44 is almost here

I'm posting early, but tomorrow is my 44th birthday. A lot to be thankful for and many blessings have been bestowed upon me in the past 44 years. Today I got to see most of my family including all of my brothers and both of my parents. Could you ask for much more than that?

Thank you Mom and Dad for loving me and giving our family such a core of Christianity and dedication.

28

Sweet sweet sweet Jenna Louise is 28. On the eve of my 16th birthday, I wasn't thinking this far into the future, but I couldn't have dreamt of a more caring, motivated, passionate, and creative individual. Happy birthday dear Jenna Louise.

we are family!

The Blomgren crew met at the St. James Super 8 and then went on to dinner at Jake's Pizza in downtown St. James. Both brother Cory and I ordered Canadian Bacon/Saurkraut pizza. YUM! Then back to the hotel for a little swimming and talking. I think my eyes were sleeping when my head finally hit the pillow.

friday madness

Ibby and I continued our tradition of Black Friday shopping. We didn't encounter any craziness, but spent our time at Target, Kohls, Walmart, Target again and then drove to North Branch and had a yummy breakfast at Denny's, hit Bath and Body works for a great candle deal, Dress Barn and a sweet 2nd hand shop (not as boss as last year's, but good) and then home to our kiddos. We both kind of melted into our beds at the end of the day.

giving thanks!

There is so much to be thankful for. My parents are on their way to Jenna and Cody's in Sioux Falls with Kurt, we are sitting here at Grandma and Grandpa Bud and Betty's watching episode one of Star Wars with Joe, O, Betty, K and Ibby (Henry and Dehlia are outside exercising their new dog Pumpkin and Brad and A are out in the wilderness trying to slay another deer).  In a few hours, we will be dining on some really yummy food and tomorrow morning, Ibby and I will be heading to the Twin Cities for a little Black Friday action.

Blessings to you and yours and I look forward to a blessed holiday season.

Just in...Stuart and Kyeanna's engagement is official--here is the post:

25th

On Wednesday, the 25th, A shot his 2nd deer ever--Brad kept saying that the shot was perfect. So wonderful that the deer was a clean shot! O was ready to dine on the deer as soon as he met her and went inside the hunting shack to get a knife and fork so he could start feasting ;)





After that we spent the day at Ibby's house and then I drove to Siren to get a new do--it was time to cut several inches off my hair and give it a little lift. Thanks to a lovely young woman named Lori who spent a lot of time pampering me and massaging my scalp. I feel like a new woman!

day of cooking

Our class spent the day on the 24th making butter, soup, bread and salad. We celebrated a class birthday and ate really delicious food. After school, the kids and I traveled up to G town east side and spent the night at the hunting shack.

she's 6 and looking fine

Dear Dehlia Grace is now officially 6 years old. You are an amazing kid and we love you lots!

the 22nd

The 22nd was much like the 21st, but I did get a chance to head to Anytime Fitness and walked a mile in preparation to teach on Monday.

On Monday, the 23rd, our class strategized what it was like to be thankful and spent the day composing thank you letters to people around our school who have been so helpful. It is so wonderful to see children noticing people who aren't always recognized for their efforts.

feeling gross--fun series

On Saturday, the 21st, I spent the day inside ALL day. I was supposed to go on a girls weekend to Turtle Lake, but I spent the weekend sleeping/watching Call the Midwife. I actually got a chance to finish the entire series. It was so fun to watch a period movie about a woman who is the same age as my dear Momma who was a midwife on the east side of London. I have an idea of the world my navigated as a woman in her early 20s.

solo ensemble contest

On Friday, the 20th, our special 8th grader sang his way to two highly rated performances--one solo and one duet. We were able to see his duet and the judge just kept saying "Your high school choir director will be so happy to welcome you to the group". He took it very seriously and sang "What Can you Do with a Drunken Sailor" with much feeling and emphasis.

This year, he is taking his music very seriously and is a member of Madrigals, Select Choir and has been invited to Honors Band with area bands. So amazing to see children using their God given gifts.

22nd birthday Stuart Martin

Stuart Martin celebrated his 22nd birthday on the 19th. What a strong, handsome and friendly young man!
 Here is Stuart with his special friend Kyeanna at his Marine Ball the previous Saturday, November 14.

18th

Wednesday the 18th was Mickey Mouse's birthday...kind of digging deep, but that is what I have to report for the 18th.

17th

Tuesday the 17th was my final evening of conferences. It is always nice to have conversation with families and check in how they are perceiving their child's experience. I am very fortunate to have a lot of loving and supportive parents.

the 16th

It's been a busy past couple of weeks, so I will do my best to update to this beautiful Thanksgiving day. On Monday, the 16th, I was busy getting ready for conferences on the 17th and had my night class. It was a really nice class outlining strategies to help students who struggle with temper and compulsive behavior. I was able to use the next day in school.

After the incident, identify the antecedent, the behavior and then the consequence. Also, you should never try to have a conversation with a child who is in the fullness of their anger...wait for them to cool off and then have a conversation about it later. That will help in finding the ABCs and try to avoid in the future.

bowling for 4H

Today was 4H bowling day! We now have about 50 members in our club...it is crazy and cool! The other Katie Olsen is also going to be a member, how cool is that?

laid back day

On Saturday, I spent the morning and early afternoon with my parents. I did a little vacuuming, packed up a little more of my stuff from my bedroom, drove to brother Kyle's for eggs, to brother Kurt's to see his new feeder pigs and to nephew Vance's to see if he's made any progress on his little farm.

On the way back to Mankato, I discovered Ross' cross between mile markers 35 and 36. I also noticed a little pumpkin there at his cross. I called Mom to let her know where it was located and she informed me she had really great news...our nephew Stuart (Veteran's Day soldier) proposed to his girlfriend, Kyeanna and she accepted his proposal. Can't believe our little ring bearer will be having a ring bearer in the near future!

On to Mankato where I met up with cousin Erika and dined at Mexican Village. It was really fun reconnecting and eating at an old favorite restaurant. Then I picked up K and we headed back Northeast.

It was a great day.

virtues project and journey southwest

Friday was a teacher inservice about the Virtues Project. 52 Virtues that our school will focus upon and help identify/redirect the virtues students possess. After inservice, K and I traveled SW to visit cousin Siri and Grandma and Grandpa B. We arrived in North Mankato at 7:30 and then I got to Mountain Lake at about 9:30 after a little shopping trip and dinner at KFC and a drive by our little house on 1425 1/2 N. 4th Street.

school, pt conferences and home

Thursday was a long day with going to school for the day, being bus duty and waiting outside for 15 minutes for the Greenwood bus, having 5 minutes before my first parent came into the room and having 4 hours of PT conferences. It was a long day, but it was pretty amazing. I have some of the best kids and parents in all the district.

veterans day

Veterans Day by Katie Grace

On the 11th month, the 11th day, the 11th hour in 1918, that was the end of WWI and it was also when America signed a peace treaty. Today, we went outside and watched the Veterans Day program. Two of my friends got the head coach for the Veterans breakfast. We sang the National Anthem. We had all of the branches of the Armed Services there, including people from the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Army, the Coast Guard and the Air Force. Then they had the gun firing where a trumpeter played Taps and then seven men with guns fired their guns three times for a 21 gun salute. Then we came inside and Mrs. Brittain had a slide show about all Veterans Day.

Thank you Stuart for serving our country!

interview with a 5 year old

what is your favorite color? red
what's your favorite letter? O
What is your favorite number? 589
What is your favorite book? Dragon Crocodile Breeze
What is your favorite animal? shark
What is your favorite song? Oak on the water
What is your favorite food? cookies
What is your favorite kind of cookie? Dragon cookies
What is your favorite sport? baseball soccer
What is your favorite Skylanders? Dragon Knight Craigo
What is your favorite TV show? Skylanders
What is your favorite kind of car? Skylanders car
What is your favorite soldier? The green guys

interview with a nearly 10 year old

what's your favorite month: June
why? Because it's kinda like spring and summer mixed and it's makes a perfect temperature
what's your favorite color? all the neon colors
why? Because I think they are really bright and I like bright colors
who's your favorite singer? me
why? Because I like the sound of my voice
do have a favorite number? yes
what is it and why do you like it? 6 because when I was six years old, I lived in the Virgin Islands and I started school at Greenwood
what is your favorite clothing brand? It's either Under Armor or Nike
why? Because they are both exercise brands
what is your favorite leisure time activity? what is leisure mean? answered being with friends and being with my Mom.
where is your favorite place to be? ummmmm remember you need to write the ummms, ahhh. you're crazy. tick tick tick tick tick tick (I did 12 of them) oh wait, what was the question? answered oh yeah...school!
is there anything else you want to tell me? click click click..............favorite food. Macaroni and Cheese with peas.
what is your favorite flag? American
what do you want for Christmas? a segway. NO, there's more! headphones that go like this (motioning near head like a headband), an Amazon card, a Nerf gun.

peanuts, popcorn, tigers and hunting

Today, I took the kids to the movie Peanuts and we all ate popcorn. It was a super cute movie, not great, but it captivated a 14 year old, 9 year old and a 5 year old. That says a lot.

We then got back to Bud and Bettys and Betty got home from a weekend in Mankato. She promptly painted O's face as a Tiger.

K spent about 2 hours today shooting at an empty milk jug with a BB gun...she's got one heck of a shot!

Fun weekend and looking forward to a great week.

at the lake pulling out the last of the dock

Today we are up north pulling out the last of the dock sections and will plan on heading to the new Peanuts movie tonight. The sky is so blue and the air is so crisp. Just love it!

happy happy birthday Kim!

The lovely Kim Blomgren was born on November 6, 1968...wishing you a wonderful birthday.

here she is walking for MS with the love of her life...Kyle Dean

trenton on Halloween

and here is sweet Trenton Anders in a Halloween collage--thanks for sharing Joan!

eagle and anchor found

found this photo on Stuart's wall--it's our race on the U of M campus...fun to find!

happy birthday Ivan George

Ivan, wishing you a great 7th birthday and a terrific 8th year.

Ivan competing at the tractor pull at Dairy Days 2015

he's an 8th grader

I know I have neglected my first born...here is his 8th grade picture. I can't believe exactly how incredibly grown up he looks. He still acts like a kid, but he looks older. Love him to the moon and back.

all hail the trick or treaters

Last night at about 8:30 DST, we were wrapping up our trick or treating when we noticed lightening and heard some thunder. We ran for it--Gracie, Dawn, Brad, the two younger kiddos and myself. With about 1 1/2 blocks to go before we got to our friend, Sharyl's house, the skies opened and the hail fell down. It was teeny tiny, but it was hail. After a candy bag was dumped and Dawn and Gracie helped us recover, we made it to Sharyl's with a story that will forever live in our Halloween story telling history.

K decorating her pumpkin

my helpers at making sugar cookie ghosts, pumpkins and bones

my Jack o' Lantern as we were leaving for trick or treat

happily ever after!

witch, dragon knight and alien girl

Andrew and Julie--batman and bat girl

Dragon Knight at the party

A, B and Karen's Jack O Lanterns after trick or treats

O's and K's Jack O Lanterns after trick or treats