Ear Infection…

Welcome Back!

Sam has been battling an ear infection. An ear infection means no swimming, but he had a friend’s birthday get together at Adventureland where they might do the water slides, so that meant earplugs!

At the first stop we found some swimming earplugs that were actually tether together! Handy if one should pop out of your ear when swimming, but not very fashionable!

But they do look cute hanging around his neck!

At the next stop, I am happy to report we found a more acceptable set of swimming earplugs that he was able to cut down to size and not so noticeable as the tethered pair!

So Happy…

Hello!

Today I am whispering, because Sam is actually taking a nap! What? Sam is SO NOT a napper, but he has been getting up at 5:15am to go to weightlifting, football practice and basketball practice. Weightlifting starts at 6:00 am and he is done with all three at 10:30. Yep, 4 1/2 hours of working out…no wonder he is tired!

So, when I go upstairs and see his door shut, I know he is napping!! It makes me so happy!!

A New Love…

Hello!

I am super picky about my pens. I love love love a good pen and was over the moon happy when I found these wonderful Paper Mate Ink-Joy pens.

They are dreamy to write with! The pens are considered gel pens, but do not write like your average gel pen that is scratchy and jumpy. These pens are smooth, bright and dry fast, so no smudges!

If you are a pen snob, then you have to check these joyful pens out!

Tech Fair…

Welcome!

Jack had the honor of representing his elementary school at the Iowa State Tech Fair on May 5.

He created a web site for young kids that has 10 stop motion Lego videos that he wrote, directed and shot. Five videos are how to learn the short vowel sounds. The other five videos are basic math fact tricks.

Judges visited each students booth. Jack explained his web site, the process of creating, what went well, what was challenging and answered any of the judges questions.

There were almost 300 students there from all over Iowa and ranged from grades k-12. It was amazing what these kids created…actually mind-blowing and the competition was tough!

Jack received a blue ribbon in his k-12 group “Web Presence.” Which meant that he was in the group to win the overall Purple Ribbon in k-5 Web Presence.

A purple ribbon was not in the cards today, but he was very proud, as were we, of how far he actually got with this project.

(Especially when he decided two days before it was due, to participate and I told him he should try next year because I just didn’t think he could complete the project to his own personal standards in two days. He looked at me and said, “I can do it.” And, boy did he!)

He loved participating and checking out the students projects, but I think the extra bonus was that he got to “hang out” a bit with one of Sam’s buddies, Sam W. which, I believe, Jack idolizes a bit!

Garage Sale…

Welcome Back!

Last weekend I had a garage sale. I haven’t done a garage sale in YEARS! People would tell me how much work they are, but I thought it can’t be that hard. Well, I am here to tell you that I was totally wrong! They are a lot of work!!

I must share that Jack was a BIG help! He went through the toys and books and priced them all. (after he read a few)

He tested out the Karaoke Machine and was excited to hear that it still worked! One item OFF the sale!

He went through the Play Dough and Play Dough toys and put different sets together! I wold have never been able to do this task!

Jack was so motivated by money, that he was okay with going through some of his old tubs of toys!

The day of the Sale, Sam helped me put out signs. Until we had to walk to the round-about on a very busy street. He refused to get out of the car…teenagers.

I had the sale on Thursday night and had a great turn out. Friday was nice and steady and unloaded a lot of stuff!

Jack helped with change and keeping track of his earnings!

Sam directed traffic and visitors loved it! We heard several times they had not been to a garage sale with valet parking!

I would say the sale was an overall success, but it is a lot of work! Even the “take down” part took half a day and had to be done in the heat wave. Was the money I made worth it? Yes. Would I do it again soon. No.

PS…Jack made a good chunk of money and has already bought…you guessed it. A new Nerf Gun!

Just Finished…

Hello!

I just finished the book Allegedly by Tiffany Jackson.

Amazon: In this gritty, twisty, and haunting debut by Tiffany D. Jackson about a girl convicted of murder seeking the truth while surviving life in a group home.

Mary B. Addison killed a baby.

Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: a white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it?

There wasn’t a point to setting the record straight before, but now she’s got Ted—and their unborn child—to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary’s fate now lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But does anyone know the real Mary?

This book was recommended by a friend. After reading, I told her as I was reading it, I was wondering why in the world would she tell me to read this? It is pretty predictable! Oh. boy. I was wrong! And that is all I can say about this book. After reading, you need to soak it in for a bit to realize how good it actually is.

I would give this 4 out of 5 stars.