Summerfest 2010

Last Saturday and Sunday was Summerfest 2010 here at a local hotel. There are two stages set up and everyone brings lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on. Saturday night is rock night and Sunday night is country night. Keith and I have gone for the last few years and each year we have a great time.

The entertainment on Saturday night was Nightranger, Loverboy and Rick Springfield. Plus they had a local band play beforehand and then another local band play after the headliner was finished. The weather on Saturday was very hot here (upper 90's) with chances of storms. The sweat was just running off of me into places that we will not mention. But on Sunday night, the weather was much cooler and there was a breeze to cool you off.

Nightranger performing.

Keith and Nicole (one of our neighbors) talking.

Keith, Jill, and Todd enjoying the concert. Todd and Keith were classmates in high school.

Rick Springfield performing. For a guy that is 61 years old, he can still rock it. He put on a fabulous show. He went out into the crowd and brought people up on stage. He even took off his shirt at one point and his muscles are buff and he has abs of steel.

This little girl was brought up on stage by Rick and she got to sing a little with him.

On Sunday night we enjoyed the performance of Montgomery Gentry and The Lost Trailers. They also had a few local bands perform before and after the main concerts.

It was a great weekend and tons of fun!!!

Take care,

Michelle

Shoot Me! 24 of 52

Justin and I can be found many late afternoons sitting on lawn chairs in our driveway. Some days we just watch the traffic go by on their way home from work and Justin waves at the cars. Some days I am sitting on a lawn chair reading a book or reading the newspaper. Other days I'm just watching my kids play. We most enjoy just sitting in the shade waiting for Daddy to come home from work.

Today is Thursday and it is your chance to join Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans in her Shoot Me challenge. This is your chance to step out from behind the camera and post a photo of yourself.

Take care,

Michelle

Boys Will Be Boys

I never believed people when they said that raising boys was different from raising girls until Justin was born. Then my whole impression changed on boys and girls. The minds of little boys are totally different than the mind of a little girl.

Below is evidence on how different they think:

This is Justin and Tyler on Tyler's tricycle. They thought up this scheme on their own. Naturally the one on the back always had to ride with the baseball helmet on just in case he fell off while riding. My girls would have never come up with this bright idea while playing with a friend. Most girls aren't this daring.

They were both saying, "Hurry up and take the picture because the sun is too bright!".

At this point, Justin wouldn't even look up for the photo.

Justin riding with Tyler on the back.

These two little boys play together every day. Tyler is 4 years old and Justin is 2 1/2 years old. The difference in age doesn't bother either one of them. They just want a friend to play with. There is only one house that separates Tyler's house from our house, so, they run back and forth throughout the day. Just the other day, they told us that they were brothers. We told them that they were not brothers, but friends.

Take care,

Michelle

2010 Flood

Last week the northeastern part of the state of Nebraska was hit hard with rains for several days. The rain fell hard and fast causing streams, creeks and rivers to fill and go over their banks causing massive flooding in the state. The city of Norfolk experienced flooding in the southern part of the city. This flooding led to some businesses to be shutdown, parks closed and people being evacuated from their homes. Communities surrounding Norfolk also received flooding and more serious problems than Norfolk. The small communities of Neligh and Clearwater were hit extremely hard. Some small towns are having to boil their water because of contamination due to the flooding. The flooding caused streets, roads and highways to be shut down also. Some roads and highways are very damaged and some have been washed away from the Elkhorn River flooding.

Also some bridges collapsed or were washed away in the flood waters. The worst tragedy to hit our community of Norfolk was when three railroad workers were inspecting a bridge for safety and the bridge collapsed while they were on it. One worker climbed to safety, another worker was rescued by emergency personnel with a boat, and the third worker was not found for several days. Finally, the third worker's body was found and recovered from under the collapsed bridge and his funeral will be today. This 38 year-old man was a husband and father to two boys aged 3 and 6. We found out after the tragedy that he lived with his family just three blocks from our home.

You may view photos and read about the flood at our local newspapers website norfolkdailynews.com. They keep saying that what happened is a 100 year flood! Most people in our part of the state do not have flood insurance because we don't experience flooding like this. Some people are trying to figure out what to do with their homes due to the damage caused by the flood and not having insurance to cover the damages. No one can ever remember flooding like this in our community or surrounding communities. I just hope that it never happens again in my lifetime.

Please keep those affected by the flooding in your prayers.

Take care,
Michelle

Big News!!!

I have BIG news to share with all of you!!!

This photo was taken last August on the first day of school for Cara and Erica. This August when school starts for my three girls, I will be going back to work at their school. The man in the photo is Mr. Berryman, the grade school principal, and he is my new boss. I am going to be working as the afternoon preschool aide. I will be working 20 hours per work at the school.

There were 10 applicants for the job and they interviewed 4 of them. After not having a job interview for 11 plus years, I was a little nervous. I wasn't even sure that my interview was really that good. It was hard to be interviewed by someone that I know and that knows me so well. Mr. Berryman called me Friday afternoon and offered me the job and I accepted on the spot.

I am so excited to be going back to work!!! After spending the last 5 1/2 years at home, it is time for me to go back. This job is perfect for me. These are some of the qualities that made this job so attractive to me: only 20 hours per week, still be available for my kids before and after school, have every day off that my kids do, and I get my summers off like they do. Yes, Justin will have to go to daycare, but it will be good for him. The last five years have flown by at home and it had ups and downs along the way, but I am ready for this new challenge!

Take care,

Michelle

Shoot Me! 23 of 52

Today for me is Week 23 of 52 in the "Shoot Me" Challenge hosted by Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans. This is your chance to step out from behind the camera and post a photo with you in the picture.

Today's photo shows what we attempt to do each day at our house. The three girls have school work to do, especially reading. I know it is summer, but the girls do not get a free pass on school work. We don't want them to go back to school in the fall having forgotten everything and be behind. We try to work on some activity for 30 minutes to an hour each day. All three of the girls are signed up for the summer reading program at the local library and we can be found there each Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. Erica reads at that time for 20 minutes to one of the staff librarians. She gets tired of reading to me, so, this is a change of pace for her.

Cara reading to Justin and Tyler.

Helping Erica with phonics worksheets.

Take care,

Michelle

Dance Recital

Dance recital this year was on June 4th and 5th. Rehearsal is on Thursday afternoon with the recital on Friday and Saturday night. This year I helped backstage on Saturday night watching Ashlin's class. A majority of the dancers spend the night in the cafeteria eating junk food, watching movies, coloring, playing games and waiting for their chance to perform. This year was Cara's 7th dance recital, Erica's 4th recital and Ashlin's 2nd recital. The performance is professionally taped so I can't show you their performances, but Keith and I were very proud of our dancers. Each year at recital you see how much they have grown, how much their performance on stage has improved, and how much more confidence they have on the stage in front of a packed theatre.

This is some of the chaotic mess in the back. The noise level in the cafeteria is very loud.

Ashlin's class waiting in the wings to go on stage and perform their first number.

Ashlin and Sienna posing for a photo.


Erica, Sienna and Tacey all smiles for the big night.

Cara and Maddie ready to dance. After this photo, Cara refused any other photo opportunities.

Take care,

Michelle

Vacation Bible School

On the Tuesday after Memorial Day, the kids and I headed off to Vacation Bible School for the week. Vacation Bible School at our church always starts on the Tuesday after Memorial Day and runs through Friday. We meet every day from 9 to noon. I help in the Preschool room, the girls go off to meet their group in the gym and Justin goes to the babysitting room. This year's theme was "High Seas Expedition". I enjoy working in the Preschool room where every day is a new adventure. The first day is the worst day because all of the 3-5 year olds are scared and don't know what to expect, but by the last day they know the morning routine and have lots of fun.

This is Monica, the Preschool room director, helping the children learn a lesson through a puppet show. The children love the puppets and everyone wants to sit in the front to see. Monica had to put a blue tape line on the floor, so that no one could get too close and crowd the stage.

Timmy, the treasure chest, shared a treasure of God's Word with the children each day. One of the teenage volunteers climbing into the box each morning and helped the children learn a lesson through making the box talk about God's Word.

Since the theme was "High Seas Expedition", naturally we would have a boat for the children to spend some time in.

Ashlin working on a craft one day in the cafeteria. Notice that she has her hair in rollers because we had dance recital also that week. She didn't want anyone to see her rollers so she wore her Tinkerbell hat.

This in the song leaders teaching the preschoolers new songs. The children love song time.

It was another fun week at Vacation Bible School. The girls are already wondering what next year's theme will be and Justin will get to participate next year because he will be 3.

Take care,

Michelle

Visiting the Farm

Growing up, I always lived on a farm and my parents still live on a farm. My parents are not farmers, but they have always lived on a farm. My children find it hard to believe that I know how to do certain things on a farm. Growing up, we always had chickens, cows, horses, cats, a dog, and during some summers we had sheep. My children are "city kids" and do not like animals at all. They will go to the zoo and look at the animals and like them, but you will not see my children stepping one foot inside the petting zoo or even getting close to touching an animal. Memorial Day weekend when my brother and sister were both home with their families we went out to the farm on Sunday to play and hang out.

Justin riding the trike and Chase wanted a ride too. Grandpa has lots of cement to ride on out in the shed. It is too hard to ride a trike on the crushed rock of the driveway.

Cousin Jack wanted to ride on the trike also, but his legs aren't quite long enough.

Grandpa Bob hitched up his team of horses to the hay wagon and gave everyone a ride. Justin didn't want to go for a ride, so Justin and I stayed behind and played in the house. Justin likes to feed Grandpa's horses apples. He doesn't get close to the horses. Justin just throws the apples over the fence to them.

My children will never be farm kids, but they do like to go visit Grandpa and Grandma Korth's farm.

Take care,

Michelle

Shoot Me! 22 of 52

Thursday has rolled around again and it is time for the Shoot Me! Challenge sponsored by Carin over at Forever in Blue Jeans. This year-long challenge is your chance to step out from behind the camera and post a photo of yourself.

The photo this week is from last Sunday when we took Grandpa and Grandma Leader out for their 50th wedding anniversary. Michael was kind enough to snap this photo outside the Country Club in Lindy. It was very tough looking into the sun!

Take care,

Michelle

Korth Family Picnic

Over Memorial Day weekend my sister and her family and my brother and his family came home to my parents' house. On Saturday morning, we had a family photo taken. Then in the afternoon, my cousin Dusty and his family hosted a picnic for my Dad's brothers and sister and their immediate families at a local park. The day was pretty windy and hot. The kids were entertained with the playground equipment, a baseball game and a kickball game.

My nephew Chase getting ready to swing.

Ashlin taking her swing with my godson Nick trying to get out of the way.


Erica winding up for a big swing.

Cara's turn.

Justin kicking the ball.

Take care,

Michelle

50th Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday was a BIG day for Grandpa and Grandma Leader. They were married 50 years ago yesterday on June 6, 1960. In today's world where 50% of all marriages end in divorce, being married for 50 years is a great accomplishment. We had a very busy week at our house, but we were up early yesterday and traveled to Bloomfield to surprise Grandpa and Grandma Leader on their big day. We will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a family dinner and open house in their honor in July when more family and friends will be in town.

We joined them at 10:30 Mass in Bloomfield. Mass was being celebrated in their honor on their 50th anniversary. Grandpa and Grandma were surprised when we slipped into the pew beside them. During the announcements before Mass, the lector pointed out that it was Roger and Merina's 50th wedding anniversary. Father pointed out during his homily that it was their 50th wedding anniversary and Father also called them forward for a special blessing during the prayers. There were many family members in attendance for Mass. They were Lois Leader (sister-in-law), Frannie and Sharlene Guenther (brother & sister-in-law), Charlie and Judy Guenther (brother & sister-in-law), Michael Guenther (nephew), Gary Leader and family (nephew) and our family. Many parishioners congratulated them after Mass.

After Mass, we invited all the family members and Father to join us for lunch in Lindy at the Country Club. Lindy is a very small town, but the buffet lunch was excellent. We enjoyed a salad bar, cheesy potatoes, ham, pork loin, green beans and cake off of the buffet.

Justin got his picture taken with Uncle Frannie.

Roger and Merina enjoying the day!

Merina commented that the weather was the same yesterday as the day of the wedding. It was a sunny and beautiful day! After lunch, our family returned to the house to play, visit and have ice cream and brownies. Grandma Leader is always ready to serve dessert to whoever stops in for a visit.

To put it simply, "It was a great day"!

Take care,

Michelle