The Silence

As many of you know, about two weeks ago, we, our whole family, came down to Oregon to celebrate my grandfather's 80th birthday. We saw a lot of people and got to stay at a few different places. All in all, we had a marvelous time!

Last Wednesday, July 29th, we headed back for home. It was also Kolbein's first birthday! We really didn't do too much for his first birthday, except a few people were nice enough to give him a couple presents to open. (Thank you!!) Then we decided to have some fun and put a candle in a slice of leftover cake from Grandpa's birthday. He really didn't know what to think of it at first and then... well, let's just say that he LOVED it. He almost put his whole face in it. lol

At home, I quickly went back to work and tried to spend as much time as I could with Jacob and the boys since they were turning right back around Saturday morning and heading for Oregon again. This time without me.

Jacob's dad, Richard, went in for open heart surgery the following Monday morning on the third. It was successful, and he just got out of the hospital yesterday. Just in time for his own birthday today! Happy birthday, Pops! So, Jacob and all three boys are down there helping out with his recovery etc...

Meanwhile, for the first time in our marriage, I've been by myself. Completely. Oh, I've enjoyed the average afternoon off, but not for this amount of time. It's been very weird. Of course I cried a little when I saw them drive off with there little manly-boy voices yelling, "See you later, Mom!" and "We'll miss you!" (OK, I cried a lot.) But then I focused on the novelty of it all. I could do what I wanted, when I wanted for the most part.

I put in a lot of hours at work the first few days to try to make up for a little of the time when I was gone. I also re-poisoned the perimeter of our house for carpenter ants. (I was waking up and stepping on them in the middle of the night, fishing them out of my coffee, having them drop into my hair AND waking up in the middle of the night to them crawling on me more than once! In fact, one even bit me!! The nerve!!) I caught up on all my recordings of TLC's What Not to Wear, read a book all the way through, embroidered a little, played some computer games and painted my toenails blue. I even took my cousin's dog, Cupcake, for a walk.

By Wednesday it was time to catch up on some chores. I think that's when it really hit me that they were gone. Any mother knows how - what's the right word? - "interesting" it is to try to get everyday chores done with a houseful of little children. To accomplish the simplest of tasks usually requires creative, premeditated planning and organization on our part. Get them distracted or busy with certain tasks if they're old enough, or figure out a way to contain them if they're little babies... without crying.

I think I got ALL my chores done in two hours flat. I couldn't believe it. I folded laundry and it stayed folded. I put things away in the cupboards, and they stayed where I put them. (Kolbein likes to take things out of the cupboards for fun.) I cleaned up the toys and they stayed in the toy box. I cleaned Jared and Kristopher's room (at Jared's request), and it stayed clean. It's still clean. I finished their laundry and there's still not a single dirty sock in the basket yet days later.

I have slept all the way through the night for days on end. I wake up and actually eat breakfast at breakfast time. Usually by the time I feed them and clean them up and get them going for the day, it's almost lunch before I remember to eat. There are no toys to clean out of the tub. No sippee cups to wash or baby bottles to sterilize. No diapers to change and the lid on the toilet stays down.

So, I go to work, come home, and talk to them on the phone as much as I can. I look at photos of the years past and realize how fast they're growing. Yes, I feel sentimental tonight, but for the last few years, they've been the first thing I wake up to in the morning, and I've been able to kiss them goodnight every night since they were born. I've clocked my days by them. I feel as if I'm missing the sun and the moon. I can't wait till they come back!!

PS
How much I miss Jacob too would take another page!

Gross. Just Gross.

"Mom, yuck this is dis-GUS-ting!" announced Kristopher.

"What is, Honey?" I asked as I was chasing Kolbein out of the bathroom...again. I had just gotten home from work yesterday and was trying to settle in with Jacob and the kids for the evening.

"There's a booger in my mouth! Doesn't taste very good."

I just about dropped Kolbein.

"What?!?"

He just looked at me with a screwed up expression and declared, "Yeah, it's gross."

"I bet it is," I agreed solemnly secretly trying not to throw up.

"It's yucky."

"Yes. Very. Let's not do that again, okay?" Then, I'm not sure why I asked, but I did, "Why did you have a booger in your mouth? It's --"

Then he looked at me as if amazed I didn't already know and interrupted, "Cause it was in my nose, and I needed it out."


I know this was probably not the greatest opening without warning for a blog post, but that's exactly the point of this posting. Usually, I'm completely taken by surprise. Perhaps it's just with boys. A MOBO perk. Moms of girls, you'll have to let me know.

Meanwhile, being at work for the good part of the day, I miss these little stories (even the booger ones). Bless Jacob! He has been so faithful to share as many as he can remember daily.

Some of today's included Kolbein being caught playing in the toilet then having to be scrubbed down. (And he was NOT happy at all about that either.) Kris learning more efficient ways of using the potty. Sharing toys, even though Kolbein wants to be the tornado. They also were really excited that Dad found the old school original Nintendo console. So, they get to have it set up in their room. And of course Jared is continuing to learn to read. Jacob includes all the details of what they ate for the day. Pancakes were a hit for dinner I hear. Pancakes. I would love to eat pancakes with them.

Well. It's one in the morning. I suppose I should sign off. The grammar is terrible. Forgive me. I had to write while I had time though. I miss you all. Take care. :)

PS
Kristopher, I'm happy to say, has a new found respect for the invention of tissue.

Another Fishing Clip

Fishing Video

Thought you'd all enjoy this little clip.

Our First Camping Trip

Well, here's the long overdue pictures from our camping trip Memorial Day weekend with Patrick, Kayla and their boys, Nathan and William. Unfortunately, I misplaced my camera until the last evening we were there. (At least I took a few pictures!!)

We spent a few days at a campground not 5 miles from where we live called Springy Point. We thought that would be a good place to start for the year. Close by in case we forgot anything. Ha ha... we made probably three trips back the first evening. And at least went back for a shower once a day. It was great! Definitely an awesome advantage of living in the middle of the mountains.

The campground is right next to the lake where they are fishing in a little cove of Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced Lake Pond Oray). If you notice all the mud, it's because they hadn't completely let out all the dams yet to control flooding from all the snow melt off, so it's actually part of the lake bed. Now the shore is up quite a ways further.

We all had a great time. There was a little paved road that wound it's way through the campsites. It was perfect for walks with strollers and all the HOURS of bike riding the boys wanted to do. There was also a place to go swimming... if you like swimming in glacier water! The boys didn't seem to mind. I think I'll wait till it warms up a bit. I was told around late July or August. All in all, very relaxing.

I wish I would have taken pictures of my ducks there. :) I think that was one of my favorite moments. Especially when I got to feed them with Charlie who was able to visit with his parents and sister of course Sunday afternoon. We fed them Cheerios.

We also had the privilege of observing a pair of eagles that had nested in the area. While we were down by the lake, they would swoop over us. Back and forth. They are huge! I know why people associate them with being "majestic". It's because they are. They are king and queen of their territory. When they peer down at you from a tree branch with those intense eyes, it's as if they are observing you as a monarch would a commoner who appeared in their castle. (It's not quite the same when they're in a zoo.) It was absolutely breathtaking to watch them in the wild.

I've also had an eagle swoop over my car a few times while crossing the Long Bridge into Sandpoint. Might be one of the same pair. One time he/she came so close, about 15 feet, to my car that I could clearly see the huge trout still writhing in it's grasp. It was a National Geographic moment. It was nearing a sunset. The sun was glistening off of the fish and the eagle's wings were spread wide. OH! That's the other thing. When they fly, the sound of their wings is like something out of Jurassic Park. Wooomp! Wooomp! Not a whhooosh. Definitely a Wooomp!

At the end of the trip, the boys declared that they LOVED camping! In fact, they had no desire to go home. I think part of it was, that we didn't make them eat anything they didn't like, they got to get dirty and it was okay, and they could run and play to their hearts content. Oh yeah, they thought the tent was cool too. I have a feeling this is the first of MANY, MANY camping trips with all my boys.

Our next trip is going to be the weekend of the Fourth of July. We have some relatives coming up to camp as well. I'm so excited. I requested those days off, so please pray I get them. At least the next campground isn't too far away either. It's only about 30 minutes.

Now I'm going to finish my Junior Mints that Jacob brought me then get ready to work. I get to work from 3pm till probably 1-2 a.m.

May I Take Your Order?

Good morning! Well, it's morning here anyway. :) I have been thoroughly enjoying the updates of all your blogs. Keep them coming. I haven't been able to do as many on my blog 'cause I'm a working woman now. Yeah. Don't know what I told you all since Jacob lost his job, but he is now collecting unemployment while searching hard for a long-term career. So, while his unemployment checks are rolling in, I took a job at McDonald's and am in training for management. Thanks to my resume, they are starting me somewhat higher than minimum. (I can hear you laughing! haha Bet you never thought to hear of me working there again.)

Actually, for it being a grease factory, as I jokingly refer to it, it's not too bad. The people there are a good bunch. They all are very grateful for there positions, since jobs are VERY scarce up here right now. I know Jacob and I are really thankful for it. The only thing I might have to complain about is that at this location, they aren't very good at scheduling the breaks. For instance, I was scheduled to work eight hours. They gave me my half hour lunch two hours after I got there. Then they had me work an extra hour and a half after my shift ended. My feet and back were killing me!! At least it was extremely busy all day. It helped the time go by quickly. Couldn't wait to go home to see Jacob and my monkeys!!

Yes, the automated, fast food chain has changed quite a bit since working there fifteen years ago. It's like learning everything all over again. Even the salt for the fries is now premeasured! Crazy! They also have a thing called a "McWash" timer. It beeps out a reminder every hour for everyone to go wash there hands. Everything has a bleeping beeper!! I dream about them. One sounds like the Jaws theme. Oh, and everything, of course, is still prefaced with Mc-.

So, I am supposed to be working full time and then some. I decided to take this avenue since it would be an easier schedule to work with. I would have more time with the boys the way they set up the shifts. Also, they are so well staffed, it would be simple to exchange shifts or change them if necessary let's say, if Jacob had an interview or something.

We're still asking for prayers for God's guidance in what we're supposed to do long term. Again, we have appreciated all the prayers and support emotionally and financially! Thanks again.

On a personal note, I have to say I already miss my boys a lot! I'm used to their chatter and presence all day. They think my job is "Awesome!!" as they put it. They keep asking me why I haven't brought home Happy Meals yet with the toys. I think they are enjoying their time with Dad too. He's been so good with them, and I can tell they are quite content. It's been a nightly routine now when I get home for them ALL to want to sit on my lap at the same time. And I let them. They are wiggly, giggly, and very squirmy, but I look forward to this and will let them sit there till my legs fall asleep.

Dragonslayers

"Mom, your the princess, OK?" says Kris this week as I was feeding Kolbein a bottle.

"And we're going to protect you!" exclaimed Jared as he brandished his home made sword of taped together Hot Wheels tracks. (Electrical tape has many uses.)

"An' we're going to chop off the heads of the dragons!!" Kristopher declared swinging his own Hot Wheel tracks sword.

"I'll get the red one, Kris! You get the green one!!" Orders my oldest knight in shining armor. (In reality, they were both still in PJ's.)

"Watch out so you don't get fired!!"

"Quick behind you!!"

"I got 'im!!"

I lost track of who was saying/yelling what, but there was quite the battle going on in our little living room. Luckily, I was stowed safely upon my royal couch and was advised that I should continue to "stay put" if I didn't want to be eaten. Since this princess had no desire to be ripped to shreds by rude, fire spitting dragons, (or wayward swords whacking at everything imaginable) I did as told protecting yon baby prince as best as I could.

"I'm dead!" hollered Kris spralled on the floor unmoving. "Help me, Jared! He took my sword!"

"I'll save you!" roared Jared as he crawled over what I was guessing to be imaginary vertical rocks. "I'm coming!!"

Kris arose with the touch of Jared's healing hand. Swords were recovered. The dragons were slain. "Chopped to pieces with blood everywhere," was the official royal report.


The weather has been very wet and rainy out this past week and a half, so besides a trip to the podiatrist for me and a library visit, the kids have been cooped up in the house. We've had to be creative in order to keep them entertained. We don't like them completely zoning out on the TV or video games all the time. Anyway, who needs TV with their little imaginations going at full speed?

I've included pictures of them in the middle of playing this or that. We've done everything from putting villainous teddy bears in jail (under a laundry basket) to finger painting. Even the laundry plays a roll. We no longer just switch the loads. We have a top secret delivery that must make it from station one (the washer) to station two (the dryer), but we have to watch out for the bad guys that want to steal it or we might have no clothes to wear! Swords are always worn as a precaution.

Kolbein has tried his hardest to be included in whatever his older brothers are doing too. Sometimes they love it, other times I hear the inevitable "Moooooooooom!! He's eating our play dough!" or "Moooooomm! He's eating our train track!" It's actually been a real joy watching them together.

Kolbein is pulling himself up and standing now. Now that he got his second tooth in, he thinks he's something else. Anything he can pull himself up on, he does. I included a picture of him doing it to the little barn that the kids were playing with. You can tell Jared is at a loss what to do. He wants to open it back up, but Kolbein was in the way.

Through all the thunder and rain this week, I've enjoyed all their antics. I think their top favorite thing is the sword fighting. That's when their imaginations become the most vivd. They forget that I'm listening and other times include me right along in their play. (I couldn't ask for a better compliment.) I think when they play at sword fighting, that it's my favorite too... as long as someone isn't being whacked with one, particularly myself. There's been a few welts here and there, but no blood, which is always a good thing when measuring the quality of play time when you're dealing with boys.

They love to play the hero. Some might think it's too violent, but I think it's little men in the making. They always have the view of keeping someone safe, or trying to protect me from bad guys. They also want to do thorough jobs of it. When they are saving their teddy bears or me, they always show the utmost gentleness and chivalry. (Which to them is yanking me around by the hand or pushing me as hard and as fast as possible so that I can scurry out of danger.)

So, they kill the dragons of boredom and grey skies. They get me in touch with my own childish imagination. Through their eyes, the world can be anything you want to make of it. I wonder what tomorrow will bring. They are indeed my little heroes!