trade when they finish school. Guess why we don’t always come out on top of those tests? If we took the best and brightest of our students and compared them internationally, I am certain we’d be at the top. We have the best high schools with the most opportunities in the world.
Next, more money equals better education? How much is enough? Some districts are receiving more than $6000 per student. Why not $10,000? Why not $50,000? How much is enough to truly educate all children and turn out the smartest students in the world?

Money is not the answer to our educational woes. A transformation of our system is truly needed, but that does not mean we need to throw more money away. When Obama says more money is needed, and teachers need more, where is that money going to come from? If he mandates each state needs to raise teacher pay, who pays? Have you checked your property tax bill lately? Have you purchased something at Walmart lately and really looked at the receipt? How many more 1 cents can we afford?

Again, let’s try this the old fashioned way: A nickel saved is a nickel earned.*

*(Inflation, if you’re wondering why I misquoted it)

To see some sample 8th grade TIMMS questions, check out this link:
http://www.edinformatics.com/timss/pop2/mpop2.htm?submit324=Grade+7%2C8++Math+Test

Tuesday: Photos by Brooke

A Few of Things We've Been Up To

Besides the daily grind of school work, we've managed to fit into our schedules a couple of choir concerts, soccer games, volleyball games, and a picnic to the park. Not all in the same day, of course! There are families that could probably do that...I'm confident mine is not one of them. I would have a melt down!


The girls are part of the Muscatine Children's Choir this year. This is a great experience that is sponsored by Wesley Methodist Church downtown. They will be singing at various churches, festivals, and community functions throughout the year. Here, they're singing for Colorado Elementary School.

This is either Haley or Moriah serving the ball last Sunday afternoon at their volleyball game. They have two more tournaments to go, and they've really enjoyed playing the sport.

I had to get a picture of both twins playing soccer before it was too late to prove that they did it. They are the only girls on their team (green shirts), and they mainly played defenders. Now that they've tried it, soccer games will be but just a distant memory. Although, Moriah did mention she might try it again if she's guaranteed to be on a all-girls team. So...maybe next spring!

Today - 10-10-08 It was too beautiful not to go take some pictures. Case wasn't very cooperative, though, so I didn't get much of him.

Although I don't have any pictures of it, there have been many political conversations around here the past few days along with more questions & answers regarding the stock market, America's future economically - Goodbye Capitalism! - and in general, just good clean living. The girls are growing physically, which is quite obvious, but they are also making great strides academically and spiritually. I'm very thankful to be able to be around for it all.

Volleyball & Soccer

Moriah and Haley had their first Volleyball tournament Sunday. They love volleyball now! The games went well...lost to the first team, but won against the second team they played. It's fun to see the quick progress.

Brooke is all about soccer these days! She was so honored to be asked to join a traveling soccer team...and that team is quite good, and coached really well. She's progressing quickly. It helps when you really like the sport!

Life is getting a bit crazy this month, and we'll all be glad when October is over! Brooke now has soccer 4 nights/week. Haley and Moriah have volleyball 2 nights/week, plus soccer the other 2 nights/week. Dan has football several nights/week. I'm just trying to maintain, work on the kitchen, teach school, follow a now very mobile toddler around the house to prevent accidental electrocution, and so on.

Well...off to a choir concert!

How Much is $700 Billion?

I received this email a few days ago, and although this wouldn't work (it would cause needless runaway inflation), it makes you think:

This idea sounds just crazy enough to possibly work, so
naturally it won't be given serious consideration. How
great is our bureaucracy!!

I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to
America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let's assume there are
200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every
man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that
equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free.

So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.

That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college - it'll be there

Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car - create jobs

Invest in the market - capital drives growth

Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+
including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers
and every other company that is cutting back. And of course,
for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's
really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00
( 'vote buy' ) economic incentive that is being
proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout,
let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and
clean it up.

Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can 'never work.'

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the
$85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG
or in Washington DC

And remember, this Birk plan only really costs $59.5
Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes
to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Update

As you can tell, life around here must be busy, because I haven't made any posts lately!

Yes, life is busy!

Just a few glimpses into the past few weeks:

Dan has been helping coach a 5th/6th grade boys youth football team several nights a week. Games are on Sunday afternoons. He's enjoying the coaching and the games, although it's a bit crazy during an election year, when he's swamped at work.

Earlier this summer, I tried to sign up Haley and Moriah for the youth sports volleyball league, which starts in September. I must have missed the deadline, because they were put on a waiting list for a team. So, thinking that there was no chance they'd be playing volleyball, they took a risk at trying out soccer for the first time. They're in sixth grade and haven't been on a soccer team before. I saw a sign for the Y soccer program, and Brooke is totally all about soccer right now, so I signed her up for a girls team. Haley and Moriah agreed to sign up for a team, too. We got to the first practice, and they were the only girls - it's a co-ed team! Ahh! Needless to say, they are being really good sports and are enduring the longest six weeks of their lives....never to do soccer again!

However, not Brooke. Last week, her soccer coach pulled her to the side afterwards and encouraged her to go attend the practices for the travelling soccer team. She is floating on air. She's so excited. How this will affect our lives, I am waiting to see...

Back to volleyball...so the night before the first practice, I got a call from the coordinator, and there were two openings on a volleyball team. Yes, we joined. They really like the sport - waaaayyyy better than soccer! But...2nd practice, and Moriah jammed her index finger. It's still swollen and a bit purpler, but getting better.

So we have all these things going on in our world....and if you look at the previous post, I did manage to get a good start on our kitchen. I'm working on cabinets now, slowly but surely.

School's going well. The baby is growing incredibly fast and becoming more and more of a toddler every day.

Speaking of school and babies....must get started now.

8:00 am

This Week...

...started off with Labor Day, so we went camping at this really posh 5-Star Campground. No Reservations needed and we & some great friends had the whole place to ourselves! There was plenty of room for the kids to ride their bikes, a fire pit to cook over, shady spots for the campers, a carpetball game table, a sand pile, a log roll, and space to play Ghost in the Graveyard. Where does such a great place exist, especially on a busy holiday weekend? On a family farm! Dan's parents allowed us to camp there last Sat/Sun and we had a great time.





We got motivated to start on the kitchen. So, that's is full swing now. Lots of late nights, prepping and painting. Dan's making trim to match original trim for around the new windows.





We started school September 2nd. It's going well so far.



Soccer is going well. This is Haley and Moriah's first season, and it's co-ed, 6th-8th grade. They did really well after only two practices, and going up against a few 8th grade boys that look like linebackers for the high school. Brooke scored the tie-matching point this morning in her game and was very pleased with that effort!

That's Brooke with the ball, driving towards the goal.

No Comment

Ok, so I didn't get any comments on my actual blog, but I did receive several email comments. And the lyrics! Apparently, it's difficult to post a comment unless you already have a google account. Sorry about that.

Still wondering whose program it was that this came from - Captain Kangaroo? Sesame Street? The Electric Company?

So, here's the song (sang to the tune of "Three Blind Mice"):

Brush your teeth
Round and round
Circles small
Gums and all
A small soft toothbrush the round and round way
Will keep your gums healthy and stop tooth decay
So clean very carefully three times a day
Go round and round

Thank you!

Brush Your Teeth???

People have told me they read my blog, but I never get any comments. So...here's something I'm going to try. Do you remember that song about brushing your teeth? I think it was from Sesame Street or possibly Captain Kangaroo. It starts out like this:

Brush your teeth...round and round...circle small...gums and all...blah blah blah blah blah.... ..go round and round, round and round!

See...I'm missing some vital lyrics there. When I first started brushing the girls' teeth back in their toddler stage, I sang this tune and just hummed the missing words. But, now I'm brushing Case's teeth and it irks me that I don't know the words.

Please help! Post the words if you know them! Thanks!

Back in Action

For some time now I've been without a suitable camera, but alas, Dan has fixed my problem...with some tape! I would say duck tape, but I opted for painter's tape - less residue.

So, without further adieu, may I present a picture snapped just hours ago....

Another Great Quote

I heard a great quote today:

LIVE IN GRACE
ACCEPT THE ORDINARY

Happy Birthday to Me!

Do you really want to know how old I am? Can't you tell by the picture on my profile?

So...it is my birthday today and that always causes me to think how fast time really flies. There are a couple of quotes I'll share with you today:

1. Life is a vapor. Fire and paper. (Little Big Town)
2. "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall..." (The Bible)
3. Carpe Diem (Dead Poets Society)
4. Seize the moment of excited curiosity on any subject to solve your doubts; for if you let it pass, the desire may never return, and you may remain in ignorance. (William Wirt)

Life is here and then it's gone. Today causes me to reevaluate what it is I'm doing worthwhile with the few days I have here. I feel I'm right where I'm supposed to be, but still, sometimes, I feel restless. There's so much to do and so little time! So much to explore, so much to still learn.

I'll leave you with one little and interestingly significant fact about August 26 (other than that's MY birthday!): Today in 1920, women were given the right to vote in America.

The feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life. When we do not do the one thing we ought to do, we have no time for anything else - we are the busiest people in the world."

-Eric Hoffer

Do you do this, too?

Looking Behind and Looking Ahead

This picture was taken four years ago, when these beautiful girls were about to turn 7 years old!

Tomorrow, they'll be 11!

Where has the time gone?

I was just thinking that on August 19th, last year, I was in the hospital for most of the day, wondering if something horrible was happening with the pregnancy. As a result, I missed out on their 10th birthday party with family here. (Side note: obviously, the pregnancy turned out just fine and resulted in child #4)

This year, we celebrated by going to Adventureland yesterday...one of the last days of their season, so incredibly busy. But, we had a blast anyway! Haley will ride anything! Moriah and Brooke did the G-Force about twenty times!

So, with the discovery of the picture above, I'm wondering what 4 years from now will look like. Predictably, we'll be in an election year again. Who will be running against the incumbent O'Bama? (Ok, I'm showing my pessimistic tendencies here - and for you liberals, you thought I was showing HOPE)

Seriously, what will life look like four years from now? They'll be turning 15, will have had a year of driving with a parent under their belts, plenty of babysitting jobs (paying ones that involve someone other than Case), maybe even a job job at Fareway, and will be entering 10th grade. And boys? Gulp.

I like looking through the photo albums, which we've been doing recently, and seeing how fast change occurs. But, it's also a great idea to look ahead. I'm trying to help them uncover those hidden abilities and talents that God's given them in an effort to create a wonderful future. It's pretty exciting to see what kind of women these two will be. Yet, it's such a responsibility! Overwhelming at times. I don't want to get in the way of their growth and maturation.

An old German proverb states: "Begin to weave and God will give the thread."

Another great quote by Stephen Covey: "The best way to predict your future is to create it."

This parenting gig is tough, but it's got to be, bar-none, the most rewarding, challenging, and fun job in the world.

Happy Birthday to Haley and Moriah! Wow, eleven years!

I Cannot Tell a Lie

"I cut down the cherry tree."

Now Dan has yet another thing in common with our nation's first President!

Proof!

Here's proof that I actually helped - as little as it was - in transforming the space into a laundry room.

Baby's First...

So today I decided not to cart Case in his carseat from the parking lot to the grocery store. Combined, they weigh 30 or more pounds. I left the car seat in the car and brought the baby boy with me in my arms instead.

I set him in the little area of the cart where you'd normally put the eggs or bread or a purse.

And I have to admit, he was so cute! He really enjoyed himself. Of course, he held on for dear life for about the first minute or so, but once he figured out he wasn't going to fall or anything, he really enjoyed sitting there.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera...and even if I did, I probably wouldn't have snapped a pic. You'll just have to use your imagination and trust me...he was cute!

54 Days

until the Quad City Marathon....(gulp)

Will I be ready?

Not likely.

Am I still wanting to do this?

Not really. A Half-Marathon is easier! (And shorter, duh) The training is brutal and time consuming.

Why bother then?

Because I have always wanted to accomplish something I viewed as impossible. I want to cross off an impossible feat off of my "Things To Do Before I Die" list.

What else is on that list?

Not much anymore! I've erased most of the more adventurous, dangerous, expensive, and exciting things, and have replaced them with more noble things.

Formerly on The List:

1. Parachute or skydive
2. Deep sea dive
3. Drive a race car 200 mph or faster
4. Speed ski (downhill) - been there, done that

My more noble items:
1. Show more and more respect and love to my wonderful husband
2. Raise respectful, self-controlled, God-honoring children
3. Make it my ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind my own business, and to work with my hands
4. Replace my selfish tendencies with thoughts & actions towards others


So, there may be a few more adventures still on the original List. Like I haven't erased my desire to travel the world. It's just sort of on hold during this phase of life. And I haven't erased my desire to explore my artistic gifts in art & design. Again, on hold. Besides continuing to build a stronger marriage day by day, this season of life is dedicated to four little creatures entrusted to me and Dan. They're a huge responsibility and I consider it such an honor to be their guide through these short years.

So...54 days. More training to get in. More thoughts creeping around my brain. May I run steady like the Tortoise.

Jogasaurus - I think I qualify

And the Renovations Continue

Dan's made major progress on the attic this weekend:

• Finished electrical outlets, switches - including moving a switch
• Finished plumbing - the laundry room is another step closer to being finished!
• Mud & tape
• Brought up some scaffolding & installed casters so he can slide the contraption around - In case you're wondering why he needs scaffolding in an attic...well, the ceiling is pretty high, so he's able to mud and tape those drywall joints over his head without climbing a ladder
• Moved a bunch of stuff and cleaned the area

While he's been up on the third level, I got inspired to do something about our master bath. We've lived here for five years now. Way back on week 2 after we moved in, I pulled off all the ugly wallpaper in the bathroom. And that was where I left that project. There was mold under that wallpaper and the mold didn't go away in five years! So, I tackled the walls. Primed, skimmed, sanded, primed again. I still have a few places to sand and skim again, prime again, etc. Hopefully, I'll be able to apply paint sometime this week! Also, I have to sand down the trim, which has a bunch of layers of alligator-like paint. I'll repaint the trim, too. This project is more time consuming than I ever thought it would be.

Mountain Dew

I thought this was kinda funny. This is probably only a month's worth (or less?) of the Mountain Dew that Dan's brother's family consumes. These are empties, of course.

Dan made the switch to Diet Mountain Dew a few years ago. I admit that it's an acquired taste. Do I see a case of Diet Dew in that stack?

I'm guessing the Root Beer may have been contributed by Dan's dad.

Not exactly sure what the hula-hoop is on the pile for.

Children of the Corn

Yesterday was a day devoted to corn. You cannot live in Iowa and not appreciate good corn! I'm just lucky enough to have a brother-in-law & sister-in-law who planted the best variety of sweetcorn ("Coon's Delight") in the state, not to mention, an enormous patch of corn... with sharing in mind! How generous!!!

The timing worked out well, because I had to bring neice Lydia back to the grandparents yesterday, and the girls all wanted to spend time with their other cousin, Rebekah, who was already at grandma's and grandpa's.

So, we headed up the truck and we mozied on over to Washington...Iowa, that is. Tall corn. Rolling hills.

"We're ready!"

Corn Picking 101

Aunt Carmen gives a lesson in finding ripe ears of corn and how to pick them.

I didn't take any pictures of us shucking the corn. It went really fast, because all five girls helped Carmen, Grandpa, Ryan and me. We sang "Happy Birthday" to Grandpa during that time. He asked a good question..."What will you be doing 10 years from now?"

From field to mouth! Mmmm!

Monday, Monday...sha la sha la la la

More tree limbs went down with this morning's huge storm that went through.




The girls and their cousin, Lydia, getting warmed up to go into the pool.

A Quick Recap of this Week

So this week has flown by again. Where DOES the time go?

Here is a recap of this week's activities...

On Wednesday, we had a homeschool picnic at Fuller Park. Here the girls with their friend, Erin, and no...that's not Case! That's Samuel, who is one year older than Case and just as cute.



Earlier this week, Monday I think, I officially called off school and announced, "It's Summer Vacation!"

Of course, the girls didn't know they were still learning from Dad. He was experimenting with a way to split hydrogen from H2O. It takes a bit of energy - a few drained batteries later - but the experiment was successful. Moriah and Brooke were very into it. Haley...not so much.



And probably the best result of calling off school was a very cool school-type activity that sort of just happened as a result of the girls' imagination and their constant reading of American Girl magazines. Below is a cover for their own American Girl magazine they hope to publish in November/December. As you can tell, they've set up the photo shoots quite well. They're writing articles for their edition, and working on photoshopping the cover. Quite funny. If I had suggested something like this for a school project, I'm sure I would have heard whining. Guess I need to call off school a little more often!


Finally, today, I made a successful attempt to "culture" the kids by taking them to a free family day at the Figge Art Museum in the Quad Cities. It was awesome. The best part for me came when we were walking back to the car. Brooke said, "Thank you, Mommy, for taking us here." That was followed by two more thank yous.