Happy May Day! (a little late)

I can't believe it is already May. Time goes so fast. This past week was extremely busy and this one looks to be busier!

We had a great time in Tremont/Washington last weekend. I was so close I felt like I was at my own wedding all over again. It was a good service to hear and be reminded of different things you don't think of every day in your marriage. (But I probably should.)

Bob and Jenny at the delicious Rehearsal Dinner at the Lariat Steakhouse.

The proud parents.

Beautiful flowers and the smashing Groom's parents.

Two peas in a pod.

Unfortunately all 8 of my camera batteries were dead at the reception, so I got next to nill in px. I guess memories will have to do for now. I'm sure Su has some px up her sleeve - we just have to get her to update.

Grace and I stayed until Tuesday and laze around and she played with Jessie. She really isn't biting Grace's hand although it looks like it. Grace liked Jessie at this distance and preferrably a little farther. She was bowled over a couple times. We had great travels and if Grace doesn't change, I think I'd do it again.

Last Thursday the Rapid Response guys came to install our new furnace and haul the old one. As you can probably guess, the hardest part of the day was taking out the 500+ pound furnace. After much struggling, we called a couple of neighbors over to help out these two and Rustin. It went much better after that.

What a long, grueling day, but we are happy, thankful, and very excited for next winter's heat and heat bills.

Side Note: Yes we really are trying to wean Grace from her Nuk. Unfortunately every px she has it in her mouth. She really is doing pretty good except now I find her gnawing on her thumb and pointer finger. Help!

Grand Opening #2

Friday April 10 was Meadowland Market's Grand Opening at the new location. The crowd far exceeded our expectations. The weather was perfect for the 'brat and a pop for a buck'. We planned on serving 150 between Friday and Saturday. Friday wasn't half over and we needed more brats. We ended up serving around 500 in the two days. It's neat getting to know the townspeople and they once again showed great support.

We just love the upgraded building. There is twice the room in the store area. The middle bay is enough to hold all the food and our working table. The back room has three bays for non-food storage. Its amazing how much better a building is with more lights, windows, and fresh paint!

It's nice to be back on my normal work schedule. The week prior to opening was alot of hard work and not alot of Grace time. She and I are looking forward to travelling to Illinois this Thursday for Bob and Jenny's wedding. Rustin will fly in on Friday night. We are excited for the extended visit and I hope the Tremont townwide Garage Sales! (unless they changed the weekend)

Whoda Thunk It?

I don't know about you, but I've never been a winner of contests, sweepstakes, door prizes, whatever you want to call them...until last week. We aren't winning a Million Dollars, but we are winning a brand new furnace.

We found out we officially have the oldest furnace in Stevens County!!! During the month of March, a company called Rapid Response held a contest in which contestants had to send in the make, model, serial number of their furnace, and whoever's was the oldest received a brand new furnace. We thought we might have a fighting chance since we couldn't find the serial number and the company was nowhere to be found on the web. We called up the previous owner's daughter and she thought the original coal-burner was installed in the early 1950's by her grandparents. (It has since been converted to natural gas.)

Tomorrow a rep from the company is coming to our house for interviews, pictures, and possible (I hope not) radio time. I have never truly appreciated an old house until now. There are sometimes advantages. Mostly we are thankful to God for His timely intercessions. I'll keep you updated.

75% Mad Dash

You want to see something funny? Have your entire store at 75% off and watch the crazyness begin.

Last week we had our moving sale bargains at Meadowland Market. It was the best and busiest 3 days we've had in a long time, except for the fact that everything was 50 or 75 % off. In the three days we even gained new customers. Thursday and Friday were busy days at 50% off. But Saturday topped them all with everything 75% off. I stood at the till all morning long while the lines stretched back to the storage door. People just hauled out junk after junk. It was great entertainment. The best was the order at the end of the day. (Good thing I wasn't in a hurry and in a good mood.) A lady and her friend pull up to the till as the last customers at about 12:10. It took me a good 10 minutes to do their orders. Once I was done with his she was already back finding more stuff. I rang up her extras and he was back finding more. I got those done and he decided he was finished and went out to the car. She happened to find the Texas Hold 'Em electronic games we've had for awhile. She'd put five on the counter, think about it, and put five more. After 20 minutes of debating she finally bought all 30 games we had. At a buck you can't go wrong for Christmas presents! We were trying not to laugh, but didn't succeed very well. I was able to finally shut the doors at 12:45.

This is the last you'll hear from me for a week because we are busy stocking the new store for the GRAND OPENING on Friday and Saturday!

Bell

Well it's almost been two weeks since Bell (the foreign exchange student from Thailand) came for a visit, so I thought I'd better post before I forget. We had a really nice, fast weekend with her. She came on Friday night and left on Sunday afternoon. Her husband and child couldn't make it because her son was sick. Not too fun to travel with a sick kid. Rustin, Grace and I stopped over for a quick visit Friday night. He and Bell are the same age so they had a definite brother/sister relationship. He hadn't seen her for 10 years but you never would have guessed it.

We worked the store on Saturday morning and then we all went to Mom and Dad's for the day. It actually was a relaxing day with much laughter, playing, and chatting. In the evening Jody and Keeta set up an Easter egg hunt for the kids. Grace just didn't quite get it so here is what she mainly did.

Here is a px of the 5 grandkids. What a bunch of cute kids!

Luke Abbi Tiffany Grace Tory

Last Saturday we had Tommy and Amber and Kylie over for dinner and the evening. It was so much fun. Grace and Kylie were hilarious together. They played well together and picked on each other pretty good.

At one point (about 9:00) Grace was getting a little crabby, so Kylie thought she would help her out by handing her cheerios. Pretty soon Grace was like a princess and Kylie her servant except Kylie just kept handing the wrong thing. We all were dying laughing. I love Kylie's laugh when Grace would squawk. It's good that Grace gets a little taste of her own medicine.

Today marks the day where everything in our old store is 50% off to try and rid of it before the move. After we close on Saturday everything is being removed and taken to the new store. (Hopefully it won't be much.) We are closed next week until Friday. And then... The Grand Re-opening!!! We are all very excited and ready to be in the new store. ( I think we are ready for some regular sleeping patterns too!)

The new word of the week is 'PLEASE'. Grace wanted something and out came a 'pea'. I was shocked because she has never said it before. We'll see if we can keep it up!

It's going to be a bright sun-shiny day!

This is Grace's new smile. She squints her eyes (usually more than this) and flashes a cheesy grin showing all teeth. I love it!

Since I usually complain about the MN weather, I thought I'd say how wonderful it has been this week. While we were having 60's in IL and MS this past weekend, so was MN. Grace and I took a walk yesterday, and I was even getting hot! We've got our back yard to drain so it isn't a pond, but I think it might be going to the basement! Thank goodness we've never carpeted it.

My siblings gave Grace blocks for Christmas. She loves building towers and destroying them. Usually hers fall before she gets a chance, so she really likes it if I build the tower.

She's also into trying on our shoes. Here she's trying to get my boots on. Once on they went up to her butt. I could never get a good shot!

Last Wednesday we started out for IL. I was amazed at how well Grace travelled. Other than wanting to eat every five minutes, she napped or looked out the window the entire time. Rustin and I listened to Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel. (He actually liked it.) In fact, we almost ran out of gas because we were both so into the book. On the way home we listened to Where the Red Fern Grows. I forgot how good that story is. It sure makes the time go by faster.

We stayed in Owatonna that night and Grace slept ok. On Thurs. we hit Tremont about 3:30. Jenny came over for supper so we got to spend time with her and the family.

What a cute couple!!! They are perfect for each other.

That night Grace's pants kept falling down so we had to get a px!

On Friday Grace and I went to visit Kelly and Sam. (Allison was sleeping.) Sam and Grace played together pretty well as long as Sam kept his distance from Grace and as long as she stayed away from his endloader. The first thing he said when he saw me was, "We're going to your house on 'cation." They are hoping to come up in July for a reunion. Hopefully the time passes by fast for him because July seems like a long ways off. Friday afternoon Mom and I went dress shopping for Bob and Jenny's wedding. Grace was the only lucky finder that trip. She was able to stay home with Daddy and Grandpa and take a much needed nap. Susan came home that afternoon and watched/played with her while the men went to Sears and Menards. That evening Jenny and Michelle came over for pizza. Us girls played Dutch Blitz for a long time. Jenny creamed us all by over 100 points.

Sat. morning we visited both Grandparents.

Grace enjoyed the cuckoo clock at Koch's. She was toodling around and opened a cupboard door and took out a squirrel figurine. For some reason she didn't want to let go of it. When she gets something in her head, watch out!

We went to Beutel's where she found the Dutch shoes which have been worn by all kids who have entered there!

She also found her Daddy's hat and her stinky diaper!

They gave her the dog Grandma is holding and she played with it about the whole trip home. She loves dogs and saying "woof woof."

Saturday afternoon we drove to Quincy to the Stoney Creek Inn. I noticed a Steak and Shake within walking distance so I knew where I'd be eating supper! We helped Rob and Marcia watch Tim and Jenny and Daryl and Christy kids while they went to the rehearsal dinner. The older kids played together and the younger ones just wanted to wander the halls. After helping the kids with pizza, Dad Mom Matt and us went to S and S for supper. It was sooooo good. I haven't had it in a long time. Minnesotans just don't know what they're missing. Mom and I went shopping afterwards for dresses. Mom was successful!!! I was not, but still have a month to find something.

Grace and Darcy! Poor thing had a cold and looks shot. She is such a happy-go-lucky girl. Grace kept trying to tickle her so it was hard to get a good px.

Finally Grace met her match - Max! He wouldn't let her push him around without a rebound.

The wedding was great. I met Ashley for the first time and feel she will be a blessing to Mark and our family. It's so exciting to welcome new additions to the family.

This weekend ReKeeta's are coming up and so is Bell - the Schmidgall's foreign exchange student from when Rustin was in high school. Looking forward to another great weekend!

In like a Lion

Our small Minnesota March world has come in like a lion.

Last week Grace had diahrrea - the big molars are coming in.

It snowed 9 inches. (They said 8-10 inches, so I'll average.)

And the best and a first for us: Grace awoke with the flu this morning at 4am. Rustin thankfully was the one who first saw and smelled her. (I got to take care of it.) Poor little thing. Every time she ate or drank anything today, up it came. It's hard not being able to do anything for her. You know Grace isn't feeling good when it is 5:30, she just woke from a 4 hour nap and she lies on the floor saying nigh-nigh. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for her!

I hear predictions that there is going to be another big dumper this weekend. We'll just wait and see! Honestly this winter I would love to be in Il. Oh well, it builds character, right? I'll quit my complaining and keep my sights set on SPRING!