Thursday, March 31, 2016

Hello!

Wonder where I've been?

Well, I've been everywhere

[Chorus:]
 
I've been everywhere, man.
I've been everywhere, man.
Crossed the city bare, man.
I've breathed the farm fresh air, man.
Of travel I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere.

I've been to:
Male High, grocery, dentist, orthodontist,
Children's doctor, Bowen Element'ry
Field trips, bus rides, Indy, Cincinnati,
Concerts, contests, Honor Society,
Pasture, orchard, new barn, and the garden,
Dances, meetings, and church, 'cause I'm a sinner.



Sorry.  Couldn't resist.  It feels like I've been running endlessly since the beginning of March.  Anyway, as March comes to a windy, stormy close today, I decided I had to update the blog. 

I'll start by saying everyone is doing great!  We've made it through winter without anyone suffering the usual winter illnesses.  In fact, Emily and Grace are still holding on to perfect attendance.  With a little luck, they can hang on for another seven weeks.  That's all that we have left of the school year!  Unbelievable.

While discussing health, I am happy to report that I had another check with the oncologist in March.  For some reason, they performed both a CT scan and MRI.  Everything looked good.  My oncologist has officially released me back to the care of my regular doctor.  I get to go two years before my next scans.  Progress!!!

We recently attended Parent/Teacher conferences with Grace and Grant's teachers.  Their teachers were full of positive comments.  Their most recent grade cards were full of A's and O's (the primary grade's version of an A).  We are definitely proud of them. 

John and Emily will get grade cards in April.  Both have done well during their junior year of high school.  Their grades are good, and they have enjoyed participating in lots of extra activities.  It has definitely been an enjoyable year before we begin the senior year grind of preparing for and applying to colleges.  Let the insanity begin!!

John and Emily recently took the ACT as a school requirement for graduation.  John held steady with an overall high score of 33.  Emily raised her overall score to 31.  Both want to take the test again this summer.  They must like standardized testing more than their mother!!  I took it once....and THAT WAS ENOUGH!!

Okay....I'll leave you with a few pictures of the past three weeks.  More updates later.  I promise!!



Grace's band concert


Grace performed a duet with her teacher....I'll upload the video later so you can see her performance.



First time having one of the horses in the barn...Grace wanted to brush Snowball since he looked more like a dirt clod than snow.



Snowball spent the winter living with the cows.  We separated him from the rest of the horses because he wouldn't stop kicking and biting the new gelding we bought last fall.  Having spent the winter looking longingly over the pasture fence at the other horses grazing together, I figured it was time to reunite him with his buddies.  Grace had the fun of leading him back to his herd.



Peach trees are loaded with blooms...praying for no late frosts this spring!!!


Happy Friday!!


Friday, March 11, 2016

Friday




Yeah!  It's Friday!!!




 We are staying in town this weekend.  John has a symphonic band concert Saturday.  Grace has friends coming over for an early birthday sleepover tonight.  Grant is SUPPOSED to be having a sleepover at church.  Remember S.A.A.P.G.O.N. that Grace has attended the past two years?  Well, now it is Grant's turn for a third/fourth grade sleepover.  However, it remains to be seen if he makes it.  He stayed home from school today not feeling well.....not really sick, just not feeling great.

David is working this weekend.  The shop is working Saturday and possibly Sunday too.  Emily is meeting some friends for a movie and dinner.  Me?  I'm working the zoo version of air traffic control.





John and Katie at the Military Ball last Saturday

They had a wonderful time.  And because the ball was postponed from its original date in January due to inclement weather, John was able to drive himself.  I'm sure that was a joy to not be chauffeured  by his mother or father.
  


I found a file of old pictures.  Enjoy.






 apartment in Sarasota



 mouse mobile in its better days





 





Thursday, March 10, 2016

Let There Be LIGHT!!


Barn Progress....





The electrical is done



Gutters are on





We still need to finish setting up the cattle working area...



But the tack room and feed room are finished.  Time to move in!



And the kids' favorite part.... the loft


Then David looked over all they had made, and he saw that it was good.  And the evening and the morning were the sixth  six hundredth day.
We are definitely not as quick at this creating thing as our Creator.  He made the world in six days.  We're limping across the finish line with this barn after almost two years!!

Friday, March 4, 2016

Why not?


Even in high school they have are projects...
Emily's Pegasus for Latin class




 The seizure inducing lights that Grant tortured the cat with.
 He sleeps with this thing spinning all night long on his ceiling.  Ugh.


These tiny little pokemon toys will drop a person in an instant.
I speak from experience.


Our stairs are constantly inhabited by pokemon.
 They aren't very visible in the dark either.  
Yup.  It happened.


 Grace has been enjoying the week playing with her preschool set of Little People toys.
Why not?