Wrapping up 2021, into 2022

 The end to 2021 was a whirlwind of activity as we wrapped up school activities, celebrated the holidays, and embarked on some family projects.  The St. Paul Middle School production of "Annie Jr." in mid-November was definitely a highlight for all of us as we saw the fruit of Isaac's hard work light up the stage in his role as Daddy Warbucks.  He did a great job delivering his lines, singing, and performing all the choreography and we are so incredibly proud of how his efforts along with the other cast members all came together to create a memorable experience for all!

Following the musical, the school and church hosted a food drive to benefit the local food banks in preparation for the increased need in our area during the holidays.  Partly out of compassion for the less fortunate, and partly out of a desire to boost their classes' numbers in a friendly competition to see which grade could donate the most food, the boys begged me to take them to Costco to spend their own money on additional donations.  While searching for ways to maximize their dollars, they quickly realized that huge bags of bulk rice and beans were the best value and so loaded up our cart with 200 pounds of rice, 75 pounds of dry beans, and some other assorted canned and shelf stable foods.  To condense a long story, we discovered after leaving that the food banks don't always accept such large packages because they would have to repackage it for individual families, but we were grateful that they were willing to make an exception, especially considering that the boys used their own savings and were so excited to think about how many people they were able to help feed.

The boys were also blessed to be able to spend an afternoon with their great-grandparents and explore the workshop where they spent so much time creating and engineering custom products to meet the needs of their clients.  They generously offered their big, sturdy work table to the boys for our own growing shop, and the boys got to help disassemble it to move it to our backyard garage. 

Daniel has spent many hours figuring out how to get electricity to this shop, installed lights and outlets, and finally he and the boys cut a new opening for a regular sized door (previously we had to go in and out through the big garage door).  I never cease to be amazed at what he can do - installing a door is no small task and he and the boys knocked it out in a single afternoon!

Another highlight of the holiday season was being able to go see one of our favorite Christian bands just 10 minutes from home.  "For King and Country" had an amazing concert that included many Christmas songs, and we were so thrilled to get to experience it together!  I think it was my favorite concert ever, and the boys have continued to talk about it even weeks afterwards.

The weekend before Christmas we also had a special day of celebrating as our dear Caedmon turned 13 - a teenager in our house!  We had his favorite meal, chicken and dumplings, and he got to do a treasure hunt for his gift.  A jigsaw has been on his tool wish-list for a while and he was really excited to get this one.  He's used it a number of times already and we've loved seeing his creative juices flowing with this new tool at the ready!

Daniel and Isaac also had the opportunity to do a father-son trip to the Broken Bow, OK area in mid-January.  The weather ended up being very cold and even snowed one evening, but they were not deterred from doing a horseback ride through the countryside and a hike in the snow.  It was a special opportunity for them to have guy-time and a treasured milestone in Isaac's life, as we see him transitioning into young-manhood.  We are so grateful for each of our boys and the way we see God growing them in their roles in the Kingdom.

Newest Happenings...

   

 It is amazing to see these three boys growing into the most interesting, thoughtful young men.  They are pursuing their individual interests and stretching themselves to try new things, and we love getting to cheer them on in their various endeavors.  While they all still enjoy some of the same things, it's also been a joy to see their divergent interests begin to develop.  This fall, the boys each found things that they thought were worthwhile activities to pursue.

Luke joined a flag football team with several of the boys from his class and they had a great time practicing and playing together.  He is very quick and did well playing both defense, by chasing down and grabbing opponents' flags, and offense, as a quarterback (who gained good yardage just by running with the ball) and receiver.  He's a great teammate and loves the camaraderie of his friends.  He also recently joined a chess club that meets after school and is eager to go each week to practice and learn more about the game. He has also followed his brothers' lead and is a voracious reader, plowing through all the library's available "Hank the Cowdog" titles and is now working his way through the "Dog Diaries" series, which tells the fascinating true stories of dogs from history.  Luke has been a faithful contributor to our fall garden this year, tending his several varieties of radishes, carrots, and mustard, and harvesting some of those to take to school to share with his teacher.  

Isaac enjoyed another season on the school 5th/6th grade touch football team.  He had several good friends from his class also playing, and their practice time and hard work together showed as they worked their way undefeated through the season, finally clenching the championship in tournament play.  His practice was not limited to official after-school sessions with his team, but he often asked for us to come throw balls to him in the backyard and his determination and effort paid off with his sharpened skills contributing to the victorious outcomes on the field.  He also decided to try out for the Middle School musical and was cast in a lead role as Mr. Warbucks in the show, "Annie."  He has spent much time at school and home learning his lines, songs, and choreography, and we eagerly look forward to seeing those efforts pay off with the upcoming performance.  It has also been a good opportunity for him to get to know upper classmen and make new friendships.  In his little bit of free time, he has enjoyed watching Marvel and Avengers movies and listening to a wide variety of music, from cello duets to 90's rock to movie soundtracks.  He has also been very interested in the fall garden and has planted sweet peas, a variety of lettuces including his favorite, romaine, and a nice row of broccoli plants. 

Caedmon is a busy thinker, always designing and planning new ideas in his mind, on paper, and in spreadsheets.  He has discovered the value of working hard to earn the necessary funds to complete his projects and daily asks for jobs that he can do around the house to pay his way.  He has matured so much lately and I am always grateful for his presence - he is so good to ask me how he can help, especially in the mornings when I'm making breakfast and packing lunches.  He is always up and waiting for me when I come in to the kitchen, and some mornings I know I wouldn't get it all done in time without his contributions.  I'm so grateful.  Some time ago I told the boys at morning school drop-off to "take good care of my heart that day," meaning each of them.  Ever since then, every single day at after school pick-up, he has hopped in the car and said, "Your heart's back!"  It doesn't matter if it was a difficult day and it's said on the verge of tears, he blesses me with those words.  Lately he's enjoyed choosing the music we listen to on the way to school, especially favoring MercyMe songs after he and Daniel had the opportunity to go to a concert a few weeks ago.  No matter what his choices are on the ride, though, at the moment he hops out of the van he always begins the song "I Will Be Here" by Steven Curtis Chapman, which he knows is so special to me because Daniel sang it to me when he proposed.  It blesses my heart mightily for him to give me that sweet gift, remembering what is meaningful to me and sending me off on my day on such a sweet note.  I am also tickled at Caedmon's signature style these days - a favorite blue plaid shirt that he enjoys pairing with his black camouflage shorts. I don't know what he's going to do when he outgrows them!

10, 8, 5

A lot of life has happened since our last post, and a lot of growing and learning.  The boys are becoming such amazing young men and we are so delighted to get to watch the process!

Caedmon is 10, in 4th grade, and is unendingly curious and ready to explore the world around him, particularly the way things work.  He is interested in architecture, inventing, and especially space exploration.  This year in school, he has begun learning to play the violin, and it was sweet to hear him playing carols in our home over the Christmas break.  He has a role in the spring musical this year, but is keeping the details a secret so that we will be surprised at the performance.  Caedmon also delights in good books, competitive games, and traveling.

Isaac is 8 and loves his 3rd grade class.  Over the last year, he has become increasingly interested in baseball and looks forward to his first experience playing on a team this spring.  He decided he wants to play shortstop for the Dodgers some day and is a huge fan of other teams from Los Angeles, which made for an exciting sports-watching season as both the Dodgers and Rams were in the championship games.  If it is light outside, Isaac is usually looking for someone to come throw a ball with him, but he still is an eager reader and has found several new book series this year that have drawn him in.

Luke is 5 (Five and a half, and just lost his first tooth, as he tends to say!) and is in kindergarten.  We are enjoying having him in a part-time school, so that three days of learning and instruction take place at home.  He has great friends in his class at school, and during his free time at home he is often found creating new things - either building with Legos, or drawing, cutting, and gluing projects.  He also seems to have a particular interest in green growing things - trees, flowers, plants - and can often identify different leaves or flowers that we come across.

Since I last blogged, we have also added two furry family members to our crew.  Ginny was a rescue dog that we have loved having for almost two years now.  She is gentle and sweet natured, but the squirrels in our yard wouldn't know it - she loves to patrol the fence and keep them in line!

We weren't planning to add any other pets to our family just yet but right after Thanksgiving, Ginny discovered a little kitten hiding in the bushes in our backyard.  After a gradual process of gentling him and earning his trust, and getting very attached in the process, Luther the kitty has found his place in our home and on our laps.

As Caedmon told me a few weeks ago, "Mom, we are so very blessed.  God gave us an awesome dog, and now an awesome cat."  His little heart was full to overflowing, as he enjoys both of them so much.  I must admit, I have to agree with him!

As is to be expected in a family with three growing boys, our activities are turning to more adventurous pursuits.  Going skiing has turned into an annual event for us, with this being the fourth year we've hit the slopes together.  It's a little hair-raising for a mama to see her children peeling off into the trees and getting buried in powder, or just hunkering into a tuck position and soaring down the mountain at top speed, but that is what happens with boys!  Caedmon and Isaac have been confident skiers for a couple of years now, and this year Luke joined their ranks wholeheartedly.  He often sings as he goes, which tells us he has a happy heart on the mountain!

Building, playing, and exploring

Oh what fun we've had this fall and winter!  After Thanksgiving, the days just flew by.  We started by celebrating Caedmon's birthday a little early, since we're already well into Christmas celebrations by the time his actual birthday rolls around.  We had a yummy birthday cookie and gifts at home and he relished getting to celebrate early and extending his birthday a couple of weeks because of that!  We can't believe our biggest boy is already so big; what joy he has brought us these past 7 years!

The boys also had a couple of opportunities to take part in Christmas programs and nativities.  Following a concert put on by the children at Isaac's school, our whole family was able to participate in a live nativity.  We joined in as angels and shepherds.

Caedmon has had his eye on a particular set of Legos since the summer, and his dream finally came true at Christmas.  He has spent a lot of hours happily constructing and creating stories with his arctic outpost set.

Another plan that we've been mulling over for several years now finally took shape, and the boys were able to spend a couple of days helping construct a fort in our backyard!

Caedmon felt strongly that the fort needed a trap door entrance, so he helped figure out what we needed to make that happen.

Isaac was pretty handy with his hammer - once an adult got a nail started, he was eager to finish pounding it in to the floor of the fort.

Ta-da!  I'm not sure what will be more fun for the boys - constructing the fort or playing in it - but we were thankful for Papa's advice and manpower and were delighted with the finished product.  It was a great experience for the boys to be able to help and I know they were so proud of what they helped accomplish!

We are excited about giving the boys interesting experiences, especially as they are getting old enough to really be able to understand and remember what we do.  This year, tickets for Wild Kratts Live went on sale at the perfect time for us to give that as the boys' Christmas gift.  They were so very excited, and the show did not disappoint!  Although I had difficulty capturing their enthusiasm in the following picture (there were people standing in the aisle of the performance hall and I was struggling to get the shot I wanted of the stage behind them) they had a great time.

The best part of the evening came after the show ended, as I was able to take the older boys to a Meet-and-Greet with the real Kratt brothers.  We had tried to prepare them and encourage them to think of any questions for the brothers or things they'd like to tell them but I think we were all a little bashful when it came to meeting their real-life heros.  Martin and Chris were both very kind, both pronounced Caedmon's name correctly, and seemed very sincere and genuine.   Caedmon asked Martin, who is his favorite Kratt, how he travels all around the world to see all those animals.

I love Isaac's expression when he was talking to Chris, who is his favorite.  I think in this picture they were telling him what their favorite episode of the show was, but Isaac also asked him how many animals he's met in real life.  Thousands!

The boys each got a personalized, autographed photo of the brothers, which they clutched like treasure as we left.  They were so appreciative for the experience, which made our parent hearts proud.  It was a joy to get to share this experience with them, and as a mom, I am thankful that although we don't have the television on much, when we do, there's an option for these guys that has taught them a ton of fascinating things about nature, and encourages their adventurous, explorative, brave little hearts.

A few little things I've jotted down lately that the boys have said or done:

As we counted down the days to the Wild Kratts Live show, Isaac told me that he was thankful for all the hard work the Kratt brothers do to make such a great show.  He wanted to take him a gift and went to the pantry to show me what he thought would be a good option: a package of Ritz crackers.  We discussed it and compromised on a picture that he drew, which he proudly presented to Martin when they met him.

Caedmon was watching a football game with Daniel the other day and has really been participating and commenting on the action.  When the teams flipped the coin, his only question was, "If they guess it right, does that team get to keep the coin?"

Sometimes at bedtime, I will tuck Luke in and give him a kiss, then he will say, "I want to give you a kwiss (quiss?) too!"  Early one morning before he got up, I heard him have a few sneezes and sniffles.  Later that morning he told me, "I had a bless-you in my bed!"

Adventurers at heart

Although it's been evident since they were very small, we are seeing more and more adventure, experimentation, and stretching of previous boundaries lately with all the boys.  They are in a phase of climbing and jumping off of everything we pass, creating catapults with old lumber and buckets in the backyard, and getting really, really dirty.

They were recently inspired, after all the rain, to put even more water in the sandbox and turn it into a mud wallow.  I let them go, and they had a ball - slipping, slopping, and splashing.  

After all that play, though, they were too dirty to even come in the house for their bath, so they got a pre-bath washing with warm water in a tub in the yard.  Luke was not so sure about what was going on!  He even had sand caked on the top of his head; I'm pretty sure he had help with that.

 

As the third boy, Luke is trying to grow up as fast as his brothers, which usually means he's climbing jungle gyms and other playground equipment to keep up their pace.  He thinks he's so big - and he is! One night this week I noticed how tight his pajamas were getting and asked him if he was growing so big - his response (while flexing his muscles) was, "Yes, so strong and so mighty!" Then he jumped into my arms, "I love you so much Mama!"

 

I love these nature-loving boys!  For Halloween, Caedmon dressed up as a snow adventurer (completely his idea - his construction worker costume had somehow gotten lost and he needed a new costume right away.  Knowing candy was on the line, he improvised quickly!) Luke has had a lot of fun with this giraffe costume, and Isaac put together his own costume to be his favorite TV adventurer, Chris of the Wild Kratts.

We took the boys to a park to take family pictures recently.  In the car on the way, we were preparing them to give their best smiles and told them we'd like to hang the portrait in our home.  Isaac asked, "Mama, when I am grown up, can I have one of these pictures to hang in my house?" I replied that he would be welcome to do so. "Do you think my wife will like it?"  I told him that I was sure his wife would tell him what a cute boy he was when he was 5 years old.  He blushed and giggled delightedly.

Every night we sing songs with the boys.  Caedmon has learned some new songs at school that he's enjoyed sharing with us, and Luke surprised us recently with his own request.  He told us "I want a song from my Sunday School."  We asked him to start singing and he began "Praise Him, Praise Him, All Ye Little Children." We sang it together, then he told me in his most serious voice, "I eat goldfish at my Sunday school" while nodding vigorously.   His teacher is a family friend who told us that the first week of class, he was very unsure about being there without us, but after seeing the routine,  was more content the second week and after playing for a few minutes, stood up and announced loudly, "Time for goldfish!"

School starts again!

Already, the summer is over and our guys are back in school.  It's hard to believe we have a first-grader and kindergartener already, but when we look at these guys it's clear that they're ready!

Caedmon has loved his first few weeks of first grade and is doing wonderfully.  (He also lost his first tooth right before school started!)  Every day when I pick him up and ask "How was your day?" his response is "Great!!"  He has a terrific new teacher, sweet friends, and a busy year ahead.

 

Isaac started kindergarten this year and is off to a great start, too.  He has a sweet class of friends and teacher at school part of the week, and the other days we do all his schoolwork at home.  We think it's a wonderful balance of time at school and home, especially for a kindergartener, and we're looking forward to the year ahead.  It's wonderful to be able to see his delight when he picks up a new skill or does his work well!

 

 Luke, always ready to take on whatever his brothers are doing,  has come right alongside Isaac and has his own activities while Isaac is working on his homework.  He packs a backpack and a lunchbox (with crackers, pumpkin seeds, whatever he can find!) and carries it with us on school pick-ups and drop-offs.  He has become very talkative, especially on the days it's just the two of us, the only quiet time so far has been when he naps.  But it's a sweet time for me to get to spend with just him!

A picture summary of the past months

Since I'm soooo far behind on posts and know I'll never catch up, here is a quick look at the last few months in pictures and brief snippets:

The amazing snow (in my opinion, a result of Isaac's faithful prayers each day since around the first of the year - praying specifically for enough snow to make a snowman.) We had so much fun building snowmen and an igloo, which stayed for several days!

The time that Isaac and Luke have had at home on their own has led to a sweet friendship - Isaac really wants to help his little brother learn to ride a tricycle.

We were so excited that one of Caedmon's art projects was selected (only 4 of 50ish kindergarteners at his school) to be exhibited in the downtown library's art show.  Each school in the ISD had a display.  Caedmon had been so enthusiastic about his collage anyway, so it was really neat to see his work honored!

We had a super fun few days at the farm over spring break.  My boys were ready to do some fishing, and really did a great job managing the rods and reels on their own.

Isaac has no qualms with holding the fish.  

We celebrated Easter day at home this year - the boys looked so handsome in their special church clothes!

Luke celebrated his second birthday!  He has grown up so much, blessing our hearts every day with his funny, sweet personality.

Isaac had such a great year in preschool!  He was so proud to show us his classroom and work at open house.  He really made some sweet friendships and had an amazing teacher; we were delighted to see him flourish and blossom!  Now he's ready to start kindergarten!