Still snowing in May!!!!

Yes, you read that right!!  We got a snowstorm on May 2nd!!  14 inches of brand new snow!!!  We had taken a family vacation down to Branson, and drove through a snowstorm to get home, to find that we had 14 inches of brand new snow.  Thankfully, we didn't have to drive through that much, and by the time we got up here, the roads were clear.

Now, today it was 75 degrees! 

Matthew was out back, looking at his "strawberry" plants, and came in all excited, and said, "Mom!!!  We are going to have LOTS of strawberries!!!  The strawberry plants REALLY grew over the winter!!"   Hmmm.  So, I went out to check, and what he was looking at was the asparagus plants!!  His strawberry plants might be an inch tall.  :)

Down in Branson, we had a delightful time!!  We did Silver Dollar City for 2 days--as we got some tickets where you buy one day, and get the second day free, if you keep your ticket!  More on that later.  Silver Dollar City is an old fashioned amusement park, where the workers all dress up in the 1800's.  I don't know how they did it, with long sleeves and long dresses, because I was hot, and it's not even summer yet.  They have fun stuff, like a glass blowing demonstration, a blacksmith demonstration, etc.  Plus all the fun type stuff for the teens with roller coasters.  They had a brand new roller coaster, that was wooden that goes upside down.  The young fellas enjoyed it.  I don't do roller coasters.  So, I took Sam on "Fire in the Hole".  13 times.  Yes, you read that correctly.  We went 6 times, in a row the first day, and 7 times in a row on the second day.  I had the ride memorized.  Back to the buy one get one day free tickets.  So, over and over, I told the family to keep your ticket!!!  Well, poor hubby threw his (thinking it was a different ticket).  Then, he said he wasn't going to pay for another day for him, and that he would drop us off, and sit in the car.  Well, long story short, we called the travel agent that we worked through, and they got us another ticket for him.  We talked to one of the service agents at Silver Dollar City, and she said, "Don't worry about it."  And I had been saying the exact same thing--you are on vacation, you aren't supposed to have stress!!

We also saw Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, where they serve you a huge meal, with soup, a small cornish hen, baked potato slice, bread, pork slice, and dessert--all to eat without silverware, while you watch the show.  It was great, and I think the boys had a blast!

We also went through an Animal Safari, that you drive through the park, and you can feed the animals, like ostriches, emus, wildebeest, camels, bison, llamas, etc.  Then, in the walk through park, they had peacocks, a giraffe (that Sam and Matthew got to feed, and when Matthew ran out of food, the giraffe thumped him on the head!), and there were also some lions and tigers and bears, Oh my!!

 Matthew feeding the giraffe

This emu followed us around!!

Rick and a bison--look at it's tongue!

The zebra was a bit scary--but it was just begging for food.

We did roll the window up after this!

(They said you can have your windows rolled halfway down)

We also went to the Sight and Sound Theater, and saw the Joseph presentation.  I don't think it was as dramatic as the Noah, but it was still very good, and it is a wonderful story!!!  I would recommend it.

The fellas outside the Sight and Sound Theater

with the Lion and the Lamb

Matthew fighting Goliath inside the Sight and Sound Theater

Dan and Andrew went on a zipline!  They enjoyed that, but not the ride in the tram coming back - lol!  I guess she was a crazy driver.  Matthew was scared just going up in the tower for their zipline ride.

We also went downtown at night, and saw the dancing waters, and it was beautiful and fun!!

We were hoping that while we were gone, we would catch the mice in the traps.  No such luck.  But, Friday night, we caught one mouse, and last night we caught another mouse.  We are hoping that is all there are, and that there isn't a family.

Saturday, we met Josh and Brittany at the church, with some other people and cooked the spaghetti dinner food (that was on Sunday).  The youth did this as a fund raiser for Feed My Starving Children.  Then, I left, and took Brittany and Elise, and Sarah and Claire, to my niece, Hannah's, bridal shower.  Whew!  We've been busy since we've been home.

The boys (Sam and Matthew) are still on medication for strep throat.  This is their 5th time!!!  They will go back in to get retested.  Hopefully they will pass with flying colors!

Blessings!

Still snowing in April!!

So much has been happening!

We have been steadily doing school.  Finished our Wisdom Booklets for the year, now pressing on with Language arts and Math, and some extras.

We went to District Summit a couple of weeks ago.  We had a nice time with Josh, Brittany and Elise.  We were able to spend some time at the pool while the licensed pastors (our hubbies) went to the meetings.  It was relaxing.  We even got to go to our favorite burger joint, Kroll's in Green Bay!!  We order our favorite burger on a hard bun, with everything on.  Now THIS is a butter burger (Culver's has NO idea what a butter burger is - LOL)  We also order a butterscotch shake and some deep fried cheese curds.  Oh, I better stop, or I will want to go back for more!

We had to leave from Kroll's and come back and take Jon to the free clinic, as he hurt his ankle.  Found out it was a really bad sprain, in that he tore a couple tendons in the ankle.  He's doing better, but it still is sore.

We have had Elise here for a few days, while Josh & Brittany went to Cancun.  Then, on Friday night, the other grandma and grandpa picked her up, for the next leg of her journey.  They took her down to Florida, to meet up with Josh and Brittany.  They will stay there until April 30th, and then they will all fly back home.

Here Elise is ready to go on her trip with the other Grandparents.

They left at 9 PM, so she is in her jammies.

While she was here, I had done some grocery shopping, and while I was putting the groceries away, I knocked a can of peaches onto my toes.  Broke one.  No, I won't show you the picture for that.  :)  Some of my children say it's too gross.  

I have done some internet shopping on airline tickets.  Finally found some good deals.  I gave Dan a project to find a good price to fly from Minneapolis to Nashville--on certain dates.  He did a really good job.  But, in our looking, we found out that prices can change from day to day.  So, I have now booked a trip for my dad and my hubby to go to a Bible conference.  Now, we just need to get the motel. :)

We have gotten quite a few snow storms in April!!  Enjoy the pictures!

 This is April 23, 2013.  Out our front door.

This is looking out at our backyard.

My poor flowers keep trying to come up, then it snows again.

Blessings!

One day down, 3 to go!

Well yesterday was a crazy day!  We got our schooling done, and then we had to run into town, to pick up some of my meds, and switch our cell phone plan around.  I also decided to get our grocery shopping done, so we could just stay home today.  We got home at 3:30, put groceries away.  Then, I started to think. . .

Hmm.  Maybe I should make 1 more "dirty" costume for Josh.  Normally, he would wear the really nice white one, but in case some of the fake blood dripped down, we didn't want to ruin his nice costume.  I called him up, and he liked the idea.  I said I thought it could get done.  It was now 4 o'clock.

I got out another sheet, cut it out, sewed it up, and proceeded to put fake dirt and fake blood on it.  It was now 4:45, and time to make supper!  Thankfully, it was an easy one, and we had Thai tacos.  Made it to the church by 6, and had so much to do.

The plays went really well.  Only had 1 or 2 glitches.  Not sure why, but one of the back up CD's didn't play, but Jeremy saved the day, and sang it a Capella. 

One of you will betray Me.

My Dad speaking (James the Less)

Josiah speaking (Judas breaking the Salt

Covenant)

 Lead Me to your heart. (John & Jesus)

 If I knew who the scoundrel was, I would pierce

his heart. (Peter)

And "Watch the Lamb"

Father telling sons to watch the lamb (Matthew

on the left)

 Townspeople and disciples.

 Mercy person with guard.  (Dan and Andrew)

 Jesus falling to the ground (Josh)

 "Father, forgive them."

 And then He died.

 Father with sons weeping (Matthew on the right)

Matthew saying, "What do we see here?"

 

Counting Down

Well, the play starts tomorrow night.  I've been filling my days with last minute preparations.  Yesterday, I did some more work on most of the costumes--just made the seams more secure, and pinked the edges.  I did not do it on the "dirty" costumes.

I also ripped out a pair of Sam's pants that I started a few months ago.  I was having problems, and needed to rip it all out.  So, now I got them all done. I. hate. ripping. out.   And I had to do it over and over, trying to get the pant leg hemmed properly.  I guess it would have been better, if I had a pattern.  :)

I also typed in the whole programme for the Living Last Supper.  I had it done, in a card program, but I ended up doing it in Word.  Then, I also typed in a flyer for an Ezra/Nehemiah conference we are hosting in May.  I did that in Word, also!!  My skills are improving!  LOL

Today, I ran both the flyers, and cut them (about 150), and I printed off one copy of the bulletin.  Rick took that up to church and ran and folded them.  So, that is done.

Also, today, I used Dan as a guinea pig.  I needed someone to practice on, with the fake blood.  To have it running down the cheek, and smears on the face.  I think we finally got it, and he was such a dear to let me practice on him.  Then, we needed to see if we could get it all off, so we could take pictures later.

I think it is a go!

So many things I need to remember to bring--all the costumes, fake blood, script, camera.  Whew!

Today, I was also working on doing up a menu, for longer than 1 week.  Maybe tomorrow I can work some more on it.  I've been battling a headache.

Tonight, my hubby goes in for his sleep test.  I think he's a bit nervous, sleeping with someone watching.  :)

We had a huge turkey in our back yard today.  (I guess the family has seen up to four turkeys over the last week.)

We also got our motel rooms reserved for District Summit, which is coming up soon.  I looked online, and it said that there were not any rooms available, but when hubby called, they had lots of rooms.  We need 3 this time--2 for us, and one for Josh & Brittany.

Blessings!

Book Review: A Matter of Trust by Lis Wiehl and April Henry

"A Matter of Trust" by Lis Wiehl and April Henry is the first book in the Mia Quinn series.  I read this as an e book.  I have read all of Lis Wiehl's books, and this one did not disappoint.

Mia Quinn is a recently widowed mom to a teenager and a 4 year old.  Trying to juggle being a new single mom, with a job, can be very trying.  She had left the work force, and then after her husband's death, she needed to pay the bills, so she goes back to work as a prosecutor.  While she is on the phone with the County's DA, who is also a friend of hers, she hears gun shots, and gasping for breath.  She tells her son to listen on the phone, to see if her friend tells who shot her, while she goes to the house.

This is an edge of your seat, can't put the book down, mystery thriller, that will leave you guessing who done it, until the very end!!!!  It was very well written, and the characters were all very well developed.  You could understand the trials Mia was going through, with her daughter waking up screaming in the night, trying to pay bills, finding out that her husband had another mailing address, that was piled up with more bills.  I can't wait until the next book comes out!!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

More sicknesses and 8 days to go!

Matthew just finished his antibiotics, so we are waiting to see if he breaks out with it again.  My hubby got the influenza.  We got him in to see the doctor, and they were able to prescribe Tamiflu, as well as a strong cough medicine.  He is doing better, much better!  But, because of the sicknesses, it prevented Ben from coming home for a visit.

8 days till the Living Last Supper!  I am feverishly working on costumes!!!  I did up two costumes for the other guys to get crucified in.  I got those all "dirtied up"--by taking make-up and brushing it on, around a neckline, on the edges of sleeves, and hem of tunic, as well as on shoulders, elbows and knees.  I'm pleased with them.  I also made a costume for Andrew, and 2 for women.  Now, I am working on making a Jewish priest outfit.  That is taking a bit more work, as I need to make a prayer shawl, tassels, and stripes to try to get straight.  Hopefully, tomorrow, I will be done!!  Someone blessed me, and ordered mugs to be sold for the drama presentation.  I took the picture, but someone made the mugs.

This week in school, we have been studying the French Revolution.  For some projects, we made a French flag (which is pretty easy, as it is just strips of blue, white and red).  Then, for a bigger project, we made Banana Crepes, with a caramel sauce.  Oh, yum!!!!  They were a huge hit!!  We didn't make a whole French meal, as I didn't have that much time, so it was a bacon cheeseburger meatloaf, baked potatoes, and Brussel Sprouts.  Everyone agreed they would like Crepes again. 

Blessings!

Dishcloths

This is one of the patterns of dishcloths that I have made.  This is the Lacy V Interrupted stitch.  I really like this stitch, it goes really quickly, and I think I would like to make this into a baby blanket.  I wanted a hole-y dishcloth, but I think it is a bit too much.  Love the stitch, though

This is another of the dishcloths.  It is a ribbed dishcloth, and works very nice.  For some reason, this was a difficult one to do.  Not sure why, but my hands would just ache.  All the other dishcloths, I could get one done in about an hour, and my hands wouldn't hurt.  This pattern, for some reason, just made my hands ache.  This one I gave to my mom, and then I wanted to make one for myself--I had nothing but problems!!!  I ripped it out 5 times!!  Finally, I said I was going to do it.  I did finish it off, only to find out, upon closer inspection, that I dropped a stitch.  :-(

Here is another pattern, and it was VERY easy to do.  I could get 1 of these done in an hour.  I forgot the name of this pattern.  But, I think I have it bookmarked.  :)

So, there you have it.  So far, I have made 15 dishcloths.

Blessings!