"The buck hangs here"

Back when Andrew shot that buck, I had no idea the kinds of conversations it would bring about in our family. He decided to get it mounted for our wall which means that he had to pick it up from the butcher and take it to the taxidermy place (which he did with the kids). The other day when I was picking up the meat Peter yelled at me from the back seat, "This is NOT the way Daddy drove when we came to pick up that deer face!!" Yesterday he was convinced that the puddle (snow melt) in the doorway to the butchers was deer pee because they have fake tracks leading up to the door. He told Ella, "I don't know why they let that deer in here and he even peed on the floor!" I told him it was melted snow, and the only deer going in there were dead. That got me no where. This is only the beginning.

I will be staring at that buck for years to come and my kids will too. 

The night it was shot, Andrew got home really late and pulled in with that dead animal on a tarp in the trunk of his....'95 Camry. I looked at the clock, it was 11pm. There was no one to call to help him hang it in the garage and I knew for sure this was not a one man job. Then my inner battle began. "Do I ignore this and let him think I'm in bed? Do I call him and ask 'if' he needs my help? Do I bite the bullet and just get out there like a nice wife?" Decision: I put on my Danskos and my coat (not meant for getting bloody, none of my coats are actually) and walked out by the garage. I asked him, "So how does this work?" At some point he had rigged up and welded a metal triangle together for hanging deer up. The only thing I've ever rigged up to hang things on, now holds my earrings. I was not prepared for this. He sliced the back of the knees and said "we" had to get the hind legs to hang up on the sides of the metal triangle. Keep in mind, I was not really willing to touch that animal and it was VERY heavy. It smelled terrible and the blood that was dripping near my children's bicycles was really grossing me out. Using some wire, some pliers, me, and his manly strength, that deer hung upside down by midnight. GO US! Then I asked him, "What now?" "Well it will be rigor-mortis in that position by morning, so I might have to break the legs to get it in my car." OH MY WORD. SICK. Andrew's a problem solver, and he usually fixing broken bones, not breaking them on purpose, so lucky for him he found a friend with a truck he could borrow. It all worked out in the end and I am a little more backwoods for the experience. 

Christmas Letter 2011

This year I decided to use my calendar as a reference for our letter. I also saved paper and didn't send one out with our card, so with the promise that it would be online, here it is.

January: We started off this year with only 1 child in diapers. Yay! Peter did so well with potty training, thanks to his love for race cars, which worked wonders. Ella had tubes put in her ears after months of "What? I can't hear you!" It was such a relief. I went to California with the kids to see my sister's family and meet her new baby! We met up with my parents there as well. Andrew also began working extra up at a hospital about an hour away to earn more money. This has been a blessing.
February: We had college friends visit from Tennessee for a long weekend and had a lot of fun with them. It was a pretty quiet month around here. We had the bedrooms painted for the kids and a shelf installed in ours.
March: Between baby showers, playgroups, meetings, meal swaps and signing Ella up for preschool, this was a packed month. The kids were in swim lessons as well, every Monday morning. We drove a few hours to the Crayola Factory with the kids for the weekend, we all had a fun time there!
April: Peter turned 3 this month! He shared his birthday with Easter and Aunt Rebekah was here visiting us. We had a nice time with her here. Kids finished swim lessons.
May: Grandma Barb came to see everyone and the weather started warming up. We did lots of fun painting projects and spring activities. For the first time, I planted flowers and we dug up part of the yard for a garden. We also left for Alaska for almost 3 weeks. We rented motor homes and drove all over. We did a halibut charter with a friend and brought home a freezer full of fish. We went to camp for the Memorial Weekend and relived many memories as a family.
June: I did quite a bit of photography this month and worked on keeping up with all the pictures from our own trips and activities. It was very warm and we spent most of the time outside in the pool or sprinkler. We started attending the children's theatre at the mall each Tuesday.
July: Andrew turned 29. I ran the firecracker 4k in State College with a friend. My mom came to see us and we took a road trip to Chicago with the kids to see family. My brother met us there and we were able to meet many cousins and spend time with Gramma Paula. We had record temps of 105 degrees on our drive. We also got to see Andrew's Aunt Jan and Uncle Don in Chicago.
August: We went to the corn and peach festival, which always means we ate well. This area has the best corn I've ever had in my life. We left on the 13th for Plymouth, MA to meet up with Andrew's parents for the week. It was such a nice time seeing a new place and staying in a house 2 blocks from the beach. We went to Boston for a day as well. Andrew has more relatives in MA, so we stayed one night with them on the way home. The kids loved the beach and we all really enjoyed Andrew's much needed time off. The boys were dedicated at church. Ella had her first day of preschool on the 26th. She loves school.
September: The river flooded. This was a very strange time for our area. So much devastation. As a family we were able to give away lots of things to those in need. There are still people trying to recover from this. We were very thankful nothing happened to our home. Ella and Peter started AWANA at church. They are really enjoying this time each Wednesday night. I started a bible study on Jonah and Andrew got to spend some time just with John on those nights.
October: I turned 29. Ella turned 5. John turned 2. Busy month! My sister flew in with MacKenzie for a week before Renee flew in with Levi and Emerson. My brother came at the end of the month in time to see Jenna and go hunting with Andrew. We had company for almost 4 weeks. It was a lot of fun having all the kids here. Never a dull moment. Pumpkin patches, fall leaves, the birthday party, halloween parade and lots of candy!
November: Andrew had his big Orthopedic training test and worked every weekend except Thanksgiving. I was very busy with MOPS and hosted the craft night fundraiser at our house. We enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with other residents who also don't live near family and there were 12 kids all together. The meal was amazing and there were plenty of desserts! Andrew shot his first buck with his crossbow. We will never forget this, as the head will adorn our wall for the rest of our lives. So much to be thankful for.
December: Looking ahead to the rest of the month, Andrew works every weekend but Christmas when we head to Klamath Falls to spend the week with his family. Andrew hasn't been back home in 2 years. We have cookie exchanges, Christmas parties, dentist appointments (firsts for the kids), AWANA, MOPS, both of our moms have birthdays this month, and I'm almost done with all the Christmas gifts. We are looking forward to seeing family and enjoying the time leading up to it. Our house is decorated and the kids are so excited for Christmas. This is the first year they have had actual requests for gifts. Makes it easier in a way. So that's our year in calendar form. I will fill you in on each of the kids, because they are really worth writing about.

Ella: One lively 5 year old. She is loving school as I mentioned and is doing well. She goes three days a week for a few hours each morning. The boys love getting her from school and she has fun telling them what she did that day and showing off her creations. She is witty and funny, but can also be shy around strangers. She asked Jesus into her heart this year and has been "reading" her Bible and learning verses for church. It is amazing watching her grow up. She loves to help and create things along side me. Spending time with Daddy is a favorite. She writes letters all over everything and pretends with tea party and animals. She keeps up with her brother and Andrew calls her "slugger" because she can swing a bat quite well. Ella is a delight and a spit fire. She's learning about independence and responsibility, sometimes the hard way, but punishment seems to be getting less frequent with her. It's so wonderful having her by my side, interested in fun girl things. She tells Andrew she's going to hunt though, too. Lots of fun.

Peter: As many of you read, this boy keeps us on our toes. He makes me laugh and cry all in a day. He has an amazing sense of humor and he says the funniest things. He loves cars, dinosaurs, firemen, and sports. He could run a marathon with all of his energy. He never wakes up happy. It's always a process. He loves quality time. He started saying the prayers at dinner and whenever Andrew is home he always says, "Thank you that we can all be sitting here together." It is so important to him. I have a funny quote from him almost every day. He has a glue brain and does very well with songs and memorizing his verses for AWANA. He likes to be called "old" not "cute." We have no idea why. He is not shy. He was recently in the newspaper. He ran around with it at church showing his picture. He makes his siblings laugh all the time. He is most definitely the life of the party.

John: Nothing short of a joy. I've said that before and I'll say it forever. He is so sensitive. He loves babies. He can kick and throw a ball like a champ. He also loves dinosaurs and he can sing the "T-Rex" song off "Dinosaur Train" while stomping around the room in character. He sings all the time. He still carries around his "mankey" everywhere and I've had to re-sew it already. He is very verbal. He doesn't just say "yes" to something, he says, "yes, yeah, sure." Time outs are all he really needs. He is usually gentle and he loves to watch me cook. He's two, so he's all things toddler. "I do it myself." "No, me." He's still in the crib because he's happy in there and I will not complain to have one less night time wanderer. No sense in speeding up life. I wish I could keep him small and cuddly always.

Andrew and I stay busy with other things besides parenting. 

I know, it's crazy, but possible. 

He played intramural sports when he could. He hunted when time permitted. He takes the kids on walks and plays outside with them while I cook or clean up. He still loves his job and can't believe how fast time is flying by. 

I keep busy with my mom's group, MOPS, and still enjoy making lots of different things. I am still doing photography as well. I got back into a running routine since moving the treadmill downstairs to the living room. I spend a lot of time with friends. In fact every day my kids ask, "Who's coming over? Where are we going?" I find it much easier to let our kids play together and get out of the house when Andrew is busy and so are their husbands. I did a bible study and keep up on our blog during the week. It has become a way to share our happenings with those we aren't close to. We love to travel as a family and see new things when we can. Life is busy, but we are happy and thankful. We love our home and our town, but miss family. It makes the time we get with them very special though. Thank you to all those who have taken us in on this side of the country and to all those on the other, know you are missed. 

May God bless you this Christmas. 

Giving in Joy

Again for the 4th year, we participated in Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.

We picked out things for a boy and a girl age 7-10. I usually pick things for kids that are the same age as mine, but this year I thought it would be fun to get something I don't usually get to pick out. The kids and I had a nice time at Wal-Mart picking out useful and fun things for children who otherwise may not be able to have them. Toothbrushes, soap, band aids, jump rope, race cars, markers, paper and a few other things. It's pretty amazing to see my kids get excited to send something to a kid who they have been told doesn't have toys like they do. Also for them to understand how to be thankful for the things they do have and not to take them for granted. I love this program and last year they introduced the ability to track your box and get an e-mail when it is delivered about where it went and a little about that town or country. 

If you want more information on this you can get it at: Samaritan's Purse

Thanksgiving 2011

This year for Thanksgiving we had plans in the making for leaving town and going to see a parade in Philly or D.C. After some thinking and looking it over, and by "it" I mean our bank account, we decided it would be better to just stay put and enjoy the weekend here. Some friends of ours were gracious enough to include us in on their plans, with our kids making a total of 12. Just children. It was great, so much food and everyone had a nice time. Since we joined late, there was already a menu in place and I ended up adding to the sweet side of things. I had seen a recipe for Rice Crispy Turkey Pops that I thought looked like so much fun. I did things a little different since I didn't have the sticks on hand. I had also seen a picture online for Hershey Kiss Acorns. Easy, and so yummy. Last, but not least, I love chocolate and more is better, so I made a Chocolate Pecan Pie. Everything was ready to go until I realized that no store was carrying candy corn anymore and I about had a panic attack after telling my kids how excited I was to make the turkey pops with them. I put a plea out on Facebook and my neighbor so graciously gave me some from her stash she had leftover. THANK YOU!! They turned out great. 

I will explain the sad boy to the right. 

He was very upset to not be allowed to sample a turkey before we left the house. Therefore, he would not participate in taking a picture in his nice clothes. 

1 hershey kiss

nutter butter mini

mini chocolate chip 

held together with peanut butter

My pie.

Here are the pajama kids helping me make the "kissies," as they called them. There were many times they had to get down and re-wash their hands for putting them by their mouths. Also a few time outs had for my boys due to their lack of self control (don't know where they get that) and eating the kisses while they unwrapped them. It was a fun morning in the kitchen with the kids. 

taken with my phone 

The night before Thanksgiving, we attended the Thanksgiving Eve service at church. The kids are here listening to a song, but that was about the only time they sat still. It was a nice time of reflection on all the things we have to be thankful for. I am glad we went.

The last picture of my fall counter. 

I love that green pumpkin from Cracker Barrel and my new owl friend from T.J. Maxx. 

He's going to be in my Christmas decor too.

This year we have so much to be thankful for. Our family. Love, laughter, health, travel, memories made, good times had. Our friends. They have become our family here in so many ways. How Andrew is blessed at work by all he's learning and still having fun in the process. Our home, renovations and all have turned out wonderful, we love it and hate the thought that we have to sell it in less than 2 years. Our church, their willingness to teach us and our children, and pull us in like family. Our town, for safety and all the fun things there are to do here together. For overall blessings we receive day in and day out that we take for granted, we give thanks.

We are Family!

I love this picture of John. Back when we were attempting our family pictures he was watching everything go on with his little hand in his shirt like he was posing for some formal picture. I'm sad we cut off his hair, but excited for how thick it will grow back in. He's such a joy, you'd have to see it for yourself, but I wouldn't trade him for the world.

Peter was climbing something, as usual when I got this picture. This kid keeps me entertained in many ways, but I will say, he takes wonderful pictures. Hardly ever does he not smile, and when you give him an incentive, he turns his pout right around. We are so loving see his little mind develop as he learns and grows. 

My brother took a few of just Andrew and I after my kids decided they were done. I really like the tree we are by with all the different markings and moss on it. You wouldn't think a sports field would offer what it does, but this one sure makes for a great place to take pictures.

These are my boys. They make me smile. Everyday.

The rest of these pictures are either taken inside in low light and with my phone camera, the caliber drops a little when I'm not using my beastly Canon.

My children would spend all day dressing up in whatever is available pretending to be anything under the sun. It's great. This time, they are firemen, but using their own coats and backpacks (rescue packs), with my ties I was using for crafts and spatulas to beat out the fire. This picture I asked Peter to pose like a rescue man, and boy, he sure did a good job.

I took this picture one morning on our way to the open gym where the kids can run to their hearts content. They made those hats at AWANA the night before and insisted on wearing them until they were totally destroyed. I called this the "Thursday Morning Misfits." 

We spend a weekend up in Wilkes-Barre with Andrew and here we are eating at the kid table in Wegmann's grocery store cafe. We heard live music and I enjoyed Indian food while they ate pizza. We were waiting for Andrew to finish up before we went to the hotel.

GAP was having a sale on cold weather gear. Since I have been knitting everyone but my own children's hats, I decided I'd just buy them this year. The boys are into sharks, dinosaurs and all things that roar, so when Peter came up to me with matching shark hats and gloves for he and John, I couldn't resist. Never mind that they aren't wearing clothes, this was seconds before they all got pi's on.

This is us on Sunday. I love taking pictures with Ella. Especially when she's excited about what she's wearing. I guess I was also a little excited to find this coat in the back of her closet (which is our only coat storage) because I had forgotten it was there. A few years ago back in California, it went on clearance for $8. I was beyond thrilled to own it then, and still am! I added the yellow tights on black Friday. Andrew is not a huge fan of colored tights, but I happen to think they're a lot of fun.

Today we went to the park after the post office and other errands that I had to do. It was a really nice day and we didn't even have to wear coats. Not going to lie, I am loving that is isn't snowing yet and we can still play outdoors. 

That's a little snippet of what we've been up to according to my phone documentation. I will bring on the turkey day pictures next. 

Firsts

In the world of being a first time school mom, I have officially made yet another mistake. (There are more to come, I'm sure). The previous incident that left me feeling quite lame was when Ella's school sent home a flier for their "Fall Party." "Parents are welcome." That's what it said. We had family in town, but I should have paid closer attention. She was dressed in her costume from halloween and we brought what we signed up for, juice. Easy. Except I ended up getting it at the corner gas station because I totally spaced it before that morning and a half full orange juice would have been bad. So I get there and realize that pretty much every "welcome" parent was staying. I hadn't showered, my kids were still in their pj's at home with their cousins, and I had no plans of being there for the morning. The kids all looked so cute, the food was all spread out, Ella looked at me and said, "It's okay mom, you can stay next time." I wanted to cry all 4 minutes I drove home. I told my sister that I messed up and next time I would be there with bells on. Really, maybe bells. It's the Christmas party. It's December 21st and I WILL BE THERE. 

THIS time, it was Pilgrim and Indian dress up day before Thanksgiving. The night before we had been tossing ideas around about what Ella could wear. I had not even thought ahead for this because again, it was "suggested." So I remembered she had a costume someone had given us that sorta could be used and I offered her to wear a skirt of mine and a scarf for a pilgrim. She was uneasy about both ideas, but after Peter came in and asked, "Ella, did you decided pigrim or idiot?" a good round of laughter followed and she corrected him saying, "It's PILGRIM and INDIAN and I will do Indian." To explain, the costume I had in mind was an inside out hippie costume since part of it was brown. Sure, that could pass. I gave her some of my necklaces with beads and stones and tied a piece of yarn on her head instead of leather and braided her hair. She looked adorable, only she really did look more like a hippie than an Indian. That's alright, better than the brown paper sack we made when I was in school. Right? Wrong. When I pulled up to take her inside, there were little girls dressed like Pocahontas, boys dressed like they'd just jumped off the Mayflower, and I felt so stupid and bad for Ella. She had no idea. I told her she looked awesome and took her hippy self with her little brown boots in the door. Moms had made real costumes out of brown t-shirts and feathers, as well as white and black pilgrim hats and shawls. This whole "suggesting" thing is silly. Just say, "Dress your kid up like Thanksgiving Halloween." 

"Come to the party or you will feel bad." 

"Shower before you bring your child inside" (I added that one). ;) 

Now I know.

 Peter is going to be one decked out Indian Chief next year.

 Ella will not attend another party unaccompanied. I asked Ella if she had a fun day in her costume, "Yes, my teacher said I looked cute." Thank goodness for good teachers. I also thought she looked great. 

Just would have been better if it was 1960's day and not 1620's day.

My hippie Indian.

I told her that Indians say hello by holding up their hands and saying, "How." What she should have done was hold up her two fingers and said, "Peace." 

Dear Ella, you don't know this, and never will until you read it, but I'm sorry. It will not happen again.

 I love you.

Apple Butter Boil

The boiling pots.

Back in October, we went to an Apple Butter Boil fundraiser at a friend's mom's country church. We took all the cousins and ventured out to see what it was all about. They boil the apples in huge pots over the fire and jar the apple butter once it's all done. I know there's more to it than that, but I'm not sure each little step.  We got a couple jars of that as well as a jar of their chicken corn soup. It's amazing. We had lunch there and played out on the swing set. The kids had a nice time and we got some fun pictures too. 

Levi

Emerson

John

Peter

Ella

MacKenzie

My boys,  this picture is going in their room.

Checking out the horse and goat.

One of my top fave pictures of John and I.

I put this one in too because I think it's funny how
Peter and John are doing the same thing with their mouths,

Jenna, Me, and Renee. 

Sister and Niece.

Anna, Abbey, and Ben. It's Abbey's Mother in Law who goes to this church.

Buddies. 

The church with it's beautiful stained glass windows.

I love that in this area there is always something like this going on. The little churches, schools, museums, barns, and markets are constantly hosting some kind of gathering. I am hardly ever without an event I could take the kids to. 

The recipe for the lunch Andrew had and loved was sent to me by Abbey today just in time for this post. It was very good and you could probably use deer meat as well if you like that kind of thing :)

Hamburg Barbecue

2 pounds ground beef
1 small onion
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup mustard
1/4 cup vinegar
1 1/2 cups ketchup

Brown the ground beef and onion together.  Drain fat.  Add remaining ingredients and let simmer 20 minutes or so.  Serve on hamburger buns.