Twins game

Joe Mauer warming up.

 Up to bat

 The view from our seats.  We were on the 1st level in the 11th row.  They were great seats.

 It was windy, cold, and rainy.  Good thing the girls brought blankets to keep warm!

 Target Field is really cool.  All the seats are decent.  It's wide open and you can see the buildings of downtown.  Definitely a neat experience.

 Us waiting out the rain delay.

 Finally untarping the field.  Lots of hard working men.

LMFAO Concert

We surprised the girls with a quick trip to the cities this past weekend.  They knew for a couple of months that we were going, but they didn't know what we were doing.  They guessed we were going to the Mall of America or to the zoo.  The Wednesday before we left, we told them we were going to the LMFAO concert and a Twins game.  Shaylee and Shawndra were very excited.  The other kids stayed with grandpa and grandma.

Here they are before the LMFAO concert, sporting their new neon colored shirts.

And here we are before the concert.

All 4 of us at the concert.  We had good seats, but after being there, I don't think there was a bad seat in the house.

 Box Head, Redfoo and Skyblu.  They were so fun to watch!

If you aren't familiar with LMFAO, you need to understand that sporting speedo's is normal for them.  This was the encore, which we all knew was coming because stripping down to their speedo's is part of their signature.  Just go to YouTube and check out their songs and you'll understand why.

The song was Champagne Showers and they sprayed the crowd with many bottles of champagne!

We all had so much fun!  There were 5 opening bands that played for 2 hours before LMFAO even came out.  Then LMFAO played for over 2 hours.  It was a fun show!

middle school graduation

Today was the Middle School Graduation and Awards Ceremony.  Shaylee graduated from 8th grade today and will venture on into high school next year.  Man, where have these years gone?  She has grown into such a beautiful and intelligent young lady and I was one proud mama today.  Shaylee received awards in all of her classes for having all A's, along with a tardy free award, science fair awards, and honor roll.  The girl is smart, I tell ya, and she's been known to say, "it comes easy".  Lucky for her because it wasn't as easy for me when I was her age.

Here she is receiving her certificate of graduation.

 I should have counted how many times she got up from her seat to go get another award.  (I guess I could because the awards are in the kitchen, but that would mean getting up, and right now I don't want to.)  I would estimate 8 times or so? 

The most exciting part of today was what she won!  For reading books and filling out a BINGO card in the library and getting at least 2 blackouts, the students would be entered into a drawing.  She got at least 2 blackouts, along with maybe 15 other students.  The first name to be drawn got to choose between a Kindle or $50.  Low and behold, Shaylee's name was drawn out of the basket first.  She chose the Kindle!  She has been wanting one for awhile and had put that on her list for her birthday.  I guess she'll have to come up with a new idea, huh!?

 Moving on, Shawndra also received awards in all of her classes for having straight A's.  Today's awards ceremony was also for the 6th and 7th grades.  Shawndra is in 7th grade, so she has one more year.  She also received tardy free and honor roll as well. 

I couldn't be more proud of the these girls.  Teachers have told me time and time again that they appreciate their hard work and attitude and that they are great girls.  

it's us

Many pictures were taken today.  In fact, I had about 125 to sort through.  Lots of them turned out blurry.  And this one we are looking at the other photographer.  But it is us, none the less.

new blog picture

So I'm pretty excited to know that tomorrow I will have a new family picture for this blog.  I doubt we'll have matching clothes and look perfect, but it will be updated, and it will be us, and it will be spring looking instead of this dreadful clash of winter coats and a frozen lake.  :)

Tomorrow is Grandma Dorothy's 75th Birthday party and she wants to have a big big family picture.  I plan to use this opportunity to see if I can stick someone behind the lens of my camera and snap a few pictures of us, too!

Mother's Day



Planted two tomato plants in my whiskey barrel. Things were going good until the bottom band broke. Luckily my husband had a quick fix until he brings the bander home.

We also went shopping at Medary Acres where I picked out a new plant for the front yard.

And a new bush to replace "Bushy" that died.  We have lots to do in the front yard ever since we ripped up the landscaping.

Jayden caught a caterpillar and kept it for a few days, but then decided to let it go.

We discovered a robin's nest under our deck, which is such a weird place for a nest.  It is at chest level.  We held a mirror up to it and could see 3 eggs. 

Shaylee spent a lot of the day in the yard reading and suntanning.  Our yard has such big trees she was forced to move frequently due to shadows.

And Jayden rode his bike through the gutter spraying water everywhere.

Shawndra in Track

Shawndra ran in a track meet the other day in Volga.  I was able to pop over and watch several of her events.  She did really well and we are so proud of her.

Look at those muscles!

She took 3rd in the hurdles.  That was my favorite event to watch.  It's something I never tried, so to watch her succeed at it is fun.

She also ran the 400.

tidbits

• Shaylee is done with volleyball club.  Her last tournament was last weekend.
• Shawndra is out for track.  Took some pictures at her meet on Thursday and hope to post them on here.
• Things are still tough.  And confidential.  And that makes things all the harder.
• Joseph has an eye appointment on Tuesday.  His glasses are being held together with tape. 
• School is out on the 21st, but there is a school near here that is done on the 9th.  That is way too early!
• Jayden has a huge goose egg on his forehead.  I earned Mother of the Year award for it.
• Devin is doing well with no major issues to report. 
• My mom had knee replacement surgery, so I've been busy helping her this weekend since Craig is out of town.