April Vacation, Pneumonia, and Barns

It's been one helluva week...and despite the eventful past 9 days, I feel completely grateful to have been home for the break, and not anywhere else.  The week started off with my dad getting diagnosed with pneumonia.   Last Sunday, second day of vacation.   I spent 3 overnights at his house taking care of him at night.   I spent much of the day that week there too, checking on them, cooking for them, and helping to make sure all was well.    My sister and I begged one of my brothers to come up for the weekend so we could take a bit of time off and enjoy our last days of the break.   Paul came up.  
This same week we had to clear out the lower floor of the barn to prepare for the construction/renovation project we are about to begin.  THAT was a lot of work.  We also had to declutter and spruce up our house because we had an assessor coming to assess the house so we can refinance and build a third bedroom above our kitchen.   Essentially, we worked all week long.   We got it all done.  Barn cleaned out, house cleaned up, and dad cared for all at the same time.   Thank God it's over and I can go back to work!

pneumonia

dad with pneumonia

empty barn

day trip to the Fairbanks Museum

Halloween in April

Nine year olds know how to have fun while on vacation.  While hangin' out at Jaspers, the boys pulled out a bunch of stuff from the costume box and decked themselves out in full style.   They then paraded around the neighborhood, hoping to get complimented on their outfit choices.    Here they are, two cool dudes hamming it up for my camera. 

Family Mood Rings

We bought mood rings yesterday in the gift shop at the Fairbanks Museum.  We've spent lots of times analyzing the color of our moods. 

Mostly we are a shade of blue which means we are all very loveable.  

I'd like to rate the accuracy of our mood rings very high.  

Loveable we are.  

Pokemon Kinda Day

Cold, damp, dreary kind of Sunday.

Luckily - great friends make it all sunny inside.

Four boys and one girl played Pokémon for hours.
Two different times, two different houses. 

A perfect Sunday for a kid.   I'm sure of it. 
 

They're Moving In

Grandma and Grandpa are moving in.   Yes.  In about five months, my parents will be nestled into a renovated efficiency apartment in our backyard.  It's a big deal.  We've been planning and discussing and debating and determining for months now.  Where is the best place for our aging parents?  After looking at many senior living facilities we've finally decided that it comes down to dignity.  And of course family.  Thus, we have begun the process of barn renovation.

The bottom 2/3 on the left side will become a small apartment for my ninety-something year old parents.   In the meantime we have to find a temporary home for our 2 chickens, and then build a new home for the hens as well.  Freckle's and Eagle's  small coop in the barn will be removed to make way for Adeline and Leonard.   Despite all of the wonderful things about the renovation, I must confess, I am going to miss the sweet and shabby barn we've enjoyed these past nineteen years. 

So long rotten barn doors.

So long old asphalt siding.

So long chicken coop.

So long makeshift balcony. 

So long charming, charming, ugly barn. 

Welcome home mom and dad. 

Rainbow on North Street

        At the end of a very long holiday weekend we got this....a bow of colors spanning across our street.  I took it as an omen that we are all

protected by this rainbow shield. 

I felt so grateful for nature.    

Egg Hunts and Other Traditions

Easter Egg Decorating

Easter Dessert Baking

Easter Basket Hunt

Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch

Pleichanka 2017