The Shiner

Cameron received his first major baseball injury. Ok, maybe not MAJOR, but bad enough!

It didn't look as bad last night. He iced it as soon as we got home from the game, but it still swelled shut.

It's pretty sore today, but I'm sure he'll be fine by the tournament tomorrow.

Ride 'Em, Cowgirl!

As I was making supper tonight, I heard a giant "thud" followed by hysterical crying coming from Paige's room. Cameron and I both rushed in there to find her sitting on the floor crying.

When I asked her what was wrong, she told me "I was just trying to ride the dog and he bucked me off!"

The poor dog was standing in the hallway with a worried look on his face. Our dog is very sensitive, you know. I think he was waiting to see if he was going to be in trouble.

The dog is not in trouble, but I did have to have a talk with Paige about how the dog is not a horse and that he doesn't like that. She's still convinced he likes to do whatever she wants to do.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 30th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Hide and Seek

One of Paige's favorite games is Hide and Seek. I think she may need some pointers when it comes to finding good hiding places!



But when she does find a good one, the giggling usually gives it away. She's so funny!

Hand Washing and Band-Aids

Since it was such a nice day on Friday, Paige played outside all afternoon in her sandbox. When it was time to wash her hands, she and Kyle went to the hose in the back yard to "rinse off". After I heard squealing and yelling I had to go see what was going on. This is what I found......

She decided it was more fun to spray Kyle. But in the process, she soaked herself. Oh well, at least it was only water.

While she was playing, she cut her finger a little. I went to go get a Band-Aid for her which caused the meltdown to multiply 10 fold. Paige is scared of Band-Aids. She would rather bleed all over than to have a Band-Aid. Have you ever heard of a kid that doesn't like Band-Aids? Most kids want one even if they are not bleeding. Like I've said before.....she's a weird kid!

Ever Wondered?

Have you ever wondered what your dog does when you're not looking?

Apparently ours likes to take naps on the couch!

A-OK

The surgery went well. I am feeling great today and not in as much pain as I expected to be.

I go back to the doctor for the post-op appointment on June 15th and start physical therapy on the 16th.

The kids are all being great help and Josh was wonderful at the hospital yesterday.

More News from the Doctor's Office

At least this time it's not Paige!

I am scheduled to have surgery on my shoulder tomorrow. I am having arthroscopy to remove some bone spurs in 3 areas of my shoulder and to repair a tear of the rotator cuff caused by the spurs.

I have been having some pain in my shoulder since about October. It just wasn't bad enough to see a doctor until about a month ago. We have tried a couple different medications, physical therapy and cortisone injections. Seems surgery is the last resort. I went to the orthopedist on Friday to schedule surgery and LUCKY for me, there was a cancellation at the hospital. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so soon. I'll be glad to get it over with, though.

I hope it's not a bad "omen" to have it on 06/06/06. It should all go well since it's just an out-patient procedure.

Will post an update as soon as I can. I may have to type with one hand, but will be sure to let everyone know all went well.

I will be off work for 4-6 weeks, so feel free to call or stop by the house. I figure I'll be bored to tears by the end of this week!

Cameron

Cameron celebrated his 13th birthday on Saturday, June 3rd!

Here is his last report card from 6th grade:

PE A-

Math B-

Reading B+

Soc. Studies B

English B+

Science B

Art B

Vocal B+

He made the honor roll and also received a certificate for perfect attendance.

Awesome Job, Cam. We are so proud of you!!

Trip to the Zoo

We took a trip to Omaha this weekend to the Henry Doorly Zoo. It was Cam's birthday yesterday, so we thought this would be a great time to go.

It was a beautiful day to go. We got up early on Saturday and were on the road by 7 a.m. We stopped for breakfast and were still to the zoo by 10:30. It was warm, but not so hot that the animals were all "hiding out".


All Paige cared about seeing were the giraffes. But once we got to them, she wasn't that impressed. She was more impressed at the sizes of the piles of poo each animal had. Such as, elephant poop is bigger than giraffe poop. Very observant, but she's a weird kid!!!!

There are so many things to see there that I'm sure we didn't see everything.
We left the zoo about 4 and headed to our motel.

We came about half way home and stayed in Walnut, IA. It's a tiny little town just off the interstate. Our room was very nice as was the pool. You wouldn't think they'd be that excited to swim inside in June, but had a ball at the pool. Most of the time we were the only one's there.

We were all so tired from the big day that I think we were all sleeping by 10. Paige has decided that "girls rule and boys drool", so I got to sleep with her. Lucky me, she's such a bed hog!

We were up early again, had breakfast and went to the pool again this morning before heading home.

We took the "scenic route" home and stopped by Albert the Bull since our last mini-vacation involved a picture of the Jolly Green Giant. We may need to start planning all our vacations to involve a family picture next to a giant statue of something! I suppose I need to take a picture next to the statue of Pocahontas that's on the edge of town. We drive by it all the time, but forget that it's even there.

Summer Do

I took Paige over this morning to get her "summer do". Her hair is so fine and has some natural wave, so it always looks like it needs to be brushed. I think this short cut is going to be easy to take care of and always look nice.

She was a little upset at first. But Annie curled it and put some sparkle spray in it, so all is good. On the way over, Paige kept telling me she wanted "sprinkles" and I wasn't sure what she was talking about. She meant sparkles. How cute is that?

Mother's Day

I received this email from 3 different people and think it's very "profound". Hope everyone had a very good Mother's Day.

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here".

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football ,
hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.


This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway?Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that t takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us.

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them.

And pray..

"Home is what catches you when you fall. - and we all fall."

Name Tags and Garage Sales....Literally

I haven't posted in a while because it's been pretty quiet around here.

The kids are all doing well.

It's getting very close to the end of the school year so the boys are excited. Cameron starts baseball practice this afternoon. And Kyle works all the time at the Pizza Ranch.

Paige is ready for Pre-School. We went to Round-Up last month and ever since then she asks to go to school...EVERYDAY! I think she's a little excited.

She said the funniest thing at Pre-School Round-up. When we got there the teacher asked her if she wanted a name tag. Paige told her, "no thank you, I already have a name".

She takes everything so literally, when I asked her if she wanted to go to a garage sale with me, she told me I didn't need to go because we already have a garage.

There were city-wide sales in Pocahontas this weekend. I found Paige alot of clothes for this summer and some for fall. I'm still pretty excited about taking her school shopping this fall. I say that now, but I'm sure I won't be quite as ready for her first day of school.

Alyse and Ella also came home for the garage sales. Paige and I offered to keep Ella on Saturday morning since I did all my bargain shopping on Friday night. Paige really enjoyed having Ella over. That is, until Ella had a dirty diaper and when she threw up. Paige did "help" with the diaper changing. She got the diaper and wipes out of the diaper bag and then went to stand in the hallway until the diaper was changed.

Paige and Ella

Easter Weekend

We had a very nice Easter weekend.

Josh raced for the first time this season. To keep up-to-date on all the racing news check out the "other" blog at www.joshhohenseeracing.blogspot.com or just click on the link to the left.


On Saturday, we took Paige to the Easter Egg Hunt. She found alot of eggs and even won a big Easter basket. She had so much fun. When we got home, she and I made this bunny cake. She loves to help in the kitchen. Her job was to put the M&M's on the tie. I'm surprised there are so many on there since she ate one for every one she put on the cake.

We went to Grandma Ellen and Grandpa Roger's for supper with the family on Saturday. Charles, Alyse, and Ella were there, as well as, Ellen's sister, Debbie, and her "crew".

On Sunday, we went to lunch in Pomeroy for Grandpa Hohensee's 85th birthday celebration with the Hohensee turnout of 37 people. After lunch, we went to Darwin and Debby's for cake. Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

It seems like the weekend just flew by. But, it was great to get together with all the family.

It's Done......Almost!

The quilt I have been working on is almost done. All I have left to do is sew the binding down, which should only take about half an hour or so. It was alot more work than I expected it to be. I think this will be my first and only quilt I make. Not because it was so much work, it was just so stressful for me to do it.

I guess it's not my "thing"! You know how everyone has a "thing". I guess I'll just stick to reading!

In other news, things on the homefront are great. The new job is going well. Alot different than working at the school. My body just needs to adjust working more than 35 hours a week!

Kyle has been very helpful and picks Paige up from daycare everyday. That has turned out to be "their time". I think they both really enjoy it, although Kyle won't admit that.

Cam's Report Card

PE A

Music B

Math A-

Reading B+

Soc.Studies B

English B+

Science B

Fam/Con Sci (Home Ec) A-

Awesome Job, Cam!!! You made the B honor roll!

In case some of you are wondering why Kyle's report card is not posted, he offered me money not to put it on here!!

New Job=New Car

Here are some pictures of the "surprise" Josh brought home yesterday. It's the 2004 Chevy Impala we looked at on Friday. I had no idea he was going to buy it! Wasn't that sweet? I guess he figures since I'll be driving about 35 miles a day, that the Surburban isn't going to be very economical. That is now the "racecar hauler".

I'm very excited about my "new" car!

New Job

I found out 2 weeks ago on Tuesday that, due to budget cuts, that the staff at school is being downsized. I, of course, was one of the "lucky" ones to be cut. I have a job through the end of the school year, but they are not going to renew my contract for next year.

I decided not to take my chances at finding a job in May. So, last Tuesday I interviewed for a job at Jack Links in Laurens. They called me on Thursday and offered me the position. I start next Monday, April 3rd. I'm not even really sure of my job description right now because I am hired for a new department they are adding. I do know that Jack Links in Laurens is a distribution center for the company and there is no manufacturing of the products.

Congrats, Courtney and Chad!!

Just heard the news today that our friends, Courtney Thompson and Chad Palmer are engaged! Since they are our "racin' buddies" I think it's only fitting to wish them congrats in this way:

We hope your marriage is filled with "green flags" for smooth racing

Some "yellow" to encourge you to always be cautious of the other's feelings

A "red" when you need to just stop and enjoy each other

And, of course, a house full of "little racers"

I'm Crafty!?

I have decided to be ambitious and take a quilting class. Here are some pictures of what the quilt looks like so far. I have taken two classes so far and have one more to go. The plan is to get it completely finished during the next class. Otherwise, I'm afraid it will never get finished since I don't really know what I'm doing yet!