A Tepee in the Woods

 A couple of weekends ago, the big boys and their friend spent an entire Saturday making this...

It is a tepee made from whatever they could find in nature.

I am in awe.  I am happy.  My kids know how to work within their environment.  They can explore and discover and invent without electronics, or a premade plan, or adults guiding them. 

 It is still standing.  I imagine it will still be there this winter.  I'll keep you updated....

Explore....

Our Sunny Sunday Adventure

Last Sunday we were all needing some exploring, bonding, quiet, communing time.  The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the creek was calling.  We grabbed our mud boots and off we went.

 This is undoubtedly my new favorite pic of the kids.  They were on there way.  They had a plan without planning. They were connected.  To each other, to nature, to the experience around them.

 Little E was determined to find fish.  The salmon are pretty much gone for the season. 

Baby O couldn't make it through the deeper sections of the creek without getting water in her boots.  Isaak helped her through.  Why didn't I?  Who else would have taken this sweet picture?  Also, Av was wearing my mud boots so I was in tennies.

 Precious...

 Later, she decided it didn't matter and she went plowing through the water anyway.  She said she was glad she did because now, "my boots make crazy noises when I walk."  They really did.  They were completely full of water!

 Av is always ready for a pic.  Funny kid.

 Baby O kept asking, "Can you see me?"  behind every tree we came across.  We have alot of trees.  She asked alot.  She stopped asking after I took her picture.  Why didn't I ask sooner?

I am always nervous about going to the creek.  We have every possibility of meeting this guy or one of his friends in the woods.  He was around on Saturday, not but a few feet from where we were playing.  He is a mere few inches from being legal.  Brad spent a good hour calling him in to make perfectly sure if he was legal or not.  He was not.  Too bad, he looks tasty.  He also looks like he would stomp me to death if we met on the creek.  I really need to consider getting a dog, or learning how to use a gun.  Let's start with the dog.  Better yet, lets take Brad with us next time. 

Great sunny fall day.  May have been our last.  Clouds are back, along with chillier weather.

Happy Autumn!

Wit and Wisdom Wednesday

I really have a hard time believing that it is already Wednesday again.  I have so much to share with you about the happenings going on here but I really don't have the energy so I will sum up now and expand later.
Summary:
*Hunting season has hit the fan.
*We have a squirrel trying to make a winter home in the shell of our new motor home.
*The attempts at catching the squirrel involves animal traps and reminders to the children to stay away from the motor home if you like your appendages.
*I spent all weekend crafting!!!!!!  See craft blog later this week for full details
*Brad is leaving for 7 days to hunt, I work full time now, and the children are somehow involved in everything. I am already tired.

Now you are up to date. 

Are you ready for some wit?

Here are two bits of humor from a kindergartner and a second grader at school this past week.

Teacher:  "I am going to tell you my name so you can see how to match up the letters with your name card.  My name is Sarah."
Kindergartner:  "Her name is Sarah?!  I was not expecting that!"


Second grade student 1 in their best teacher voice with their instructional finger outs says to second grade student 2:  "I am serious.  I took math class last year, I do know how to spell."

Cute, right?  If only life was so simple as to be totally thrown back by knowing your teacher's first name and that taking math class will teach you how to spell.  Gotta love that theory.

Happy Wednesday everyone. 

Wit and Wisdom Wednesday

I have decided to start a new reason to make me blog more often.  Hence forth I give you Wit and Wisdom Wednesday.

Today a bit of wisdom for you.

Since my trip to town yesterday to get a dehumidifier, which you would think you could find at Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, Fred Meyer, or Target, of which none of the previous mentioned stores carries a dehumidifier, however Sears carries only 4 dehumidifiers to choose from in the whole Valley (note my frustration and anger - that came from having to go to Walmart, I know it happens to you too).
Wait, what was  talking about?

Oh yeah,  wisdom.

So as I was driving madly around the Valley looking for said dehumidifier, there it was...
termination dust on the mountains.  What is termination dust you ask?  Here comes the wisdom for the day:

According to an unusual website about Alaska slang, termination dust is "The first, light dusting of snow; on the very tips of the mountains.  It's a warning. The first, big snow is just around the corner.  This of course, triggers a huge shopping frenzy."  http://www.decorphoto.com/ak-slang.htm


I did not take this photo.  I found it online.  I don't know what mountain this is, but it is a definite picture of termination dust.

I suppose my shopping frenzy was simply due to the termination dust.  I sure wish I was in a shopping frenzy for new clothes, furniture, jewelry, you get the picture. 

So, your wisdom for the day, termination dust.  It is the end of my happy season.  Darkness looms, cold will soon hibernate in my bones, and lots of hot chocolate is in my near future.  Oh yeah, all the smiles and laughter I get from watching my kids play in the snow.  Also looking forward to a new adventure in cross country skiing, Christa promises that I will love it!  Does she know I don't like to be cold?

Enjoy your last hurrahs of summer for me everyone in the lower 48 (another bit of Alaska slang).  Wanting cooler weather, think of me and I will send you all my chilly energy!

Happy Wednesday.  Be wise and witful.

Makes Me Happy

Today, these thoughts make me happy.

 My son watching and learning more about playing guitar from his Great Granny.

 My boys getting to be "farmer boys" in the summer picking sweet corn in the early morning hours near the banks of the Missouri River.

 My children experiencing the force of nature and learning about how they as a person and a body that takes up space, interacts with the environment around them. 

My children when they are so full from the day that they completely crash and can't make it any further than the bottom two stairs.

A good wine.  And lately, lots of it.  Yes, the glass is crooked.  Our butcher block has seen alot of wear in its day.  It had a previous life in a local Chinese restaurant.

 Slow cooked sweet onions in a cast iron skillet. 

 My newly, almost finished office that Brad made for me.  More on that in another post.

Today, this is what makes me happy.

What makes you happy?  I'd love to hear all about it.