All We've Got

Everything can be related back to an episode of Roseanne.

Does anyone else remember when DJ was in the spelling bee? Dan and Roseanne were out of work and the whole family dressed up and sat in little chairs in DJ's classroom to watch him compete. They hooted and hollered, cheering their youngest child on, until a woman behind them sneered, "For goodness sake, it's just a spelling bee."

Roseanne turned around and snapped, as only she could, "Hey! Listen lady, this is all we've got!"


Last night was the Homecoming coronation at Dover-Eyota. I'd been counting the hours until I could go, as this year Miranda - our darling Miranda - was nominated for Homecoming Queen.

I'll let that sink in.

Homecoming Queen! Miranda, who doesn't get excited about anything, was calm and mildly amused by all of it. I was more worked up about it than she was, to say nothing of the hysteria felt by Grandma Barb, Jackie, and Mike. We've talked about nothing else all week. Right away Jackie made plans to buy yellow caution tape to block off seats for the huge group of people who would come to cheer for her girl. Some very silly people, who had obviously never met Jackie, thought she was joking.

Jackie, Mike, Kaci, James and I piled into Jackie's car and headed to Eyota at 5:00. Coronation was at 7:00 and there was no way we weren't going to be the first ones there.

Me and Mike on the way - you can see the hysteria in my eyes! Mike doesn't look that excited but trust me, he was out of his mind.

Me and Jackie. Wheeeeee!

The school was locked when we got there two hours early. What's a loving family to do? Why break in, of course.

Jackie and James, living a life of crime.

Once in the auditorium Jackie and I used her caution tape to save 25 seats. 25! Some kids had a mom come...some had both their parents and a sibling...but it's safe to say that Miranda was the only one who had seats saved for 25 (and that was just the reserved seats!).

I honestly felt a little bad for the other queen candidates. When Miranda walked out on stage we all went absolutely nuts. We were screaming and cheering like crazy people. Each candidate couple did a walk around the auditorium and as Miranda walked by us we waved, called hello to her, and her grandpa tried to give her a high five. It was just ridiculous.

At the coronation, when the kings and queens are crowned, the crown is held in a teasing way above each of the candidate's heads and the crowd cheers for each one. Again, I felt bad for the other kids from the noise that was made when the crown was over Miranda's head. And it wasn't just us - the whole place went nuts.

Well, the crown didn't end up on Miranda's head, but that didn't stop our enthusiasm. After the crowning, the lights were up and the royalty was still on stage for pictures. "Miranda! Miranda!" I called. Jackie yelled, "MIRANDA!" With a slight frown on her face, Miranda jumped and looked out at us. The second she did, our entire group again erupted in cheers and waving.

A slightly amused, tired look passed over Miranda's face and we saw her turn to the girl next to her. "That's my family," she said simply.

My sister and my Miranda - love, love, love.

Gorgeous, beautiful, wonderful, proud and happy family.



Stunning, beautiful queen.

All we've got? Admittedly, yes. But truly, too, all we'll ever need.

Lime Springs

I'm close to giving up our house and living directly out of our car. Every day is another trip!

Today the kids and I drove down to Lime Springs, IA to see Grandma Colleen's new house. We followed Amy and Sean down and got there in time for lunch. I wasn't surprised when Colleen got home a few minutes after we arrived, blew a small tornado through her kitchen, and had us all at the table with our plates piled high ten minutes later.

It was such a nice day. Sam, Matilda, and Sean ran from room to room chasing each other with dog toys. When they finally got tired Colleen set them up at the table with paper and markers. I almost passed out when Matilda ran into the kitchen with her artwork and managed to leave a pink marker trail across the front of the refrigerator. Colleen couldn't have been less worried about it but I'm so stressed, imagining her there trying to scrub it off! She said she misses having a house full of marker swipes and grubby fingerprints. I think I'll bring her a Magic Eraser just in case.

Colleen has been like a mom to me since I was 15 years old. She gives of herself endlessly. I couldn't be happier knowing she is in such a lovely home in a safe little town. Even better, she is just under an hour and a half away - the perfect distance for a day trip. The kids and I will be able to run down to see her whenever the mood strikes.

I truly love my husband's family - what a wonderful gift!

Miranda Panda

I was only 14 when Miranda was born. I loved and adored her but I was still a kid myself. I wish I could have experienced Miranda's childhood from an adult's point of view. I think I would have paid more attention and enjoyed it so much more.

Miranda is an amazing person. She has a quiet confidence about her that I am still working on attaining for myself - I can't imagine having had it at 16. She is organized and hardworking, an accomplished athlete (who holds two school records), and does the right thing even when it's not the most popular thing.

Everyone loves Miranda - no one more so than Sam. Can you blame him? Miranda is energy and fun and she will play cars with him as long as he wants. I marvel at how good she is with the kids. Again, her quiet confidence leads her to almost always doing or saying the right thing. We asked her to babysit last Sunday but she was working. In desperation I booked her for last night, the only night she didn't have to work. We didn't even have plans but she is so wonderful we're willing to work around her schedule.

Sam bounced off the walls in excitement until Miranda arrived (at 6:00:15) and didn't even say goodbye to us when we left. Miranda let him stay up an hour past his bedtime so they could play. Words can't express how happy I am that Sam has that memory.

Two of my favorite faces!

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Miranda, we are endlessly proud of you. You are smart, funny, kind, and beautiful. You have the power to do anything. I am so excited to watch your amazing life unfold.

Matilda's Birthday - The People

Last Saturday we celebrated Matilda's first birthday. Almost all of our families were able to come. The house was crowded and hot and it was a lovely afternoon.

My dad took all of the pictures of the party!

I was going to pretend I was posting this to show Matilda's cute pink cheeks but the truth is I want everyone to see my new hair.

Grandma Joyce, Jackie and Mike...this is so darling of Grandma and Jackie but I don't think Mike got the joke.

Bret, Lisa, Miranda, Eric, Sam, and I look totally bored as Grandma Susan shows Matilda her new cars.

Papa was singing along with Matilda's new Musical Dora book from Grandpa Mark and Grandma Tina. Matilda was shocked. Actually, we all were.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

During halftime on Sunday we all went outside to play football. Well, Jackie and I watched and took pictures, but everyone else had a great time. It could have been an idyllic fall scene - an extended family enjoying a game together in the leaves - but, as always, my family was able to trash it up a bit.

Aw...Miranda and Sam. He ADORES her.

Aw...Mike and Sam. Sam is nuts about him, too (see any previous post).

Ummm...that pile seems a little excessive. How are Mike's legs going into the air like that? I have to say that I am really proud of Sam for hanging on to the ball. I also think this is hilarious as I know Eric is underneath all of that.

See? I recommend looking at an enlarged version of this one. It's awesome.

Now this I don't understand. Does either of them have the ball? Was this tackle necessary? I don't know which to worry about more - the fact that Eric is SO happy, or that it appears that Mike has completely given up and stopped fighting.

You all drive me nuts. I love you completely and I wouldn't trade you for anything.

6 - 0

Kissing Cousins

One of the best parts of our trip to Iowa last week was getting to see my cousin Joni. We are the same age and I just adore her. We very rarely see each other - why is that? - so I was very excited to hear she'd be driving over.

It was really fun seeing our kids together. It seems like just yesterday Joni was visiting me in my freshman dorm at Waldorf and suddenly we are both the mother of two. Her kids are soooo cute and amazing. As always, thanks to my dad for the pictures!

Here, Sam is wrangling 10-month-old Isaiah while 5-year-old Miya tries to hold up Matilda's big head.

The kids were antsy after being inside and wanted us to play with them. Joni told them to play Run To It. It was fantastic. Sam and Miya would stand in front of her, panting and excited, and Joni would say, "See that pole over there? Run to it." The kids would dash off happily, giggling, and eventually end up back in front of Joni. "Okay...do you see that bush?" she'd ask them. "Run to it." I like to think I have a few parenting tricks up my sleeve - but I'm going to have to bow to Joni for this one. She's a genius.

Run to it! They couldn't have been having any more fun.

Poor Isaiah and Matilda were too little for the fun, so Isaiah thought he'd make his own good time. He kissed Matilda every chance he got. Here he's planting one right on top of her head.

I desperately wish Joni and I lived closer to each other. I'm daydreaming about more afternoons in the front yard, playing Run To It and giggling the hours away...

Egg Hunt, Part Two

We spent Easter afternoon at Papa and Grandma Susan's house. The weather was beautiful and all of the grandkids got to do an egg hunt in the backyard. Papa, who takes his grandpa duties very seriously, was rumored to have started hiding eggs at 5:00 am. The eggs were color-coded so the older kids knew to pass by Sam's easy-to-find blue eggs.

Sam had so much fun, found all of his eggs, and was allowed to eat a piece of candy out of each one. Each one had cash in it, too! I certainly don't remember earning money with my Easter eggs...