Spring Break

Yikes! It's been a while since I posted. Last week the boys and I were in North Carolina. We had a great time taking boat rides and hanging out. Once my Mom pointed out some Mistletoe growing in a tree, I hunted Mistletoe (see the first picture) . The 8 YO learned the difference between inboard engines, outboards and inboard-outboards. He spent time identifying the engine type of each boat as we padded by the docks.

We saw the eagales nest we saw last fall, but no sign of the Eagle himself.

The second picture is the boys int he row boat.

Anybody know how to build an Ark?

It's raining a lot here in SW Ohio. We got a foot of snow last weekend that all melted. The rivers are overrunning their banks. My kids started their Spring break tow days early today due to flooding in the school that was still rising.

Well, a good thing the kids were home. They were able to discover that the sump pump was not working and call Dad who had it replaced before more than an inch of water gathered. I think most of the stuff I really cared about was up on my lovely shelves or in plastic bins. We need to do another purge anyways.

I guess they have all the water pumped out or gotten by the shop vac. Now they are moving and checking things. Did I relate how Hubby threw out his back 10 days ago shoveling the foot of snow? He can't lift much. I guess the 12 Yo is being a huge help. Hubby mentioned taking the boys out for lunch.

Meanwhile, I am dealing with another piece of drama here at work wile in a class. The class is down the hall from my office. That' more of a curse than a blessing.

Did I mention that I am having not jsut one party at my house on Easter, but two?

I live for this kind of drama. LOL! I have jsut recenly admitted this to myself.

Too many Apples

My 12 YO woke up yesterday morning complaing that his head hurt. He was congested so I gave him some regular Tylenol and a Sudafed. I too him to school about 10:00 AM.

Later that afternoon he told me "I've never had a headache before."
me: "What did it feel like" (Trying to determin if the poor boy has Mom and Dad's allergies)
12 YO: "It was like there were two apples in my head and someone was trying to stuff and third on in and it did not fit."

I stocked up on Claritin and Sudafed.

Ohio Snow pictures & Menu Plan Monday

Back deck about 9 AM Saturday Morning.

The mailbox after shoveling the driveway. Hubby threw out his back after getting about 1/4 of the drive done. The 12 Yo was "helping". I went out and with some help of the 12 YO got one lane cleared. The 12 YO finished the remaining 3/4 of the other side.

Menu Plan for the week:

Mon - Meantloaf in the fridge ready to be put in the oven.

Tuesday - Chicken tortilla casserole.

Wed - Pork chops, stuffing and gravy.

Thurs - Just me and DS8. We will scrounge.

Fri - Fish Fry at Church. \

Holy Cow, I forgot to put a link to Org Junkies Menu Plan monday post and Mr. Linky. Lot os bloggeres create their meal plans.

Repost: My Christmas dish collection Christmas preparations

This Morning, Shannon of "WFMW" fame posted about her dishes and invited readers to post theirs. I took pictures Christmas 2006 when I switched out my Christmas Dishes.

I too have a thing for seasonal dishes. I have a set of 4 Melamime dishes for Halloween, Valentines day, Spring/Easter and Summer. I also have my MIL's set of China with something close to 16 sets packed away in one of hte Rubbermaid dish chests they sold several years ago when Christmas dish sets became very popular.

So I made the big dish switch. Several years ago I decided the I liked having Christmas plates. Well,actually we got a service for 4 as a Wedding gift.













But then I acquired a set of melamine plates that were on sale the year I was to have Christmas at my house.








Then a year later I got some other dishes. Then a few days before Christmas they were selling for 50% off. So I got a whole set. Some Santa and some snowmen.

Good News, Bad News

I guess I am setting a good example of citizenship for my sons. They are aware of the election, they know who's running and they have some ideas as to what the various presidential candidates are promising.

Bad News is that they want to know who I support and why. My Dad was always a private man who did not talk much about his political leanings. Although Mom claims they cancel out each others voted every year.

But last night the 12YO and I I had a talk about the platforms of each candidate. I talked about what issues were at the top of my list and which cnadidate I liked for that issue. We also did some hypethical discussion about how "If issue Y were very important to me, Candidate Z would be getting my vote."

At least I know they are interested. They should understand the ramifications. They have a relative, whom I love dearly, but who has no interest in political matters and barely looks at current events if only to see the weather, who votes for a certain party becasue of her father's influence. This relative has been heard to rant about some government actions she did not agree with. She has no idea that the votes she casts are for the people who are making laws that she does not agree with.

Proud to be an Ohioan