Happy Birthday Grandma Joyce!

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear grandma joyce
happy birthday to you!!!


Wishing you a happy birthday.  Sending birthday hugs and love to you.

Love,
Benji, Carolyn, Katie and John

happy 7th birthday Larissa

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear larissa
happy birthday to you!

wishing you a happy 7th birthday.  hope you have a special day!

love,
u. benjamin, a. heather, benji, carolyn, katie and john

Meet Rosie

The other night the kids and me were sitting in the living room.  We heard to door open and shut, but didn't hear Daddy's boots.  Then we heard a knock on the door.  Kids went flying over and found this waiting on the rug:

She's almost 2 months old.  I believe she's what is considered a blue german shepherd.  Either way, a registered german shepherd.  The kids just adore her and she's great with them.  Although they're learning real quick about keeping their toys up and out of the way  her mouth :)

 

It's just like we had another baby.  Only I didn't have a pregnancy or delivery.  She keeps me on my toes all day and up during the night.  Just like adding a new baby to the family, we're having to re-adjust  our daily schedule.  I never had a dog growing up, but watching others with dogs, I know the hard work in the beginning will more than pay off.   She is a darling lil pup, which makes the extra work so worth while.

 

Wordless Wednesday

I'm thankful for these four.

Benji is 9

happy birthday to you

happy birthday to you

happy birthday dear benji

happy birthday to you!!!

 It seems impossible for you to be turning N-I-N-E today!  You continue to love all things related to horses,hunting and the outdoors.  It makes me smile when I see you teaching the other kids about the things you love.  We just want you to know just how much we love you.  We hope your day is special, just like you are!

Happy 9th Birthday Benji!

Love,

Dad, Mom, Carolyn, Katie and John  

happy birthday grandpa ben

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear 'grandpop'
happy birthday to you!!

Love,
Benji, Carolyn, Katie and John

Happy10th Birthday Jacob

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear jacob
happy birthday to you!

Love,
U. Benjamin, A. Heather,
Benji, Carolyn, Katie and John

And then there was John

This not-so-little squirt would be content to play outside, preferrably in the dirt, sand or mud.  Most days I look out the window and know exactly where he is playing by the cloud of dust billowing in the air.

 He turned 5 back in Sept, but we were just able to celebrate with family the other weekend. 



fall pictures: 3 of the 4

The fall colors this year have been amazing.  The weather was predicted to start getting chillier and rain.  So we took the next best day and went to a nearby county park to grab some pictures.  It just so happened that very same day John went to work with Daddy.  I didn't have the heart to keep him back just so I could get pictures.  So we worked with 3 of the 4.  We got some keepers, but for some reason my computer is being finicky about which one's it wants to upload.  So these are whatca get! :)

Now the colors have faded, the weather is much cooler.  But maybe we'll just add more warm layers and head back there again with all four kids.

Logging Congress Wk end

Rewind back to the beginning of September.  There was a large Logging Congress on the other side of the state (just a 1/2 hour from my parents). Because of some possible plans later on that weekend, we were undecided if it would work out.  Last minute we decided to go and let things fall into place.   It turned out things fell into place better than we'd ever imagine.

It was a cool, rainy (drizzly) day.  But the kids had fun looking at the equipment and gathering free merchandise from the various vender's.  We came back with bags full of loot.

It turned out we were able to roll into my parents late Friday afternoon for the remainder of the weekend, (giving them a 30 minute notice that we were on our way).  Later that night I found myself holding onto my Grandma's hand in the ER and saying my final goodbye alongside my Mom, Aunt and a dear family friend.  The weekend certainly didn't go as we originally were planning, but I was just thankful that things worked out the way that they did.  So we could be there for those moments.  

  

The hunt has begun....

To Benji there are 4 seasons:  Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall Hunting!!  Much to his delight we've officially entered into Hunting Season.  He's had quite a bit of luck this season with small game.  Handful of squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits.  And squirrel stew.

John cracks me up.  He always.always. holds the animal like a toy.  Holding it in his arm like a baby kitten.  It took some serious persuasion on Benji's part to get John to hold the chipmunk like this. (smile)  But don't get the wrong impression.  He's still 110% a mighty hunter.  Sometimes Daddy and Benji try to sneak out the door early in the morning, but John is quick to stir and quick to dress to get out the door.

Now the countdown begins for rifle season...

5 6 7 8

John turned 5 the other week.  So, until Benji's birthday in November, the kids are now 5, 6, 7 and 8.  When people ask how old they are, it makes me smile as I say, "five, six, seven and eight".  It also makes me wonder where time has gone that we have kids that old already.

Happy 6th Bday Meri!

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear meri
happy birthday to you!!

Love,
Uncle Benjamin, Aunt Heather
Benji, Carolyn, Katie and John

Happy Birthday Wyatt!

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear wyatt
happy birthday to you!!

We're wishing you a very happy 5th birthday.  Hoping you have a fun-filled day!  Miss ya'll!

love,
uncle benjamin, aunt heather,
benji, carolyn, katie and john

JOHN is 5

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear john
happy birthday to you!!

love,
dad, mom, benji, carolyn and katie

 

happy 60th grandpa ray!

happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear grandpa ray
happy birthday to you!!!

love,
benji, carolyn, katie and john

End of Summer Splash

We hit the local beach the other day to celebrate the end of summer.  Just like we did almost exactly one year ago, lacking 2 days.  This year we were also lacking 2 cousins who moved to CO this summer.  We miss them dearly and think often of them.  But times like this, make the reality of their move set in even more.

I can't locate the pictures from our trip last year at the moment.  But I'm amazed at how much the kids have changed in a year.  Not to mention the changes that have taken place in our lives in a year.  Summer is coming to a close.  Another school year is about to begin.  We're looking forward to what fall has in store.


 This picture is for you Larissa and Wyatt.. we missed having you with us this year!!

.

Peggy's Cove {Nova Scotia}

We were over 2000 miles from home on our trip, but were pleasantly surprised to learn that a friend (Sheila & Arnold) and her family lived nearby the area we were visiting.  John was equally pleased as they had 3 little kids close in age!  They lived nearby Peggy's Cove, so spent some time there one afternoon together.  It really was a neat place to visit.

This picture doesn't do justice, but this was a steep, rocky drop off.  They had signs everywhere warning not to go below, but of course there were quite a few people on them.  We were told quite a few people get swept off the rocks, most never make it back.  The day we were there the ocean was very calm, but most days the waves crash up against the rocks, spraying up on the top. 

I'm bummed that this is the only picture I got of their family.  No Mom/Dad.. just their kids with our kid.

The kids had a blast climbing on the rocks.  Kinda like mountain goats. 

Naturally they went the hardest route to get from point A to point B. 

 

Man, I love this man!

shores and fresh seafood