Memorial Day Weekend

What a full weekend, where, oh where do I start?

Friday after school Isaac had his friend, Ethan- who is soon moving to Florida- over to play. The neighbor girls asked Erin to come swim so we all went to enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool.

When it was time for Ethan to go home, Isaac's friend and our former neighbor, Ryan came to spend the night! His family have stayed close even though they don't live right across the street anymore.

Friday night after the younger kids settled in for bed, the rest of us sat down to watch a movie, Flight 93. Figuring this to be an appropriate movie for the Memorial day theme- I'd recommend it by the way, if you haven't already seen it. Our movie was interrupted by Vali making quite a bit of noise by the back door, scrabbling around as if trying to catch something. I paused the show becuse I'd rather kill any spider right away instead of giving it a chance to surprise me later. Low and behold, there sit Emmi and Vali staring intently at a tiny mouse that Emmi had found in the basement, tag-team tormenting the poor thing!

"JIIIIIM!"

Something which husbands are very good at is getting rid of finds such as this...

We resume our movie only to pause again 5 minutes later as we see Milo come up from the basement after his own trick-or-treating run with a second tiny mouse. Only Milo doesn't head for the back door, no, his "comfy place" is our bedroom! Jim is on Milo's heels as our manly cat runs upstairs to finish his prey.

We did finally finish our movie, and it was good and we cried. But the memory of it will always be overlaid with the picture of Milo and his catch in my mind! He needs to stick to his prescription diet for now...


Saturday morning I took Isaac, Ryan and Erin to an Organic farm nearby for a farm tour. The guide was informative and fun, and it took me back to my own organic gardening days, inspiring not only memories, but plans for our yard now.

After the tour we went out to the fields to watch the farmer bring in the cows. What remarkable patience he had as he waited for them to gather at his call before walking them up and through the gate into the next field... nothing instant and fast about it.

Saturday afternoon Jim got down to some serious business around the house and fashioned a top-notch tire swing for the kids! As I mowed the lawns, (my time is improving!) Jim and his assistants installed this very important feature to our yard and I'm glad to say that it has passed the initial testing with flying colors!


Sunday afternoon we went to our friends' farm to celebrate their daughter Natalie's high school graduation. The Nobles have three daughters who correspond in age to our three and they have all become fast friends.

In fact, Rebekah and Erin will be going to camp this summer with Emma and Lillian. Their farm is home to several Alpacas and a Llama, who is quite friendly!

Although Kate and Natalie have known each other for such a short time, they have many interests in common, from the Arts to animals.


Sunday evening another longed-for feature was completed as Jim and the kids finished a fire ring by which many a marshmallow will be roasted and long evenings enjoyed. As soon as it was finished they "fired it up" and started whittling perfect marshmallow sticks when a thunderstorm rolled in and doused the flames, though not the fun!


Yesterday morning, Memorial Day, dawned bright and early with us getting into Mohnton for the parade. Isaac was marching in the parade- Main Street America style- with the Scouts. Jim and the girls and I parked our chairs on a sidewalk near the end of the route and thoroughly enjoyed the festivities.

Afterward there was a ceremony in the cemetery to honor those who have fought and died for our freedoms.

A friend sent me the link to a marvelous video on youtube which is worth a few minutes of your time- grab the tissues though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervaMPt4Ha0


We invited some friends from church, the Maiolie family, over for some grilling and fellowship later in the day. Jim had spent the afternoon working on getting a rope for another swing in our lower yard over the very high branch that he'd identified as perfect for swing number 2. The Maiolies arrived in time to help test the stability of the ropes and branch after we'd eaten a feast in the lovely afternoon air on the back porch. Today Jim will fashion a seat for the swing, but for last night the ropes were enough for a thrilling ride!

We ended the evening with S'mores after Kate and Laura arrived.

Jim has taken an additional day off of work to finish the swing and work on more shelves for our library. After such a full weekend I hardly know what day it is now! Whew! God is good and has blessed us plentifully with home, family and friendships,... and now S'mores too!

Kate's Prom!

I'll apologize right now for how very many photos I've put here, but there were so many good ones that I couldn't choose which to leave out! And it is, after all, Kate's Senior Prom!

Isn't she lovely?!

Blue Steel...

Mike arrives for the flower exchange- don't stab him Kate!

...and the corsage, so pretty.

Outside the front door, slowly working their way to the dance...

Such a gentleman, holding Kate's door.

The gang's all here for pre-limo photos! These were taken at Val's house, (blue dress) just down the hill from our home. These are some of the nicest kids and they all shared a table at the prom. Although most of them have grown up together, they welcomed Kate into their circle with warmth and friendship.

The lovely ladies!

Ta-da!

And the fellas- ham it up guys!

And, of course, the Paparazzi!

Kate and her best friend Laura, our German Sweetheart.

Mike and Kate.

The whole gang next to the stretch Expedition- wow!

They stopped on the way at the ice cream stand where Val works to fortify themselves with milkshakes for the evening ahead.

One last stop at the school before proceeding to the dance. Governor Mifflin has been under construction for the entire year, yet it's still the High School most of these kids have attended, as did their parents, for 4 years and is loved in a way only "community" can explain.

All told, the dance was terrific fun and Kate enjoyed herself there and at the school-sponsored "post-prom party". Now we are moving toward graduation in a couple of weeks, oh my!

Scoliosis Update

Monday Jim and I took Bekah for her three month check-up with the Orthopedic Doctor, x-ray in hand. We'd gone last week for a new film of her spine to compare with the first one taken months ago. Her curve has worsened be 2 degrees, now a 23 degree curve. Rebekah did the physical therapy and the exercises, but at this point we need to move to the next level of intervention. So now she will be needing to wear a brace.

According to the Doctor, Scoliosis is one condition which is almost impossible to predict. Whether the curve worsens or holds with the exercises alone is only seen with time. Now, a brace will not straighten the existing curve. The best it can do, and what we are praying for, is that it will arrest any further curvature and help her body to correct for the curve as she continues growing and her bones mature. Since she is asymptomatic- meaning she has no nerve impairment and her internal organs aren't affected by her spine- there is no reason to consider surgery. One can't really see the curve in her spine unless it's looked for. Her shoulders aren't level and her hips don't sit straight, but what teenager stands with perfect posture?

We have about three years of growth on our side waiting for her bones to mature. Every three months she will be checked by the Doctor and we'll evaluate her progress. Once we have the brace and she has gone through the first couple of weeks adjusting to it, Bekah will need to wear it for 23 hours a day. If that sounds long, well, it is. With summer beginning the news is particularly difficult simply because the heat here can get miserable- or so they tell us. She will be able to participate in most normal activities while in her brace, but swimming will need to wait for her one hour out each day.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

*Meow* Mother's Day!

Just a quick bit in between too much to do-

Meet my Mother's day surprise, Milo! He's a great big sweetie who loves to be cuddled and returns the affection with lots of purring.

Not only is he a great reading companion, but he makes a nice wake-up call. This morning, ten minutes before the alarm went off, I felt his insistent paw on my shoulder- it was time for some ear scratching! So he settled onto me and purred me awake. What a considerate guy!

Night of the Arts

Last night was the annual District-wide Art Show. As a Senior portfolio student, Kate not only had a large display of her work, but she herself was on display working on a painting in the art room as people meandered in and out.


Her display in the show included photography and a charcoal self-portrait,...


pottery and paintings,...


Including her series on playground memories, (see the shoes?).


Erin and Isaac also had work displayed. Erin's class made clay masks.


Isaac designed a "Recreational Vehicle".


Once we soaked in the artsiness, we had to get over to Isaac's school where he was participating in the class play, "Rats!" Based on the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the show was adorable.

The rats stage their coup-


Isaac delivered his lines flawlessly- his part required being interrupted and starting again, something for which he's been training his whole life!
(The picture is kinda dark, but he's in the middle, wearing the vest.)

As the school year draws to a close there will be much busy-ness, but last night gave us a glimpse of what fun the kids are having when they're not cramming their brains full of knowledge! So cute, so fun, and making friends in the process as well!

Spring Really Has Arrived!

Okay, this time I'm sure, Spring is here! If we have a blizzard this weekend nobody will call me overly optimistic for deciding that it's indeed safe to pack away the turtlenecks. The time for switching out our winter wardrobe has arrived and the kids are wearing shorts to school. No more sweaters or socks, short sleeves and flip-flops are the order of the day. Isaac has finished his soccer season, but the coach has offered to keep the boys practicing in order to improve their play and hopefully love of the game.



More exciting than changes in wardrobe however is the transformation occurring outdoors! Hostas and flowers are already bursting from the ground in full glory. Azaleas and dogwoods are in full bloom throughout the yard and we even found a lilac bush displaying her fragrant wares yesterday. The woods are no longer carpeted with only last year's leaves, the bluebells and ferns are taking over. Everywhere the delicate, multi-hued blossoms of Columbine are dancing in the breeze. Not only are the birds back in full force, but they're hungry enough to empty a full feeder on a daily basis! Their songs throughout the day more than compensate for the feed we're pouring into them.



Due to the return of growing grass we have finally purchased a lawn tractor- a gorgeous Huskvarna that will not only keep the lawn mown, but also assist in hauling chores. When the time comes to start pulling out the evergreen ground cover that is swallowing the flower beds our Husky will be equal to the challenge. The yuccas will also take some effort to remove, but it will be worth every bit.



Now that we are beginning to see what is planted in the yard, we are making some decisions about what to remove. While the evergreen stuff growing low to the ground may have been a low-maintenance choice to plant, we'd rather replace it with something softer to the touch and the eye. Had our yard been a blank slate I wouldn't have known where to begin. But with so many beds defined and planted it's easier to see what to keep and what to change.I've planted some pansies in the beds near the front door, thrilled to contribute my own bit to the landscaping.



Speaking of change, We are about to have another huge shift in our family. Kate will be graduating in a few short weeks! It's so hard to believe that the time is almost upon us. We have calendars after all- how did it sneak up like this? Plans for the graduation are swinging into play now with my Dad returning for the festivities and a gathering to celebrate. Prom will be in two weeks, so that is also in the works and causing no little bit of excitement.

Oh, the excitement!