RR Crossing in ND

 

This video is of a train crossing that isn’t very far (under 10 miles!) from where I grew up.  Can’t say I’ve ever seen something like this before … the train’s snow shovel in action.

6/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

My little Louis is starting down the path of fascination with all things electronic … in the footsteps of his oldest brother.  Of course, he thinks his brother iPod is a cell phone, which is why it’s held up to his ear.  Little stinker even figured out how to get the iPod playing music!

This is the latest form of fun at our house.  Every few nights Eric and the kids will get out for a ride.  It’s been fun.

 

The 4-H club made candy bouquets this past weekend.  Zeke, of course, chose a LARGE box to fill with candy.  The tinsel is littering his room … he’ll be picking that up tomorrow morn.

Monday DayLook: February 7, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... well, it’s dark now, so there’s not much to be seen!

I am thankful for... days without travel, the sun reflecting off the snow, the joy of a son’s First Reconciliation, time to read, movie time with my hubby, the internet, great family and friends.

I am reading… a novel.  Am also still searching for a good, kindle e-book of Dante’s Inferno (I’ve been told to look for Ciardi’s translation.)

I am hearing... the tv.  The older two are watching an antiques show.

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… there’s nothing creative coming from the room lately – only baskets of clean, folded clothes. 

From the school room... I ordered Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing for Dash and Angelina.  They’ve both started lessons and are having fun.  Angelina has been able to work more on her lessons and is slowly gaining wpm.  A great feature of this program is that it tracks progress and adjusts accordingly.  I made up my own account to check it out … still have a pretty good wpm.

AND… we finished before 5pm today!!!!!!!!!

From the kitchen... I made pan fried fish last Friday.  I always shy away from broiling or frying on my cooktop because I don’t want to make a big mess … but it really wasn’t too messy and the flavor of the fish was excellent. 

A successful moment… I checked two items off the To-Do list. 

A few plans for the rest of the week…

Tuesday: Dance tonight for Angelina, and since hubby has a meeting in the same town, he’s taking her!!! I am able to stay home.

Thursday:   Dr. appt for me, EC workshop and meeting for the college group I advise.

Friday: Women of Grace, Little I (animal and agriculture show at NDSU) where Dash and Angelina will participate in crop judging, lunch with the Grant’s (if all of us remain healthy!).

Saturday/Sunday: Crop judging in Kindred for the older kids, and Basketball for Zeke on Saturday morn.

A picture memory...

The kid’s crop judging team: Angelina was awarded High Individual Jr. 4-H Crop Judger at this contest.  The team received a plaque for their efforts.

Beauty outside my window…

Silly dusting slippers – Angelina’s, but they get worn around the house by Louis and whoever else finds them.

Miss E. will be one year old at the end of the month – my niece (brother Collin holding her).  Isn’t she a cutie!  I wish I had another girl.

Wishful Thinking

 

It’s Superbowl Sunday …

My husband says to me, “Wishful thinking?” 

YES.

I don’t know who I feel inclined to cheer for today.  Our family is split.  Graham just likes to cheer for the odd team, so that’ll be the Steelers.  My husband is an ‘NFC guy’ and Dash likes to agree with his dad; Zeke is going for the Packers today; and I didn’t ask Angelina.  She’ll probably spend the day reading!  I just might join her.

A Sacrament

Zeke’s First Reconciliation was on Saturday.  He wasn’t worried at all and seemed very prepared (unlike his mother, who felt like she hadn’t been nearly as involved in his preparation compared to his older siblings). 

The night before, we went over the process again, and practiced the Act of Contrition a couple times, too.  He is ready.

After basketball practice, we drove to church.  He was in the second group of kids, and with two of his best buddies.  They visited with the DRE and decided who would go first.

 

*Normally, we wouldn’t be wearing sweats and a t-shirt, but we had no time for him to change between basketball and the drive to church.  I regret that just a smidge.

 

After his confession and penance , I let him light two candles and offer a short prayer for special intentions.

To celebrate, we went out to eat.  Just Zeke, Graham, Louis and I (the remainder of the family was at a crop judging meet).  Then, he was invited by the mom of his buddies to go to a blow-up game fun day in a neighboring town.  That evening, Dad indulged him by playing board games with ‘just’ Zeke (Stratego and Chess).

5/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

Zeke needed a pic of his creation.

This has been an event-filled week.  Can you believe it’s the start of a new month already?!?  Hubby and I went to Fargo with Louis on Monday because both Louis and I had check-ups.  I’m relatively healthy and Louis is doing great.  He’s the size of an average tw0-year-old according to the growth charts; although we already knew he was big for his age. 

Tuesday was another basketball scrimmage for Zeke during half-time of the local A-squad game  While we hadn’t planned to stay until the end of the game, we did … making it a late night.

Wednesday was a travel day for the whole family.  My dad and brother, Doug, were honored by the ND Crop Improvement & Seed Association at their annual Board of Directors Dinner.  My brother and his wife didn’t attend because my SIL was scheduled to go into the hospital the next morning for the birth of their third. 

My parents … and my sister, Julianne, and SIL, Anne, goofing around while waiting for our group photo.

Group photo of all of us who attended the banquet (the rest of the kids were babysat by older two and enjoyed pizza for supper).

Laura went into labor Wednesday night and a little after 4am on Thursday morning, my niece, Mersadie Alayna was born!  We can’t wait to meet her.  This is my parents’ 12th grandchild – 12 in 2012!