random

Poor little Lu. She had her 4 year old check up today...a little late, but we got it in; and she got 3 shots :( Not a favorite activity of anyone. Now she has a knot in her thigh and it hurts. She was really brave during the shots.

S had no school today. With TAKS testing all the seniors had late arrival all week and today just didn't have to go. I had made an appointment to get her senior pictures taken. She's been putting it off and reluctant since last summer. We went to Memorable Moments Photography and Kristin did SUCH an awesome job. She was so fun and full of energy. S had a very fun time and she got some great shots. I can't wait to see them off the camera. I would totally, whole heartedly recommend anyone go to her. She was wonderful.

The sonic guys have very funny commercials~ random and I'm just saying but they crack me up.

We have had 22 showings, been on the market for four months, and have had literally thousands of hits on the website and still we own this lovely home and pool and income generating tower :( Today we lowered the price again.

J went to the doctor yesterday. She is hypoglycemic. Which is a bummer but totally manageable so good. And in other news she's decided what to do with her hair this summer. Low lights, purple streak and bangs.

Swine flu is causing quite a stir around here. FWISD as closed all their campus until May 11th! That's a long time. Our school district hasn't yet.

24 more school days until summer!

lastly, in 1968, the year I was born, a school lunch at EMSISD was $0.30 . Today it's $1.75.

missionary field trip

Papa and Grandma took a little field trip to the Netherlands this last weekend. The flowers are unbelievably gorgeous and I love Dad's purse ;) Maybe next spring Beloved and I will be able to take a trip over and see them and see some sights! That would be fun. We'll see. Right now we are worried about getting this summer taken care of. Our house is showing and some interest has been shown so hopefully we'll have an offer before June. That is my wish. Besides the house we've been trying to work out all the details of the actual move. When to move our household goods. When I will leave for Utah. When Beloved will fly to Utah to make the big drive to MD with us. Now Sierra is saying she wants to stay here and go directly to MD when we are settled so she can keep working, however I have serious doubts about her car being able to make the drive and I don't want her trekking by herself and there is the little question of where she will live so most likely she'll be stuck coming with me, which she isn't too excited about. I wish she could work in Utah for a month while we are there...although that seems a little unlikely as well. J would love to work this summer and was wishing she could apply to life guard, but she can't. At least she can stay with Emma and go to camp and go venturing. J will actually have a fun summer. A couple weeks of playing with Em, two camps, a quick flight to Utah then a week at EFY. Then the big drive. Lastly before we leave I need to get 2-3 Nintendo DS. The kids have been dying for them, and I am dying to get them so they can be occupied during the 50+ hours we will be driving. We've been approached about leasing our mineral rights and if that works out we will have that extra money to get them. (fingers crossed~ I'm running out of fingers and things to hope for!)

Contest

My cousin Sarah nominated my other cousin Tiffany in a mother's day contest. The voting is today. Tiffany is really the most awesome, sweet, fun, kind mom. Take a minute and go vote for her!

Thanks!


http://www.giveawaytoday.blogspot.com/

monkey

tree

after school today we played outside for a long time. We climbed behind some bushes looking for a hiding spot to read in. The kids climbed the trees. We balanced on the flower bed borders. It was a nice day.

brownie peanut butter cups

try it...that's all I'm saying :)

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 T water
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla
1 cup flour
1/4 t baking soda
1/2 cup peanut butter chips plus 1/3 more for garnish
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips plus 1/3 more for garnish
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

preheat oven to 350. prepare 12 muffin cups

in large microwave safe bowl combine sugar, butter and water. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until butter is melted. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips until melted. Stir in egg and vanilla. Add flour and baking soda, stirring until blended. Allow to cool to room temp then stir in 1/2 cup each peanut butter chips and chocolate chips. Spoon batter by heaping tablespoons into muffin cups.

Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and toothpick inserted into center comes out slightly wet. Cool.
Center of brownies will fall, if not tap with back of spoon to make a hole.

Place peanut butter in a small microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds then stir. While brownies are still hot, spoon about a tablespoon of peanut butter into the center. Top with chips.

Cool and eat!

monte cristo sandwiches

on the way home from church we had a dinner request. Which I was happy to oblige. Everyone liked it, which always makes for a pleasant meal.

It's so easy to make too.

Grilled ham and cheese on sourdough. Serve with powdered sugar and raspberry jam. Pickles and chips on the side.

a picture is worth a thousand words

yet, I don't have a camera. Mine broke. Well, really even if I did have one I wouldn't have had it with me while taking out the trash.
We have a lot of boxes of cereal in our pantry. Since we're moving in a little over a month I've been trying to use stuff up so I decide a week or so ago that I would not buy any more cereal until this is all gone. Slowly boxes have been emptied out. This morning we finished off the dregs of 3 different boxes and consolidated two like cereals so now we only a few a boxes left. I gathered up the empty boxes and other kitchen trash and bagged it up to take out.

While I was walking out to the trash I was thinking to myself what cool, breezy weather we were having. Not at all unpleasant. The sky is gray, which I don't mind, and the trees are gently blowing. I got the trash out and turned to come back inside when I heard an engine noise in the sky. We live by several airports and one military base so this is not unusual. It was a small plane. I always look up to see what's flying overhead. This was small, two wings, mostly gray but it had a red tail. The clouds were mostly gray and were moving in the same direction as the plane. It was a neat picture to see this little splash of red and a plane outlined against a moving sky. If I had a camera I would have tried to catch it. I probably would have missed:)

Now I won't forget though and it took me less than 300 words :)

this and that

Beloved is back after spending a week in MD. He checked out our new home, under construction. We have a basement now! Very fun.

Our house has had some lookers. Yesterday we had some that seem like a good fit to us, but it's not up to us so we'll see. Hopefully soon.

Yesterday B took the three littles to see Monsters vs Aliens. All liked it.

S and I went to help cook dinner for youth conference.

Friday Sierra and Kenz went to 6 Flags. They had fun day, they said the park was empty and they walked on to what ever they wanted to ride. Perfect :)

J went to youth conf this weekend. Yesterday they all volunteered at Special Olympics. I think the event went well. At the end J got sick, heat exhaustion I guess. When they got back to the church, where I was cooking, she was shaky and red but feeling better than before. I brought her home and she cooled down and ate and then slept. She said this morning she feels exhausted. Poor thing :( One Wednesday she has an appointment with the doctor, for an unrelated reason, and I think I'm going to have him run some labs, she's been having this shaky problem and even though I know this time was heat related I just want to make sure she's fine. Maybe she's anemic, or has low blood sugar or something that we can take some steps to make sure she feels great all the time.

This morning Lucy and I watched a PBS special on kite-photography, it was so interesting.

Friday I bought a new tangerine colored summer jacket that I really like. It's a fun color.

Trying out a new dessert recipe in a minute.

quandry

We had a drive by showing yesterday. We got a call that the people were in the drive way (which they weren't but they must have been two houses down because it didn't take long). It was 5:30ish and we had just headed in from the pool. I quickly shooed everyone back out and started running around to clean whatever I could in the 2 minutes I had. Unfortunately we had Lucy's friends over today and had some toys out...and it was after school so there was homework and book bags out...and it was almost dinner so there were ingredients out. The beds were made and I did get to wipe the bathroom counters. I was inside and opened the door and said hi, then turned to go out and join the kiddos. What did I see out our big windows? Lucy and Brother peeing side by side in the bushes by the pool. (a practice we DONOT condone BTW) Great. What a wonderful impression.

Well, anyway, I am at the end of a really fun book "East" that I would have finished last night but fell asleep so today I have a quandary in front of me: finish the book or clean first. If I was a woman of better character I would totally clean....but

first swim (literally)

2003, the first summer we had our pool. This is a picture from one of the first swims we ever had in it.

first swim

i HEART Texas: reason 758

The first "official Swim" of the season. End of April. The kids have swam before but not for a long swim and not with me sitting out poolside with a stack of magazines. We're in the high 80's, not warm enough for me...but plenty warm for them:)

Any other summer and I would be thinking of the long, hot months stretching out before us. Looking forward to schools close and our days free to sit and sweat and swim.

This year we are grateful to have some warm days before we pack up :( School is out in 6 weeks. We'll leave sometime the week after that or at the latest the one following. We have LOVED our pool. A lot. We love Beloved more though, so off we go.

The water was a tad bit cold at first:)

They got over it.

Today was a fun day. A couple weeks ago Joy called and wanted to know if I wanted to throw a party with her! Brilliant idea, I like brilliant friends :) We decided on a lunch and invited a few ladies we love to join us and today was the day.

I made chicken pot pie and a "fancy drink", she made a delicious salad and molten chocolate cake. We had a very fun time.

When the party was over I went to get the kids and my friends stayed to clean my kitchen! I have great friends!!:)

Prom

Kerry and S before the prom.

I'm waiting for her to wake up so I can get the full report. It was a fun, late night. That's all for now.

Lucy loves her big sisters. When I got out the camera she ran up to be in the picture with her. If she had time she would have donned some high heels too :)

Japanese Festival

Lu and I went to the Japanese Festival. No one else was wanted to go, or had other plans. It was a perfect day. The weather was overcast and cool but pleasant. There were not tons of people there, I guess because of the threat of rain. By the time we had spent a couple hours and were ready to go more people were coming and the parking was becoming a nightmare but for us it was perfect.

Lu got to paint a Koi. She also fed the fish.

We watched dancing demonstrations, karate demos, musical things, and a tea ceremony.

We walked around the gardens and looked at the flowers and enjoyed the bridges.

For lunch we stopped and bought a snack. I had cucumber& seaweed salad that was so fresh and yumm-o. Lu had nachos.



It was a delightful way to spend the afternoon.

one of lifes blessings

I, too, was born of goodly parents.
Lucky is the little girl who is wanted and nurtured and loved by two parents who are wonderful and bright and kind. That is the great blessing that I was given at the beginning of my mortal life. I am very thankful that Heavenly Father sent me to my parents. They are awesome!
I have many wonderful memories of growing up in my family. I was the first of many children and was never lonely. From when I was small I remember walking to the park and playing. I remember "helping my mom" take care of my little brother. I remember bringing home a little grey fuzz ball kitten that we named Heidi. She lived for 18 years and was a great cat. I remember going to the beach and playing with my friend Julie while our parents chatted:)

When I was 5 years old my parents got baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Even though I was small I can remember kneeling by the font and watching them and what a happy day that was. I did not know then what an important moment that was for our family and how life changing and life giving that would be. Thanks to their willingness to listen, and obedience to Heavenly Father's commandments my brothers and sisters and I have had the tremendous blessing of growing up in the gospel. Of having family home evening, of reading from the scriptures together, of having the guidance and safety of the commandments to help us find our way through life. We did, and now our children do, and shortly our children's children. My parents were very anxious to share the good news with their families. No one wanted to listen but they didn't give up and I do have one cousin and his sweet wife who joined the church. Now they have the same thing happening in their family as their children have enjoyed those blessings and their children.

One of my favorite things we did growing up was camping at El Capitan State Beach each summer. It was SOOOOO fun. I loved everything about it. I loved walking down to the beach and smelling licorice (some plant had a very distinct black licorice smell~ I don't know what it was but it always reminds me of camping when I smell licorice now). I loved laying on the sand and watching boys walk by. I loved playing in the waves. One particularly memorable time we were out in a little raft and a seal swam up and bumped our raft with his nose. Kind of scary but cool. (and maybe that was at Carpenteria but still so cool :)) I loved walking to the peacock store to buy ice cream. We ran around and had fun for a whole week!!

I also remember well the trip we took to France so dad could do genealogy. We were there for most of a summer and got to meet relatives and watch Kung Fu in French and see where dad grew up. It was awesome. One place we visited we got to stay in a castle, the home of our rich relatives. Their son, Phillip, who I thought was cute, took Alec and I out in the city for a walk. We walked and looked around and came upon a group of dancers that we stopped to watch. They were the Young Ambassadors from BYU! It was so fun to see them and to say hi :) Another home we visited, of some not so rich relatives, had an outdoor WC, which was just a pile of dirt and poo by the house. We went out to relieve ourselves in pairs. One to do the doo and the other to wield a long stick and keep the cows away from the pile. Then we'd switch. Gross but memorable.

Summers and holidays were spent in San Fransisco. Daily trips to Golden Gate park, walks to the beach (many many many blocks away), the shining golden dome of the Russian Orthodox church gleaming in the sun, laying in bed upstairs at night listening to voices drifting upstairs of my grandparents, parents, uncle and friends, playing with MaKaKa, collecting snails, Baba Olya and Baba Katya in the kitchen cooking, sitting by Baba Olya and at the table (she always sat at the kids end), Deda fishing, Marina coming to visit with a treat for the kids, going to San Bruno to have dinner and play with Mitzi and Pom Pom, walking on the rooftops, getting bagels, the smell of the city all these things make up the memories of my youth.

Dad often took me on "dates" to McDonalds. Which we both loved. During the annual Father/ Son outing mom would let sleep in her bed with her and in the evening we would go out with Lana and Sis. D. L and I got to pick. Naugalls hot fudge sundaes and trips to the library were often the pick of choice!

One of my jobs growing up was to clean the kitchen. Many, many times Dad would come and help me and we would talk about life while our hands were submerged in warm soapy water.

I also got to "help" mom sew. I would push the pedal and talk about school, she would do the rest...until I forgot my job and just sat by her to talk.

I remember coming in their room at night after dances or dates to tell about the evening, and kneeling in a circle in family prayer in our living room, and planting a garden, and picking fruit at the welfare farm and laughing at mom and her irrational fear of moths and and and...

Their love and support didn't stop when I was grown. As an adult I have enjoyed sharing my life with them. Having them know my children and have been grateful that they could have a wonderful relationship with them. Seeking refuge in their loving arms when times are hard, getting advice, laughing together, going to the temple together, and many other precious times too many to list.

On my birthday today I am grateful to them for teaching me and loving me and being the best parents in the world!!

a butter queen miracle

We've been having some dinner time challenges. One small boy cries at every meal placed before him. Some one has been burping at the table (I won't say who), another won't place her bottom in her seat but wants to stand the whole time, a third stabs me with a waving fork meal after meal. It's ugly.

I am hopeful that these cute girls of mine might some day find wonderful men to marry...with their present table manners I am not too sure though.

So with this hope in mind and in the interest of promoting polite society we have been working on it. Maybe I need a manners boot camp?
"but why don't we put our elbows on the table?" is a question I have heard more than once.
answer: I don't know but we just don't.

last night's small miracle, a recipe from Paula Deen, who I love because she laughs easily, cooks with ingredients I've actually heard of and it always turns out yummy, and is a cute grandmay lady. Everyone liked it. Some had seconds, no one cried.

Short Ribs
3 pounds ribs
House Seasoning, recipe follows
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Oil
Water
Beef Broth
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt and pepper
1 large onion, sliced
White Rice
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Season ribs using House Seasoning. Lightly dust with flour. In a Dutch oven, place a small amount of oil and brown ribs on each side. Add half water and half beef broth to cover ribs. Bring to a boil. Remove ribs from the Dutch oven and place in a casserole dish. To ribs, add the garlic, salt, pepper, onions, and broth, to taste. Cook ribs in oven for 2 hours. Serve over buttered white rice.
House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

tea party

to learn more click here

diddle diddle dumpling

So, H's ankle is broken. I am sad for her. We went to Cooks, which I love and will so miss when we move and have a small county hospital available for our use, and they x-rayed her. In the ER they thought it was a twisted ankle but the next morning we got a call that the radiologist saw a fracture and tomorrow we're off to the orthopedist for a cast..I guess. She's doing well but it hurts. She has gone to school on crutches which were fun for about five minutes but now not so much.

House is still up for sale. April- the end of summer is supposed to be the busy season so I am crossing my fingers, keeping it clean and saying my prayers. I HOPE HOPE HOPE it sells. I don't know what we'll do if we don't have an offer by June. The kids and I are supposed to travel to Utah to visit the familia and I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to go. Stress.

Had Lu's friends over yesterday. The weather was warm and lovely and they played outside for a couple hours. I dragged them in to do preschool and they quickly got into story time, writing their "J"s and making a diddle diddle dumpling book.

I made banana bread with some very black bananas. It's been a bit of a pain to cook because my collection of cook books is packed and when I need a recipe that I don't know I have to google and look for something that looks similar to what I remember mine to be. So I ended up trying a new BBread and it was yummy, kind of dense and sweet but everyone liked it. Late last night, after karate and other things that caused us to linger way too long we gathered at the table and had a snack. Lu had on her formal sleep wear, complete with fancy gloves. She read her book for us.

Got a suprise fun card from my friend Krista in the mail. Her family is getting so big and it was so great to hear from her!!

Easter

What a great Easter. We were woken up early, before the sun came up, by a little girl munching the ears off her rabbit dripping chocolate down her jammies. She was excited and wanted to share.

In those early morning hours I heard giggles and running and excited voices, by the time I cracked my eyes open there was a little pile of chocolate on my nightstand that was "shared" with me. Such sweet littles I have :)

We had breakfast and a bit of lazy morning. I didn't have much cooking to do because we had left overs from the nights party ready for our evening meal. I did make a jell-o and then a salad after church but the rest just had to be heated up, or placed on the table.

We had a beautiful musical number and several very good talks at church. Haylee made Lucy the cutest Easter treat! I have to get the recipe :)

After church we took some quick pictures. Ate dinner. Played outside, where unfortunately H twisted her ankle. We don't think it's broken but she is home today resting it :(, she was trying for the perfect attendance award this year and hasn't missed a day yet so this was a big deal. Then read the last two chapters of Mark together and talked about the Resurrection.

I also enjoyed several wonderful phone calls. We talked to Grandma and Papa on Skpe and got to hear about their adventures. I chatted with Dani while watching Amazing Race with S and J and they chatted and laughed second person! But the best call was from Anna. She's pregnant!! Yeah!!! I am so thrilled and happy for her. What wonderful Easter news!

This is a big baby year for our family Em had little Natalia in Jan. Dani and Greg are expecting Ziggs in August and now A3 will be arriving in Dec!! I wonder if she'll have a boy or girl? We have a very girl family. Dad had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Two of the boys died as infants. The two girls had 1 and 2 sons but Dad and his brother had mostly girls. Laurent had 3 daughters. Dad had 6 daughters and 2 sons. Of those 2 sons one has a daughter and the other no children. I have 5 daughters and 1 son. MSV has two and two. Em has a girl. That makes the grand kid count 9 girls and 3 boys and great grands 1 girl. I think Anna will have a boy, but either would be very welcome!

another fun baby addition our cousin Allison, who is Anna's birthday twin :) is also expecting!! Yeah!

Happy Easter

chocolate coma, frilly dresses, friends to share a meal with, all those things are wonderful and joyfull.

Our true joy comes from the gift of the Atonement and He who made it possible. This day we rejoice in the good news that the bands of death have been broken and that we too can live again.

Happy Easter

Easter Party

We had a fun little Easter Party today. We invited a few of our friends and planned an egg hunt and a dinner. About an hour after the party was scheduled to start we had a showing of the house. I think it worked out. We all traipsed over to Nikko's house and played on their swing set, then went back.

We hunted eggs. The kids had a blast. Ate some most yummy food. After dinner we played games and the children played. Mostly outside. We ended up with a lightening/rain storm and then they played inside.

It was a very fun Easter. Thanks for coming!


playing at Nikko's!

racing for an egg :)

walking over

lots of kids in the tree!

PACE project

H had a big project for PACE. She's been working on a report for several weeks about Labradors. Today is her presentation. They had to have a product to go with it so she made a doggie bone cake, complete with a puppy bite out of the corner. She did a great job!!

synchronized bathroom cleaning

As we were getting ready to run out the door so the second showing of the day could happen I assigned everyone a room or two to go check and freshen up. Lu was helping H and one of their rooms was the cowboy bathroom. Some how in the "cleaning" they found J's swim gear, in the closet, in a box...and a new sport was born: synchronized bathroom cleaning. Costume required!

this and that

• boxes crossing the Atlantic. We made a "care package" for Papa and Grandma and sent it off to Belgium. Unknown to us they sent "Easter" chocolates to us at the same time. How fun to get boxes back and forth the same week!!
• Lucy's little toe nail is almost off (Gross)
• house has had several showings! including two today!!
• went to the mall this morning while Lu was at Emmie's. I got Brother some shorts and pjammies. He's grown and needs new clothes so he won't look like a scarecrow. Almost bought Lu a cute little sundress at Sears.
• had two occasions to call Lands End about problems with orders and both times they were helpful, friendly and quick. What are the odds?!? Two thumbs up for Lands End :)
• my brother and SIL went on a cruise two weeks ago. My in laws went last week. Both had a great time!
• S, J and Millie, and I went for walk last night. I made a new vow to do something good for my body every day. That should be easy enough right?

FHE lesson! empty tomb cookies

1 cup whole pecans, in a plastic baggie
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 cup sugar
Directions
1Preheat oven to 300 degrees--you MUST do it now. Also, gather a cooking mallet, kitchen mixer, masking tape and Bible.
2Read John 19:1-3 ~ Jesus was beaten for our sins; beat the nuts with a cooking mallet; set aside.
3Read John 19:28-30 - Jesus drank something like vinegar (gall), sniff the fragrance, dip finger in and taste, too; place the vinegar in a mixing bowl.
4Read John 10:10-11 - Egg whites symbolize Jesus' holy, innocent life; add whites to the bowl with the vinegar.
5Read Luke 23:27 - the bitter tears of the women; taste a few grains, remember your own sins; add the salt to the bowl.
6Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16 - Sweet salvation! Taste and see; add to the bowl.
7Crank up the mixer and let it go while you read from Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3; let the mixer go for about 12-15 MINUTES; this needs to be VERY stiff!
8Read Matthew 27:57-60 - Fold the nuts into the egg-sugar mixture; this symbolizes the rocks in the garden.
9Using a scoop or knife & spoon, drop by spoon into mounds (to resemble a rocky tomb); put into the oven and turn it OFF!
10Read Matthew 27:65-66 - The tomb is sealed; use two pieces of tape (5-6 inches long) to "seal" the door edges (symbolically).
11Read John 16:20 & 22 - Consider these passages, then go to bed!
12NEXT MORNING: Read Matthew 28:1-9 - Jesus is risen! Behold--the empty tomb! Unseal the oven door, take out the cookies, break or bite one in half -- it should be hollow inside---empty---just like the Tomb!
13He is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

The kids liked it and although we were skeptical this morning we woke up and indeed there were cookies with a hollow midlde and tasted yummy. A little crunchy and fun.

happy Sabbath afternoon

bluebonnets

dress up

gown: by Nana. H's favorite dress up outfit.

TV and stuff

I made our reservations for the nights we will be in Nauvoo this summer. I was very surprised how difficult that was. Many, many places were already booked. Some are booked for the whole summer already. Crazy. I was able to get a place. The room has four sets of bunk beds in it. That will be different, but fine. I am hoping that MSV and her family will decide to come with us. Her hubby served his mission near there and I know they've always wanted to go. If they do we are going to try and switch accommodations to the Nauvoo camp ground, where they have air conditioned bunk houses. Kind of close to camping. The kids are excited about that. We'll see.

Yesterday was Brother's field trip. We went to an IMAX movie. It was a lot of fun. He's very silly with his friends and they are cute and interested in everything.

Last night I watched the last episode of ER (while folding a mountain of laundry), Beloved watched with me (while doing our taxes on the lap top). When the show first came out I LVOED it and watched it every week. When Beloved and I were dating we watched together, he was also a fan. In fact I remember one episode very well. We had been dating a few weeks and I went to a softball game that he was in. When it was over I went home and he went to his house and showered and then came over to watch. It was on at 10pm and the little girls were all asleep(here in TX it's 9pm ~ central time zone). It was during that watching that we had our first kiss. Aaah, the memories :) I watched faithfully for many years, then after a while I stopped. It was about the time that Mark Greene died. I had grown tired of all the drama and death and all the diseases I imagined I might have after seeing their symptoms on TV :) Earlier this week I saw a commercial saying this was the end and I thought I'd go ahead a tune in. They had brought back a lot of original cast members and it was fun to see how they had changed, gotten older. It was fun to "catch up".

responsibilities

One of Lu's jobs is 'bus watcher'. The other kids are usually scrambling to get ready. Even though I asked them to pack their bags the night before, and even though I wake them up with plenty of time to get ready, often is the morning when much time is spent curled up in a ball on the floor, walking around looking at things and moaning, or spilling breakfast making necessary a last minute change...or they can't find something or.....

anyway, in comes Lu. Not much on her schedule between 6:15 and 7:15 am. She wakes up at her leisure, mills around, sometimes eats with the kids. She often gets suited up (if it's cold) and heads out on the porch to watch for the bus and shout the alarm when "she sees it!!!)

She takes her duty very seriously, when she's not distracted by her bike :)