Tuesday August 30

Coffee in Mandy's bedroom. She leaves for Denver this afternoon. So nice to have her here. Stopped at folks. At school the student got his classes changed, but will he be able to pass them? I don't know it would take a lot of work. Pray for my students, I feel so involved, yet so helpless if they don't want to put in the effort. I had a student exit at 4 pm with parent. At 6 Denny and I went to church to set up for Awana training tomorrow night. I came home and grilled hamburgers. We ate out on the deck. Then to read my Morningside class book. I feel like I'm always behind the 8 ball. The internet has been off at the houose since Sunday. Luckily my iphone can hook it up for us, but Jensens don't have access during the day. Missy took Mandy to airport.

Monday August 29

Coffee at folks. Mandy to Howard in for cardiac rehab and Anabel in to get a white platelet booster shot. At school at 3 I had a meeting with teachers, mom and student. No solution was reached. Missy had fixed chicken Lasagne for supper. We just relaxed at evening. Mandy cleaned toy room and I picked the ends off of green beans. Luke and Karen set their wedding date Feb. 18, 2012. in Brownsville Texas.

Sunday August 28

EVERY ONE LOVES KANE!!I took 3 little ones to donuts and prayer time before church. I took the 4 pans of Cavatinni to the freezer at church and 3 vases of flowers. After church we had thought we would go on a motorcycle ride with Dan G. and Mandy, but it was rainy and there was quite a bit of Awana work to do. Mandy and Dan did ride for Mexican in Storm Lake. Denny and I went to Church at night. Then to bed by 8:30.

Saturday August 27

I got up at 5 and went out to read in the coop. No deer this am, and no Pebbles eating baby wrens. Denny worked in Odebolt. Phillip took little ones to Bomgaars to get wire for electric fence. At 11 I went to get folks in the Prius. We drove to Atlantic and met the Missouri Johnsons at Pizza Ranch. So good to meet the newest great grand for Howard and Anabel. Long day for them. We drove home a different way. Went thru Denison to McD's and toured the hospital. At home we visited and met on the deck. Good to have Mandy home.

Friday August 26

Coffee at folks. Vicki had a guest speaker about independent living class. After school I took Grands to Arfur park. Denny came after 6 and we had pNbutter sandwiches. Missy had gone to Minnesota for a wedding and Phillip was mowing the unit and the folks place. Kids had baths and were so nice going to bed. Mandy is in St Joe. loving to be with her nephews and niece. Matt took the day off to spend with her.

Thursday August 25

Happy Birthday JEAN!!! It was fun to see you a couple weekends ago. Fun with the sisters. I went to the folks for coffee. I left our house too soon. Little Anabel wanted to go with me and I left without her. She and Evan got a ride with Denny. At school the independent living classes made easy apple pie with apples and biscuits. I worked until about 6. When I got home I made 4 pans of cavatinni for Awana training next Wednesday. Denny finally got the audio/video going with TV, computer and speakers. Gary took folks to SC.

Wednesday August 24

I took a shower at Howard and Anabel's. At 6:30 Denny went over to shower so I rode along and visited with the folks. Gary is taking them to SC on Thursday. Then to school. I work with kids 7 periods then have my planning period. After school I got lectured for using the foods room and taking it over last year...oh well, some people have not learned the kindergarten rule to share. Get a tougher hide, Faith. I ran the trail, then worked another hour at school making Friday's tests for my 2 classes. I came home and visited with Evan, then down to a great supper that Denny had made. He told about his long day. Some times it just feels like we are digging ditches. But in reality we know we are truly blessed by God. We are so spoiled. Charlie came out and fixed that water heater. His legs/back are really crippled up. He's 63 and just keeps trudging along.

Tuesday August 23

Shower at folks, Ordered parts for water heater. Coffee at folks after I got ready. Little Anabel went with me. Gary is taking mom to chemo on Thursday. A student is wanting to be out of resource classes. I need to set up a staffing with his mom. After school I headed to Holstein and weighed in at WW. Then home, Denny and I visited out on deck, he worked on Awana, I looked at school work and bed at 8:30. The picture is Red Rocks near Denver. The area is built right into the huge rocks. They hold concerts there and people come to work out and exercise there during the day. Pretty impressive.

Monday August 22

The hot water heater is not working right and so I went to Anabels to shower. Denny took a cold shower at home. At coffee Anabel said that Howard drove to Manson for Pizza Ranch chicken yesterday. After school I took ICN instruction on Alternate Assessment from 3:30- 5:30. Matt called and we had a nice visit. Denny was at home working on Awana. I came home, ate outside, and hung out until bedtime. (8:30)

Sunday August 21

Luke stayed at the farm last night. We went in to IG about 8:15 to play golf. What a treat. It had been so long since I had played and I really enjoyed it. There was a tourneyment that started at 10 and so we rented a cart and scooted around. Thank you so much, Luke. I really loved golfing with you. The weather was great, even if my game wasn't. We drove to Goldsmiths and visited a little then I headed to church. After church I worked on school work and we took a nap. Then Missy and Phillip went to visit Nishumuras and I watched the little Grands in the park. Denny and I went to prayer time at 6. Denny and Brooks getting a drink of water after the tough job of chicken butchering.

Saturday August 20

Up early and read a quarter of the pages of my grad class book through out the day. (112 done 412 total). I saw Pebbles get in to a wren house (BOO) and a doe and two speckled fawns (YEA!) from my reading place in the coop this am. The 4 HS boys were out with Phillip. Luke and Karen came out. They had visted with Doses last night and stayed in town. After lunch we went to the folks and butchered chickens. It was quite an endeavor. Denny and Phillip fixed up the trailer that is pulled by the 4 wheeler to hold the grill for boiling water and a table made from 2x10's to pluck chickens and cut them up. Every one was there and watched. GGny used to butcher arouond 50 chickens a season.As we were about to leave Missy got stung by a wasp and her arm swelled up. We ate supper of BLTs and some chicken that Luke grilled on the deck. ch

Friday August 19

Coffee at folks. Anabel went with me. After school I ran the trail. 3.67 miles. Luke and Karen were home and headed to Doses after a visit with us. Denny and I went to Ute for supper. The waitress called us the purple people eaters. We ordered the grilled Cajun prime rib and shrimp. There was a songbook (as a display item on the wall) that I used when I went to country school. Together We Sing. A couple days ago some metal went under the safety glasses and into Phillips eye. He went to the eye doctor and they had to drill the rust out. It sounded awful.

Thursday August 18

Coffee at folks. Married 38 years. Home for BLTs. Don't know where the picture of Denny and myself is so here is one of me and my girls. We took this Saturday before the race. We had our tank tops on for family breast cancer fighters. Fight like a girl!! Thanks for your examples!!

Wednesday August 17

Coffee at folks. SCHOOL STARTED. Ran after school, about five miles on the trail. About the picture. The daughters thought it was really funny that my swimming caps's color was grey/silver to go along with my age group. 60 + As you can tell there were all types of shapes of women that participated. I didn't look good but I was pumped!!! 125 women set off swimming every 4 minutes. I was in the 6th group to hit the water. Missy and Mandy were in the 28th group. It was like a swarm of fish churning the water (when you throw bread crusts in) when 125 start to swim at once. I kept to the outside area, not right in the middle and I only had to swim over about 3 gals. I got kicked quite often. The buoys were along way out there. More than once I thought I wouldn't make it, but I kept doing the breast stroke so I could see where I was going. I beat both my daughters in swimming time. How unbelieveabe is that!

Tuesday August 16

Last day with out students. My desk is by the window. After school I ran, but coundn't get Map my run to work. The picture is of our walk to Cherry Creek reservoir on that Sunday morning before the sun came up. Poor gals, All athletes were to be at the site 2 hours before their race. Well my race was to start at 7:15. Theirs didn't start until 8:30, but because of me we had to be there by 5:15.

Monday August 15

School. Coffee at folks before. At 4:30, haircut. Then to Odebolt for veteran steak supper. Then to school open house from 6- 7:30. The picture is of the place we ate the night before the Triathlon. Don't remember the name, but it was very good pasta. I'm sure the carbs helped by race immensely. The funny part was after we ate there Mandy had to tell Missy that the bike she got for Missy to use had toe clips and Missy had never used toe clip before and was pretty anxious about it.

Sunday August 14

Donuts with Grands. Nap in afternoon.

Saturday August 13

Tagged items for Gail's sale next weekend. First we ran in the road race. I ran the 2 mile in just over 20 minutes and was pretty happy about that. I helped with write down times and finishing places for 2 and 5 mile races. Bruce took us all to breakfast. Came home after lunch.

Friday August 12

First day of school. Professional development meetings. After school I found out sisters were in Atlantic so I headed down there.

Thursday August 11

Worked on the yard and getting ready for home schoolers to come to our farm. The lawn neededmowing and lots of weeds that could have been pulled, but I just did what I had time for. They came about 6. I think there were about 60 people here. Lots of families and activity. It was a great way to start off the year. Sue and myself, Masters, Van Houtens, Grells, Jessens, Bergmans, Roseners, Bergmans, Leeds, Jensens, Still quite a few that didn't make it.

Wednesday August 10

In am went on a hike run. The girls ran the trail one way and I went the other way, my path was not so hilly. on the way back to Denver we stopped to see Red Rock. It is an impressive concert arena that people exercise in during the day. (and one final thrift store...didn't buy anything). Flew home and got to Omaha about 4. IT WAS A SUPER 5 DAYS!! but Great to be home.lly

Tuesday august 9

Left about 9   Went to the hospital for a tour and to meet some of the people that Mandy works with. Then up a mountain for a hike.  Big Chief Mountain, (I thought it was a 14er, but it wasn't) only about a 2-3 mile hike to a great 360 view. So much fun!!! There was one little chipmunk that the girls thought was scarey, annoying, I don't know exactly how they felt about it, but they did not like it.  On the way back we stopped at Red Rock, but it was closed for a concert.  We stopped and got groceries. Nicole came over for tacos.  Maggie joined us to eat supper, too. Great day.

Monday August 8

Up at 6 for daily. Left at nine for ARC (Goodwill shopping) I got 2 jeans,one navy capri and two knit tops. Then to Colorado Springs to meet Bryan R.  Shopped at
Ross. Girls brought me things to try on.   Got two dresses and a small sweater.    Toured Garden of the Gods.  Went to Manitu Springs. Had alot of fun getting an old Thyme picture taken. The photographer gal to told to grab our girls and pull the up and in before she cinched our waists. The "jeans I was wearing weren't the most flattering" Lots of laughs. At 6:30 met Brad,Mickie, and Amelia to eat Thai food. At 9 we went home. Wonderful day 

Sunday august 7

Tri for the cure. Up at 4. Left Mandys place at 5. Drove to Cherry Creek Reservior  lots of people there. I was in Wave 5 starting time... 7:16 am. 125 women 50-65 years old. I finished in 2 hours 45 seconds. 52 gals in my age division. I finished 22. Swim time 20 minutes 45 seconds for half mile. Bike time 52 minutes for 11.6 miles. Run time 39 minutes for 3.1 miles. Quite a positive experience. M&M finished in 1 hour 36 minutes.
We were about the last to leave. Missy and I waited in line for a massage. picked up subs. Home for naps. Showers, then at 5:30. We headed to store for food before jazz in the park. Great night met Amy Kevin and Sophie  home and relax. 

Saturday August 6

Up at 4. Tapped on missys door at 4:20 and got her up.  Left at 5 for the airport. Ate a peach on the way down. Had to tKe highway 6 because of the river flood. Detour and urgent need of mine. Could have been alot worse   The map on my I phone helped us alot. Plus a church parking lot and bus and paper towels I packed. Arrived in Denver just fine. Took us Rural people a while to navigate the big airport.  we went right to biker village to get our race packet. Quite a production but very well organized. Then to subway and to visit youslings. Shopped a Little while.  Ate pasta   Home to figure which bikes to use. Today while we were gone. Denny worked at the odebolt bank then he phillip and 3 went to southern Iowa and bought 2 gilt red wattl pigs and one boar

Thursday August 4 17638

Took 5 grands to ggma's in Prius. Pretty tickled because they got to stand up. They played outside, explored the two sheds and swingset in the woods, played with vines pulled off trees, made holly hocks people, had koolaid coolers, played hide and seek (CHECK). At home Barry H's came to put up the two electrical poles that went down in the storm about a month ago. Kids jumped on trampoline (CHECK), sat on painted chairs, and played leggos (CHECK). Missy took Grandma to chemo in SC and I watched the kids. Good naps in the afternoon, Haley and I watched a family feature film while the rest napped. Grandpa came home and gave Torren a tractor ride (CHECK) We left at 6 to meet Matt at the intersection of 71 and 34. 114 miles for us 93 miles for him. Home about 9:30 or 10.

Wednesday August 3

Ran 4 miles this am. Coffee at folks with 5 little ones while Missy rode bike. She started to run, but her knee hurt. Not a good sign before doing a triathalon on Sunday. Say a prayer for her. (and Mandy and me) Kids plastic painted chairs, one for each of the 5 bigger kids. Then they took turns riding with me on the lawn mower. At 12 we headed into IG. I stopped at school, and picked up our triathalon tank tops. We met Denny for lunch at the park (CHECK). They walked back to the bank together. It was so cute, but they had to stop and look at a dead squirrel that they were walking past. After lunch at the park,we headed to IG pool. The kids and I swam there until 4:15. I swam 1/3 mile during the 10 minutes of break time when little ones had to get out of the pool. At home we watched Little House on the Praire on the laptop in my bed. Then we had mac and cheese, cucumbers, and root beer floats for supper. Haley and Evan stayed to help me do dishes after supper. We played the rhyming game that I used to play when I did dishes with my siblings. Haley and I worked in the garden picking swiss chard, sunflowers, tomatoes and zinnias. Kids talked to their folks before bed time.

Tuesday August 2

Rode 10 miles on the bike. Coffee with H&T at ggma's. Then home to play outside (CHECK) with the cousins. AT 10:15 we headed into the rec center (CHECK) with 4 oldest. Missy came at 12, and I went and swam for 20 laps. Then she swam and I took the 5 to Odebolt to pick up Denny who had driven the truck to get a check up. Then we lunched in the park (CHECK). In the afternoon the kids napped. We fixed hotdogs and ate out in the coop (CHECK). Kids have been very busy ... leggos (CHECK), mullberries, playing dressup (CHECK), and painting fingernails, doing hair, etc. Missy fixed 14 meals in one afternoon project. The smell was delicious. Denny and I sprayed weeds up at the unit

Monday August 1

Dad would have been 99 today. He died 11 years ago and he is still an important part of my life. Ran 4 miles today then to folks for a quick visit before I headed to Carroll to get the Prius serviced. They replaced front left bearing in wheel. 8:30 am until 12:15. I drove to Atlantic. Took a nap at Gails and did a little project there. At 5, I headed to meet Matt and Haley and Torren in Clarinda. I got a few groceries and at 7:15 I was heading home again with precious passengers. Got home about 10. Happy to make the trip. Great to have the grands on the farm for a couple days. They came with lists of things they would like to do. I think we will check them off. See blogs to follow.