And so it begins

Karl's Check for $50 (Quite the Adventure)

So on Sunday as we were coming home from church, we turned the corner from 24th Avenue onto 30th Street.  As I got ready to turn, I saw a UHaul trailer parked in front of the huge dumpster in front of Karl's house.  The back of the Uhaul was open and it was full of stuff.  Standing inside the dumpster was a guy, and in the back of the Uhaul was another guy.  They were planning on using Karl's dumpster to clear out a half of a Uhaul.  So I rolled down the window and asked them what they were doing.  The guy got a bit beligerent and said, "Is this your property?" with the attitude of "mind your own business."  So I parked in front of the Uhaul (to block it in) and got out to chat further with them.  As I drove around the Uhaul to park, I noticed that these mouth-breathing booger-eaters had another car PARKED in Karl's driveway.  So I parked in such a way to block in both vehicles.  

So after one of the guys cussed at me, I pulled out my phone and started taking pictures.  I told them that what they were doing was not right.  And then I continued taking pictures.  

As the car didn't have license plates, I took a picture of the permit in the back window of the car. 

As I came around the Uhaul to get pictures of the license plate, the gentleman driving it rolled down his window to talk.  

He said that, "in defense of the boys, they did walk up to the house and knock.  Since no one answered we just assumed the owner wouldn't mind us unloading our stuff in the dumpster."  Being as cool as the other side of the pillow, I laughed and asked him if he would mind if someone took advantage of him like that.  What would he think if his house got flooded out, that he was forced to live in a hotel for months, and then three guys show up at his place, take advantage of him, and cause him to pay more money out of pocket?  I told him it was wrong, unfair of him, and I forget what else.  The driver said I was totally right and that he would pay for what they left in the dumpster and sent the other guys off quickly (one of the guys walked up and acted like he was trying to get into an argument with me until the driver told them to get lost).  I told him he could wait another 10 minutes and ask my father-in-law in person for usage of the dumpster and then could pay for the usage of the dumpster.  The car sped off quickly, and the Uhaul high-tailed it out of there, too.  

Karl said today that he found a check for $50 in his mailbox this morning for the use of the dumpster.  How awesome is that?  AWESOME!!!!

Esther

Hope's Artful Expressions on the iPad

100 Days of School

So here's something I learned.  Apparently the 100th day of school is a big deal down here.  I'd never heard of it before Gideon was in school.  I talked to the kids in my youth group about it and they'd all heard of it.  So I guess it's a thing down here.  

So Gideon was able to dress up in what he thought he'd look like when he is 100 years old.  He dressed up in Sunday best, and Kathee put some baby powder in his hair, and off he went.  He thought he looked pretty good.  

At school they had things to snack on that had 100 items, read some Doc Seuss book with the number 100 in it, etc.  

As you have been able to see the last months, my iPhone camera is junk (not real crisp) but I think you get the idea.  And in reality, I think most are interested in the pictures anyway.  

Butter Rolls

Our friends, Nick, Melanie, and Carsten McKittrick came over tonight for supper.  Since Gideon and I are enjoying making bread in the bread machine, I thought I'd experiment with making butter rolls.  The process took WAY longer than I thought.  And when the dough was finished, I had to take out the dough, knead it, and then put it in a muffin pan.  Well, I couldn't knead the dough as it was unworkable.   I got lots of ribbing, but said I was going to carry it on to completion.  After all, how was I to learn otherwise?  So I let them rise for an hour, then baked them in the oven.  

They are delicious.  

Swimming at Grandpa's!!!

Think they are ready?

Who is this girl's parents?

As you can see, Hope loves her princess dress that she received from my brother Nathan's family for Christmas.  She literally wears it everyday.  

I ask her a lot, "are you my pretty little girl?" And when wearing her princess dress, she responds, "no, I'm your pretty little princess."

So I'm not sure how she became an RPG launcher today when we went to the airport to pick up Grandpa Smith as he returned from a week doing ministry in Guatemala.  

Perfect RPG launcher positioning.  Has the boots on for battle.  The dress just doesn't seem to fit the combat situation, however.

Cave Dwellers?

So we've had some snow here this winter.  I've waited 12 years for a winter like this! 

When I lived at 8354 in Dubuque, there was always a large snow pile by the driveway.  I loved building snow caves in it and then climbing in.  It was so fun.

So this year we have enough snow.  So I tried my hand again at building one for the kids.  It was funny watching the kids as I started.  "what are you building, Papa?"  I built it large enough so that both kids can fit into it at the same time.  Actually, I can fit in it comfortably.  Lest you worry, the kids can't play in it unless I'm with them.  I love winter!  And I'm glad my kids are learning to love it, too.  Too bad we are moving south for next winter.

Esther Joins us for meals now

The Bloodhound

"I am the dog-world's best detective, 

My sleuthing nose is so effective,

I sniff the guilty from a distance,

And then they lead a doomed existence."

This is the poem Gideon recited at Poetry Days on Friday.

Each child was given a poem to memorize and recite. He was given The Bloodhound.  Some other kids got poems by Isaac Watts.  Not sure Gideon's poem was on the same level of a a Watts poem, but he knocked it out of the park nonetheless.

My favorite part was watching him try to hand the other two the mic.  He patiently held it out.  They wouldn't take it (I presume he was told to hand it to them....just following orders).  Finally he dropped his hand down and just shook his head.  It was hilarious.  He did a great job!

The Cooker

Lately, for whatever reason, Gideon and I have been cooking together.  A few weeks ago he helped me make bread pudding.  Yesterday, for the Super Bowl, he helped me make wings.  We had tons of fun, so much so that he helped me bake a loaf of bread in the bread maker today (he chose to make oatmeal bread).  

The wings were delicious!