Salvaged Spring Break

We are back to a normal work/school schedule this week and finding a routine. Last week was Claire's Spring Break and our plans were changed several times. Luckily we were able to salvage some fun out of the week on Friday and Sunday.

We had actually started for a trip to Indy on Monday only to get a call from our driver that he had laid the semi and livestock trailer on it's side with a full load of market hogs. We turned around immediately with very sad and crying kids. It was quite a scene with lots of people and pigs everywhere. TV 18 even showed up and State Road 421 was shut down for 5 hours in Medaryville.

On Friday we were able to get away and go to Lafayette for the day. The kids loved playing at Chucky Cheese and the park. Our friends and neighbors, the Redlins, invited us on a day trip to Chicago which only worked into the schedule on Sunday. We rode the Amtrak from Rensselaer so we didn't have to deal with traffic. Brock loved that we were riding on a choo choo train. Claire got the surprise of her life when we showed up at the American Girl's store. She has been asking and saving money for one for a very long time. The plan was to get one in May for her birthday, but what can you do when you're walking down the street and run into the store. It was priceless to see the look on her face when she realized where we were at and that she was going to get her doll. After a difficult week we ended it on a high note and are glad to be getting back to normal.

Random Happenings

Today after church we arrived to find these two furry fellas "playing". I think Angel (our dog) thought she was playing, but the ground hog was definately defending it's ground. We wondered why Angel was digging so many holes around that tree. Now we know why. The bad news is that both Angel and the ground hog saw their shadows. So we're either going to have 12 more weeks of winter, or maybe they offset each other and spring is here!!

Cousin IT showed up at our house the other day. Oh, maybe that's just Hope without her hair pulled back. It definately doesn't slow her down, though. She loves riding around on Brock's very worn John Deere tractor.

Here's one for all the outdoorsmen. Mark has been hunting for a "wall hanger" trophy buck for over 10 years now. About two weeks ago he noticed a deer antler in the yard. A closer look showed it to be the nicest one he had ever been able to call his own. About 5 days later, the match to the pair showed up in another part of the yard. After all the years of sitting in the freezing cold at 5am to get the perfect one, it showed up in our yard. A perfect 13 pointer without any mess to go with it. I think it's a sign from God saying "Here's what you've been looking for, so now just sleep in on those cold fall mornings."
HERE'S YOUR SIGN - You could be a redneck if........you look like this guy!!!

Polka Dot Girl

Itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, polka dotted, Hope Eileeny!! Here's a photo of our latest bout of illness. Hope had a reaction to the antibiotic they put her on. It actually got worse, but is now finally getting a little better. Bring on spring!!!!