Lesson 28: Back Extension

If you don't like where the back wall is, just move it.
(As you can see, the back wall used to be just a few feet from where it is now.)

It only took three men to move it before lunch time.

Daddy Dan put it best when he said, "There's nothing we haven't tried on this house!"



More pictures....

the front of the house

cleaning out the window wells in the basement

the patio door off the kitchen

the tiny window in Jack's tiny nursery

the back of the house

john on the roof

the beginning signs of plumbing

Husband on a White Horse

My husband was definitely my hero on Tuesday night. I came home from my sister-in-law's prepared to spend an hour or two doing school work on my laptop. But, to my dismay, that was not going to happen. My laptop battery died and the adapter (which has been mighty persnickity lately) would not seem to connect to the computer in order to charge it up again.

I panicked.

My laptop was supposed to play a big role in my life at work the next day. I had a power point I'd promised to show my 4th grade group, online videos to access for the professional development class I teach after school, and work to revise for my portfolio.

My emotional nerves were shot and my hormonal, pregnant self was reduced to tears.

Enter my husband hero.

Instead of practicing his guitar, watching his Beatles Netflix video, or listening to the Beastie Boys, Nathan spent hours searching online for a new adapter that wouldn't cost us an arm and a leg (no easy task). Then, before work Wednesday morning, he headed to a local business and purchased the adapter, drove across town to deliver it to me at school before my lesson, and even personally plugged everything together to make sure it worked.

The icing on the cake... he purchased the adapter we needed (which sold for $89.99 + shipping online) for a mere $11.

He certainly is my knight in shining armor!

Welcome to the world,
Elias Jude Wentorf-Lantz!

Baby Shower Pictures on Belly Chat!

Updated House Pictures

Isn't it pretty?!

Long Overdue...

Becca, the winner of the book giveaway, made her book choice and I was able to deliver it to her personally this past weekend. She chose The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Enjoy, Becca! It's a great book!

Also, Lauren was the only commenter on the post about the book Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls so she wins that book by default!

I hope both girls enjoy their new books, and I hope everybody out there keeps reading...

February Brunch Bunch

We had a mini baby shower for Erin

Hard to believe Erin is due in 2 weeks and I'm due in 2 months, isn't it?

Sadly, we didn't think to take the picture until after Becca had already left! :(

Dinner at Shera's

shannon, marika, shera, amber

Daddy Dan Eating Lunch in our Dining Room!

Lesson 27: Front Door

The easiest entrance to get in and out of is one that doesn't yet have a door!

Deep Thoughts by a Second Grader

"If you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself?"

Brady by Jean Fritz

Early in this gentle novel, Brady, a pastor’s son, stumbles upon a neighbor’s Underground Railroad “station” while playing in the woods with a friend. When Brady, unable to keep a secret, shares his discovery with his family, he is surprised by their reaction. Unsure of his own feelings about slavery, Brady begins to notice the tension between those around him who are on opposite sides of the controversial issue. Then Brady stumbles across an even bigger secret related to the Underground Railroad and, while proving he can keep this secret, he begins to sort out his own feelings about slavery and eventually Brady proves that he can do a “man’s work”.

I read this book with a group of 5th grade students for the Battle of the Books competition in April. This novel was simple and well-written. Many student readers will certainly enjoy this one, however it is not very exciting and may not be powerful or interesting enough to draw in those kids who are not big readers or do not enjoy the historical fiction genre. Of the five students in the group I worked with (all big readers), three kiddos said they liked the book and two admitted that they did not.

Working Hard...