05.26.2011

Jeffrey wanted to sleep on the couch tonight night so that he could watch the Bulls vs. Heat basketball game before he fell asleep.  After he finished getting his pillow and blanket ready, he set up three of his favorite stuffed animals out on the couch because he didn't want to be all by himself once Daddy went to bed.  I took the cutest picture of Jeffrey's stuffed animals on the couch, but just as I finished taking their picture, Jeffrey looked at me and smiled, something he hasn't done in ages.  I couldn't say no to those smiling eyes.

05.25.2011

I had to pack up my entire classroom this year because the junior high hallway is going to be gutted this summer in order to mud jack it and redo all the classrooms (the hallway is sinking terribly). 

As I was packing, I had a few special items that I decided I should take home rather than store in boxes in the gym.  This apple is one of them.  It is a pottery apple that Sony picked up for me in Greece while she was studying abroad.  It's been a favorite treasure of mine ever since.

05.24.2011

My Great Grandma Nellie Ulrich painted this for her son and daughter-in-law, my grandparents Duane and Gayle.  Once again, when my grandparents moved in to their park model, they had little room for paintings and this is one I've had in my house ever since.  I believe my mom has one that is very similar.  One of them must not have passed Nellie's judgement test and so she painted another one.  I'm not sure who got the copy that passed the test.  Does anyone know their flowers?  What kind of flower is this?

05.23.2011

Even though she was gone for a week (and I think she missed me), she still is stubborn enough to refuse to take a picture with me.

05.22.2011

This is a picture of my cousin Sonja and me in our Grandmother Margaret's dresses.  I've had this picture in a frame in my house for at least 15 years.  It is one of my all time favorite pictures.

(We were pretending like we were waiting at the train station for our husbands to return from war.)

05.21.2011

Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.  ~Neil Postman, The Disappearance of Childhood (introduction), 1982

05.20.2011

Devil's Tower National Monument

(For a girl who LOVES geology, this place rocks!)

05.19.2011

I took the 8th graders on a class trip to Rapid City, South Dakota.  It was the first time most of them had been there.  Even though it rained (and I mean nearly poured) all day long, the kids had a blast.  It was too bad that we could hardly see Mt. Rushmore.  I took this photo on the Presidential Mile and this was the best we could see the Presidents the whole evening.

05.18.2011

Another 8th grade graduation picture. 

She inspires me to want to figure out how to wear flowers in my hair.

05.17.2011

Eighth grade graduation is a big deal here at school.  We have a ceremony, speaker, music, and even a slide show.  So, each year I take 8th grade graduation pictures for my kids at school. 

05.16.2011

The wind was blowing right in Macy's face when I took this last minute picture before Grandma Robyn, Jeffrey, and Macy left for Wilton.  I love the look on her face and those freckles.  Oh, how I love those freckles.

05.15.2011

Although Lydia shows up on Life is Good, Too's blog several times a week, I don't think I have posted a picture of her yet.  :)  I guess when you take a picture of her, it's just too hard to resist.  Her eyes are amazing.

05.14.2011

Five of Shelly's six girls stayed over night on Saturday (while Josh and Shelly were out with friends and Brooke was at Valley Fair for school).  What can I say, the evening was busy, hectic, crazy, and wonderful!

I let the kids watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates for awhile once they were ready for bed.  Allison sat on the recliner with Jeffrey most of the time.  Lydia set a little chair right next to Jeff in the recliner.  Sophia and Macy just kept playing instead.

05.13.2011

This painting was done by my mom.  It was a gift to me for Christmas is 1981.

Funny how Strawberry Shortcake is popular once again.

05.12.2011

Tyler was asked to be the guest speaker tonight at the Sports Banquet.  I recorded his speech so that when I have some free time, I can type it out and add it to my JetsMama blog.

(Don't hold your breath, it's the end of the school year and it is crazy busy right now!)

05.11.2011

I love this painting.  It was my birthday gift from my mom when I turned two.  (Signed by my mom and dated 6-81)I don't ever remember it hanging in my room, but it's been hanging in Macy's room her entire life.

05.10.2011

My Great-Grandma Nellie Ulrich (my maternal grandfather's mother) actually painted this and gave it to me for my high school graduation.  My Grandma Nellie lived in Wilton in the early years of my life and I can remember her and my Grandma Eva being friends.  I wonder if they painted together?  I'm going to have to ask my mom or Grandma Gayle.

05.09.2011

Jeffrey and Jerron are only 4 months apart in age.  They've known eachother since they were babies and went to preschool together.  After one play date, they can hardly wait for the next time.  The future makes me curious, but I don't want to rush it.  I wish they could stay babies just a little bit longer.

05.08.2011

Happy Mother's Day

05.07.2011

I can't find the right words to say for this picture.

05.06.2011

05.05.2011

"A boy is truth with dirt on its face,
beauty with a cut on its finger,
wisdom with bubble gun in its hair,
and the hope of the future with a frog in its pocket."

05.04.2011

This convertible car was my Barbie car when I was little.  Now, Macy and Jeffrey play with it.

05.03.2011

I let the kids watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates on the Disney Channel in the mornings, if they are dressed, have their teeth brushed and are ready for the day.  This morning, they both sat right in front of the heater because the house is pretty chilly in the mornings.

05.02.2011

This is the third night we all have slept in the living room...so that we are close to the space heater.  Still no power.  Thankfully, we have a generator.

05.01.2011

After being cooped up in the house for the last day and a half, the kids were super excited to get to play outside.  It was about 45 degrees out, but felt like 60 degrees.  The sun made it seem warmed outside than inside our house (still no electricity).  We played soccer, follow the leader, and had a snowball fight.  It felt great to get outside and move around!

04.30.2011

We had a snow storm Friday night (04.29.2011) that lasted until the afternoon today.  It snowed between 8-10 inches, blew up to 66 miles per hour, snow blasted the windows, and knocked power out.  This snow brings the total for Williston up to 107 inches.  Here, Tyler is heading out early in the morning to get the cows a bale of hay.  He was about 50 feet from the tractor in the pasture and couldn't see the tractor.  We should have tied a rope to him.