Spaghettios speak to us!

Michaela was recently frantically calling me to the kitchen with instruction to bring the camera. When I arrived she was had just opened a can of Spaghettios and found the letters f -o-r-k on the lid! How funny is that??

Things have been busy here with the end of the school year approaching. Hard to believe. Now the field days, field trips, programs and stacks upon stacks of papers are filling our schedules and table! The kids are excited... I will be too, for about the first 6 weeks.

I had my first day of hygiene shadowing last week in Brookings, SD. I will be filling in there for one of the hygienists that will be on maternity leave beginning in July. Only much to my surprise, there was a patient in my schedule upon my arrival. After some shock, and an apology for the scheduling error, I bucked up and got it done. Was a little weird not having handled anything dental hygiene related for nearly a year, but felt good at the same time. The office members seem very patient and nice. Should be a good experience.

I finished up my first semester at MNSU a couple weeks ago. Walked off with a 4.0 and 10 classes left to go! Decided to take the summer off and will get back to it come September.

Forgot to mention that we got a Chrysler 300 two months ago. A local dealership was having a 'push-pull-drag' sale and we saw it as the perfect way to get rid of my busted minivan. It's pretty fun and I love satellite radio! Still need to replace the minivan (going back to the Honda Odyssey), but that's coming up in the future. I don't have any photos of the new car yet, as the weather has been very unsettled this spring, and every time it's nice, the car is dirty! LOL

I've been working part-time at a local nursery which has been great fun! I pretty much work there for free, but have gotten some great stuff for the yard, which was MUCH needed as there weren't any plantings in the beds.

Summer is filled with a trip to MT to see my dad, the kids will spend time with their dads, driver's ed for Michaela, scout camps and will finish off with the marriage blessing in September. Planning for that is going pretty well, though a bit behind schedule!

Copy cat

Can ya believe this?? Just as we were about to celebrate the removal of Alex's cast, Todd completely tore his distal bicep tendon while at work. Notice they both did in their left arms! Which was cause for much humor around here. Especially when they showed up to the boy scout camp out.

Alex did go on to get his cast off and has made a complete recovery. Todd had surgery on Monday, May 26th (above photo is pre-surgery) and will be in recovery for about 4 months. He will be in a splint for the first 3 weeks before being moved to a moveable brace. He will then go on to physical therapy. He's hoping to return to light duties at work next week.

Brown to Green

Rebecca has found a very nice GS Troop here in Marshall. The troop is small with just 6 members, which is very nice! She's had a great year. This photo is from their Bridging Ceremony. This is where the troop members graduate from Brownies to Junior Girl Scouts (where they will now wear green uniforms).

Holy Communion

On April 27th, 2008, Rebecca celebrated her First Holy Communion. She had a great day with family, Godparents and friends. The 50 Catechists were actually pretty good during the 90 minute ordeal. She's pictured above with Father Paul, who also performed her baptism in October, and will perform our validation ceremony this September.

Afterwards, we had a luncheon here at the house. She received a lot of beautiful gifts and well wishes and we thank everyone for sharing in this special time.

Preparing for this was quite the ordeal this year. I do not recall this much work and preparation when I was a child. We are proud she's met this milestone and look forward to helping her achieve her Confirmation in high school.

Break: Take 2

Hmmm...look familiar to anyone?? Last year, around this time, Alex had a greenstick fracture of his left wrist. This year, it's a solid fracture of both the radius and ulna of his left arm just below the elbow.

The incident happened a couple weeks ago while he was playing at a friend's house...of which he'd been at a WHOLE TEN MINUTES!!

He's thrilled with his camo cast though! Thinks it's cool to wear his all camo outfit right down to his undies and shoes! It'll come off on the 20th.

Freedom of Speech

For those of you who read my blog regularly, it's pretty much a running account of my family's activities and happenings.

But ya know, it's a BLOG, an online diary. My blog. So yes, every once in a while I will get vocal and sound off on thoughts or events. Nothing here that I say is meant in secret, I am not hiding anything from anyone. In fact, anything I say here can be, and is, said publicly to those in my immediate life.

If you have some issue with it, either leave a comment or come see me in person. Don't do that 'Minnesota Nice', passive-agressive, talk behind my back bullshit. I don't subscribe to that. I don't have to name names, you know who you are. I'd call you on it, but it would probably be denied. Remember...this is a small town..news gets around. One of the things I dislike about small town life is the very thing outting you.

My intent is not to irritate people. But I have a right to my thoughts and feelings - and yes, they often are not like yours or anyone else's. I don't care if you like them or me. That is not my life's purpose. I have much better uses for my time.