You might want to get your second cup of your hot beverage of choice before reading this one. I've waited far too long to post and we've had a lot going on. :O) As always, I'll just give it to you as it comes....
We had quite a March, and so far April has been the same. Each week brought at least one, and sometimes two, winter storm warnings. The "last day of school" keeps getting pushed further into June due to school cancellations. Here is the deck in one of the last storms. It comes fast and then melts fast. This week, however, it looks like Spring might finally win the battle. Time will tell!
Brennen got part of his wish and lost one front tooth on his birthday! 
My mom was here the whole week before Easter and over Brennen's birthday. He turned 8 this year. For his actual birthday, he requested a steak dinner. We made his favorites to go with it: corn, cornbread, and cantaloupe. He opened gifts from family. We were proud of how gracious he was about each gift, and how much attention he gave each thing. Here he is playing with a racing engine sounding birthday card. To celebrate with his friends, Brennen asked if he could take a few bowling. The four boys had a great time bowling and then on to Pizza Hut for supper, gifts and cake. It was a simple party, but one of the best ever for Brennen. Bowling looked so fun that Mom, Todd and I even joined in. Of course, this would have been a great time to show you some pictures, but I didn't have my camera. :O( 
After Grandma left, we colored eggs. 
Easter was pretty quiet for us this year, especially considering the busy-ness it represented the past few years in Peoria when the entire kids program at church was moved off-site to the high school in order to do a huge community outreach service. I was grateful for the quiet this year, but it did make us miss our Peoria "family." While Mom was here, she did some research to find out what the big birds that visit our yard are called. Last fall I posted some pictures of an entire flock of them in our back yard. I'd been calling them prairie chickens, but Dad was pretty sure I was wrong about that. However, he didn't know what they were either. Mom found it. They are "chukars," imported from the Middle East. http://sdakotabirds.com/species/chukar_info.htm Cool! They are very striking birds. As I've been unable to get a decent photo, be sure to visit the link. (We must learn something each day, remember. Here's your chance!) :O)
A month or so ago, Kindrid insisted we all try Brussels sprouts. I was thrilled to comply as I'm always trying to get us to eat more vegetables. I'd read somewhere that kids need to try things at least 10 times before they learn to like them. Well, one down and NONE TO GO. In our first, united family campaign against any food, we are unanimous in this: This horrific vegetable will never again be allowed on our table. Seriously, WHY would anyone eat this? It was even in a butter sauce. We loaded it with salt and pepper. Gagging was heard. It's the first time in decades that I actually used my water to swallow something whole rather than chew it. Sorry to you sprout lovers...ain't gonna happen here!
Kindrid told me a while back, "Mom. I really want to own a gas station when I grow up."
Last week was "clown night" at AWANA. I was so stressed about how I was going to get homework, dinner and clown paint done between school getting out and AWANA beginning. I decided the best way to manage was to do some before they ate. First time I've fed a couple o' clowns at supper (well, on second thought....).
Here they are at church in all their glory...
Brennen's birthday (April 7th) marked Todd's one year anniversary with his company and last week his one year anniversary here at the hospital. His co-workers surprised him with a "disciplinary" meeting where they greatly encouraged him with lots of positive feedback and support. I'm so proud of him and thankful for the great folks with whom he works. Census has been way up the past couple weeks which makes for some stress, but it's a wonderful thing for "business." Mom was able to be at the hospital for a tour at the time several patients were discharged. A special "code" is sounded and every available employee gathers round the door and cheers the patient as he leaves. These folks have worked so hard and almost always leave far better off than when they arrived. What a blessing to work in such a positive, helping environment!! Here is the link to his facility: http://www.ernesthealth.com/hospitals.htmlUncle Matt and Auntie Carrie came to visit over the weekend. We like to think they came to see us, but I suspect the puppies were the main attraction this time. Carrie, brave soul, brought a fairy-sugar-cookie-decorating kit for her and Kindrid to do. Big fun...serious artists!!
The kids have been practicing for a long time for a church play called, "It's Cool In The Furnace." It's about the Old Testament book of Daniel and touches on the highlights of Daniel and his friends' adventures. Brennen got to be a guard that pitched the three friends (notice I'm doing everything I can to avoid having to look up how to spell their names!!) into the fiery furnace. The book of Daniel relates that those guards died in the process. Brennen said he had to die, too, "but, don't worry, Mom, I just crawl out the back and sneak back around to the choir. I don't really die."
Kindrid was part of the choir. She was groovin' in this shot:
The puppies are Growing Bigger Every Day. It's time to consider what the next enclosure for them should be. We have about four weeks to go before we'll let them go to their new homes. Puppy number 1 is claimed already. Any takers for puppies 2-7???? :O) Uncle Matt took some amazing shots of them this weekend that I hope to share with you soon.
If you've visited you know we have a huge deck with lots of patio furniture badly in need of new cushions. Hooray!!! Found some at Wal-Mart that we love, bought 'em and I get to put them on today. I'm so excited as the others were so nasty one couldn't sit on them any more. This week promises such fine weather that I know we'll get to eat dinner outside - yay!!!
Oh! My fingers are getting tired...I never type this much! Hope all is well with you. I sure enjoy keeping in touch with so many through blogs, Facebook, email, house guests and phone. Wyoming is pretty far from everyone we love, but it doesn't feel that way with all the means we have of staying close. What a blessing!!
With love,
Christy
