Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. Our day was spent putting up Christmas lights, watching A LOT of football (well, not me personally but every time I walked through the living room it was on), Tyler working on his school projects and all of us just enjoying being home with one another.

Here is a picture from Emma's preschool stone soup supper. Her preschool class sang a few songs and then each of them were to bring in a vegetable to make a community soup with. It was very cute and I'm afraid that I will never not be able to tear up while watching one of my children perform in public. I guess I'm just "one of those Mom's."

I cooked a nice meal and Emma chose to eat the drumstick. And not to be outdone by his big sister, Logan also opted for the drumstick. What a pair........

Tyler just went with a loaded plate of everything that was available and seemed content with his meal.

We are very thankful that we are all healthy and have food on the table and a roof over our head. Happy Thanksgiving (bring on Christmas!)

Gopher VB

As some of you may know, I really enjoy watching and following the UofM Gopher Volleyball team. In fact, it's my goal to buy season tickets in the next year or two and take Emma to every home game to help 'introduce' her to the game of volleyball. But, for starters, Kirby and I thought that it would be a nice idea to take both Emma and Logan to a game and to be adventurous on a Friday night (the truth is we couldn't find a babysitter due to school plays occurring in the area so it was either we go and take the kids or don't go at all and I really wanted to see the gophers play one more time this year.) :)

So, after work, we packed up and headed south down the interstate with a quick stop at Arby's in Lino Lakes for dinner and then made our way to the Sports Pavilion.

Tickets were cheap for this home stand due to it being the last regular season home game so at $4 a ticket, we really couldn't go wrong and Logie-bear was free-added bonus!

Emma and Logan started the game with a quick snack from home.

Logan really enjoyed practicing his climbing skills by going up and down the stairs for most of the night.

Eventually Goldie the Gopher made his way up to our area and the kids were excited. He came over and spent a few minutes giving high fives to Emma and Logan and they were tickled pink of course!


Logan was a little shy at first, of course but was brave enough to give Goldie a 'low five' before he left.

Logan's favorite part of the whole night was singing the fight song and doing the arm motions......

It was a good night and I'm glad we went. I didn't get to see every point of the game but the parts of the game that I did see there was some excellent defense being played on both sides of the net. One of the Gophers OH got hurt in the 2nd set and the whole gym was quite as the Gopher's offense is geared around her. She didn't come back but the other players stepped up their games and the Gophers won the match in 4 sets.

Go Gophers!

Report card time!

Last night I attended Tyler's school conference. It's not easy going from the elementary school to the middle school but Tyler seems to be keeping right on track. Here are his grades from the first quarter:

Band A
Language Arts B

Math B+

PE P

Reading A-

Science A-

Social Studies A-

Spelling A

So, as you can see, he is a smart kid! The teacher comments all stated that he is a good leader and an excellent worker. We are very proud of him!

Winter.

Well the cold weather had finally arrived.  I feel like I haven't seen the sun for a week, oh wait, I really  haven't seen the sun for a week.   Welcome winter.  

As most of you know, I am not overly fond of cold, snow or lack of sunshine.  I am however, quite fond of Christmas.  Unlike my big brother who doesn't enjoy walking into Walmart 2 days after Halloween and being greeted with a huge, decorated Christmas tree;  I rather enjoy it!     I'm not sure what it is but I love the sights and sounds and feelings that are associated with Christmas and the sooner the better!  

Perhaps it's because to me, it's the one highlight of putting up with all this snow and cold weather.  The Christmas season allows me to over look that it's freezing cold outside and it's going to take me an hour and a half to drive to work today and I only live 3 blocks away from my office.  It gives me the chance to focus on the excitement that the snow is here and for Emma, that means Santa is coming.  Or, maybe it's just the fact that Christmas is the only time of year that I can take a few days of vacation! 

But, whatever the reason may be, if you see me wandering around the Menard's Christmas sections with a goofy look on my face... you now know why. 

Here's a few photo's of the kids in their fancy outfits for our family picture day.   

And here's few highlights from the past week:

*Emma learned the letter V this week at preschool and guess what her father helped her pick out for show and tell?  Any guesses?  A hunting Vest.  What a surprise huh?

*Logan is developing into quite the hockey player and much to his father's delight, asks to play almost every night.  Do they make hockey skates in size xxxxxxsmall?   Kirby wants to know.

*Tyler has started his basketball season and has retired his football cleats.  It looks like for the next 3-4 months most of our Saturdays will be spent in a gym. 

*Kirby and Tyler had a good time deer hunting in Warroad but didn't see a deer.  This weekend Kirby is hunting with our neighbor in a nearby location. 

*My Dad is with us recovering from his surgery he had on 11/4.  He is doing well and plans to head back to his life in Monticello on Sunday.

*And I am just working and keeping track of everyone else!  

Take care and here's to another busy week of life passing us by......  

God vs. Santa

As most of you know, Emma has been attending preschool at a local church in Pine City. Wednesday's are their worship days when Pastor Vicki takes the class and teaches them a bible lesson/story.  Emma has been full of new songs and new stories and it's been a joy to watch and listen to her relate the bible to everyday life as a preschooler.

The most recent revelation occurred the other day as I was driving her from preschool to daycare in Rush City.  It was a quiet ride for the most part until Emma said this to me:

"Mommy, God made me. And he made the tree's, the sky, the ground and the oceans."

Me:  "Really? God must be smart huh? What else did he make?"

Emma:  "He made you and Logan and Daddy and Tyler but not the houses."

Me:  "Hmm, who makes the houses then?"

Emma:  "His helper people. Oh, and he doesn't make the toys either, Santa does that. God talks to Santa and tells him who is being good and then they talk to each other."

At this point I was laughing with tears rolling down my face.....  Oh to be so innocent and have a fresh view on how the world runs.  (I think some politicians could use a few days of preschool themselves.)

We do love our Emma!

Ahh, the annual deer hunt....

(Tyler 2006)
As you can see from the previous post from Kirby, it's that time of year when thousands of men (and some women) head out in the woods in search of shooting a deer and obtaining bragging rights for the next year on who shot the biggest, ugliest, shortest, prettiest, etc deer.   I wish my husband was as passionate about doing the laundry as he is about hunting or fishing. :)  

(Kirby 2006)

Another year rolls around when the women are left behind taking care of the children who are not old enough to hunt yet while the men of the house sit out in the woods with their own thoughts.   I think I would go crazy if I actually could sit and just think and think with no distractions.  My lists of things to do, things to get done and things to think about would be endless and I might decide to not come down from the stand in fear that I will never get those lists accomplished.   

(Tyler, 2006)

I don't understand the 'need' or 'want' yet for this annual event and I'm hoping that maybe I will once the kids are all old enough to venture out with Dad and therefor leaving me at home by myself, with my thoughts.  Maybe then I will come to treasure this annual event.  

But, until that day comes, I will continue to think my husband (and the thousands  of others) are crazy for sitting our in the freezing cold, waiting/hoping for an animal to walk by.   I prefer to snuggle up at home, watching endless Barney and Barbie movies with my children, waiting/hoping to get all the laundry done for the weekend. 

Outlook '08

No - this is not my last ditch effort to get anyone to run to the Polls. I'm just as tired as everyone else of our Political Propaganda. This is my annual Pre-Deer Season ramble. Each year for the last 5 or so years, a few of us have thrown down some accounts of what each season brings. Some is comical. Some is sad. All is historic and it's made for a nice little account of the passing years. And it's also given me a chance to funnel some creative writing out of my head and into the world. So - here's my Pre-season take on things this year. (oh yeah, I'm super excited that Tyler will be joining me again! It's always nice to have my wingman along.)

My GUYS...

So, one of My GUYS is about to become a baby daddy for the first time. Last week he proudly skipped out on a invitation for a stellar day of fall fishing to take in his unborn child's 2nd ultrasound. His family awaits their first grandchild so the whole child-rearing process can begin anew. I'm sure he's nervous. There isn't a manual that can teach you the things he'll be expected to know. My GUY acts tough but deep down this is what he's wanted for so long - a wife, a dog, a home - A FAMILY. My GUY is happy.

Another one of My Guys is about to take the sacred vows of marriage. Like a fine wine, he's gracefully aged over the years. Although his hairline has receded, his optimism never has and he has been duly rewarded with a beauty of a fiance that makes My Guy's heart pitter-patter like he's in grade school again. But the upcoming wedding brings with it a waterfall of nerves. Financial responsibility, in-laws and thank you cards are just the beginnings of his worries. My Guy is anxious.

Another on of My Guys was laid off not so long ago. We sometimes take work for granted and think that it's always going to be there. And then it's not. Weekly commutes down the 35 corridor from Up North to the Cities became a necessity when he decided to better himself through law school. But I can't imagine those law school bills are very forgiving on a wife's income. Yet My Guy remains upbeat and optimistic. He's the glass "half-full" type that was able to visit a young island boy to refill that second half of the glass. My Guy knows he's putting in his time.

Yet another one of My Guys was turned down for a job he's been after for 8 months. Stuck in a job he no-longer loves, My Guy went out on a limb and accepted some limited risks for his family - going back to school, potential for relocation and an all around overhaul of what had become comfortable routine. Not wanting to commit career suicide, he kept his mission privileged information. And as that mission appeared to be "in the bag", one of the God-given traits that make him unique disqualified him from the whole ordeal. My Guy's friends stood beside him and took him hunting and fishing. His wife reassured him of her constant love and current state of content and his children still consider him a super-hero. My Guy is thankful for unanswered prayers.

Life doesn't slow down and wait for us. Life comes at you at full-speed until we hit that pre-dawn woodline. If My Guys can, they will be in the woods on Saturday morning. If they can't, they'll wish they were and patiently await the reports. The Opening morning frost will baptize My Guys in to remembering that they are just Bricks in the Wall, each a piece of something much bigger than themselves. And when the blood starts to slow down and the heart starts to re-charge over another God given deer season, My Guys will sit in silence and think of all that has become of them. It won't take long for them to remember that each of us carries daily responsibilities and dreams that can become overbearing and all-consuming. And as they wait for deer, most will realize that no deer could make them happier than they already are. Life is good. God is good.
And to all of My Guys - there are too many to name - Shoot straight.
Out
Kirby