Going Batty

Last night, Brian and the kids were upstairs getting ready for bed when I heard the all too familiar shriek. It was not from one of the kids... it was from Brian. The shriek that
announced "a visitor has arrived".

Yup, another stinking bat got into the house. Did you notice the word "another", as in"this is not the first one"? Bats, in this old house, occasionally make an appearance. We were initiated with the first one before we had the kids. Brian, the environmentalist / lover of nature, screamed like a little girl on a major sugar high. I, on the other hand, remained clam and removed the bat from the house using a shoebox. Actually, Brian did eventually calm down stopped freaking out and helped me.

The second bat was huge... it had a wing span of a pterodactyl! It swooped at us with speed unknown to most bats. We hit the floor in a fast army crawl, grabbed a golf umbrella for protection and crawled through the house and opened every door and window.

The third home intruder found it's way into our bedroom after William was born. Brian freed it by, once again, opening the doors and windows. By this time, I was starting to feel unkind lethal towards the critters and was in search of a more permanent way of removal.

We have also had several bats in the basement. There is nothing worse than folding laundry and seeing a moving object out of the corner of your eye. Brian also has had a few bats taunt him while he was in the basement. One dive bombed him resulting in "the scream". Another was found at the bottom of a laundry basket.

I am sure that there have been more, but I've tried to erase the memories.

Why don't we get rid of the bats, you ask? It's not that easy. We've priced it out. It cost and arm and a leg (or a wing) and there is no guarantee that they will all be removed or that they won't eventually return. Looks like a bat house might make a nice addition to our family!

Grandma's Birthday Pictures

Viola and Family


Grandma and the Kids

Enjoying Dessert With Matthew

Sydney and Jordan

Andrew and Sydney

Uncle Randy and William

Jordan... the oldest

Claudia... the youngest

" Happy Birthday to You..."

Rusty the Railcat and the Kids

Running the Field at the Railcats Game

(Claudia and Sydney are in the middle..litttle pink girl)

Happy 70th Birthday Grandma!!!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

From Your Grandkids

We hope you have the best Birthday EVER!

We love you to the moon and back!

1970

January 1971

Grandma, Jordan and Sydney

Grandma and Sydney

Grandma, Andrew and Matthew

2002

October 1999

October 1999

June 2005

September 2006

May 2006

May 2008

Jordan: You make the BEST pineapple upside down cake EVER!!
Sydney: I LOVE to play at Grandma's house.

Andrew: You always pick out the best gifts for me!

Matthew: I like to play baseball at your house.

William: Grandma has the coolest toys like dump trucks and diggers!

Claudia: You make the best popcorn!

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is finally here... the beginning of summer! Ahhhhh!

We have a fun-filled weekend planned.

Saturday:

Swim lessons at the YMCA for the kids.

Brian and I will attempt to exercise at the YMCA (yes, this is true).

Mow lawn, clean house, make a dent in the huge pile of laundry.

Drop kids off at Grandma's house.

Go out for supper with friends (as in no children).

Streak through the neighborhood (just wondering if anyone will catch this).

Pick up kids from Grandma's house.

Sleep!

Sunday:

Grandma's 70th Birthday Brunch at Strongbow.

Grandma's Birthday Baseball game at the Steel Yard. Go Railcats!

Rumor has it that Grandma is throwing out the first pitch!

Back to Grandma's house for Birthday treats.

Monday:

Two hour steam train ride between North Judson and LaCrosse, Indiana.

Recover from weekend........

Don't Fear The Reaper

This morning I was reading my local newspaper and to my surprise read that Blue Oyster Cult will be playing at our county fair this summer! I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of BOC. However, the music does bring back fond memories. About 20 years ago (yes, I am dating myself) I went to a bar in River Grove, Illinois called "The Thirsty Whale" with my sister and a friend. BOC was playing there and my friend wanted to see the show..... so did I (after all, I was familiar with 2 songs). We arrived at the venue and discovered that we were not dressed appropriately for the concert. We looked clean cut, as in "preppy" (remember it was 20 years ago) and the rest of the BOC crowd was decked in in leather... lots of it and chains. I remember a few head bandannas (skullcaps ?) too! Even though I felt a bit uncomfortable in my black Bermuda shorts and striped shirt, it was a fun show! I distinctly remember my friend jamming out to the song "Godzilla". I am amazed that my friend didn't suffer brain damage from his head thrashing!

So Porter County Fair and Blue Oyster Cult here I come! I will be there decked out in leather, chains, skullcap and lighter (you know..... to wave in the air)! I hope I fit in with the locals. Hmmmm.... Maybe I ought to reconsider my outfit. County Fair.... farmers.... Don't want to stand out AGAIN! I'm thinking overalls might be a better choice!

This is for the Porter County farmers.... "Don't Fear The Reaper".

Kathy's Spinach Salad

My friend, Kathy, makes this delicious spinach salad. It's so yummy that I have asked her for the recipe numerous times. I always write down the recipe and then immediately lose it. So, this last time when I called to get the recipe, I stuck it to my bulletin board (If I stick it in a cookbook, it will get lost.... always happens!). I have made this for several get-togethers and it's a guaranteed hit!

Salad

Spinach (I use baby spinach)

Red onion - sliced or diced

Bacon - cooked and crumbled

Fresh sliced mushrooms

Sliced hard boiled eggs

Dressing

2/3 cup oil

1/3 cup vinegar (cider or white)

1 medium onion (coarsely chopped)

1 tsp celery seed

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3 tsp yellow mustard

1/2 cup sugar or sweetener of choice... honey

Put dressing ingredients in blender.

Blend until smooth.

Toss desired amount of dressing with salad.

Ketchup

I apologize to my 2 readers for my lack of blogging. I have either been sick, too busy or out of town. So here is a "Ketchup" of what has been happening with the Stage Family:

William had pink eye.
Claudia had pink eye.
I had pink eye.
Brian had pink eye.
I got sick with an awful head cold.
William broke our camera.
Brian bought another camera.
We left for Arizona.
Brian's pink eye returned while in Arizona.
Returned home from Arizona 1 week later.
Started laundry and putting vacation "stuff" away.
William had a fever and cough for 3 days.
Claudia also got sick.
I got another cold.
William and Claudia had (and still have) runny noses and coughs.
Made last car payment.
Car started rattling.
Replaced brakes on car.
Car still rattling.
Brian's brother, Eric, and his family came to visit from Jacksonville, Florida.
Still putting vacation "stuff" away.
We celebrated Mimi's (Brian's mother) 60th Birthday.
We went to the Brookfield Zoo with the whole Stage Family.
I mowed the yard.
I am trying to load new camera software onto the computer.
I am constantly being interrupted by 2 children!
I will eventually post pictures......

Easter Weekend

Our Easter celebrations started on Friday with supper at my mom's house. While loading up the car Friday evening, someone (Brian) locked us out of the house. Our extra key was next door at the neighbors who happened to be out of town. Luckily, my mom had a spare which my sister drove over to our house saving us from spending the night in the garage. Saturday, Brian woke up with pink eye and spent a good chunk of the morning at the eye doctor's office. Sunday, we drove to Glen Ellyn, IL to celebrate Easter with Brian's extended family. His cousin, Jordan and his family, were in visiting from Vienna. It was great to see every one... especially since we don't get to see each other on a regular basis.... only holidays and a few birthdays.


We spent a bit of time in the car on Sunday... a bit too much for the kiddos. Our return home from Illinois sounded like this:

Claudia: Turn on the light.

Mom: No.

William: Tell Claudia to be quiet.

Claudia: Turn ON the light.

Mom: Not going to happen.

Claudia: Turn on the light, turn on the light, turn on the light, turn on the light....

Mom: Why?

Claudia: I can't see my dog (as in stuffed).

William: Claudia's talking too much.

Claudia: Sophie (the real dog) is looking at me!

Claudia: Stop looking at me, Soph! Look at William (pronounced Will-YUM).

Claudia: She won't stop looking at me!

Claudia: Turn on the light.

Claudia: I SAID, "turn on the light!"

Dad: Did you say something Claudia? (responding sarcastically)

Claudia: I'm cold.

Claudia: My feet hurt.

Claudia: I need the light on.

Claudia: She's (the dog) looking at me again!

William: Claudia's still talking.

Mom: Stop talking Claudia.

Claudia: Are we in Valparaiso?

Dad: No. We just left Aunt Monica's. We're in Bolingbrook.

Claudia: We're ARE in V...a...l...p...a...r...a...i...s...o...

William: (insert sarcasm) Does this look like Valparaiso?

Claudia: Yes, this is IT! We're in Valparaiso, William.

Mom: We're not in Valparaiso.

Claudia: Turn on the light.

William: I'm sleeping.

Caludia: Your not sleeping! William, are you sleeping?

This "conversation" goes on for about an hour. William fell asleep despite Claudia's attempt to awaken him with her words. Claudia fell asleep about five minutes before we arrived home. Hope everyone had a joyous Easter!

Chocolate Chip Orange Scones

This is one of my all time favorite recipies!

Preheat oven to 425

2 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

(I use mini chips)

3-4 teaspoons orange zest

Whisk dry ingredients together

Add cream

Mix with wooden spoon or spatula

Here's the easiest part....use an ice cream scooper and scoop dough onto a baking sheet

Brush tops with cream and sprinkle with sugar (if desired)

Bake 12-14 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Cool on rack or serve warm

Dinosaurs, Bears and Caves.....Oh My!

Claudia printed her name for the first time...... look at the bottom of the drawing.

It is printed like this: "C... d...l...a...u...i...a..."

She didn't like the the "d" being in the middle of her name so she changed it.

And for those of you who have difficulty interpreting preschool art, let me explain:

The dinosaur (small box, bottom left) is chasing the big bear (brown amoeba object) into a cave (brown circle, top right) which contains a bed (blue circle). Brown squiggles represent the grass.