Here comes May!

Hola!
MAY.  I am so excited, it becomes May this week!  May and October are my favorite months here.  Flowers are blooming, the temps are warming up (generally).  Sunshine, and people pay attention to their yards again.  It's so refreshing.

MOTHS.  Kathi mentioned moths...we are fighting "Winter Moths" here: they ate all the leaves of our huge maple trees in the front yard last spring, and the little worms are back now.  I hope we can treat them with something soon because they really can kill your tree if they do it 3 years or more in a row.

DEATH of a TRAMPOLINE.  We sadly lost our trampoline...it was a little on a hill (not level), so I think we killed it by jumping too much on the slant.  The welding gave way on the bars intersecting one of the feet, and the round metal frame.  We have had it either 9 or 10 years, though!  The kids were so little when we got it.

PROM JOBS.  Anyway David dismantled the trampoline this week, as one of his "jobs" to help him pay for Prom.  I have a list of about 10 time-consuming, tedious jobs that I would rather not do (understatement of the year).  This one took him 2 hours.

TEMPLE TRIP.  Kara turned 12 last month, so when they took the youth to the temple this time, she could go too.  Frank and I were among the adult volunteers helping with the trip (he's the Young Men's president, and I went as a mom), so...for the first time, the whole family was in the temple at the same time!  It was such a nice evening.  I smiled the whole time.

Here's a family photo in front of the temple.

Well.  Better get to the "next thing."  Happy Week!  Kari

Pennsylvania Loop

Hola!

We spent most of the kids' "April Vacation" break (it must be an East Coast thing?  They get a week off in February and a week off in April) on a Pennsylvania Loop.  Frank and I visited some of these places Way Back When, but we had never taken the kids.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE U.  We started our loop, actually, at Penn State University, their main campus at University Park.  This was an afterthought.  We already had planned to be in Pennsylvania, then it turned out that that school was one of the schools to which David sent his SAT scores.  "Do you want to tour the school?" we asked David.  It was added to the agenda.

We were glad we went!  It was a good tour, of course made even better with sunshine.  It was nice weather, flowers in full bloom, students enjoying the sun on the grass between classes, and the tour guides were enthusiastic.  It's a very nice campus.  It is pretty huge, even to me, and I like big schools!

Soldier Cemetery

GETTYSBURG.  Then it was on to Gettysburg.  I have been fascinated with the Civil War era since reading a biography of Abraham Lincoln.  What a time to be the President, when half the country secedes from the union and wants to become their OWN country.

Slavery was the controversy of the decade and there were such strong opinions and feelings on both sides of the debate.  We walked around the battlefields and took the car tour on CD.

The Whitesells pose with Lincoln

(Bill is actually taking this photo.  I put him in anyway.)

LANCASTER.  Lancaster was next, where we got to visit Frank's aunt and uncle.  The unexpected surprise was that Amelia (Frank's cousin) was also in transit, and we overlapped for that night and got to visit with her.

It was SO nice to have a beautiful home to stay in for one night, and great company, amongst our week of hotel stays!



with a beautiful "galaxy" print on the back

AMISH COUNTRY.  We drove around to see the lush farmlands and to learn about how the Amish people do things.  It sounds a little weird but we drove around, just to observe.  (As respectfully as possible, I'll add.  I tried to emphasize to the kids that it was not a People Zoo.)  It's just educational to see a little piece of the Amish lifestyle.  To see them still using horses and buggies, no electricity and washing clothes by hand.  Some have stores in their basements where they sell handcrafted goods.

 We stopped at one house that had "handcrafts" on a sign out front.  We went into their basement and browsed.  We ended up buying "quillows," beautiful quilts you could fold up into themselves to make pillows.

So bright, we're all squinting but David

There was also an official store there, where I ate the absolutely very best big, soft pretzel I think I have ever eaten.  Melt-In-Your-Mouth-Wow.  These pretzels were so good, we bought the batter mix to come home and make them ourselves...I have my doubts, though, that I can even come close.

somebody pointed and covered Teresa's face

PHILADELPHIA.  The last day we spent in Philly, learning about the signers of the Declaration of Independence and our founding fathers.

The Liberty Bell was a highlight for me, as well as the "LOVE" sculpture in a downtown park.  This was placed in the park in 1976, on the country's 200th birthday.

This is where the Declaration of Independence was signed

The gift shop had the movie "National Treasure" showing.

Feel the beat: "Gonna Fly Now!"

The other famous movie, more for the parents and grandparents of today, was "Rocky."  Go ahead, think back: Sylvester Stallone in his early days.  Those steps he ran up during his workout--you remember!

The early morning run, making us all gag with that drink he made with about 6 raw eggs, then running and running throughout the city.  His workout finally took him up the MANY steps of the Art Museum in downtown Philadelphia.  Fists pumping the air at the top: "Gonna Fly Now!"

VALLEY FORGE.  Last stop was Valley Forge.  The films they have at the visitor's centers usually give good overviews of the time period and area, and this one was no different. 

This was the winter camp for Washington's army, in the winter of 1787-88.  Really hard conditions for the soldiers, who were very hungry most of the time, and very cold most of the time.

Of course I could go on and on!  But this gives you a quick overview.  If you ever want to visit Pennsylvania, we can give you some recommendations!  It was far from comprehensive, but we got just a taste of our contry's early days.
Have a great week!  Kari

Titanic, Tuxedos and Trampolines

Hola--

This weekend is the 100th birthday of the sinking of the Titanic.  April 15, 1912.  Pretty dramatic and unbelievable.  We just finished watching the movie, with Rose and Jack...

It was also a fitting weekend for David, to order a tux for the Junior Prom in a few weeks!  It's not until mid-May, but the weekends fill up so quickly we decided to take advantage of a Saturday  that had a clear afternoon.  He asked a girl on our street, just 3 houses down.

Kara has been working on her back handspring on the trampoline.  She's doing pretty well with it!  She's been taking a class once a week since January.

And Teresa...Teresa is collecting rainbows.  She has 2 prisms hanging in her bedroom window, and whenever the sun shines through, it makes a rainbow on her floor or wall.  Then she takes a photo of it with her handheld whatever-it-is.  She has quite a few nice photos!

For the next week, the kids are on "April Break."  Maybe it's called "Spring Break" but it's always in April.  On Monday we'll start our quick driving loop of Pennsylvania.  Gettysburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia.  Should be a nice Civil War and Revolutionary War refresher.  Bill and Phyllis, Frank's uncle and aunt, live in Lancaster so we'll see them too.  Lancaster is the center of Amish country.  We'll learn a little about their lives.

Time for bed.  Have a great Sunday!  Kari

Lovely Easter Weekend

Hola!

We had a lovely Easter 2 days ago--it is truly one of my favorite weekends!  Even in Massachusetts, the flowers are starting to bloom.  We have bright yellow forsythias (sp?) all over the neighborhood.  One friend told me they are "easy" to cut and start another bush growing.  I may ask my neighbor for a cutting of hers.  They brighten up the whole neighborhood!

Saturday night was a special Easter musical presentation at the church.  Such talent we have in our church congregations.  These people came from different cities close to Boston.  Vocalists, violinists, pianists.  It was all very uplifting and joyful.

Then Sunday, before church, we went through the scriptures telling events of the last week of Christ's life, leading up to his atonement for us, his crucifixion, and his resurrection.  For the Easter program in our Sacrament Meeting, Teresa, Kara & I participated in the choir as we sang between scripture readings and inspirational talks.  We are so blessed.  What a great day!


Secondary of course, was waking up to the kids' traditional "Easter baskets."  Chocolate bunnies and other Easter candy.  Kara brought out Max, who is the World's Most Patient Bunny.  She posed him next to Easter eggs and had him on her lap, etc.  He just sat there for the photos!  I can't believe him.

(My "spring resolution" goal is to blog more frequent updates. They may be shorter.  But more frequent.)  Have a good week!  Kari

Katastrophe Kate

What an absolutely beautiful spring-like day we had today!  Sunshine, temps around 70.  It's tricking our plants into thinking it's time to grow.


KATASTROPHE KATE.  I didn't tell you about Kara's school musical that she's been working on since January!  It was a really cute story that her talented music teacher wrote.  He has written about 30 musicals, actually, and his shows have been performed all over the country and even in a couple of OTHER countries.  Super fun songs, clever puns and jokes--it was very entertaining.

This one was called "Katastrophe Kate," taking place in the Wild West of Texas back when there were saloons and sherrifs and outlaws.

Make-up before the show!

Synopsis from the director:

Takin' A Train to Texas

Hold on to your tumbleweeds 'cause here comes the legendary Katastrophe Kate, the most dangerous woman in the West! Whaddaya mean, you never heard of her!!? Didn't ya know that Texas has a panhandle on accounta she was such a great cook?!

This 90-minute Tex-Mex musical tall tale begins when Katherine, a mild-mannered, Eastern born and bred protegee of world-famous chef, Madame Julia Enfant, must transform herself into Katastrophe Kate in order to conquer the Wild West with her chili recipe. In a steamy cook-off at Miss Lillian's Saloon, Kate also has a little romance simmerin' on the back burner with her arch rival, Jose Habenero, who claims to have the hottest chili in the Southwest.

Finding Waltzin' Matilda: lower left!

Into the musical melting pot, throw some dancin' girls called the Fosse Posse, add a dash of international outlaws for spice, and pepper with a prying reporter named Penelope Penmore, and you have a recipe for one red-hot, toe-tappin' Texas chili party! The rip-roarin' score has just the right country-western flavor, featuring songs like "Texas Rodeo Angel," "I Think She's Got It," "Hot Stuff," "I Feel Lousy," and "Showdown."

OUTLAW FROM THE OUTBACK.  Kara was "Waltzin Matilda," an outlaw from Australia.  She refined her accent and did a really good job with it!  It was a lot of fun.

I'll include some photos.  The boots and the hat made the costume, of course.  The costume lady called me from a second-hand store on a Friday night: "Can you get Kara down here sometime this weekend, to see if these boots fit her?  They'd be perfect for Waltzin' Matilda!"  And they were.

Hope your week is sun-filled!  Kari

Happy Birthday to...

Hello and Happy Spring!

WARM (for a DAY).  It is fooling us today, with temps up to SIXTY-EIGHT!  Yes, you heard it here first!  68 degrees and sunshine in early March, in Massachusetts.  Intoxicatingly beautiful.

It's been a whirlwind, it feels like, with musical practices and dress rehearsals, and now Kara is actually performing the Middle School musical she's been working on for 2 months.  She's very excited, and Teresa (no longer in middle school) is helping with the make-up.  Photos soon on that, I hope!

SPECIAL DAY.  But we did get to celebrate Frank's birthday, yes, even the parents get special treatment here on birthdays.  It was spread out, mind you.  On his actual birthday the whole family was never in the same room at the same time all day, so we opted for a one-day-late opening of presents.

Then he went out of town for work, so we're having the requested Butterscotch Pie tonight!  6 days of celebrating because it took that long to get it all together.

WORDLE.  I did want to show you Teresa's gift to him...our family really likes to create at http://www.wordle.net/ This is the best website!!  (And it's free!)

You type in all kinds of words that seem to "fit" the person, and it makes a fun word-display out of them.  Even kids can do it.  With a variety of choices for different shapes and bright colors, it looks really nice framed.

It's a great inexpensive gift for Mother's Day, birthdays, or whatever.  Plus it's completely personalized because whoever makes it has to choose or think which words will go on it.  It's awesome.

Here is Frank's birthday "wordle."  The kids love his Saturday morning breakfasts, so that's where some of the words come from.

"STICKY."  I also need to clarify:  He makes one breakfast where you roll up the dough/cinnamon-sugar like in cinnamon rolls, only you don't cut it into individual cinnamon rolls.  You leave it in a roll, cook it, and cut it up after.  This is called "Sticky."  So when you see "sticky" on the wordle, it's not that Frank is sticky.  He makes sticky.

Frank w/his grandpa

BLAST from the PAST.  Here are some photos of our Frank!  His grandpa rolls him around in the wheelbarrow:

Surprise! w/both grandmas on couch, + sisters

Just a quick update this time.  Happy Birthday to my Sweetie!  The best friend and husband I could ever ask for.  Ok, he's a pretty good dad, too. :)

Frank w/his dad

Very cute senior in high school, posing w/his aunt!

Welcome, March!

Hola!

March has come in this week, and made a statement.  It kind of sounded like "Pleah," really sloppy, loud and messy.  We were spewed upon.

After a non-eventful entire winter, this week we got snow, sleet, slush, followed by rain, slop, and more rain.  Cold temps gave us the snow, and now it's being rained upon and icing up, etc., etc.  Still not much accumulation.  Just drippy.

EXCEPTIONAL EVENT PLANNER.  I wanted to post about our Future Party-Planner!  (Although, I am sure there is a fancy, official-sounding name for this particular profession.)  We have decided that Kara is a shoe-in for planning wedding receptions, corporate holiday parties, or quite possibly the opening for the 2020 Olympics.

We have a daughter who plans parties down to a science.  She plans:
Lists for Guests.

Possible themes.
Decorations we already have.
Decorations that can be made.
Guest assignments, where appropriate.
Invitation emails.
Invitation phone calls.
Paper invitations to send.
Food to be made.
Food to be bought.
Guest activities.
Lists for the supplies for those activities.
Which stores have those supplies.
Where the supplies are on sale.
Possible dates/times for Mom to drive her to get supplies.
Rough time table of when activities will begin and end.

You think I'm exaggerating, But.  I'm.  Not!

The beauty of the process is, that she knows every detail and pretty much does everything.  She's really good at decorating rooms and making food.

She asks her buddy from next door--what a sweetie, willing to work-- to come early to help set up with her, and also to stay late to help clean up.

Kara (11) just planned a Valentine's Day party/sleepover.  Yes, it was a little late.  And here's the best part of it: It was a little late!

She had a guest list of girls she wanted to come, and all calendars matched up on one particular Friday.  Because it was the Friday AFTER Valentine's Day, all candies and decorations and items for gifts were on huge sales!  50, 60, 70 per cent off.  It was perfect.

In the future, we will try to instruct a little on how much food is needed for a particular size of party.  There were 6 girls invited, planning for a total of 7 girls who would be eating "stuff."  Now, remember, these are middle-school-aged girls, not high school boys.

Before I could blink, she was in the process of making a fancy spice cake, platter of fudge, and dozens of little M&M pretzels.  Also from our stash she used Doritos, and crackers and cheese (hors d'oeuvres...this was in addition to the pizza we promised for dinner).  There was a lot of food.

Here are photos.  They had so much fun!

We also decided that her birthday celebration (2 weeks from now) will probably just be ... family.  :)


Next installment: Frank's birthday.