Jack Sparrow

Mayzie walked into my office today with this little lost baby sparrow. We fussed over her, worried about what to feed her, mushed up some of the baby chicken food in some water and attempted to nurse her with a dropper. She was with us for about an hour, then, out of nowhere when I was holding her, she clumsily flew away! All that worrying for nothing!

Of home runs and care packages.

Today I readied our very first care packages for Shane. and discovered that

It wasn't long before I had 4 boxes

It was a big job getting these puppies into the post office.  We packed them TIGHT and HEAVY!

After sending Shane's packages, we rushed home.  

We couldn't miss our 

appointment on the ball field.  No. 

Grandma, Grandpa, Wanessa, and Bea all came to our house for some pizza, salad, and ball.  After dinner, they all went on ahead to the school, while I stayed back to put away the leftovers.  When I arrived, Nevan was ready for action.

Pretty soon, he was

After Wanessa hit a fabulous ball that earned her second base, and Nevan third,

Mayzie was up to bat.

There was a lot of excitement on the ball field, but that wasn't the only  place to have fun.  While the big kids and Grandpa
  played a little hit-n-run, 

After everyone had worked their appetite back up, we all headed home for the perfect ending:  peanut butter pie!

Rainy Knight

These pictures are from February, but let's face it-- I've barely blogged this year, let alone in February.

By the way, have I ever mentioned that I LOVE to say FebRUary?  I love it.  Join me.  Feb-RU-ary.  Nice, isn't it?

Anyhonkinwho, I just wanted to document that when it rains, Nevan is fully prepared.

He made this lovely helmet out of black construction paper and blue duct tape.

And yes, he  really did  walk to school like that.

He's in the Army now.

I doubt anyone still reads this neglected blog, but here goes, anyway...

The past few months have revolved around one goal:  Find Shane a job.  He's been "under-employed" for about two years.  We've sent out no fewer than 300 resumes to companies in every corner of the country and world-wide, too.  And, no.  That is NOT an exaggeration, if anything, it's an extremely modest estimate.  So, anyhow, after sending out so many resumes, you would think that a highly qualified, highly educated professional such as Shane would be lining up the interviews left and right.  But no.  Civil Engineering is one of the hardest hit industries in this economy.  It's the work that gets done months or years before building begins.  And nothing is being built, and what little is, is being built with engineering that was completed years ago and put on hold.  So, all those hundreds of resumes got him what?!  NOT ONE INTERVIEW.

About six months ago we started thinking about Afghanistan.  It's a long story, and I'm not going to write it here, at least not today.  Afghanistan is one of the few places in the world where building is going on, or I should say, re-building.  Getting work there with the Army Corps of Engineers is no simple task, it takes months of hard work and diligence, but finally, about 6 weeks ago, Shane was offered a position to begin May 9, Mother's Day.

Blogging has taken a back-burner to job-finding, but now that Shane is away and we won't get to talk every day or see him for months on end, blogging is taking a front burner again.  It's time to document our lives for posterity, but for now, it's for Daddy.  Expect a comeback!  :)

Wanessa turns 12.

My niece, Wanessa had a birthday.  And if she had one, I must have a birthday lying around here someplace, too, as we share the glorious day of May 11 as our very special day every year.  Happy 12th, Wanessa!