Eagle Project - Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt Clean-up

Matthew brought a crew to Chichaqua (A Polk County Nature Preserve) to clean an island of invasive species.  There were 6-8 scouts and 4-5 dads plus Anna and me.  Those scouts (and dads esp.) worked hard and created 4 gigantic piles of brush to dry out then be burned.  

 Joel pitched it.

Ken took one for the team on his face!  (thorns - nasty)

 I mostly didn't want Anna to get hurt or fall it the water, but she did a great job too.  (Carolyn had show choir practice.)

Here is Matthew at one of MANY (but probably under 10) trips to Chichaqua to get the project in order.  At one point he considered rebuilding a bridge (not the one in the picture obviously), but it would have required taking out and building a bridge WHEN weather permitted.  When we first investigated it was under water. Too hard and too much unknown for an Eagle Project

 Matthew has pretty much checked out of scouts of late, but he needs to finish 2 badges (Physical Fitness and Family.)  He has done the family project - just needs to jump through some hoops (figuratively) and ride his bike and do some sit ups (literally).  Go Matthew!

Joel just moved up in rank too!  He think he just got his Star rank - but I am not sure....plus I know he almost has all the requirements for the next rank - yeah!  I want him done before he is a busy Junior in high-school (which is when Matthew will hopefully be done!)

Caucus Time!

Last Tuesday, Ken and I proudly stood in line in the snow to attend the Iowa Caucus.  It was fantastic - really made you proud to be an American.  (Although I still think Iowa should hold a primary like the rest of the country.....we would get more turn out.  Although, that said, our part of the state turned out in droves.  It was fun to see the neighbors.)

Here is Ken holding his ballot! 

Ignition!

Carolyn has had her first taste of Show Choir and she loves it.  Her 8th grade group is called Ignition and because the 9th grade now performs with the high school, they even have costumes.  She had a solo and knocked it out of the park.

The theme of the show was about heros.  Carolyn sang the beginning of "I need a Hero" (the song by Bonnie Tyler, from Footloose).

Lest you thing the group was all girls - here is a shot while the group prepared to have their photo taken.  The boys have their glasses taped because they start out "nerdish".  During Carolyn's song above, the boys were off stage ditching their red shirts to become superheros for the last song.  Carolyn was 2nd row from the back, middle of the pack, smiling at the camera.

I am sure this won't be the last Show Choir post!

St. Nick Party at church

Each year our church has a St. Nicholas Party.  (Knights of Columbus)

There were crafts and snacks and dinner (which we skipped to eat fajitas at home.)

Long ago there were four - now there is but one participant.

However - you can tell she enjoyed it!  The joy is spread all over her face!

Freedom (for me)

So the day finally came when the pros outweighed the cons for buying a second car. (Ken's car is a company car....so we don't own that and only employee and spouse can drive.)

Ken searched and searched and finally found CHARLIE (aka Mitt).  Matthew named him Charlie (for no real reason), but I think Mitt is much more clever because it is a Mitsubishi Outlander.

Here the kids are showing their enthusiasm.  (Except for Carolyn, because she was cold.)

The best news of the day is that after we bought this vehicle, my dad wrote us a huge check that covered the majority of it.  I told him it wasn't necessary, but he said they wanted to do it and that they had given other kids cars, instead of trading them in.   So I get a bunch of freedom (not having to drive Matthew here there and everywhere) and I am  not even feeling it much in the wallet!

I don't think it will make it until Anna gets through high school - but hopefully most of the rest of the years!  It will only be driven a few miles at a time.  (The high school is under 2 miles and HyVee is under 2 and church is under 2....all our hotspots!)

THANKS GRANDPA AND GRANDMA!

Look What I am Making for Christmas

Anna and Joel have joined the Harry Potter band wagon, so I thought it would be fun to have some Harry Potter treats at Christmas.  Then I decided to make a Harry Potter treat for Christmas!

First I made some cards with some of my favorite characters (I am making 8 - 2 for each kid....duplicates for a few cousins who are fans.)  (Lupin, McGonagall, Hermonie, Harry, Ginny and Neville....the top has a quote for each.)

The frogs were easy...melt, pour, refrigerate.

I was going to go to the dollar store for boxes, but couldn't get out of my street due to construction.  I tried to make Harry Potter "type" boxes, without luck.  Then I googled "paper box" and came upon a good tutorial that I could follow after re-watching certain spots 3-5 times!

Tah Dah.  I think the kids will love them.  I must quickly get rid of the evidence before Anna gets home.

College Trip with friends and family to sweeten the deal!

Ok - here was the first reason for our visit!

Great university, but to be honest it is too far from home and in too large of a city (if you ask me).

Super extra reasons to visit St. Louis

My niece Emily, a professor at Washington University (WashU).  We had dinner at a restaurant called Pi (imagine the symbol for 3.1415).

Great friends from Newburgh (who now live near St. Louis)

Here is my voice of reason and great support since even before Anna was born and ever since!  Nina!