intermural basketball

I never posted any of Michael's basketball pictures. Michael started playing intermural basketball around the same time he started playing baseball. He practiced after school, and they had their games on Saturday. He ended up playing some on all 3 teams, as one team was kind of stacked more heavily on ability. The athletic director asked if Michael would mind switching teams around if needed. One particular Saturday he started on his team, played on the red team, and then the blue team. So - I had 3 shirts to wash that week. He had fun and got worn out on the days they had a double header.

updates

Please scroll down and read for updates about last weekend as well as last week Friday.

Emily

Emily was not with us on our trip to the farm. She had a slumber party on Friday night, and did not want to miss it. Thus, she went to our friend's Paul and Linda's house for the weekend. She had a good time at her party - and with our friends and their grandkids. Thus, she will not be mentioned in the posts about the farm.

Tower Rock

We drove by Tower Rock and got out and enjoyed the river. It was high and moving fairly quickly - so we listened to the river. The lookout tower was still standing on the hill behind Tower Rock - but we did not venture up. Who knows if there was damage in the woods, or if the tower may have had damage to it we could not see. Uncle Lynn was the rock skipping champion. He got 5 skipps - even with the current of the Mississippi River.

church steeple

this is what the neighboring town's church looks like - with the steeple on the ground next to the church.

Michael the Helper

Michael enjoyed riding on the tractor with Doug while Bonnie and I moved branches. He felt like he was doing the "boy" work, instead of helping the ladies. He even said that he wished he lived down on the farm. Do we have a farmer in our families future after all?

Trees Down by the Creek

Michael throwing rocks into the creek.
We are at the bridge looking back toward the farm.

This is the left side of the creek - with a big branch in it.

Michael walking to the creek.

The creek with the large branches down.

Walking down to the creek we saw a different view than we were used to. Trees down everywhere we looked. Here are a few pictures of the trees that were down or partly down.

Weekend on the farm

Doug and Michael hauling off the trunk of a large tree that fell.
Doug and Bonnie hooking up some large branches, so Doug could haul them off into the woods.

Emptying the wagon that Bonnie, Michael and myself filled.

Doug hooking up Uncle Lynn's tractor, so he can haul off the loaded wagon.

Michael hauling off some heavy limbs.

This weekend Doug, Michael and I traveled to the farm to help clean up from damage caused by an inland tornado. We helped clean branches and trees off the fence line along the Apple Creek. It felt good to help - although we made just a little dent. There are trees down all over the woods. It will take years to get all the damage cleaned up. Praise the Lord that the farm itself had very little damage.

school is out

Last Friday was our last day of school. I was proud of both kids and the awards they got at the closing award ceremony.

Emily got: Band award, handbell award, volleyball award, 4-5 basketball award, honor roll, A.R. all 4 quarter reward, perfect church attendance award

Michael got: A.R. all 4 quarters reward, 2nd grade MVP of music award, and intermural Basketball trophy.

It was a great day to be a mom!

weekend

This weekend Michael had a game rained out on Friday night. Saturday he had two basketball games at school in the morning. Michael then had a party in the afternoon at a laser tag place, which he left early so he could play a baseball game, but then I took him back to the party, as it was a sleep over.

Doug picked him up and brought him to church. At late church the 2nd graders were given Bibles. That made Michael feel all grown up. After church we all came home and took a nap :) It was great to be able to rest a while, then I worked on grading papers to catch up.

Today Michael had another game - which they won! Then, we had Christ Care, so the kids played together with some of the other CC kids.

It was a good weekend, and a busy weekend, but not an overeventful one.

last week

This is our last week of school!!! Yeah!!! The kids are ready and I am ready.

Happy Mothers' Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms who may check this blog. What a great day to celebrate such wonderful, loving, giving people. I praise the Lord for my mom and for all the mothers who are in my life.

field day update

Well - we made it through the field day events without rain :) It started raining about 10 minutes after we got on the bus and has been pouring and storming ever since. I guess our school secretary spent the time between 2:00 and 3:00 answering calls from worried parents. Rain, thunder, and a school bus seems to bring out the worst in parents who do not have kids on busses on a normal basis. Oh well - we all made it back safely. My only casualty was a tooth falling out on the bus - luckily I had kleenex to give the boy to wipe up the blood.

field day

Tomorrow we are supposed to have our annual field day. Please pray for sun - as they have predicted rain showers for tomorrow. We have 3 schools meeting together tomorrow. Having enough indoor space and activities may be an issue. Please pray for sun - will update you on the event tomorrow.

8 new posts

Please see below for 8 new posts. Wow! I really was behind. Read and catch up on our family life.

Leyna's confirmation

Michael ,Leyna & Emily

Holly, Grandma and myself

Sunday we went to church to celebrate Leyna's confirmation. What a wonderful event! Wow! It was wonderful to see the almost 30 8th graders profess their faith with their families. Many family members took part in the confirmation blessing. That was a special tradition. Will have to pass it on to our church.

It is hard to believe that she is finishing 8th grade and is ready for high school. She sure is growing up fast. Of course that means my kids are right behind her - YIKES!!!

It was great to see the whole Mueller family (minus a few cousins). It is great that the family gets together to celebrate these special occasions.

I spent quite a bit of time visiting with grandma and aunt doris. I got some advice for the next time I make coffee cake (check back in March for my coffee cake experience) as well as hearing about other experiences they had earlier in life. One can learn so many things from our elders if we just sit and take the time to listen. I thank the Lord for these opportunities and memories.

Emily's birthday dinner

We had a nice dinner at the Pasta House for Emily's birthday. She ate an entire piece of chocolate cake - it was huge. The rest of us shared 1 dessert. Dad and I enjoyed sharing our favorite entre - LInguine with chicken livers. Yummy!!!

Zoo and Art Museum Trip

two fighting, playing bears
the peacock posing by the bird house

Emily and the orangatang

In the butterfly house

Emily along the path in the John F. Kennedy forest.

Since it was Emily's birthday on Saturday we let her pick our adjenda. We went to the art museum as well as the zoo. Mom, dad, & Holly met up with us at the zoo. While we were waiting for them to arrive at Forest Park, Emily and I hiked the John F. Kennedy trail. We saw 3 snakes and at least 10 caterpillars. There were also many birds. We had a great time outside - and the weather was good - not too hot and not too cold.

Evening together as a family

When we went to St. Louis this past weekend we were able to catch up with Greg on Friday night. He was in town and had just finished up Christ Care training. It was great to sit and catch up and relax. Thanks mom and dad for treating us to drinks and appetizers. What a great time to be together as a family. It was quick - but good.

Derby Day at School

Michael leading the parade with his soap box car.

Michael with the 2nd grade horse.

Emily with the 5th grade horse

Michael with his two friends - Zach & Josh

Michael used his soap box car in the 2nd grade Derby Day Parade. He enjoyed pulling his car on his own (we took almost all the weight out). He did say his arms hurt by the time he was done.

Talent Show

Emily and Sydney after the talent show.
Emily waiting for her turn at the talent show.

Emily played her flute in the talent show at OSL. There were 10 acts chosen after having try outs. Emily play Kum By Ya (know I spelled it wrong - but dont' know where to look it up). She did well. What a wonderful opportuinty to let her musical talents shine. I took a video on our video camera instead of pictures during her performance. Just imagine her on a stage playing her flute. :)

Band Concert

The band students at OSL got together with all the other band students that Mr. Embree teaches and they had a band festival. OSL sponsored the event. We had about 60 extra kids at our school from 9:00 - 1:30. They played well. I was asked to play along as reinforcement, especially for the star spangled banner. They played well.

soap box derby

Michael and Emily both raced in the Derby Festival Soap Box Derby race. Michael ended up placing 5th in the single elimination race. Both kids enjoyed racing - Emily was a little frustrated though, as she got a bye in both races - and thus missed 4 times down the hill (two times for each bye). Here are some pictures from a week and a half ago. I have been busy and tired - so have gotten behind.