Twins

We are having TWINS! I feel a strong connection to this bird that can produce something THAT large when it's so much smaller. I can relate. Somewhat. Sorry for the horrible pictures. The lengths I had to go through to get that picture....with an angry Mama chirping at me the whole time. Finally had to resort to my point-and-shoot camera (after being impaled by the tree 23 times) and I can't edit and adjust at all with that thing. Photoshop wouldn't even let me use it on these pictures...they were just too horrible. Denied me access. Just couldn't lower itself. How long will it take to hatch? Anyone know? Also, does anyone know if camera flash permanently blinds baby birds? Because I fully intend on documenting the birth.

So Excited!

I am a weed Nazi. Each day after school I walk around the house and pull any and all weeds that I see. I also pick up any stray stick, piece of paper, flower petal, or any other foreign object that may have tried to take root in the landscape around my humble home. Because I do it every day, there is never much to pick up. Therefore, you can imagine how horrified I was to come across this after school today. Immediately I knew something was not right. That junk had not been there the day before. Did the kids drag this crap into the rocks while playing baseball? They like to drive me nuts by creating holes in the river rock as they run through it. I can't stand it. Trying not to show my Kate Gosselin side, but it's hard. Maybe I missed when it rained real hard during the day, knocking sticks to the ground. I started to investigate. I saw more foreign material in the tree itself. As I looked closer I thought I saw something. Is that what I think it is? A bird has taken up residence in my tree!! I am so excited! Occasionally birds will use this tree to build a nest, but I had all but given up this year. I figured all the birds had found a place by now (don't assume since I teach science that I know all there is to know about nature and breeding, people). I can't wait to see what happens. I hope all my picture taking didn't scare Mama away. I will keep you posted! I would like to live in this tree too...wouldn't you? (Please ignore the dead impatients in the barrel. How does one kill impatients? Honestly....) Peace out Peeps, LB

The Zoo, Bon Jovi, and an incredible gift

Talk about a perfect day.... We woke up to a rainy, pissy day in southern MN. Mike had to work half day and I lounged around all morning enjoying the fact that I got 120 projects corrected during my evenings this week and had NO papers to grade! WOO HOO! I can't tell you have good that feels. I called Mike and we started talking about the afternoon. He had looked at the weather and noted that just 30 miles north, it was clear and sunny. That was enough for both of us. We decided to head up the MN Zoo and, if nothing else, enjoy the weather! Turned out to be a perfect day. The dolphins are not doing shows for awhile, but we could still go in and watch them train. We also love the bird show at the zoo so we made it to the last days performance. A new Russian exhibit was also opened and we checked out the bears. The whole time we were walking through the zoo, Connor was belting out Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer. There is nothing quiet about that child and he didn't care who stared. While he was singing it over and over and over and over....I noticed he was not singing the words exactly right. I finally asked him to talk the lyrics out to me. Connor's version of the chorus of Living on a Prayer: Ohhhhhh, I'm half way there OH, OH. livin' on a prayer Take my hand, a bucket I swear. OH, OH, Livin' on a prayer! .....a bucket. A bucket of what I wonder? Today FROM THE HEART presented the Hilstad family with a check for $19,000. Can you believe that? I still can't get over it. What a huge testimony to Lisa and how her earthly spirit certainly touched so many people. The rest of the weekend will consist of a BBQ with my parents, and a trip to see Night at the Museum. We almost saw it at the zoo today, but it was outrageously expensive on the Imax big screen. I should probably do some laundry too....but it might have to wait until I am really, really bored.

Weekend

We took Friday off this week. We kept the kids out of school and headed up to GRAND SLAM in Lakeville. This indoor sports arena packs a serious amount of fun into a small place. Batting cages, laser tag, mini-golf, video games, bumper cars, and a ball room/climbing area made this place a boys heaven. I did not pose them like this.....I swear! We had a great time and left very sweaty! It was the first time playing laser tag for all of us and we all agreed it was a blast! They let us go alone as a foursome once and that scared Connor a little. It was too quiet and they really cranked up the fog and there were areas where we couldn't see a thing! Got to be a little much for him. You would go a long time without seeing anyone because it was 2 levels. The boys enjoyed the pitching machines just as much as laser tag. There were different speeds and Mike even tried 65 miles an hour...I won't comment on how that went! (In his defense, it looked like a bullet coming out of that machine) We enjoyed a sinful dinner and glass of wine at the Olive Garden and even made a stop for some strawberry plants, a trellis for my clematis, and some new pots. Saturday was a busy day. We had soccer for both kids and it was FREEZING! I wore my winter coat and mittens and was wrapped in a blanket and I was still cold. The things we do for our children..... Saturday afternoon was the Shriner's parade. Many of you know that my dad and brother are both Shriners so we went downtown for that. Noah and Connor were asked by our neighbors to ride along with them in their Volkswagon bug in the parade. Our neighbors are the founders of Grandparents for Education and are just getting support from the community so they asked the Shriners if they could march in the parade as well. My dad Tonight Mike and I are hoping to watch THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. We rented it last night and never got around to watching it because I couldn't stop wacthing THIS. So, although it about kills Mike to pay a late fee on movies we rent, he's going to have to this time because I hear good things about this movie so I must watch it before taking it back! In other news, I finalized plans to go and see my sweet friend in Indiana right when school gets out. I can't wait. It's been a horribly tough spring without her. Mike and I will also meet her and her boyfriend in Chicago this July. Is there anything better than Chicago in the summer? See you soon TK! Hope your weekend is peaceful. LB