AWANA awards night

Last night was AWANA awards at church. This year we had 3 in AWANA clubs, in fact, one in each of Cubbies, Sparks and Truth and Training. All finished their books, and learned lots of verses! Hannah had a little rivalry going with one of the boys in her class (the blonde next to her!) and ended up finishing her book, going through it a 2nd time as review, then doing a workbook too! I think that kind of rivalry is really nice myself! Hope Hannah and David continue that!


Johnny really enjoyed his first year in Cubbies and got a reputation for learning his verses very thoroughly. It is a joy to hear him recite so many verses! It helped that his teachers loved him, and one pronounced him "genius"!

Rebekah also enjoyed her year, and the way that she learned her verses and finished her book seemed so effortless! This year they started later, and it seems like they ended earlier. I was worried they wouldn't be able to finish the book.

Found the camera AND battery charger!

Found my camera, found the battery charger! So here are some pictures from our um, March birthdays! yikes. I'm behind! Hannah's request was to go to the build a bear workshop and spend a gift card she had. Johnny took a friend to Chuck E Cheese's.

Another March happening, was Hannah's big masterclass experience. A big name in Suzuki Violin circles was in the San Diego area, and gave a group lesson and masterclass. Hannah loved it, and wants to go again!

The girls have been in a strings class at our Friday School, and they played in chapel last week. It is something new for them, to play the violin with others, and in front of people!

They both have a recital coming up next month too. We are busy practicing, listening, practicing and practicing some more. In fact, I think maybe I need to play with them. We ALL know the pieces very well by now!

Of cameras and pictures

I miss posting pictures.

Recently, we went on a superb field trip to Riley's farm. It was a gold rush tour, and from the time we stepped on the property, all the people there were "in character". The kids tried to explain how they got to the farm, but the woman didn't understand how an engine, that ran on something like kerosene, could work with a mule : )

After all the kids were assembled, they were given instructions on how a gold tour worked: what supplies they should take, what food should be taken etc. We then embarked on a 50 mile hike to the gold fields. Fortunately, it was a short 50 miles and we were there in about 10 minutes!

From there, we were given a quick history of how gold towns sprang up when there was a "gold strike", and how they went from small tent cities, to shacks, to more solid/permanent cabins, and then sometimes, to ghost towns. They also explained how the quest for gold worked, how the kids might be able to earn money in order to buy supplies to get gold, how to take gold to the assay office. . . . . and then, the kids were turned loose, with the words "go get rich!".

For the next couple hours, they learned to work for gold nuggets, trade those nuggets for supplies (shovels, pans etc) in order to get more gold, how to stake a claim, and some even learned about claim jumpers! Hannah was delighted when she went to trade her gold, to find that the assay office worker was Irish! He said that since she had that red hair and blue eyes, she must be Irish too, and so should get extra money for that gold!

At the end of the trip, they all got a "miners ration" for lunch. Corn bread, beef jerky, a slice of cheese and an apple. To go with it, all the gold town people discussed all that had gone on. I knew they were getting through to the kids when one of the men opened by saying "how many of ya'll did I rip off today?" What a lot they all learned, without realizing it was more than just play.

but I digress. I have no pictures of that day, because my camera battery was dead, and my OTHER camera, only had dead batteries, and a spare set of dead batteries. ugh. When we got home, I couldn't find the battery charger.

So yesterday, I searched and searched, and FOUND that battery charger in the "safe" place where I had put it. Unfortunately, the camera is now in a safe place. Yes, a safe place that I can't find. I'm hoping that one day, the camera and battery charger will meet, and have a happy reunion. Until then, no pictures!

Agricultural Fair!

It is pretty disgusting, the tiny amount of posts lately. I keep resolving to do better, and well, life just keeps getting in the way! Imagine my surprise this morning when I couldn't even FIND my blog! Yikes! New computer, and I can find nothing!!

So. . . over the weekend, the kids had the annual Agricultural Fair. Kind of hilarious really, when you consider where we live, but anyway. Four of them took part this year, and despite being "disqualified" from some categories, since there are not enough students in our "class" I think they did very well.

Rebekah and Hannah explored the world of Hydroponics, and both won first place for it! Johnny learned about earthworms, built an insect and did some seed art--he got 2 firsts and a 4th : ) His question when we got to the fair was so funny "where are my worms?"

Rebekah and Hannah made dish gardens to a fairy theme, and got first places for those, and Emily won first place for a beautiful Native American Sand art project.

There were more, but I can't remember them all. It was quite the project, lugging them all back to the car. Bigger project will be to keep everything looking nice for our schools Fine Arts night, and then keep them nice till mid summer when they do a display at the Library! Not sure the live plants will make it that long. . . . .

how many eggs. . . .

. . . . can 5 kids dye in one afternoon? You'll have to let me know what you think. I know how many these kids dyed, but you will probably not believe me. I should have taken pictures. Slap me with a wet noodle, I didn't. Jesse's hands are still a little blue, Hannah's are pink. I'm hoping that wears off soon.

Somehow March slipped by without many blog entries. We celebrated 2 birthdays in our home, and 2 more with close family, we went whale watching, had a 'master class' with Michele George and played violins in chapel. I think the biggest news goes to my Mom again. Maybe she wants the spotlight? Great news though, no chemo or radiation needed! Isn't God good?! She does have to take some pills, and come back in 6 months. Not too bad, considering the alternatives.

Hopefully I can get my camera to give up the pictures, so I can post them. It was feeling stubborn tonight. Or maybe neglected. Yes, neglected is probably it. Must take more pictures!

Lesson 838

Lesson #838: if you have a toddler, don't leave coupons unattended. 'nuff said.

Health update

Seems enough is going on, that maybe I should give a little health update. Of course 'tis the season for colds/coughs and flu. We have had runny noses, coughs, sore throats and the like, off and on for the last couple months. I guess that is about normal. By the time any one virus gets through everyone, we are starting on the next!

Right now, Hannah, Jesse and I have colds, and Johnny was kind of sniffy this morning. Jesse gets the "prize" at the moment though. He has 2 ear infections, and is on his first prescription antibiotic. A dubious honor to be sure. He has not been impressed with antibiotics so far.

Another for the dubious honor record books is my Mom. She was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, and is recovering from surgery now. The surgery was "good news" in that there was no evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes. Cancer is such a scary word, I think we have all been very grateful that we have the Lord to turn to. My Mom is continuing on a little bumpy road back to recovery, and we are all hoping that things will only get better from here.

So there you have it. The update on the not so healthy state of our family, at the moment. Still need to post those last pictures from our trip to Sacramento. . . . .