The Kelsey's

Here is how we like to celebrate Independence Day. This is a little tradition brought about by necessity. Since we’ve had small children for over a decade, it seems that someone is always uncomfortable with the loud fireworks displays. But fireworks beyond what you can light in your yard have been a part of my 4th since the Music Man band and VP fair of the mid 80’s. So we’ve found a compromise. We normally head out around 9:20 or 9:30 for Steak-N-Shake. We order milkshakes and sit on a hill and watch 3-4 different displays: Hazelwood, Florissant, and Maryland Heights. All from a kid friendly distance. We get there just in time for the big finally. Forget the warm-ups, we just want to be dazzled. (Hannah discovered this year that we weren’t there from the beginning and was complaining that Mommy and Daddy had been tricking the kids!  The jig is up!)  That’s just about enough time to finish off the shake and get in the car and go home. Mission accomplished: total celebration in about 1 hour. You couldn’t do better if you produced it for reality TV!

This year was a little different. We were invited to visit with some friends who happened to live about a mile from a Steak-N-Shake… how convenient! So we parked at the destination and headed out on foot.

Here’s a view from the back of the pack.

Notice that Dad wore a long sleeve shirt? Some folks just don’t know how to check the weather…
Hmm – looks like Mommy and Hannah were lallygagging.

As we were passing by the school, we noticed that they had buses running as shuttles down to the fireworks display. Being homeschooled, our kids have never been on “the big yellow bus” that I’ve personally logged the equivalent of more than a few months on. Gotta capture this for posterity.

Hannah just looks like one of the kids from Jr. high (or middle school these days).

Unfortunately the bus couldn’t go down the street we needed so we drove past our destination and had to walk back. When we got out, there were about 20 people waiting to get on. But Dad had to take pictures anyway, what a dork.

Hannah said, “No press!” and Nathan couldn’t quite make that big step at the bottom.

Caleb is always ready to contemplate the significance of the moment though.

We got to our friends’ house and spent some time visiting and eating some of the food that was piled up around the place.  There was plenty for all.  I had a big heap of cherries that were yummy. When it was dark and fireworks were getting ready, we walked back and ordered our shakes. By the time we laid out our blanket, some rain started to sprinkle down. “It’s only a sprinkle, Dad.” Hannah informed me. I said, “When it’s coming down pretty good, I’ll remind you that you said ‘just a sprinkle’.” By the time the fireworks started a decent rain was coming down. Hannah volunteered to slip down to the van and get the cool golf umbrella that Laura got me for my birthday a year or two ago. The hill was so wet that she could barely walk back up with flip flops in the mud.

Laura and Nathan had retreated to the van. Joshua was melting as his legs were getting soaked – but with Daddy’s big umbrella we could mostly stay under it.

I tried to get an arms length shot while laying along the side of the blanket. Who needs fireworks pictures when you can see fireworks observers!

Hey, I just found a post from last year’s 4th of July! The more things change, the more they stay the same. I guess we’re pretty boring after all.

Tonight Laura took Caleb and Nathan with her and went to talk about getting ready for VBS at the end of July. I was tasked with taking Hannah to the Library to do some crazy shirt painting exercise. It was going to take an hour, so I just stayed and read a portion of a Thomas Sowell book.

Joshua didn’t want to go with mom, and he thought he be bored with me. So he got to stay home – alone. Our neighbors down the street knew the situation, so they were available if needed.

This is how kids grow up you see. Nothing eventful happened. And with that the month of June fades away.

Just wanted to share this tale before too much time has gone by.  While we were at Campmeeting at the beginning of the month, the three older kids were staying with me in a small dorm room.  We had two keys between us.  We shared them as needed.

It was Caleb’s turn to hold the key between some meetings.  He had it in his shirt pocket and was jumping around through the grass when it bounced out.  He couldn’t find it and he came and told me as much.  We retraced his steps, but found nothing.  I even found out that the science teacher who lived across the street had a metal detector.  We went and borrowed it and went searching for “treasure hidden in a field.”  As people passed they would ask what we were looking for.  One friend, Winston, asked if we had prayed to find it yet.  I said we hadn’t and that I would wait until all my children could be there to pray.  So when we were all there, we did have a little prayer to find the lost key.

Then we went back to searching and found nothing until it was dinner time.  For the last few days of meetings we just got used to the routine with one key.  On the last day, when we were cleaning up our room – no you didn’t guess it, it wasn’t that easy.  I lost the other key!!!

The kids just told me to pay the fines and move on.  I was just too embarrassed to do that.  I had them leave the room so I could tear it from one side to the other.  I found it in one of my pants pockets.  So I put the room back together and then headed over to the registration area to turn in my one key.

When I got there and I told them what room I had, they turned to me and said.  “Oh, one of the featured musical guests at campmeeting found your key on the way to dinner last night and just turned in your key.”  He was still standing nearby so I thanked him and told him that my son would feel much better knowing that he hadn’t caused his dad to be charged for the key.

When we all got in the van to go home, I told Caleb and the others what had happened.

His eyes got real wide and he said, “So God DID answer our prayer!”  Now that’s a faith builder!

If you’ve been keeping up with us – last summer I mowed our lawn with a push rotary mower.  It was quite a work out, but Laura wasn’t real pleased with the results.  So this summer (May 8th in fact… how do I know that?  Read on) Laura went and got a Craftsman lawn mower from our local Sears Appliance & Hardware store on N. Lindbergh.

The third time I used it was yesterday.  That would be June 10th – 32 days after our purchase.  When I came across this:

Is that not clear enough?  How about this…

Well, after that little contact with my mower, the shaft got bent and it was all over.  We figured we’d have to buy another lawn mower (and leave the two broken ones in the back of the shed).  I was talking to my mom on Skype and she said that I should call Sears and try to buy the warranty post mortum.  I figured, “what could it hurt?”

So I called and talked to Ashley.  She told me that you can, in fact, buy the warranty up to 30 days after your purchase.  That’s how we discovered that it had been 32 days.  She also told me that the main shaft wasn’t under the warranty or any extended warranty.  She paused for a moment and asked if she could call me back in 10 minutes while she called her manager.  When she called back, she said that they would do an even swap for a new mower.  When Laura got home from her work out, we scooted over there and made the trade.

I finished the lawn this evening.  Sears Hardware is now my favorite hardware store.  That’ll be where I stop by when looking for all things hardware.  See how being treated well can change your actions and outlooks?

So be nice to somebody and see what a difference it can make.

It’s been gray and dreary all day.  There have been sprinkles off and on.  Of course a day like today is just perfect for Hannah to pack up and take off with her Pathfinder club for a weekend of camping at Spring Camporee.  Well, she won’t be alone.  There will probably be a couple hundred kids trying to put up tents to ward off the dampness for the weekend.

I would much prefer that over the 2nd degree burns she had across her eye brows and cheeks last year just from forgetting to bring sunscreen (and being so fair skinned that she’s almost translucent – some genes we’ve provided her, huh?).

So this weekend it’s just mama and the boys.

Just over a week ago Laura returned from her journey to Maine.  She surprised her folks and got to spend some time talking with her brother.  Not to mention the opportunity to drive through New York City on her way up.  I mean, does it get any better than that?  If we can get organized around here, maybe we’ll do some interviews about our experiences and pull them together into a podcast episode for you.

Caleb had a cyst removed from his palm last weekend and it’s healing really well so far.  We also recently discovered that he’s going to need glasses.  Caleb has all the interesting things happen to him.  He leads a life of adventure.

Joshua still clings to his guitar and I have the phone numbers of some teachers.  We just have to get to calling around and get him going with some lessons.

Nathan is talking more and more.  When I come home from work, he’s the one who greets me.  He wants to have something to say so bad that usually it’s just some jumbled thoughts or maybe a question.  When he gets real tongue tied he falls back to the old faithful, “I nub you dad.”  You can’t go wrong with “I love you.”

And for me, things are crazy at work trying to figure out how thing work around there and getting acclimated.  My accountant called and said they noticed that my income for the 1st quarter of 2009 has been “erratic.”  Uh, that’s because I didn’t have any invoices in December and all but the last week of January.  That’ll make your business a little unstable.  So hopefully my current assignment will stay steady through 2009, regardless of how shaky it feels.

I’m also trying to work on some software on the side – a class assignment planner for homeschoolers that they could access over the Internet.  It’s coming along, but not as fast as I’d like.  Does that sound like something you’d be interested in?  Let me know, it’ll spur me on to get it done.  We really want to develop an online homeschooling community, called Barnabas Way (check out our blog at http://barnabasway.com/blog ).  I’m looking for two homeschooling families that would like to be beta testers and help jump start our community.  Again – speak up if you or someone you know is interested.

That just about covers life with the Kelsey’s at the end of April of 2009.  Thanks for stopping in to see what’s up.

Well, it’s finally arrived.  The first inklings of a sign of the end of an era.  Last night, with evidently no prodding on any family member’s part.  Nathan decided to take a stab at pooping on the potty.

He came downstairs with no pants on, holding out his hands saying that he needed a new pull-up.  It was getting dark in the room so I couldn’t see anything unusual, so I replied just a minute… (I was looking something up, how unusual).

Next I heard Caleb call down that he needed help cleaning up the poop.  What?!? As I came upstairs he explained that Nathan had tried (an ‘A’ for effort at least) to use the toilet.  He mostly got it all in there.  Just a little on the lid, some on his leg, and little portions helping to keep his fingers stuck together.

We got the little guy some relief.  He wasn’t sure whether to cry or cheer.  We left the toilet in its somewhat soiled condition as mommie would be home in a few minutes and it would be good for her to see the evidence.  Plus I had done the fingers, the leg, and the unwiped bottom – well, frankly, I was pooped.  (wah-wah!)

My father-in-law called right as we were running down stairs as we heard the garage door opening.  We took Laura up to the scene of the crime.  She couldn’t believe it.  We all cheered for such a great accomplishment.  Nathan exclaimed one of his all time favorite sayings: “I so happy!”

When he gets a handle on the idea of proper body waste disposal, it will be the end of a decade plus of childhood incontinence.  I’m not saying it won’t be a welcomed change, but it’s just another signpost in life saying the time marches on.

Aside:
On another note, we went and signed our taxes at the end of the night. My dad just started doing taxes for H & R Block; he asked us to help him out, so we did. He found way more money than our normal tax guy had. It was quite a good deal. Way to go dad! I don’t like getting refunds because it says that the government has been playing around all year with money that could’ve helped my family. But we’ll take it back happily.

(Yes, I know March is supposed to be in like a lion and out like a lamb – artistic license…)
Wow!  Did the month of March just – slip by?  I guess it just did.  Oh so many things to keep track of I’ll just have to give out little snippets of random news.  Let’s see…

New Internet Connection
We upgraded and are going faster now, one idea was that it would be easier to post audio podcasts and maybe even video podcasts – – stay tuned for some experimentation!

New Tax Man
My dad’s working with H & R Block now and we signed up to be tax guinea pigs. He’s had a hard time getting us to get our act together. But it’s all over but the signing now – tonight, in fact.

Working on an Internet Start-Up
It’s not really official, we haven’t put the word out much of anyplace. So you’re basically the first to know if you’re reading it here. But we’re creating an online community for homeschoolers called “Barnabas Way.” Right now it’s just a blog: BarnabasWay.com/blog but you can check it out and make sure you tell your homeschooling friends that it’s coming. I’m sure I’ll share more details as the firm up.

Looking at Irons in the Fire Worth Dropping
I’m taking inventory of all the things I’m involved in and trying to figure out what can be cut back. Between church, work, politics (FairTax? Tea Party? Run for office maybe?), 2 started books, 5 or so blogs, video archiving, an aging body, audio engineering, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, media uploading, server maintenance, peacemaking ministry, kids growing faster than I can follow, and a house that’s starting to need handyman help ready or not. Some things are going to have to change.

Financial Pinch is Full On
2008 was not a great year for us financially. I was out of work in May, December, and half of January 2009. So we are still building our savings back up. It’s very frightening living from paycheck to paycheck. Some people do it all the time – I wouldn’t be able to take that. We have touched the bottom of the pool and are swimming to the surface as fast as we can. It’s still not fun when your lungs are burning and you can see how far you are from the air. There are many out there worse off than we are. But it is more personal when you’re being touched by the situation specifically. We’re praying that some invoices will get paid TODAY!

Well, that’s just a few of the things happening in March at the Kelsey’s. I’ve got to run off to work. I’ll try to get a little more out to you tonight.

Caleb wanted to participate in the giving spirit this Christmas.  So what’s a guy to do when he doesn’t have a car, or even permission to walk up to the Walgreen’s on the corner and he has to get a gift.  Well, ya’ get a little creative.

We have water bottles around the house as an available resource, so he decked one up with strips of paper and wrote on them little messages.

Each strip had been layered together and connected with a generous supply of tape.  So much so that the bottom of the bottle was a little sticky.

The messages on the strips of paper were as follows:

1. Caleb Josh Hannah (heart) and then a pictoral representation of all 6 family members.
2. A series of 🙂 faces (facing right-side up) encircling the whole bottle (obviously for Dad who is constantly chatting online and sharing :)’s with all).
3. Merry Christmas I love you.
4. I Love You repeated all the way around
5. Mom Dad alternated all the way around
6. Alternating hearts and Smileys (one with big teeth showing!)

Now, don’t be con-fused, this is not a bottle full of water.  This is a bottle that someone had already refreshed themselves with – it was empty.  Well, not quite empty.  Take a look.

Inside are two things, one is a toy cloak (I believe) and the other thing down at the bottom is a fuse.  It’s a tiny little fuse and I have no idea what it goes to!  But now it goes to Caleb’s Christmas gift.  So, this is a gift “charged” with love.

The moral of this story and the point of the gift is that it’s not the gift, but the giver that counts.  He was very happy to offer it up to us.  He saved it until the very last and brought it out of his room.  Hugs were exchanged all around.  We did have a good Christmas in 2008.

Whiling away the hours while your parents are teaching a seminar can make for dreary days.  You really have to stretch yourself to find things to occupy your time.  Fortunately, dad has provided the Kelsey kids with a couple of cameras last Christmas that can be used to take some snapshots or even to produce movies.  Caleb has been the camera nerd in the family, not to say that the older siblings are in any way shy to put them to use.  But this is the first foray for Nathan into the world of digital imaging.

The first thing you have to do is to become familiar with your equipment.

(This is what he took)

“I think I understand what is going on with this thing.”

(This is what he took)

“Ok, now, let’s get serious about this.”

(This is what he took)

“What do I see?  There is no viewfinder on this camera!”

(This is what he took)

“You know, this whole picture thing is just too easy!”

(This is what he took)

“Hmm, I can steady it on the table…”

(This is what he took)

“Check me out, who needs all that equipment like tripods and stuff.”

(This is what he took)

“This is so easy, this camera practically runs itself.”

(This is what he took)

Maybe these will be picked up by some syndicated columnist.  Or maybe this is the beginning of a blossoming career.  Either way, media savvy has definitely made it all the way through the Kelsey’s by now.

Not much to say here – just look at these photos of a hawk that sat looking around our back yard.  I think he was looking for some food.  Maybe he was tracking that huge snake I almost ran over with the lawn mower earlier in the summer (sorry, no pictures of that thing!).

Pretty wild, huh?