Everyone is getting a little testy around here. I think it has something to do with the close to 18 inches of snow we had here.
They were forecasting two to four inches. We get over a foot.
What's up with that?
It would be one thing in February but here it is April! And the end of April, at that!!!
On Friday, I was helping Nancy with Breiden and Kian when JP and Julie stopped for a visit. The snow was really flying by then. When I left Wayne's and Nancy's house, it seemed like I had to shovel off more from the car than I've had to shovel snow all season! I had a soccer meeting to attend and by the time I got done with the meeting (only four parents were there out of around 20) I had to remove snow AGAIN!!! I went home and Jose had two friends visiting. One of the moms came to get her son and the other couldn't because of car problems so I drove him home before it got too bad out. On our way home, Jose's friend said that's just the way Mother Nature is. I told him Mother Nature needs to get a reality check!
Doug had a coach trip to South Dakota to pick up a group and ended up staying the night because the roads were so bad. When they took off on Saturday morning, they had to stay in Brookings until around noon because I-29 was closed.
Meanwhile, the snowplow went by our house, burying the cars, and we went out to shovel so I could get some groceries. It was a very very heavy, wet snow. Heart attack snow, they call it. I didn't have a heart attack and Jose, Andy and I struggled to shovel. But I did fall on my butt. I laughed- at first - until I felt the wet snow seeping into my jeans! As I called to the guys to pick me up, they were suddenly weak because they were laughing at me and Andy put down his shovel to give me some applause. Shesh, thanks guys!
Everyone got home later and was great to have everyone home safe and sound.
Today, the snow is still there but it's starting to melt.
Jose had his project on display for the science fair tonight. What a fun evening. Jose's project, one where he makes static electricity and is able to give shocks similar to those you get when walking on carpet and then getting a shock when touching a door knob. Yep. Big hit with the guys!
Monday, April 28, 2008
back to work
It's back to work for me!
I had the sheer joy to take a week's vacation and be with Nancy the first week home from the hospital after the birth of Kian Julius!
Nancy was (hopefully) able to rest, take a few naps, recuperate, tend to Kian and have special time with Breiden and I tried to do the heavy work, keep Breiden occupied, help wherever I was needed and drink Nancy's fantastic coffee!!!
Nancy wasn't able to drive for a week so we were able to make a few road trips including a trip to Target where we HAD to get Ghiradelli chocolates with the caramel center. Those can only be eaten with a cup of hot coffee. Enter Nancy with her great coffee blends and coffee making ability! Yummmm.
I had several people say it was great I could help Nancy, Wayne and boys but really, it was pretty selfish on my part. I was able to hold Kian and cuddle, play with Breiden and even rock Breiden to sleep before a few of his naps. What fun!
I couldn't believe, though, how pooped I got! How did I do this with our three? Guess that's why we had the younguns when we were...well, young!
Bless you Wayne and Nancy! What a special family you have...It's easy to see the love and care you are giving them!
Grandpa Doug came over a few times during the week on his break and Breiden was speechless watching Boppa drive away in the big yellow bus. Nancy would open the front door each time Doug backed out the driveway so Breiden could see him drive off and Doug always had a special beep beep for Breiden!
Ah, what a fun week!
I had the sheer joy to take a week's vacation and be with Nancy the first week home from the hospital after the birth of Kian Julius!
Nancy was (hopefully) able to rest, take a few naps, recuperate, tend to Kian and have special time with Breiden and I tried to do the heavy work, keep Breiden occupied, help wherever I was needed and drink Nancy's fantastic coffee!!!
Nancy wasn't able to drive for a week so we were able to make a few road trips including a trip to Target where we HAD to get Ghiradelli chocolates with the caramel center. Those can only be eaten with a cup of hot coffee. Enter Nancy with her great coffee blends and coffee making ability! Yummmm.
I had several people say it was great I could help Nancy, Wayne and boys but really, it was pretty selfish on my part. I was able to hold Kian and cuddle, play with Breiden and even rock Breiden to sleep before a few of his naps. What fun!
I couldn't believe, though, how pooped I got! How did I do this with our three? Guess that's why we had the younguns when we were...well, young!
Bless you Wayne and Nancy! What a special family you have...It's easy to see the love and care you are giving them!
Grandpa Doug came over a few times during the week on his break and Breiden was speechless watching Boppa drive away in the big yellow bus. Nancy would open the front door each time Doug backed out the driveway so Breiden could see him drive off and Doug always had a special beep beep for Breiden!
Ah, what a fun week!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
He's here! Kian Julius is here!
Kian Julius Stender arrived at 5:03 p.m. at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls. He is welcomed home by big brother, Breiden. Kian weighed 9.5 pounds, was 23 inches long and has hair!
Nancy looks fabulous after what was a four hour labor and Wayne is ecstatic!
Breiden is spending tonight with us. He was an overnight and Thursday guest at JP's and Julie's house. He's now saying "dog", according to Julie when he points to their puppies.
Unfortuneately, Andy wasn't able to see him yet. He had a baseball game in Ortonville and returned home well after 9:30. Visiting hours end at 9.
But we have plans for all to visit the little guy tomorrow.
Such a precious bundle. Such a blessing.
Welcome, Kian, to our family!
Nancy looks fabulous after what was a four hour labor and Wayne is ecstatic!
Breiden is spending tonight with us. He was an overnight and Thursday guest at JP's and Julie's house. He's now saying "dog", according to Julie when he points to their puppies.
Unfortuneately, Andy wasn't able to see him yet. He had a baseball game in Ortonville and returned home well after 9:30. Visiting hours end at 9.
But we have plans for all to visit the little guy tomorrow.
Such a precious bundle. Such a blessing.
Welcome, Kian, to our family!
A new life
Just got word that Wayne and Nancy will be going to the hospital today, preparing for the birth of baby No. 2! How exciting.
Please keep them and baby in your prayers, please.
Please keep them and baby in your prayers, please.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Home in the snow
Andy returned...in a snowstorm!
We were in the part of Minnesota that got a lot of snow. Not quite the two feet some places got, but at least six to eight inches! And it's that heavy, wet stuff, too.
The band was supposed to give a concert Sunday night about 6 but they postponed that and plan to reschedule, according to an e-mail we got from the band director, Mr. Doering.
On Sunday night, Mike from the bus company called to say school would be two hours late. Good thing. It took us a while to get the cars out especially after the snow plow went through and buried the cars. Really, the plow didn't bury the cars but it was hard moving the cars outside that ridge of snow that built up after he went through.
As we were finishing with the car getting out of the snow thing, Doug got a call on his cell phone, again from the bus company, saying school was now cancelled!
The kids were happy and Andy, tired from his trip, went back to bed!
Now we have to get back on schedule. The boys' Easter vacation is officially over and Andy will have baseball practice.
The schedule gets filled up again!
We were in the part of Minnesota that got a lot of snow. Not quite the two feet some places got, but at least six to eight inches! And it's that heavy, wet stuff, too.
The band was supposed to give a concert Sunday night about 6 but they postponed that and plan to reschedule, according to an e-mail we got from the band director, Mr. Doering.
On Sunday night, Mike from the bus company called to say school would be two hours late. Good thing. It took us a while to get the cars out especially after the snow plow went through and buried the cars. Really, the plow didn't bury the cars but it was hard moving the cars outside that ridge of snow that built up after he went through.
As we were finishing with the car getting out of the snow thing, Doug got a call on his cell phone, again from the bus company, saying school was now cancelled!
The kids were happy and Andy, tired from his trip, went back to bed!
Now we have to get back on schedule. The boys' Easter vacation is officially over and Andy will have baseball practice.
The schedule gets filled up again!
Friday, April 4, 2008
waiting for andy
We’re home but anxiously waiting the return of Andy to the fold.
For the past week and a half he’s been performing with the Hillcrest Band. The band and choir go on tour during the school’s two week Easter break. One year the choir goes, the next, the band.
This year the band chose a Midwest route including Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. The kids have done some sight seeing, plenty of travel in the bus and stayed some nights at host homes.
Andy has had fun although he’s battling a cold right now. One of his host homes helped him medicate for his cold. They gave him cough medicine and plenty of kleenix. Bless their hearts!
I talked to Andy last night and he sounded stuffed up. He told of a trek he and some friends made in one city. He ran out of kleenix and ended up having to use Starbucks napkins. Any port in a storm, they say!
It’s been an experience for him and the others. They return on Sunday night and will perform a “coming home” concert.
There won’t be too much time to kick back for him, though. They start school on Monday!
Jose had been enjoying his week back home. He’s been vegging out on a new psp game we purchased in Mexico.
Mocha is back home, too. She enjoyed her time at the kennel, we hear. And she played with lots of dogs. She was named “The Runner” because when they let her out, she ran and ran and ran in their enclosed kennel yard. That’s our Mocha! Lots of energy.
Although we’re settled back in at home, I’m still doing laundry trying to get everything cleaned from our trip.
there are some things in life that are constants — death, taxes and laundry!
For the past week and a half he’s been performing with the Hillcrest Band. The band and choir go on tour during the school’s two week Easter break. One year the choir goes, the next, the band.
This year the band chose a Midwest route including Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. The kids have done some sight seeing, plenty of travel in the bus and stayed some nights at host homes.
Andy has had fun although he’s battling a cold right now. One of his host homes helped him medicate for his cold. They gave him cough medicine and plenty of kleenix. Bless their hearts!
I talked to Andy last night and he sounded stuffed up. He told of a trek he and some friends made in one city. He ran out of kleenix and ended up having to use Starbucks napkins. Any port in a storm, they say!
It’s been an experience for him and the others. They return on Sunday night and will perform a “coming home” concert.
There won’t be too much time to kick back for him, though. They start school on Monday!
Jose had been enjoying his week back home. He’s been vegging out on a new psp game we purchased in Mexico.
Mocha is back home, too. She enjoyed her time at the kennel, we hear. And she played with lots of dogs. She was named “The Runner” because when they let her out, she ran and ran and ran in their enclosed kennel yard. That’s our Mocha! Lots of energy.
Although we’re settled back in at home, I’m still doing laundry trying to get everything cleaned from our trip.
there are some things in life that are constants — death, taxes and laundry!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
We're baaaaccccckkkkkk!!!!!!
We're back home! What a great feeling!
It was a great trip but always great to return home.
On our last night in Chihuahua, Jose and I went to a movie but we kept getting to the theatre in the shopping center too late and had to go to an evening movie. We got out of the theatre at 10, our supper ended up as candy and chips from the hotel vending machine, and we went to bed. Only it was hard to get to sleep!
We woke up at 3, were on our way to the airport via taxi by 4 and on our flight by 6. We landed in Minnesota around 2 and Bob picked us up again. So nice he took time out of his schedule to take us to the airport and back again. Once more, Thanks Bob!!!!!
We got home around 6, Jose went to a friends house and we are now trying to recuperate from vacation.
Jose enjoyed touching base with everyone at the orphanage. It wasn't so much a vacation for us but a time for Jose and, as I said, he enjoyed!
Got some pix and hope to have them up on the website soon.
Now it's back to work!
This time change will take some getting reacquainted and, since we flew back on a Tuesday, we are going right into the work week.
I'm a firm believer that one needs a vacation from their vacation.
Then there is the mountain of laundry!
Well, I'd better get a start on it!
It was a great trip but always great to return home.
On our last night in Chihuahua, Jose and I went to a movie but we kept getting to the theatre in the shopping center too late and had to go to an evening movie. We got out of the theatre at 10, our supper ended up as candy and chips from the hotel vending machine, and we went to bed. Only it was hard to get to sleep!
We woke up at 3, were on our way to the airport via taxi by 4 and on our flight by 6. We landed in Minnesota around 2 and Bob picked us up again. So nice he took time out of his schedule to take us to the airport and back again. Once more, Thanks Bob!!!!!
We got home around 6, Jose went to a friends house and we are now trying to recuperate from vacation.
Jose enjoyed touching base with everyone at the orphanage. It wasn't so much a vacation for us but a time for Jose and, as I said, he enjoyed!
Got some pix and hope to have them up on the website soon.
Now it's back to work!
This time change will take some getting reacquainted and, since we flew back on a Tuesday, we are going right into the work week.
I'm a firm believer that one needs a vacation from their vacation.
Then there is the mountain of laundry!
Well, I'd better get a start on it!
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