Snapshot Summary #45

Saturday
13 - August, 2011
The boys catch from last night. . .

Kari, Bill, Anna, John and Miriam joined us for the play this afternoon. The children had an absolute blast performing!

Since we have ate, breathed and sang Oz for weeks, Chloe calls me Auntie Em and Drew Uncle Henry. Abi is Glinda. . .you get the picture. You can imagine her thrill when she got to give Dorothy a hug!!

Sunday
14 - August, 2011
I had a little scare at the kitchen sink this AM

I'm not sure how he escaped from his deluxe habitat but it sure did make me jump when I found him :)

Monday
15 - August, 2011
The play is over, right, so where is all the extra time I was expecting to have????

Time consumer #1 - black spray paint addiction :)

Before:

After:

Tuesday
16 - August, 2011
Time consumer #2 Rag Rolling the large wall behind the couch (yes, that's our new to us couch!). I hope to get a better picture eventually.

Wednesday
17 - August, 2011
Time consumer #3 Deciding where to rehang everything. I was so so thankful to have Laura and kids here to help with this. I had a lay out on a sheet of paper but I needed another woman opinion on the whole matter and, let's face it, Laura has class, she has taste, she's got that natural decorating knack I lack!! Thanks Laura!!!

Chloe helps make cookies to serve everyone. O.k., Cob made the cookies and Chloe cleaned up a bit.

Saturday
20 - August, 2011
While Drew, Abi, Baruch and Abram explored the Little Maquoketa, Cob helped with a friends Eagle Scout project, Chloe, Mary and I made the weekly grocery run ad infinitum.

Sudnay

21 - August, 2011
The Corson Reunion in Guttenberg. Corson is Drew's Grandma Ruth's maiden name, so yes, we were officially invited :).

Myra and Bill

Christine, Pat and Kari

Chloe Ruth with her Great Grandma Ruth

Anna, Abi and Mary

Monday
22 - August, 2011
We have needed our roof re shingled for quite a while. The situation turned code red when we had some leaking in the attic. As we thought about re roofing we started thinking about how much our living space would increase with the addition of a dormer. . .

All the stuff from the attic needed to go SOMEWHERE! Why not Drew and my bed??

Titus and Ezra help Abi and Cob pass the time.

Tuesday
23 - August, 2011
This is what the new dormer looked like when we went to bed,on the futon in the office, remember what our bed looked like ;)

So when we heard thunder, we woke with a start!!

I thank the Lord we only had small amounts of water, dripping ever so slowly, and being easily caught in containers. I spoke with my friend Tonya Stevenson around noon and before we hung the phone up she prayed. Immediately the sun began to shine. I just thanked the Lord!!

And so the dormer continued. And while it continued, the paint on Time Consumer #4 dried. . . The new chalkboard wall in the bathroom :)

Wednesday
24 - August, 2011
The work crew boarded the windows over in case of rain, so this AM that was removed, windows were installed and the siding was finished!

Thursday
25 - August, 2011
Final Product!!

From a different angle.

Saturday
27 - August, 2011
Cob started a huge project this AM - shingling the garage!!

Here he is after a full, man's day of work! He got about half way up one side! Thanks Cob, you make this mama smile :)

I plan to take the finished - all done - voila living room pictures as soon as the curtains are made and I will post a finished dormer pic from the inside too. BUT, these things take time :)

Snapshot Summary #11

Monday

20 - September, 2010

I am really enjoying our science time this year. The book is full of "Try This" boxes with activities that reinforce what they are suppose to remember. This is a picture of the "Try This" box on mummification. This is the control apple. Unfortunately the test apple which was "embalmed" with baking soda and salt was not uncovered early enough to look much different. We started the experiment a couple days before leaving for Kentucky. I guess I should have put them both in the refrigerator. Really, most of the experiment are good ones, You gotta believe me on this one.

Tuesday

21 - September, 2010

Mary, Jacob and Abi had their first Autumn semester piano lessons! They are so excited to be back at the piano.

Wednesday and Thursday - I am amazed that we are staying on schedule so well. I put our entire school day on google calendar. Jennifer gave me the idea and it has worked great! I have a separate calendar for each child. Each calendar, therefor each child has a unique color. Once I have worked out all the bugs I plan to post the whole thing on the wall like I did last year. My laundry seems to be getting further and further behind and I am not sure when to fit it in. I may have to give up posting these updates so I can fold laundry :-).

Friday

24 - September, 2010

A very full day! Mary and Jacob had fiddle and guitar lessons from 9-10 AM. I took the younger children to a nearby park to play. It was a cold windy morning and I had not packed enough jackets so everyone was in and out of the van to warm up. I had to use the restroom, took Chloe with me. . .Abi was in and out getting a my sweater for Abram. . .Then it happened! The keys got locked in the van. Everyone had gone back to the play equipment and there I was, trying each door in turn in vain. "Well guys" I announced, "we are about to embark on an adventure." We were suppose to pick Mary and Jacob up at 10 AM about a mile from the park. It was now 9:40. I estimated we could walk it, if we really booked. Of coarse, my emergency cell phone was locked in the van with the keys. A kind hearted citizen noticed Chloe's bare legs, did I mention it was really chilly and the wind was blowing? Well, it was really chilly and the wind was blowing, so seeing Chloe's bare legs this kind lady gave us a ride to the lesson. Mary and Cob's teacher very kindly let me call Drew who informed me of a hidden spare key. Then the teacher drove us over to the park, found the key and voila, we were off to our friends house for our science co-op! Tonya did a great job reviewing our first lesson. Then the kids all built a cell using jello for the cytoplasm, a gum drop for the nucleus, jelly beans for the mitochondria, skittles for the centrioles, fruit roll ups for the ER(endoplasmic reticulum), sprinkles for the ribosomes. . . What a great cementing activity. We got home and Chloe was asleep so I carried her up, then some neighbor boys came over to play and stayed for homemade pizza. About 6:15 I headed out for a ladies bible study and truly enjoyed the fellowship and encouragement from God's word.

Chloe and Abram played SO nicely together Friday after Chloe woke up from her nap. The held hands and Abram led her around. They played legos, puppy and in the sand box. I am so thankful when the children enjoy each other. It does happen!

Saturday

25 - September, 2010

I took Mary, Cob, Abi, Baruch, and Chloe to visit Great Grandma while Abram helped Drew build some shelves in the bathroom. Grandma Ruth inspires me every time I visit with her. She has an insatiable curiosity, a zeal for learning and a love of playing word games!

UPWORDS with Grandma!

While others napped

A visit to Pikes Peak before heading home

We got home about 7:25. Drew put those at home to bed while Mary and I made the monthly Wal Mart run, as well as the weekly Aldi/Sam's Club run. The new menu plan has helped me stream line my shopping lists but we still didn't get home until 9:45! Drew came down to help unload while I put away fast and furious. I was exhausted when I climbed in to bed about 10:45 PM!

Sunday

25 - September, 2010

I woke up with a BIG BAD headache! UGH! I shuffled down stairs and chopped an onion and stuck it in the crock pot, then put a roast on top. Rubbed it down with s/p first. Then made my way back up stairs to bed. Cob was so sweet, he brought up peppermint oil for me to rub on my temples, a big glass of water, and an ibuprofen, all of which I gladly accepted. Drew took everyone to church. About 10:45 i rolled out of bed feeling SO much better. I fried an egg for myself, which improved my headache even more. I was so thankful not to be battling that headache while Bill and Mary were here! I did manage to get a nap in while Grandma loved up the non-nappers!

Grandma loved up some of the nappers too!! (after their naps) That Grandma just loves good lovin'! It was really cute, Chloe was giving Grandma all kinds of good loving. When I produced the camera - in shot Abram from who know where.

Abi got this great sewing box from Aunt Dawnie. She brought it down in the afternoon and made an announcement that she would do any mending for a penny. I quickly produced the pair of jeans she is carrying. She put a nice neat patch on them. I felt too guilty to just pay a penny so gave her a substantial tip.