Pictures from Joseph's Field Day at school.  Jacob's was rained out, which was a good thing because he did not go to school that day because of his tooth.  Jacob's is rescheduled soon.

Joseph had a great time and wonderful weather.

The owners of the field behind our house is allowing someone else to come in and put cows on the land.  So they have put up a fence and no one is allowed back there.  Bree is so bummed she can't go run and play with other dogs.  I am hoping it is just for the summer!  We really miss the field.  I did not realize how much we counted on being able to go back there.

Gonna be a quiet Memorial Day.  There are 2 funerals and a birthday party on Saturday!  Not sure what the rest of the weekend holds, except cooler temps and maybe some rain!

We have had lots of rain lately...the good kind.  The slow steady rain!

Over the weekend the owners of the field behind our house started repairing the barb wire fence.  Seems that cows are on the way.  A bummer for all of us dog owners!  You don't realize how nice you have it until it is taken away!  Our neighbors' dog is so well trained that she would only use the field to go to the bathroom.  Now the dog is in quite a quandry and refusing to go to the bathroom!

On Thursday Jacob landed in the dentist office.  He has an abscess tooth and it is getting pulled this morning.  It had been hurting him but the pain had lessened.  I am just very thankful I took him in, knowing how dangerous mouth infections can be.  One of those God prompting moments!

The boys are getting into their full summer mode.  Staying out later.  When the weather is nice, they just check in every 2-3 hours.  So nice having lots of kids around.

I really struggle with the boys because they are so bad about cleaning up/picking up after themselves.  I can remind them a dozen times and they still walk over things.  So, I have started locking our bedroom.  I love being able to open the door and know it is just the way I left it...no trash, no socks, no books, no messy bed from wrestling or the dog, etc.  The other day we had forgotten to shut the door.  Shortly before bed Joseph came down and told me he had accidentally torn my pillow.  I felt the frustration rising and I took a hold of his arms and got nose to nose with him and told him he was not allowed in our room and he knew that.  Why was he in our room?  I sent him up to bed, as he was trying not to cry, and told him I would be up in a few minutes.  Well, when I went up, this is what I found.

He had made this heart and left it on the pillow.  It says "I love you Mom and I made card and made your bed.  Love Joseph".  I am very particular about my bed when I sleep.  The boys have learned over the years how I like my blankets and he had prepared my bed all by himself.  It was one of those epic parent fails, where you react too quickly and almost miss a huge blessing.  So glad I was not in a real irritable mood and was a little excessive with my scolding.

Jacob seems to be a trend setter at his school.  He has taken to wearing opposite socks.

Often times he can coordinate the colors with what he is wearing.  They actually look pretty cool and styling.

Well, Joseph came down recently before school with these socks.

I just cracked up. I told him he either needed to put on two socks the same height or the same color.  He told me that the gray parts matched!  He saw nothing wrong with his socks.

Happy Monday!

We recently went to some friends' house.  They are raising lambs for 4H.

The kids have to learn how to walk/show them.  Joseph got a lesson on what that entails.

I am not sure who was walking who.....

They also have chickens.  Jacob was getting in a lesson in how to hold them.

This past week Benjamin and I went up to work with JR.  I saw most of his properties and learned about the houses, weekly walk throughs, etc.  At one point Benjamin and I were driving down the road and directly in front of us was a bull moose, just meandering across the road.  Of course I forgot the camera and couldn't get my phone quick enough.  It was so cool, about 20 yards, directly in the middle of our lane, crossing the road.  A moment neither of us will soon forget!

Football has started for Jacob. They have played 2 games and won both of them.  The coaches definitely know what they are doing and really working to help the boys get a good grasp on the game by teaching lots of technique, skills, etc.  Both of the coaches boys have played for years and it is obvious that those two boys will be playing ball in high school.

During the last game he scored a touchdown but running it down the field.  So, when you score a touchdown, then you get to kick off.

 It is a short season, only 5 games but just enough to pacify the football urge this kid has.  He keeps gravitating towards football.  I keep trying to steer him to another sport.  At least it is not tackle yet!

We are down to about 2 weeks left of school.  We are all very ready.  I have rearranged all of our daytime commitments so that they fall on one day.  That means lots of lounging, kids doing free play outside and then getting together with friends.

Working on final plans for our road trip.  Whenever we stay on the road, I prefer to swing the reservations the morning of.  I would hate to have reservations somewhere and then want to keep on driving...however, I sometimes get caught paying ridiculous rates because it is last minute and rooms are full.  So, being proactive this time around.

Today Benjamin and I went to work with JR.  I am tired.  I am not use to all the up and down and all around.  This is a picture of his largest association that he manages.  It is tucked away at the bottom of a hill.  There is also a ski lift just above the trees, so it is also ski in and ski out.  Really pretty place.  (They have several units for sale for $650,000! if anyone has some cash laying around and wants a spot to vacation.)  The far left, lower unit is actually an apartment that is available for guests of the owners to rent.  It is not rented out very often, so JR has the option to stay there and be on property.  Not a bad little spot.

This is the view from the apartment patio.

He showed me some of his properties and where things are.  He had thatched and raked several yards so we had many piles of branches and grass.  Then we walked the association and moved some furniture around, vacuumed and moved some gravel around.

I have cleared my schedule on Mondays to hopefully help every week.

This is a picture I took this afternoon...May 9th.  Yes that is snow!  Fortunately it is going to warm up by the end of the week.

Benjamin and Bree continue with dog obedience.  Last week they had 12 dogs in the room and they all were laying on the floor, calm and quiet.  She has figured out how to open the back gate when it does not close all the way.  Then she runs and runs in the field.  We have taught her the word 'walk', 'bike' and 'car'.  She knows all of these words mean fun and she goes crazy.

We are down to 17.5 more days of school.  I am so ready for the boys to have the opportunity to sleep in...I love my quiet mornings.  I have rearranged my schedule so that all of our daytime commitments are on one day.