Knox County Fair Fun

The Knox County Fair always falls the weekend before school starts so it is like their last hurrah before school.  They wouldn't dream of missing wristband afternoon at the fair.  Our kids ride for the whole five hours with only brief bathroom and snack breaks.  This year cousins Nick and Jake were staying at Grandpa and Grandma Leader's house so they got to go along for the fun afternoon at the fair.

Justin had to ride by himself this year because Ashlin took off for the bigger rides with the older kids.  No baby rides for her.

Justin didn't care one bit that he was by himself.  He just went from ride to ride and got in line.  His favorite may have been the maze.  He would get done and get right back in line again.

The hardest part of Justin may have been waiting in line.

The older kids rode for quite awhile before stopping for snacks.  After the break, Cara decided to go on the tornado right away and regretted it after the ride was over because her stomach was upset.  Ashlin did get upset because some of the rides you had to be 48" to ride on and she is about 1/2" to an inch too short.  It made her mad that they wouldn't let her ride even if she tried to ride with Nick or Cara who are both tall.

After riding for hours, we headed back to Grandpa and Grandma's house for supper.  The weather was perfect for an afternoon of riding.  Usually the temperature is so hot that we bake, but it wasn't bad at all, probably upper 70's to lower 80's.  Then after supper Keith and I headed back to the fair for the evening concert of Hairball.  This was an 80's tribute band that played for 2 hours and 15 minutes.  They were only under contract to play for an hour, but the band was having fun so they played longer.  This band was awesome!  We heard that they will be back at the fair again next year.

Take care,

Michelle

New Roof

One Saturday in April we left town for the day. During our time away, Keith received a phone call from a coworker telling him about the storm that had went through Norfolk. This storm produced large size hail and strong winds. The storm caused large trees to be knocked over, car windshields to be knocked out, and shingles to be blown off of roofs.

After waiting for three weeks our roof was looked at by the insurance adjuster and he declared our roof totaled. Then we contacted a few local contractors for roof replacement bids. After picking a contractor we have waited all summer for the new roof.

Yesterday at about 6:30 a.m. they started tearing off the old roof. By the end of the night we had a new roof. This morning the crew will finish cleaning up and put on our new gutters. Then they will move on to another house three doors down the street to replace their roof.

Take care,
Michelle

Wordless Wednesday

Cara's 11th Birthday

Thursday was Cara's 11th Birthday! On Friday she got to invite a few friends over for a slumber party. Rylee, Jaydn, Reese and Piper came over for the party. Charli got sick at school and was disappointed that she couldn't come. Oh, and we can't forget that Cara's siblings also got to attend the sleepover.
We ordered two large pizzas and bread sticks for supper to feed them. Keith and Cara had made a trip to the store for snacks for the night. Keith also picked up a smores dessert pizza and a cinnamon wheel for breakfast the next morning.

Cara even picked out an oreo ice cream cake this year. After supper Keith took the girls down to pick out a movie at the video store. Upon returning home, they started watching the movie and that was the last that we heard from them all night. The girls hung out in the basement all night playing the Wii and watching the movie. Keith told them that bedtime was at 1:00 a.m. and he went to bed. I was so tired that I was asleep by 10:30 p.m.

This had to have been the easiest party that we have ever had at our house. Keith even commented how smoothly things went. We both think that it went so great because Cara and her friends are all older and more mature now.

Also on her birthday, Cara took birthday treats to school to share with her classmates. It is hard to believe that she is already 11 years old, until she stands next to me and is almost the same height as me.

Take care,

Michelle

Produce, Produce, and more Produce

Last fall at our school's annual fundraiser auction night, Scott, Nicole, Keith and I purchased produce from a fellow parent's garden. For $50 per couple we could get all of the produce we wanted this summer from Vanessa's garden. She even asked us what vegetables we would like her to plant. All summer long we have been receiving fresh vegetables from her. She has been tending her garden all summer long. Nicole and I would go pick vegetables when the family was gone on vacation, but for the most part Vanessa has done all of the work. She has planted, weeded, picked and delivered produce to our homes.

Last Friday, Vanessa's family was blessed with the birth of a new baby girl. This was the 4th blessed child born to this family, therefore, Vanessa has not been picking and I have gone every day to tend the garden.

This garden has been producing an abundance of produce. It takes me about an hour each day to pick produce. I have been picking three kinds of tomatoes, green beans, green peppers, jalapenos, cucumbers, peas, onions, yellow squash, and zucchinis. Earlier in the summer we also had spinach, carrots and green onions.

Last week Nicole and I had our first canning experience when we made salsa. Our first batch produced 21 pints of salsa. This week we did another batch and made 22 pints and 1 quart of salsa. Today I am canning tomato juice. The tomato plants are really producing. I have even been giving tomatoes and other produce away to friends and neighbors because we can't eat all of it and it is really piling up at our house.

Following is the salsa recipe that we used:

32 cups tomatoes - peeled and quartered (Roma tomatoes work best)

8 cups chopped onions

4 cups chopped jalapeno - remove seeds or will be HOT

4 cups bell peppers

2 cups sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup pickling salt

1/4 cup chili powder

3 TBS garlic powder

4 TSP chopped garlic

2 TBS black pepper

4 TBS ground cumin

2 TSP alum

5 cups white vinegar

2 large cans tomato paste (the more you add the thicker)

Mix in a big pot, stir and cook at slow simmer for 2 hours (or until you are sick of it). Jar & seal.

Take care,

Michelle

1st Day of School

Yesterday was the 1st Day of School. It was the day that we gave our children back to the teachers and staff at Sacred Heart Elementary School. It was definitely time for them to go back. They need and sometimes crave that structure and discipline in their lives. Plus they were ready to hang out with all of their friends again.
Each school year has a theme and this year the theme is "Go Wild for God". The school principal and staff dress up the first day to go along with the theme. As you can see, the principal dressed up as a gorilla.
The kids were all up bright and early the first day and dressed and ready to go within minutes. I was very impressed with how smooth the morning went. We'll see how long this lasts. They had to pose for the mandatory picture before heading out the door.

Since I am a staff member at school, I take their photos with their teachers at "Meet the Teacher Night". On the first day of school I am busy helping and don't have the opportunity to snap pictures. Ashlin started 1st Grade yesterday in Mrs. Miller's classroom.

Erica went on to 3rd Grade this year with Mrs. Anderson. Erica has now moved from the bottom floor at school to the top floor.

Cara started school yesterday being one of Mrs. Jessen's "fantastic" 5th Graders.

Take care,

Michelle

4th Grade Field Trip

It is a tradition for the 4th Grade class to go on a field trip to Lincoln. In 4th Grade Social Studies they study the history of the State of Nebraska so it is fitting that the grade travel to the state capital and view historical state places.
One stop for the day is Memorial Stadium, the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Cara was excited to view the stadium.

Some of the class outside the stadium. While on the tour, they ran into an alumni athlete from Norfolk Catholic. Jarren Heng was doing a workout. He runs cross country and track for the University of Nebraska.

On the way to Lincoln, Ms. Freese ran into a few ducks that decided to cross the road at a bad moment. This duck killing may have been the highlight of the trip. The kids, teachers and parents are still talking about the bus trip experience.

Another stop on the trip was the State Capital Building. Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature. The class got to meet with the Speaker of the Legislature, Mike Flood. Mr. Flood is from Norfolk and welcomed the students to the capital. Mr. Flood is also an alumni of Norfolk Catholic and his oldest son, Brenden is one my preschool kids.

I wasn't surprised to see this photo on Cara's camera. Suh was an awesome football player for the University of Nebraska winning many collegiate awards. He now plays in the NFL for the Detroit Lions.

A few of Cara's classmates goofing around outside the stadium.

The last stop for the day was Morrill Hall. This museum shows many animals that once roamed the state of Nebraska is also a huge history lesson for the grade.

Take care,

Michelle