Love is...

A bright red Honda Mini Tiller!  SWEET!!!

I guess I had dropped a hint awhile back for this little power tool.  What a great anniversary gift!

REALLY, Love is 16 wonderful years of marriage.  We are so blessed.

Apple Valley

For the past two school weeks , Lana has been "Virginia Harris," a name chosen for her by her teacher.  (Totally a coincidence!)  Every year the fourth graders end the school year by simulating an old fashioned school called Apple Valley.  It takes place in 1886.  For you American Girl fans, this is during Kirsten's time. 

Lana was part of the Harris family.  She was a twin to Victoria Harris and a sister to twin boys, Thaddeus and Theodore.  Their father was a doctor and they lived in town.  They were not rich, however, as their father was usually given payment of an animal or food of some kind for his services.

Each day the children earned points toward their Apple Valley graduation.  One way they could earn points was to dress up in an old fashioned way.  I was delighted to find my old GunneSax dress in my cedar chest.  My mom loved this dress and probably spent more on it than she "should have" at the time!  So, it was super fun to use it again.  Lana liked to wear it to school.  She was reading a Kirsten book and came up with the cool hair-do.  We only did that one a few times.  It was a bit more labor intensive than most school mornings allowed! 

Another way they could earn points was to interview older people about their school days.  They could bring in old items or an apple for the teacher.  Good grades earned points as well as clean fingernails and good behavior.  The children could also LOSE points by talking out of turn, not standing up before they spoke, being dealt a "fate" card, etc. 

It's a fun program!  To end it all, a graduation ceremony was held.  The children did some reciting,  we played drop the handkercheif, and ate apple crisp (made from all the donated apples!!) 

Here is a picture of a few of the Apple Valley children as they were reciting their old fashioned poems and stories at the graduation... 

STOMP IT!!

A few weeks ago, Evan and a friend worked together on a project for Marketplace for Kids.

Marketplace for Kids is a program that encourages kids to become inventors and entrepreneurs....

Evan and his friend created the STOMP IT!  I think Mattie came out a winner all around in this project.  You can tell by the pictures that she's enjoying herself. 

The inventors put together a display board and presented their product to several other schools on a day in April.  They also attended several workshops during the day.  If you want to check out the website, here is a link.  Hopefully they will have the 2011 video on there shortly.  Evan was shown in it quite a bit.

Here they are at the MarketPlace event, showing off their invention.  I enjoyed going along as a chaperone!

Life is Happening!

"Mom, you have not updated FOREVER!!!"

Lana accused me of this the other evening as I was making supper and she was surfing your blogs. 

I'm sorry I have no pictures to share.  I HAVE taken pictures and have some to share, but LIFE IS HAPPENING and I haven't gotten the pictures off the camera!  I'll just share some of what is happening so you know we are okay and have not forgotten our blog.

A couple months were pretty slow for subbing....  Now it's hopping! Right when the weather is trying to get nice and I should be outside.  But, this is good! 

Our new laundry room is really taking shape.  Last evening we moved the washer and dryer upstairs.  YAY!

Evan completed an invention for "Marketplace 4 Kids."  Pictures to come.

Lana begins a historical simulation program at school tomorrow called "Apple Valley."  Her name for the rest of the school year is Virginia Harris (the name was total coincidence!).  She "is" a 9 year old girl with a twin sister Victoria!  Thursday I will be teaching in their class, so I will be Miss Harris, her older sister.  (Can't be the mother because teachers back then could not be married!) 

Anyway.  Lots of fun stuff going on.  Lots of new little plant-lets growing in my laundry room aching to get outside.  Lots of perennials showing signs of green in my flowerbeds, but not showing much enthusiastic growth yet due to the chilly weather. 

Lots of planning for hosting a bridal shower for my niece in a few weeks!  Looking forward to that special occasion!

Thanks so much for your blogs updates.  We LOVE them!