Spending Time with Claire

Last week my parents flew me out to go spend time in Minneapolis with my oldest sister Claire. My parents thought that I would go out and help with her new house she just bought, that needs a little TLC since it was built in the early 1900's. I must say it is a cute little house and its to bad that the weather was so HOT that we did little house work and a lot more playing!

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(This is the only picture I have of the Mall of America

and I only took the picture because we have Freshens at

School and I had no idea that it existed else were.)

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(I love Mary Tyler Moore so we had to go

see the statue.)

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( we drove an hour to go see this gem,

The worlds largest Ball of Twine built by one man)

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(On our way home we stopped to get a shake at

this awesome place that had bears all over I mean

ALL OVER!)

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(Proof that I really did work. Here I am stripping

the kitchen floor)

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These are just a few things we did. We also went to the Spam Museum, experienced amazing thunder storms, tried new places to eat, had a taste of Lobster for the first time, did lots of Homework for School, pulled giant weeds out of the yard, stripped a cabinet, tried to finish a bathroom shower, picked out paint colors and granit top, went to the fine arts museum, watched the Mentalist and Burn Notice, went to see were Claire Works and went to a staff celebration and spent the entire time talking with a Jewish Man who loves the Mormons, tried to find chandlers in the local Grocery Stores but instead found amazing Bakeries, and had a really good time spending time with Claire. I think she would add that I spent most of the time Laughing. If you didn't know that about me I laugh a lot Claire calls me a gigglier especially if I am tired or need food in my body but it makes for a good time!

Favorite Books Growing Up

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I'm lucky enough to have the children's books in my room (as well as a few other things) and tonight I decided to find all my favorites growing up. To start off, my favorite books that Dad would read were Pigs in Hiding, which is funny because there is not much story line to it, and The Diggin-est Dooog (The Diggen-est Dog). As for my top picks that Mom would read were, Epaminondas and His Auntie and The Five Chinese Brothers. As for all the others I loved for different reason.

I loved Green Eggs and Ham because it was the First book that I read by myself (and it was LONG). I loved the Best Little Monkeys in the World because of the illustrations, The Goofs and Amerlia Bedelia were just funny. Owen reminded me of how I felt about my "sucking shirt" and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day has a part when he goes to his Dads office and I always pictured it just like my Dads. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs needs no explanation because its great, as for the last three I can't say exactly why I just remember really liking them.

So there you have it from a girl that has never been a very good reader I thought it would be nice to remember some of my favorites growing up.

John's Ark

I will refer you over to my sister's blog for the background story. This just goes to show that even with my siblings scattered across the United States we all still think a like.

The other day during dinner my family and I were talking about how we should invest in some alligators to stick in our bushes. When I came up with the best idea ever, I think mom was in total agreement with me. John should build an Ark.

It would be perfect since we no longer hace a swingset or tramp what are the grandchildren suppose to play on? It doesn't have to be the biggest thing just big enough for kids to climb on and slide down the ramp and then we could get different animals that can be placed inside and around the ark. Wouldn't this be the best thing ever!?

Plus when the neighbors asked John what he is Building he can say things like, "My Father commanded me to build an Ark. Have you not noticed all the rain we've be receiving?"

I love dinner conversations they always bring a smile to my face.