math

Today I was observed by Ashlee from my math grant doing math running records. She was very encouraging as I visited with her tonight during our math grant seminar. My friends and colleagues, Maggie, Connie and myself will be presenting our work at the Wisconsin State Math conference in Greenlake, Wisconsin this coming May.

Should be a fun experience and looking forward to gaining even more knowledge about math teaching.

given and the big fish

A while back, our family watched a great movie called Given the Movie. LOVED the movie and bought a book about the family featured in the movie called Given and the Big Fish. It is a favorite of Osten's at bedtime. He received the book for his 7 1/2 birthday and he just beams every time I read the inscription. Priceless. The illustrations are stunning and story just sweet.

I love the sense of adventure and the message that his world is his home.

long day

Today was a long day. Started at 5:15 and ending in a few minutes (10:15 or so). Looking forward to a good night's sleep. It was parent teacher conference day. I had nice conversations with many families, but am happy to be done and soon asleep.

getting ready for the week

This morning we left Kurt's place and I went with Mom to her place in St. James to shower up and get ready for our noon meal at the Hometown Cafe in St. James. We met Vance and Kaitie, Kurt, Kim, Kyle Sr., Ryan, Grandma, Brad, Karen, Anders, Katie and Osten for a yummy buffet.

After our brunch, we went back to Mom's and ended up watching a Lifetime movie that was pretty interesting. On the road again as we traveled home to River Falls. We ate dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings in Hudson. Now the kids are doing homework, I'm updating our blog, will finish grading papers, do some lesson planning and then hit the haystack.

It's going to be a big week with a second night of parent teacher conferences, me a math grant meeting, interviewing a new paraprofessional, Katie a forensics meet and mid-term tests. It will be busy, but I'm sure it will be fun.

home time

Thank you so much to my brother Kurt for hosting us for the weekend. I got to sleep two nights in my last bedroom on the home farm. We got to his place around 10:30pm on Friday night, did a little visiting and then woke up on Saturday morning to a winter wonderland;

I was able to spend some time writing my class newsletter and then we went to St. James to pick up Mom. She ended up spending the day with us as the snow just pelted won from the sky. Kyle, Kim and Ryan then joined us as we continued to hang out during the snow storm. 

Kyle Jr. and Adam arrived and we got a chance to go outside and push their vehicle back onto Kurt's driveway (so white it was hard to see the driveway). Kurt was out with his Bobcat and pushing heap big snow. We celebrated Ryan's 17th birthday and played a lot of Guitar Hero.

Bedtime again as we watched the final night of figure skating in the 2018 Winter Olympics. 

Thank you so much Kurt for your hospitality, to Mom for taking a leap of faith and spending a night away from your home and to Kyle, Kim and Ryan for hosting Anders at a sleepover. We are blessed. 

snow snow snow

That is the theme of our lives right now...the absolutely beautiful winter wonderland.
Here are some pictures from our class nature walk on Thursday and the beautiful trees around our world:

some third graders making a snow totter

sun setting on our way home to Butterfield

the beautiful snowy trees at my home farm

We enjoyed some extra sleep on Friday morning with a 2 hour delayed start from the heavy snowfall on Thursday evening. Saturday we got lots more snow. Thanks to our neighbors for shoveling our driveway so when we got home we were able to unload our car only.

affirmation

Today I was asked how my Dad was doing by a parent I haven't had a chance to visit with in a while. I shared with him that Dad did pass away but I knew he was in a good place.

Later tonight, I heard the news that evangelist Billy Graham died today at the age of 99. I also saw a clip on YouTube of Kathy Lee Gifford talking about her joy when her husband died--her comfort in the fact that her husband was joining Jesus. That is exactly how I felt when Dad went from his earthly home to his forever home with Jesus. Thanks Kathy Lee Gifford for putting into words something that I was unable to express.

Rest in Peace Billy Graham. You brought Jesus to the lives of many and everlasting life to all that you saved.

phoro from the Atlantic 

ice ice baby

Yesterday we had teacher workshop while the children were out of school. I arrived at school shortly before 8am and there was a steady wintery mix coming down. Went I went out to head home for lunch the wintery mix had solidified on the truck windshield. I wasn't able to find an ice scraper, so I opted to run the defroster and watch the ice melt. It didn't take too long and I was on my way.

I got an ice scraper on the way back to workshop and found that our workshop was cut short due to the weather. So I went to school to get ready for the week. Once again, I got out to the truck and had to do a fair amount of scraping. This morning, Brad took me to school and guess what? More scraping.

Our sweet little Osten John is not feeling well...he's been down since Saturday with a fever. I hope he is feeling better tomorrow because I love spending time with any Osten, but a well Osten is much preferred.

the diddy

Today my Daddy would have turned 84. A great person was born 84 years ago today. We miss him every day but I feel so confident that he lives on in his wife, children,  grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister and in the many friends who have wonderful memories of a kind soul. I believe his soul is living in heaven and enjoying time with all the loved ones who went before him.

Here was Daddy and his pride and joy--eldest sons Kurt and Kent

results from Katie's tournament

The first game was a big win for River Falls gold--they won by over 40 points. I left after their first game so I could go out with our friends for Valentine's Day.

Their second game went into Double overtime with the Farmington team with the Wildcats losing.

Their third game was a victory over the New Richmond Tigers.

They ended up finishing 2nd in their tournament.

After the games, the teams went out to Ray Jay's in Woodbury and Katie ended up arriving home just before us at 11:30pm.

relatively busy Saturday

In a few hours we will take Katie to her last basketball tournament of the season. Then we will go out to dinner at Mama Maria's with a group of friends for Valentine's Day while Katie gets a ride home with her coach and Anders and Osten hang out for the night.

There is a light dusting of snow right now and the temperatures are really mild (according to Brad because I haven't been outside yet). Looking forward to a nice Saturday.

running running running

Our talented niece and cousin Liana is running for St. Scholastica. I found this photo of a meet at St. Olaf. I hope we can make a meet sometime this season as we love to see her in action.

front page news...

In our most recent edition of the River Falls Journal:

parents basketball night

Katie's team had her last basketball practice of the season and the parents were invited to practice to see what the girls do every night. Brad thanked me liberally for going to the practice. It turned out to be really fun, but I ended up having to do lots of pushups because the team I was on didn't win.

We ran different drills and shooting contests. I was all in fun though and Katie had a fun year of basketball. Coach took the girls for icecream at DQ after practice and then we got home and watched a little Super G of the Olympics.

happy valentine's day!

Wow...Valentine's Day is over already. Osten gave his friends Avenger's Valentines with Captain America, Thor and the Hulk. Katie gave her friends magnet Valentines. Anders gave his Valentine a necklace, a koala bear and some magic cards. Brad gave his Valentine a bunch of colorful daisies. Karen gave her Valentines hearts of candy, an ACDC teeshirt, gum and magic cards.

Happy Valentine's Day!

can you handle the sweetness?

Here is a photo of my sweet grandniece Kesleigh Rae Blomgren...celebrating her first Valentine's Day in Japan:

happy team days

Katie has been on a great team the past two years...she has built great friendships that have helped her on her bridge to middle school. Hjordi-another Momma of Katie's teammate Emily made this little collage. I'm so happy she's had the opportunities and has developed a love of team sports.

sports weekend in the books...

So the swim meet finished, the 2 day basketball tournament wrapped up.

Anders swam four events yesterday.
His 200 Medley Relay placed 2nd with a time of 1:45.75
His 200 IM he placed 8th with a time of 2:32.00
His 200 Freestyle relay placed 8th with 1:43.07
His 100 breaststroke he placed 4th with 1:10.73

Their team placed 2nd of 11 with 272 points and Lakeland Union had 290.5 points.

His Medley relay missed qualifying for state by 0.30 of a second...hopefully they can make it happen next year!

Basketball, Katie had some really nice games. They lost their game yesterday morning, but they played two games today and won them both. They ended up placing 3rd because it was a 3 way tie for first and the team that allowed the least number of points got first. The girls were a little disappointed, but they took consulation by eating Portillo's for dinner after the tournament.

I'm pretty pooped and ready for a good night's sleep before a busy week at school.

haircut

It's sectional swimming today in Hudson! Brad woke early to take Katie to a basketball tournament in Inver Grove Heights and Anders emerged from the basement reminding us that he needed a drastic haircut for his meet at 1pm.

Out came the clippers and the camera and here's what happened...

Now I will head to a math grant workshop on campus while Anders gets himself to the bus. At noon, I will meet Brad, Osten and Katie at home and we will travel to Hudson to see Anders compete.

I'm hoping he has a good meet--he is still recovering from his bout with the flu, so he probably won't have any best times, but I am so proud of him for his brave spirit.

teacher's lounge

Last night, the school district hosted a teacher's lounge at a local establishment. I went with my friend Michelle and then our friend Maggie and her husband Hal joined us there. We heard some really good music and then Brad and the two younger kids picked me up to head to China Moon for dinner.

While at the teacher's lounge, I ran into a group of Greenwood teachers. Ms. Rasmussen had been Anders' 1st grade teacher, Ms. Van had been Anders' 2nd and 5th and Katie's 5th grade teacher and Ms. Brittian was Katie's 4th grade teacher. They told me to greet my kiddos and couldn't even imagine Anders being a Sophomore.

Ms. Rasmussen really wanted to make sure Anders still had his bounce and his sweet and kind heart. I still see that bounce and the sweet/kind heart does show itself on many occasions.

pork chop Thursday

My beautiful husband is cooking one of my very favorite meals...pork chops. I am one lucky lady!

good day sunshine

This morning, I slept in just a tiny bit and cut my workout time in half. As I was leaving Anytime at 6:15am, I could see the sun peeking out just a tiny bit. As I was walking to school later, the air was very crisp and my breath managed to turn my blue stocking cap white--but the sun was just magical.

At lunchtime, Abby, Anna, Sara and I went for a wellness walk and the sun was just so bright and strong! After school and tutoring, I left the school at about 5:30 and the sun was still streaking the sky.

Longer daylight hours and strong sunshine just makes life so affirming!

Just got a message from Anders that he is heading to his girlfriend's house for dinner after swim practice, so I'm thinking he must be feeling much better? I told him to be home by 8 so we will check in with him them.

Katie and Brad are at confirmation and Osten is currently playing some Madden 17 on our XBox. I'm going to try and sneak in a tub and prepare for another beautiful day tomorrow.

long long cold spell

This morning I went to work out at 5:15am and felt that my face was going to freeze...saw a man walking to his job at the University and we had a brief interchange regarding the enduring temperatures.

On my walk home from work this afternoon, I had to stop at Treasure's From the Heart to warm up my face...the cold just keeps biting.

Alexa just told me that it's currently 9 degrees and the low tonight is projected for zero degrees.

one more day of rest...

Anders spent one more day resting today. I'm hoping his return to school will be kind and that he will get a chance to get caught up on the school work he missed the past couple of days. Be well dear ACO!

eagles soar

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles who defeated the New England Patriots in the 52nd Super Bowl  in Minneapolis at the US Bank Stadium.

The final score:  41-33.

My favorite part (the only part I really watched) was half time show by Justin Timberlake

movie day again

Today we got to spend some time watching Ferdinand the Bull at the Falls Theater. Not a contender for best picture, but a sweet little movie none the less. Hope everyone is staying warm and is ready for the Super Bowl tomorrow!

16 and sick

Anders is down with the flu--hasn't been formally diagnosed, but he had to miss most of school on the 2nd and missed his Big Rivers Conference Swim meet today. I hope he's able to make the sectional meet next Saturday.

february is here!

The month of February is underway. Two indoor recesses and a fun visit by a bearded dragon named Bucky.