Monday Favorites - A Blog Feature: Diary of a Stay-at-Home Mom

It's been a while hasn't it. There has been lots going on so I apologize for my absence.

Last week I was at all 3 of my jobs (Fieldhouse, Gale Woods Farm and Children's Place)...whew, had a soccer coaches' meeting, helped with 4-H events, met coach for Benjamin's soccer team and met the kids from the soccer team I'm coaching as well. Plus I managed to turn another year older in there. ;) We've also been following the news/Internet about the flooding in Fargo and other parts of North Dakota. Many of my friends still live there and have been in the midst of the flood fight. One friend has a secondary earthen dike close to her house, while another friend had to be airlifted by helicopter from the field across the stream from their house (which grew to a raging river) because they were surrounded by water. Lots of memories from 1997 when I was in Fargo and helping to sandbag then. Soooooo, now it's time to get back to normal (what is that again???)

Today's blog feature is: Diary of a Stay-at-Home Mom

This blog is written by Sandra, an Air Force wife. She is a stay-at-home-mom to 2 kids. Read more about her here. Sandra writes about a variety of topics, including book & movie reviews, cooking, photography as well as the adventures of her family. Here are a couple of her weekly features I enjoy.

Happy Homemaker Monday: Mondays she writes a feature where she talks about the books she is reading, movies she is watching, recipes she has tried, crafts she is working on, favorite photo from the past week, etc, etc. She is one busy lady!

Slow Cooker Thursday: This lady loves to cook! Every Thursday she features one of her favorite slow-cooker recipes.

Wanna-Try-That Wednesday: This is a new feature of her blog. Each week, she plans on listing an ideas she has come across that she wants to try. I'm always looking for new fun things to try and I can't wait to see what she comes up with. (Maybe I should try this blog feature too)

This blog of Sandra's is just the beginning of her mom-blogging life. She has a food blog, a reading nook where she reviews books. She also has several other features you will find on the right side of her blog under the listing of "My Places"

Thanks for a great blog Sandra. Check it out for yourself.

Wordless Wednesday

Two Boys Laughing

Sam & Benjamin

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Mrs4444 from Half-Past Kissin Time corrected me in that she didn't start Wordless Wednesday, she just participates. She can't remember who started it either. ;)

Ceres Women's Fraternity

On March 19, 1994, Ceres Women's Fraternity came into existence at North Dakota State University. Ceres Women's Fraternity is an international fraternity for women with an agriculture interest. Ceres is committed to providing opportunities in growth in leadership, academics and fellowship. This fraternity was named Ceres after the Roman Goddess of Agriculture to indicate pride in and the importance of our agricultural heritage.

I was a member of the NDSU chapter of Ceres for many years during my time in college. I was also one of the founding members. I chose to become of part of Ceres because of the values and ideals that this organization was founded on. I have so many wonderful memories of Ceres events and activities. There were Founder's Days, Homecomings, community service projects, attending Conclave in AZ, living in the Ceres House for my last senior year and so many others. I even got engaged at a Ceres meeting in the Prairie Rose room of the Memorial Union. ("There comes a time in every woman's life.....")

More than that, it was about the people who belonged to Ceres, the women I met from all over North Dakota, Minnesota or wherever they came from to NDSU (even Canada...love you Wenda!). It was about the friendships we developed and connections we made during our times as part of this wonderful organization. We shared many happy times, sad times and times where we laughed so hard we almost peed our pants. All of the women in Ceres, both yesterday and today, are my sisters. Life-long friends who are so special to me.

The reason I write about Ceres today, is because it is a sad time for our chapter. After 15 years as a chapter, the NDSU chapter is disbanding. This weekend will be the final Founder's Day celebration. It is a tough time for college organizations, including fraternities and sororities. The college experience for young people today is different that it was years ago. The sense of belonging to a group (like Ceres) doesn't have the same meaning for young people today. There are struggles to recruit new members and chapters are forced to make tough decisions. Ceres at NDSU had to make this decision due to the fact that numbers have dwindled. I admire the determination of the chapter to hang on as long as it has. It's been a tough fight.

Honestly, it's a decision that brings me to tears. I know that the friendships will survive and we'll all live on, in the virtual world like Facebook and the world-wide-web; face-to-face meetings, Christmas cards, weddings, babies and funerals. It's not going to be the same and I'll miss it terribly.

So for one last time ladies, join me in saying.....
"The object of our Fraternity is to build the whole person, to effect bonds of sisterhood, and to unify Ceres as a comprehensive entity. Ceres is committed to building qualities of leadership, to building meaningful fellowship, and to building a desire for scholastic achievement. Our commitment to Ceres is predicated on the values and ideals descriptive of a rural environment and offers lifelong sisterhood to women with an appreciation of agriculture. Membership in Ceres may at times require the sacrifice of time, pleasures, and comforts."

Here we go Bison, Here we go!

By the time you read this post, I will be on my way to witness history. This morning at 11:30 AM, the NDSU Bison will be playing in their very first NCAA men's basketball tournament against defending champions, Kansas.

For years NDSU had been a Division II school, but 5 years ago the school made the change to Division I. Many people were skeptical about the jump, questioning NDSU's ability to compete with much larger schools. There were growing pains along the way but also glimmers of hope. After a LONG 5 year waiting period, they finally became eligible for post-season play. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. They qualified for the NCAA tournament in their first year of eligibility by winning the Summit League tournament earlier this month. That hasn't happened to a team since 1970. And to add to the excitement, the NCAA selection committee blessed Bison fans by putting them in the Midwest Region which happens to be playing in the Metrodome in Minneapolis. WOW, this story gets better by the moment.

For fans, alumni, students and players, the anticipation of this moment has been building all week...all month....all season....and for 5 years. Travel plans have been made, tickets have been purchased and fans are now converging. It's a sea of Yellow and Green along the streets of Minneapolis this morning. The wave is moving into the Metrodome. The stampede is coming Kansas, watch out for the Herd!

A Visit to the American Girl Bistro

The Mall of America recently opened an American Girl Store and Bistro. Several months ago when Lauren heard about it, she made a special request for Grandma & Auntie Molly to join us there for lunch. On Saturday, we made a special day of shopping for her First Communion dress and had the opportunity to visit American Girl too.

The store itself is quite the experience as it carries all the dolls, clothing, books, accessories in the American Girl line. Girls can also bring their dolls to get their hair done in the salon. The dolls can join you in the Bistro for to eat and if you don't have your own doll, you can borrow one there.

Lauren making sure her doll is comfortable at the table.

She borrowed this doll and named her April.

Teaching her doll to wave

Grandma Petersen fixing the bow in April's hair.

Lauren

Wordless Wednesday

Guess what he found?......lovely

Happy Spring

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For more Wordless Wednesday, please visit Mrs4444 at Half-Past Kissin' Time

Look what he can do!

Benjamin rode a bike without training wheels tonight! All last summer he was too scared to even try. Tonight, Dave asked him to give it a go. He literally put Benjamin on and pushed the bike once down the street and he did it! After about 5 minutes of riding, he then taught himself to start too! WOW!!! That was too easy.

Benjamin Rides a Bike