Happy Day?!

Do you ever just have a really Happy Day and you can't figure out why you are so happy?  I have a bounce in my step and I can't give you a specific reason.

I had an amazing weekend.  I was productive and I rested.  I talked on the phone with good friends. I had beers with good friends.  I read with my babies and snuggled.  I put them to bed last night with full tummies, homework done, stories read and wet hair from the bath tub.  I fished a dead fish out of the fish tank before it turned into a science project.  My taxes are in the homeward stretch.

Yes, I am calling this a success and today a good day.  AND the sun is shining.  I truly can't ask for me.  I hope you have a great day too!  So... How was your weekend?

Book Fair Fun!

Today we kicked off Lutheran School's Week at St. Paul's Church.  It was a great service and the kids sand beautifully.  Jacob is always a little hesitant to get up and sing in front of the congregation but he did just fine.  I was very proud.

Tomorrow we kick off all the fun at School and start out with VIP Day.  The book fair starts bright and early.  The book fair runs Monday, Tuesday and Thursday during the different events of Lutheran School's Week.  Read about all the fun we had at the last big book fair here.

Interested in helping to support St. Paul's and their wish for new books?  Shop at www.GiveMyBooksALook.com and be sure to click St. Paul's School.

Getting Ready?

I love the holidays.  Each of them individually... Halloween... Thanksgiving... Christmas....  As much as I love the Holidays themselves.  I love preparing for them.  I love thinking about spending time with my loved ones and preparing gifts for them.

Amanda and I have started coloring Christmas Cards for her teacher and dance coaches.  I'm teaching her to think about each person as she creates their master piece.  What colors will they like?  Hope each master piece makes them smile.  

Hard at Work

Finished Master Piece

Maybe you'll be lucky enough to get one of her hand crafted Master pieces.

Stop the Ride...

Stop the ride... I wanna get off!!  Or maybe at least slow it down? 

 It always amazes me when I sit back and realize a whole weekend or even month has flown by in the blink of an eye.  I'm trying to worry less about the cleaning and busy work and make memories with the kids.

Saturday night Jake and I sat and watched TV together.  It just floors me to realize how big he is now.  We were watching a real estate hunting show.  It was funny to hear his opinion on houses.  We enjoy looking at local properties online.  Especially farm sites.  I ask him what he would put in this barn or that building.  It's pretty easy to get silly.  Elephants here or there.  Once the giggling starts the answers get silly!!

Amanda is getting so big and learning so much these days.  She is her mother's child and loves crafts.  She has been making the Rainbow Loom Bracelets lately and I'm super excited because she can do them by herself.  Love that independence. Her reading is progressing each and every day.  Hope to raise a reader.

Sunday nights are always hard for me.  Back to the work week.  Back to school.  I came across this last night and it really hit home for me.  I was very frustrated with myself and what I had gotten done over the weekend.  I guess, it's really more of what I hadn't gotten done.  What I felt I should have gotten done but didn't.

It's so true!  I'm not in a competition.  I'm not trying to be better then anyone else.  I just need to get done what needs to get done and the rest can wait. It will have to wait.  I have spent entire weekends working like a complete crazy woman and gone back to work exhausted on Monday.  That is no good either.  I am at my best when I am rested and happy.  I am working to find the fine line between it all.  In the wise words of my Mother.  One day at a time, one foot in front of the other.  That's all I can do and it has to be good enough.

Hope you had a great weekend too!  Thanks for stopping to visit!

Ribbons

Time has gotten away from me this last month.  We were so busy with getting ready for a family reunion and getting ready for the fair.  Time just magically flew by.  After the fair I swear I could have slept for 3 days.  I was exhausted.  It was such a satisfied tired though. Tired after a job well done. 

 

I sat down Sunday night and wrote on the back of the kids ribbons.  Their names,  August 2013, the class/group and what they entered.  I was/am so proud of the kids.  I hope someday they look back at these ribbons as fondly as I look back on mine.

Speaking of ribbons… I need some opinions.  I am trying to decide how to organize their ribbons.  I have a few thoughts/options.

1.)    Hang their ribbons in their room.  This is what I did and I loved showing off my ribbons.  When I moved out though… they all got thrown into a tub and are an unorganized mess now.  They are bend and creased and in no order.

2.)    Put them in a book that stays organized and in good condition.  They can take the book with them to Show/Tell and drag them out to show their aunties.

Ok… I think I’ve made up my mind.  Option 2 is a clear winner for me.  Your opinions?

Not only am I perfect...

I have so many great things to catch you up on.  Lately I have been a Crazy Book Lady, a Crazy Painting Lady, a Crazy 4-H Leader, a Crazy IT Person... overall just crazy.

I have been up to my eyeballs getting ready for a family reunion at our house this Saturday.  I have been looking for a reason to get some projects done.  I decided to tackle our main floor half bath.  There was a border that was half falling down.  The walls were dirty and the colors were outdated.  I knew if I didn't have a reason to get it done in a timely fashion.  A deadline is always a good thing in our house.  

Two weeks ago was Bavarian Blast here in New Ulm. It is a wonderful German Festival.  A great time to get together and see your friends and family!  John and I went on Thursday night and listened to a band that was playing.  We enjoyed a few German beverages (beer) and had a great time.  On Saturday and Sunday there was a Craft Show and I had a great time participating.  I love meeting new people and showing them Usborne Books.  

We have an amazing start up special this month.  The Large Start up kit (over $400.00 value) for $69!!  

July Starter Kit - All for $69.00!!

If you have ever considered starting a home based business now is the time and Usborne is the company!!  I couldn't be more pleased with the books and Mission of this company.  Nothing like bettering the children around us.

This is one of the Wonderful People I met during the weekend.  It is so much fun to talk to people and find out where they are from.  This gentlemen stole my heart on the spot.  His shirt reads, "Not only am I Perfect, I'm German Too!!"  This shirt would have been right up my Grandpa Krohn's alley!  He would have gotten a great big belly laugh out of this.  Notice his hat too!  S.O.B. - Sweet Old Buzzard.  Yep... I'm smitten!

Lovely Ole German I met!! 

 Part of the fun of the weekend is the Parade on Sunday.  It was good fun watching it with my kids.  The weather was perfect and we had a great spot in the shade.

This is "Hermann the German" and Thusnelda, his wife.  

The kids caught a ton of Candy and had a great time.  I loved not having to worry about putting sun screen on them.  Couldn't have asked for a better day!!

Eric, Kate, Amanda and Abby watching the Parade together.

The 4-H'er in me

The 4-H'er in me is in heaven right now.  We are in full fair mode at our house.  We are getting projects ready for the County Fair!!  You might not know this but I held the "Blue Ribbon Plaque" for the most blue ribbons in one county fair for 3 consecutive years!!  That's right!  One year I had 21 blue ribbons.

Me with some of my projects

Me at Dog Training Class with Abby, my Springer Spaniel

I completely credit 4-H for helping me become the person I am today.  I learned how to speak to judges and to large groups.  I learned how to lead a meeting and how to take accurate notes.  I sent out invitations to our monthly meetings.  I learned project management skills.  Those 21 blue ribbons didn't happen by a miracle!  Although my Mom and Dad might disagree.  I remember several years when we were up until the wee-hours of the morning finishing projects on the night before entry day.

When I was 13 I stayed overnight in the dorms at the Minnesota State Fair.  I had earned a State Fair Trip with my Counted Cross Stitch.  It was an amazing learning experience.  It was the first time I was basically on my own with little supervision.  We had an 11pm curfew but before that we had free reign of the enter Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  I had an amazing time!  We sat with judges and worked on a needle point project.  I learned a lot.  Some of the things I learned I still use today. 

Now I'm creating new 4-H'ers.  Jacob and Amanda have enjoyed their time with 4-H so far.  Amanda is 5 and still considered Discovery.  She can take up to 3 projects to the fair this year.  She will be showing a Rabbit and taking two non-livestock projects. 

Jacob is in "the big group" now and can take as many projects as he wants.  We talked about how the more projects you take, the more ribbons you get.  With each project comes more work and expense though.  He decided his goal this year is 10 ribbons.  I think this is a reasonable goal and is do-able.

Jacob received a Volcano kit as a gift.  This has been a great project.  It is assembled and is ready to be painted.  

Jacob applying paper mache to his Volcano.

Jacob and John putting the finishing touches on the Volcano.

I will update you on our progress!! If you have interest in 4-H please reach out to your County Extension Office.  It truly is an amazing program!!

Outta Tears

I've started writing this post several times and finally feel ok writing it.  Although I've deleted it all twice and started over.

Two weeks ago today John got a call that a good friend of his had died in a car accident.  John was devastated.  He had known Tyson since they were in junior league bowling together in grade school.  I've known Ty since I was a senior in High School and worked with him at Godfather's Pizza in New Ulm.

John and Ty have bowled in lots and lots of tournaments together and on league together for years.  We found pictures from when they had gone to National Tournaments way back before John and I were married.

Tyson with the sign to "his Canyon Ranch" during our trip to Reno in 2001

Recent Picture of Tyson

John and I both grieve for the family left behind.  Yes, we will miss Tyson but we both feel terrible for the loved ones.  Especially when there are kids involved.  They are so young and forever is a difficult concept to understand.  Tyson was a great bowler, Son, Father, brother and Friend.  There were many tears shed at his funeral and he will definitely be missed.

John commented to me after the funeral that he didn't want to bury a friend again for a long time.  I so agree!

On top of this we lost a dear friend at work.  Our CFO, Jim Guldan, passed away after a very short battle with Cancer.  I have reported directly and indirectly to him for the last 5 years.  He was an amazing man.  Caring, compassionate, extremely hard working and very dedicated.  On top of being the CFO, a Husband, Dad and Grandpa he was an ordained Deacon in the Catholic Church.  He was a wonderful example of a strong faith.

Jim

Deacon Jim

On Tuesday I went to his funeral.  It was an amazing celebration of his life.  There were so many nice things said.   It has been a difficult week of changes at work.  Making sure that his replacement has access to all his work files, passwords, etc.  Cleaning out his office, disabling his accounts, etc.  It's so hard and everything is so final.  Jim also left behind family.  A wonderful wife, Brenda, and three daughters and a handful of Grandkids.  I am praying for them all.

We are gone to Nick's Baseball Tournament this weekend.  It feels good to sit and relax while cheering for a great team.  More updates this weekend.  Be sure to check back!!

Birthday Boy

It was a very busy weekend at our house.  Jacob turned 9 last week so we had his birthday party with my Parents and our Siblings/Nieces/Nephews.  It was a great time.  I can't believe he's 9 already!  Wasn't he an infant yesterday?!?

My cute little 8 lb 13 1/2 oz infant

My 9 pound grown up little man

We ate, we visited, we watched and we sang. He had a great time and that made all the cleaning, baking, cooking, wrapping and more cleaning afterwards all worth it!!

Everyone needs a personalized License Plate!!

A Snuggly Rabbit Puppet

Blowing out all those candles!!

Happy Birthday Jacob!!  I'm so proud of the boy you have grown into.  You are so smart and caring.  I can't wait to see what the next 9 years has to hold for you.

I really enjoy watching the kids all play together.  All the running and laughing.  It all makes it worth it.  I hope they enjoy the time with their cousins like I did.  I remember all the fun at my birthday parties.  The ended up being like a big BBQ Party and were so much fun!!

Honk if you love books!

I purchased some vinyl lettering for my van last fall.  I hesistated to put it on before the winter though.  My van sits outside most of the winter and I wanted to wait until Spring.

The BHH (Book Hauling Husband) helped me put on the first set of lettering.  It was pretty cold out the day we worked on it so only the back side is done at this point. 

BHH Pulling off the backing... There may (or may not) have been some cussing while this was going on. :)

Smooth it on with a credit card.

Revealing the lettering!!

I think it look fabulous!! 

Now the questions.... Should I put it on the two sides of the van as I originally planned to?  Is that too much?  Opinions please in the comments.

Honk if you love books and see my van!!

We don't get out much...

Saturday Morning John and the kids and I piled in the van and drove up to Menards.  We weren't on a mission of any sort so we were just kind of wandering.  The kids had never been there before and... come to think of it... I don't think they've ever been to Menards in Mankato either.

We headed toward the Bathroom Remodel area.  We oggled the new glass wash basin's.  Amanda's favorite is the blue.  Mine is the green.  We wandered down one aisle quietly imagining our future (although far off future) bathroom.  The kids headed down another aisle.  John and I commented on some of the different prices.  I was silently calculating how many hours I'd have to work to afford some of those fancy faucets.  Cripes!!  (I either need a big raise or cheaper taste.)

John and I came around the corner both wondering where the children were.  We could hear them jabbering but couldn't see them.  Then we spotted this....

I had to get closer to make sure I was seeing correctly.  

Yup... Those are my children's shoes.  My thoughts... "Good Lord, Where are my children and why don't they have their shoes on."


Then I spotted them!  Good Grief!

Like two caged animals.

Ahhhh!  So relaxing!  Dadd, we need this tub!!

This one is nice but kind of short.  Maybe a longer one, Daddy!

I really need to get these kids out more often!  They truly enjoyed their trip to Menards.  In fact, they haven't stopped talking about it yet.  Amanda was telling Jacob yesterday about how Amazing Menards is and that you can buy ANYTHING there... except rabbit stuff.

(No, in case you are wondering... I am not sponsored by Menards.  hum... maybe that's how I could get that fancy faucet!!)

St. Paul's Kindergarten Program

Amanda had a great time preparing for their Kindergarten Program.  She was so excited and tried to keep as much of it a secret as possible.  She did sing a few of the songs around the house but was pretty successfull in keeping it all under wraps.

Sweet Dreams was the name of the program.  Stories and Songs about Bedtime, Moon and Stars.  They did a great job!!