Today I went to the Minnesota History Center with the fourth graders.  I was a little nervous that they wouldn’ t be all that interested in history, but most of them did quite well and said that they enjoyed the trip.  We learned about Harriet Bishop, who was the first teacher to come to Minnesota and teach the Dakota Indians, before Minnesota was a state.  It took her four weeks to get here from Albany, New York and she used many means of transportation to get here, back in 1851.  We also saw a butter sculpture of the 50th Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Prince’s famous purple outfit that he wore in the movie, Purple Rain and even some pictures of Jesse Ventura when he was our Governor.  Now that’s one part of Minnesota History I try to forget.   Overall, it was a very fun field-trip and I’d like to go back again, when I’m not with a bus load of kids and on a time schedule.

Kelly had an exciting day today.  After school we headed over to the orthodontist where she proceeded to get her spacer’s put into her mouth.  These are just little rubber bands that are squeezed between the teeth to help put “space between them, hence the word, spacers.  She was a little nervous about going, but once she got in the chair, it was all over within a matter of 30 seconds.  Tonight she’s walking around, opening her mouth whenever she passes a mirror.  She wanted me to add this photo!

Yesterday I wasn’t feeling all that great.  I had planned on spending the day scrapbooking.  I finished about 6 pages and then felt the urge to spend the rest of the day on the couch or in my bed, sleeping or reading.  Not too much fun having a stomach ache.

Tonight I got to “feel good” again.  Kelly’s girl scout troop was going to Feed My Starving Children and Nate & I volunteered to go with and Megan as well.  So it turned out to be a family event.  Between all of the groups there tonight, we packaged up over 10,000 meals which is enough to feed over 28 kids for a year.  What a great feeling that is for only 40 minutes of work.    The girls & I had fun watching their dad try and look tough, carrying heavy boxes with a hair net on.  It was definitely a giggle moment for us.  But it was great to have some dad’s there for that reason.  Not sure we could’ve handled those loads.  It was a lot of fun and we can’t wait to go back and do it again.

Tonight at our school, it was Math & Science Night.  This is becoming one of our favorite school events.   Students in grades 3-6th could submit their experiments and show them off.  These experiments ranged from very simple, to extremely detailed and in-depth research.  There were about 50 tables set up down the main hallway of the school this year!  Megan did an experiment with her friend, Noelle.  They did theirs on different types of food fed to two hamsters.  Their objective was to see which food was the favorite.  Most students included pictures, samples, a write up of the experiment and some students even brought lap-tops with graphics and slide shows!  Now that was impressive.  

In another room, their were some professionals set up as well.  We had Underwater Adventures from the Mall of America.  They brought real sharks and stingrays that you could touch.  The Minnesota Valley Electric Company was there doing an electricity experiment and the U. of  M. had a gigantic, 7  foot Operation Board (remember that game?) that you could try.  “Take out the wrenched ankle for $100″.   They even had the nose light up and that darn scary buzz if you touched the side.   It was cool!

Today was the  Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America…Barack Obama.  It was a pretty historical day for the United States.  I was lucky enough to watch the Inauguration while at work.  We thought it was an important event that the kids at Hidden Valley Elementary should take part in watching.    I thought that Barack Obama’s speech was inspirational and gives me high hopes for our future and for my kids’ future.  Parts of his speech even gave me goosebumps, which tells me I was moved by his words.  I enjoy listening to him speak and think that he’s very intelligent.   That’s a nice change from our previous president, and a change that is much needed.  No offense to my Rebuplican friends.

What better way to spend Martin Luther King Day, than to get your haircut & hi-lighted.  That’s what the girls & I did this morning.  It feels good to get rid of that “winter hair.”  That’s what we call our hair when it’s too long and mine gets too dark.  Need to lighten it up a bit and feel a little more “springy.”

After that, we cleaned the house and treated ourselves to a Sonic hamburger, slushies and strawberry limeades.  It was our first meal at the new “drive-in” Sonic.  We all three gave it a thumbs up.  Poor Nate, he didn’t get the day off but I’m sure he wouldn’t have wanted to get his hair hi-lighted anyway.  Tomorrow it’s back to school and work.  Looks like we’ll even be able to get out for recess…something we haven’t done in over two weeks.

What a great day I had today.  Megan was at a slumber party and Kelly went to play at a friends house.  So that opened the door for me to hang out in my kitchen.  I prepped three different meals today and enjoyed every minute of it, since I love to cook.    Tonight’s meal was a zucchini & Goat cheese stuffed chicken breast, tomorrow it’s beef stew and Monday it’s tortilla soup.  Mmmm…comfort food at it’s best for these cold Minnesota nights.

Today was such a “blah” day.  The kids at school were fine and the day went well, it just seemed “uneventful.”   I seemed to drift off about once an hour and dream of being at home, curled up with my book on the couch.  Of course, that never happened and instead, I came home from work, made the girls dinner and headed off to the grocery store while Nate made us a wonderful gourmet pizza that he’s so fabulous at making.   As I was driving home,  I was thinking to myself, “when did Friday nights go from party night to hanging out at a grocery store?”  Hmmm, am I missing something?

Well, we managed to get through a -24 degree day.  This was the coldest day in five years.  When you walked outside, it took your breath away.    It’s amazing how nothing changes even when the weather is so cold.  We truly are hearty people in the Midwest.  School started just like normal, errands were run as usual, and Megan even went on a field trip after school with her “environmental club.”  They were suppose to go snow-shoeing today, but were only allowed to see the facility and check the place out for future field trips.   On a positive note, the forecast for Sunday is 30 degrees (above zero!)  How great is that going to feel!

Tonight I went out with my high school friends.  It was my night to organize the outing so we met over at the Roasted Pear, here in Burnsville.    The food was great and the stories are always funny.  Our group of girlfriends, which includes ten of us, have been getting together once a month for 14 years now!  That just amazes me at how time flies, but what’s more amazing, is that everyone still loves getting together (when they can).  It’s fun to stay up on everyone’s lives, and see what’s new every month.  There’s never a dull moment and usually a picture or two is taken to document the night.  I was thrilled that everyone came out tonight, given how cold it was.  So I thanked them all for coming and their response was, “what else can you do on a night like this?”  It’s nice to have such great friends.