Mt. Olympus

We had a wonderful spring break this year!  Josh was able to take vacation.  We went and spent 2 days in the Wisconsin Dells.  We got a steal of a deal and stayed at Mt. Olympus and rode roller coasters, and enjoyed the inside water park.  The boys loved it!

The next day we went to Devil's Lake.  It a a beautiful place.  Josh is discovering the rock climbing available here.   Thursday I went to the temple in St. Paul with a friend in the branch. Friday we worked around the house, and just played catch up.  Saturday, Josh went to the temple with a couple of people.  Sunday was spent celebrating Easter.  Another post hopefully coming soon on that.  But in short, it was a very nice week for our little family.

Maple Syrup Farm

 

This past Saturday we had the opportunity to go to a Maple Syrup Farm.  A family in our church farms syrup, and with the more mild winter, the trees were running (usually this is mid March), so buckets had to be put out. Josh got to tap several trees.  Can you believe 40 of these buckets to yield 1 gallon of syrup!  It is a lot of work.  This bucket can be full by the end of the day and need changed out.  They also have lids as needed to keep out bugs, dirt, rain water, etc.

This is the outhouse.

Here we are messing around on a frozen pond.  Of course, we don't own skates, but we could sure slide!  We also found a north facing hill with plenty of snow for some sledding fun.

Inside the "Sugar Shack".  The large contraption behind Josh is where they cook down the sap.  We had venison chili and hot chocolate.

Gunner is Ammon's age, but Ivan and Gunner have February birthdays.  Ivan got to be part of this cool birthday cake!  We had a great time and learned some things too.  I can't wait to go out for the pancake breakfast and have the fresh maple syrup!!

The Life in Marshfield

Wow. Marshfield. You can see the whole town in one day. Well, in ten minutes if you drive straight through. It would probably take longer to walk through the clinic then drive through the town. Cell coverage is awful. Apparently some stubborn company owned all the cell towers when Alltel was bought out by Verizon. Verizon didn't want to pay what this company wanted, so the ONLY place in the US where cell coverage doesn't work for ATT is right here for a hundred miles or so. Not that it NEVER works, it just doesn't work OFTEN.

Lots of Amish, Menonite, and Dairy farmers. Some paper mill workers, sugar plant workers. Big Land O Lakes plant not too far. Snow (but not much, the warm winter is everywhere).

I love the elementary being a block away. Kids like their teachers, and are making quick friends. I've joined the YMCA. It is very friendly. People talk and get to know you. Not like the snooty gyms in OH, where it was a fashion show. (Nice gyms but an all about ME kinda place). This YMCA is very people oriented. I like it a lot. At least 5 lbs worth. Hopefully more.

Besides the Y, not much keeping me busy. Tried to make some curtains for bedroom, but it was a fail. I did the Roman shades from blinds. They ended up short and uneven. I am such a goof ball. Maybe I should just buy some.

I'll probably check out the public library soon. I've been saving that as a place to go.

That's all. Just thought I would give a quick report.

You Asked for It.

Well, it is time to get back to blogging. Our little family now lives in Marshfield, Wisconsin far away from everyone and everything we know. It is a little lonely, and my life is slowing way down. Many of you asked that I start blogging again. So here goes...

OH MY GOODNESS! Tonight the branch presidency (our church leaders)came by our home to meet us and get to know us a little better. When they arrived I was changing Vinny's diaper. I gave the diaper to Ammon and asked him to throw it away. He threw it in the living room-whizzing past one of the counselors. And that was just the beginning.

Apparently, our boys are attention deprived here without their cousins and grandparents to show out for, so they took advantage of the audience. Ammon and Ivan had a "kick in the nads" contest and giggled. Josh said, "I promise, they did not learn that from me."

Ammon also jumped on the feet of one of the men. Orlando wasn't too bad as long as he could talk about Lego Ninjago. But Ivan was doing gymnastics, and Ammon pushed every limit to get a laugh. Luckily, they only stayed 30 minutes.

What an impression we must make.

Boys. Boys.Boys.

Lessons on Life and Love

can only come with time.
I'm so amazed that Josh loves me enough he gave up his dream job of becoming a surgeon. It has been a huge sacrifice of his talent and interests. He believed he could be happy in pathology. He knew me and the kids would be.
And, I'm amazed that I love him enough to tell him it is okay to switch back. And it is, it really is. I know it will be hard. Leaving Arkansas will be tearful. But it will be right.
We celebrate 10 years next month. I don't think we could have made such decisions starting out. With time, love is stronger, patience comes, sacrifice is worth it.
I'm looking forward to seeing Josh have a very successful career as a surgeon (after all!)
We don't know details as to where or when his training will start up again for surgery, but it will happen at the right place in the right time. He is setting up interviews.

A Bedtime Prayer to Remember

So much to catch up on, but I must write this before I forget. Ammon asked for help with his prayer, which usually means he parrots what I say. Tonight, it changed up a bit.
Me: Dear Heavenly Father
Ammon: Dear Heavenly Father
Me: We thank thee for our blessings
Ammon: We thank thee for my mama
Me: We thank thee for our teachers
Ammon: We thanks for our teacher, mama
Me: We love thee
Ammon: We love our mama
Me: In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Ammon: In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

So, so sweet, I had tears in my eyes! And it makes up for all of the rottenness I put up with!! Love that boy, and all my boys. The youngest who desperately needs a blogpost of his own has a tooth shining through already! Go Vince!

You don't have to go to Washington. . .

Sunday morning we went to the graveyard. We showed the boys the soldier graves and taught them, hopefully, a little about those who sacrificed for our country. Many civil war soldiers are buried here in Arkansas as well as each war since. The graves of the unknown touch me the most.
When we left, Orlando stopped and spontaneously said the Pledge of Allegiance. I felt pride and joy for my country and its future.
I remember:
My dad who served in Korea
My step dad who did land surveying in Panama while in the Army
My grandpa Smith who was a parachute in WWII and a POW -Our son, Vincent, is his name's sake.
I also remember my aunt and Uncle who lived in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was bombed-it was 3 years before they saw each other again-He went to report to his commander, she was shipped in a zig zag pattern (to avoid submarines) back to CA. She was pregnant and the daughter was 3 when she met her father.
My brother who serves currently in the Army National Guard.

Thank you, Veterans, Soldier, Heroes. May God bless and keep you until we meet again.