The Rest of the Story (AKA the rest of the holiday weekend)

On Friday, Kristin had her sleepover, and the girls finally went to sleep around 1AM! I waited awhile to make sure that they were all asleep before I went to bed..making sure all the doors were locked, all girls in the right spots, and that all was quiet. Chelsea took up her spot at the bottome of the steps, rather than the top, since one of her kids was downstairs, and no matter what kids are here, they are hers while in our home. I woke around 3am, and went to check, and found two girls missing. My heart sunk. It turned out that they crawled up on the couch, grabbing the quilts off the couch, rather than taking their sleeping bags. Phew!! It was 7:30 when Bill & I woke to GIGGLING! The girls were having so much fun....

After breakfast, they headed outside to resume their playing from the night before. It was neat that they spent so much time outside playing. Mary May & Betty Lou (Kristin's rats) were relieved when the girls went home, as they finally got a rest and were able to sleep. I'm sure they loved all the attention.

Just as the last girl was getting picked up, the O'Hara's arrived to drop off three of their five to stay with us. It was their anniversary, and they needed the night off. Declan, Alyona, and Tanya piled in, Declan looking like he was moving in for the month!

Alyona begged Robert to play cribbage with her. She finally met her match....she was pouting before it was all over.....as he skunked her several games!

Tanya & Kristin spent many hours outside on the driveway playing Barbie...it was the big hit for the weekend!
Ryan & Delcan rigged up some rope from the porch to the grapevine....and swiped one of my laundry baskets. Not sure what their main goal was, but they had fun rigging things up!Sunday we went to church, and then to the O'Hara's for a BBQ with the VonRuden clan as well. There were lots of laughs, stories, and fun time shared. It's always great to get together with our friends who are more family to us than friends.

Monday we all slept in, and the kids cleaned their rooms, and then took off for the day with Grandma Alice. They had a full day planned...lunch, the swimming pool in Corvallis, dinner, and then a movie here in town.

Being we had no kids around, Bill, Robert & I decided we should go have some fun, so we cleaned up lunch, and headed out to Scott Mills to check out the youth camp we will be at in a few weeks. We were warned about making sure to check it out before we pulled in there blindly with our trailer. It was a beautiful day, and we saw many fields of white & purple. The white field is a very fragrant flower, and we're not sure about the purple, it appeared to be a thistle of some type, but had cloverlike leaves?

After we left the camp, we decided to take the "back way" to Silver Falls--and follow the GPS. Needless to say, the GPS can't decifer between a logging road and a goat trail....and has no regard for Forest Service gates! We went about 4 miles on a two track trail before hitting a forest service gate....so we turned around, and followed the road back out, as the the GPS recalculated and wanted us to drive over a BIG stump (old growth stump...too big to drive over or around!). We laughed and took another gravel road, that did nothing but loop us around, and try to send us back down the same forest road! We decided to follow the map book instead, adn then did head to Silver Falls to find is SO full, that there was nothing but road parking...we opted not to stop, and headed into Lebanon to have a meal. We hit the new Mexican place in town, and had a great meal!! It was a blast to get out as adults, and have a fun day.

Home School Sleep Over

Several weeks ago, Kristin thought it would be fun to have an End of School year party with some of her good friends from Home School Group. Being Monday was out last Home School Group Class day, this weekend seemed like a good time. Three of four were able to come, and the girls started off playing outside, having a great time. They hardly wanted to stop for supper!




After supper they ended up in the field playing Barbies, and as I looked out at them (there was no trouble hearing all the giggling going on out there), I saw Chelsea, laying at the top of the hill keeping watch over them. (She heard me coming--even though I was trying to be quiet). She would not come in until they did. The girls were having a great time, and it was starting to get dark, so I bribed them inside with ice cream!




After treats and a movie (we girls watched one upstairs, while the guys all hid downstairs!), the girls laid out their sleeping bags, and have been laying in the livingroom, giggling, telling stories and just having some fun girl time. It's been a fun night, and they didn't seem to mind that I hung out to watch the movie with them. Chelsea is downstairs, having a slumber party with the girls....she's wondering why she can't be on a sleeping bag though!

Spring Days

These last few days have been beautiful! The temps have been in the 70's, the sun bright & the skies blue!

Bill fixed the weed wacker, so on Wednesday, Ryan did some preliminary work around the yard, and on Thursday, I spent several hours cleaning up a winter of weeds, and overgrowth. It was a beautiful day, and I love anytime I can spend outside, whether it be cutting grass, hanging laundry, trimming, or puttering in the flowers. I've had a hard time being patient while the flowers are growing, as in an effort to keep costs low, we bought seeds, instead of plants this year. I need to learn patience, as they are only 1 inch tall, and certainly have no blooms. Ironically, the free marigold seeds from last year's crop are what are growing the fastest.

Bill spent the day working on the plumbing for the basement. He had to tie in the old stuff to the new stuff. It was an all day project, but at least spent in the garage, and not the basement. He got everything run, new pipe in one area along with all the new connections, hooked back up and not one leak! Yahoo Bill!

Kristin has finally gotten heavy enough to drive the tractor. She had a great time yesterday taking a few spins through the grass.

Just a beautiful Spring day in Sweet Home. Enjoy!

Happy Times~Sad Times

Yesterday, the cutest baby hummingbird landed on our butterfly feeder. We've yet to see butterflies on it, but have had a few hummers check it out, but they don't like the way it is set up. Needless to say, this little guy loved it. He seemed as though he was having a bit of trouble flying, so I went out to check on him. He was puffed up like a big puff ball, and he didn't move much when I spoke to him. He (or she!) allowed me near, and when he fell, he allowed me to pick him up and place him on the railing. All day it flitted from the railing to the lilac bush, and then to the butterfly feeder. Kristin spent a good part of the day out there with him, watching, talking and by the afternoon, getting close enough to touch him. He was not able to hover like most hummingbirds, and spent a lot of time "perched". He seemed to be flying better by evening, able to go a bit farther, and at nightfall, he disappeared.

Cream Puff in the lilacs

Of course we worried all evening about him, and at first light, we (OK, I )checked to see if he was there, and didn't see him. I of course feared the worst, and decided it was probably best. Around 9ish, he showed up, and Kristin went out to greet him, he chirped at her, and hopped right on her finger! They played back & forth through the morning, and Kristin did her school on the porch, so she could be with him. When we would go in, he would sit on the railing and "Chirp" until someone came out. I was concerned, as he wasn't afraid of anything, so we kept a close eye on him. Unfortunately, by late afternoon, Kristin couldnt' find him, and she called, and called, and he didn't come. It wasn't too long after that Ryan called me over...he found "Cream Puff" (as Kristin named him) and he had been caught by probably our cat. I felt terrible, and Ryan & I decided to take care of the bird and not tell her, but it broke my heart they way she was on her swing calling for the bird. We finally told her. We all felt bad, as we wondered if we'd just left it alone, would it have been afraid enough to flee, or was it just never meant to be. Kristin & Cream Puff

In the midst of all the sadness, Ryan said prayers at supper tonight "Lord, thank you for this day, and please help Kristin not feel so sad about "corn puff or cocoa puff"--" we all burst out laughing. Thanks Ryan for your sympathy, and your great sense of humor.

Just our pretty lilac bush

Speaking of sense of Humor...here is the culprit we believe to have done in the bird...all snuggled up in her basket...Ashley. Can you find her head or her tail?

Friday Fun--Thursday Catch Up

Thursday Kristin had some help with school. Chelsea was also very interested in helping, or maybe checking out Mary Mae!!

We're taking votes--which hairdo for Ryan?? MOM was so happy when he decided to get his hair cut. He said he was tired of me "Nagging" him to get it combed!

Friday started with us all up pretty early. Robert was heading off to Medford to visit his folks, I was headed out for a morning with Tracey, and as it turned out, Bill & Kids were off to do some "Mother's Day Stuff". How sweet!! I got it early, since neither kid can wait!! It was a very cool bird feeder....I will get pictures when it is nice out.

Tracey & I headed out to Courtney Creek Schoolhouse. (Sorry Margaret) It's a great place full of great treats for Mothers Day, from baked good and home made jams & jellies, to quilts, wall hangings, jewlery, and lots of other neat items. We came away empty handed, but had fun perusing the place...which was not as full as usual. Afterward, I hit Walmart for an oil change, and Tracey & I got out for lunch.

I headed home, just in time to get some ingredients in the bread maker to make rolls for supper, and then got a nap with Bill (after they kids gave me their Mothers Day gifts), and had a great surprise in the mail from a special person, who sent me a neat Mothers Day gift. I am so blessed to have such a special friend. Had a great short nap, and then headed to fix supper.

Kristin headed outside with her new rat toy, and the two rats. They love the rat ball, and Betty Lou really gets going. This was the first time Kristin put both in. They did great. They also loved being outside in the sunshine and the grass. Betty Lou was a bit afraid out of the ball, and kept trying to hide in Kristin's Skort! Mary Mae, on the other hand, was very curious....and ran as fast as she could from place to place! The O'Hara's arrived for supper, and Sean gave Bill hug. Declan went and ran right in there...a Declan Sandwhich! We had a great evening together, the adults visiting, and the kids playing. The girls did makeovers (*See Kimberly at the bottom with Tracey--she's beautiful!) We rounded out the night with some Wii Curling! Tracey did great! It was a wonderful night of sharing....and great to be back together.

More Bathroom Progress

This last week has been up & down on progress with the bathroom. Bill has had some meetings and required classes with TAA and the Unemployment office....and they have taken priority. He still is at a loss as to what to go to school for. The unemployment meeting on Thursday gave him some good direction.

We have finally given the toilet a final resting place. It has been in three places, and something was wrong each time, either for drainage, room, or "comfort" when sitting down. It is finally kitty-corner, just opposite the shower...and we think it will look great. Regardless, that's where it's staying, as it's plumbed in!! The tank you see is the macerater/pump. The toilet will sit directly in front of it.

Earlier in the week Bill & Robert ran some plumbing, and Bill continued through some of the week. On Thursday, Bill & Robert did the "UCKY" job and cut into the black pipe to hook in the toilet. I only have pictures of the job afterward, as it got to be a bit exciting (lets just say it's a good thing Robert had safety glasses on!), and it WAS NOT time for pictures! Here is the pipe put back together, and Robert cutting joists for drainage line. He got a little artistic too. Always time for fun! Finally the drywall in the garage goes back on.

Most of the drain pipe is run, the vents for the drains, and the exhaust fan is vented as well. The next phase is water into the bathroom, and the drains from the sink, shower and tub hooked up. Then the "TEST" to make sure that the macerater works and the water is pumped up. Then we can get into flooring and drywall. Yahoo!! It's coming together, slow but sure.

Here are some pictures of progress....the vent for the fan was a bit tricky! As Bill was drilling through the side of the house with the 4" hole saw, he decided just before he went through that he would check out where it came out with a drill bit. THANKFULLY, he did this, and it was 2" below our FRONT DOOR!!! Goodness, it would have been wonderful to have a 4" dry vent right under the door!! I am so glad he checked. The vent now runs across the ceiling and drops 13" to get vented outside under the porch!!

Room Cleaning Day

Today was room cleaning day. For the most part, the kids do a pretty good job at keeping things from laying around the house...and we don't thoroughly inspect rooms. We kind of figure if they keep it out of the mainstream...we're doing OK! Kristin has been pretty good because she wanted to get a rat....now that she has a rat, she's been a bit slack, but still has been keeping up on things. Ryan is clever though...he keeps the 'view' from the door clear...and the other side of the bed a wreck!! I went in the other night to shut his window & AHHHHH..about killed myself!

Needless to say...after working a full week at the Dental office last week....today was ROOM CLEANING DAY!

Kristin got her room cleaned up, her rat cage cleaned, and bed made within an hour or so....and it looked great. She wanted to play a game with Ryan badly...so she decided to help him out! Not only did she drag everything from under the bed...but she took precautions as well....too funny...get your own laugh right here!!

Kristin...complete with safety glasses & rubber gloves helps tackle her brothers room!! And yes, that is his undies....hahahahaha! Who else do you know that would get dressed up to help clean a room...only Kristin!

I missed the picture of her bringing in her rat to his room, with the comment "Here's the crumb cleaner"....she decided against it when she thought that Mary May might get lost!! I did however, get a picture of Ryan digging stuff out of the trash that Kristin threw away....oh my!!

Civil War Re-Enactment Field Trip May 1st, 2009

Our favorite horse & rider....Jeffy & Ken Morris...10th NY Cavalry

The North.... NW Civil War Council http://www.nwcwc.org/events.html

Ryan gets bandaged by Miranda....this is funny, since they always seem to get picked together when we are on field trips. Last spring he was the Indian boy, and she was the Indian maiden!!

We headed out yesterday morning by 8AM to see the Civil War Re-enactment. It was a day for school groups only, and very educational. We were there at 9am, and managed to get in the first rotation, which we missed last year!

There are 25 minute presentations, and you can visit stations dealing with medical, artillery, cavalry, snipers, sharp shooters, music, dress, infantry, and many other stations. The problem is, there are more stations than there are 25 minute blocks!! It was great, because we caught some of the ones we missed last year, and hit some of the favorites. Ryan of course, loves the infantry because he gets a rifle, and gets to line up, take commands, and gets a real kick (even though he tried to look cool like any other 13 year old there).

We enjoyed the stations, and the re-enactment. There were only 25-30 guys on the field, but they put on a great show. The kids loved it--and I have a great respect for them as they are all volunteers, and Friday is for nothing more than the kids. Amazing.....

The weather was beautiful again this year, and the rain held off until we were on our way home....Praise God! You can check out our homeschool link for some other pictures too! I will hopefully be posting a video if a parent can get it to me this week.

This just struck me funny....she invited us to 1863, and then answered her cell phone...hahahaha!! In her defense, she was lining up people for the weekend. She is one of the wonderful folks who come out Thursday night and set up for the school event. These folks on Friday morning take vacation days to present to us. The weekend enactors arrive on Friday night, filling this park with 400+ re-enactors. What a gift they give to us!!

Enjoy!!