Year in Review-July 2017

Our whole family picked blueberries. It went fast with 5 picking. I made a couple of  batches of jam and froze the rest.

We did some hometown sightseeing. At the old Fort in Fort Wayne.

I'm not sure what treat this Starbucks was.

We went to a couple of Tincaps games. This was the first  Tincaps game that I went to-they used to be at another location and were called the Wizards. Ram and the Lambs had gone to the Tincaps on previous vacations to see my parents. This game was with a bunch of friends from church.

Another Tincaps game, this time CLHS students and alumni game.  I found out they sold wine slushies at this game.

This was the coldest Three River's Festival parade that I ever remember going to. It was the Lambs first 3 Rivers Parade and I don't know if they ever want to go again. We bundled up in all the blankets we could find in the car. We didn't expect that for July so had not dressed warm. It brought back a lot of childhood memories for me.

One day we walked downtown to some Three Rivers events.  

We took a free boat ride. It was neat to see the perspective of Fort Wayne from the river.

Lamb 1 told us that he went farther in rowing camp than we went on the boat ride. That was impressive after I saw how far we went.

All the Lambs participated in some summer track meets. It was not too hot for any of the meets. They didn't give ribbons, it was just a fun time. We met the CLHS cross country head coach which was good for Lamb 1's future.

We went to a program on bees at the library. 

I signed up the Lambs to do swim lessons at the city pool.  There was confusion about what level they were in  and after a few days of too difficult they moved them back a couple of levels and their new levels were too easy. The levels were very different than Idaho swim lessons at the city pool. It ended up being a waste of time, especially for Lamb 1. I'm not sure what we are going to do next year, but it won't be lessons at the city pool. The last day they were allowed to do whatever they wanted in the pool and that was the only day they liked.

We rode out bikes to DQ one day and then the Lambs wanted to go for a family bike ride every day after that.

We actually did go a couple of more times during the summer, figuring that DQ wasn't as bad for us if we got exercise getting it.

Our family played the game of LIFE. I had the white car. How come in the game I have 5 girls and no boys? My girls were expensive to educate!

We participated in a summer fitness program. One day they got their miles at an event where they rode their bikes through the woods.

None of the Lambs liked the fitness program and I basically just recorded all their normal summer activities. I don't think we will do it again, but I was glad we did it one year to see what it was about.

In our decluttering we played some games to make sure all the pieces were there. You can't tell from this picture, but Lamb 3 liked playing Cootie with me.

We went to a free end of summer party at a local park. The Lambs liked driving these cars. It makes me sad that the end of July is considered the end of summer.

Lamb 3 won a McDonalds Happy meal coupon at the end of summer party. The Lambs had never been to McDonalds for food, just apple slices or ice cream. Lamb 1 said it was unhealthy and asked if we could go without him. Lamb 2 loved it and wants to go again. Lamb 3 didn't finish half of it because he didn't like it. It was worth paying for Lamb 2's, getting Lamb 3's free, taking a picture, and telling them that we only go to McDonalds for food when it is free.

All the Lambs took a 3-D printing class at the library. After the class was completed they got a coupon to do some 3-D printing for free, normally it is a $1 an hour. Lamb 1 created a bunch of projects to print, but then he never decided what to print. He figured it's only a $1 an hour so he can do it another time. The other two Lambs had a good time printing their projects.

Lamb 2 made a small Star Wars mug and Lamb 3 made a sword.

We went to an end of summer party with free snow cones and a water balloon fight at the library. They were supposed to do this earlier in the summer but thunderstorms canceled it. The Lambs were glad for good weather this time. Lamb 1 didn't want to go, but Lamb 2 and 3 had a great time.

Photo credit: Effie Sharon
I met Rhonda in 2011 after being internet buddies for several years before that.  When we met we both lived in MN. We hadn't seen each other since then and we both moved and had several life changes. She attended our church one Sunday and stayed for a fundraiser lunch. I had lots of time to cuddle her baby before she returned home. It was a fast day together, but we talked fast to catch up! Now it is my turn to make a road trip to visit her.

Cross Country Meet

Lamb 1 had his final cross country meet yesterday. This was at a different location than he had practice. For the first meet he ran a 4K that was not as challenging of a course but he was familiar with the course from practice. For this meet he chose to run a 3K but afterwards said it was not as difficult of a course as he thought it would be.

Lamb 1 during the 3K. I was concerned because he usually runs with someone but he was running all by himself.

After Lamb 1's race we had a long time to wait before awards. So the Lambs explored the area. In this picture Lamb 1 is first, then Lamb 2, and finally Lamb 3.

They made it to the top! I was so thankful for my new camera lens which ended up being a binoculars to watch them and also take pictures.

Exploring some more.

Here's where they explored! And all this exploring was after Lamb 1 ran the 3K!

Lamb 2 and 3 found some leaves.

It was worth staying for awards because Lamb 1 got 2nd place for his age group of 9-10 year old boys. I was really surprised.
His time for the 3K was 15:03:41.

I took a picture in the minivan of the temperature on the way home. It was up to 55 F on the way home. It was 46 F before Lamb 1's race began. I was glad to get home and have a cup of hot tea!

All 3 Lambs are looking forward to track season in the spring. We'll see who ends up participating but I would love it if all 3 participated so I could read a book during practice. Plus the third child is cheaper to participate than the first two!

Family update

*Our babysitter, Graceann, was able to come babysit today. The last time she babysat was around Christmas time. I was very thankful for her help, especially when she took all 3 Lambs to the park. They did play doh for a long time too. They haven't done play doh for a very long time. She is homeschooled (high school) so it looks like she may be able to come back more regularly now. This is Ram's long day visiting people so I was thankful for another person over age 5 to talk with for the afternoon too. Lamb 3 seemed to do ok with her too. I was afraid he might not remember her and get scared. It helps that I stay home while she is here. Hopefully I can get lots accomplished while she is here.

*When I taught in IN, I had laminated prayers for my classroom. I found the mealtime prayers (from the catechism) but I have looked everywhere I can think of without finding the morning prayer. I finally gave up and I needed to type up the evening prayer any way so I typed them both (without laminating) and hung them up. I hate it when I can't find something I want. Then I want to drop everything and clean out things until I find that thing I'm missing. Life doesn't work that way for a mom though.

*Tonight we are going to a wrap up for a visit your local park program. We will take a picnic supper. I made a photo book with photos from the parks. This was not required for the program, but it will be a nice memory for the boys when we are in the middle of a MN winter. It was a great idea-free to go to your local parks. I had no idea the small town 7 miles away had 7 parks. It was a good thing they gave us a map or we never would have found a few of the parks. The Lambs enjoyed going to the parks. Lamb 3 even cried when we left the last park. We had a slow start because I sprained my foot early this summer and then we were gone a lot in June and July, but we were able to go to all the parks before the deadline tonight. The weather has been cool and it will be nice for tonight even though it is very humid.

*Ram and I listened (we didn't call in) along with 10,000 other Minnesotans to Senator Klobachar's tele-town hall meeting about health care last Sunday. If you care to listen it is on her website here. One of the several things that she said that I didn't like is that "her" plan would save us 50 billion dollars. She has no concept of how much debt this country is in. 50 billion is about half a percent of 9 trillion. Plus she kept saying that Medicare was important to her because her parents are on Medicare. So what? Is she volunteering to have the same health care plan as us? When I tried to call her and leave a message, her voice mailbox was full. I'm in the process of writing her a letter. In the letter I am going to encourage her to read every word in whatever health care bill the Senate comes up with plus read every word in the Constitution.

*Ram turned in our boxes we put together for LLL Global Care Packages today. I volunteered when we moved here to be the chairperson for our tri-parish for this program. They have changed the directions several times for this program. Some years we put together boxes for new mothers. Most years we did boxes for school children. I remember even helping with this program when I was teaching in IN. So I have been involved several years. They recently announced they are no longer doing this program. In a way I'm thankful to reclaim a part of my room that kept the supplies while they were gathered from the churches. I'm also thankful because I don't have to figure out new rules each year. But I'm sad after so many years and what I thought was a great program. Lamb 1 helped as soon as he could walk. Our church needs programs like this to make it helping people in other countries more personal. I know there is a lack of funds and personnel, but it's too bad. I hope and pray that they can do this program again.

*This morning I wrote out a schedule for Lamb 1 with clocks (Target $1 find). As I read the schedule to Lamb 1, he had a question for everything. Why do we have to do school? Why math? Why schedule? It would drive a teacher crazy. I'm preparing him for a schedule because there will be a few things that he has to do without Lamb 2 like handwriting. He hates to do activities without Lamb 2. Many will stay the same as they have been for years at our house like 3pm snack time. I'm trying to prepare him mentally for a schedule even if we don't follow it exactly each day. Thank goodness he is going to be homeschooled, he would hate a school schedule and drive the teacher crazy. At least if he drives me crazy, I'm already half way there because of raising him the last 5 years!

*I have thought about a lot of blog topics recently but freezing corn, canning beets, making zucchini cupcakes etc. has taken priority. Hopefully I can post photos from our park program wrap up tonight soon.

Visit your local parks

The town 7 miles away had a visit your local parks kick-off today. We have all summer to visit and do activities at 7 parks. Then they will have party in August and give prizes to the children that complete the activities. We made clay tiles after collecting items on a nature hike. The sun was in their eyes so it was a little difficult. They asked if they could make a second one, because they enjoyed it so much. We also planted morning glory seeds to take home.

It was chilly, in the 40s. Lamb 3 had a difficult time being top heavy and trying to walk in his coat. He just wanted to be held until we put him in the stroller while we were eating a picnic lunch and he went to sleep. I don' think he will be our nature lover-but maybe when it is warmer, he will be.

Lamb 1 and 2 with Papa on their walk after lunch.

I wanted to take a photo of the Lambs at each park we go to. Lamb 1 was upset because he didn't get to jump over the stream so he refused to be in the photo. He finally asked to have his photo taken by himself when he realized we weren't going back to the stream. But I didn't get a photo of the Lambs together besides this one.

We'll be busy this summer doing the activities at the local parks. It should be fun. I like that is is free! Look for more photos on my blog of the parks that we visit this summer. Hopefully it will be warmer when we visit more parks.