Easter 2009

Post By Randy:
We are winding down from Easter, the kids still have candy in their Easter Baskets (they did not eat it all in one sitting!)

All but Sarah and Caroline went to the Saturday night Easter vigil mass at Holy Family in Mason City. Caroline and Sarah went today at 10:00 AM at Holy Family. It was a nice Saturday night Vigil, the priest invited anyone who wished to go out for the lighting of the Easter Fire. I took Philomena and Stephen, they enjoyed that since they do not normally see that part of the service. I did have to "SHHH!" Stephen because he wanted the Deacon to move out of the way so he could see the Easter fire. Stephen makes his first communion next Saturday April 18, 2009 another milestone reached! Both set of grandparents are going to be there, it will be exciting, cake and ice cream afterwards!

I made homemade cinnamon rolls yesterday for Easter Sunday breakfast. They turned out good, they were actually really moist, I think I was a little heavy on the icing, but my theory on icing is that "if there is any cinnamon roll exposed...it needs more icing!" Each time I make them I am perfecting and improving the making of them. As I told Marie it would be nice to make them again for everyone.

The kids had fun finding all the Easter eggs hidden around the house by the Easter Bunny. They also had to find their Easter basket of candy and the chocolate Bunny that Grandma and Grandpa Siefken got them. We have been doing this tradition ever since Sarah was born, so far all eggs have been recovered and returned back to the cartons and refrigerator! We have had a couple close calls in years past. Whew! Sometimes I wish the Easter Bunny would leave us a note to let us know where he places those eggs!

Our Easter meal was excellent, we ate around 3:00 PM we had a Kor-Bert Ham (which is the best ham made. I do know the person who produces these hams they are good he is a really good generous guy) yams, garlic, (and extra garlic) mashed potatoes, snicker salad, fruit salad, green bean bake and buns.

I made the yams and mashed potatoes, I put the ham in, and Caroline finished up the ham, Philomena made the fruit salad, dessert, and set the table, Daniel made the snicker salad. Shoot! I forgot to get out the dessert for bed time snack for the Philomena and Stephen, oh well there is always tomorrow.

Caroline and Mary went to work at Perkins after we ate. Mary is finding out the cost of college and decided to work to acquire a little extra cash.

Sarah is home this weekend, and is currently visiting her adopted parents the Taylors, and our adopted daughter Jessica :-)

It is nice to have everyone home, I hope they are enjoying their time away from work, I know I did when I was going to school. Both Mary and Sarah go back to school on Monday.

My Certified Public Manager's program (CPM) is going well, I am really enjoying the learning opportunity the program is offering, and it has really opened my eyes into Public managing. CPM is a certified program just like the CPA program is to Accounting.

I will start my masters program in Public Administration with my first class the Friday after Memorial Day. This program is set up as a cohort program, were I will take one class and it will meet on one Friday for 4 hours and then for two additional Friday and Saturday sessions and I will be done with that class. I will be taking 6 credits each session, and I will be able to complete my masters in 2010. My CPM course provides me 9 of the 27 credits needed to complete my masters in public administration.

Matthew is going to a college visit to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake on Wednesday, it will be an overnight. Matthew has his choice narrowed down between Morningside College in Sioux City and B. V. University in Storm Lake. We are waiting anxiously for the big announcement. His decision has to be decided before May 1, 2009. Matthew is also working on completing his Eagle project for Boy Scouts which is constructing a Bat house at the outdoor classroom at the Clear Creek school in Clear Lake. Matthew graduates this year on May 17, 2009.

Sarah graduates from college this year on May 24, 2009

Daniel has a solo contest this Saturday, he is playing french horn. Everybody wish him good luck

Philomena is in dance, Girl Scouts, and 4-H and is going to Girl Scout Camp this year.

Mary is the Craft Director at the Girl Scout Camp at Camp Tanglefoot in Clear Lake for this year. It is a new job position for her at camp!

Stephen is enjoying cub scouts and he goes to cub scout camp in June

I am taking a crew of scouts to the boundary waters for a week during the last week of July. There will be two other adults besides me going with 6 scouts, Matthew and Daniel will be going also. This will be Matthew's 3rd time to the boundary waters, Daniel's first time. We outfit ourselves so the cost of the trip is unbelievably cheap. It is a great time up there, it is my 3rd time as well.

A major house project this year is to put a ridge vent on the roof of our house. It appears the static vents are not ventilating the attic as needed. We found this out last December during a warming spell and water was dripping through the ceiling. with all the cooking we did over Christmas the moisture was collecting in the attic and froze, and then when it warmed up it melted. I have a friend who does construction and he said we can get it completed in just a half a day. Getting me up on the roof will take about a week to accomplish.

Well I rambled on for ever, I will cut this off, Obviously it has been a while and I felt the need to catch-up on. Hopefully these Blogs will shorten up as time goes on.

Keep in touch

Randy S.