Spring Break is a great time to leave the city and head to the farm.  The kids and I traveled the 1 1/2 hours down to the farm.  We spent Thursday and Friday with Grandpa and Grandma.

I spent most of the time sorting through old photos.   I found this task very enjoyable and it sparked some memories for me to use in my Yesterday and Today class.  My mom and I also found about 800 slides.   Yeah 800!   We decided to have the local store scan those to a CD so we could have digital copies.   I am excited to see what treasures await in those 800 photos. 


The kids were thrilled to have their cousins join them.  My sister also had 2 boys and then a girl, so the kids are perfect playmates for each other. 

The boys were outside all day.   Thankfully they were hungry and needed to eat, otherwise, I don't think we would have seen them all day.   They jumped the big round hay bales, and "helped" Jason with his cows.   I can't say they were much help, but they go to see several brand new calves and watched the dogs round up the rodeo bulls for the rodeo tomorrow.   The dogs are about the only ones that can round up those bulls.  They actually frighten me a little.

 Uncle Jason also has a new puppy.  He was really cute following the boys around the yard.  His name is Stetson. 

The little girls wondered in and out of the house pretty regularly.   They got to play with the newly weaned  pigs before they were moved.  Nadia jumped right in and showed no fear, until they wiggled and squealed to get down.  

They also had some time to play games with Great Grandma.  They played the memory matching game.  Great Grandma was at a distinct disadvantage.   The conversation  actually went something like this:

Great Grandma:  " Wow  looked at you girls.  You have such smart little brains."
Nadia:  "Yeah, Great grandma,  What happened to your brain?"

I was about to correct Nadia for being so rude to Great Grandma, but Grandma responded quickly with, " I don't know, I must have left it at Maple Ridge"   Maple Ridge is her commmunity living home.  We laughed so hard and the girls agreed that Great Grandma must have left her brain at home.   The final results of memory were:  Nadia 19, Anna 13 and Great Grandma 2.  

We were exhausted after spending 2 days and this photo basically summarizes our time:  Out for the whole trip home. 

 I have had a few moments in the last couple weeks to work on a few scrapbook pages.  I am taking 2 online classes that have been fun, although, I don't recommend taking 2 classes at a time.  First,   I am taking  Yesterday and Today by Ali Edwards at Big Picture Scrapbooking.   This class was designed to tell my stories.  Childhood stories and stories of today.   I really am enjoying Ali approach to getting the stories told.  She asked us to focus on the Words and the Photos.   She gives us an option to go completely paper or digital and I am thinking I will do a little of both.  Here's my title page layout, this is completely digital.  

I am heading home tomorrow to see what other fun photos I can round up for this project.


The Second class that I am taking is from Jessica Sprague.  I have taken all her class and love everything about them.   Digi in Deeper is her 4th class in the series.  She is great a leading her students through each project until we reach the light bulb moment.   Here's my first layout for this class. 

Obviously the classes have very different styles, but I am really enjoying both of them.

I have also had a little time to paper scrap.  

This page was for the March Sketch Challenge at Visual Designs by Chris.  Supplies:  Pagemaps sketch
Scrapworks rub ons
Technique Tuesday, CTMH, and Autumn leaves stamps
Visual designs by Chris die cuts.

A card using some old Cosmo Cricket scraps

Used the brand new Simple Stories Travel kit.

Supplies: Basic Grey patterned paper, The cat die cut is by Ginny's happy cuts. You make me smile http://www.paperthreads.com/store/in...oducts_id=3275
The title was Rub ons by American Crafts.

 The first week of February, Ben and I were given the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua on a mission trip with my Parents.     My parents have been involved with  Partners World wide in their Farmer to Farmer  program for almost 10 years.  In fact, the photo on the home page at their website is my Dad.    This program works with Nicaraguans in a land bank program.   The organization purchases the land and gives it to the farmer with  the idea that they farmers will make payments to eventually own their own piece of land.    Partners works with several local Christian  agencies to provide education and training to help the farmer be successful.   The purpose of our trip was to visit and encourage the farmers in their daily tasks.   We hiked many trails to see the farmer's homes, families and crops.   Each farmer was extremely proud of their little piece of God's creation.  I can't begin to tell you all the stories from the week, but here are some photos to capture a few.  

Once we finally arrived in Managua, we had lunch at Papa Johns.   Interestingly enough, it was pretty much exactly like the North American version.   

 

Ben and Grandpa are standing next to Masaya, an active volcano. Currently, the volcano is rumbling, gurgling and releasing sulfur gases.  

 

We spent most of the week up in the mountains.   The scenery was amazing and the weather was a perfect 85 - 90  degrees

The mountain roads were another story.  We drove at least an hour everyday to get from our guest house up to the farms.   The roads were more like trails with rocks, ruts and the occasional stream

The restroom of choice at the farms.  I must admit, that I have been in campgrounds with pit toilets dirtier than theses. 

Ben took a photo of me after we had hiked up to a farm.  The view was spectacular. 

hiking the trails to visit a farm. 

A typical farmer's home.  1 room with a tin roof, dirt floor and hammock hanging from the ceiling for their beds. 

Ben gets to help grind coffee at the Mombachito coffee farm. 

Our group stands and listens as a farmer describes what he been doing with his farm. 

Our translator / interpreter  Freddie is wearing orange.   He has the hardest job of the week.   A Nicaraguans like  to hear themselves talk.  Freddie often put his hands to his head and said,  "they keep repeating themselves"  or "I missed most of that"  

Ben had a great time playing with the kids.  This is Michael. 

A soccer game in the pasture.   It's a miracle, but Ben did not get cow poop on his shoes or clothes.

A little game of leap frog. 

The kids caught a gecko.   Notice that Ben is holding it's tail in his hand.   Their defense is to lose their tails if they are pulled on. 

Howler Monkeys

yellow beard snake.   You can see it's head hanging down in the tree, with its body up on the other branches.  It's green and yellow and matches the foliage perfectly.   The Nicaraguans were very nervous, warning us to get back.    This photo was taken by my dad, not me, I'm to big of a whimp.  

If a Nicaraguan has enough food to feed their family, they will sell the extra in the market.   This is a meat stand.   They sell everything.  Heads, feet etc.     

a small vegetable stand.

I hope that gives you a little glimpse into the amazing week that we had in Nicaragua.   If you are a coffee drinker and would like to try some Nicaraguan coffee straight from the Mombachito farm.  Please let me know.  We are selling them for 7 dollars per bag.    

I refuse to call this our Christmas letter as most people would.   Our family newsletter seems to come a little later every year. In fact, this year I will send it with a little Valentines' love  :)     Here's a digital copy, I would love to tell you that the paper copy is in the mail.   But that would be a very large lie.  Truth is, it's on my to do list.  I suggest you print this version. 

Hockey weekend.  This is a photo of Ethan

Nobody likes this job.   Cleaning the cat box.

Ethan's first time back to the hill where he broke his collar bone a year ago. 

Monday was a school holiday.  We spent the afternoon enjoying the beautiful winter day.

Basketball is in full swing for me.  Currently the RS girls are ranked 2nd in the state. 

The temperature dropped this week.  Notice the temperature  -5.

We finally had a free Friday evening.  We spent it in the pool. 

Nadia figured out how to kick with the kick board.  She was so proud. 

Here's our first 2 weeks of January in Photos:

Celebrated the beginning of 2011 with a little cream soda in Beer bottles.  

Found this coneflower enduring the cold, wind and snow.  They make a nice photo. 

I asked Ben to take a photo of Ethan, this was the result.   At least the Bananas are in focus.

We love these crackers.  I'm not sure they are really any healthier than chips. Nadia took this photo. 

Back to work.  It's wrestling season

A little hockey.   Ben scored a hat trick against Iowa City.

Another Hockey shot of Ben

Zeke is searching for Fresh Water,  He decided to check out Nadia's bath. 

Time to grind the Christmas ham and Freeze it.  

Ethan's Birthday.