PETA Beware...

Our little entreprenuer started up a "Meat Bisnis" this past weekend. Simply put--he shoots, he sells. Blame it on our summer reading--Little House on the Prairie. I must go--I hear a buffalo hunt going on downstairs...

Bobcat Earns 3rd Gup!

Breaking boards!


Instructor/Test Examiner awarding and congratulating Bobcat on his new rank.

All the youth who tested on this day with their instructors.

We're so proud of our little guy. He has been working so hard toward his goal of becoming a Black Belt. Next belt on the way is red.

Tooth Fairy's Good Fortune...

Nearly 5-Months Already

Latest Major Accomplishments:
Rolls over
Has his bottom 2 teeth!

Time is flying way too fast, but we are enjoying every precious, baby moment...

Startin' 'Em Young...a Slightly Panicked Mother's Tale

Review of basic firearm safety + memorizing 2nd Amendment + guys-only trip north to grandparents' cabin = happy Alaskan boys.








(Don't worry--Spunky is only holding a plastic rifle...although he certainly has the serious look about it.)

My Men-Folk at Work

My guys were hard at work over the weekend, pulling out a tree stump to create a new garden spot.







What a bunch of studs.

Day at the Farm

Our friends invited us to visit their farm today. It was absolutely gorgeous and sunny...and brought back many memories of my Wisconsin up-bringing! Springtime is always a great time on any farm--sunshine and new life--two reminders of God's goodness.


My crew in the back of the pick-up truck. Just as I took this, Little Mister started to fuss. He really wasn't overly impressed with the ride. :)

Lotsa yaks! We saw several of their babies.

We found favor with the buffalo (a little bribery never hurts....fresh Fireweed in this case...)

Spunky was a little unsure of the pigs. He loved the baby piggies (they really were SO adorable) but the sounds the older ones made were a little scary for him...particularly since some of those mamas were about his same size!

Check out these cute little kids. Awwww....

My Mother's Day Moment

While I sat nursing son #4 on the couch, sons #1-#3 sat at the table eating breakfast. I overheard the most delightful conversation:

Eaglet: "So, "Bobcat", do you think Mommy should not be allowed in Boyland?"
Bobcat: "No"
Eaglet: "Well the reason she is allowed is because she gave birth to us. If she wasn't here, it
would just be....Nothingland."
Bobcat: "Yes...she's here because she gives birth to boys."

So now you all know why I am here....and so do I...without having to read any Rick Warren.

Those Who Don't Know History Are Doomed to Repeat It

...Eaglet just chooses to repeat it in order to learn it! Experiential learner he is (and quite artistic too.) This year he has learned about:

The Statue of Liberty (using various media)


The Old Testament Israelites

The Titanic

The White House

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Native Americans

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And here's my personal favorite:

Guess who?! Tragedy this photo was taken before he made a wig out of white felt and cotton balls. The coolest thing about all this, is that not one of these subjects or activities was my idea. This is just what happens in the life of a home-schooled, six-year-old boy. Love it.

Tagged--"Five Things"

5 Things I was Doing 5 Years Ago:

1. Just recently began attending WBC
2. Mother of a 3 1/2-year-old, and a 1 1/2-year-old
3. Still learning the ropes of mothering a food-allergic child
4. Just became pregnant with #3!
5. Volunteering in-office at HeartReach Pregnancy Center

5 Things on My To-Do List Today:

It is almost 11:30 p.m. Let's talk about tomorrow!
1. Sleep in as late as possible
2. Plant spring Tulip bulbs on south side--I can see dirt--yeah!
3. Bake chocolate chip cookie bars with boys
4. Go to the eye doctor
5. Do school lesson plans for next week

5 Things I Would Do With a Million Dollars:

Wow--where to begin?
1. Give to HeartReach Pregnancy Center
2. Give to Blood:Water Mission
3. Building expansion for NCM college in Rwanda
4. Family travel to Hawaii, Washington D.C., and Europe...for starters
5. Build my guys a garage with workout space, wood-working space, car-tinkering space, and space to play hoops

5 Places I Have Lived:

1. Chetek, Wisconsin
2. Minneapolis, Minnesota
3. Richfield, Minnesota
4. Almena, Wisconsin
5. Wasilla, Alaska

5 Jobs I Have Held:
1. carhop waitress at a drive-in restaurant (no roller skates, but I did have the coin changer!)
2. Waitress at a ritzy restaurant on an island (had to boat in to work!)
3. Salesperson at Gussini Shoes in downtown Minneapolis
4. Dorm food service at U of M
5. C.V.T. at various veterinary practices in three states

5 Things I Want to Be Doing in 5 Years:

1. Be a better wife
2. Be a better mom
3. Know God more intimately
4. Homeschool my 14 year-old, 12 year-old, 10 year-old, and 5 year-old sons
5. Live in another state? Who knows.

5 People I Tag:

1. Shannon
2. Sandie
3. Annie
4. Marti
5. Pam

Toilets and Other Hazzards

Being a mom of boys comes with its hazzards--the first of which to be addressed is: toilets. Had I known I'd share life with so many boys, we'd have gone the extra mile and had industrial-strength thrones installed. No toilet-in-a-box is going to do it for this household. Uh-uh, no way. I had never seen so many clogs in my life prior to living with so many boys. Seems to be a regular part of life in this home. It truly is amazing. So if it's "old news", what spurred this blog topic tonight? A few minutes ago, Eaglet came running upstairs yelling, "Mommy, Daddy! Something REALLY bad just happened!" (Tony puts down book, I quit writing e-mail...) "There was no toilet paper, and so I used..." (Right about now I knew this was going to be bad. Tony's and my horrified eyes met and locked...) "...the thingy and I forgot and I accidentally threw it in the toilet and now it's in the toilet and I can't get it out and how are we going to get it out?!" At this point I was seeking clarification as to what the "thingy" was. I decided not to draw things out, and just head down for an inspection. Tony chuckled deviously, apparently because I was on stage for this particular emergency. My response to him was to casually bring to his attention that the upstairs toilet was also clogged and needed tending to! Anyway, turned out Eaglet had decided to use the cardboard roll in lieu of grabbing a new roll of paper out of the bathroom closet. (?) Not quite as bad as I'd imagined. I had been thinking there was a nasty washcloth 1/2 way flushed down the bowl. Supermom was I....I retrieved the cardboard roll and deposited it into a recycled Wal-Mart bag...sealed it shut and wallah! Catastrophe averted. Those million-and-one bags really do come in handy. Eaglet and I gave a humble round of applause and we moved on with the evening. I'll have to address other hazzards in a different post...time to check on how my dear husband is getting along upstairs with the plunger...

Hawaii Take 2!

It happened. We took the 2nd trip in our "2-for-1". On our way to Hawaii, Mom and I were bumped off a flight last year (by choice) and received voucher tickets to fly free to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. So....back to Hawaii we went...and this time, with Little Mister in tow! It was beautiful and green. Good times. Good friends. Good food. Good memories. My little Keiki Honu was a trooper! He didn't cry on either flight, and made great friends with the flight attendants and pilots. He even got to go in the cockpit! He spent a good part of the trip sleeping...there aren't many pictures of him with his eyes open. I sure loved having that special time to bond more with him and get to know him better. And of course, I also loved having special time with my mom. She is one special and fun lady. Together, we can laugh at everything or nothing at all. Once again, we were blessed to stay with our friends Walt and Betty up on the North Shore. They are the sweetest couple and totally took us in as family. My favorite memories of this trip are simple things, like dinners by tiki torch on the patio nearly every night, pineapple ice tea at an outdoor bar, shave ice, shave ice, shave ice, brunch on my birthday in Haleiewa, and of course taking in the sight and sound of the waves. This trip was a lot more laid-back than last year. It was really fun to have already seen most of the island and done most of the things we'd wanted to do there. We were free to just relax and do "whatever" (like eat lots of shave ice.) Now all I have to do is figure out how to make it back next year...

One Blessed Gal

This post will most likely be a little rambling. It is hard to articulate my heart on this. Tony just had a birthday last week. I've been thinking about what a great guy he is, and how thankful I am to do life with him. I appreciate the many things he does for me on a daily basis, and I know I do not tell him often enough. I appreciate things like--him calling to see what I need from the store and picking things up on the way home, keeping the laundry going, switching over the dishes, making sure my van is running well, and shoveling the snow. He makes sure I have time and materials to do the things that keep me sane, like exercising and Bible study. He asks me how he can help me meet my goals. I love how he wrestles with the boys and lets them jump all over him. My heart just swells with joy to hear those little shrieks and giggles throughout our home--all indicating it's "Daddy Time"! He is an amazing daddy; fatherhood comes so naturally to him. He gets up to change diapers in the middle of the night before handing our Little Mister over to me for feedings. He is so willing and loves to take on the house and the boys so I can get a break. He warms up my side of the bed and doesn't mind me putting my icy feet on him. He will talk with me for hours on end--into the wee hours of the morning--about important things or nothing at all. He makes me laugh my head off--usually unintentionally--but wow do I LOVE that quality! We go for walks together, run together, play games together. I can tell him anything. He respects me and my opinions. He is the only one who calls me "Toots", "Hot Stuff", and of course, "1 Hot Mama" (which I have found written in the dust on the back of my van after more than one all-day trip to town!) Happy Birthday, Tony. I love you more than words can say!

Our Quiver

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

Psalm 127: 3, 4

Big Day for Bobcat

We are so proud of our Bobcat...8 years old and a brown belt!