Sheeeesh. What happend to April?

This is all we wear now days.

Mud Boots.

April 2011 went down as the 2nd wettest April in Ohio history.

It has rained nearly everyday.  Not to mention the sheer line winds, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. 

I'm sick and tired of my shoes and pants went & muddy, so I've resorted to wearing my mud boots and capri's.  Mitch almost cries everyday when I pick him up from school & I giggle everyday when I pick him up from school.

We have a garden again.  That was one of the top things we missed last year. 

With all of the rain (and a little more heat) things have started to turn green and our garden is growing nicely.  Well, not our 'garden garden'.  We can't get out into that yet.  It is just way too muddy, but our square foot garden boxes are looking great. 

Layne is chomping at the bit to get the plants we put into the ground and our fruit trees in.  Maybe May wont be quite so wet.  We've also got to get some fencing up because we have deer that come right up to the house at night to eat grass and pretty soon our garden is going to look like a beautiful salad.

I feel bad for the farmers.  They can't get into the fields and they need to get the corn and soybeans planted in the next couple weeks or it will get too late.  Although, the winter wheat is so pretty & green right now.

Easter was wonderful to celebrate, as always.

Here Mitch & Judd are coloring eggs.  I guess the other two got too old for it.  They didn't come running when we announced it was time.

But they did show up for the egg hunt Layne put together between rain storms.  Everyone wants to find the two eggs that have $5 in them.

This year Mitch and Josie got lucky.

*We also had a birthday boy.

Todd turned 14 on April 18th.  For some reason I don't have any pictures to put up. 

I'll have to find them and update that soon.

*Baseball has started up in full swing.

Once again, every night of the week (except Sunday) has a game. 

It is fun to catch up with all of our baseball family friends.

We love it....till about July.  Then we are ready for a break.

*Justin got the chicken pox (he wouldn't let me take a picture because most of them were under his pajama bottoms...if you know what I mean.)  Yes, he had the shot and he still got them.  He started up with them the day before they went back to school from spring break, so he got another whole week out of school.  He thought that was awesome.

*One sad note:  I was sick in bed on April Fools Day and I didn't get to celebrate the best day of the year.  Next year I'm going to have to make up for that.  The planning has begun.

Happy Spring Everyone



The awesomely awesome watermelon we had at dinner tonight.
Ahhhh, watermelon season is back.  It is like getting oxygen.





Nothing Gets By Them



Ah, Pat.  You look exactly like you did when I was six.  How could this be?

 A couple of nights ago we (as in the fam) were watching Wheel of Fortune together. 
The lady won the bonus round!  Yay! 
Then Pat opened the little card to show us what else she had won.  $30,000 more dollars!  Yay! 

Then Judd pipes up.

"She knows that half of that money goes to taxes, right?"

What six year old knows/says that?  Mine obviously, and I'd better get a grip on what I'm saying and/or doing around these sponges.

What is next?

Now let me get this right.

B.C. = B.C.E.
A.D. = C.E.

I really thought I kept up with what my kids are doing at school.  I check their reading lists, 'growing up' classes, religious ed classes, etc.  But the other day I noticed that one of my kids had a book with B.C. E. in it. 

To my surprise, I was informed that they had started using B.C.E and C.E. quite a while ago.  I didn't even know!  Then a couple of days later I was watching a show on PBS about Jerusalem and they were using the B.C.E. and C.E. system.  (Seemed a little strange to not use a Christan counting system when talking about Christ/religion.)  So at that point I realized it wasn't a school thing, it was a global thing. 

This may not be news to you, but if you are like me and didn't know:  They have taken out the 'Before Christ' and 'After Death' and changed them to 'Before Current Era' and 'Current Era'.  This is weird and I don't understand how you classify a current era.  I guess I've got to read up a little more to figure out what happened the year Christ was born that they decided to call it Current Era. 

Is it any wonder this world is falling apart?

I did read somewhere that Texas is keeping the B.C. & A.D. in their text books.  I've always liked Texas. 

Something is in the Air

We have had two days of spring weather. It just makes a person feel a little giddy. I found myself smiling at the smallest things today. The little green spikes of daffodils coming up in a flower bed at a store, Josie's French-tipped toe nails in her flip flops this morning, and the tails of horses swinging in the breeze driving down the road. Isn't it nice that the horses get to go out on a spring drive too?  I like how you can really 'feel' the change in seasons. 


On an entirely different subject...



I'm guessing my idea of a "test drive" with a towel may differ from theirs.

 I have bought lots of towels lately. The washers at the laundromat really took their toll on our towels this past summer and they were looking pretty stringy and worn. I don't think I'm a towel snob by any means, but I do know that I don't like a towel that feels like I'm just pushing the water around and it isn't going getting sucked up anywhere. I've bought them from Penney's, Wal-Mart, & Kohl's.

Want to know my opinion?

Some of the ones I got at Wal-Mart didn't pass the test. They felt okay thickness wise, but they just don't absorb very well. Although, the Better Homes and Gardens brand are pretty okay. They seem to have a tighter weave or something. The ones I got from Penney's kind of bug be because after their initial wash there was already little strings of the fabric popping out through out the towel.  Just when I was starting to feel defeated, I picked up a couple from Kohl's the other night, and they might be my favorite. They are the Sonoma brand. ($8.00 bath towel, on sale.) They are thick, hold up well in the wash, and they suck the water up off of me and out of my hair. So they win! I'll be getting more of those with my Kohl Bucks.

leprechauns, a shout out, & pigeon peas

These are some of the things bouncing around in my mind today. 

First, I need to say GOOD JOB TODD, on completing the Deacon portion of the Duty to God program.  He's such a good example to his younger brothers.  (When he's not teasing them, beating on them, & ordering them around.)

Second, last night my Muranaka Nephews called because they had heard that Todd had captured a leprechaun.  (Their mom lies) They have some sort of infatuation with leprechauns, and deep down I think they are scared to death of the short little rich dudes.  I'm assuming they are rich.  They always have gold around them. 

Highlight the next couple of empty lines to continue reading about this phone call.  I need to keep some of this out of little peoples (that can read) eyes.
(Start highlighting here) I had some teenagers here at the house and our buddy Ben posed as the captured leprechaun, and did a fab job on the accent, I must say.  They talked for quite a while about his clothes, how Todd captured him, etc.  Audrey said that after they hung up Dawson and Cole jumped in the shower and were making plans how to make a trap and get one themselves.  All the while they had that nervous little giggle going on. 

Later that night we talked again and Dawson asked me to post a picture of Todd's leprechaun.  And when I went to take it, this is what I found.  An empty cage!  Sorry Dawson.  I guess his buddies must have come and helped him escape during the night.  Did you have any luck at your house?  We did find a couple of gold coins laying around though.

Third, has anyone used pigeon peas?  I bought a can because the name and the ingredient kind of made me laugh when they are put together.  I found a couple recipes.  I'll try it out and let you know.



Bonus thought:  My birthday was great.  Thanks to everyone for everything.  36 didn't seem as committed to 40 as 37 does.  Say it out loud.  See what I mean?  It doesn't really bug me, I just noticed that it sounded different.

The Honor Bee

Several of you asked about the Honor Bee.  So I thought I'd just make a new post about it.

The great thing is (Geri, you'll like this) any and all women are invited to earn the award and honor bee.  I've been very impressed with how many women in our branch have asked me for the book & journal.  I've started this new program and I have to say that I've enjoyed every minute of it.  The other thing I noticed, I'm getting different things out of it this time around than I did as a teenager.  If any of you women decide to work on your Personal Progress (just ask your YW leaders in your ward for the books) you'll find that you are doing so much in your life that fits right in and you'll also find areas that need a little tweaking.

When you do earn the Honor Bee (it is a charm), you add it to the chain that your medallion is hanging on. 

Last year the Church presented their newest Personal Progress Program.  There is a  new medallion, new book (with the addition of the value of Virtue), a fun bookmark w/ ribbons you earn each time you finish one of the eight values, and other great items.  You can see them online and I think they were all presented in the 2010 January Ensign .... I think that was the one.

"The Honor Bee charm was historically given to young women who were willing to do more than was required. To continue your progress, you may earn an Honor Bee to accompany your Young Womanhood Recognition medallion. You may earn an Honor Bee charm after completing both of the following requirements:


1. Read the Book of Mormon again. A daily habit of scripture study will strengthen your faith and help you receive personal inspiration and guidance throughout your life. If you read just five minutes a day, you can complete the entire Book of Mormon in one year.

2. Serve others for a total of 40 hours. Where possible, some of these hours should include mentoring another young woman with her Personal Progress. This should be done under the direction of the ward or branch Young Women presidency. As you help another young woman, you may want to:

•Be her friend.

•Be an example of a righteous daughter of God.

•Encourage her to work with her parents in selecting appropriate value experiences and projects.

•Help her follow through with value experiences and projects.

•Help her keep records of value experiences and projects.

•Help her understand the gospel principles that the value experiences and projects teach.

•Encourage her to read the Book of Mormon, and discuss with her what she is reading.

•Encourage her to share value experiences and projects with her family."  (lds website)


The other thing that the Church has put together is that the girls (or women) can do it all on line.  We as leaders can log in and 'sign' things off electronically.  It can all be tracked and kept together on line.  These types of new things always amaze me.  I noticed that the YM can do their Duty to God that way too.  Too cool.

I must give a shout out for our YW.  Already this year we have had two get their award and two more next week, and one more on their heels.  It takes a lot of work, dedication, and commitment. Good job girls!!
Go ahead!  Get your books and work on yours.  You'll love it!  (The bookmark /ribbons and the necklace with a ruby is just gravy.)