6 in the Sticks

My oldest child graduated from high school yesterday. Sigh. Where has the time gone? We are so proud of you Jessica!

On the way to school for her big night. I said, "Let me take a picture!" Jessica's reply, "Urgh, Mom!" Not a genuine cheese, but I'll take it. 

Jessica is second from left. This is from when all the grads walked into the room and stood on stage. Ashley is playing her sax with the band hidden behind the chairs, you can't see the band because they are all wearing black. Later, Ashley came out of her band shelter and joined the high school choir for a song for the grads.

Jessica accepting her diploma.

Heading home.

  Yearbook photo.

A calm before the storm.

A "four-leeler" ride as Charly calls it.

Some more fishing tales.

A sleeping pup.

A Post Prom Dance

A Mother's Day visit.

Yesterday mom and I headed to Mpls for the day for her follow-up appointment. Brian met us there. What we thought was going to be an hour appointment turned into about four hours. It was tiring But very thorough. We weren't happy with the statistic answers mom was given, but we were glad the doctors were straight forward as mom needed to know.

Mom is going to be heading back to her house on Sunday, so you will be able to reach her there after that. She is very happy to be going home as she has been quite homesick since she has been away for over a month now.

She learned that the chemotherapy treatments she will have should not make her sick or make her lose her hair so that was a bonus as she prepared for both of those to be good possibilities. Because she prepared for the worse case scenario, we had planned on her staying with us during her treatments. We found out yesterday that it shouldn't be a problem for her to do chemo in her own town, and even drive herself to and from her appointments. This made her very happy as most of you can imagine how nothing beats being home in your own bed. She will receive chemo three times a month for six months.

Brian and I plan on being there with her during her first treatment to see how things go.

Again, thank you so much to all of you that have continued to show your support, concern, and love! It has meant so much. And with all of the flowers and plants that have been sent, mom has beautiful new garden. She had the best smelling hospital room during her stay as well! :)

This week she is continuing her education in real estate and preparing for her oldest grandchild's grad party on Saturday. We're hoping for some good weather to squeeze in some tourist attractions, family visits, and most importantly fishing! Did I mention that she got picked for moose hunting this year too?

This month has completely flashed before my eyes. It's been a crazy week in general for my household. Ashley has a basketball game tonight, tomorrow Jeromy and I are cooking and selling brats for a fundraiser for Charly's preschool. I hope I don't have to use my fingers to count change. Half kidding.

Saturday is Jessica's grad party at her house. We're making a few of her favorites for that as well. Hoping things will be settled come Sunday as I've been itching to get our garden planted for the last couple weeks as our growing season is so short anyhow.

Yesterday I took Jackson and Charly to town with their bikes to get air in the tires and ride on the trail for a while. It was the first time of the season going for a bike ride on the trail. Charly seemed to have forgotten how to use her brakes with her peddles as when she started to pick up speed, a look of panic came on her face, and then her toes reached out and scraped the ground. Ouch. She's always been fearless so it was kind of comical to see her nervous. They're asking me to go for another ride today but it may have to wait as chores need to get done. Hoping to go for a long ride on Monday to see what we can see.

Deep Thought By Jack Handey

Sometimes I think it would be better to live my life as a bird, able to soar above the ground, than live it as a confused bird that digs into the ground.

Jeromy and Jackson went out fishing while Charly and I started our vegetable and flower gardens. I was a little preoccupied while gardening to think to take pictures of our progress but remembered to snap some shots of the nice walleyes the boys brought home. Jackson was ecstatic, he's finally coming around to fishing in a boat. I think it helped that the fish were biting left and right, that's why he enjoys fishing from the dock so much because it doesn't matter how big the fish is, he's catching them and that's what counts for small children.

Mom headed back to her house today. She's hoping to get her house in order before chemo starts and just enjoy being home again I'm sure.

Ashley is in full force of working at the resort. She has a basketball game once a week through the end of July and starts her regular marching band practices tonight gearing up for the 4th of July parade.

Thank you to all of you that came all this way to stop in and send your love at Jessica's grad party on Saturday! I know it meant so much to her.

They were extremely tasty!

We hope you all have a very special and wonderful day!

Jeromy went fishing again this morning, unfortunately by himself as I just couldn't get up at the hour he wanted to head out and I needed some sleep before my trip out to my mom's this afternoon. Her chemo treatments start tomorrow.

He had a fabulous time fishing anyway. Came home with some nice sized walleyes and a very nice crappie. Fish and pancakes for breakfast. He's been sleeping like a baby since.

We are thinking of all of you special fathers and father figures that have touched our lives and hope every one of you has a GREAT day doing what ever it is that touches your fancy.

I made it back last night from my mom's house. Her chemo went good once they were able to start it. She was supposed to go in on Monday for chemo, but after struggling with her veins, the doctors decided to perform a quick surgery and put a port-a-cath in so it will be easier on her every week for her treatments. She is in a little pain from the surgery, but mostly wiped out. The doctors have instructed her to stay away from people who have been sick, or even don't feel quite right, like a runny nose, or people who have been around anyone that has been sick because her immune system will be shot from chemo. So please take that into consideration if you're thinking about visiting her.

It was hard to leave her yesterday. She is so happy to be home. We were able to get some yard work done so she was able to enjoy the beautiful weather not only from her deck, but her patio out back as well. She was so relaxed as we listened to all the birds sing and the woodpeckers peck. She scared a deer away in the morning when she opened her window, she said he was pretty big. I didn't see any turkeys this time as she usually has them coming into her yard as well, she counted thirteen last spring.

Road tripp'n. It always amazes me the things I see whenever I travel. All the colorful thoughts of people shining through in this world. As I traveled along, I felt a wide range of emotion. Thoughts of warmth to humor to what the heck are people thinking. I saw comfy little houses with every plant just so to lots filled with a lifetime of cars, campers and rotting materials which reminded me to clean our own yard up and reduce the amount of vehicles parked for a "just in case" part emergency. Turkeys piled in the turkey farms trying to grab a view from the windows. And I have yet to figure out why almost every small town makes an effort to throw up a cheesy pro life sign. I hope some day, when we leave this world, we will find out that the soul doesn't actually enter the body until you are actually born and God will say it wasn't necessary to preach and judge so much but he forgives you. I hope. I really didn't know what to make of the next sign just a few miles outside of perfectville. It read, DAYCARE Give your children a hands on experience. Wrong choice of words on that one buddy. You can take that sign into so many different contexts, yikes. Road tripp'n wouldn't be the same without numerous sights of road kill as well. The weirdest one was a dead cow just south of the range along the highway. That is something you don't see everyday. But all in all I made it home safe again to the comforts of my chaotic little shack. Home sweet home. I am still pretty bushed today. Must have more coffee to function.

I left the camera home hoping the family would take advantage of it but found the same pictures I took before I left were still on it. I'll have to work on them or take it with me to capture the things that make you say Hhmmm on my next road trip.

Cooper the pooper and his first experience with bubbles.

He did manage to chomp on about ten bubbles.

When I told Charly it was time to clean up, she said she needed a list. Keep in mind, she does not know how to read yet. Although, I'm sure it won't be long as she blurts out every letter in a word already. On this occasion her duties included cleaning up the chalk, put the bikes in the garage, and clean up the bubbles. And that's what her list read. Maybe next week it'll be a day planner.

When asked who could have possibly been writing on daddy's car, Charly hadn't the faintest idea.

We took a drive up the road to check the minnow traps.

Jeromy said it was too cold to go for a swim.

Although, Charly would disagree.

Deep Thought By Jack Handey

When I think back to all the blessings I've been given in my life, I can't think of a single one, unless you count that rattlesnake that granted me all of those wishes.

We took the kids fishing while waiting for Ashley to finish marching band practice last night. Jackson and Charly both caught some nice sized bass. And some small ones too. They had a pretty good time. It is pretty funny watching how excited they get when they are reeling their catch in. Better bring the camcorder next time. Charly changed her mind about holding her fish for a picture after Jackson freaked her out by telling her that the fish have prickly things on them.

Can you tell that Charly is into creating her own outfits lately? She changes them about four times a day. Some days we never know what to expect as she tells us to wait just a minute as she needs to get ready.

These next shots are from fishing on Sunday with Jeromy.

Charly wanted to dig for some worms. She is very much into the Fancy Nancy books. She was so excited to see that Target has added a Fancy Nancy section. Not sure how I feel about getting actual Fancy Nancy designed clothing as I think it's more fun to create fancy outfits from the family's closets. Charly loves to be fancy though. Today, she is sporting her own clothing with a splash of color and fuzz with her dollar store pimp hat that she bought with her job (chore) money.

We headed to my aunt's house for some swimming and fishing fun. We brought our little Cooper along to see if he'd want to learn how to dock dive. He loves the water. Definitely the family to be in for being a water baby. It was fun.

He had a blast swimming around. The little thing in the water is Cooper. He is fourteen weeks old.

Ashley ditched us for some friends. Go figure.

We fished. And swam. And played.

And caught some crawdads.

The kids and I love cajun crawdads. Jeromy says they are too puttsy. Patience my dear one.

Yummy.

Next we had our own "firework" display until the real one happened. I love that we can just sit in our front yard and watch them. I don't miss sitting in crowds of people with several different scents of bug spray. Easier with small kids as well.

And the rockets red glare.....

Charly is our little cheerleader. Ever since she was small she'd jump up and down and cheer at the fireworks screaming, "Show more colors! Come on, you can do it!"