Hereditary

I have proof that there are more things that are passed on to your children than just looks and health-related issues.  Apparently sleeping habits and positions are also included. 

(They even make the same snoring noises when they snooze!)

No wonder they got the nicknames "Slump" & "Lil Slump".

 

 

Also note the "gift" of being able to sleep with an awake child in your lap.

Heeere fishy, fishy, fishy!

On our down time this summer, we were able to take some opportunities to go fishing with the kids, and there's not much that can keep boys away from worms, water, boats, and slimy wriggling critters on hooks.  Here are some pictures of their best catches.

 

 The Sunnies were quite huge on Aunt Rita's & Uncle Drew's lake...

along with the bugs & appetites of the mosquitos!

 

 



AJ was pretty excited about his first Bass catch

 

Not only were the Sunnies big, they were beautiful colors!

 

Ian & cousin RJ - I don't know if they caught it,

but they wanted a picture with it.

 

Wally the Walleye made for yummy fish fry!

 

The fishies were biting like crazy!  My cousin Dylan

was busy keeping up with hooks.

 

The good news...this boat is great for fishing & fun.

The bad news...we almost sunk when the plug came out while skiing.

Even worse news...the body of the boat cracked by the motor & can't be used until fixed.

Anyone know how to fix a fiberglass boat??

 

What I learned this summer...

1.  I still enjoy fishing, waterskiing, gardening and doing the things I did as a kid, and even more so now because I have the privilege of teaching our kids.

2.  After reading a book entitled, "Raising a Spirited Child", turns out I'M actually the more spirited one!  At least now I can explain why I react the way I do & how to use that in a positive way toward my family.

3.  Our kids are growing up really fast & are spending more time with friends.  Activities must be chosen carefully to attempt avoiding words such as:  "boring", "unfair", and "can't I do ______ instead?"

4.  Ian is going to miss having older siblings, and Daddy especially, around everyday.  Preschool comes at a good time!

5.  It took 2 months to get the kids to finally sleep in & now I have to try to get them back on a "school schedule" and getting up at 7am again.

6.  The bugs are bigger in Northern MN & the mosquitos are VERY hungry up at Knight Lake!

7.  When the kids pack their suitcases for vacation, they can't blame me for their outfits chosen or things they forgot that were on their list of things to pack.

8.  Principals really don't have "summer's off".

9.  I should buy stock in band-aids and sunscreen in the summer.

10.  I enjoyed time with my family and our relatives and friends this summer.  I am SO grateful to God for helping me find my way to where He wanted me to be.  I really feel blessed to have so many wonderful things in my life & I am constantly learning how to appreciate it even more and live in the moment and joy of it all.

"I slipped on a bunny"

I came down from bed this morning wearing a neck brace and that of course, doesn't go unnoticed by anyone.  Every once in a while, my body decides that it wants to throw me a curveball and while I'm sleeping, it goes crazy.  I woke up this morning in pain (not completely unusual) but also found it hard to move.  Grr, my neck went "out" again!  So, to keep my muscles from going completely insane until I could get into the chiropractor, I put on the brace.  So when the kids asked me this morning what happened, I said, "I slept on it funny."  With a puzzled look on his face, AJ asks, "What?"  I repeated it & he laughs and says, "Oh, I thought you said you slipped on a bunny!"   I guess that makes sense!  I could say that it would actually make me feel less old and strange about myself if I got hurt by slipping on a bunny rather than getting hurt in my sleep!

Matryoshka!

That's what I was thinking of when I saw the boys pile up on their Daddy.  Well, I wasn't actually thinking of that word in particular, but the concept of it.  You know, those little Russian stacking/nesting dolls?  Well, they're called matryoshka dolls.

 

I just call it descending sizes of cute!

 

Also, for any of you that know Jason's dad, Noah is sporting his best Grandpa Jim smile. (ha,ha!)

Deep thoughts...by Tina Myhre

To start off, I just want to explain that I've been attempting to upload photos to keep up with my blogs, but for some reason, my computer is being grumpy.  Maybe it's on summer vacation, too.  It's not just with the blog, it won't let me do it on my e-mails either, so let's just say I'm not in the best mood with my computer.

Speaking of bad moods...while pondering the past events and conversations/arguments with certain children these last few days, I came up with a "deep thought".

Children are a lot like balloons.

When they are fully inflated and flying high,

they are a source of great joy and smiles.

But when they pop or explode,

everybody's miserable,

and crying,

and blaming everyone,

and crying,

and throwing tantrums,

and crying,

and screaming,

until something either "inflates" them again...

 

...or they fall asleep.

 

Thank God for new days and the power of prayer!

So I know it's been a while...

...here's what we've been up to this past month and a half.

 

 Family get-togethers

 

Enjoying the outdoors & a beautiful spring



 

 

Some much needed R & R

 

 

 "We interrupt this family to bring you baseball season"

 

 

Vacation Bible School...160 kids (preschool & up)...enough said!

Recitals, recitals!

Quality bonding time...

 

Hopefully my next hiatus from the blog won't be quite so long!  I found that my time on the computer is short and often interrupted, so when I get on it, it's more for "work" stuff and the "fun" things get pushed aside for a while.  It's not very easy to type and stuff when holding an active 18 month old either...he's really good at kicking away the keyboard.  (He also still has no interest in weaning, mind you!  Some days it's just easier not to fight it.  It gives me an excuse to sit down and snuggle, too!)