Spring Fever trumped by Winter Blues

The days are getting longer - which is great.

Unfortunately, with more light, we just realize how much winter is still left.

Spring Fever,

this year,

is setting in strong.

 

Which is odd, because it seems as if it is a much milder spring than last year.

Therein, probably, lies the reason we are chompin' at the bit for Spring to come.

 

 

 

Today,

staying indoors just did not seem like an option.

 

It was a beautiful sunny day.

A rarity for this part of the world.

 

It felt like spring was just around the corner,

although,

the temps were in the low 20's (f).

 



"I have the Power..."

huge icicle



After doing all that was necessary

(housework, homeschool, bills, etc),

Samuel and I decided to march outside just for a breath of fresh air.

It was late enough,

that Mr. Elskan,

who had arrived home from work,

just as we were walking out,

was able to join us.

 

We didn't go far,

just the end of the street - before we were to cold to continue on.

But it was enough.

 

20 minutes, was all it took.

 

But it was enough.

 

We ARE convinced...

it's STILL winter.

Can you see Samuel's 3rd eye? He was a tri-clops for the day, and I apparently was a conehead.

My snowball is bigger than yours - but who can throw farther?

After a fall - Pabbi to the rescue.

Deep snow

 

Running for safety

Trying to chuck the "snowball"



The Land of the Free...Candy

Last year for Independance Day,

we were blessed with BEAUTIFUL weather,

so we went the Distance. (Read about it Here)

This year we stuck closer to home.

We attended the Independance Parade in our neighboring city.

We arrived early and placed ourselves at the beginning mark of the route.

The driver saw us taking pictures, so rang the bells and tooted the horn for the boys.

Bundled up, as it was freezing.

By the end of the parade

we could hardly feel our fingers and noses were running.

 Nevertheless, our hearts and souls were warm with joy.

Waiting for it to begin.

As each float, car, or group passed us by, something or other was handed out:

such as flags, sweets, advertisments for local happenings, and more sweets.

This cute group of senior women had a dance they performed.

These deafening bikes thrilled the boys and about made Mamma deaf for an hour.

See the bags?

Both Pickles and Lil' Monster filled them to the brim by the end.

Pabbi of Mamma had to hold Lil' Monster's so he could use to hand to chase after the candy.

We've never seen so much candy! I along, with other parade-watching Mammas, all tried to give each other their children's candy so we didn't go home with so many bags. The boys did not even care for the candy - they just liked the chase into the street to grab what was thrown.

Pabbi and I joked that this parade was easier than Halloween. For Halloween, we have to dress the boys in costumes, take them from door to door (or in some cases trunk to trunk) to collect a bag full of candy. However, for this Holiday, the parade-ers had to come decked out and in costumes, with tricks, and they walked block after block passing the candy out....

Motorcycles, sports cars, buses, go-carts....

vehicle after vehicle.

The boys LOVED it!

Since it ended up raining we were unable to have a typical All-American BBQ post-parade.

So we settled on the next best All American meal:

Pizza.

Then we curled up together and Thanked God for our Freedom to enjoy.

We also prayed that Uncle M and his fellow soldiers currently in the Middle East were protected.

Thank you Uncle M for fighting for us.

Thanks Auntie B for your sacrifice.

Happy Independance Day!

First Pickin's of the Season

The other day I was on the porch, cleaning....when Lil' Monster calls to me..

 Mamma! I have a surprise for you!!

Flowers! For you.

Because I love you so much!

They are the first flowers of the season...

he picked them just to tell me how he felt.

Warmed my heart, and brought tears of joy to my eyes.

I love this little guy!

Mini-Model for Iceland

When Mr Elska, returned from his trip

(to bring up the rest of our stuff from storage)

he brought along a package from dear Amma and Avi.

In it, was the much beloved rain coat/pant set

(Icelanders know how to make decent the best rain/wind clothes - as they should);

the boys were elated!

Samuel (our clothes horse) was especially delighted

 because his old set was so tight and so uncomfortable.

He immediately dressed and then modeled them.

 I think he should be Iceland's face for such clothing - don't you?!

Where does he learn to do this

- as we don't watch TV, have magazines with models, or shop...?

Maybe he was born with it ;) ?

He was very excited because it rained for several days after.

{Preparing Children to Choose}



Wise parents prepare their children to get along without them. They provide opportunities for growth as children acquire the spiritual maturity to exercise their agency properly. And yes, this means children will sometimes make mistakes and learn from them.

~~~~ Elder Larry Y. Wilson ~~~~

Where the Wind Blows Us

Yesterday, we just had to get away.

We had to leave it all behind...

And let the wind blow us wherever.

It blew us to one of the many nearby

lakes.

It was freezing cold.

It was only 49 degrees.

But with that wind it felt

much

much

much

Colder!

It was an unplanned trip.

We didn't bring anything but ourselves...

and a camera.

The boys stayed entertained with their toy of choice:

sticks!

Here, they are showing off their horns

(remember this post?)

Here they are fighting each other as the moose and big horn sheep.

Pickles came up with the idea to go fishing...

He throws a stick,

the waves bring it in,

and with other sticks,

 they fish the first stick out.

Clever.

Lil' Monster's catch.

It was great to just go and be blown around.

A day of the simple joys to be found in life.

Our Place



June 2011

This is not an old memory  - not even a full year has passed since this photo.

Samuel was playing here,

moments later all had gone quiet.

This is what Mamma Sass found.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Landing -

into the loft which is currently our little homeschool -

is a place of interest for us all.

It is 4 ft. by 4 ft. 

But it is the most used place in our house.

Our love for this little space has grown in this last year.

In fact,

maybe we should give it an official name;

just not sure what would be clever enough.

For Samuel it is his play house

(even though he has one in the LARGE closet inside the loft room).

One evening Mr. Elskan and Mamma Sass were chatting on the couch in the living room.

When she looked up and this is what she saw.

For Mamma, the landing (as you can see in the background) is an extra storage for things she uses regularly, like the vacuum, or as a temporary pit stop for items between the homeschool and the rest of the house.

 We use it as place for our

intercom

(shouting loudly to the lower levels for instructions etc)

observation tower

(checking out who is coming and going outside)

Podium

(for singing, speeches, or general announcements)

Hang Out

(we sit and chat out there)

Homework Station

(while mamma is with one child the other goes out, shuts the door and does his homework in relative silence)

Reading Roost

(as seen below - Lil' Monster wanted to go out there with his toys but Pickles got there first, so he is waiting in line)

We have yet to use it as a Time Out spot - but now that I think of it - it might do well for it.

Our Landing has many purposes.

Maybe it is time we name it.

any ideas?