Friday Funny

 They keep making bad movies, but they look so good. -Ellie

XX: Footers

We took a drive out today to see our footers.

I knew the block was there and the gravel driveway was in, 

but was surprised to find there was also lumber at the site.

The kids found a tree that we had to have removed for the shifting of the power line, to redirect it from running over the building site.

They also found a pile of gravel.

Stars & Stripes

Katie earned her Stars & Stripes Award through American Heritage Girls.  Her project was updating our church’s playground.  It was a big project in addition to all if the other requirements.

Today we were able to celebrate her award and all of her accomplishments along the way.  Her youth minister, troop unit leader, and the children’s minister (since she served the children’s program through this project and over the past several years), and mentor all spoke about her growth.  When the open opportunity to speak about her came, so many people came forward—adults who have seen her love their girls, her peers who spoke of how she is a wonderful friend, and younger girls who look up to her and appreciate that she sees them. I didn’t take a single picture during the ceremony, wanting to soak it all up.

Then we had our party.  In the midst of the process of getting her project approved, there were gaps of time in which we waited awhile, and as mom, I was to step back and let the project be hers anyway, so I’d been planning the party in fits and spurts for months.

I ran across the ‘build your own trail mix bar,’ and she loved it—it fit well with her troop experiences and was fun too.

The cake table—we had a chocolate sheet cake (via Sam’s), I made a vanilla cake, and Katie made the vegan cupcakes for those who needed them.

Close up of the cake I made—Captain America style, per her request

The cake we ordered

A fruit basket (with star cutout fruits) , punch, and water

Each of the tables had a centerpiece based around her favorite badge from each of the badge frontiers.  The photo board of her project and various mementoes are in the background—there are too many faces of girls whose families would prefer us not to post, so no close up of that table here.

Centerpieces in preparation—clockwise from 10 o’clock, Our Flag, cake decorating, creative writing, camping, book adventurer, and astronomy. Each had a label describing why that was her favorite.

Her favor was a SWAP

Here is the explanation of those SWAPS, since not everyone knows what they are!

Congratulations Katie-Girl!  You did it!

Love always,

Mama 

XIX: Breaking Ground

Dirt has been moved!  The builder was able to dig out the foundation and have that pass inspection.  Next up concrete—as soon as he gets someone to deliver—hopefully before needing to re-excavate the footers.

In the meantime, the electrical line has to be moved, as it runs over the build site (nothing beyond the foundation can go in with the line there).  To move to line, trees have to come down.  We’re arranging for the tree removal now, and I get to pay the electric company for a new pole.  The company will approve the move after the trees are down, then it takes about four weeks to get a crew to do the moving of the line.

Here Comes Summer

 We kicked off summer here this past week.

Gabby headed off to pre-med summer camp which is kinda summer, but honestly more school.  She got a semester worth of credit towards her freshman biology course.  She learned to give shots, do stitches, and did dissections—the brain was her favorite.

After a day of boredom, I sent Nate on a quest to teach Ellie a  badge—Fire Safety and Fire Building.  She moved up in AHG, so her vest went from this:

To this:

She feels the need to start filling it up!

Katie has been busy babysitting, so no pictures there!

But we’re also planning a party.  She turned in her paperwork for her Stars and Stripes project and are waiting on final approval to celebrate her!

12 1/2

1. What is your favorite color? Black 

2. What is your favorite toy? Legos
3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon 
4. What is your favorite tv show? Greenhouse Academy
5. What is your favorite movie?  LEGO Movie II
6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Sweats
7. What is your favorite animal? Horse
8. What is your favorite song? “Metal Machine” -Sabaton
9. What is your favorite book? Spirit Animals (series)

10. Who is your best friend? Matthew & Jake
11. What is your favorite snack? Butterscotch brownies with M&Ms
12. What is your favorite drink? Lemon seltzer water
13. What is your favorite breakfast? mom’s cinnamon rolls
14. What is your favorite lunch? Ham sandwiches
15. What is your favorite dinner? Chili Dogs
16. What is your favorite game? Risk
17. What is your favorite thing to play outside? Tag

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
19. What do you sleep with at night? Blankets
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Architect, Underwater welder, Truck driver

XVIII: water meeting and a visit

The younger two girls and I met with the water company on last Wednesday.

While we were there, we took a hike down to the stream.  Gabby timed us—about 18 minutes each way.  It is quite a hill!

Little tree

Girls at the creek

A wild rose

More wild flowers

Maybe garden phlox

Tiny maple

Maybe halfway up