Kevin & Rosie

We flew Kevin out for a visit to Wisconsin May 14-19, 2009.  He was a GREAT help with moving, as that is the weekend we moved from our rental to our new house.  We all had a good visit with Kevin but Rosie especially had a great time with Kevin.  They went exploring in the woods behind us, played with Henry, and played on the swing set.  Here are some pictures from eating out at the Wausau Mine Company and watching TV.

Mother's Day - Marigolds

Mother's Day 2009 started off a little rocky this year.  I think it was because my mom had just left back to Idaho the day before and I was going to be lonely again.  Unfortunately, we didn't make it to church in the morning because we couldn't get up and out the door in time.  We did leave the house a little late and try to make it to church, but realized halfway to church we forgot extra pull-ups and wipes for Rosie, and she just pooped her pants.  So we headed home.  The day was not lost. We had a good breakfast, loaded the car up with stuff to move to the new house, and planted Marigolds.  Rose has been watching a TV show on Noggin called Max & Ruby.  In one episode, Ruby planted Marigolds.  So, for Mother's Day, Rose and I planted Marigolds.

Rosie with the Marigold seeds.

"I'm ready to plant Marigolds, Mommy"

Planting the seeds in the dirt

Covering all the seeds up with dirt

Watering the newly planted Marigolds with our new watering can

Happy Mother's Day!

Thankful Thursday

I friend of mine does this on her blog, and I thought it was a great idea, so thought I would give it a shot.  My goal is to share what I am thankful for on Thursdays.

I woke up this morning with the intention of posting a Thankful Thursday.  As I opened my daily devotional, this was this mornings topic, "Decide to be Positive"  Here is what todays devotional stated, quoted from Joyce Meyer,  Starting Your Day Right Devotions

"Negative people don't enjoy life.  Viewing each day with positive expectations is one of the key principles to godly happiness.

We act on what we believe, so positive thoughts cause positive actions.  If you want a positive live, begin thinking positive thoughts. It is easy to do so if you read the Word and meditate on all that God wants to do for you and through you. Get alone today, and think about all the good, positive things God has done for you in the past, and all He has planned for you in the future."

I wanted to share this because I thought it was appropriate thing to start my day with especially with starting Thankful Thursdays.

Thanks be to God for.....

1. The house that God has provided for us.  (I really like my new house)
2. Warm weather to go outside and play.
3. Time to be home with my daughter.
4. My husband, who is so gracious and kind in all my craziness.

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Visit with Grandma Ellie and Papa Ron

Grandma Ellie and Papa Ron came out for a visit to Wausau, WI, the end of April, beginning of May. While they were here, we visited the Mall of America, Andy and I closed on the house we purchased, saw the local sights, visited a dairy, went to the Geological Marker, and Dad and Andy worked on the new house a little - patching holes from previous pictures and installing a garbage disposal.  Also, Dad wired up Rosie's new play room.  It was so good to have them here, wish they didn't have to go back to Idaho.

Rosie and Papa Ron playing with Legos at the Lego store in Mall of America

Photo opp with Dora and Boots

Hang on Grandma Ellie

Sponge Bob hats

Old Time photos

Old Time photos.  Rose LOVED her dress and feather in her hair, she didn't want to take it off when we were done with the photos.  She also kept saying she was so beautiful.  It was too cute!

At the Carnival of the Animals.  Rosie made a tie for Daddy.  Andy is showing it off.  Elliot Gould was in town for the Carnival of the Animals.  We saw him at the Downtown Groceries in Downtown Wausau.  

Cows at the dairy farm.  They milk 3000 cows three times per day.  That is A LOT of milk.

The Geological Marker.  Here is what the geological marker reads: 

This spot in Section 14, in the Town of Rietbrock, Marathon County is the exact center of the Northern Half of the Western Hemisphere.  It is here that the 90th Meridian of Longtitude bisects the 45th Parallel of Latitude, meaning it is exactly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator, and is a quarter of the way around the earth from Greenwich, England.

I call these the "Oreo Cows".  I've NEVER seen cows like this before.  These cows are from a farm next to the freeway as we head west from Wausau, WI to Minneapolis, MN

We had a GREAT time with my folks here.  I just hope next time they come out, its when it is warm and there are leaves on the trees.  It is amazing to see here in spring.  When my parents arrived there were no leaves on the trees and by the time they left 10 days later, the trees had leaves and the grass what turning green.  

I hope to be posting more about what we have been doing this May soon.  Happy Reading!

The Giving Tree

This evening the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum had a special event for youth and families. "In honor of Earth Day, families hear Shel Silverstein's story The Giving Tree and then plant a tree seed in a decorative container created using recycled materials"  Pre-registration was required and the event was FREE.  Gotta love that!  Kevin and Ryan gave Rose The Giving Tree book this past Christmas, so of course we had to go..

We decorated recycled plastic containers with materials that have been donated to the museum, examples include fabric, beads, tissue paper, Popsicle sticks, yarn, etc. Once our container was decorated, we planted a Sugar Maple Tree, Wisconsin's Official State Tree.  To learn more about Wisconsin's Official State Symbols, check out the Symbols of Wisconsin.

The Giving Tree

by Shel Silverstein

Rose named her tree, "TREE".  When we got home from our Earth Day event, Rose wanted to eat her corn dog sitting next to her tree.  So, we had dinner outside next to Tree.  Hopefully Tree will live until we close on our house next week so we can plant it at our new house.

Prairie Chicken Festival

I had grabbed a Steven's Point Visitor Guide book one day coming out of a store and was looking through it to see what activities there are to do in Steven's Point during the year.  Steven's Point is only 30 miles south of Wausau, so I figured it's close enough to go to activities in Steven's Point this year too.  As we are new to the Central Wisconsin Area, I am always looking for fun and new activities.  When I came across the Prairie Chicken Festival held April 17-19, 2009, I was intrigued.  Never heard of a Prairie Chicken, let alone a whole festival based on it.  Well, of course we had to go!  Much to our surprise, it was not a festival of eating prairie chickens, or purchasing prairie chickens to bring home as pets to raise.  It was, however, a "Celebrations of the Grasslands", bringing awareness of grassland conservation on behalf of the Prairie Chicken and other grassland inhabitants. 

We pulled into the festival grounds, which consisted of an old farm house, a tent where they were giving bird banding demonstrations, a tent of children's activities (Rose had fun making buttons and binoculars), a few picnic tables, and a food vendor of BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches.  Needless to say it was a low key afternoon, but it was fun and interesting.  We did run into an acquaintance from church, so that was nice to sit and chat with him for while.  Not only did they have these activities at the festival grounds, there was a silent auction, book sale, and author reading and presentations at a near by elementary school.  Of course we had to stop by there too, because we were all about experiencing the entire festival.  Well, we did miss a few things - the 4:00 am Prairie Chicken Viewing in the blinds and breakfast to follow.  Also, we missed the Prairie Chicken Calling Contest, wish we could have been there for that.

All in all, it was a good relaxing day and we may have to go to the Prairie Chicken Festival again next year.

Rose with her binoculars

Rose playing I Spy on Daddy

Renee, Rosie, and Andy at the Prairie Chicken Festival

Boomer Bob, the Prairie Chicken 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

Easter Sunday was a fun filled day remembering the death and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, going to church, hanging out with friends, and coloring easter eggs.

Rose woke up early Sunday morning, came into our room so we could find what the Easter Bunny brought her.  We went to the couch to find Rosie's easter basket and gifts.  Then off to church for the 8:00 service.  Rose stayed with us for the worship part of service and really enjoyed dancing to the worship music.  She was also showing the little girl next to us her Elmo easter bunny eggs. After church we headed to some friends house for easter brunch and they had an easter egg hunt outside for the kids.  Rose was more excited about playing on the swing set than the easter egg hunt, but she did find some eggs.  After nap time, Rose and Andy colored easter eggs.   

Here's what the Easter Bunny brought

Rosie showing off her WALL-E toothpaste

Look!  It's Max & Ruby 

(its her new favorite TV show, the Easter Bunny brought her a DVD)

Okay, I'm ready to start baking

Here is Rosie in her easter dress, she looks so thrilled to have her picture taken

Easter Egg hunt

Rosie and her friend Trent playing in the sand box

Using the magic crayon to write on the easter egg

Look at all the easter eggs we colored, can we color more?