Dinner with Jan and Julie

We had dinner at Jan and Julie's on Christmas Day. Julie grilled a pork tenderoin and Jan made potatoes and brussels. It was very simple, and very nice to not overeat.  I made an apple pie for dessert

Maggie took one of her new books to read and Ben sat reading some of it to her

Ben got a chess set for Christmas, so he played a couple of games with Sam.

Maggie gor a (VERY complicated) dot-to-dot book.  She kept asking me about it and I told her I'd have to take out my contacts to be able to see that small!!!!!

Trip to Ste Genevieve with Jan and Julie

 We changed our yearly trip from Clarksville to Ste Genevieve this year, and it was a decision to make.  Ste Genevieve is Missouri's oldest town and there are still loads of original buildings from the late 18th Century.

 The Green Tree Tavern is a vertical log cabin, was once a masonic lodge, an inn and a tobacco store

 The building is still in really good shape

We had a great time and will definitely go back

Maggie's confirmation

Maggie's confirmation day finally arrived.  I brought this cross back from San Diego for her

I managed to get Ben to come to church with us, that's twice in one year and it's only 4 months in.  Double plus-I got him to smile for this photo

Of course, Ben felt impelled to give Maggie some late minute instructions (look at the look on Maggie's face!!)

Here he is, Maggie looks even more disgusted.....

A group of the kids getting ready for the service

Pastor Becky giving out last minute instructions

The confirmation affirmation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmyAArE4eck&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqUhNaQHeB0&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEz4B6nFsFo&feature=youtu.be

Maggie

Maggie & me

Maggie with Jan & Julie

The family!!!!

Church announcement

Call to worship by Maggie

Maggie has been working on Confirmation classes at Jan and Julie's church.  The confirmands led church this morning and Maggie did the Call to Worship. 

Maggie's trip to Michigan

Looks like Maggie had a great time in Michigan with Jan and Julie.  Jan sent us pictures and a report every day

Playing cards with Julie

Sitting with Will

Looks like they are playing Clue

Nothing like a good camp fire.....

Reading a good book

Looks like it was pretty cool the whole time she was gone.  She bought this jacket and wore it a lot...

Leaving on a breezy day to come home.....

March for Science 2017

Donald Trump has turned me into an activist!!!!  I took the kids to the March for Science rally today.  I met a lot of people that I know!!!  It was like a science reunion.

Don marched with us, he was definitely in the minority 

Picture of the marchers under the arch!!!!

Maggie with Jan's sign

Ben, me and Maggie

Ben (kind of) showing off his shirt

And the Summer begins......

Summer break seems to come earlier and earlier each year.  Even with an extra 2 days of school to make up for snow (what snow?), they were still out before Memorial Day.  This is shaping up to be a major pool year.  It's become Ben's latest obsession and they have been there almost every day since it opened.  At least we should get our membership's worth this year!!!!  I think they spend most of their time on the diving board, I wouldn't know because I have dropped them off most days.  Ben is moving into the era of hanging with the chickies.  I think Maggie is somewhat cramping his style though!!!!

Maggie is ALWAYS happy to go to the pool, and she is super-tanned already

We went over to see Jan last week too.  The ramp they have in front of their house is quite spectacular, so I thought it was worthy of a picture!!!!  She is doing fine.  Can't really get around very much though.  She is pretty much confined to bed because of the 7 fractures in her pelvis and can't put any weight on her legs for 8 weeks.  That essentially means both Jan and Julie are tied to the house for almost the whole Summer.

What a terrible Monday

Sometimes you get up in the morning and have absolutely no idea how horrendous the day is going to be.  If you knew, you'd just stay right where you are and not move!!!  OK, in the big picture, everyone made it through the day, but still......

First of all, Julie texted us and said that Jan was hit by a drunk driver on Sunday afternoon as she was driving up to the cabin in Michigan.  He hit the driver's side of the truck.  She broke her ankle, her pelvis in several places and some vertebrae in her neck.  Poor Jan, she had just got over her knee replacement.  She had surgery on her ankle yesterday, but will just have to be immobilized for her other injuries.  No idea how they are going to get her back to St Louis yet, but Julie is with her, so she is not alone.

That was the only major catastrophe, everything else was pretty much just not what you'd choose.  Sam took the day off work and essentially worked all day.  I got nothing done at work all day, it was very frustrating.  Also, our autoclave started spewing nasty, rusty water and our -80 freezer died.  I had to move all our samples to our other freezers last thing in the day.  Hopefully, today will be better.

Maggie in the church play

Maggie was in the church play yesterday. It was about superheroes being usurped by Jesus!!!  I think Gwen got it off the internet, but it was pretty good.  Maggie was a shepherdess.  It might have been a little better if they had learned their lines!!!!  They would have looked good without their faces in the script.  Still, good job kiddos

Hiking and campfire eating.....

 Ben told me "I'm dying, we are eating so healthy...."

Trip to the lighthouse

I think this was the day that it was only 67. Looks pretty cloudy and cool. Jan and Julie have done really well about keeping them occupied

Lots of smiles

Little Maggs