February 17-28, 2013

 

Let’s see, this is the beginning of Lent.  I actually felt very prepared for Lent this year.  I’d made copies of sacrifice charts, I’d colored a calendar for Lent and hung it in the kitchen, we all made it to Ash Wednesday services…basically I had a plan.  And then we all got sick.  For two and a half weeks all the junk that everyone else had been dealing with finally came knocking on our door.  Even Marcus had his first major cold – the kind where you sorta sleep in a chair so the baby is upright and can breath and maybe sleep. 

So, you can be thankful there are not pictures!

During this time, Angelina made it to NO dance classes on Monday, but she made it to every single Hunter’s Education class.  Yes, she is now certified!  And, I think she enjoyed the class as much as Zeke enjoyed reading her manual when she came home each night.

Eric missed everything because he, for the most part, was gone to a meeting or golf trip.  Lucky him.  That’s probably fortunate, because he was responsible for taking the kids to all their activities on the weekends when he was home.

He and Dash attended Citizenship in Action, an Extension sponsored event, at the state capital (Bismarck).  Dash was elected Lt. Governor, so had quite a good time and learned a lot.

Eric and Dash also went to the Catholic Youth Advisory Board planning meeting in Langdon.  This was their first planning retreat and they had a great time.  They planned out the Jr. High Youth Rally.

Our church had their Mission weekend the last weekend in February; I really wanted to attend because the talks sounded so wonderful.  I dropped Angelina off to help with childcare each day.  Eric and the three older kids made it to the Friday night mission talk…me?  Nada.  Sick kids.

HOPEfully we are covered in immunity!  And February is at an end.

Happy 10th Birthday!

 

Happy 10th Birthday, Zeke!!

With Grandma & Grandpa Green Acres, who came over to share a meal and cake ‘n’ ice cream with the Birthday Boy.

Since the eager Birthday Boy couldn’t wait to blow out his candles the first time…here is our redo just for mom!  These might possibly be the best pics I’ve ever taken of the birthday candles being blown out.  He drew it out nice and long so that I could get as many as I wanted!

And he’s now a decade old!  On to the next one.

February 10-16, 2013

This is the FIRST day we’ve had the snowmobile’s out.  And believe me, this is cutting it close for snow.  They’ll have to be careful not to go out in the fields or the tracks could be ruined.  But, the guys are all excited to get some sledding done!

Marcus is 6 months old in these photos taken on February 12.  The time has gone incredibly fast.  However, he is such a fun, happy little guy.  He’s lighter than the other kids have been at this age…easier on Mom, for sure.

 

Dash is on the sled closest to us, and Mr. W, my nephew who is here for a visit, is on the other sled with Eric.  He was thrilled to get a ride, too.

Sorry for the window reflection…I really didn’t want to go outside!  Zeke is in the sled with Louis and Graham is standing with our dog, Bella, behind the sled.  It’s so nice to be able to get the boys outside to run off some of the energy.

 

And still, we do not have much snow.  You can still see the stubble in the field.

This is absolutely my favorite picture from this bunch!  Marcus is hilarious.

And, the elusive teen who is hard to catch on camera.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

 

My mom brought home Calla Lillies for me last week while she was here and my Hubby brought home beautiful flowers for my mom and I earlier in the week.  They were gorgeous!

The stargazer lily in my mom’s bouquet was at least 8 inches across.  It was just outstanding.  I cannot recall seeing such a beautiful lily in a bouquet.

6 months …gone in a flash!

The months truly do go way too fast.  Six months on February 12, 2013.

He really looks like a Lahlum in the above picture.  I can see Miller in him quite often, but that one is all Lahlum.

We went to Mass tonight, as Angelina had another commitment on Wednesday night.  Marcus was so wiggly that I had to hold his head steady for Father to make the sign of the cross!

So, our Lent has begun…

…and my baby is six months old.

February 1-9, 2013

Ok, so the meal is uncooked in the top photo, but the end result was excellent.  Both these dishes are the result of a Wildtree Freezer Workshop that I took part in via Skype.  The end result was at least 10 freezer meals for everyone.  I ended up with a few more because I doubled some of the recipes.  The top is a Rosemary Herbed Pork Tenderloin Roast and the bottom is a Steak Fajita filler.  With a million and one things on the calendar, I was grateful that my friend allowed me to take part in this way.

And a couple pics of the yard from the early part of February.  Believe it or not, this is the most snow we’d had all winter, and it’s not as much as my family would’ve liked.

Frosted trees are so beautiful.  I really enjoy winter and the beauty of it…even when it’s snowing and blowing.  It doesn’t bother me when I’m at home looking out my kitchen window!

I also want to note that Angelina, Zeke and Dash all competed in 4-H and FFA Crop Judging at Little I in Fargo on the 8th.  They had fun and did well.

My mom came to stay with us on the 3rd.  I had surgery on the 4th, so she came to help with the kids for the week.  I needed to leave Marcus home, so I felt most confident leaving her with him.  I was unable to nurse him for 48 hrs and he refused to take a bottle – no big surprise there.  The other option was a medicine dropper, so that is how he ate.  He doesn’t eat much during the day anyway, so this actually worked out ok.  He still didn’t like it, but at least he was getting something.  The surgery went well.