Busy mid-week chaos is when I especially love the type A, multitasking boy. He knows how to get the job done - and well - with little parental support.

His only question was, "Mom!!What's your favorite variable? Most people use "x". I like "n", too." Which just left me wondering, what is my favorite variable??

Tonight, we had to organize Harper for her share day at school tomorrow. She had a bag in which she could pack some special items to show her friends. We also created a picture collage of some special people.

Then, we practiced the presentation and it went something like this... (For the record, I tried to video the practice, she refused, so I am using my best memory for the rest of this post.)

"Ok. Let's start with the pictures. Here are the pictures of all my special people. Ok, it's not actually ALL my special people, because I have a lot of them. These are the special people my mama found pictures of and that I could glue on the page. We had lots and lots of pictures, but not enough pages. My papa and grandpa and mollie and boo boo and kylee and tommy are special but not on the page." (This is where I interrupt and tell the girl to stick to the script. And she asks "what's that? I don't have one." And I regret my word choice, yet again. Get to the point!!)

"So here's my family, my whole family. This is me and my Grammy. Her name is Grammy. This is me and my Grampy, but his name is Grampy. His name is Grampy and Doug, too. This is my auntie. Her name is Colie, but also Nicole. My name is Nicole, too, because my mama wanted her sister to have the same name as me. And we have the same favorite book. I'll read it to you next. It's called "the paper bag princess" and the princess wears a bag and doesn't get married after all. This is my brother. He's a good brother and we are sitting on a rock at Rose Lake. That's where my Grammy and Grampy live, but they used to live on a farm." (Another interruption - move it along...)

Here's some really cute pictures when I was two and we were walking somewhere. This is me and my TT. She's not my auntie, just my T. She has 2 babies and guess where one is???? IN HER TUMMY!!! Yes, there are two babies, but only one is in her tummy and the others a real girl named LoLA!

(Interruption number 3... Poor Mrs. Hurdt, this share time may just take all morning long... God bless those kindergarten teachers.)

Candy Bars for sale!  Premium candy bars for sale!!  Scrumptious, delicious, crunchy, gooey candy bars for sale!!

The kids (ie: Bennett) is selling candy bars for a fundraiser for Kidstop.  Currently, he has sold $100 worth of bars, by scouring the neighborhood.  He's a pretty good salesman.  The kid who sells the most, wins a $100 gift card to the destination of their choice.  I was trying to convince the boy that Chipolte would be a great place for a gift card - but he was pretty sure he wanted a card from Cabellas.  Argh.

So, just let me know if you want to buy some - they are a $1/piece. :)

Bennett had an assignment for social studies to interview his oldest relative - whom he decided was Papa. He called Papa to set up a time to begin the interview earlier in the week.  Today was the appointment, so Bennett set himself up to take notes during the conference call.  Bennett learned all about Papa's childhood, and compared it to his own.  Papa talked about the difference in communicating with family ("there was only face to face - we didn't even use the phone and there was no internet." gasp!) and what he did for fun ("sledding and fishing and church pot lucks") and the favorite topic was differences in our daily luxuries.

Bennett finished his interview, loving all the "historical information" (his words) and pretty sure he would get an "A".  (ok, he's not going to get an "A".  They do not give letter grades.  He will likely get a 3, or a 4.  I didn't want to turn this blog posting into an explanation of standards based reporting. However, if you would like my opinion on the topic, just let me know...  It would be a simulating conversation, I'm sure.)

Hopefully, not the last fire of the season, but we are running out of wood!

Wonder why...

I'm For the last 12 years, Lundeen has been trying to get me to wear the Becker blue to a game, and I always told him that I would definitely support the team if and when I ever left Milaca and he was still coaching a Conzeimus boy.  That day had arrived.

So, Friday night was spent under the lights, as Ms. Ray and I headed to Milaca to watch the Becker vs. Milaca high school football game.  I have been super excited because I was able to connect with my favorite Conzemius cousin and my favorite team.

I miss them. all. like a lot.  

It's all about finding the routine these first few weeks of school...  We are still desperately seeking a successful routine.  The house is a disaster, and the kids haven't really had a tub (wet wipe wipe down, anyone??) but the homework is complete and the daily reading logged.  We are getting there.  And in suburban cliche "little houses in little rows" each morning the bags are packed and stacked

so it totally looks like we have our sh$% together.

Happy happy birthday love to our favorite TWO year old tot. 

We hope your day is full of big, fat belly laughs. 

Finally - Meaner is back!!!  It's been almost a month without our favorite guitar man...  We have missed him (and "we" haven't really been practicing much... oops.  maybe he won't notice???)

Well, what should we do this afternoon?  We have some left over crop, along with left over whiskey and ginger ale, and I think there are some jars in the basement...

We haven't seen Wes and Rita in a hundred years, so it seemed appropriate to hop down to the river for a weekend playing outside with our Papa and Grandma.  Lucky us - Uncle Eric and Auntie Amy decided to join us after a day of soccer tournaments.  The weather was beautiful, and we took a boat ride to Muffy's.  

It went too fast, and is always too much fun.

Last year, we were throwing the biggest surprise party for 40 years...  While that was fun, 41 was even more with 15# of crab, a giant fire that was burning when we got home from school, and an early darkness that allowed longer night games.  

Happy 41, Boo Boo.  xo

Sabre Pride Day!

 (another day H was not impressed with...)

"I don't like blue, MAMA!!"

Jersey Day! 

(Not the gnome's favorite...)

WaCkY WeDnEsDaY!!!