A few things.....

1. Okay, you are probably checking our blog and seeing that it's a different color or format A LOT lately. Sorry, I think I am feeling the need for change these days, call it a mid-winter slump (is it really only mid-winter?)

2. If you have a job, please be thankful for it no matter if you hate it and you have to drag yourself to it each and every day. For those of you who don't know what I do for employment, I spend my days helping those that are laid off. The last 3 days I have spent all day talking with people who have been loyal employees of companies for 10-20-30+ years only to come into work one day and be told that today is their last day. It's ugly out there, jobs are far and few between and the want ads are smaller and smaller. I know a lot of people like to complain about their job or even about having to go to work (myself included) but these days you really need to be thankful for what you have.

3. Have you ever just driven the speed limit? If it's posted 70mph, have you ever just driven 70mph? I have been doing this lately on my drive to Forest Lake and have noticed quite a difference in my stress level. From Pine City to Forest Lake, it's about 45 minutes and the further I drive south on 35, the more cars get on the road and man, the crazier it gets. BUT-if you just are the one being passed and not doing the passing, your commute will be that much better. Really, just try it a few times.......

Miss Emma to the Lake

Not every day in the woods or on the lake with my kids ends up in some spiritual revelation. Sista Emma quickly brought me back down to 4 year old reality yesterday afternoon. 

I was once again given the nod to spend some time chasing crappies on Sunday. I waited until after lunch when I figured the temperature might peak at a balmy 4 degrees. Blue bird skies made it feel warmer than it actually was and I started to get excited with the anticipation of a quiet afternoon pulling in slabs. The two little ones immediately took notice as I began to grab gear. (Note to self - perhaps gear may be better stowed in garage?) Michele prodded me by asking if I "was bringing Emma with this time?" The same Emma that had been begging to go skating or play outside throughout our recurring cold snap. You see, Michele is smart. She's figured out that I have a weakness for taking my kids fishing. Like I'd have this internal dead beat dad feeling of guilt if I would ever leave them at home. And so, as soon as Minnow said the words, it was locked in that I now had a partner in my afternoon adventure.  

I once again changed my focus from Crappie Slayer to Nurturing Father as I now packed treats and juice boxes. Emma's smile and laughter is contagious - as is her whining. Our trip started with excitement and optimism by both of us but it didn't take long for Emma to ask to go home. I had gone through so much effort trying to make Sissy Squarepants comfortable in our small ice house. I admit that bonking her in the head while we erected the fort was a serious mistake on my part. However, the Tootsie Pop to ease the pain was only good for about 90 seconds of pleasure. Emma began her onslaught of requests shortly thereafter, most of which involved being done fishing. It's a weird emotion spending the time to set up camp and get lines set - all the while trying to please a 4 year old, only to have that effort go unnoticed. And where we fish it makes it even more unique that we are only minutes from home. Just far enough to where I am not yet comfortable abandoning my gear to run my partner home. Yet close enough that I feel like phoning her mother to come and pick her up on shore.

She was sent out of the house to play hockey. (I brought sticks in anticipation of boredom - but that trick works better with Tyler.) She was allowed to go on a short "walk about". (not much doing on a bitter cold Sunday.) Emma even sat in the car for a bit which I now see as only a teaser to a little girl longing to go home.

I stared down the motionless ice hole and pondered my next move when all of the sudden Miss Emma unzipped the door to the fish house, stepped in, sat in her Scoobie Do chair and looked at me and said.......... "Dad, I have to go Poop."

That was it for me. Time to throw in the towel. Call it a day. (a 45 minute day)

I sent her back to the car and told her it would take me a while to undo all that had been done. She watched from the window as I reeled up 2 of the 3 lines (I always like to leave one down as I pack up camp), disassembled the fish house, turned off and cooled the heater, put the auger and shovels back in the TrailBlazer and policed the area. And wouldn't you know it? - the bobber of the only wet line went below the surface. With camp broken down I reeled in our only keeper crappie of the day. I lipped the little fella and walked over to show my on again/off again partner and like a champ she asked, "Did you catch that one or did I catch it, Dad?" Miss Emma had the audacity to ask if the only crappie of the shortened day was "taken" on her rod.  :)   

I dropped the fish back into the hole and we headed for home. Maybe grumbling a bit on the outside but I assure you I was smiling on the inside. Made me even prouder that I had gone through the effort when later that night when Tyler called, the first thing Emma told him was that her and dad had gone fishing. Yep - we went alright!

Just be.....

I just read this following paragraph on a blog that I follow daily. She was trying to put her 9 month old to bed (who usually just laid down and fell asleep) and he was crying and crying so she was 'forced' to pick him up and rock him to sleep even though she had plans to leave for dessert with a friend that night.


I am a doer. I know that I'll never be the kind of mother who is just with her kids, not easily. I spend a lot of my day trying to carve out a little time for myself. That's okay. I'm not going to add that to my huge mental list of mothering deficiencies. It's the way that I am. I have to be reminded and reminded to treasure, cherish, revel, breathe. To just be with them. Because just being under him in the rocking chair meant every thing to him. Clean bathrooms and organized pictures mean next to nothing.

Don't think I could have said it any better. Here's to my resolution to focus on the 'now' not 'later.'

A 2 Foot Minnesotan

As you all know, I enjoy the outdoors and hope that my kids will too, though I have always felt that I didn't want them to like the things I like just to please dad. I do jump at every opportunity to get them in the wild and although I've had to change some of my own selfish big game desires, I think I've finally found another reason to love Ma Nature. With children I've learned not to focus so much on the "destination" but more on the journey. (once again, another poetic way to say "we caught no fish")

Oh, we've caught fish before. Tyler and his pal Eric have accumulated a nice chronological history of East-Central MN crappies over the years. I can look back through our photos and see quite a few examples of these buddies pulling in their fair share. Their most recent trip, just prior to Christmas, produced a handful of "eaters".

By this entry is not about the older boy's accolades. This time it's my turn to share Logan's first duet with Dad. 2 Sundays ago, after endless days of Nor'Western Freeze, the weather broke and I was intent on getting out of the house. I proposed a day of ice fishing to Michele and made an offer to take Emma with as a sign to my wife that I was serious. At 4, Emma has become independent enough to not require constant supervision and a worthy fishing buddy. Given the "go ahead", I immediately swung into my logistical readying routine. Grabbing rods and tackle, packing some snacks, staging the boots and hauling out the auger. It was then that the smallest Kirby took notice that something was brewing and began to do the Logan Hop in the living room while repeating, "Me go too? Logan too?" As I laced my Rocky's, I stared down the possibility of 2 toddlers in a small fish house but how could I say no to taking my youngest son fishing. I was almost to the point of tears: it was so damn cute to look and listen while our baby begged to fish. I stalled a bit and took a load out to the TrailBlazer. It didn't help my dilemma, Logan was still adamant that he was ready to take the big leap into the ice fishing world and Emma is always game for an adventure.


It was then that my wife devised a plan for us to each take a youngin'. The girls would head to North Branch for some post holiday shopping and the boys could hit the hard water. Emma went for it and Logan was just happy to realize that he was getting "the call." Like the rookie finally hearing from the club in the Big Leagues, Logan would, this day, get his turn to fish with Dad...just him and pops taking on the underwater world. His enthusiasm never waned as he put on his snow pants and gloves. Oblivious to the moment at hand, I continued on my pre-fishing routine and then all at one I noticed that Bear was taking it all in and appreciating every new experience along the way.


Logan's been fishing before but this was going to be different. Once I realized how BIG this one day could be for my little man, I changed my goals for the day from multiple catches to multiple memories. At the bait shop, I hung him over the minnow tank as my father once did for me. We singled out a sizable shiner among the crappie minnows and added him to our quarry. Although I heard that the fish were biting on waxies, I figured a bucketful of minnows for a 2 year old would be money well spent. My son's vocabulary continues to expand daily and endless chatter streamed from his car seat as we approached West Rush Lake. Other's took heed of a beautiful winter's day evidenced by the busy lake. More for Logan to soak in. More to see, smell and hear.

A friend of ours provided a cozy 4 hole permanent ice house. My pint sized partner watched as I screwed in the propane tank for the heater. He shuffled across the ice while I transferred gear from the vehicle to the house. As I meticulously stowed the gear on all the right hanging hooks, Bear took notes. But when I fired up the ice auger and began to drill holes, my boy stared in awe as if I was about to pilot the space shuttle. The look on his face at that moment made the entire day a complete success and we hadn't even wet a line yet.
Sure we got around to the particulars of ice fishing: the lessons about the heater, baiting of the hooks and the news of the snacks. We shared M&M's and sunflower seeds - never at the same time! Logan tended to his pole like a champ as I can attest that he reeled in to check his minnow approximately 57 times. Reeled my two rods in another 20 or so. When the action slowed, he danced or sang to keep me entertained. When the heater made a sauna out of the small shanty, Logan took the opportunity to play outside, shovel snow, and check on our neighbors. Ma called to get the official report and Bear was happy to give it to her.
The bobbers went below the surface a total 2 times in 4 hours. Both times they were met with a swing and a miss. Logan's optimism and attitude never wavered. He's my boy - already knowing that there will be other days. There will be days when "they come jumping in the boat". And days like today, when all of the entertainment you could ever need is in the minnow bucket or even sitting right across from you in the fish house. Thank you Logan. I remember another reason why I love fishing so much... because the joy it brings kids.












and the joy it brings Dads.....

Basketball Time!

We spent last Saturday at the Waconia gym watching Tyler's team play in a tournament. They have improved a ton over last year and so far seem to be dominating most of the teams they are playing. I just happened to be trying to get some pictures of him in action and was able to get him with a video clip making a bucket. He is #30 in case you aren't sure.....

They did very well in their first 2 games and in the championship game lost a heartbreaker, 28-29. One of Tyler's teammates put up a good shot that went half way in and out in the last 4 seconds of the game.

Enjoy!

Honest Scrap Tag

Okay, I will admit that I am becoming addicted to reading other people's blogs. It's amazing! Blog land is huge! On Tuesday, I spent the day at home with Emma and had the chance to sit on the couch, watch movies and explore blog land. I got hooked on blog land by a contact with an old HS friend(Thanks Tina!) who has a family blog and then I started reading more about them in the newspapers and now I have a list of 5-10 that I check out every day.

Is it a waste of time? Probably. Is it interesting? Heck ya! There are a million stories out there and I think the most pertinent thing for me is that, I'm not alone. There are other women, Mom's, working Mom's, stay at home Mom's and wives that are thinking some of the same thoughts and are dealing with the same issues that I am.

So, with that being said... here is a post that I found on a site called an Honest Scrap Tag and here are the rules:
A) First list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep! B) Pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

I'm only going to list 5 to save you the pain... I'm really just curious to see what things I can come up with and admit to others. :)


HONEST SCRAP TAG:

1. I leave my clothes on the floor. (if my Mother was reading this, she would be shaking her head right now) I don't know why I do it but for some reason, I do. Around my bedroom and even in the bathroom, you will find little piles of my clothes. Shameful, I know,-I should know better but it's just easier and it saves me time.
2. At times, I can be a little too sarcastic. (Kirby is now nodding his head yes) I think I try to be a funny sarcastic to make myself seem like a funny person. I like to make people laugh and my way of doing that is to be sarcastic. Hmm, could be a late-new year's resolution huh?
3. I'm not a morning person. (again, Kirby is nodding his head so much his neck now hurts) I do not enjoy waking up to an alarm, I prefer to wake up on my own and have my own schedule of when I need to get out of bed. Unfortunately, my life does not allow this. I am, however hoping that when I retire that I will be able to begin my days when I want them to start. But for now, be aware that I'm not going to talk a lot when I get out of bed, I will look somewhat grumpy and appear to not be in a good mood. But, that does not mean that I don't love you.
4. I'm shy. Really I am. Put me in a room with a bunch of people that I don't know and I will be a wall flower the whole night unless I am forced to move. At times my shyness can appear that I am snobbish and I have been told that a time or two after someone got to know me. Starting a conversation with a complete stranger scares the crap out of me.
5. I'm an overachiever. (I just learned this at work a few months ago) I can't say no and offer to help to solve every problem, work on every project and take everything on. Now, it's not necessarily a bad thing...but it can be seen as one if you are my co-worker/friend. So, I am slowly learning to say no when asked.....

Okay, ouch... that was a little painful but honest. (Jeff, keep your comments to yourself)

Warmth.

Sorry, I just needed to look at some pictures of what warmth looks like and remind myself that winter isn't forever and I thought I would share them.....

Tyler at the RC pool figuring out that drinking pool water isn't that tasty even if you are really thirsty.

Emma in our 'home' pool soaking up the rays.

Logan not quite sure if he's ready to get his whole body wet.

I figure that there is only 3 more months left of winter right?