Moose Meat

Mark went out scouting for moose today, hoping to find some good sign in the forest near our house. Andrew said at one point today, "I really like to eat moose meat. It's my favorite. If daddy gets a moose today, I'll be delighted."
It was all I could do to just agree with him instead of laughing at his vocabulary usage!

Strawberries!

Our house has a delightful patch of strawberries both in the front and back of the house. The first time we had a number of them ripe, the boys and I headed out to pick some for dessert. We got quite a few, and they enjoyed them immensely. Somehow, there hasn't been any number of ripe ones to bother going out to pick...they keep disappearing one by one...hmmm.

Still reading buddies!

Jacob and Anna settled themselves at the picnic table to read together!

Church Work Day

A few weekends ago, we had a Saturday church work day. Quite a few people showed up, and we got quite a bit done. Mark's main concern was getting the roof put over the handicapped access ramp that the Colorado team built for us. They made good progress, but ended up needing more materials than they planned on, so it's not finished yet. We also needed to clear the brush and tree branches from around the back of the church and trailer for a fire safe zone, as well as sanding and resealing the railings.

Even Grandma, who's 87, helped all day by putting church name labels in the books in the church library, so that when they're loaned out they have a better chance of making it back!




Dakota did a great job with the sander. At one point, Andrew had been looking for a job, so I had him wipe down the railing that was already sanded so that it could be varnished. Well, after that, he stayed right behind Dakota wiping as he went! His race helmet visor helped keep the sawdust out of his eyes!









Jacob helping clean up the work tools! Now, to explain the boys' helmets...
Earlier in the day, they had both been at a birthday party with a "race car" theme. So all of the kids at the party had these racing helmets to wear instead of traditional party hats. Jacob is still, a few weeks later, wearing his on a routine basis!













After the work day, we all headed to one family's house for a bonfire and cookout. The helmets served a purpose once again in keeping smoke out of the kids' eyes while they roasted their hot dogs!

Sleepy Baby

You know those moments when you realize your kids are really quiet, so you think they're probably up to nothing but trouble? That's what I thought...but obviously I was wrong!














And then one minute she's happily munching her lunch , and the next minute I look over and she's completely out, cheese still in hand!

Friday Funnies

From Reader's Digest, August '08
Note: I'm not a golf fan whatsoever. But this just made me laugh).

Fred comes home from his usual Saturday golf game. "What a terrible day," he tells his wife. "Harry dropped dead on the tenth tee."
"Oh that's awful!" she says.
"You're not kidding," says Fred. "For the whole back nine, it was hit the ball, drag Harry, hit the ball, drag Harry..."

Friday Funnies

From Reader's Digest, August '08

"I have CDO. It's like OCD, but with the letters in alphabetical order, like they're supposed to be."

My goatie girls

Jacob during soccer

Now that boy is outstanding in his field...

Fun visit

Two weeks ago, Nana and Papa came down for one of Andrew's soccer games, and then over to our place for dinner afterwards (that would be the day of the infamous Crock-Pot incident). We thoroughly enjoyed our time with them, and Andrew was so pleased to have more spectators at his game!
At bedtime, they followed their usual routine of Papa reading bedtime stories...though Andrew wanted to read to him this time! Despite the rough afternoon, it was a great evening!

Reading Buddies

Caught these two just hanging out reading books together! I'm still not sure if Anna climbed up on Jacob's bed by herself (I've seen her do it before), or if Jacob encouraged her to join him by hoisting her up there (I've see him do that before, too). Needless to say, they both sat there for a good 20 minutes just looking at books together! Ah, sweet serenity!

"Baby Blues" Defined

Soccer

Yesterday was Andrew's last soccer practice/game of the summer. It has been a great experience for him, and he's loved every minute of it! The boy I babysit, Clay was on the team that they scrimmage, our neighbor Collin was on his team, and another boy with whom he had both on his t-ball team and swimming lesson class. So he really feels like he has friends in Seward, and it helped me in that regard, as well!

The last few weeks of scrimmage games have been quite entertaining ("Wrong goal! Go the other way!" -type stuff), but it's also been very cool to see them start to "get it." Though I must say that we are relieved to have 6 weeks of 2 nights/week come to close...time to get focused on school!

Tongue twister

Baby and a boy with a busted lip play boat in a box...

Now say it ten times fast.

The many faces of Anna

And yes, every picture is different!

Just for fun...

Down by the bay

Anna and Jacob had a less eventful time than Andrew.
Anna's always just a ham!

















And Jacob was experiencing great joy and triumph at this moment...he had, after all, succeeded in scaring away this seagull! He had been chasing it down for a while till it finally took off, and he was so excited!

My heart by the sea...