Happy Memorial Day!

There is a beautiful cemetary by our house that we took the kids to. There were thousands of flags everywhere. It was just beautiful! Then we went to the Sussex parade...let me tell you, it was something. Tommy was supposed to march in the middle school band, but couldn't find his clarinet at the last second. So, the parade was about 15 min. long. --3 fire trucks, cub scout troop, veterans, a couple of politicians, boy scouts, middle school band, high school band, and a couple police cars---the end. Just the way we like it on a hot, muggy day. I love having these small town experiences. Just a little unknown fact about me....I cry at parades, the smaller the better.

Date Night in Sussex

Disco Bowling night, shooting some pool, and lemon custard at Culvers....what more could a girl ask for? Dave and I love our little dates! Dave has been helping some friends renovate their home so that it is liveable, which means he's been gone more, so I really enjoy a little one-on-one with him. He beat me at bowling, but he scratched at pool, which technically means I win! Bowling in Sussex was quite an adventure. Dave and I thought maybe it was prom night, since there were so many young couples all dressed up....only to find out there was a wedding reception in the back room of the bowling alley. Now that's a cool wedding reception...a little cake...a little bowling...perfect!

More Camping

After some ghost stories, (I totally botched the Golden Arm, Dad. I needed you there.), we cooked smores. I didn't sleep over night. I drove all the way home with Jane once everyone decided to head off to sleep. It was a little too cold to sleep comfortably with a baby...okay, I'm a wimp!

New Kind of Camping

Well, we decided to enjoy the nice weather and go camping for our first time here in Wisconsin. We loaded up all our gear....our tent, sleeping bags, food, stuffed animals (for the girls), camping chairs...it took as long as it normally does to get all our stuff together. Then we all hopped in the van and drove.....2 minutes....to the campsite. We live next to a beautiful park that is a ginormous campground. There used to be a quarry there that they filled in with water, so there is fishing and swimming. There are individual campsites and large group campsites, bike trails, playgrounds...it's just beautiful. The photos don't do it justice.

Some funny things...

• Rachel sings to herself when she has to use the outhouse so she isn't scared.


• Tommy almost set himself on fire trying to get a newspaper out of the firepit...by the way..what is it with boys and pocket knives.


• When Dave said, "Now, let's review. What do we do when we see a bear?" Michael yells out, "PANIC!" (We didn't even know he knew what that word was)


• Bella fell in the quarry...Dave dared her to walk out to the edge, of course.

Dandilions Are NOT Weeds!

I don't care what people say...I love seeing all the dandilions growing in the grass. They are so beautiful!

A Day in the Life

I thought I would give you all a picture into the early evening of the life of the Watsons.

Sorry you have to tilt your head, but this is Rachel taking her turn making a lap around the kitchen with Jane while Mom cooks dinner.

Michael, when he isn't taking his turn with Jane, would be playing with his cars, being a super hero, or imagining he is a pirate. (The other day, he asked if it would hurt if I cut off his leg...because he REALLY wanted a peg leg.)

Bella, Rachel, Michael and Tommy take turns on the computer playing Club Peguin, pbs.kids, Webkins, creating their own video games, Pivotman, etc. They also try to get in their time on their DS's.

While I'm trying to cook dinner, I'm shoveling food in Baby Jane's face, which so far she isn't a huge fan of. Rachel never liked it either...she went straight for the good stuff.

Tommy the Master Clarinet Player

We shouldn't have been surprised, but we were when Tommy picked up playing the clarinet so quickly. He has been enjoying it a lot. He had a concert this last Tuesday which was held in the big high school fine arts center. Of course, you can't see him, but he is in the second row. They played a rousing rendition of the state song, "On Wisconsin" which he is going to hopefully also play in the marching band parade coming up.

Sunday Surprises

As everyone with a baby knows, they don't get much out of church on Sundays. I'm nursing, so I seem to spend a lot of time in the Mother's Lounge. This past Sunday, Dave had run home (20 min. one way) for something, so I left the four older kids on the bench by themselves while I went to feed Jane. There is a mic on in the room so I can hear what is going on in the chapel. First I hear a beautiful testimony by Rachel, then a few minutes later, Bella shares a nice testimony about Jane....Then I go back into the chapel. I see there are only three of my kids sitting on the bench. Where was Michael? I start to panic a little. "Bella, where is Michael?" She beams at me..."He's up there on the stand, Mom...he's going to bear his testimony!"

Okay, now I'm in a full panic. Sure enough, I look up there and he is grinning at me, so proud of himself. Anyone who knows Michael is as worried as I am. Our ward likes the children to be able to bear their testimony by themselves before they come up, so I wasn't sure what to do. Well, I didn't have time to think about it, because there went Michael. He pulled the step over himself, looking so serious. He pulls the mic down and starts, "I like to say my testimony...I know the church is true...Amen" I was so proud of him! For about 1 second....then he promptly bunny hops off the stand saying, "hop, hop, hop" as he went. The older kids thought he was just great, but we did have to have a little chat later.....

The Coming of Spring

As mentioned before, the winters are a little too long here, but the spring is so beautiful. It starts with the snow melting, the birds singing, and then the grass is a gorgeous green. You don't have to water your lawns here and the grass looks like carpet; it is so perfect. Then the tulips and other bulb flowers come out. Now, the leaves are growing on the trees...it's such a process that each day is more plentiful than the next. I love driving down the street and watching the progress. It ALMOST makes the winter worth it...hee hee.