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Here's something kind of fun, compliments of my neighbor, Karen. Click here to vote on your choice for the new personalized license plate tags for the State of Kansas. Coming to a car near you in 2010!

Lover Boy Luke

So Luke walks in the door from school on Wednesday, and says, "Hey mom, guess what? Jessica asked me to go out with her, and I said yes!"

Me: "So what does that mean? Are you getting married?"
Luke: "Maybe."
Me" "What do you do, when you're going out with someone in fourth grade?"
Luke: "Talk to them. Maybe hold hands." Stop right there!! Hold hands????

Grrrreeeaaat. We sat him down and had the talk about how you certainly don't need a girlfriend in fourth grade. He admitted that he absolutely would not ever consider smooching someone until twelfth grade, at least. We told him that he needed to play soccer or something at recess and just have fun. So the next day, he walks in the door and says, "Mom, I played soccer at recess today."

Good! He took our little chat to heart.

Me: "So did you and Logan play?"
Luke: "No, me and Jessi. She's really good!"
Me: knocks head against wall repeatedly

Then he asks me if he can go skating on Saturday. Cause Jessi might be there. So you know, in my earlier post, I said something stupid like how nice it was to have older children? Forget I ever said that.

Spaghetti Casserole

I must say, there are some definite benefits to having older children. I can just leave the table after dinner and say "You three are in charge of the dishes" and for the most part it gets done. Admittedly some nights better than others, as you can imagine. I'm not sure why it took me this long to realize I have a ready supply of slave labor, but better late than never! Aubrey has even taken on the task of preparing dinner for us one night a week. She loves doing it, it is a great skill for her to learn, and I certainly enjoy the break, especially during tax season. Last night she made spaghetti casserole, an old recipe that somehow had been shoved to the back of my recipe file and forgotten. It is quick, easy, and delicious!

Spaghetti Casserole

1 1/2 lb hamburger
1/2 onion, chopped
1 lb spaghetti, cooked and drained
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can tomato soup
1 soup can water
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Brown hamburger and onion. Drain. Add soups and water. Heat until bubbly. Add 1/2 of the cheese and mix well, but do not melt. Stir in cooked pasta. Pour mixture into 9x13 pan, and sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

If you have any easy recipes for Aubrey, we'd love it if you'd share with us. She is especially anxious to tackle grandma's porcupine meatballs (yes, mom, I have the recipe). Grandma Ann always makes homemade macaroni and cheese and porcupine meatballs when the kids are at her house.

Happy 60th, Dad!

Sixty years ago .... and now:


I asked the kids to help me write this post, so they each gave me some things they love about their Grandpa Bob.

Aubrey: He takes us places and spends time with us. He shows us how to do stuff.
Luke: He loves what he does and he lets me work with cattle. Especially branding calves, I love that.
Jackson: He lets me ride horses. And he wears glasses. (Glasses have been on his mind lately!)

Thanks, Dad, for the time you are investing in the lives of your grandchildren. Thanks most especially for all you've done for me. We love you!

The Circus Came to Town

Here we are, waiting for it to start:

and waiting...
and waiting some more.
But it did start, and we loved Beau the elephant:Can you see that? He is standing on his front legs! I can't do a handstand, but that mammoth elephant can. We shelled out the big bucks so the kids could ride an elephant at intermission:I think intermission is circus-speak for "Let's take all their money while we have them trapped!" We did not pay $7 per child so they could ride a pony around in a circle - nor did we spend $10 for one plastic light saber. We did buy the $2 coloring book on the chance it had a coupon in it for a free toy. No toy. Regardless, the kids loved the entertainment. I wish you could have heard Luke hooping and hollering and screaming and just almost crying with excitement when the Dominguez Extreme Riders rode their motorcycles around in the iron sphere. He loved it!

The Nester

Okay, you women. You have to check out this blog. The Nester is a decorating genius, as far as I'm concerned. I am going to do the wall of plates in my dining room. I think maybe I'll move to NC so she can decorate my house for me. You men, forget it. Women only.

Father Daughter Dance

Aubrey's dance studio has a recital coming up, May 16th and 17th, I believe. She is in a group that will do three separate dances; jazz, ballet, and tap. The dance studio has a tradition of a Father/Daughter dance at the end of the spring recital. Jerry was shocked when he learned of it from a friend's mom AFTER Aubrey had already been dancing for a few months. I think he would have happily signed her up at another studio if he had a choice! Anyway, when it came time to volunteer for the F/D dance, he stepped up to the plate and joined in. They have been going to practice about once a week for the past month, and I think they are both enjoying it. We haven't seen the costumes yet, but it will be a t-shirt of some kind and probably a hat. Last year it was sailor hats.

The funny thing is that Luke and Jackson are convinced that Jerry is wearing a leotard when he dances. They keep making little cracks about "dancing" in a singsong voice (I'm sure you can imagine!) Last week, when Aubrey and Jerry were heading out the door for practice, Jackson called out, "Don't forget your tiara, Dad!" We all cracked up. We have not disillusioned the boys yet, in fact, it gets funnier as the recital gets closer. Luke does NOT want to go watch his father in a leotard! I think he is getting a little nervous.

Now don't you all want to come watch?