SMALL TOWN U.S.A.

ONE DAY AS WE WERE GOING TO MY MOM'S THEY HAD A NEW TRAFFIC SIGN IN PLACE. NOTICE THE SIGN UNDER 'STOP' REALLY YOU GOTTA STOP. ARE THEY REMINDING THE DEER OR WILD PIGS THAT COME NEAR THERE HOME TO STOP OR WHAT.

THEN I THOUGHT DOWN MEMORY LANE GROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN (BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU IT WAS THE BIG TOWN COMPARED TO THOSE AROUND US) WE HAD ABOUT 1,000 JR. HIGH STUDENTS COMPRISING OF 3 COMMUNITIES. IT WAS LOTS OF FUN.

WE LIVED NEXT TO THE SCHOOL I WENT TO, I REMEMBER GOING HOME FOR LUNCH, EVERYONE KNEW MY DAD BECAUSE HE RODE HIS BIKE THROUGH THE PLAYGROUND EVERYDAY FOR LUNCH, I WAS SO PROUD. MANY HOURS OF FUN WERE SPENT THERE. I THINK FOR A FEW YEARS I ALMOST LIVED THERE WHEN I WOULD ROLLER SKATE ALL DAY EVEN COMING HOME I HAD TO HAVE MY SKATES ON UNLESS AT SCHOOL, I THINK THEY WERE ATTACHED TO ME. EVERY CHRISTMAS WHEN DAD WOULD PUT UP THE LIGHTS I WOULD BEG HIM IN JANUARY TO KEEP THEM UP SO I COULD SKATE ON THE SNOW PLOWED CAR PORT WITH THE LIGHTS BECAUSE IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I THINK DAD SHOVLED IT JUST FOR ME. THOSE WERE GREAT TIMES.

WHEN OUR TOWN GOT IT'S MCDONALDS I THINK THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WENT TO CELEBRATE ITS OPENING FROM ALL THE COUNTY. WE SHOULD HAVE WALKED FROM HOME IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN QUICKER TO GET THERE.

WHEN I WAS IN FIRST GRADE WE HAD A HUGH BLIZZARD AND SCHOOL WAS LET OUT EARLY, ONLY MY HEAD WAS SHOWING TO GUIDE ME HOME. I SAW NO SIDEWALKS AND I DROPPED INTO THE DITCH AND MY HEAD WAS COVERED SO I HAD TO STEP OUT AND CONTINUE ON THAT HAPPENED ABOUT 3 TIMES. WHEN I GOT HOME THE ELECTRICITY WAS OUT. I WAS RELIEVED TO SEE MY MOM THERE.

EACH SUMMER MY DAD WOULD GROW A BOUNTIFUL GARDEN WITH GOOD THINGS TO EAT. PICKING STRAWBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES OFF THE BUSHES WAS DIVINE AND SO SWEET, I'M SURE I ATE MORE THAN MOM EVER BOTTLED. NO ONE COULD BEAT MY DAD'S CANDY CORN SOMETIMES I THINK WE JUST HAD CORN FOR DINNER. ALL THE ROWS OF PEA BUSHES WERE DELICIOUS AND SWEET OFF THE BUSHES BUT ALL THE HOURS OF PODING THE PEAS WERE WELL WORTH IT. THE SWEET TASTE O A FRESH TOMATO SANDWICH ON HOMEMADE BREAD WITH A LITTLE MAYO AND SALT AND PEPPER ON TOP, I CAN EAT A FRESH TOMATO SANDWICH MORNING, NOON OR NIGHT. DURING THE SUMMER MANY A MONDAY NIGHT FOR FAMILY NIGHT WAS SPENT WEEDING THE GARDEN. EVERY FALL WHEN THE HARVEST WAS IN WE WOULD MAKE A BIG BON FIRE AND ROAST HOT DOGS AND HAVE SMORES FOR DINNER. SWEET MEMORIES THAT HAVE LASTED A LIFETIME.

LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN IS A GOOD THING WHEN YOUR A KID AND THE TIMES TOGETHER ARE GREAT.

NEW TALENTS

OUR PRIMARY HAD AN EVENING OF TALENTS AND CULTURE BY MY SURPRISE REBECCA CHOSE TO DO EXERCISE SAMPLER. SHE DID JUMPING JACKS, SIT UPS AND A SPIDER CRAWL. IT WAS SO CUTE AND CREATIVE, WE LOVED IT.

HERE WAS MY SECOND SURPRISE NATALIE WANTED TO DO THE HULA HOOP FOR HER TALENT AT ONE POINT SHE WAS USING TWO AT A TIME. SHE WAS VERY CREATIVE.

FOR THE FINALE BOTH WERE IN A COMBINED DANCE THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT, THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN AND HAVE ENJOYED REPEATING SOME OF THE MOVES SINCE THAT NIGHT. I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF SUCH TALENTS FOR THEM BUT THEY ARE THE MASTERS OF HIDDEN TALENTS AND WE LOVE IT.

1 Orange

Last year we planted 2 orange trees that have done alright. By luck one of them produced an orange. We did not ecpect to have any fruot for at least 2 years. It tasted okay but I hope when we get a more productive tree it will be sweeter and juicer.

This week the kids went back to school and enjoyed it immensley. I've been sick so I'm glad too.

Yesterday the kids helped clean the house so well so we went to the park and had a picnic and play. It was alot of fun.!

DOGGY, DOGGY, WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?

AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER CRAIG WAS LOOKING ON CRAIGS LIST AT THE ANIMALS AND WE FOUND THIS FREE DOG TO GOOD HOME. WELL THE SOFT HEART THAT I HAVE WE DECIDED TO GO LOOK AT HER. ITS BEEN GREAT SHE IS JUST PERFECT FOR OUR FAMILY SHE DOESN'T JUMP ON US AND SHE ENDURES ALL THE CHILDRENS LOVE AND ATTENTION TO HER. HER ONLY DRAW BACK IS SHE IS A BARKER. BUT WE HAVE MORE FUN WITH HER. HER NAME IS NELLIE.

CHRISTMAS 2009

ON CHRISTMAS EVE OUR FAMILY HAS A TRADITION OF EVERYONE GETTING NEW JAMMIES.  WE WANT TO LIIK GOOD FOR CHRISTMAS PICTURES IN THE MORNING.

NATALIE GOT MANY FUN THINGS FOR CHRISTMAS.  LOOK AT THAT SMILE.  IS THAT TO MAKE JEWELY WITH.

REBECCA RECIEVED LOTS OF THINGS ALSO.  SHE WAS HAPPY ALL THE DAY. THE SKATES WERE THE MOST FUN SHE HAD THEM ON ALL MORNING.

 

LINDSAY KNEW ABOUT PRESENTS THIS YEAR SHE RIPPED THE PAPER THE QUICKEST.  HER FAVORITE THING WAS HER DORA HELMET SOMETIMES SHE WEARS IT JUST FOR FUN.

 

A NEW TRADITION WE STARTED THIS YEAR WAS BEFORE WE OPENED OUR PRESENT WE DREW NAMES AND WROTE A HEART FELT LETTER ABOUT THE PERSON WE CHOSE AND TOLD THEM WHAT WE WISHED FOR THEM.

PIANO RECITAL

SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL I WANTED TO TAKE PIANO LESSONS ALTHOUGH I TOOK PIANO LATER IN LIFE I AM SO GRATEFUL MY CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO TAKE WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG. THERE I TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN NATALIE FIRST GETS HER NEW SONGS FOR THE WEEK. AFTER A FEW DAYS WE DO NOT HAVE CRYING ANYMORE AND SHE IS HAPPY AND WHEN ITS TIME FOR HER LESSON SHE IS EXCITED AND CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY. SISTER MCCOOK HAS BROUGHT OUT HER SHINING STAR IN NATALIE. WHEN I LISTEN TO HER PLAY I GET ALL TINGLY AND HAPPY INSIDE AND ENJOY HER PROGRESS EVERY WEEK. THIS DECEMBER FOR HER RECITAL HER TEACHER HAD THEM GO TO A NURSING HOME AND PLAY FOR THE RESIDENTS THERE. THEY APPRECIATED IT AND WERE SO GLAD TO SEE ALL THE CHILDREN. NATALIE DID A FANTASTIC JOB PLAYING, THE "TRUMPET SONG' AND 'JINGLE BELLS'

WE ENJOY ALL OF NATALIE'S MANY TALENTS AND WERE GLAD SHE'S IN OUR FAMILY.

SOCCER NEWS

NATALIE HAS TRULY ENJOYED SOCCER I DON'T THINK SHE EVEN COMPLAINED ONCE WITH ALL THE PRACTICES AND GAMES. I CAN'T SAY HER MOTHER DIDN'T COMPLAIN THOUGH. COACH JOHN WAS GREAT AND TRULY CARED AND WANTED TO HELP EACH CHILD DO HER BEST.

NATALIE LIKED MAKING THE GOALS SHE MADE AT LEAST ONE IN ALMOST ALL HER GAMES. ONE GAME SHE MADE 4 GOALS WE ALMOST COULDN'T KEEP TRACK. COACH JOHN HELPED ME ON PASSING AND ONE TIME HE HELPED ME DRIBBLE.