School's out!

For the summer!

(Everybody now!!)

School's out for the summer!

Thank you, Alice Cooper, for providing schoolchildren and teachers everywhere with the anthem of summer.
Lots of projects on the books for this summer, and lots of trips, too, so stay posted for some pics!

Come rain or come shine

It seems that everyone is having crazy weather this year.  For Missoulians, the big catch phrase has been "Flood Watch."  Between rain and snowpack melting and then more rain (which leads to more snow in the mountains) and then 80 degree days which leads to more run off....the Clark Fork is at just about the highest I've ever seen it.  We've been driving down to a local bridge to keep up on the situation.  Here are some pictures:

Notice the line of wire cages and rocks here.  It's important for later.

Notice the distance between the water and the bridge.  Again, important.

These pictures were taken on 5/17/11.  The river was very high and running fast.  The next pictures are from today.  It is crazy.

Distance between water and bridge.

Note where the wire cages are now.

Crazy stuff.  We have a couple of streets that have flooded in town, and people are pitching in to help sandbag.  I'll leave you tonight with a pic of how someone is making the best of an interesting situation...and something I never thought I'd see in Missoula, Montana!

Surf Missoula!!

Looking ahead, looking behind

Well, here we are, it is the end of May, and today is Memorial Day.  It's a day to remember those who have served our country, as well as a long weekend for me and the kids and time to enjoy our family.  Last week, we enjoyed end of year music concerts and recitals.  Looking ahead, we have only eight days left of school!  Then, it is summer!  Today felt like a bit of what I hope to look forward to this summer; some relaxation, some projects, some gettin' things done.  I worked out, did laundry, and watched a movie.

We had our friends the Easterbrooks with us for most of the weekend as well.  We went to a birthday party, where the kids all got to ride horses.  We enjoyed pizza and apple crisp.  We had to drive the neighborhood searching for 2 children, who, thankfully, were found quickly.  Ah, the joys of parenthood.

Looking ahead, it's hard to believe that in a year (or a little more), we will be moving our family to Spokane, WA.  Most of you already have heard this news, but if it's news to you, you can find out more about it over on Jon's blog.  Our plan is to move to Spokane sometime during the Summer of 2012 to start a church.  It's a big undertaking, but we are excited and confident that God has called us to this move.  I've already begun the mental planning stage.

Looking behind, it's also hard to believe that I'm finishing my 4th year working at Target Range.  It's truly been a rewarding, challenging and fulfilling experience.  I am daily challenged and amazed by the kids I work with.  I'm looking forward to one more year, and the new challenges that it will bring with it.  But first....SUMMER!

We have a lot planned for this summer, and I know it's going to just fly by.  Irish Dance camp, 4th of July, a trip to England, Celebration Northwest in Oregon, Silverwood with the kids, Scout camp, fair week, the Farmer's market, hiking the M, Lake Como and lots more...and it all begins after just 8 more days of school.

Goodnight all!

as usual...

As usual, it's been way too long between blog posts.  A lot has happened over the last month or so, but some of it will have to wait for me to share it with you.  I had a wonderful Mother's day, we BBQ'd with the Johnson side of the fam, after a yummy lunch at Cracker Barrel with the Meek side.  My last project for my class is due tomorrow, so that is almost finished as well.  I can see summer coming and it has my name written all over it!  I can't wait.  I do have a lot to share with you, but I also have a bed that is calling my name.  So, this is it for this little random post.  Be on the look out for more to come!

Just a little update...

Okay, so I'm WAY overdue for a blog update.  My sincerest apologies.  We returned yesterday from a loverly ( if not way to short) trip over to Post Falls, yet again.  Donald and Jen were having a little shindig for Jen's birthday, and we decided to show up.  Actually, Donald asked a couple of months ago if we would plan to come over for her birthday.  How could I refuse?  The look on her face when she opened the door was priceless!

Things are moving along here at our normal breakneck speed.  We had an excellent Spring break, a trip to Great Falls for the Montana Shepherd's Conference, which was a much needed get away to just refresh and refill with God's Spirit!  We are getting to the point in the school year when things are beginning to wind to a close.  Awana finishes this week and next week is our Scouts Court of Honor.  Sometime near the end of May, we will have a violin/piano recital and Irish Dance will finish up for the summer.  My class is almost done; there will be NO FINAL, for which I am doing the happy dance.  And there are 6 more weeks of school until Memorial Day and then just two 4 day weeks of school after that, and then....SUMMER VACATION!!!

Summer promises to be very, very busy as well.  Jon and I are planning our trip to England, Lucy will be leaving (for which I am NOT doing the happy dance), we are planning an Irish Dance day camp, there are summer festivals and City Band concerts and hiking the M and Baskin Robbins or DQ (maybe Big Dipper) and hiking trips and perhaps a little camping.  A trip to Oregon for Celebration Northwest, and as many trips to Spokane/Post Falls as we can possibly squeeze in.  Gabe will go to Scout Camp again this year; he is very excited.

Speaking of Gabe, he recently achieved his Star rank in Scouts and is now working toward Life.  For those that don't know, the ranks in Scouting are Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle.  Jon and I are so proud of Gabe and his accomplishments.

So there is my "brief" update.  I will be posting again soon!  Sleep well, blogland.

Keepin' it real...

We spent the weekend in Idaho, with our loverly friends, the Easterbrooks.  I didn't want to come home.  I love my job, I love my home, but can I just say that my weekend away was absolutely wonderful?  Little bits of my heart have taken up residence in a small town in Northern Idaho.  As we exited I-90 on our way there, I breathed a sigh of relief, because part of my heart was home.  Not so much in the physical place of Post Falls, but in the wonderful friendship that we have.  Jen, Lucy and I went into downtown Coeur d'Alene where we found this wonderful shop.

We also found this stuff, which was a little crazy....

But mostly, it was awesome.  I loved every minute.  And Lucy even found some English sweets, which she was very happy about. 

 Jon led worship at Prairie Avenue Christian Center on Sunday morning.  We enjoyed pizza and a couple of games of Dominion (our new favorite game) before heading home Sunday evening. 
And another small part of my heart stayed behind.

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