Girl Scout cookies are done!

We had our last booth sale in the freezing cold tonight. We sold our last 18 boxes of cookies. We only have a few more to deliver this week. We took our deposit to the troop and now I can sleep at night.

Girl Scout cookies for sale

Jamie went door to door the first weekend selling girl scout cookies. This Friday she went to my work and delivered several boxes to my coworkers. We have about 18 boxes left and one more booth sale at Walgreens on Sunday afternoon. Last Sunday we chose Petco's booth so we could visit Michelle. We went to lunch at Wendy's afterwards. It has been very busy lately. Finally got James to download the camera phone.

Teacher Talent Show

Jamie's 5th grade teachers dressed up with one silver glove each and danced to Michael Jackson hits. Mrs. Coppola and Mrs. Fleming posed with Jamie afterwards. Mrs. Clements was behind the window/door. Mrs. Carstenson was out sick so the Jackson 5 was only 4. Mr. T danced with them. The school was packed.

Readathon update Day 5

Jamie finished her 4 books of the Percy Jackson series and a boy in her class asked her if she had the 5th one. He is letting her borrow it for the weekend. Tonight we just happened to have the ticket for the seat next to him at the teacher talent show. I looked at the calendar at 7 pm thinking what did I forget and there it was - so we ran out the door. It was a lot of fun. James stayed home with Anne this year.

Readathon update - Day 3

Jamie is reading about a book a day - with school and homework - that's pretty good. She just went over the 1,000 page mark tonight. Michelle came over so they talked about books. Jamie just finished reading the Percy Jackson Lightning Thief book so Michelle is borrowing it. Michelle wants to go see the movie. Book club talked about it but I'm not sure - we prefer books!

Readathon Day 1

Day 1 - Jamie read 410 pages

More Great Grandpa stories told at the airport

Mom and Dad would take everything out of the back room built over the garage and have square dancing there. Sometimes it lasted till 4 AM and dad had to be at work by 6 AM. They danced to records but one time a caller came with his wife. He called and danced at the same time.

In high school dad wrote an autobiography that the teacher thought so much of she used it as an example for the next several years. She was impressed that anyone had done so much at such a young age. One of the things he wrote about was a bully that wouldn’t get out of his club house. Dad locked him in the underground club house while a fire was burning and he almost suffocated . He never bother him again.

In high school dad had a $1000 bill in his wallet. Any time someone asked to borrow money he would give it to them. Their jaw would drop as they would hand it back to dad.

Mom’s sister died when she was about five years old and she got to hold the coffin in the hearse on the way to the funeral. She thought it was an honor.

Readathon

Jamie begins a readathon on Monday for 12 days. And she needs sponsors! She has all her books laid out and ready.

Middle School

I met the middle school principal today, Mrs. Cartwright. There are a lot of choices and opportunities. Jamie is very excited and came home to tell me all the plans she has made. She wants to take Dance, Theater, Choir - maybe depending on band tryouts this weekend, and she gets to take all the languages - Spanish, French, German and Chinese I think it was. She wants to be in the Green House club and earn community service hours. I can't believe I have a kid going to middle school next year and that we have to make the choices now. WOW! Lord guide us.

Girl Scout cookies

Today is the official start date of girl scout cookie sales. Anyone interested who doesn't have a local girl scout, let me know. I got orders from all the ladies at work today. A few family members signed up - but 2 of my best customers from last year are on a diet. I let Jamie load up the wagon and we went up the street knocking on doors - mainly people we met this year. We were gone for an hour and sold 5 boxes. 2 were sold to a man who saw us walking and pulled over in his truck. Crazy! But Jamie was so excited - jumping up and down. We have booth sales the next 2 weekends. One is at Petco in Great Hills where my niece works so hope to see her and drop off her cookies too. It is going to be busy.

Lost a tooth

Jamie complained about her tooth bleeding for two days. She finally lost it the 3rd day while eating our seashell oyster/pearl cookie experiment. haha

Even more Great Grandpa stories

John & Bill Stevenhagen and Andy Slaybaugh were his good fishing buddies. They went to Canada and were on the last paved road in the area. They stopped at a place to ask where to go fishing. They were flying to a spot about 100 miles up into Canada anyway so the four of them went along. They had a great week of fishing for under $100 each. It was the end of the season and the plane was bringing back stuff to close out the place. They left just ahead of an approaching storm that snowed in the area for the winter season. They bought some fish in town for 25cents a pound to bring back. One of the guys took his ¼ of the fish and just through it into the trash. Mad dad really upset to have that much food go to waste. Andy Slaybaugh died shortly after this trip.

Royce Ones and dad built a cabin in Canada. They took two boats to town and lashed the wood on the boats and took it to the site. They built the frame and roof in one trip.

One time there was three feet of snow and extremely cold temperatures. The guys ate the fish they caught to survive since they couldn’t get into town to get more food. When it was time to go home the took four different batteries to start the vehicle. It was so cold the gas froze in the carburetor and the vehicle kept misfiring. It took them all day to drive the 40 miles into town. Thankfully the vehicle didn’t stop or they would of all frozen to death. No one else was out on the roads that day.

Royce and his wife went fishing one time with dad and the next week Hodstone and his wife came to fish. Dad always cleaned all the fish for everyone so he just stayed the whole time.

The time dad got his hands burnt with 400 volts of electricity they looked charred to the bone. He held his hands out the window in the cold January weather because that helped num the pain on the way to the hospital. Once he got there everyone was working on him and it was a nurse who saved his hands by putting them in swirling water. Eventually new skin began to grow so they decided not to cut them off.

Dad might have taught Maggie’s grandpa how to fly during the war.

Dad attended 8 years of Catholic school, 4 years of high school and one year of college. He didn’t like any of it.

He made a croquet set and planes of balsam wood as toys when he was young.

His favorite place to go is Las Vegas.

More Great Grandpa stories

Some of the stories Great Grandpa Helms shared with Grandma Jacky, his daughter, follow:

During middle school and high school he sold eggs door to door for 8 doz. for a dollar or one cent @. He saved $5000 by the time he got married and it paid for their first home.

He attended a Catholic grade school through 8th grade and the nuns would take a ruler and hit the inside of your hands if you were bad.

When he was about 12, he had a new Fluger Rod and Reel which he wanted to try but his dad was busy with his friends so he took Glenny, his younger brother, fishing in the row boat. Glenny could not row the boat so dad would let out line and row the boat away from the spot, sort of trolling. He caught a huge fish and had a very hard time getting it into the boat. Finally he put his hand into the mouth (he got his hand bloody) and pulled it into the boat. The big fish kept flopping around so dad put the anchor on it to keep it from overturning the boat or jumping back into the water. He proudly took his catch back to his dad who didn't believe he had caught it because it was so big.

Dickerhoof had an apple orchard behind our old property and dad would pick the apples and have them pressed at the cider mill. He got barrels of cider which he put in a cooler by the road and sold for a dollar a gallon.

There were also celery patches near us. After they were harvested dad would go get what was left behind and mom would have all the celery they could use.

He was fortunate to own a Road master Bicycle. He got $5 a week which were good wages back then. Milk was ten cents a gallon; bread five cents a loaf; gasoline was eight gallons for a dollar. He would get a quarter's worth. Dad got a 32 Chevy for $50 dollars when he was 17 or 18 years old. When he was drafted into the army he sold it for a fifty dollar war bond to an uncle who used it for another four years. New cars sold for $600. His first new car cost $1000.

First day of school during recess, he thought it was over so he went home. Teacher didn't know where he was or what happened to him. He had a phone in their home which was a rarity back then and he got in trouble in school passing out his phone number to other students. Phones were black and very heavy back then and you dialed by turning a wheel on top.

He was in a club which took lots of field trips hunting and fishing. It was the Jr. Isaac Walton League.

He walked in the Nimisilla Lake area just as the dam was being built.

He thinks he still has the five horsepower Everue fishing motor from Grandpa Helms in Michigan somewhere in his garage. He used to go on vacation to Michigan and the place had an outside shower and outhouse. One time the family had just arrived and taken in their cloths when Grandma called and said Jacky (a small baby at the time) was very sick in the hospital. They loaded the car and came right back home.

Katy Kansas was where ½ sister lived. Grandma remarried and had one girl then died. Grandma got sick from drinking well water. The Helmses lived out of Noblesville Indiana on a vacant farm. They all got typhoid fever and died except for Glenn and his mom. Her father died when she was six years old (Dad Berkwart.)

Anna Berger's, (Glenn Helms Wife and James Helms mom) grandpa came over from Germany. They had a farm in Rittman Ohio at the top of a steep grade and the model T had trouble getting to the top of the hill.

Painting Walls

Great Grandpa Helms and Grandma Jacky came over this morning and helped paint Jamie's room. Neither of them were feeling well so they went home early. Daddy saved a small section for Jamie to make a memory. Now the hard part, putting it all back in after the paint dries. Jamie has been sleeping in the living room on her mattress on the floor. Anne loves jumping on the bed with her.

Orange Dots/Family Purpose

The teachers were giving away Orange Dot shirts so Jamie grabbed one for Anne. The class will be merging with the boys - Knights of Grace class in February to become Club 56. I have been praying hard the last few months for Jamie's future spouse. And we have been praying for guidance for the right church and how we should be serving God - what is our family's purpose. Grace Covenant Church is really into serving and a lot of families we have met are missionaries. We plan on going to Mission Possible - Church under the bridge on January 31st - Lord willing - to show the kids how to help the homeless. A step up from handing out snack bags on the corner. Trying to look for teaching moments. There are lots of opportunities but knowing what is the best one. We are not going to Sunday or Wednesday night programs this semester. Stepping back and reevaluating our quiet time as a family.

Relaxing

We put my chaise lounge back in the living room and we really needed a lamp so we can read. I remembered my seashell lamp in the closet but we need a lampshade. Jamie and I picked out a scalloped one this weekend. We love being able to read with light now!

Weaving on a Loom

The last 2 Friday afternoons Jamie has been learning to weave on a loom at Grandma's house.

Mimi's cafe

We took Jamie to Mimi's cafe today for making honor roll. They had great food - we ordered the pumpkin pancake breakfast. I posted earlier on facebook instead of my blog without photos-sorry for duplicate info.

Anniversary

James finally downloaded both my camera phones so I'm trying to catch up. On New Year's Eve James got up at midnight and watched the ball drop with me and we toasted with Pumpkin Eggnog - my new favorite drink. Then we went to the Roaring Fork a few days later on that Saturday. It was a pretty place on the water but very expensive even for lunch. Used Christmas $ this time; will use gift card next time - maybe Red Lobster for a Valentine's lunch. Time goes by so fast. Anyway, James ordered a huge hamburger which he split with me and it was really good. I ordered 1/2 chicken and we made tacos out of it with fresh avocado. Me of all people eating something green. haha Made up for it by splitting a brownie and ice cream.

American Girl visit

Last Saturday we had friends over for dinner and the little girl wore an American Girl - Kirsten dress that has been handed down in their family. We had packed up all the dolls before Christmas to make room for the tree. We will have to play again another day with dolls. The kids - including her 2 brothers - had fun playing with all the horses.

Princess Anne

Anne is growing up and learning so much. She is enjoying puzzles from work with different shapes and she loves the magnetic board I found with Noah's ark and all the animals. She is learning how to climb up on her princess bed. Hope she will be able to use it by summertime and share a room with Jamie. The Sunday School teacher commented on how smart Anne is - she knows the sign for "more" to ask for more cheerios at snacktime. She also sings ABC - she is learning the song from her fridge DJ she got for Christmas. She is so BIG!

Pictures

As most of you know, I am a picture person. I have 10 years of family photos several of which are framed from past birthdays and Christmases. Great Grandpa hung up a lot of them for me last week in the front entryway. Yeah! Now they are up off the floor so Anne can't knock them over anymore.

Painting

We are finally painting Jamie's room - one year later! We wanted to do it during Christmas break but Anne was sick and we had to wait. With Great Grandpa here, we have been trying to think of projects he could help with. We took out almost everything from Jamie's room this week except her bed, dresser, and bookcase. James went to Home Depot this morning and picked up the paint. There was a sale on today and lines were long. I took the kids shopping at Walmart while he painted the ceiling - light blue. Monday we all have the day off and Grandpa is coming over to help paint the walls; she requested light pink. Jamie is so happy. I thought of our friend Tracy and how she came over to teach me how to paint many years ago when we did Jamie's room at our 1st house in VA. Good memories!

Shine Your Sink

Flylady's January habit is always Shine Your Sink! The sink and the counter next to it have been staying clean so far this month. Babysteps!

Attic Sleepover

Last night Jamie spent the night with about 20 other 5th and 6th grade girls in the Attic at church. They played games, drank hot chocolate (pouring down rain outside), ate junk food and watched 2 movies. She didn't get much sleep so she is napping now.

Mother Daughter Book Club

Jamie and I spent 2 hours at school while she worked on seashell research for her science project. Then we went to the mother daughter book club last night at the library. We read the Princess Academy together and really enjoyed it. There was one really scary part which kept us reading all night to finish it. We took a princess etiquette test. We got to wear princess tiaras and later the girls balanced books on their heads while walking for a laugh. We had cinnamon rolls and fruit for a snack. Anne was really good and read books.

Dog update

I talked to my niece Monday night and their vet said yes he has an ear infection but here's the medicine. He did not feel he needed surgery. He also gave him his rabies shot. Glad we got a 2nd opinion. Glad they are out of the extreme cold also - even though today it warmed up some.

Dogs

The dogs had a birthday in October and the vet sent us a reminder to bring them in for a checkup. It has been busy with the kids being sick and the holidays. Anyway, every Friday I ask James if he can take them in. The first Friday in January he said yes let me do it now. Nick has a bad ear infection and it will cost a lot of $ to get his ears fixed. They refused to give him his rabies shot saying it would make the infection worse. James came home and said we cannot afford to keep taking care of the dogs and we don't have time to play with them working opposite shifts and taking care of the kids. We have been trying to come to an agreement about what to do for months now. He suggested taking them to the humane society. I asked him to please wait and let Jamie say goodbye at least. I called my sisters who texted my nieces and they picked up the dogs last night. It will be a difficult transition but for now the dogs will be inside and loved - not alone. Hope to get a 2nd opinion about Nick's ears at the girls' vet on Monday. I am sad but hopeful. I feel completely drained physically - never enough sleep, emotionally upset - too much grief, etc. I am praying this year will be different.

Report Card

Jamie made Honor Roll - all A's and 4's this semester. We are very proud of her.

How Great Grandpa and Grandma met

We went to Ryan's for dinner last night with Great Grandpa. We were talking about how we met and then Grandpa shared how he and his wife met. During World War II, he was working at the Firestone factory and he got off work at 6 pm and then got on the bus. He had long legs and sat on the long bench in the back. Grandma worked at another factory making machine gun clips and got off work at 7pm and when she got on the bus there were no seats left. She would walk to the back of the bus and Grandpa would move his long legs over to make room for her to sit. It became a daily habit. The rest is history.

Elvis

Today is Elvis' birthday and tomorrow is my mom's birthday. We always celebrated both. Today I played Blue Suede Shoes on my record player in their honor.

Great Grandpa stories

Great Grandpa came over today. When I got off work, we were talking about him watching UT football tonight and how each kid went to a different TX college. He told me that he was drafted into the service (Air Corp branch) for 3 years. They trained a class every six weeks and some got done in 4 weeks so they could play lots of sports in between. He could get gasoline and cigarettes but he used them to barter with. They gave the gasoline to farmers and in return got steaks. When he was drafted, he decided to get married right away and they lived in Kansas for 3 years. He worked part-time for an auto salesman who ran the town. Great Grandma Johnny worked for the creamery - ice cream parlor. They knew everyone in the small town.

Stripes

Both cousins wrapped in it before we left.

Jamie picked the one with the colorful stripes for us. It has some blue in it. It is huge so we wrapped her up in it for warmth.

Star

We all liked this colorful one as well and James' dad picked it to keep.

Doug and Teresa's quilts

Teresa took an old pink quilt that used to be on her bed I think. Very pretty! Doug and the boys picked another patchwork quilt.

Charles' quilt

Charles picked this one and immediately wrapped up in it. Then everyone else did the same so I started snapping pictures. We are having an Artic blast this week - temps in the 20s.

Quilt giveaway and the winner is . . .

Grandma Jacky is always making quilts. She was cleaning out her sewing room and decided to give away a few. We all loved the rose quilt - handmade over many years. We were all surprised that she was giving it away. She ended up letting Travis take it; he is the great rose gardener. I took pictures to keep for always. I got to pick a quilt 11 years ago when we first got married but this one was not in the running then.

Happy 30th Birthday Teresa

Teresa turns 30 tomorrow! Wow - time flies! Chocolate cake anyone!