Caked

I just had to post this picture. I am sure that people will get a kick out of seeing it. The other night was senior night for the softball team. Usually the school provides cake for the seniors and their parents. Some of the girls decided that the way to end their athletic careers was to cake ify the athletic trainer. This picture doesn't really do it justice as Kurt had cake all over his face and arms. Needless to say he did take a shower before sitting down for supper that night.

Conference Judging

4 weeks of craziness in our house has ended for this year. Sarah has all of her projects completed and judged. She ended up with 5 blue and 5 red ribbons. Even though she had a few red ribbons, I am very proud of her because of the attitude. Instead of being upset and blaming me or someone else because she didn't receive all blues or state fair consideration, she accepted the red and admitted that it was because she didn't do her best. Sometimes, I actually think that she is starting to grow up into a responsible adult. She accepted the criticism and is instead making plans to begin next years projects now and has picked three projects out that she wants to spend time on so that they are done exceptionally well. She still has one more thing to show and that is her cat. This year she will show Sox instead of Kitty.
Even though Kristen receives free admision to the fair, as a clover kids member who will have exhibits at the fair, she still had to pay the 2.00 exhibitor fee and then received the wrist band that she needs to wear for all 4 days of the fair. She also had to sign the code of ethnics for 4-H members. Basically this states that they will not engage in anything illegal for the next year as a 4-H member. The form includes drugs and other harmful substances. When she asked what she was signing, the new director told her that it basically states that she will not do anything to get in trouble. We still have to take Kristen's projects in on Tuesday and Wednesday. As a junior exhibitor for open class and a clover kids member for 4-H her projects are not graded. She will automatically receive a blue ribbon in open class and a participation ribbon for 4-H.

Check back after the 22nd for pictures from the fair.

Football shirts

Once when Kurt and I were out shopping we found a person wearing the shirts that we had on. Of course, she had gotten it from her daughter who is an athletic trainer in Indiana. They had sold these shirts at the college she is at for a fundraiser. She is originally from the East Central school district. When we talked to her she had a few extra's and said that she would be happy to bring us three shirts when she came back again to visit her parents. These shirts are perfect because they are also black with a red heart on them, Clinton's colors. Kurt got a t-shirt for all three of us to wear. Kristen will wear hers to school and then home games during football season. Sarah can wear them to school, (but will need to wear something else to games) and I will change into my shirt if I have time when I get home on Fridays. I still think that I should put the words "my allowance depends on it" on the back of the girls shirts. I am sure that we will be getting several compliments at the games on Friday night.

4th of July

Every year we head to Bettendorf for their annual 4th of July parade. We like their's much better than the one in Clinton. Reason 1. It is actually held on the 4th. Clinton holds theirs sometime around the 4th, but you can never be sure when. This year it will be July 7th. Another reason we enjoy Bettendorf's is because they don't charge for their celebration. They have several activities going on and it is all free, or at least almost all free. Clinton charges 21 dollars for their celebration and there is hardly anything to do unless you like tractor pulls or the concerts. This year we also went to the parade in Bettendorf. We were however able to enjoy the company of a new veteran with us this year. Yes, the guy in the orange shirt has recently retired from the Air Force after 21 years. It is nice to have him home. The girls are really enjoying having an uncle who "picks" on them around. One of my favorite parts of the parade is to listen to the high school bands. I must admit that Pleasant Valley's band is much better than Bettendorf's band. Of course I am not prejudiced at all. The reason I believe that the PV band is better. 1. The minute they step on to the parade route they are playing. Bettendorf's band was halfway down the street before they played anything. 2. PV's band was wearing matching shirts, Bettendorf's band members were wearing a hodgepodge of clothes. and of course #3. I am an alumni of the PV band. (of course this part had very little to do with my opinion of which band was better)
Another highlight of the parade (at least for Kristen) is the collection of candy. I believe that this year we came home with even more candy than other years. Kristen also received 2 t-shirts (they are adult x-larges, but some day they will fit her at least for a night shirt). This year a couple of groups were handing out other things. One group was giving all of the kids a popsicle and another group was handing out bottle's of water. As warm as it was this morning they were appreciated. After the parade, we had lunch with my mom and brother. We then came home so that the girls could have some fun with their fireworks. Of course they don't get the fireworks that we used to have. This year I was able to find snakes and some confetti party type things that send all kinds of paper and junk all over the yard and of course sparklers. How I miss the snap its, smoke bombs, whizzer's, bottle rockets, and all sorts of other fun items.

Camp IoDisECa

Sarah has been attending Camp IoDisECa for the past 8 years. Kristen has been with us every year that we have taken Sarah out to camp. She used to cry for the entire 2 hour drive home. We could never figure out why she was crying until she turned 2. That summer on the Monday morning she woke up walked into our bedroom and in her loudest, most demaning, I mean it voice, Said "GO GET MY SISTER NOW!!!!! The next 3 years continued to be hard on her, but last summer her time finally came. To attend this camp you must be going into 1st grade. The Explorer's camp is only for 2 nights, Sunday evening around 5:00 until 11:30 on Tuesday morning. Kristen couldn't wait to go. She was so excited that she also couldn't wait for us to leave. This year was almost as bad, except that she has been complaining and crying for several days that it isn't fair that Sarah gets to stay for an entire week, Sunday until Friday, and she doesn't even get 48 hours. What she doesn't understand is that there are many kids her age that have a hard time leaving home for even that short of a time span. Anyway she had a blast with swimming, canoeing, air gun riflery, archery, horse back riding, campfires and other camp type activities. She had so much fun, that she fell asleep on the way home.
Each year the camp makes a sign out of craft sticks. The paint the theme on the sign and then have all of the campers sign the sign on empty craft sticks. This is a picture of Kristen signing the banner.
I know that many people don't agree, but it is experiences like this that convince me that it is a good idea to allow your children to go off on their own as soon as possible. (of course, I make sure that it is somewhere that is well supervised) I think that it helps them to develop their own identity.

Driving Lessons

Kristen decided that she would have some fun this morning before we left for Davenport to run some errands and have quality bonding time. She decided that she would pretend to drive the car. While these pictures are funny, Sarah is getting close to being behind the wheel. When we stopped at Scrapaganza, the driver's license station is just a couple of store fronts down at the stripmall, so we decided to go in and pick up the book for her to study from. I can't believe it but in 4 months and 12 days she will be taking the written test for her learner's permit. This is just another step towards her growing up and leaving home. I am starting to wonder just what happened to that little baby girl that we brought home from the hospital late on a Saturday night. I can still remember her first night at home when she wouldn't go back to sleep and I rocked her and walked the hallway with her for 3 hours. Now she is getting ready to learn to drive. Oh, how time flies.

The end is near, or Summer is finally here.

Finally after what has felt like forever, the end of the school year is near. The students were dismissed today at 1:00 and sometime tomorrow I will be dismissed for the summer. Normally I love teaching but for some reason the past two months have been very long. I need to summer break to recover and gear up for next year. Of course with school being out, comes the pushing of Sarah to get 4-H projects done. I have also signed the girls up for swimming lessons and joined the YWCA. It was cheaper to join the Y then just pay for swimming lessons. I have decided that this means that I am going to take some time for me. I plan on taking at least one class and maybe going swimming once or twice this summer. I am starting to relax, just thinking about this relaxing time that I plan on having. I also hope to get some scrapbooking done. Goal is to get Disney album and Sarah's albums done by next May.