Love/Hate

I have a love/hate relationship with the kitchen in this house we are renting. I love that it is so old and I hate that it is so old.

The cupboards and drawers are metal...which has been a perfect place to display all of the art work Drew has made for us.

The fridge is one of those old fridges that has the freezer inside, so about once a month I have to beat the s#!t out of with a hammer it to defrost it.

The stove, I think is older than all of my blog readers...it has to be from the 1950s, it is humgo and no matter how many times I've cleaned it top to bottom, after almost two years here, I still feel like it isn't clean enough.

The floor, well it is that old aluminum flooring, you know with all the specks in it. Which, I must say, is great because it hides the dirt and sand well, but that is the same reason I hate it.
Earlier today a box of Nerds was spilt on the floor, no big deal right? I don't know how many times I swept, and because of the specks, I would miss some and five minutes later step on one. For something so small they sure hurt the bottom of your feet. I finally got down on my hands and knees till I made sure everyone of them was off the floor.

Now for the sink, it is porcelain, which I love because it is easy to clean and I just love the whiteness of it. However, my sink and my dishes have battled and the sink usually wins.
If a dish is dropped too hard it will break or chip. I've lost two drinking glasses and 5 desert plates. Do you think God is trying to tell me something by killing my desert plates?

May

I hate begging for people to have Pampered Chef shows, so this will be the only time I do it...that is unless you are family or close friends.

May is "Whip Into Cancer" month. Part of the proceeds from your show will be donated to the American Cancer Society to help find a cure for breast cancer. I'm sure we have all know someone that has won the fight or lost the fight to breast cancer and we all know that we NEED a cure.

Please help in finding a cure by hosting a cook show or having a book show. If you are interested please email me at mpingel.pamperedchef@yahoo.com

Megan

Surprise Visitor

Last Friday, I had a surprise knock on my door, one of those great surprises that makes you shake and cry and smile from ear to ear.

The year that I was in The Netherlands, I made an amazing friend, one of those friends you can spill your beans too, one of those friends you can go a month or two with out talking to and it doesn't seem to have been that long.

The second week I arrived in Holland I was sent to Stadskanaal for a two week language school, where I would learn the basics...the ABCs, how to say thank you, your welcome, and so on. Since I was sponsored by the Rotary, every exchange student that was sponsored by the Rotary, that came that time of year was sent to Stadskanaal. Since there were so many of us they put two of us per house, and I was blessed to have Amanda as my room mate. Through out that year would we get together every other month for a Rotary weekend and we did our final tour though Europe together. But, we saw each other more than that, she was my friend that I leaned on when I learned my parents were divorcing and when I was with a family that I absolutely hated.

Now we are friends till the end. The last time I had seen her was five and a half years ago when she stood up with me tas a bridesmaid at my wedding. It was great to see her. The visit was short, but I'll take what I can get!

Kalahari

That Wednesday, following Easter, we went to the Kalahari Resort at the Dells. I must say if you get a chance to go, you should go. We parked the van about 1:30 on Wednesday and it stayed in that same spot until we left Friday around 2:00, everything we needed was at the resort.

It was great, it had an indoor and outdoor water park, a theme park, two arcades, a big play center, 5 or 6 restaurants, and so much more. We really enjoyed ourselves and it was a wonderful break.

I didn't want to take my camera down to the water park so there aren't too many of those.

Just Around The Resort










At the arcade


At the indoor water park

Easter

I am finally catching up. We've been so busy and Ty broke the computer so I hate even getting on now. I'm even behind in my blog reading.

Here are some pictures from Easter at Grandma and Papa Buddy's house (which would be my Mom and Bill) and our house and then Grandma and Papa Sadie's house (Jeremy's parents). Our week was pretty busy...it started Saturday the boys and I went to Galena to Mom's house (Jeremy was working) and we celebrated Izzy and Ally's birthdays and then went to the Easter egg hunt. On Sunday we woke to find the Easter bunny had visited and later that afternoon we headed to Cedar Rapids to Bob and Deb's. Josh and Jill were home from San Diego and we stayed there till Tuesday afternoon. What we did the rest of the week will come in a later post.

I think this is the first year Drew sat on the Easter Bunny's lap since his second Easter. And, this year Ty jumped out of his lap as soon as possible.



Ty showing off his eggs

Drew got a new bike

And for Ty a slide

Drew showing off an egg he found

Ty was way too busy to find the eggs...he wanted what was inside of them

And at Grandma and Papa Sadie's house the boys were busy...
Flying a kite

Hula Hooping

Playing with the ball

Playing with Sadie

Letting Aunt Jill blow bubbles for them to pop

And playing with Ella




And this last photo...well it's just for some laughs!

Updates

Okay, I am behind...I have so many things to post about, I just haven't gotten the time, but it is one of my goals to do this week.

Have a great week!