New book of the month...

I usually just quietly change the book of the "month" (and usually not monthly!)...but I wanted to draw a little more attention to this book.


To say it is fabulous...that would be an understatement. I am not an avid reader by any stretch...it is not the least bit difficult for me to count on one hand the books that I have read this year. And...it usually takes me a r e a l l y long time to read a book.

I read this book in less than one week...I stayed up entirely to late at night because I kept telling myself "OK at the next break I'll go to bed"...but it was always at a good part when the next break came. I started it last Tuesday night (it was my first night without Cam home...I always have trouble going to bed)...and I finished it on Saturday morning...I woke up early and everyone else was still sawing logs...so I was free to cry my eyes out without pointing and laughing from my children.

I am not going to give anything away (other than it might make you cry...I say might because I cry during almost every episode of Little House on the Prairie...it doesn't take much...so you may be able to hold it together better than I)...but if you are like me and like true stories...full of adventure and suspense...you should really take some time to read this book. It would be a fabulous beach/by the pool book for the summer.

And...believe me...it will not take long to finish...you will find it hard to put it down once you've started.

Happy reading!

Growing up as the youngest child with the last name Van K...

There is something about the youngest children in the family that I have married into...(actually there is something about all the members of the family I married into)...but for this post I am focusing on the youngest.

I happen to have one of the above mentioned children in my home. And...to say she makes life interesting...well that would be an understatement.

Some of the things that come out of her mouth...well...they often make me laugh so hard I cry. And what's even funnier is that she has no idea that it is that funny.

She also comes up with the strangest things to do with her body...like laying on the floor and making a farting sound with her hands cupped in her knee pits and her legs kicking frantically...I should really tape it...it is amusing. And...her impression of the "Shakira...Shakira" dance...hilarious!!

She used to be very offended if we told stories about her funniness, or asked her to share with everyone around...she is growing out of that a little bit...which might not be a good thing. (the other youngest Van K. child...who is 20 something now...still does stuff like this...and sometimes the end result is a little embarrassing for the family). I'm sure that Haidyn is going to grow up to be the life of the party...but I hope she can do it with a little bit of modesty!

All that said I had to share a photo of our crazy youngest child...and for this lovely art of facial contortion I give full and complete credit to the Van K. gene pool...she gets NONE of this from me...she is a Van K. through and through...


There is something weird in her brain that makes her think of these kinds of things...it is a unique something, and I swear it is found mostly in youngest children...and it is especially prevalent in the Van K. family, and please don't get me wrong...I love everyone of them...but they are a VERY unique breed!!

Family weekend fun...

We had a fun weekend together with Cam home. He left again this morning at 3:30am!! YICKS! He is currently about a half an hour away from the bridge...it is a 7 and a half hour trip to Escanaba! I've already begun the count down to his return...which is entirely to long!

Any who...we stayed home for the weekend, due largely to gas prices...and a little because we wanted Cam all to ourselves! We pretty much just hang around the house...Cam got some yard work done, we went to the new ice cream shoppe in Jamestown (more than once!!), and Cam did a little fishing with a friend.

But...the highlight to our weekend was the annual Jamestown Memorial Day parade. Anyone who knows Jamestown knows that if you blink...you might miss it. And, you may think that a parade in such a small town would be something to laugh at. But...it is quite the event...I am amazed every year by the number of spectators. This is the third year that I (and the family) have been in the parade. For the last two years we were a part of the Dar's All Star Salon "float" (which is really just all of us in her truck with little decoration...but an unhealthy amount of candy to throw to the massive crowd). This year Cam, Tate, and Quinn were again part of Dar's "float", while Haidyn decided that she would like to decorate and ride her bike in the parade(this decision was a source of much inner turmoil for her...because when you are in a parade...you don't get the benefit of the boat load of candy that watching the parade can get you). She was pleased when the bike riders were placed very near the beginning of the parade...because we ditched off close to the end of the parade, watched the rest of the parade, and came home with a little candy to boot! It was a good day.

channeling Elton John

We always love to hear the stories from the girls about how many people they saw that they knew...how many people they beaned with candy because they threw to hard...or how the candy totally missed the mark and ended up in the field. Lots of fun.

This year there was also a Nienhuis Greenhouse float. My cousin Linda, who just opened the new ice cream shoppe in Jamestown "the Little Dipper"...decided to have a combination Little Dipper/Grand View Orchard/Nienhuis Greenhouse float...it turned out very nice, and hopefully it drums up some business across the board.

Another highlight was that my parents actually got to see the parade this year. With this being prime shipping time for the greenhouses...they haven't been able to come in years past...but managed to come down and see all of us this year.

We topped off the weekend with dinner at the Roelofs. We had great food, and fellowship...and Cam and I even secured a come from behind victory in a friendly game of washers!!

a play...by Haidyn

Qwin(Queen): Hlpr o hlpr cam to me now


Hlpr(helper): I am here Qwin wt do you ned


Q: bri me my dok(donkey) this ist(instant)

H: Here she is my late(lady)


Q:Wal tak you (well thank you)

Doke(donkey): I am sik

Q: No matter...you just hav to b(bring) me to the stor!

Narrator: On the way the dkey did(died)!

H: I wll find a nw one for you

Q: Tak you

Doke #2: Hey Hot (such a classic donkey sound??)

Q: Kan you tak me to the stor?

D2: Hey Hot

Q: I tak tat as a yas!

H: Luk it? (like it)

Q: I love it tak you varey much.

D2: Dot thk me, thk the hlpr!

Q: You did tis for me?

H: wa wt I! (why wouldn't I)

Q: I dot no wat to say.

Q: Wal I ho to go to the stor

H: Biy

D2: I nd mor fod (suddenly able to talk? )

Q: hr you go

D2: tay you vry much!

THE END!!

So...in the end we're not even sure if the Queen made it to the store...I was impressed with how polite the characters were (the Queen started out a little rough...but did come around after the passing of the first donkey!)

Oh to have the imagination of a 7 year old. I wish I could have taped it when she read it to me...super cute!!

Maybe this is a sign of things to come??

Look for future installments of "plays by Haidyn"!

Go here...

http://americanmum.blogspot.com/2008/05/just-another-day.html

I feel like a real jerk for thinking that I have struggles. (see previous post)

I am blessed beyond measure...and I need to remember that more than I do!

single mother and gas prices and memorial day...OH MY!!

Yep...I am a single mother again (for the next few weeks anyway). Cam is out of town for the week. He will return for the long holiday weekend and then leave again for 11 day. That will honestly be the longest we've ever been apart since we've been married (insert tears). I am trying to look at the bright side...we rarely fight when he is working out of town...A) because we hardly see each other, usually only on the weekends and B) we're just so happy to see each other it's hard to think of anything to fight about, and with so many people in this "wonderful" state unable to find work...we find it hard to complain about a steady paycheck...even when it means zero time together. So...I bite my lip and buck up and do the single mom thing like a champ! It is rather fulfilling to know that I can do all the "women" jobs and all the "man" jobs by myself...I'm not saying that I like it...because I would not wish for it to continue this way...AT ALL!! Another positive thing...I appreciate Cam 100% more than ever before when he returns from these out of town jobs...mowing the lawn ranks right up there with laundry in my book!! So say a little prayer for us in the coming weeks...while it is hard for us here without him...I know that it is equally hard for him to be away from us for so long.

Now...on to gas prices...ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! I am so glad that I got gas this evening (oh, he! he! just read what I wrote...I'm easily amused OK?) But...seriously. I should have filled the tank all the way up...because when I got home a friend called to inform me that by the weekend the price will be over $4...like $4.11 or something!! Isn't it convenient that there is a holiday right around the corner??? Who can afford to leave the house any more?? I could really jump up on my soap box right now...but because this is a G rated blog and this type of subject can really get me all vein poppy and stuff...I'll leave you to ponder the gas price crisis alone!

And...let's not forget Memorial Day! Can it truly even be here already?? Does it not seem like the kids just went back to school, and here we are 16 days...and counting until summer vacation begins!!! UNREAL!! When Cam returns from out of town...the girls will be done with school!! It truly is sick how time flies!

While we are hoping to head up north for the weekend...if the gas prices go up as predicted...we may need to rethink that plan. At 200+ miles round trip and the estimated $4.11/gallon gas prices...it would be an extra $55 over the just sitting home route?!?! I guess we'll wait and see!

So...have a great week...enjoy the holiday, wherever you end up spending it...and if the gas priced depress you...just think about the alternatives...a peddley bike or a horse, or your own two feet, or you could just stay at home! (see it could be worse, just a little bit)!

The state of Michigan sucks!!!

nough said!!

WWWAT : Chocolate...

When I found out the assignment this time was chocolate...this was the first thing that came to mind...

This is my niece, Hanna. She is from Ethiopia, and before we knew who she was, or when she was coming home, my youngest daughter would ask "When will my chocolate cousin be here?"

She is very sweet(and a little sassy)...I could gobble her right up...she makes me smile...just like edible chocolate!! (only a lot cuter!!)

So...that is my twist on chocolate...enjoy!!

Visit american mum blog to see the other entries.

Because we all could use a good laugh...

"Dear Lord," the preacher began with arms extended and a rapturous look on his upturned face, "without you we are but dust..."

He would have continued, but at that moment one very obedient little girl (who was listening carefully) leaned over to her mother and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice,

"Mommy, WHAT is butt dust?"

Church was pretty much over at that point...

ya need it...but don't you wish you didn't...

While everyday I wish I could "cut the cord" between me and the gas pump...it is a unrealistic answer to the "problem".

I cringe every time a drive past a gas station...I just try not to look. I found it a little bit funny when I experienced great excitement at the sight of gas that was a mere $3.79 a gallon!!! That was a whole 5 cents/gallon cheaper than I had purchased gas for the day before!!! URG!!!

I also feel like an old lady because I can say..."I remember when gas was only 99 cents a gallon"...99 cents!!!! That would be heaven!! (also unrealistic...but heaven none the less!)

So...we are going to be staying home an awful lot for the foreseeable future...I was even thinking last night that we may need to go "camping" in our own backyard this summer. Maybe invite some friends...it could be great!

I will say that life as a mountain man/women is starting to sound more and more appealing...live off the land...now that's a novel concept...I think our ancestors were on to something...oh how I wish I could stop lining the pockets of the oil companies!!

I've been tagged...

by Rachel over at american mum...so here goes...

What was I doing ten years ago...

• well, I had a three month old at home, and she was our second child so I guess I was adjusting to life with 2 children instead of one, I was probably changing a lot of diapers and nursing 6 times a day, and doing my best to entertain my 2 year old daughter.

Five things on my to-do list today...

• mail out tuition for oldest daughters trip to Washington DC
• get groceries
• do laundry
• make dinner
• attend on-line class

Things I would do if I were a billionaire...

• Pay off loads of debt
• support Children's Hope Chest
• open an orphanage in Africa or Haiti (or support one that already exists with not only money but my time)
• possibly adopt a child or two
• buy a home in Montana near Glacier National Park, and volunteer at the park.
  (I could go on...but you get the idea)

Three of my bad habits...

• procrastination...I tend to do things last minute...and it drives me nuts!
• washing cloths but never folding them
• worrying about money(well about everything...but money in particular)

Five places I've lived...

• Um...this a pretty boring one for me...I have lived in the same 10 square miles for my whole entire life!!! I would, however, love to call Montana home at sometime in my life.

Five jobs I've had...

• Hostess at a restaurant
• nail technician/manicurist
• cleaning lady(commercial and residential)
• greenhouse laborer and bookkeeper
• cosmetologist
  (I am currently finishing up my schooling to become a Medical Assistant...so I hope to have a career in the medical field soon...I'm so excited!!)

Five people I want to know more about...

• no one ever plays along when I tag them... so I'll see what happens when I tag Marissa, and Tami...and anyone else who reads this and is up to the challenge!!

Day one...

Day one went very well. I knew that I would love it from when I interviewed...they are a very fun bunch of people. My feet hurt real bad, and I was so tired last night. I arrived home exactly 12 hours after I left the house. I have a feeling that this is really going to kick my butt...but I am excited about it.

I'll go back again on Wednesday, when I'll get treated to my very first drug rep lunch!!

All-in-all it was a great day...I'm glad to have day one "under my belt" so now I can settle in and learn all about life in a pediatrics office.

Oh...and thus begins the great job search as well.

Wish me luck!

Here I go...

I start my internship today.

I feel a little sick to my stomach.

All nerves I'm sure.

Didn't sleep well.

Please pray for me this day.

Thank you!!

one word...

Fricanos!!

Yum!! (OK so that was two words :)

things that make you go...hmmmmm...

Do you notice anything unusual about the picture to the right????

This is honestly a sight I see almost daily. With 4 girls in the house we go through a ghastly amount of toilet paper. (If you have all boys...count your blessings, at least when it comes to toilet paper costs.)

What really gets my knickers in a twist is this...

the toilet paper is located in the hall closet directly across from the bathroom...

so...the roll has already come at least 8 feet, and for some reason, it has trouble making it the last 2 feet onto the TP holder!!!

I have left the TP on the counter to see if anyone would take the time to move it to the holder...I mean, really, sometimes you find yourself sitting there for awhile...what else is there to do with that time???

But...alas, the end result was not the TP beging placed where it belongs...oh no. it. was. not.
What, then was the result you may wonder? Well, not only was there an empty roll on the holder...but also an empty roll on the counter, next too the new roll that made it the usual...8 feet!!

While I'd like to say that this is the only "area" that we have this kind of issue...that would be a lie. It also occurs with dishes being placed at the end of the counter, instead of the 2 more feet it would take to get them into the sink...clean cloths make it onto the bed, but not into drawers and closets....the list is endless.

So...today I am thankful for God reminding me just where my family would be without me. They would certainly be unable to get to the toilet because of all the empty toilet paper rolls, they would have no clean dishes because they'd all be piled at the end of the counter, and they might suffocate in their sleep under the piles of misplaced laundry.

It sure is good to know you're needed!

AMEN!!

You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired" God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me" God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: "I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: "I can't do it" God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able" God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it" God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )

You say: "I can't forgive myself" God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough" God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone" God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)