Ufdah!

We've been busy, busy, busy. The past two week-ends we were to Minneapolis. The week-end before last, we brought down the pig we butchered and also left Rachel to stay with our Solomon Island friends. Last week-end we had our first Solomon Island Independence Celebration there in Bloomington. There were about 40 people that we served "motu" (stone/earth baked) pork, barbequed chicken, coconut rice, cassava, sweet potato, "island" or Asian yam, taro, pineapple..."evri kaikai blong Solomon nao." Solomon Islanders came from Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Florida. Another had been in American Samoa and happened to be visiting at his sister and brother-in-law's in Minneapolis to help with the kids when his sister went back to the Solomon's for a month. She didn't make it but her husband, children and brother did! He is leaving this week to go back to Hawaii and then American Samoa where he teaches Science in the high school. About half of the people there were kids under 14! Of course, when islanders get together we stay up and talk into the wee hours, so we are all exhausted from the cooking, story-telling and, as you can imagine, non-stop laughing. We had a great time.

On the way down to the Cities I picked up Wilson at Camp Wilderness. He was there for the week at Boy Scout camp, as probably the oldest new recruit ever. His scout leader asked him to be SPL (Scout Patrol Leader). When I picked him up I was told by the Area Director that they were very impressed with the leadership he displayed. He had a great time and looks forward to more events and opportunities with the Scouts. I was happy to hear how he stepped up to be SPL and took it seriously, never missing a meeting, encouraging his buddy ( a younger new recruit who has trouble building relationships), and coming alongside the Chaplain to lead the Scouts in morning prayer at the flag. Proud Mama.

Kajsa and Rosie didn't come down with us to the the Cities, but stayed home with Grandpa. Kajsa had her last two games of the season, and now we go to the district championships in Coon Rapids, so I'll be heading down to the Cities again this week-end with her. Wilson's tournament will be here in Detroit Lakes, so Sailasa and he will be here this week-end. Kajsa's team is ranked 1st in their division. Those girls are very excited and practicing hard for their upcoming games.

Well, final confession. The kids haven't done any...any...school work. Rosie read Elsie Dinsmore, Kajsa read Boomtown!, and Wilson read his Bible and Scout handbook (the only books he brought to camp). Rachel didn't bring one book, even to read in the car, and just played, played, played all week! Oh! She just told me she wrote a story. That counts :)

Well, gals. I was really on the ball, "up and at 'em", ate negative calories (well, the food was cooked in a hole!) and ....okay, I'll do better this week.

This is Levi posting from Tonya's house because I'm down here playing games with the cousins. This week I got a lot of tomatoes from my garden. I fixed my tiller. I made the most delicious pickles from my cucumbers (Tonya says "Most delicious"). I did Latin and Greek every day and I finished all of my schoolwork every day. This was a first. The End.

Stennes here. We have been doing a lot of Latin lately because we have been observed so much by college students. I have done some Greek and I understand it a lot better after Mom and I read through the chapters together up to where I am. My garden is producing some cherry tomatoes and yellow pear tomatoes and the chickens are doing fine. This coming week I need to be more steady in math. I need to do more Greek, too. Latin is going well, but I would like to do more on my own.

Hi, it's The Girl. I have been reading in English and in Spanish. I did a little of Greek and Latin. My favorite is both of them. Ha ha! I hope Mommy will buy me a new math workbook so I can do more. I need to finish my reading books, practice piano and keep my room clean.

Branch now. I am holding a lizard now but I'll let him go in a minute. We're planning our trip to Minnesota in two weeks. I am excited. I haven't done much school this week. I need to do more and practice more violin. I have cherry tomatoes in my garden.

Hi, it's Josiah. Right now some of our cousins are here and we're playing Stratego. I have watermelons, cucumbers, canteloupe, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and squash in my garden (plants, anyway). I hope they produce a lot. This week in school I improved a lot in Latin and in Greek. Many people have come to observe us lately.

Tonya's turn now. We have been busy, busy, busy. The Patriotic Performances are finished, so that's a relief. We're getting excited about our upcoming vacation. Next week we're planning on doing as much school (push, push, push!) as we can, then do a major Spring Clean/Pack-a-Thon for our vacation. It would be lovely to wrap up "little" books and leave the house ready to move back in when we return. We're doing the best we can, I suppose, but sometimes life can be a bit overwhelming. As the kids said, we've had quite a few people in the home completing their observation hours. Kind of throws things off a bit. On the good side, though, we've been doing our Latin because that's what I teach when we're being observed. Anyhow, I'm looking forward to "lying low" next week and hope that we can get back into a good groove (at least for a week) before we throw things off again with the vacation.

Anders here. We bought a nice little used camper last week. I did a bit of Greek and Latin. There are large watermelon plants in my garden. Next week I need to do lots more school work.

4th of July! YEAH!!

Wilson here. I read chapter 9 in Greek a few times, trying to understand and memorize it all. I did a chapter in Math and did Latin with Kajsa and Rosie. The Soccer season is over, but there is a tournament on the 16th of July. Tomorrow, Kajsa, Rosie, Grandpa and I are going to Lake Ida to celebrate the 4th of July. Mom, Dad, Rachel, Eddie, and the Bunny are at Minneapolis for to visit some Solomon Island friends. Mom, Dad, and Eddie will be back tomorrow and we will meet them at Lake Ida. Sunday, I'll go to camp Wilderness for Boy Scouts. It'll last for 1 week. C'ya.

Hi Everyone. This week was busy like usual. I had a soccer game in a small town called Mennewoska. It looks so big, but it is mostly a lake. I think that the lake is bigger than the town. In Latin I did translating, and learned new words. Same in Greek. In the garden every thing is growing. Corn, onions, peas, beans, weeds.... so on so forth. We are going Leroy and Sharon's lake for the 4th. I can't wait. Rachel is spending the 4th at her friends house in Minneapolis. That's my update. Goodnight. Kajsa
Hi all. I did some Latin, Greek, and Greek Copy work. A few days ago some people came and got permission to put their trailers on the lawn. They were working on the road. This week Mommy, Grandpa, Rachel, Eddie, and I went fishing. Mommy and Rachel did the best at catching the fish, I caught one fish big enough to eat Mommy caught a bass and a sunfish, Rachel caught two or three sunfish. That's all for now, bye.

Okay, I've decided that I just like making a grand entrance. Teresa here, late as usual. We're bumping along amongst the company, garden, and chores. Nothing too exciting, but we're trying to be as steady as possible. We've been consistent with the 3 R's and about 15 min. daily on Greek and likewise with Latin. We still don't have the Lord's Prayer in Greek totally memorized; next week!

It's quite warm down here and I certainly sympathize with the migrant workers in the fields. All the camps are full, so we're trying to go out several times per week.

This week it is my goal to do better on #4.