Spring Break!!!

Why can't every week be Spring Break?! We had an absolutely fantastic week! Shawn was off for 4 whole days...in a row, so I had the rare joy of having all 3 of my favorite fellas completing my to-do list all at once!! We were able to get a ton of work done, plus had a lot of fun!! Unfortunately most of the fun was had after Shawn was back at work....poor guy!!

So let's start with the work.....

Shawn with the assistance of his 3 favorite assistants built this....

Shawn with the assistance of his most loyal assistant built this....

We all planted more of this.....

And the grand finale....a whole day's worth of work....we trimmed these......

Now that my friends was A LOT of work! We also raked a ton of leaves!! The boys hung in there the whole time....they are fantastic workers! I am thankful for 2 little fellas and 1 big fella who know how to work hard, don't mind getting a little dirty, and who take orders fairly well!! It was 4 days of crazy hard work, but I couldn't have asked for better company!!

So for the fun.....

We visited the Augusta Historical Museum....

This place was very cool....we got to tour the oldest structure in Augusta, which was a church, store, school and house all at some point in time. Looked through old Augusta historyand found out that Augusta got its name from one of the founder's wife's name. Just think, if Shawn would find a town...there would be an actual town called Amanda....everyone would then know what it's like to live in my world...no more wondering! HA! Okay, back to reality...it was well worth the time to go to the museum...they have done a fantastic job in preserving Augusta's history!

We went on a bike ride around the Augusta Lake......

and fortunately this picture was taken before the mighty crash....as far from the car as possible, no doubt! Poor Grady got going a little too fast and wiped out, scraping up his hand, knee and pulling back his thumb nail. It was a LOOONNNGGG ride back to the Army!

And the best way to end Spring Break....

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2! This movie was great! It had me belly laughing in parts!!

We were also able to slip in a day for a playdate, some Wii competitions, UNO throwdowns and some resting....all in all a pretty awesome Spring Break....now back to the real world!!

An Update!

Yep, this is how I'm doing it this month...an update. You will get a whirlwind update on all 4 of us in one short and concise blog!

Grady - He has been keeping very busy with school! He is now tied for 1st in the Sight Word Olympics in Mrs. Nusz's Kindergarten! He is currently on Advanced List 6!!!! He just received that list last night and already knows them all....too bad he won't be tested again until after Spring Break! He has also really improved in his reading....he can sound out just about anything and actually enjoys doing it! When the weather has been nice the last few weeks he has also started practicing for baseball! His skills have drastically improved over last year. We have been practicing batting quite a bit and he rarely uses the tee anymore! He is also much better at catching and his accuracy for throwing has also greatly improved! He is really looking forward to playing some ball with his buddies....he is hoping to get on Cannon's team, a buddy from wrestling!

Gabe - Well he is still captain RoboArm! He had an appointment on March 8...the day we were all hoping he would be free of RoboArm...well, no such luck. Right now, it is "soft healed". Which basically means it is healed as far as the torn ligament is concerned, but if he were to hyperextend the elbow again, we would be right back to where we were 6 weeks ago or worse. So, for now he has been released to full activity with the brace. The doctor is hopeful to remove the brace for day to day activity on April 5th...with him still wearing the brace for baseball....more than likely. He has been practicing baseball as well....my arm is about to fall off for all of the pitching I have been doing! I think it should be a very fun season at the diamonds! In school, Gabe has been primarily focusing on State Testing. He is finishing up the math portion today. He is feeling very confident on his performance....Shawn and I wish we could have said the same at his age. He is continuing to excel in school and never ceases to amaze us with his vast knowledge of.....EVERYTHING! He was also inspired by his cousin Penner to start learning piano. Right now, I am his instructor and things are going very well! This summer I think we will look into some official lessons.....by then, he will probably have surpassed my knowledge base of the piano!

Shawn - I can sum up Shawn in one word....BUSY! He has been working on our garden...which is coming along nicely....working on building my picnic table and of course the everyday grind of Spirit! The last few weeks at work have been extremely busy and have been a test for Shawn. The manager pal of his, Hal, has been gone 3 of the last 4 weeks which has left Shawn to cover both his area and Hal's. About 2 weeks ago, Shawn was not only filling in for Hal, but also for their boss, Steve! Shawn got to play Big Boss for a whole week! He did an excellent job, yeah I'm biased!, but I was not the only one who thought so. I am sure if they would give him that job, he could have the whole program turned around! I am very proud of him.....I know he gets discouraged because he is not around as much as he would like to be....but, I know with our support he can keep plugging along and someday he will be the Big Boss!

Amanda - As for me....I am still continuing my Daniel bible study on Tuesdays....there is way more than the Lion's Den in Daniel....I am truly enjoying every moment I am immersed in study! I am still helping out in Grady's class on Monday morning and Gabe's on Wednesday afternoon...I love my time at the school...it is such a great opportunity seeing the kids in their environment...instead of the one I provide at home. I get to sit back at school and watch from an outsider's view...and I must say they are pretty good boys! They certainly make this Mama proud! I have also been spending the last couple of weeks running back and forth to Wichita. My Grandma Marilyn has been in the hospital and now in Physical therapy rehab. She is doing much better and hoping to go home by week's end! I am thankful I am back here.....I hope I was able to relieve some of the pressure from the rest of my family by being able to take most of the day shifts!

Well, that got you all caught up.....I hope it won't take so long next time! Love you all!

It's Official...We've Become Farmers!

Well sort of become farmers! We have started our garden! This is the first time we have started anything from a seed. In the past in our 4x8 town garden, we always started everything from plants....well now that we have a garden plot that will be able to feed the city of Augusta (should it actually produce!), we decided it may be a little more economical to start from seeds! We planted tomatoes and peppers on Sunday evening...they are currently residing in the store room in our basement, complete with a warming light and a growing light. We are heading out this weekend to buy our first farm implement.... a tiller...I know it's pretty exciting! By the end of this adventure we are hoping to have carrots, beets, peas, green beans, okra, tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), grapes, watermelons, pumpkins, cucumbers, grapes, onions, dill, cilantro, sage, chives...and if the boys talk hard enough probably some strawberries! We have also ordered an apple tree! This is my adventure.....It is supposed to be small.....but the fruit is supposed to be normal sized. It won't produce this year, but by next summer we are supposed to have some apples! Keep your fingers crossed for us....if this thing doesn't pan out....we will all be pretty bummed!

Even the boys are getting into this! This summer one of their jobs is to work in the garden 5 days a week.....they both have already started planning what they are going to do with the veggies...tomato juice, salsa, carrots, pickles.....I wonder if they plan on doing the canning as well??!!

A View From the Swanky Seats!

Last Saturday we headed out to our first hockey game in a looonnnggg time! When Shawn worked for the Red Cross....those non-profit gift giving away fools, we attended hockey games quite frequently, but since he had left there, we had not been to one! I forgot how much fun they were.....there is just nothing better than going to watch one sport and getting to see two! You know the saying, So I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out! I tell ya, those guys are crazy...it's no wonder they are all missing teeth! Unfortunately the Thunder couldn't pull out a win....but I didn't too much care....I had my buns comfortably planted in the Loge Box seating! Sounds fancy, No? Well, my sister was wonderful enough to give us her company's tickets when her and Marsh couldn't go this weekend.....I don't know if I will ever be able to go to another event where I actually have to go stand in line for myself at the concession stand! It was wonderful, I would have a hankering for popcorn and voila! I had popcorn! Thanks Sis for the tickets....we had a great time!

And finally the Thunder SCORE!!!

Somebody didn't quite make it....we don't know how he was sleeping through all of the noise.....must have been the comfy leather seats!

You're Forgiven!

Dear Kansas,

I am writing to let you know you are forgiven...and to offer my own apology. You see, last week I was pretty angry with you and said some pretty ugly things about you. I was knee deep in snow and freezing to death, but you are offering me an olive branch with the weather yesterday and today.....how could I stay mad at you? This morning after dropping my short and t-shirt wearing children off at school...I came home, poured my cup of coffee, grabbed my bible and Daniel bible study book and set up camp on the patio....soaking up the beautiful morning sun and unseasonably warm temps. So, please accept my apology.....and please let these days keep on coming!

Yours truly,

Amanda

Meet Bill!

Last weekend before all of the snow had melted...the boys packed up and headed out to make a snowy friend! I went out and helped them a little, but mostly it was their creation. I really don't think these poor kids had ever made a snowman...at least one they could remember making! They spent the whole time giggling....it was so much fun to watch....I wish I could bottle times like these, and then I would pop open a bottle when they were arguing!!

Sledding Fun!

Since we have had soooo much snow...we decided to make the best of it with some sledding time!! The boys even got me to go down a couple of times! It was a perfect way to spend a snowy day!

Black Walnut Cake....YUMMY!

A few weeks ago Shane and Abigail gave us a bunch of walnuts and pecans! For those of you who have had the pleasure of cracking black walnuts; you know that it is A LOT of work! So, I had to find something to do with the walnuts that would be deserving of all of the hard work! I found a recipe for Black Walnut Cake....I didn't want to just toss them in any old recipe...I wanted one that was tried and true to the black walnuts! It turned out fantastic....plus the boys got cooking lesson #4 out of the deal! I am impressed with my little chefs.....they are getting very handy around the kitchen!

Snow Ice Cream....It's What's For Breakfast!

I admit....I am not one of those people who love snow! I know it's crazy, but I can't stand it! In my opinion, we have had way too much, but since I have no control over it....I have come to the realization I am just going to have to embrace it! So, I think I have found a way to end up loving all of this fluffy stuff....SNOW ICE CREAM! Some of my Fredonia friends were talking about this stuff, so I did some searching and found a recipe....it's awesome! The best part...we have an endless supply....well, at least until the sun comes out and the temperature is above 0!

Of course, snow ice cream is not complete without caramel and chocolate sauce!

Because We Like To Go Out With A Bang!

After the boys participated in the Augusta Tournament on the 22nd of January, our little family decided we were ready for a break. So, we decided last week would be our last week and we would have a two month break from practices and games before baseball starts up! Well, Gabe just couldn't end the season without a little drama! On Tuesday night, him and his buddy, Mike were wrestling...long story, short...Mike did a chop arm (totally legal and performed correctly) and Gabe got hurt. So, we checked out his arm, he was still able to move it...it hurt, but moved and it wasn't swollen. We decided to give him some tylenol and send him to bed and see how he felt the next morning. On Wednesday morning he was still complaining about it, so I had him lift up the arm of his sweatshirt and his arm was about twice as big as usual from about 2 inches above the elbow to the tips of his fingers. Well, I got on the horn and we were at the doctor an hour later. An x-ray showed something "funny", so we were then referred to an Orthopaedic Specialist/Surgeon! On Thursday we saw the specialist, who confirmed something looked a bit off--great, glad we can all agree on that!--but he wasn't sure what the line on the x-ray meant--it was either a vertical break in the humorous or a tear or rupture to one of the ligaments in his elbow. So, we were then scooted off to an MRI.....Mind you Gabe was still moving his arm, so I was still thinking, it really couldn't be that serious! Well, on Friday we finally got the results...it turns out he has a torn ligament in his elbow....it was almost ruptured. We have so much to be thankful for, had it actually ruptured, we would be sitting in a hospital waiting on our little guy to be getting out of surgery, but thankfully, the match was stopped fast enough on Tuesday night, that no further damage was done and thankfully, Gabe does not cry wolf....we believed he was hurt and took him to the doctor, instead of telling him to suck it up! and thankfully, the first doctor was unsure of what he was seeing, so he sent us on and thankfully the specialist was also perplexed so he sent us to get an MRI. Had any of these things not have happened the outcome would have definitely been different! Right now, he is in a splint and sling....later this week, he will have an "especially made for Gabe" brace that he will wear for at least 3 weeks. At the end of that, he is expected to make a full recovery....well, as full as someone with an elbow injury does! Because he is young they are hopeful that he will be able to extend his elbow fully, but I guess elbows are funny....they are the least forgiving of any body part. So, the moral of this story.....if you are wrestling, DO NOT LOCK YOUR ARM while someone is doing a chop arm on you!