Happy Birthday: 34 years and 1 month

Last month Manny celebrated his 34th birthday with Mud Pie and Elk Hunting a long hike.  He had a good time out in the mountains, but got lonely for his family, so came home and took the two oldest boys back out with him.  They all had fun, but came home so dirty, I didn’t even want to talk about it.

So, why are we celebrating again?  Well, it seems old age has some advantages.  He has no idea how old he is.  In the weeks before his birthday he was asked his age several times, and each time he told the person something different.  These false ages ranged from 27-36 years of age.  The funny part is that he had no idea he was lying to anyone.  Of course, the kids always caught him, and informed him of his mistake.

Now, when someone asks him his age, he looks around for one of the children…to find out how old he is.

Happy Birthday, and a month, Honey!  I love you!

An Interview with Daniel

This morning, I thought I would find out what kind of Birthday Cake Daniel would like to have, since his birthday is coming up next week.  This is how the conversation went:

Me:  Daniel, you have a birthday coming.

Daniel:  That is because I am getting bigger.  Look my hands are big.

Me:  They sure are big.

Daniel:  And I am strong too.

Me:  Yes you are.  Hey, I was wondering what kind of cake you would like to have for your birthday.

Daniel:  Yes.

Me:  What do you mean.

Daniel:  I want cake.

Me:  Okay, but what kind?

Daniel:  The kind we eat.

Me:  What flavor.

Daniel:  Like we had before.  Chocolate, Carmel, yummy.

Me:  Like Daddy’s? [Daddy had an Ice-cream Pie]

Daniel:  Yah, and the other kind!

Me:  What other kind?

Daniel:  Like you made before.  The big one.

Me:  Do you mean Banana Cake, or Chocolate Cake, in layers?

Daniel:  Yah!

Me:  Pick one.

Daniel:  One!

I guess I’ll be making the decision, and evidently, he will enjoy it. 

A Typical Evening

Before I thought Adam was old enough to do more than look at pictures, Manny began reading to him from the Bible each evening.  Now this reading time encompasses all the boys.  Over noise and playing, he reads; stopping at appropriate times, to ask questions or invite discussion.

It amazes me, that a man who always wants to ‘get to bed early’ will spend and forty-five minutes reading to his children, especially, when the text could be read in ten minutes, or less. 

This time is one of the high-lights of our days.  Everyone gathered, and no chores to be done; relaxing yet lively. 

Peek-a-Boo

Gideon had just stacked the little cups, helping to put dishes away, and being very proud of himself, was busy announcing to the world, “I did that (clap, clap), I did that.”  He pointed his work out to everyone who walked by.

When I opened the other side of the cupboard to stack the plates, he saw me, and looked intently for a moment, not sure of what he was seeing.  Then he looked outside the cupboard.  I followed him, and a game of peek-a-boo ensued.  Back and forth we went, smiles broadening with each new “peek.”

Now, he tries to be there, when ever I am putting dishes away, sure that chores are a ton of fun.

Firewood

  

For months now, they have been gathering, cutting, splitting and stacking it.  Today they finished.  All of our firewood for the year is ready to use!

At first it was slow going, but, as they say, “practice makes perfect.”  Manny and the boys soon worked out a system to efficiently handle the work.  They set up two splitting stumps, and Benjamin manned one while Adam manned the other. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manny split one log after another, while the boys gathered the split wood and kept the stumps ready.  They hauled the wood by hand, in wheelbarrows, the tractor bucket, and finally, in their cozy coupes.

Everyone got involved, and it often became a contest.  They loved to see who could haul the most. Daniel and Caleb competed against each other, hauling wood as fast as they could; while Adam and Benjamin also sought to out work each other, and together, out-do Manny.  In the end, everyone won, as the last of the wood was stacked away in the garage this morning.  We will all be warm this winter.

First Snow of the Season

Friday morning it was freezing.  I looked at the garden and knew there was no hope of saving it with the sprinkler.  The leaves had already turned black.  All that day, I waited for it to warm up…then the kids and I would clean up the back yard for winter, but by 6 p.m., it was still cold and only getting colder.

I harvested the last of the squash and gourds, collected the beans and peas, and every sunflower head that was remotely ripe.  Then Manny came home and informed me that it was suppose to snow a foot that night!

The next morning there was only a light dusting, and I thought maybe the worst of it was over…but NO, it snowed all Saturday, and Sunday.

The kids absolutely loved it.  The first time they went out, they dressed to the hilt.  Every bit of snow clothing was drug out and put on:  Hats, gloves, pants, boots and coats; there was even a scarf or two. 

Then, Saturday afternoon, Manny and the three oldest boys helped a friend split and stack firewood.  It was then that they decided it was not that cold, and began venturing out with a bit less clothing.  By Sunday afternoon, they were daring each other:  Who could be out the longest, in the least clothing?

In and out they ran.  Around and around the maple tree they ran. 

Benjamin could stay out the longest, in his bare feet, but Daniel seemed the bravest, with no shirt.  Carrying his balloon with him, he ran as long as Caleb managed to.  The whole time he was running he was instructing his balloon not to be scared of the cold, and promising not to drop it.

As they ran, it continued to snow.  Deeper and deeper it piled up, leaving us with the feeling that it was time to hibernate.  So we all curled up in front of the fireplace to read aloud.  Manny read to us from The Door in the Dragon’s Throat, by Frank Peretti.  It is a children’s book, but exciting enough to keep an adult interested.

Later, Manny joined in the fun.  He was out there “bathing” in the snow, rubbing it all over his body, and telling the boys to get ”tough and smelly.”  Later they had a snow ball fight.

Adam is the only one who insisted on dressing up. He has decided that getting cold is not really worth while.  I tend to agree with him.  No “tough and smelly” for me.

“Through boys through!  Get him!” 

Maybe they will join the Polar Bear Club this year.  Manny would love to, but I think the boys are too young.  Does not the Polar Bear Club have a minimum age?

Catching some Zzzz’s

Lately, we have been finding Daniel in some interesting places.  It seems he must be growing; because, despite naps, everything goes quiet…and then we find him:

…outside.  His shirt was near the basketball hoop…

…in his closet.  Fully dressed…

…and then, not so dressed.

Battling Bugs

As part of our schooling, I am having the boys make a weather journal.  It is good practice in observation, and unbeknownst to them, they are learning to spell the months of the year, by writing the date each day.

When I planned this assignment, I meant to have a weather station set up in the house before school began, but, when I jumped the gun, and started two weeks early, some plans fell by the wayside.  Because we lack even a thermometer, the boys offered to ride their bikes to the bank, to observe the temperature.  Now, reading a digital sign was not what I had in mind when I planned this…but neither was turning on the computer, for this information.  So, off they go, each morning, as soon as their chores are done, to observe the temperature.

This worked great the first week.  The second week, though, there began to be some competition…one boy working extra  fast, with the purpose of leaving the others behind.  Occasionally, in their hurry to be the first to report the temperature, they would bring home the time, or interest rate…sometimes it took three trips to get a just reading.

Then, one morning, Adam came in holding one eye, already turning purple.  “Mama, I got hit.”

Benjamin was right behind him, looking sad.  “I got the bug that hit him,” he reported, holding aloft a three inch long grasshopper.

It wasn’t a fight!  Riding along, he had been smacked in the eye.

It was good to see how they pulled together during a tragedy.  Benjamin had left his bike, hidden in weeds, to help his brother.

We treated Adam’s eye with arnica oil, and the purple went away.  Now their trips to the bank are a bit slower…sometimes they even walk.

What is Home?

“A roof to keep out the rain? Four walls to keep out the wind? Floors to keep out the cold? Yes, but home is more than that. It is the laugh of a baby, the song of a mother, the strength of a father, warmth of loving hearts, lights from happy eyes, kindness, loyalty, comradeship. Home is first school and first church for young ones, where they learn what is right, what is good, and what is kind, where they go for comfort when they are hurt or sick; where joy is shared and sorrow eased; where fathers and mothers are respected and loved, where children are wanted; where the simplest food is good enough for kings because it is earned; where money is not as important as loving-kindness; where even the tea kettle sings from happiness. That is home. God bless it!”

-Anon.