Back by Popular Demand

...Well, maybe not popular. Maybe just one person said she missed my blog. But I'm back, anyway!

I'll not even try to catch you up on everything that has happened since I last posted. Just a brief overview.

In February, we went to the Rock & Worship Roadshow in Madison. That was a lot of fun, especially because that morning, we visited Redamte Coffee House and had the privilege of singing with Tenth Avenue North for their upcoming album, The Struggle. Then we spent hours and hours in line, waiting for our awesome seats.
You can access the entire Facebook album here. If you ask nicely, I'll even do a full post about the concert!

Spring has come very early to this neck of the woods, and I have to admit, I'm enjoying it fully. 80* days for the past week! Can the weather get any better than this?
The trees have their little green flowers, ready to burst into leaves any day now. Lilacs have leaves as large as my thumb, and the tulips have begun to bloom. I discovered today that we have a daffodil in the middle of the yard. Nobody knows what it's doing there. The former owners seem to have scattered random flowers at random throughout the yard, with no plans or flower beds. I had never seen this plant flower before, so I was very surprised to see one solitary bright yellow daffodil!

My job has been interesting, and busy, and tiring, and boring, and everything rolled into one. This morning I wrestled with wire baskets, inserting or removing dividers, reinserting, re-removing... Once I had them all in, the task went quickly. (I was just putting new products on the pegs or in the baskets.) But we didn't have enough dividers to make as many basketletts as we needed, so I had to Improvise. Hopefully my improvisation goes over well, otherwise....
I'm not doing that section over again! I am NOT!

And then the last thing I'll tell you about are my Plans for Tomorrow.
Because Tomorrow just happens to also be my Birthday.
It is my Twentieth Birthday, in fact.

And Tomorrow, in Waukesha, the Called To Love Tour is making a stop. (CTL Tour consisting of Downhere, Jason Gray, and Aaron Shust.) If you have been reading my blog for a while, you'll remember that I saw DH and JG on December 14th, 2008. You will also know that Downhere is pretty much my favorite band, and Jason Gray my favorite singer.
And even if you haven't read my blog before, that paragraph should give you a hint about how excited I am!
I'm trying not to use too many exclamation points, but a few more than necessary might slip out.

From what I've heard, the CTL Tour is going to be amazing. Not only are two of the three my favorites, I like the third, too. AND, I'm meeting some 'Downhomies' that I've only ever talked with online. After knowing some of them for over a year and a half, I'm eager to actually meet face-to-face.

I'll let you know how it goes!

And hello to Abbie, who demanded my return to blogging! Now you must surrender to my demand to write a letter back! ;)

Adios,
~Kiwifruit~

Shhhhh! Don't let her hear you! Okay, on the count of 3: one....twoooo.....three "SUPRISE, KRISTOWAN!"

Hola, Kristen!! Happy Birthday!!! You (finally) get your wish of being basically as old as I am. ;D (I know you've been unhappy about our 2 1/2 month age difference.:)
What is a Birthday without cake??



How's this one?
And how about a Secret Present?

Rats! I can't find you a good secret present picture. You'll have to imagine. Close your eyes. Think of a gift bag that says "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" on it. Stuffed full of Secret Present and pretty tissue paper. And ribbons trailing down one side, and a tag saying "To Kristen." There is your Secret Present. :D :D W
Official Birthday Acrostic:

Kristen.....
Right there when you need her.....
I'm glad for her friendship....
She's seventeen now.....
This author is uninspired,
Even though she is usually good at this.
Newsboys are one of Kristen's top bands.

Totally lame. Would anyone care to help me with the "T" and "E" lines? (and every other line?) I couldn't come up with any words that would fit there, except what I have in! I owe you a new poem, once my brain is up and running...
Oh, bother.
This birthday post isn't as interesting as any of the others I've done. I'm sorry, Owan!! I'll owe you a better one.
Official Excuse: I was awake until nearly 11:30 last night, and then the stupid tornado siren went off (at the horrid hour of 1:00 a.m.) and we had to troop down to the stupid basement and sit there for a few minutes while we waited for Dad to say it was okay. And THEN it was still windy and rainy and stuffy in my room, and there was lightning and thunder and I didn't sleep again until past 2:30. And I had to get up at 6:00. So I apologize incredibly profusely, and beg your forgiveness. *is down on her knees*
I SHALL give you a better birthday post again soon, but I wanted to do at least this much for you now, so you don't think I've forgotten your birthday!

Love ya and can't wait to see you again! Get better quickly!
See y'all later,

~Kiwi~

p.s. there's another new post under this one....haven't posted twice in one day in a long time!

Free-For-All-Friday

I don't know what to post about...

Oh, yes, my quilt blocks! Here're a few pictures:

This is the first block,

And this is the second one that we had so much trouble with.

They both turned out fairly good!

I also have some sad news for y'all.

Everett "The Triceratops" Fruit

December 26th, 2008--March 6th, 2009

Everett "The Triceratops" Fruit left us late last week at about 2:30 pm. He was exactly 10 weeks of age.

Everett was lovingly sculpted by the Fruit and the Friend families late last year. Much adored by his creators, they lovingly nicknamed him "The Triceratops" and enjoyed climbing on him and admiring his massive size.

The first sign of the impending doom was noticed on December 27th, 2008 (one day after completion), when his head fell off due to the sudden rise in temperatures. After that disaster, Everett slowly but surely shrank. The recent heat is blamed for his demise.

"The Triceratops" was preceded in death by his cousin, "Baby Triceratops" earlier this winter.

No funeral shall be held, as his body cannot be recovered, but a memorial service may take place this Sunday.

He shall be missed.

A last picture with him....

I think that the reason Triceratopses (Triceratiopi?) died was not the ice age, infact, I'll bet the thrived during the iceage! It was when all the snow started to melt that the problems came.....;D

And lastly I shall do a tag from Julia.

1. Go to the 4th folder where you keep your pictures on your computer.
2. Post the 4th picture in the folder.
3. Explain the photo.
4. Tag 4 fellow bloggers to join in the fun!

This was taken at the Gardens in My-opolis at the same time as THESE pictures. We were there for family pics so Mom could frame them and put them on the wall. Which has not happened as of now. She's going to wait and find a replaceable picture and put it up with the others, so my SENIOR PICTURE that'll be taken NEXT YEAR(!!!!!!) won't muss the arrangement.
Anyway, the Gardens are very pretty, even later in the season. We went here in mid September....
And that's the story behind the photo.
I tag: the first four to comment. If they want to do it.

Wednesday's Song of the Day was......(hold on, let me remember.....)...."Whatever You're Doing" by Sanctus Real! I'd forgotten, and was about to tell Owan that she was wrong. But then I remembered, and she's right! Here's five points.

And now I need to go hide a song title in here, and then go socialize with my family. Today's "Jordan"s birthday. He has entered into the "Seven-Year Insanity" common with thirteen-year-olds. Happy Birthday, Jordan!
(isn't this interesting? He's turning 13 on Friday the 13th. Oooo, spooooky!)

Goodbye!
~Kiwi da Non-Kiwiian Fruit

(Gar!! Why doesn't the 'Preview' button show what it'll look like on the actual blogpage?? What good is previewing it when I don't get to see what it'll actually look like?!?!? Stupid blogger!)

Wednesday: Happy Birthday, HMS Avalon!!

Today is, as the title suggests, my dear friend HMS Avalon's birthday. In honor of her, I am doing a special 'happy birthday' post.

First, a speech.

Avalon, I've known you for about 3 years. Or has it been 4? I can't remember. Anywho, I've known you for quite some time.

I remember you and your family were answers to a prayer that had been ours for quite a while: that a Christian family with girls close to our ages would move into town. Lo and behold, one fine Sunday morning at a church potluck, we discovered each other. My family was amazed to find that you and your family (of a total of FOUR girls our age) had moved a mere 2.5 miles out of town!

After that, we quickly became close friends.

We met in town often in 2006....by Summer of '07, we were biking together almost every morning! The LMGC ('Little Town' Girls' Club) was established.

We share a love of horses, cats, the occasional dog, TobyMac, The Newsboys, ITs (you know what I'm talking 'bout! ;-D).....too many to name!

One of the most unique things about you is your sense of style. Clothing combos I would never dream of putting together, much less wearing in public, you wear all the time....and you look good like that!! I don't know how you do it!

You have a grand sense of humor, too. It's so much fun to tease you! (Speaking of which.....how's Shorty? ;-P Sorry, couldn't resist!)

So here's to HMS Avalon and her friendship, her 'teasability', her sense of style, an' everything else we love about her! *raises juice glass*

(That's grape juice, not wine!)

Here is your cake (sorry it's a few candles short):

Some fancy ice cream:

And a Present. A pair of little Kittehs for you!

You likee?
And a LINK to a Kitty-picture website.
And one more LINK to an interesting horse website.
I hope you enjoy your birthday!!

Song of the Day Game: First guitargirl, and then Skittles caught the Song Title! Here're their comments. Guitargirl commented: "The song is either "Real Good Thing" by...by...*sniff* *cry* y'know ;) Or it's "History" by PC." You were right the first time, guitargirl. Skittles said (I like this one!) "Kiwi, i thought this was rather obvious but i might as well just guess that it's Real Good Thing by newsboys...since i'm not gonna get it anyways. =P" Guess what, Skittles...YOU GOT IT RIGHT!! Learn to have some more confidence in yerself....and capitalize your letter 'I's. That really bugs me when people don't do that. Ever seen Adam-from-Stellar-Kart's blog? Painful.

So anyways. Happy Birthday, Avalon! Once you get your permit, you need to drop whatever you're doing and drive up and see us!

So long, all.
~Kiwi da Fruit~

Oh, I almost forgot! A POEM for you, mah friend!

HMS Avalon:

Humor. You have a good sense of it.
My friend.
Stylish...it's unique and cool!

An interesting addidion to my circle o' friends!
Vivacious.
Artsy.
Loving.
Oh snap! at least used to be your favorite phrase...
Nutty...in a good sort of way!

And, you share a birthday with Lawrence Welk, Ezra Jack Keats, Jesse Jackson Jr. (ugh), and Christopher Rice...NOT the Chris Rice we like, though!!
I was looking this stuff up yesterday, and saw Carrie Underwood, Chuck Norris, Emily Osment, and Osama bin Laden. Unfortunately, I was accidentally checking under March 10th instead of the 11th. Rats.
Oh well! Happy Birthday!