My Children's Backaches

Lucas is making a nice recovery from his back surgery. He now has the go ahead to run and lift 20 pounds. Next week he starts physical therapy.

Laura was admitted tonight to the hospital in Chicago. She has a bulging disk that is pressing on her sciatic nerve. Keep good thoughts for her ... I'm a very nervous mom right now.

The Gang's Here

The gang is here and ready to eat! Front row: Chris, Candice, Tsyrus. Back row: Sara, Dan, Lucas. Oh, yes! We also have three dogs and a cat that are also ready for a Christmas party!

First Snow for Tsyrus

Tsyrus is having a ball in the snow! It's way too cold out but he doesn't care. He loves the snow! (He is from Oklahoma and hasn't gotten tired of winter yet!)

Another Winter Storm

Mike has been trying to bring grandson Tsyrus to Cavalier! He drove to Mpls. on Friday to pick him up at the airport. It is Tuesday morning and we are hoping that they will make it home tonight. We have had too much winter lately! Tsyrus will enjoy the snow, I hope. Laura is still in Chicago and I don't think the weather is going to cooperate with her. Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown

My students decorated my classroom door this morning. Enjoy!

We almost went to Fargo ...

I have the weekend off! I actually have or had plans to go to Fargo! I was going to meet my sister and have "sister time". I was going to go to a baby shower and meet my friend's new grandson! I was going to go back to Fargo to shop and shop and shop.

Guess what? The weather changed our plans. There is a blizzard predicted to bring in a foot of snow. We made a quick trip to Grand Forks to shop a little and buzzed to Mayville to check in on Lucas (who's doing great).

This is the great weekend that I almost went to Fargo!

Clowning

I forgot to mention her second job ... she's a clown!

Happy Birthday Laura

It's okay to brag about your child on her birthday, right? Today Laura is 28 ... funny how all kinds of beautiful memories come flooding back. Did I ever think my baby girl would be a chemist ... not in a million years! I'm sure that Laura's dad is smiling down on her today from heaven and passing out cigars to all the angels.

Christmas Countdown

It's two weeks until Christmas Eve. Mike and I are making our lists and checking them more than twice. Right now our biggest struggle is figuring out where everyone will sleep once they get here for Christmas. It's a great problem to have ... everyone plans to be home for Christmas!

Celtic Woman

Have you heard the Celtic Woman? In the past month I have become a big fan of this group's music. They had a beautiful Christmas Show on PBS last week. Their holiday music really lifts your spirits.

It's Cold

It is December 1st and it is chilly outside. I guess we can't complain after having such a nice November! Candice headed back to college yesterday in Watertown, SD. Lucas is still struggling with his back and doesn't know if he should try to do some classes or stay home and heal. The big problem for him is his inability to sit for any length of time ... yet it is the end of the semester and he wants to get his classes done.

Christmas Tree

Today was a busy day! I worked at the nursing home in activities ... this meant taking down Thanksgiving decorations and putting up the Christmas bulletin board. I then went to judge floats for Cavalier's Santa Parade. Every year the floats get better and better. My favorite this year was a live Nativity with real sheep on the float! When I got home Candice and I put up our Christmas tree in the living room.

Shopping Day

It is one of the biggest shopping days of the year! I slept through the early morning sales. I used to stay up all night so I could stand in line at 4 in the morning. Mike and Lucas might do a little shopping today in Grand Forks and I'll be working at the nursing home wishing I was shopping. I hear there is a great deal on Cricut cartriges at Michaels!

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

We have our turkey thawing and tomorrow we'll be making pumpkin pie to get ready for Thursday. Lucas and Candice will be home to help us celebrate ... I'm hoping that we'll have time to decorate our tree sometime during the weekend.

Church Basement Ladies

Today was a day of fun and entertainment. My driver and friend Carol arranged a day of shopping and eating and theatre for us in Grand Forks. The added bonus was a pedicure! The Church Basement Ladies shared Lutherisms to put a smile on any face. The cast of five did a great job! (I probably would rather have gone to the Neil Diamond concert in Grand Forks, but don't tell anyone!)

STOOD UP on November 21st

Many students and staff members are wearing pink today at school. It is STAND UP to Bullying Day. Participants wear a pink "pledge shirt" to take a visible stance against bullying. This is the front of the shirt ... I actually like the back of the shirt which is signed by the wearer.

Home again, home again ...

After three days in Fargo we're home again. Lucas has had his surgery and now is in the recovery phase. We are both glad to be home. I have spent two nights in a hard chair by his bed ... I'm ready for some serious sleep. Lucas's job is to heal and get well.

Saturday Mornings

If you know me at all, you know that Saturday mornings are reserved for breakfast at the Chuckwagon in Cavalier. Nine of us have gotten together for several years to share our coffee pot and friendship.

Welcome Home Lucas

He's home! Home to have surgery and get well as fast as he can to finish the semester at Mayille State. His instructors will keep in touch with him online. With a little luck he will finish the semester.

Stories At Hand

This week I am doing a "first". It is my first time at taking an online craft class. I thought I would be making a digital scrapbook, but it is a journal in scrapbook form with story prompts ... better yet! I love to write and I think this will be a useful tool to get me going again!

Morning Coffee

I am not a morning person ... never have been and never will be. I truly believe that morning people have an extra gene that I didn't get! Mike wakes up full of energy and ready to go. I find his cheerful disposition in the morning to be abnormal and annoying. However, I do enjoy that first cup of coffee in the morning that he makes. I guess that makes up for all that sunshine he sends my way each day.

383,800 Miles for our Van

It finally happened. We knew this day would come, but we really were hoping that our Chevy Venture van would make it to 500,000 miles. We even had a little party planned marking this possible milestone. The "gray ghost's" engine died and we are now in the market for a new vehicle. This van took us on many wonderful family memories. Thousands of hours of movies were watched by kids that we hauled on trips and activities.

It's one week until Lucas's back surgery

In one week ....next Monday, November 17th, Lucas will have back surgery in Fargo for a herniated disk injury he recevied the first week in October. He has had high doses of meds that have brought little relief. Hopefully his guardian angels will by by his side as he travels down the road of recovery.Lucas gave his all for the Mayville State Comets Football Team.

Typical Sunday Morning

This was a peaceful, typical Sunday on Bedrock Lane. I shared the morning coffee and newspaper with Mike. Candice, Mike, and I went to church. It was special this morning as there were two baptisms. Candice gave National Guard shirts to Pastor Scheblein and Jean who do a great job remembering the college youth when they leave Cavalier.

Welcome Home Candice

Candice is home ... when kids come home from college for a visit I realize what a quiet routine Mike and I now have . Our once noisy household is quiet ... only to be disrupted by the scampering on the puppies on the run. Anyway, Candice is home for a long weekend, and we are going to enjoy every minute!

Election

Since November 4th was the election I thought I would start off my blog with this photo of me with Governor Hoeven who was elected for his third term in North Dakota. I had an opportunity to visit with him in October 2007 when I attended an educational conference. I think it will be interesting to watch Barack Obama put his cabinet together.