We had a great time in Arizona over the past 4 days. As a group activity we drove desert dune buggy cars over 22 miles. We followed a trail past Mesa,AZ in the 99* heat of the day. We drove over rocks and sharp corners and threw the snow melt from the mountains. We started off in these white Horizon Milling shirts and ended the day looking like desert rats. It was a blast and would do it again The other events we enjoyed were golfing and a body message. We were there 3years ago and enjoyed even more this time. Our Horizon group has grown this time with the addition to the Canadian mills. Tamara had a great time catching up with all the other spouses on the lazy river at the resort. In just 3 short weeks we will be headed to Florida for a IAOM convention for Cargill. The boys will get to join us for a week of park adventures. Darin doesn't get to unpack his suitcase. Monday at 1 he travels to New York for a week long training. Standing with Darin are manager's from Tennessee, Texas and Louisiana. We will be with the same group in Florida the 2ND week of May.

Dalton along with the rest of the 5th and 6th grade class had a field trip to the MN Science Museum and State Capital in St Paul on Tuesday. Kids had a great time at the science museum and everyone's favorite was the cryogenics demonstration, where they used liquid nitrogen to show how temperatures affect different materials. The day was wrapped up with a tour of the capital, where we learned important facts, like where Justice Allen Page sits in the MN Supreme Court, (1st chair on the right from the Chief Justice).

We had a close one in Clevland last nigt. Down by one and Tanner has just stolen 2nd base, he's headed to steal 3rd on a error and the coach sends him home. Will he make it in time........Yes! ties up the game and they win with the next batter up.

We were able to work in the garden today getting in the potatoes planted. With any luck it will warm up and we can get the sweet corn in soon. The cherry & apples tree's all have buds on and a fair amount of the flowers are all up too.

The weather has not been good to our baseball schedule this week! Even Dalton's kept close by eating seeds at the game. It's been rainy- windy and cool for the spring. Next week we are hoping for better weather. Tanner is #3 scoring at home.

FINALLY, Mother Nature let's us play ball. After having 5 games postponed or cancelled due to snow and ran we got the 1st games of the season in. Tabor (#38) got things started on Monday with a JV game in Mapelton (there's one in MN too). The JV consists of 7 freshman and 5 eighth graders. Tabor will spend most of the season roaming the out field with a strong, yet somewhat wild arm. With temps in the upper 40's and a stiff wind, it was a cold one. The Raider's made a late rally in the 5th to take the lead 5 to 4, but ended up losing 7 to 5. Tanner got the season started Tuesday with the JH team at home against the rivals from Lake Crystal. The JH has 6 7th graders and the eighth graders pulling double duty. Tanner played 3rd base and short stop today. Temps were near 70 degrees, with a gentle 40 mph wind blowing straight in from right field. After a slow start and trailing 0 to 8, the bats came to life and with a pair of 6 run innings and some solid pitching to close out the game, they came away with a 14 to 12 victory. This spring with Tanner opting for baseball over track, we get to travel around in one vehicle. (YEAH) With make up games being rescheduled, we will be pulling 3 games per weeks for the rest of the season. Dalton is of course chomping at the bit, forced to sit and watch instead of getting to play, but the 5th grade team will start practice for the summer league in less than a month. Hopefully Dad's shoulder will be able to make it that long, as the older brothers are to "tired" to play catch in the yard after practice and keeping Dalton couped up in the house only leads to broken furniture and empty cupboards. JH action on Fri and JV next Mon, then it's Grandma E's turn and Tamara and I are office to Phoenix for 4 days of "work" and relaxation.

Our 1st nice 65* spring day on Saturday was a busy yard day. Darin & Tabor spent most of the day cutting wood. We have been trying to clean up the grove and with 2 fireplaces we know just where to put it. They tackled this very large ash tree that had been down a long time. Tabor hauled 3 loads of these big logs to the shed. This winter we burned 6 pick-up loads of wood, it made it easy on the heat bill.

Blue has a guest staying with us the next 9 days. Clark is a 2 year old male who is obsessed with sticks and makes a bigger mess than an elephant! So far Clark's only interest is emptying the food dish. Hopefully 63 days from now will have a litter of pups. Until then Tabor busy with a shovel in one hand and a stick in the other.