Raising little nerds

Russell and Meghan have a big interest in space things. They love going to the planetarium. We have seen three different shows (one of them multiple times), and they have a blast each time we go. 

They both have NASA shirts, too. They both love to wear them. Meghan insists on wearing hers when Russell does so they can be twinners.

We went to Menards on a snow day so Ben could do some product research (for our next house project happening over spring break), and we let the kids look at the toy section. Most of it is reduced priced to try and sell the left over Christmas toys. Among them we found these lovely jewels.

Notice Meghan's shirt? 

A space rover, a space capsule and a space station. We didn't buy them the day we went, but a couple days later I had to go back to get some ice melt (the only store in town that had it) and they still had the space toys. I broke down and bought them. 

They are pretty fun. Each one came with an astronaut, so all three of the kids have one to play with. I have even overheard them all playing space mission games with their little astronauts.

Hopefully their nerdiness will keep them out of trouble when they are a little older.

February finds a drift and the storm that seems never to lift

I figured since I am waiting for my chocolate covered cinnamon bears to set, and since Ben is at a Bishopric Meeting, I would throw a blog on here to make sure everyone knows I haven't forgotten about our blog.

There isn't much to write about. We have been pretty hermit like, trying to avoid being outside in the cold. It doesn't really work out very well since I take Russell to school everyday. Luckily Ben picks him up so Meghan and I don't have to stand around outside waiting for his class to come outside.

Speaking of Meghan...we have been getting along better than we used to. I hope it is because she has finally realized that she better be nice to the one person she spends the majority of her awake hours following around and not because I am softening up and letting her get away with her stinker attitude.

Well, Ben just came home. Guess this post is done. I have to go meet with Brother Joslin for some reason....

Our summer

Here are all the things we did this summer:
Ben's astronomy conference
Macey's baptism
Wisconsin Amish country tour (lots of driving to find an Amish store)
The dentist for everyone
Doctor visits for Russell and Meghan
Ben's curriculum meetings
Grad parties forever
Daddy camping trip at whitewater
Meghan's birthday
Our anniversary
4th of July with the Sanders including the SPAM Museum
Fireworks too late at night
Park days with friends
Rochesterfest
Medallion hunt
Wedding reception
Star Trek with the Minnesota Orchestra
Janet's optometrist appointment and the shops at West End
Eyota Days
Sarah and kids visit
50 cent frosties
Car shopping
Car buying
Ben's buyer's remorse
Lots of missionary visits
Lots of bishopric meetings
Olmsted County fair
Scout camp out
Visits to Becker
Temple trips/sessions/cleaning
Trip to Laramie(see previous post)
Total solar eclipse
Stop in Vermillion
Potty trained Meghan
Looked at house with more land
Back to school stuff
Russell playmates with his friend who left for college
The Minnesota State Fair
The beach
The sprinkler
Digger park
Tree trimming
Lawn mowing
New driveway
Finished the kitchen
Mom sleeping in
Camping in the back yard

I'm sure there is more, but I can't think of it right now.

Total Eclipse (of the heart)

We eclipsed and spent almost a week in Wyoming with Ben's grandparents and some of his family members. I warned him that every time I heard some say 'total eclipse' I would add 'of the heart'. The few times people said it, I did add it, but Ben's family said 'totality' much more often and that just didn't work.

Here is a photographic log of the journey:

3 years

Monday marks three years from when we closed on the house. We will be celebrating by having our kitchen be finished making all the current livable space completely finished.

Here are the before/during/after pictures of our kitchen.

 

 

 

If everything lines up right then the first column is when we bought the house, then a year into it, and then today.