Ice CREAM night!

Pictures to go with the account above. Here Zander enjoys his milk and honey from the dasher.....


Ah....dedicated to the last drop!

SUNDAY

We’ve had a rather lazy Sunday. Chapel went well. Stacia DID make her presence known. First, chatty away with Mike when he began to speak as if they were the only two in the room. He looked at her after a bit and said, “Yes, Stacia” and she quieted down. THEN later in the cry room (non-sound proofed room separated from sanctuary by glass window) she howled her displeasure at waiting for her meal and I’m told all in the service could hear her.

We had several options for the afternoon but settled on lazing around home. Mike played some games with Arielle, Nolan and Zander. The older boys played computer games and read. We made ice cream. Nothing big or fantastic.

If I don’t discover any hidden fees or regulations when I call Shop Natural tomorrow, I will be organizing a food co-op. We’ve spent some time trying to figure out what we want to do with this. When we ran the produce co-op we got free produce for our family. We don’t think we want to make $ on this endeavor…mainly we want enough people doing this that we can all buy our groceries at member prices. We ARE trying to think of all the hidden costs as we don’t want to end up LOSING money either. We’re trying to come up with a catchy name. We had some friends whose last name were Rath who set themselves up as *Raths of God* but *Pickles of God* or *Gherkins for God* just doesn’t have the same ring. We’ve though of acronyms….GASEOUS …but really we aren’t coming up with any good ideas. I suppose we could do what most do “co-op” and just put the account in our personal name – but that doesn’t sound like fun. We welcome all suggestions. {G}

The gentleman who allows his son to play with guns on a playground called today. Mike had faxed him two more estimates to fix our van. We told him we’d go with the lowest estimate. He said he didn’t have the $. We told him we’d take whatever he can send this week and then monthly payments that he can afford each month until he’s paid for it. We’ll send him a receipt because he wants to be sure we fix it! We’ll pay the difference between the lowest offer and the offer from the reputable place.

That’s our day. Next week is spring break around here. We don’t plan to take the week off of school. Josiah is scheduled to work 30 hours – which probably means 35 as he always gets extra time when they close. We may not get a full week of school done. We’ll see.

*Homesick* by Jean Fritz

This was a fun book to read. Jean Fritz is one of our favorite children’s history writers. I got a kick out of reading how boring her teacher made history. {G}

Jean grew up as a Third Culture Kid in China. She was 13 before she saw America and her grandparents. I found the glimpse of life in China fascinating. I also was able to relate to her feelings of patriotism for a country she didn’t live in, homesickness for a place that wasn’t yet home, and defensiveness when she DID arrive home on behalf of the China she’d left behind.

If you like Jean Fritz’ books, or are interested in China or growing up as a Third Culture Kid, I think you’ll find this a quick and worthwhile read.

SATURDAY -

It's been a very wonderful day.

The day began with an early morning run to Wal-mart and Sam’s club. I've been looking for a tortilla press - no luck. I also needed to buy laundry soap so that I could have Josiah’s uniform ready be 3 p.m. He’s been working lots of hours. The first week it was the Stock and Rodeo Show….this week I’m not sure why he has extra hours. Next week is Spring Break and he’ll probably be picking up extra hours…but it will need to slow down after that. {G} He’s doing well keeping up with the schedule. They have him closing most nights this week and I can tell that he is getting worn out.

Mike took me out for lunch. We went to Logans – where we can throw peanuts on the floor and listen to old music on the juke box….and always bring home 1/2 the meal. {G}

We came home and Jamin took Zander for a bike ride. Wow – he was a hero. Mike put training wheels on Nolan’s bike and Nolan spent some time trying to conquer the bike. We are dreaming of family bike rides.

Mike and I got some chores done around the house.

Arielle, Stacia and I went to Janae’s birthday party. This is Adrienne’s 2 yo daughter. It was cute and fun. There was singing, dancing and even a cake shaped like a music note.

While we were at the party Mike took the boys to get Jamin’s hair cut. He wanted it spiked again. I think it will be very cool when he gets it all done.

Mike and the boys arrived at the party and we visited “just a bit” with Kwame and Adrienne and headed home. We are so enjoying the time we have to get to know this family.

I’m seriously thinking of organizing a co-op here in town for dry goods type of things. Shop Natural already delivers here. I will call them on Monday. I can’t see any hidden fees or costs but want to talk with a person before I sign up. There appears to be a $250 min order amount…and I think *I* could make that most months alone, but several others are interested in it as well. I’m trying to figure out what other hidden time thieves may be inherent in this plan. Mike and I have spent considerable time today trying to find the co-op brochure I had made when we had the produce co-op in San Antonio. I can’t find it. ARGH.

The day is done….I didn’t get my folks called. Mike did call his. I didn’t get the ice cream made today either. I’ll do that tomorrow as well.

Family Night

Evidently this is how *I* watch an episode of Hogan's Heroes. Yikes - I'm turning into my mother. {vbg}

Round Up Time

It’s round up time again in West TX. THIS is ONE round up that I’m going to pass on. It’s Rattlesnake Roundup time. After “almost” convincing myself to contact Julie and have her dh teach me how to hook a snake, I woke up to see a big picture of a boy hooking a rattler….ARGH.

I’m serious. This is a 4 day festival complete with a parade, a snake-charmer pageant, a snake meat-eating contest and snake-handling demonstrations. There’s also a demo on how to skin a rattler in preparation for cooking or to use the skins.

There was a man waiting with 1200 lbs of rattler to turn in. Evidently you get $5 per pound of rattler and this is to help control the rattler population out this way. It’s become a huge economic booster as people come from all over the states and other countries to view this.

Oh my – I think my geocaching days are DONE FOR!!!! If you don’t believe me click here…then type “roundup” into the site search.

The Lake

FRIDAY – PART TWO 

Mike got two more estimates – the lowest being $375. He’s going to call the man in Midland about the van again. We’ll see. We’ve learned a lot. By NOT filing a report we are probably stuck this time….unless we want to go to small claims court. Live and learn.

When Mike got home we took the speed boat out to the Lake. It was a gorgeous day here. I know it’s snowing in EUGENE and SPOKANE but it was in the 80’s here. We had fun with Josiah’s boat and Nolan’s “stomp” rockets. Josiah had to get to work so we dropped him off at home and then we went on Lake. We fed the ducks, geese and other such birds. We tried to put bread on the boat and feed them…but the boat scared them. {g} We discovered that Stacia will steal the apple right out of your hand….that girl likes her food.

We came home and got a few more jobs done (baking, apple treats in the dryer, Mike checked smoke alarms, we switched out car seats because Stacia doesn’t WANT to recline…) and now we are going to veg out and watch an episode of Hogan’s Heroes.

I’ve begun reading “Dean and Me” and now I want to watch a Martin/Lewis movie.

We made Heather’s Sweet Potato Taco seasoning oven fries…and they were a HIT. That’s about it for today.