Spring Break Vacation

It seems like it has been forever since I have blogged and I have missed it!
We have been so busy that I haven't taken the time to sit down in the evenings and update all on our lives.

Over Spring Break we took a family vacation to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We stayed in a Friend of the Family's condo right off of the ski area. It was Beautiful! While we were there we went to the Hot Springs pool. It was even snowing outside the day we went so it make it even more neat. We went shopping down town one day and we also took the kids ice skating and we watched the Springapalooza Cardboard Craft Race. The day we went home was Easter Sunday and guess what??? The Easter Bunny visited us there too. The kids were worried since they didn't tell him we would be there. But, he knew! Imagine that!

(Click on the collage to get a close up view)

Surgery

On Wednesday morning, bright and early, Omi (Clint's mom) had surgery. She has been afflicted with diverticulitis. She has had two bouts of it since January; with each a batch of antibiotics and a liquid diet. With two attacks coming so close together, her doctor thought it would be better to have the part of her colon afflicted removed. So, in she went Wednesday morning. The surgery took longer than expected due to her small frame, that's what her doctor said, but everything was successful. She had about 12" of her colon removed. We asked her if she was going to do what Joseph did when he had his tonsils removed -- save them in a jar! That was not her plan, thank goodness. She had a few painful days in the hospital but is feeling much better now, and should be returning home tomorrow (Monday).

Saturday night, we entertained Opasan for dinner. It was wonderful having him over. The kids took particular care in making sure he felt at home.

During Omi's stay in the hospital, she had friends and family visit but we want to especially thank the Cowboy for looking after her!!!! We love you Omi and are glad will be coming home.

FARFEGNUGEN

FARFEGNUGEN = The Joy Of Driving

After Clint bought his truck I thought "Right On" now I can have a car that doesn't HAVE to have room for everyone but if fun and has the Joy of Driving feel! Well, as you can see ~ I bought a Volkswagen Beetle and I LOVE IT!

Not only is it smaller but it is much cuter than my old car - the funny thing is I am calling a car CUTE! I must be crazy! But this gets much better gas mileage and if we all are going somewhere we can take Clint's truck!

I have never really named my car before now but it's name is FARFEGNUGEN - NUGEN for short! Clint decided to name his truck too - you'll love this one, Al! Some fancy name isn't it??? We can't help but laugh - it makes life even more fun!

Click on the collage for a closer look!
Two weeks ago Joe received his "Arrow of Light" award in Cub Scouts. This is the highest achievement that can be achieved in Cub Scouts. Once a boy earns his "Arrow of Light" award he then crosses over to become a Boy Scout. The collage, going from left to right, indicates the different things that were done that evening. The WeBeLos II boys started the meeting with posting of the colors, all of the cub scouts groups earned their awards for the year and then some older Boy Scouts led a skit on what the Arrow of Light meant. The boys then accepted the honor and crossed over a wooden bridge - indicating the crossing over from cub scouts to boy scouts. Joe really enjoyed the evening and is proud of his accomplishments in cub scouts. He has not decided whether or not he is going to continue with boy scouts next year. He already has so many logs in the fire with Orchestra, Competitive Baseball, Basketball, and Football that there is hardly room for any more - plus with two other kids Clint and I are spread pretty thin. But, if he decides to continue on in scouting we will support his choice.

The last few pictures of the collage show him crossing over the bridge, posing nicely and dorky with his fellow scouts and then him signing the bridge - leaving his mark!

Jessup Reading Celebration

Every year Jessup Elementary has a reading celebration at the end of approx 8 weeks. Each child is required to read a certain amount of minutes per week (the number of minutes needed to be read depends on grade)

Joe and Alexis both read the required amount of time over the 8 weeks and each earned a medal for their accomplishments.

*The pictures of them receiving their awards came out really dark

All City Orchestra

Joe was selected to play in the "All City Orchestra" concert a few weeks ago. Each elementary school orchestra teacher, Jr. High and Sr. High orchestra teachers select their best orchestra students to perform. Then all of the kids meet at one location and play songs for a huge audience.

Joe has been playing the bass all year and that thing is bigger than he is! (I am guessing that is why he likes it so much!)

The pictures from the event will show exactly how "big" this event was. Joe is in the brown striped shirt - good luck finding him in the pictures!

Little Things In Life

It's funny when you look back at the little things that you used to do as a child thatcreated some great memories. I remember riding my bike all summer long - it was amazingthe characters I turned in to while doing that.

One thing that Clint and I do with the kids is every Friday we have a "Family Pizza and Movie Night" The kids have come to love our Family Friday's and look forward to it every week. At times, we will let the girls sleep downstairs on the fold out bed and Joe sleeps on the other side of the couch. One Friday evening we allowed them to sleep downstairs and we had to get a picture of Hailey and Alexis sleeping on the couch - it is too cute - they were sleeping the exact same way.

Thank goodness for the little things in life that make the best memories!