6' Banana Split

While Brett's parents were here, his mother bribed the children with a 6' Banana Split.  She made it down the middle of the table.  We used chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and mint chocolate chip ice cream, bananas, cherries, whip cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, and sprinkles.  We also topped it off with some nuts.  Everyone enjoyed it. 

Eating the banana split.

The girls.

The boys.

The mess at the end.

Hmmm! What's This?

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice - For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It’ll be done within a year. {might be a little while}
4. You will have no clue what it’s going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or maybe even some creation I haven’t even invented yet. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. I may even sew something for you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on YOUR blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.

How does our Garden Grow?

We finally got our garden planted last Saturday.  We planted some tomatoes, onions, peppers, lettuce, squash, beans, peas, zucchini, cucumbers, etc.  Here is a picture of the radishes.  Very fun.  Thanks mom & dad Asay for playing in the dirt with us.  

As a side note... we did not encounter any frogs this year.  And after a class with Claire at the nature center, I learned that it was a toad not a frog.

From the Post-Bulletin

Students in Bridget's Dance Conservatory earn awards

5/21/2009 8:40:02 AM

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=400514 

Dancers from Bridget's Dance Conservatory received a number of awards throughout this competition season, attending three competitions overall. Results from the year are:

The Junior Company, ages 9-14, received two platinum, one high gold, nostalgia award, most entertaining, creative character, the ghouls just wanna have fun award and the highest score of the day for a jazz routine, as well as two high gold awards and one gold award for a lyrical routine. Dancers are: Hannah Bergstrom, Megan Fleiner, Rachael Bernand, Madison Klein, Shayla Pacholl, Emily Grav, Alayna Loveland, Caleb Asay, Chance Mikkelson, Garrin Loveland and McKenzie Beckel.

The Petite Company, ages 6-9, received three high gold awards, the most entertaining award and highest score of the day in that age group for a jazz routine. Dancers are; Johanna Shamp, Eli Asay, Alex Jovaag, Carma Sheehan, Raevian MacIntosh, Chloe Sheehan, Salma Masood, Olivia Bernand, Victoria Ryg, Marissa Baker, Hannah Bergene and Hallie Bergene.

Senior Company, ages 13-18, competed with a jazz routine, which received two high gold awards and one platinum award; the group also earned three high gold awards and the highest score for senior small groups for a lyrical routine. Dancers are: Emily Loveland, Alyssa Ofstedahl, Amanda Grav, Maggie Chidester, Danielle LeDoux, Danielle Tschann, Astasia Wallis, Jasmin Hultgren, Julia Dudley, Laura Jacobs and Kelsey Poshusta.

The Company Tap routine received two high gold awards, one platinum award and the classy award. Dancers are: Emily Grav, Amanda Grav, Hannah Bergstrom, Madison Klein, McKenzie Beckel, Megan Fleiner, Danielle LeDoux, Kelsey Poshusta, Jasmin Hultgren, Garrin Loveland, Chance Mikkelson, Athena Hansen, Shayla Pacholl, Rachael Bernand and Astasia Wallis.

Solo, duet and trio awards went to: Emily Loveland, platinum award; Alyssa Ofstedahl, gold, high gold and platinum; Maggie Craven, high gold and second highest score of the day; Maggie Chidester, two high golds and one gold; Amanda Grav, two golds, one high gold; Kelsey Poshusta, three gold; Whitney Blowers, three high gold; Rachael Bernand, two gold and one high gold; Hannah Bergstrom and Megan Fleiner, two high gold, one gold and high score; Athena Hansen, two gold and high gold; Madison Klein and McKenzie Beckel, two gold and one high silver; Laney Hoag and Caleb Asay, platinum, two high gold, Class Act, Best Technique, Dynamic Duo and selected as Power Pak performers; McKenzie Beckel, two gold and one high gold; Laney Hoag, two high gold, one gold award, second highest score and Ms. Junior Ultimate Dance title; Olivia Bernand and Carma Sheehan, one high gold and two high silver; Chloe Sheehan, Salma Masood and Alex Jovaag, one high gold, two gold and two highest scores; David Albino and Barbara Dudley, three high gold, highest score and Intensity award; Caleb Asay, Eli Asay and Laney Hoag, chosen for dance fashion show.

A recital will be held at 7 p.m. June 13 in Austin High School's Knowlton Auditorium to showcase the students' routines. Tickets will be available at the door or in advance at the studio, on Main Street next to Ryjor Bike Shop.

HAY!

I was driving home one day and saw this.  I think this guy had a bad day.  OOPS!

Just for fun!

So, I am doing this because I can.  My sister Amber is in Costa Rica, and my sister Misty has her children.  Amber copied Misty's blog, so I thought I would also post it.  Just for fun.  Amber's comments are in all CAPS, the others are Misty's, and I won't comment.  Here is what they have to say.  I love you guys.

I am totally just going to copy her blog post for you. :) Here is what she has to say and a ton pf pictures she has taken... From this point on my comments will be in all CAPS.

HERE IS WHAT MISTY, MY SISTER, HAS TO SAY ABOUT HER WEEKEND THUS FAR WITH MY KIDS...

My sister and her hubby are in Costa Rica right now (AHHH YEAH!!), so I have the first shift of watching her kids. I brought them back to our house so we could hang out with Phil. He had several things going on this weekend so he couldn't come out with us. Anyhow, here are several pictures from today. We went to the park across the street and had some fun out there. The 3 big kids went back to the park while the little boys napped. I set myself up on the corner where I still had reception on the monitor and could see the kids at the park. After a visit from Grandma, Grandpa and Joslyn we went to a local water park. Little did we know there was a festival going on down town so it was packed! We still had fun, though! I think (hope) we're looking at early bedtimes tonight because if they feel at all like me, everyone should be pooped! Here a million picture (I'm hoping my sister will check my blog while she's gone so she can see her kiddos) THANK YOU! THEY TOTALLY MAKE ME SMILE! AND I MISS MY SWEET LITTLE RUGRATS!!

D on the slide
I AM THINKING IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR A HAIR CUT SOON!


J unhappy about being at the park - he eventually enjoyed it!
MAN, I DON'T MISS THAT LOOK, I SEE IT WAY TOO OFTEN. ;) LOL!
LOVE YOU, J!


A pushing D around in a circle
AHH--D LOOKS LIKE HE IS ENJOYING HIMSELF!
THANKS, A, FOR BEING SO HELPFUL!


D caught more speed than A thought he would coming down the slide
ROFL!! HAHAHA


J pushing S around in circles
WHAT A HELPFUL BIG BROTHER! AWESOME!


S avoiding the camera
SO SHE DOESN'T JUST DO THAT TO ME.


A and S walking Ty home
LOVE THAT! :)


Pre-lunch snack. Yes, I fed them from the floor!
GASP, SHOCK AND HORROR! LOL!!


What Ty thinks of our house guests. He really is having a harder time than anyone else. I guess it's good that he's getting used to om not being totally wrapped up in him since that will be our life in a few months!
HE LOOKS TOTALLY HAPPY HERE! :)


At the water park
MY LITTLE FISHIES!!


J, A, S in front of the spouting volcano/submarine/whale?


S making a run for it while J and A get soaked!
OH MY GOSH! THAT CRACKS ME UP. RUN, S, RUN!! :)


The park
WOW! WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE SOMETHING COOL LIKE THAT WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP!


D content by the side. He never did move too far from this spot.
WHAT A SILLY LITTLE NUT!
WAS HE CONTENT OR JUST NERVOUS?


Ty running around
ADORABLE AS ALWAYS!


Phil and Ty
THANKS GUYS, FOR SHARING YOUR WIFE/MOM WITH US. :)


All of us, minus Phil
GOOD TIMES!


Fiona and D. No, I don't know Fiona. However, she came and stood in front of Tyler for about a minute and they just looked at each other. Later on she came and just sat next to D. I thought I should get a picture of her. She is very cute!
KISS THAT LITTLE BOY FOR ME! SIGH!

AND THEN SOME MORE FROM MISTY... SHE IS A BETTER BLOGGER ABOUT MY KIDS THAN I AM. HAHA!

Apparently, the night wasn't quite over! I realized it was time for all the kids to take baths. I put the 2 girls in our tub with the jets and then took the little boys into the other bathroom. We told them they could have a jetted bath, or a bubble bath but not both. I thought the girls sounded like they were having way too much fun, and, I was right! Here are some pictures from the evening. Who would've thought I needed to keep a closer eye on the two older ones? Needless to say, when J saw what they had done, he HAD to join in on the fun! Enjoy the pictures!

Little boys playing nicely
SO CUTE! I HOPE THEY ARE GETTING ALONG.


D with soap in his hair
DANG--HOW CUTE IS THAT LITTLE GUY!


Oh yeah! Check it out!
ROCK ON TY! LOVE THE HAWK!


Caught!!! It's a good thing I came in when I did - we almost had a tub overflow. Those bubbles just keep getting bigger and bigger!
RUH ROH! SNEAKY SNEAKERSONS!
HAHAHA!! THEY LOVE THEIR BUBBLE BATHS!


The Culprit!
GUILTY INDEED!


The accomplice
I AM THINKING SHE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN THE
MASTER PLANNER PLANNER OF THIS EVENT, BUT NOW HIDES
UNDER THE GUISE OF ACCOMPLICE. ;)


Couldn't pass up the opportunity!
TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION! THAT'S MY BOY!

THANK YOU MISTY, FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF THEM, YOU ARE BRAVE BRAVE WOMAN TO VENTURE OUT WITH ALL OF THEM. LOL!! REMEMBER TO THREATEN THEM WITH THE GIFTS FROM US IF THEY ARE MISBEHAVING! LOL! AND SMOOCH THEM ALL FOR ME. :)

WE ARE WELL AND HAVING FUN! SEE YOU ALL SOON! :)

Claire's Quote of the Day

Today Claire said to me, "Everywhere I go there is a stinky smell."  I told her maybe it was her.  She replied, "Oh, yeah!"  I told her she probably needed a bath, and she agreed.

Our New Toys

Brett and I have been researching new computers.  We decided that we would get a MacBook.  We wanted to see and play with it firsts, so after one of the competitions, we went to the Mall of America to the Apple Store.  There we were able to ask questions, and have some hands on instructions.  So, this is my new toy!  The children think I am addicted to it, which is quite possible.  Brett worries about my computer because I take it everywhere with me.  I can't help it, there are so many possibilities with it, and I never know when I might need it. Before we left, Brett got a new toy, too.  He got an ipod, touch.  We have a bunch of free games on it, and I take his toy with me, too.  They really are a lot of fun, and we are enjoying them.

Picture Links

The picture linked is the first in the group, just scroll through them to see the boys.

Caleb's duet:

http://midweststarz.smugmug.com/gallery/8033452_L7mXz#522861903_s5wWU

Eli's dance:

http://midweststarz.smugmug.com/gallery/8035431_7ZpK2#523074378_4Hbr3

...  I cannot get it to come up.  I hope it works for you.

Caleb's lyrical:

http://midweststarz.smugmug.com/gallery/8047618_vXYPS#524109838_83zKP

Caleb's Thriller:

http://midweststarz.smugmug.com/gallery/8049167_75Ti9#524207054_rcUAy

Competitions Completed

So, we are finished with competitions... at least for now.  We did three of them this month, and it made for a long month.  I am blogging from my new computer, so I have had to steal pictures from other sources as I do not have my own pictures on here yet, and I am too lazy to go downstairs and do this.

Here is how we ended up:

Caleb & Laney's ballet duet got 2 high golds and one platinum.  They got a dynamic duo award, a technique award, power pack invitation and were invited to go to a national competition and do a dance "camp" for a week, and they had a lot of fun together.

Eli's group got three high golds, and an award for being the "most entertaining."

Check out the pictures of Eli at this site.  http://midweststarz.smugmug.com/gallery/8035431_7ZpK2#523074378_4Hbr3

Caleb's "Thriller" dance got one high gold and 2 platinum awards.  They tied with Eli's "Funkytown" for the most entertaining, got a theatrical award, and got a few other awards.  I think Bridget will be taking this dance to NATIONALS!
Here he is with his group, and his friend Megan.
His group lyrical dance got 3 high golds.  The did really well.

All in all it was a good season.  It was just long with three of the four weekends away at competitions.  MY HOUSE IS A DISASTER.  I am paying for it now.