Way to go, Megan!
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Saturday, February 19, 2011
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Pond Hockey
After a day of working on broken pipes at Grandma Lee's house, Brandon and the kids hit the pond for some hockey.
They had a blast. Mom on the other hand still prefers hockey from Section 124...or the sofa.
This is my tough girl, Maddie. She says she's going to use this image for her trading card.
They had a blast. Mom on the other hand still prefers hockey from Section 124...or the sofa.
This is my tough girl, Maddie. She says she's going to use this image for her trading card.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7
Saturday, January 22, 2011
ICE From Beginning to End
We started our day with freezing rain. "Expect black ice on the roadways." warned our trusty morning news weather man. I was grateful to be spending the entire day at home...and then the phone rang. Melanie's nose began to bleed when she got on the school bus so the driver called to let me know she was coming back home. I got her cleaned up and offered her the option to spend the day at home with us. What kid doesn't jump at an offer like that? Melanie. So we bundled up and headed out so we could get her to school on time.
The roads were slick, but not the worst I'd ever driven on. I often hear my dad's voice when I drive. Things like, "PUMP the brakes!" or "HIT THE DEER, never swerve!" or "When someone's riding your tail, slow down and irritate him even more." I love my dad! But today, as I approached the stop sign that spits me off my little country road onto the US HWY, my brakes locked on the compact snow/ice and there was nothing I could do but pray to hit the snow bank and NOT slide into the 60 mph traffic on the highway.
I was never good at geometry. Mr. Bergstrom tried. But I do think my red lines illustrate the angle we "landed" at when we finally stopped sliding! Right? Down in the bottom left corner...on a good day, those lines would be parallel? Am I using the right words? Probably not. Here's what I told 911: "We've slid up on a snow bank and I think my van is going to roll." So whatever math words translate in to THAT is what I'm trying to say!
It felt like hours but within minutes State Patrol was pulling in. Well, I did have enough time to call Brandon and tell him what was going on. He headed our way immediately. - Then my sister-in-law Mindy, so I could win the "who is having the crappiest day competition" that we always have...THEN WSP showed up!
The patrolman helped us out of our leaning tower of doom. The kids got to sit in the back of his car. Here's a picture we hope to only ever see ONCE in our children's lifetime!!
Now, back to my dad. While we were waiting I wondered if my dad would expect me to suck it up and put my van in reverse and solve my problem. Hmmmmmm? Nah, I'm the girlie sister - Lindsay? Maybe. But me? Nope. He'd tell me to sit still and wait for help. (He'd tell my sister to wait for help too, but she wouldn't have...she'd have just thrown it in reverse. So maybe I'm not the girlie sister, I'm just the obedient sister!)
After the kids and I were safely back by the nice warm, level patrol car, the trooper offered to try to back it off the bank. "Uh, sure - knock yourself out. I'll stand way back here and take pictures." So he gets in the van and puts it in reverse - and it slides. Before I could blink the trooper was standing beside me saying, "Uh, it's gonna roll. We're gonna stay back until help comes." (Good idea - dad would have been right!)
(This is the picture after the van slid. I really didn't get any good angle pictures from outside. I'll use my geometry skills on you again...)
And here's what I love about living in the country...there's always someone close by who is driving a rig bigger than his kitchen who is happy to lend a hand. Today we were blessed with two such neighbors. One pulled from behind (almost sliding into the patrol car) and the other pushed from in front. Woot! One tow bill avoided!
The only way to make up for a day that starts off as cruddy as this one did is to end it watching other people crashing around on the ice!!
I love that my husband will endure hockey for me! The day for sure ended way better than it started!
(However, this morning I'm icing my neck. I think there was more to my "brace for impact" maneuver than I initially realized! *sigh* I'll be here all day for those who would like to bring cookies!!)
The roads were slick, but not the worst I'd ever driven on. I often hear my dad's voice when I drive. Things like, "PUMP the brakes!" or "HIT THE DEER, never swerve!" or "When someone's riding your tail, slow down and irritate him even more." I love my dad! But today, as I approached the stop sign that spits me off my little country road onto the US HWY, my brakes locked on the compact snow/ice and there was nothing I could do but pray to hit the snow bank and NOT slide into the 60 mph traffic on the highway.
I was never good at geometry. Mr. Bergstrom tried. But I do think my red lines illustrate the angle we "landed" at when we finally stopped sliding! Right? Down in the bottom left corner...on a good day, those lines would be parallel? Am I using the right words? Probably not. Here's what I told 911: "We've slid up on a snow bank and I think my van is going to roll." So whatever math words translate in to THAT is what I'm trying to say!
It felt like hours but within minutes State Patrol was pulling in. Well, I did have enough time to call Brandon and tell him what was going on. He headed our way immediately. - Then my sister-in-law Mindy, so I could win the "who is having the crappiest day competition" that we always have...THEN WSP showed up!
The patrolman helped us out of our leaning tower of doom. The kids got to sit in the back of his car. Here's a picture we hope to only ever see ONCE in our children's lifetime!!
Now, back to my dad. While we were waiting I wondered if my dad would expect me to suck it up and put my van in reverse and solve my problem. Hmmmmmm? Nah, I'm the girlie sister - Lindsay? Maybe. But me? Nope. He'd tell me to sit still and wait for help. (He'd tell my sister to wait for help too, but she wouldn't have...she'd have just thrown it in reverse. So maybe I'm not the girlie sister, I'm just the obedient sister!)
After the kids and I were safely back by the nice warm, level patrol car, the trooper offered to try to back it off the bank. "Uh, sure - knock yourself out. I'll stand way back here and take pictures." So he gets in the van and puts it in reverse - and it slides. Before I could blink the trooper was standing beside me saying, "Uh, it's gonna roll. We're gonna stay back until help comes." (Good idea - dad would have been right!)
(This is the picture after the van slid. I really didn't get any good angle pictures from outside. I'll use my geometry skills on you again...)
And here's what I love about living in the country...there's always someone close by who is driving a rig bigger than his kitchen who is happy to lend a hand. Today we were blessed with two such neighbors. One pulled from behind (almost sliding into the patrol car) and the other pushed from in front. Woot! One tow bill avoided!
The only way to make up for a day that starts off as cruddy as this one did is to end it watching other people crashing around on the ice!!
I love that my husband will endure hockey for me! The day for sure ended way better than it started!
(However, this morning I'm icing my neck. I think there was more to my "brace for impact" maneuver than I initially realized! *sigh* I'll be here all day for those who would like to bring cookies!!)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Happy 8th Birthday, Malorie
Little girls don't come much cuter than our Malorie!
She has been so anxious for her 8th birthday to get here!
Finally! She's looking forward to her baptism and to attending her Faith in God classes with her little friends on Wednesday nights.
It just doesn't seem like 8 whole years have passed since Malorie made her 7 week premature entrance into our lives - but we have enjoyed every minute of them with her!
She has been so anxious for her 8th birthday to get here!
Finally! She's looking forward to her baptism and to attending her Faith in God classes with her little friends on Wednesday nights.
It just doesn't seem like 8 whole years have passed since Malorie made her 7 week premature entrance into our lives - but we have enjoyed every minute of them with her!
Saturday, January 01, 2011
New Year's Eve 2010
The 2010 Annual Mexican Buffet! We topped out at 54 this year. I don't think that beats our record - I can't remember exactly, but I'm thinking it's 60-something. Loads and loads of fun, again!!!
What are cousins' kids called? Twice removed? 2nd cousins? We're going to just call 'em dang cute!!!
Games! I think this was one of the wild rounds of Wacky Six.
With trampoline, air-hockey and foosball, nobody was bored!
Sky-Cam: (And documented proof that Uncle Rick attended!)
What are cousins' kids called? Twice removed? 2nd cousins? We're going to just call 'em dang cute!!!
Games! I think this was one of the wild rounds of Wacky Six.
With trampoline, air-hockey and foosball, nobody was bored!
Sky-Cam: (And documented proof that Uncle Rick attended!)
Christmas Day 2010
The ants come marching one by one...
Chaos? Nah!
The view from the sky-cam:
This year, the younger 4 helped make framed bulletin board/white boards for the older kids' rooms! So fun to watch them give the gifts they made!
The older kids helped refinish an old rocking horse for the younger kids. They also helped repair and refinish a wonderful rocking giraffe that Grandpa Lee made more than 25 years ago. The giraffe was pretty trashed when we cleaned out grandma Lee's house but Brandon and I couldn't bare to watch him go to the dump. We brought him home and he has been in our basement for 2 years. This was his lucky year - he's tightened, repaired, refinished, and being loved again.
Chaos? Nah!
The view from the sky-cam:
This year, the younger 4 helped make framed bulletin board/white boards for the older kids' rooms! So fun to watch them give the gifts they made!
The older kids helped refinish an old rocking horse for the younger kids. They also helped repair and refinish a wonderful rocking giraffe that Grandpa Lee made more than 25 years ago. The giraffe was pretty trashed when we cleaned out grandma Lee's house but Brandon and I couldn't bare to watch him go to the dump. We brought him home and he has been in our basement for 2 years. This was his lucky year - he's tightened, repaired, refinished, and being loved again.
Christmas Eve 2010
Jason & Auntie Marlene - I think they were comparing the weather, or change in altitude or something like that!
Uncle Larry relinquishing his reign as "Tallest"! Not sure what Katie is doing. And Mardi, well, she was on a quest to see how many pictures she could sneak in to before the night was through!
I was trying to show off that I had my "tall" shoes on again, but looking at the picture, they weren't really helping!
Grandma's Christmas House
Because the pink wool socks she already had, and the pink wool socks mom gave her just weren't enough! One more pair of pink wool socks from her favorite sister!
Uncle Mike opening "The God's Must Be Crazy" dvd from Mardi! Who doesn't love Uncle Mike's sense of humor??
One of my favorite things is when people do stupid things in front of my camera thinking I won't blog 'em. My next favorite thing is when I see the picture and realize I got a two-fer!! I "heart" Kera!
35+ Christmas Eves...Happy to say we've spent the majority of them together!!!
Grandma & Grandpa score, again! Pillow Pets! Who knew? Such a huge hit with Malorie, Melanie, Joe & Gracie! (Look at Melanie's & Malorie's eyes!!)
Jared & Grandpa "observing" - I think they were strategizing a way to get all of the homemade suckers Lindsay brought! (I know I was!)
My Maddie & My Mardi XOXO
Uncle Larry relinquishing his reign as "Tallest"! Not sure what Katie is doing. And Mardi, well, she was on a quest to see how many pictures she could sneak in to before the night was through!
I was trying to show off that I had my "tall" shoes on again, but looking at the picture, they weren't really helping!
Grandma's Christmas House
Because the pink wool socks she already had, and the pink wool socks mom gave her just weren't enough! One more pair of pink wool socks from her favorite sister!
Uncle Mike opening "The God's Must Be Crazy" dvd from Mardi! Who doesn't love Uncle Mike's sense of humor??
One of my favorite things is when people do stupid things in front of my camera thinking I won't blog 'em. My next favorite thing is when I see the picture and realize I got a two-fer!! I "heart" Kera!
35+ Christmas Eves...Happy to say we've spent the majority of them together!!!
Grandma & Grandpa score, again! Pillow Pets! Who knew? Such a huge hit with Malorie, Melanie, Joe & Gracie! (Look at Melanie's & Malorie's eyes!!)
Jared & Grandpa "observing" - I think they were strategizing a way to get all of the homemade suckers Lindsay brought! (I know I was!)
My Maddie & My Mardi XOXO
A Few Cell Phone Pictures
We have to document any time Meredi will spend time on Lindsay's lap. Obviously Rex was at work when we took this one because it's no secret that he is Meredi's preference!
Christmas Eve - can it get any better than spending it with your best friends?
(Cousin Mardi, Shiela, Litter Sister Lindsay)
Santa surprised us with a big screen tv this year...unfortunately, he couldn't find the perfect console to go with it. Luckily a very handy handy-man lives at our house and was able to cut our old entertainment center down into the perfect stand! Joe thought it was great fun!
The kids received Just Dance Kids from grandma & grandpa. It's as fun for the adults to watch as it is for the kids to play! Highly recommend it (and Just Dance & Just Dance 2) Fun! Fun!
Jared thinks we really need better optical insurance! :) ha ha!
Joseph taking a breather - kicked back on his bed "reading" up on Gormiti!
Christmas Eve - can it get any better than spending it with your best friends?
Santa surprised us with a big screen tv this year...unfortunately, he couldn't find the perfect console to go with it. Luckily a very handy handy-man lives at our house and was able to cut our old entertainment center down into the perfect stand! Joe thought it was great fun!
The kids received Just Dance Kids from grandma & grandpa. It's as fun for the adults to watch as it is for the kids to play! Highly recommend it (and Just Dance & Just Dance 2) Fun! Fun!
Jared thinks we really need better optical insurance! :) ha ha!
Joseph taking a breather - kicked back on his bed "reading" up on Gormiti!
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