Egg-stravaganza

Saturday morning while Justin and Mike went for a gravel ride the Cotovsky girls joined us for some Easter fun at science city.  We did different activities spread out around Science City to get a stamp, then you turned in your paper to get plastic eggs filled with a treat.

We made blooming flowers.

 Learned about symmetry with butterflies.

 This was just playing with the giant lever.

 Did some cooking chemistry.  And just had a great morning!!  They also had dry ice experiments outside.  The kids enjoyed playing but we were glad we went early as it got really crowded.  Our membership got us all in for free which was even better!  Thanks for the gift that keeps on giving!

 Then at the last minute (after dinner but before dessert) we dyed eggs.  I tried a new method I'd seen floating around and it was ok.  You take cheap shaving cream but the food dye in it and swirl it around, then roll the eggs around in it!  The colors weren't as bright as we had hoped for.  But I think I need to use more dye.

 The kids really enjoyed it and it was quick clean up so bonus!

 And after saying Justin was doing better on the bike he had a pretty nasty crash.  Hitting the ground going close to 25 mph on gravel just doesn't feel good.  He had to get a new helmet (thank goodness for those) and has a scraped up elbow and shoulder.

Weston Bluffs Trail

Friday promised to be a sunny, warmer day.  So Justin and I decided we should get outside!  We pumped air in bike tires, got on warm gear, and headed about 20 minutes down the road to the start of the trail.  

Caroline did not wasn't to go for a ride, but Eric and I did.  I knew she would like it as soon as she got going, and she did!  Will really wanted to go too but he still has a walking boot on.  He and Justin walked around the cute little town of Weston while we rode almost 4 miles along the Missouri River into town.  We stopped and read all the placards.

 And yes it was still chilly with temps in the low 40's.

 Caroline noticed the train car with Burlington written on it and wanted me to take a picture!

 Then she climbed the ladder!

After meeting up with Justin and Will we ate at the Tin Kitchen, a great BBQ place.  Justin then went out for a quick little road ride by himself since the weather was nice.

Riding and Reading

So Justin and his buddy Mike have taken up gravel riding.  He loves it!  Anything on a bike and outside is right up Justin's alley.  His bike handling skills have improved greatly since moving to KS and he hardly ever wrecks any more!!  There for a while every time he got on his bike he would crash.  The weather has not been great for doing anything outside but Mike is dedicated and drags Justin out any way.  He ends up happy he went.

The pictures below are from a ride I think was 50 miles or so, they left early in the morning (like 5am  crazy) and then we (Catherine, her 3 girls, and my kids) at a local cafe for a late breakfast.

 Caroline learned the great lesson of how-to-get-paint-out-of-clothes after getting paint on not one, not two, but 4 pieces of clothing!  Two of which were brand new!  Rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush and lots of elbow grease later and she agreed that maybe being more careful or wearing a smock might be a good idea!

 There for a few days Lili took a liking to this pillow and it didn't  matter if you picked it up while she was on it she wasn't moving!  Eric liked having her in his lap!

 And we have been doing a lot of reading with it cold and windy out still.  We are all anxiously waiting for spring and warmer weather to arrive.

Busy as Usual

Life has been busy as usual in the middle of the country the past couple of weeks.  

Caroline has promoted in belts again and has a goal to have her black belt by the time we leave TX.  

 Justin has been traveling more than usual lately.  He left on a Sunday for Germany, was back home Friday night.  He traveled around, ate great food (and drank a few beers), and saw his best buddy from HI, Mark Morgan!!

 After getting in late Friday night Justin was up with Caroline and at the jr high school for a 415 am departure for the Odyssey of the Mind competition.  It was 3 hours away and they didn't get home until 1030 pm.  The jet lag and early morning/late nights hit hard on Sunday.

 Trying a new braid I saw on a girl from Eric's basketball team.

 While Justin was gone I still had plenty of work.  I was making sure Will had rides to and from school as the walk is still too much with the walking boot on.  I had to get sub plans ready since I was going to an all day math conference.  Sub plans just mean double the work!  Then since the kids had a half day of school on Friday (I had a full day, plus prep for the next week) I had a friend pick up the boys and Caroline ride the bus with her friend and she feed them lunch and kept them until another friend brought them to me at my school.
Then I got the chance to have the boys practice some of the math I had learned at my conference while we waited for Caroline at karate!  It was a great conference and I loved it!

 Then it was a typical Friday night of trying to grade papers and Lili sitting in my lap.

Our next adventure

Well, the Redferns are moving to TEXAS!!!  We found out that Justin will take command of the 553rd CSSB at Fort Hood this fall.  It is not something we expected as Justin doesn't have any experience with division level stuff.  So it will be a bit of a learning curve!  He will have 7 companies and gain an 8th when all CSSB's in the Army will stand up new companies called a field feeding company.  So he'll start out with 1,300 and then add another 200 when he gets the field feeding company added!  Yikes that's a lot of soldiers!!!

So if you've ever wanted to visit TX we would love for you to come visit!!

Will update

Well, Will is half way (hopefully) through wearing his walking boot.  He was thrilled to find out that he didn't need surgery or a cast!  He goes back to the orthopedist April 6 to see what happens next.  In the mean time Will is ready to move again.  I have had to tell him not to run, "remember you have a broken leg" and not to jump on the neighbors trampoline!!  Oh man this kid!  I love him dearly but he is a button pusher.

 He also got a hair cut.  He went to the barber shop with Justin and just wanted a trim.  Well they aren't quite used to trimming long hair, that whole high and tight thing you know. And they butchered it so I had to buzz it to fix it.  He says he's going to let it grow out again!

But the swelling and achy-ness has almost completely gone away.  So things are looking good so far!

Friday afternoon excitement

Well, Will's basketball season is over and maybe his baseball season too.  Why?  He broke his leg/ankle after school on Friday!!  

Caroline called me at work around 3:40 (something she never does) telling me Will had fallen and hurt his ankle.  I told her to have him elevate it and put an ice pack on it.  Then I hurried home.  I came in took one look at Will laying on the sofa and told him it was broken and we were going to the ER (he was still very pale).  Then I checked his ankle out!  It was swollen and very tender.  I didn't take his sock off to look.  I helped him hop to the car, Caroline and Eric helped grab his jacket and book, and I called Justin to let him know what had happened.  

We got to the local ER (were the only ones there!) and were immediately taken back and checked.  He got an x-ray and then the waiting and waiting and waiting happened.  It took over an hour to get discharge papers! 

He has a hairline fracture.

 Just waiting for the initial eval.

 Got a splint and waiting to see the Dr.

 All told we were gone for 4 hours!  He is adjusting just fine.  He is ready to go to school though.  Today the weather was warm-ish (mid 50's) and he hated missing out on the fun going on outside so we set him up a chair in the garage so he could be the judge!

If you can believe it this is the first broken bone for any on our kids!