NHD and a Snow Day

I went to National History Day Competition with some of my sixth grade students.  We traveled about 2 hours to the town of Fremont, Ohio.  The students worked hard researching about a topic of their choice that showed a turning point in history.

 It was a long day of judging for them.  I had one student win at this level and  will be going to state competition the same day Kayla and Kota have prom.  Not sure yet how I'm going to be in both places.  I hope one of my colleagues will help me.

 We received a big dump of snow last night.  Enough to close school down for today.  I actually took the day off.  I slept in and did all the things I didn't get to do on the weekend due to the competition.  It was great!  I pulled out a Zumba game I bought for the Wii and haven't tried yet.  I think I'm going to try and use that several times a week to work on some personal fitness.  It sure did the trick, I'm feeling a bit sore and stiff already.  I guess that is an okay consequence of exercise.  I'm going to try and drop some poundage before summer.  All it all it was a great weekend.

 

Personal Day Project

Something's are so good it worth writing sub plans over.  Going to the Bishop's Storehouse is one of those things.

 Today, I went with a friend from church to help fulfill our ward's assignment to work at the storehouse.  We enjoyed talking for the hour ride up there.  So much so, that I missed a turn and ended up on the turnpike.  Oops!  I turned around...are you allowed to do that?  Then I was so worried about turning around at the toll booth that I went into a pass only lane.  Oops, part 2!  The toll booth worker said you can't be in this lane if you don't have a pass.  I said, I just made a wrong turn and really didn't pay attention to the sign, can you let me through?  (Wonder what she would have thought if I'd told her I was a teacher who didn't follow directions?)  I wonder how many times a day that happens?  I sure did feel silly.

No worries, even with the crazy driver me missing the exit we still got there on time.  We spent our morning packing orders.  There were a lot of orders in these tough economic times.

I am always amazed at how many families can be taken care of by generous fast offerings from members of the church.  I am also amazed at how the Lord's grocery store is so much smaller than where I shop, but how it feeds so many.  It's always fun working with members; we bumped into to each other and got in each others way, but there was no arguing, or name calling, just happy, patient people working to serve those in need.  I wish I could have more days during the week like this...it just fills the soul with happiness.

Successful Failure

Today we were without kids for the entire day. (It is a weird feeling right now, I know I'll learn to like it, but now it's just plain weird!)

 They left at 9 am to have breakfast with other youth from church.  Then they were hanging out until a stake activity and won't get home until around 11 pm tonight.  We once again were thrown into being empty nesters.  Hmm...what to do?

So, we spent the day with my mom walking around the mall.

I decided, once home, that I was going to make a nice dinner for two.  You know, one that has big chunks of veggies in it, that would never be eatin' by picky daughter.

 So, I looked up a pioneer woman recipe for pantry pasta and got started.  Whew, look at me go.

 I sliced and diced, and sautéed, boiled and worked hard.  Mmm did my kitchen smell good.  The plate was even picture perfect.  See...

 

I loved it.  Kyle doesn't like anything that is sour.  See the green olives...yep, too many for him.  It was not his favorite.  Hence, the successful failure.  I made a great meal, but I didn't please every palate.  Fail! (boo!)

 

 

 

We ended with chocolate pudding with whipped cream.  I made enough for after lunch tomorrow with green sprinkles to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  That should be a success.

Welcome to Hayesville

 What do you do on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in Hayesville?  Take a family walk.  This is our journey around our little village.  It only has one stop light and not much else, but we have enjoyed raising our family here.

 This is the alley across from our house.  Most walks go on this route because Mom's house is this way.

 We usually get barked at going down this alley, but today we just got some snuggles.  Kayla didn't mind.  It was so nice hit ting almost 70 degrees in the middle of March, we couldn't stay in.

 Then we walked back the long drive to my Mom's house usually to visit for a little while.  But alas, she wasn't home.

 Kayla and I talked about all the lazy summer afternoons we are going to spend in this pool at Mom's house.  Sounds like a good way to spend summer.  This will be the summer before Kayla's senior year and our first one without Kota. (sigh, I'm going to miss the big lug)

 This is the little café in town.  It is yummy when you are looking for a greasy-spoon type meal.  We usually stop in a few times a year.  I particularly like their bacon omelets for breakfast.

The Amvets Post here in town and a little antique shop that has quirky hours.  I've only been in once.

 We sure do love the Corn Crib, we get our lunch meats and cheeses here and I am often sending the kids for some random ingredient that I am missing for dinner.

 The Mayor's office is right next to our big old Victorian you see in the background.  (That's where we pay our water bill.)

 Here is the post office, convenient since everyone in town has a PO Box.  I walk less to the post office than Yaya does to her mailbox.  Kayla and I get our haircut at the Hairport from time to time.  The Opera House shows a movie every weekend.  It costs $3 to get in and popcorn is $1 a bag.  Love this place.  There were many a weekends that the kids walked over with $10, had a movie and concession all less than 1 ticket and bag of popcorn at the Cinemark; and were happy to do so.

Lastly is the barber shop where Kota has been getting his hair cut since he was 3 years old.  A man named John used to own the shop.  Kota was a crier and he told him he wasn't allowed to cry; Kota listened and we've been going there ever since.  When John passed away Laura took over the shop and Kota still goes.  Kyle quit going to the barber long ago when he started balding.  Now he just shaves his own head.

They only thing I missed was Kendig Park, which will have to be another day.  I hope you enjoyed our little tour de Hayesville.  Y'all come back now, y' hear!

2 Hour Delay Days, and Hope

I love 2 hour delay days at school.  We had one yesterday with all the snow.  My kids got a snow day, but we had to go in....which is fine by me.

I ride to school with Kyle because we work about a mile or so from each other.  The trade is I go to work at 6:45 in the morning and the kids normally come at 8:25.  On two hour delay days, I still go in at 6:45 because my hubby doesn't get delays and I get a lot of work done.

I love it.  Most people don't roll in until around 8:30-9:00 and I have time to think and move things around and get the not so important piles.  It is amazing the amount of paperwork there is to do.

But, I love it.

I am so looking forward to spring.  I have been feeling glimpses of it off and on over the past few days.  I was teaching the youth and we read a scripture that has been popping up in my mind.  2 Nephi 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. 

I have been feeling hopeful.  Like things are looking up, like we are pulling through the gray.  Even amidst some of the adversity in the family right now, we are on a new horizon.  Life is good.

It seems like we all are feeling the change, family life feels better, I've been trying to hold my temper and just letting go a bit.  It has helped my relationship with my son a lot. Maybe its because he hasn't been working for awhile and has no stress. He is the floater at work and hasn't been called in to help in three weeks.  Do you think he still has a job?  He told us he told his boss he was going to MN in June.  I think he might already be replace.  Silly kid didn't realize two weeks was enough notice.  I hope he can work a bit more to save some more money,  but I'm trusting the Lord right now that this is his will and everything will work out, maybe even better than what I can plan myself.  We sure have been getting a lot of quality family time, what amount a money is better than this?

Tales of a Jack Pine Savage: Poked in the Foot

I've been wanting to do this series for some time now.  My husband's family moved away from their Ohio home and moved to Minnesota in 1980.  He grew up in a wilderness and has lots a great stories that he tells to the kids.  I want to preserve these stories for them.  Note: these are stories mostly of the oldest three boys of the eight children from Kyle's family.  They can be a little risky at points, but this is through the eyes and memories of my storyteller husband.  Some parts may have gotten better over time.  We endearingly call this Jack Pine Savages because that is what an old Minnesota woman called the locals.

Poked in the Foot

Do you remember that feeling you had as a child when you were playing "Hide and Seek?"  When you found that great hiding spot and you were filled with so much anticipation you had to pee?  You couldn't help but giggle nervously to yourself.  (He, He, Ha, Ha)  This happened to me while hiding under some strangers back deck.

 

I don't remember what gave us the idea.  Whether it was planned the night before, or if it was a last minute spontaneous decision.  I would have to ask my brothers, Kolyn and Kory; but I do remember we had a fourth with us--a friend.  At any rate, we were at that age where the allure of being spies was great.  We had several lakes within a couple miles of our home and decided it would be fun to sneak around and spy on people in their lake homes.

 

We walked down to our bottom meadow and through maybe a half mile of woods to get to our unsuspecting victims.  When we made it to the row of cabins overlooking Horseshoe Lake we did what any good spy would do and started ducking and rolling and hiding behind any bush, car, or propane tank we could find.  Because the main event had such an impact on my mind over the years, I don't remember how much success we had in finding multiple victims.  But then it happened...We came across a cabin with a deck overlooking the lake and we made our move for it.

 

We were successful in our dash across the yard as we went unnoticed by the poor unsuspecting inhabitants.  As we rested for a moment to plan our next move, we heard the sliding glass door open and a middle-aged woman stepped out onto the deck.  Coffee in hand, to enjoy the view and breathe the morning air.  That was a mistake!

 

Tensions ran high as we peeked up between the cracks in the deck.  And all boyhood emotions ran wild as we discovered she was wearing nothing under her robe to hinder a great view from below.  At this point, I will never understand what went through Kolyn's mind.  I don't know if the blood flow left his brain to supply other parts of his anatomy or what.  But, evidently he thought it a good idea to stick his finger through the crack and poke the woman in the foot.

 

As you  would imagine, this is the point that all "you know what" broke loose.  The woman let out a loud shriek as she discovered she was not alone.  She ran into the cabin yelling, "Harold, there are kids hiding under our deck!"  We knew we were toast.  Like cockroaches when you turn on the light, we scattered.  We bolted for the side of the cabin opposite the lake and dove for the thick underbrush.

 

Within seconds the man came dashing out the door in his underwear spewing a line of profanity a mile long.  Calling us names that would insinuate our parents were not married when we were born.  To which we were taking mental notes in case we needed this verbal gold to use at school. 

 

Luckily, if there was one thing we were great at, it was hiding.  I will never forget having to choke back the nervous laughter as the man slowly calmed himself and then proceeded to relieve himself on a bush not 10 feet from where two of us were hiding. 

 

We waited for him to disappear inside before we regrouped and headed home.  Another day, another adventure.  Life was good!