A jungle

that's what our apartment is turning into. Every day in school we make a few projects, and mine usually end up on our dining table, then get moved to the end tables when a new one come home. Right now, we have 5 different floral arrangements around the living area. If it were easier, I'd spread them around to my family and friends. Flowers are so cheery!

These first two pictures are from my wedding class final. We got a set amount of flowers, than had to make a brides bouquet, 2 bridesmaids bouquets, a grooms boutonniere, and flowers for a mother. My bridal bouquet had to be a crescent shape. I was nervous, because that is my least favorite style, but it turned out okay. It's hard to see the shape here, because of the way it is set in the vase.
Close up of one of the roses.

A topiary made with moss and button mums.

Party class; the assignment was to set a themed table and make a centerpiece. My partner and I chose a tea party, and made the arrangements in a silver tea service.

Here is my finished Art in Bloom piece, it goes along with this picture. When I went to drop it off yesterday, I saw the most amazing arrangements. Cor, Kayla and I are going again this afternoon, so hopefully I can get some photos of the other pieces at the museum.

Since I got back from our trip, life has been so busy. School is crazy right now, and activities (volleyball, softball) are in full swing. I'm trying to enjoy it all, but sometimes it's almost hard to switch focus from one to the other, then to work. I might go out of town this weekend too, so one more thing to think about. It'll be fun, though.

All pumped up! but a little hurt too

Our last league volleyball game was tonight. I was debating about going, because on Saturday night at kyds, I sprained (I think) my foot playing a "fun game". However, Rita texted me this afternoon saying we only had 4 players. Whoops, there went my decision. If I didn't show up, they would probably have to forfeit. Since it was the last game, I decided I could play through the pain.

After limping all day, I put on an ace bandage and popped 2 ibuprofen, then shoved my feet into shoes and went to the gym. We were playing a team of 6 girls with a 4-somehighnumber record. This meant we (Rita H, Amanda H, and Jen P) would have to be all over the court. It started out decent, and stayed that way throughout the game- we won by 6 or so. The second game was a little harder, they were shoving deep and tipping short. We lost 22-25, and my foot was throbbing. I felt like in books when people have lines of pain on their faces, and it was hard to hide my limping. By the middle of the third game, my foot was numb, and I could concentrate on playing. We wasted the other team 25-12.

It was hard to hide our big grins as we shook hands. What seemed daunting ended as a hard fought victory. Those are the best kind, and it was the perfect way to end the season! My mouth is smiling, but my poor foot is crying. It deserves a nice rest before softball on Wednesday, and that's what it will get.

Ugh, cars

Yesterday, I awoke from a nap all fuzzy-minded and cranky. After a trip around the grocery store (trying desperately to think of food I needed), I came out to find my car dead. Blah. Even more cranky. Cor came and jumped me, and with a little help from a stranger, we got it started. On the way home, however, my car died at a stop sign. Luckily, by this time, my brain was clearing, so I hopped out, ran across the street to the auto place (I just happened to be next to one), and got a push to the side of the road. That same nice man checked things under my hood and determined that I needed a new alternator. Oh, great.

Cor picked me up, we went and played softball, came back, and jumped my car once again. I had enough juice to get home, with no lights or radio on. Who do you think I called? Well, Daddy of course. And then Mike. The brother-in-law from previous posts who has fixed every car problem in the S family since he started dating my sister. He had time, and if I found the part, he could come in and install it. Woohoo!

It's times like this when you realize how much you need friends and family.

Green, green, grass of home

It is so colorful here in MN! I noticed that the trees are blooming on our lawn, and tulips all over town are wide awake.

We arrived home on Sunday afternoon, 50 hours after we left the beach house. Our two nights were spent in Wal-mart parking lots, and the daylight hours were spent driving and stopping for gas. It was a long trip home, but Claire and I kept each other occupied. The NY Mets vs. SL Cardinals 20 inning game also held our attention for a long while.

Sunday afternoon, Mark came to the cities, and we played tennis and catch, and went for a couple walks. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon after being gone for so long.

Here are some more pictures from the trip. The beach was virtually empty every time we went down there, so our family looked like a crowd.

Vivy love, love, loved the sand and water. Oh, and the shells too. She had one in her mouth and one in each hand every time I looked.

Sometimes she required a mouth sweep.

Looking for sand fiddlers, tiny little things that burrow into the sand. They leave a little hole, and then we'd dig and dig and see if we could catch them.

Mya also loved the beach, but she was more relaxed- no sand in her mouth.

One afternoon, Joce and I went with my parents to downtown Wilmington. We enjoyed the shops down by the riverwalk, and then ate delicious pesto burgers in the restaurant that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was filmed in.

This was one of the restaurants downtown.

We toured this schooner, run by a community of people. They live on the boat and take it from port to port and open it for tours.

Mom and Joce on the boat, with the courthouse in the background.

The trip down

We left from home early Thursday morning. It was great to be in my parents ride: Claire slept in the back, and I got the whole seat to myself! Plus, Mom brought good food :)
At around 5 am on Friday, Mike called us from their truck (they met up with us in IN) and said "Flat tire!" We pulled over, and sure enough, one of the camper tires had exploded. Dad put the spare on, and we were back on the road after about 45 minutes.

Only two and a half hours later, same thing. We got a call from Mike again, I hear Dad say sh*t, and this time it was the spare that shredded.

Like my mom said, Mike saved our bottoms again, because Dad had not brought the proper tools. Mike, of course, had his toolbox. What a son-in-law!
Joce, looking a little too chipper for 7:30 am.
Viv looks a little wary, but is, as usual, a happy baby. She was so good the whole trip! Claire and I took a turn driving the truck, and Vivvers stayed up with us (it was the middle of the night), just listening, or singing, or throwing out a comment here and there.
Since we were out of extra tires, Dad and Mike took off to get two new ones, leaving our ride on the side of the freeway with the hazards on. Mike took the smart way off the road, over the grass and up the exit we happened to be next to.

Finally the truck came back, Dad put the tires on, and we were back on our way. It was two hour delay.
So our final trip time from my apt ended up being 30 hours, half a day more than planned. So far, it has been totally worth it. Hopefully the trip back involves less swear words, and goes, I'm hoping, a little quicker.

Family Beach Trip

North Carolina has been beautiful so far, sunny and warm. It's a bit breezy down by the water, but up at the house it feels hot.

Darren noticed tons of tiny crabs down by the waterway behind the house.
We tried to get a picture of the three baby girls. Viv was a maniac as usual, and wouldn't sit still. Mya held Sierra good as gold, while Sierra smiled away.
Viv looks huge in this picture, but Mya is actually much taller than her.
Today, Allison's parents (who own the place) came down for a (Sandy K) pasty lunch. Afterward, the guys disappeared while the girls had a mini bridal shower for Allison with the gifts from the S ladies. She (and her mother) was so appreciative of all of them.
She especially loved the matched set from the Hendrickson's.
Stay tuned for more pictures of the trip down (a 30 hour trek).

More SLW pictures

As promised, here are more pictures off of my mom's camera.

All the phones lined up in the "phone bank". It was comical: one phone started ringing, and no one answered it. A minute later, the phone next to it rang, same person calling. :)
Dairy-free delicious custard made by Cherie P.
Reese Reynolds giving her "selfdom" speech
and the ladies enjoying every minute.
Becca, Shannon, and Jan taking the Alaskan quiz sent by our greatly missed relatives.
Helen modeling one of her prizes for getting the most correct answers.
Spa night; Jess getting royal treatment from Tyyni.
Who is this man?
Some ladies appeared at kyds that night, garbed in spa clothing, asking for a sauna and hot water. Apparently when we said "no ladies would dare come to kyds", they took it as a challenge.
Notice Coralie with her head down... embarrassed? I was laughing so hard! I'll say it again; what an awesome weekend!

Highlights of Easter weekend

Good Friday church
Fun kyds- lots of games and contests- leg wrestling, knee wars, etc
Awesome weather- SUN!
Steph and Sanj came to stay
Made a dessert as my contribution to Sunday dinner- easy and tasted good
Taught Viv to say MOO
Kyds at Petersons- cracks me up when people tell me thanks for having kyds there, always get me and Cor mixed up
Easter communion- lots of people
Dinner- fam in the area plus extras
Guys house- watched some early season waterskiing

Now it's a busy week before leaving for NC on Thurs morn