Rain, Rain and more rain!!!!!!

It is raining again today. It just keeps coming. My garden is growing rapidly and I cannot get out there to weed it. The weeds are going faster than the flowers. I wanted to do some rearranging of the gardens, however I think it will have to wait until the fall now as I am a little leery of moving plants at this stage. I have done it before, maybe I will do some but not all.

Check out Rodz

Welcome family in Wales. Check him out. He is a really great kid.

Kids Cooking

I just read about this website today about these two girls. It is great to see the creativity that some folks have. Check it out. I linked it under the recipe section.
http://www.spatulatta.com/

Scrapbooking

Hey all, I have added some links to a few scrapbooking sites. If you love to scrapbook or want to learn how these sites offer some ideas and the equipment needed. To find the list scroll down, they are on the links list titled "scrapbooking."

Show DVD

The DVD will be here this weekend. I will go pick up our copy and try to share it with all. It has to be on a special DVD because it is too large of a file for a regular DVD. Be watching for more news about the show.

Magazine Update

This is a slow process. It seems I saved magazines for many years. I am finding some really good and useful information in them. As I go through them and the summer holiday arrives, I hope to have them finished by then.

I almost have all of the pictures scanned and in the computer. This is a BIG task. However when I finish all of this scanning I will need to organize them on my flash drive. That is going to be a challenge also. But at least it is all on the computer and I can move things around easily and it is taking up only the tower size space and not those big ole filing cabinets.

Family Fun

There are many sites that I have listed here to help the family have fun. Most of them offer many crafts or educational things to do with your children or grandchildren.

I know that my daughters have a blast doing little inexpensive things with their children. My daughter Cassandra volunteers at her sons school once a week. She helps the teacher with the students that are not learning as quickly as others. She furnishes crafts at the school parties. The teacher is young and is amazed at how much the students she is working with are learning.

My other two daughters love doing crafts also. My grandchildren love creating gifts for others. After all it is the child's creativity and displaying it makes them proud of what they have done.

One Of the Greatest Legislation in the State of Illinois

Six months from the time the DEADBEAT DAD's (or mother) files their taxes, the custodial parent will receive a check from the Federal Government. This is the only way that some custodial parents receive their support. Of course the state of Illinois also goes after their driver's license.

However wouldn't it be great if the DEADBEAT would just pay all along, instead of playing games and not helping with their children's care.

This is a real plus living in Illinois. Of course some will lie, they profess to some unwitting woman that they love them, they are truly the love of their life, they will go to church for them, they will do anything to prove they are in love with them, want to hurry up and marry them before Dec. 31 of any given year, so they can get credit for the unwitting ones taxes and hopefully she will have children to make the benefit even more so the government will take their new wife's tax refund and apply it to their deadbeat money owed so they can get out of trouble with the law. It also means that some other father is paying support for that child or children, (more money for them to spend on themselves!)

I feel sorry for these women that believe they need a man soooooooo much, they marry them 3 months after they meet them and one month after their divorce from their wife. These type of men are abusive in the end and of course they ALWAYS CLAIM THEY ARE THE VICTIM. Well if they have been married more than one time and in a few months they cheat on their wife with you!!!.... Get the hint... If they cheated on their wife (WIVES) (does not matter how many wives they have had!) they will cheat on you no matter how many wives down the line you are. A cheat and a scoundrel is always a cheat and scoundrel. They never change. Life is good the first couple of months/years... then look out. Remember if the ex(s) was (were) so bad you will be also. Women maybe you should check with the exs' (and I mean singular or plural!) to hear the other side.

One other thing that bothers me is the father that thinks he deserves time made up to them if the children are involved in activities and they let them go. What is up with that? If they were with their mother and the party or activity is going on, the mother is not spending that time with them. This is such a childish and immature behavior! Just an other selfish, self-centered attitude towards the children.

This school year

This school year is almost over. Yippee. It has been a short year, however retirement is looking good. 5 more years. It does not seem that I should be that old... It seems just the other day I was beginning teaching. I look back on those years and say... wow I have been having a good time for a good many years. I can't wait for the summer. I have so many things on my list that I want to do. I am getting a lot of the work done on my list right now. I almost have all the information back in my family files. It seems like I have been working forever. Back at 14956 names and information. Wow I wish there was an easier way of doing this. Oh well, it will get done as long as I keep on pluggin' away!!!

Indiana Beach Opening Week-end is Coming

May 2nd first day for park operation at Indiana Beach. No Beach activities but the rides are open. I think they have a new roller coaster for those that love them. Check out thier site to read about it.

Just the latest .....

First James is home. He will be trying to recoup for awhile. I don't know our plans yet for this weekend.

Second I have added more recipe sites. Some of them seem really good. Check them out.

Third have a great day.

One of The Danville Sparks Performance

Short Video Clip of My 10 Year Old Ice Princess

Last Performance For This Season

The last performance for this season is Saturday at the Civic Center. Both Rachel and Ashley will be performing. Rachel has 7 performances on Saturday.I sure hope she can remember that many.

Check back in a few days. I will try to have their performances on here. I have an extra SD card I will be taking along so I can take pictures and record as much as possible.

If you can come it is $5.00 and begins at 6:00 pm I think most people will be impressed with the talent of these skaters and their dedication. Their parents and families will be proud of them also.

Ice skating as with any other private/semi-private lessons are expensive and when you see the wonderful fruits of the expense it makes you know that you have not wasted time or money.

Son Update

James is still in the hospital. He is healing, however it is very slow. He is unable at this time to put any weight on his legs or feet. He hopes to go home in the next six days, however that is his hoping more than reality. He still does not have feeling in his one foot that they had to reconstruct. He really would like to get back to work, however that won't even be considered by the doctors for at least another 4 months. He will be in a wheelchair for at least that long. He seemed to be in good spirits when I talked to him last night. If you wish to send him cards make sure to send them to the house. Someone will make sure he gets them. He has been moved from the critical care hospital to one near home in Crossville. There are many people there that will help him. I am going down as soon as school is out to get him to therapy each day. Keep him in your prays and thanks to all that prayed for him already.

Where has this week gone!

This week is just "flying" by. It doesn't seem possible that it has gone by so quickly. It is Thursday, Ashley and I came to Casi's to help her get things ready of the birthday party Saturday. We went shopping early this morning and got all of the goody bags. On Friday we are going to go get the cake. Aunt Lara is getting other things for the party. Grandpa and I purchased all of the party supplies. I think that is a pretty good birthday. We also got Austin a Wii. He has had it since after Christmas so he could have it during the winter months.
Casi and I went by the barn today. The guys putting on the roof are doing a great job. It will look good when they finish.
We are not sure how many kids are coming to the party. It seems that there is another birthday party in the kindergarten class. So we will see how many kids show. We have enough goody bags for 24 kids. On Saturday morning we are going to pick up cup cakes and ice cream.

I am working on a small scrapbook for little James as his dad thinks we need to give him copies of some of the things we have done through the years. He will be in rehab for at least 4 months. They were finally able to do the skin graft on Monday. He is going as an inpatient because he will need lots of care and help. He is planning on getting a lawyer to make sure things get paid for and that he will have enough to pay bills until he can go back to work. If you have a picture or two or three or... you think he would like in the scrapbook email me the picture.

Lara and Amanda will LOVE This site

I have discovered a new auction site, well at least for me. It is the http://www.shopgoodwill.com They auction stuff that has been donated around America. It has just about anything you could imagine. I am going there to bid on an instrument that brings back GREAT childhood teacher memories. I loved that teacher because she had the harpsichord. I would take it home and play and play and play. When I saw it... I was actually showing my STEP students the site as another "frugal" shopping place when it popped up on the smartboard screen. They said, "Wow you must have really good thoughts right now because you have seen this instrument. When you buy it, bring it and share with us." They have violins on there. All kinds of things. Some of them are very valuable... Of course being valuable only means what others are willing to pay for something. Check it out. At least here you are supporting a good cause and not someone else's pocket.

Son in Accident

We don't have many details yet, however the recovery time will be long. We know the driver of the vehicle that hit our son was drunk. We know that his body is pretty broke up. As more information becomes available I will let you know. His Dad is heading out today, Mara is there right now and so is Charlie. I will be going next Thursday as my husband needs to be home next Friday. Our son has to have a hip replacement, surgery on his ankle and they were not sure what all else. Prays for him are welcome.

Devon and Casi have been Visiting for the Past Week

I have had my little "monkey" and his mom at my home for the past week. Devon's new word is monkey. When he wants something and doesn't get his way he will say, "oh pooh!" When you make him mind because he is doing something he shouldn't he'll whisper, "mean."
Devon's dad came and got him this weekend to take home. Austin was sure glad to come visit grandma and grandpa. We went to the church rummage sale and he bought a brief case.
We had a blast though this week as we have been cooking and entertaining them. We all went to Kickapoo to see the deer and geese. Austin took pictures at Kickapoo. The deer were walking right up to your car. It was so great. The geese weren't afraid either. It was a beautiful day and it seemed lots of people were enjoying it. There was even someone camping in their motorhome. Seems the electric and water are still on. The shower houses were all open also. I will post some pictures as soon as I can.
Casi will be staying until tonight. We are evicting a tenant and Casi is going to court to take care of it. After that and dinner, her dad is taking her home. I am not sure if he will be spending the night or not.

This Site is REALLY One My Lara will LOVE

http://volition.com check this one out it is full of great information and places to go and look for more information.
http://www.buy.com/ - great place for bargin shopping