The month started with a trip to town to the pool in which I took the kids so my wife could stay home alone and rest. What does she do but decide to load the riding lawn mower up on the trailer and go mowing resulting in popping her back out of place and a trip to the chiropracter.
The start of the month also brought the start of school for our kids. As we home school we can start early and we can take days off when we need to and since we often loose many days to soccer, we start early. And yes soccer started as well but that was toward the middle of the month but before that.... we had a 3 1/2 inch rain fall and then...
On the first full weekend of the month we enjoyed the Family Music Festival just outside of Itasca state park. It was a great time of music and train rides for the kids. I took off on Friday morning with 4 of the kids and my wife brought another the following morning as the last child was at a birthday party and didn't get home until after midnight. While there the kids even got to meet up with their cousins from the cities and had a blast playing with them. My wife also met up with our midwife at the festival - had her check up in the tent - and we got to hear the babies heart beat for the first time.
Following our return home came the start of soccer. While the younger kids attended a soccer camp the older ones started practice for our home school soccer team. The following week the younger kids also started practice for our home school soccer team for which I am the head coach. Soccer will continue into October.
On the second Friday of the month I changed out some seals on our water softener for my wife. I asked her if I needed to turn on the bypass before I opened things up and she said i didn't because the repair man never did - I got a shower - it did need to be turned on.
The last half of the month was pretty much routine with not much happening other than the local corn maze opening up and spending time there. I have been there every year it has been open and I still have not gone through the maze. I go to visit. This years theme is dinosaurs.
Well, that's it, now to see what September holds.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
July 2015
July started with the installation of our new printer. and it was followed by lots and lots of walking for the walk around the world challenge from work. On my best day I topped 15 miles and our team came in 8th over all for our plant. I saw many interesting things along my walks and met new neighbors as well.
Of course, July means we celebrate the fourth of July and this year we did so with my folks who came up from Brainerd. We had a great time and when it came time for the fireworks, God provided some of his own. The rain came down so hard at time I could hardly see the road on the drive home.
On the 7th of July several of the kids went to Bemidji for a swim meet and brought home several ribbons. The seventeen year old boy, Jason, impressed the Bemidji coach and I've heard the Warroad coach wants to get him on a neighboring town's boy's team if possible.
The second weekend of the month found us in Brainerd for a 60th anniversary of the church I grew up attending and where my dad was a founding member. It was a great time with many great messages on the will of God. That same weekend I felt the baby move for the first time.
After returning home, a couple days later Shelly had to take the youngest to the cities for a follow up appointment, however, less then ten miles down the road a call came in canceling the appointment. Thankfully someone was still home to get the message and stop her from driving all the way to the cities.
That same week the 17 year old turned 17, the youngest lost his second tooth (of course dad had to fork over some money for that) and several of the kids went with my wife to a Baby Birthday Party hosted by our midwife, which she holds each year for all the babies she has helped with.
July also means its time to go picking blueberries and on two different days I took kids out looking and found very little. While conditions seemed great for a good year, a late frost killed off our chances for berries.
And that's not all. We also received a second piano - which needs tuning - celebrated my wifes birthday - I won't say how old she is - sent girls off to another bible camp, went to a going away party for friends, had a couple of soccer meetings and I can't wit till school starts so things will slow down....
Of course, July means we celebrate the fourth of July and this year we did so with my folks who came up from Brainerd. We had a great time and when it came time for the fireworks, God provided some of his own. The rain came down so hard at time I could hardly see the road on the drive home.
On the 7th of July several of the kids went to Bemidji for a swim meet and brought home several ribbons. The seventeen year old boy, Jason, impressed the Bemidji coach and I've heard the Warroad coach wants to get him on a neighboring town's boy's team if possible.
The second weekend of the month found us in Brainerd for a 60th anniversary of the church I grew up attending and where my dad was a founding member. It was a great time with many great messages on the will of God. That same weekend I felt the baby move for the first time.
After returning home, a couple days later Shelly had to take the youngest to the cities for a follow up appointment, however, less then ten miles down the road a call came in canceling the appointment. Thankfully someone was still home to get the message and stop her from driving all the way to the cities.
That same week the 17 year old turned 17, the youngest lost his second tooth (of course dad had to fork over some money for that) and several of the kids went with my wife to a Baby Birthday Party hosted by our midwife, which she holds each year for all the babies she has helped with.
July also means its time to go picking blueberries and on two different days I took kids out looking and found very little. While conditions seemed great for a good year, a late frost killed off our chances for berries.
And that's not all. We also received a second piano - which needs tuning - celebrated my wifes birthday - I won't say how old she is - sent girls off to another bible camp, went to a going away party for friends, had a couple of soccer meetings and I can't wit till school starts so things will slow down....
Sunday, July 5, 2015
June 2015
Well, June is over with no big surprises.
Early in the month my wife left - for town - to house sit for about a week and a half for some friends. I still got to see here everyday. She enjoyed the quiet and saved herself on gas so I was able to go in an hour late each day to bring kids to town and then home afterward.
During that week the kids also went to a VBS which they enjoyed and my oldest son took a trip to Thief River with my wife to finish hi GED testing and passed. So, he is done with school.
On the 10th of the month I hit something - the half century mark, as I turned 50 years old. While I received many birthday wishes, we did not do anything special. - I did get a puzzle and some candy.
The same week I turned fifty we started a six week walking challenge at work so I've been working on walking. At the same time I have been working on loosing some weight. I've been successful on both attempts. It has been enjoyable seeing all the things I've seen while walking - wild flowers and wild life.
We received a new to us table and chair set for our kitchen which is a little bigger then our old table which we had since before we were married over 22 years ago. Also new to the house was a car - Aaron bought another used car so he has a running one to get him to work and about.
On the 17th I came home to a gaggle of giggly girls as the girls had a pool party. It was the perfect day with the temps in the 80's. I think they even had the canoe out in the pond.
Father's day came on the 21'st and the day started out with home made glazed donuts. That was later followed by home made taco pizza. This was all followed by a trip to town because Jason - the life guard - got called into work, so we went out to eat and I got a free Sundae.
The last week of the month our printer died and I found a new one on sale at Tiger Direct. With its arrival we can print again. Which will be needed as School season closes in which reminds me that school books were ordered this month as well.
The last week end of the month found my wife house sitting again. This time for her parents n Bemidji as they need her to take care of several farm animals while they were in Iowa. The weekend also saw our youngest three girls off to Bible camp for the week and so concluded our boring month of June.
Early in the month my wife left - for town - to house sit for about a week and a half for some friends. I still got to see here everyday. She enjoyed the quiet and saved herself on gas so I was able to go in an hour late each day to bring kids to town and then home afterward.
During that week the kids also went to a VBS which they enjoyed and my oldest son took a trip to Thief River with my wife to finish hi GED testing and passed. So, he is done with school.
On the 10th of the month I hit something - the half century mark, as I turned 50 years old. While I received many birthday wishes, we did not do anything special. - I did get a puzzle and some candy.
The same week I turned fifty we started a six week walking challenge at work so I've been working on walking. At the same time I have been working on loosing some weight. I've been successful on both attempts. It has been enjoyable seeing all the things I've seen while walking - wild flowers and wild life.
We received a new to us table and chair set for our kitchen which is a little bigger then our old table which we had since before we were married over 22 years ago. Also new to the house was a car - Aaron bought another used car so he has a running one to get him to work and about.
On the 17th I came home to a gaggle of giggly girls as the girls had a pool party. It was the perfect day with the temps in the 80's. I think they even had the canoe out in the pond.
Father's day came on the 21'st and the day started out with home made glazed donuts. That was later followed by home made taco pizza. This was all followed by a trip to town because Jason - the life guard - got called into work, so we went out to eat and I got a free Sundae.
The last week of the month our printer died and I found a new one on sale at Tiger Direct. With its arrival we can print again. Which will be needed as School season closes in which reminds me that school books were ordered this month as well.
The last week end of the month found my wife house sitting again. This time for her parents n Bemidji as they need her to take care of several farm animals while they were in Iowa. The weekend also saw our youngest three girls off to Bible camp for the week and so concluded our boring month of June.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
May 2015
The Month of May was busy starting with my daughter's wedding. The wedding took place May 2nd at 2:07 - starting at 7 minutes past the hour was their humor. It was a beautiful day with over 260 at the wedding. The bride and groom quietly disappeared during the reception for a honeymoon up the north shore of Lake Superior. They have been enjoying married life.
Along with the wedding brought family to visit which stayed around until Sunday after the wedding. Once they left we were off to the next event a piano recital for my middle boy. From the recital we went to a home school graduation ceremony and reception. By month end we had went to two different home school ceremonies and around a dozen open houses. Over all I think we handed out 20 grad cards this year.
The second Sunday of the month I updated the family computer from Windows XP to Windows 7. Later in the week, the oldest boy went to Thief River Falls to work on taking his GED tests. He completed two of the tests and passed both. The week also brought over 2 inches of rain.
During the third week my wife lit the big bonfire and burned up a bunch of brush.
The month also brought some vehicle problems. On my car, well, it was being backed out of a driveway by my oldest boy and he backed it into the ditch thinking the driveway was on the other side of the driveway marker. That wasn't a problem until they decided to pull it out and wrap the tow rope around the stabilizer bar and, well, it didn't like being pulled on and, well, it wasn't stabilizing anything once the car was out of the ditch. He replaced the part but it still needed alignment done.
The car was not alone as our 12 passenger van also developed a problem - a blown brake line.
During the last week of the month the pool began going up and being filled but time had taken it's toll. The air tube around the top kept splitting open and would not hold air. The fix that my wife found was to place some tubes inside the ring and it worked but then - the pump quit so a new pump was ordered up. Even before the pool had, had a chance to warm up, kids were already in it.
The last week of the month also brought a new swing set to the yard put together by Grandpa.
After all that we celebrated a birthday for my third daughter who turned 11. For her birthday she had several friends over.
On the last Saturday of the month we went to another wedding. We still have more wedding for the summer and I think it is now here.
Along with the wedding brought family to visit which stayed around until Sunday after the wedding. Once they left we were off to the next event a piano recital for my middle boy. From the recital we went to a home school graduation ceremony and reception. By month end we had went to two different home school ceremonies and around a dozen open houses. Over all I think we handed out 20 grad cards this year.
The second Sunday of the month I updated the family computer from Windows XP to Windows 7. Later in the week, the oldest boy went to Thief River Falls to work on taking his GED tests. He completed two of the tests and passed both. The week also brought over 2 inches of rain.
During the third week my wife lit the big bonfire and burned up a bunch of brush.
The month also brought some vehicle problems. On my car, well, it was being backed out of a driveway by my oldest boy and he backed it into the ditch thinking the driveway was on the other side of the driveway marker. That wasn't a problem until they decided to pull it out and wrap the tow rope around the stabilizer bar and, well, it didn't like being pulled on and, well, it wasn't stabilizing anything once the car was out of the ditch. He replaced the part but it still needed alignment done.
The car was not alone as our 12 passenger van also developed a problem - a blown brake line.
During the last week of the month the pool began going up and being filled but time had taken it's toll. The air tube around the top kept splitting open and would not hold air. The fix that my wife found was to place some tubes inside the ring and it worked but then - the pump quit so a new pump was ordered up. Even before the pool had, had a chance to warm up, kids were already in it.
The last week of the month also brought a new swing set to the yard put together by Grandpa.
After all that we celebrated a birthday for my third daughter who turned 11. For her birthday she had several friends over.
On the last Saturday of the month we went to another wedding. We still have more wedding for the summer and I think it is now here.
Friday, May 1, 2015
April 2015
The beginning of the month brought temps in the 70's, snow and the celebration of the Lord's resurrection. On the day of celebration we watched our three youngest girls participating in an Easter play on the true meaning of Easter, the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Later in the day the kids did and egg hunt around the yard for 48 eggs stuffed with candy. I got to eat the candy in the ones they couldn't find. I guess I didn't hide them well enough as they found all but 2.
A couple days after later the kids enjoyed a day at a home school tournament. It was a fun day of various activities for the kids in which they could win ribbons. Some of the categories included backing (done ahead of time), Piano (my wife helped judge this event),jump roping, writing of a story, penmanship, driving a remote control car, putting together a map of the US, etc. and then there was the big.....
SURPRISE!!!
My wife, wondering why she was tending to be getting a little bigger, took a pregnancy test and - it was positive..... I guess we are getting a replacement for the one who is getting married and moving out. After a visit with the midwife later in the month, we decided to go with November 12th as the due date. This will be child number 8 unless there is another surprise........
The month of April also brought several red flag warning for fire danger. On one of those days we lost power at the house due to the wind and several fire started, one which ended up burning over 400 acres in the state forest close to where the youngest got hurt sledding earlier this year.
Being low on a few needed supplies, on the third Sunday of the on th we decided to head to Bemidji for the day to do some shopping and visiting. As a result, we were even taken out to lunch by the in-laws. I would say it was a great day.
Well, Now that May is here, what kind of surprises do we have in store...
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