Nodaway Valley Christian Academy

... is now in session! I was surprised how hard the kids worked today! I think they've really missed school. Well, maybe it was just better than raking the grass their dad told them to, but anyway...

We started the day pretty lacksidazical... I was coloring my hair when Mallory decided she wanted some red streaks in her hair. Well, I didn't see a problem with that, so we girls messed around for a while and the boys were pretty mesmerized by the whole process (sorry, girls, they now know a couple of our beauty secrets). But we were working by 9:30 and they were so focused! We really had a nice start up. Then this afternoon we went to Eythan and Elisa's house for a workshop and really didn't want to leave! Just a really great time.

Well, when you go to town you have to do a bit of shopping. We made a stop at Walmart and the boys just HAD to do a bit of their own shopping. They got a little playhouse for the kitties. For all the spending they think they have to do, this was one I couldn't help. I let them and they've been downstairs all night with them. Here's hoping the kitties are impressed too!!

Blogged down

I am so far behind I don't think there's any catching up for me!! Well, that's not completely true. I got pretty well caught up with the laundry yesterday, but you know how long that will last!! Exciting life, my friend. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Wait, I have the world!! ...mine anyway...

Well, we just got back from Wisconsin, and it seems just in the nick of time. We drove through a lot of storms in WI and Minnesota, and then I hear that several people, homes and cars were simply washed away! Last time we went, they were in such a drought. The crops were all burned up and it just looked so sad. The rains were nice while we were there, but they must have gotten a lot worse on our way out.

But anyway, Nana took the kids swimming at the pool, Papa took Daddy and Matthew fishing a couple times, and then they sent us away! We've been talking about sending the kids up there for a week sometime, so Michael suggested we leave for a night and see how they all do. Nana said she wanted two days!! So we went to Oshkosh and did a little shopping and a lot of relaxing, and it sounds like everyone at home had a really wonderful time.

Saturday, Papa took us to the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture Museum. We really enjoyed seeing flight come to life from Orville and Wilbur Wright's first plane to some of the experimental space crafts and other makings of history! They also had several displays explaining flight using air pressure and wing shape, displays of flight clothing including the patches and wings of pilots and a lot on WWII, where many of the innovations came from necessity. This may have been the kids' first museum of any kind, and it was a great place to start. It was geared toward kids' love of touching, making noise, and just being able to explore. We all had a really great time.

We really couldn't believe how fast our week went by, but we also couldn't wait to get home to the pets. Bonnie and Clyde wouldn't let the boys in the house, so Mallory and I went to check on Pete and Peachy. They were very well, but much bigger than when we left! It's nice to be home, but we already miss Nana and Papa.

Morgan's Birthday

Well, if anyone's looking back this far, I just discovered that I forgot to post poor Morgan's birthday photo. This is my new castle cake set up that looks really fun. Unfortunately, I got it just a day before Morgan's party so I didn't really have time to do up a really neat castle. Poor Morgan. He was going to have me try to do Percy instead of Thomas this year, but I came home with that and he changed his mind. I knew there was no way to do what we saw on the package, so I got some m & m's and just let him go with them!! It was lots of fun for all of us!! Happy Birthday Morgan!!

That darn cat

This is Pete & Peachy. After much debate, this is what we're calling them. The Siamese is Pete or Petey or Sweetie Petey or Stinky Pete... depends on the timing! The little black marble tabby is Matthew's Peachy, and this cat is all Matthew's. She even picked him! She sleeps up in his top bunk with him, watches TV with him, and even stays around his feet when he's eating or doing homework. They are truly two of a kind, too. Running, jumping, climbing, fussing, tearing up my furniture... at least I can declaw one of them. She's in for a big surprise then! She actually climbs his bunk bed. It's a wood one, so she digs right in. He did actually clear off his dresser so she could jump up there, but she prefers to climb. Just like him!!
I really like my fat, lazy Petey!

This is the life

This is why I wanted a bay window. Michael has it filled with plants, and that's fine; that's why I had it covered with formica. But this is what makes me smile. Happy cats. This is also right by my computer, so it makes for a happy blogging spot!!