Sled Dogs!

Sarah is a dog fan and is known to hitch up her stuffed toy dogs with various straps, leashes and strings to create a dog sled team of her own :)



Mush!  Gee!  Haw!

So when I found out about the Mid-Minnesota 150 Dog Sled Race (http://www.brainerd.net/~tmjk/mid_mn150.htm) happens only 30 miles away from us, I knew we should take the opportunity to check it out on Saturday, February 9.

We got to Outing around 1:30 and while we had missed the start of the race, we still had the opportunity to go for a ride thanks to Wolf Moon Kennel (http://www.wolfmoonkennel.com/)  We were happy to pay the $5 fee to see what it was like to ride behind a team of sled dogs for a 10 minute or so trip on the lake.



Settled on the sled with the musher, Charlotte



Getting the team turned around and ready to run....



And away we went!  I shot a video with my camera while we were going for the ride but it is a bit hard to hear the one sided conversation (my voice mostly) over the sound of the wind, so I won't subject you to that example of my very amateur videography skills.



That was fun!



Giving them pets afterward to thank them

Then we decided to head another 20 miles down the road to see if we could be there for the end of the 30-mile race.  We hoped we see a few teams come in and maybe get to pet a few more dogs. 

We made it to Remer around 2 PM, found the end of the trail where the finish line was and ran across one of the aides in Sarah's preschool class, Peg.  She greeted us and told us her daughter was racing but the competitors likely wouldn't be finishing for another hour or so.  Sarah really wanted to stay and there were a number of activities to keep her somewhat busy while we waited around.



A money hunt in the snow - Sarah came away with a one dollar coin!



A bonfire to keep warm by, although temperatures were pretty nice that day,

 and a big snow pile to climb on- that is Sarah on the left at the top :)



Snow angels to make

After 3 PM, the first team arrived.

sorry, wet camera lens for this photo ;(

A few more teams trickled in and then Kelly Sipper, the teacher's daughter, arrived.

Sarah standing by Kelly's team minutes after crossing the finish



Kelly resting with one of her dogs, after what
I can assume is a tiring 30-mile race



Sarah and Peg congratulating the dogs for a well run race!

We found out on Monday that Kelly had placed 4th in the 6 dog recreational class.

It was a lot of fun to watch and I think next year we will try to be there for the start of the race, which the seasoned spectators said is quite fun as all the dogs are hyped up and rearing to go.

All that fresh air and excitement, missing our afternoon rest time, and unfortunately a sickness coming on, resulted in a tired out little girl by supper time.

Who knows, maybe she'll be a competitor in the years to come?



A Re-Commitment...

...to several things, actually.  A re-commitment to this blog; to my house projects To-Do list; and to myself.

I really do want to post more regularily on this blog, as a sort of family journal, a record of our days and weeks and what we do.  I think of blog posts occasionally but never get around to creating them until they are a month old.  I really, really, REALLY will start to try harder, to commit to weekly posts at first so as not to overwhelm myself.  I think I can do that.

I have a clipboard around here with a list that I just let loose on once, emptying all those thoughts and possible projects and plans out of my head once and for all.  I made that list in June 2010 and I have not checked off very many things yet.  Many of them are still quite relevant, things that still need to be done in my home to get it to a point where I am truly satisfied.  I have started a few of these items recently and I am going to commit to getting those things done before I dive into more painting, arranging, organizing and purging.  All in good time....

And finally, a re-commitment to myself.  I have been neglecting certain aspect of myself lately - exercise and creativity to name just the first two that pop into my head.  My intellect, my curiosity, my spirituality, my nutrition, and the list goes on.  I am going to get back to focusing on some of these things that need to have a more prominent place in my life.  I will be happier if I can get some of these things back and I think my household will be happier too.

So that is it, my plans for the next few months or so.  If you happen to read this post, please ask my how I am doing on organizing my laundry room or if I've cleared off my craft/painting table yet so I can get back to watercolour painting.  I'd appreciate your checking up on me and holding me accountable!

Where do you find the time?

I have never been great at time management - definitely a procrastinator, do-it-at-the-last-minute, cram for the test sort of person.  So it comes as no big surprise to me that I am not great at finding time to post on this blog. 

I am, however, rather in awe of those who do post regularly, like every day.  Where do they find the time?  I just do not think I could currently, honestly, find the time to do that.  I suppose if I didn't browse on Pinterest, or look up crocheting patterns during my time on the internet, I might find more time for blogging.  But then of course I'd have to have an idea ready to blog about, pictures uploaded and all that so it would go quickly and smoothly.  I am far from proficient with Blogger, and maybe being so would help me blog more often.  I'd also have to allow my kids to watch much more TV, as that seems to be the only time I get an uninterrupted hour on the internet.

I am going to try harder for April to get more posting done.  Somewhere I read about a blogging challenge, to post every day in April.  If I can find that post again, I might just go for it.  Oh wait, that means I'd have to post again tomorrow... ya, not likely that will happen.  So, I'll just stick to my random, occasional posts and have to be satisfied with that. 

To Nap or Not to Nap....

...that is the question.  If you ask my 3-year-9-month old daughter, the answer is definitely "NOT".  If you ask her mother, the answer is definitely "NAP".

You never end up parenting two children alike, because the children are different, life's circumstances are different and you as a parent are different the second, third , or fourth time around.  I tend to compare the whole napping issue I'm facing with my second child to the one I faced with my first.  But when my son was three and a half, we had a one and half year old in the house.  One and a half year olds definitely still need a nap, so there was no question that the three and half year old was also going to lay down at the same time, so the house could be quiet, so Mom could get a little break, and whether he believed it or not, so that he could also have the rest that he still needed. 

Thinking back on it, I can remember him fighting it somewhat, but he always had some time with the lights out in his room.  Maybe half the time he fell asleep, the other half he talked quietly to himself.  I was fine with that either way, as long as we all got a break in the afternoon.  It wasn't until he was almost 5 that I finally relented and turned "naptime" into "quiet time" for him.  He keeps the lights on, can draw, look at books, play quietly, but he is in his room for the most part for a little over an hour.  On days we know he is tired or crabby, or if he has been sick, then we even do turn out the lights for half an hour, hoping he might actually catch a little shut-eye.

Of course, because big brother doesn't have to nap anymore, little sister thinks the same should apply to her.  I tried allowing her to look at books by herself for a few minutes and then having her lay down, but that "few" minutes has stretched out.  She has always been put down for a nap in Mom and Dad's room (because they share a bedroom) and now she wants to stay up to play in there.  I have tried laying down with her, in hopes that it will allow her to settle down and drift off.  Usually, I end up almost asleep while she is crawling all over the bed playing Lion King!

So, is it time to finally admit that she has given up naps?  I really don't want to.  If I admit it, it means she is growing up, no longer a toddler needing naps and more of a pre-schooler segueing to afternoons filled with activities.  She is not quite as good about staying in the room for a full hour of quiet time; she comes out frequently to tell me she has been "waiting forever to get up!"  That hour alone seems like forever to her.  She doesn't draw or write like her brother does during his quiet time and she quickly exhausts her interest in the books and few toys she has in there.  Maybe she'll get better at accepting quiet time; maybe it doesn't fit her personality as well and she will always fight it a little.  Either way, Mom is standing firm.

I know we are certainly not giving up on the sanctity of Quiet Time in our house for a while.  She will continue to have it until she enters kindergarten and I think even her brother will have it on days off from school.  Mom just needs the chance to get a few household tasks done, or put her feet up with a book or crochet in hand to have a little mental break herself. 

Here's hoping we continue to have nap time/ quiet time for as long as I can possibly keep it going!





 Gone are the days of a blissful sleeping baby ;(









Books of 2011

Last year I did not exactly set myself a firm goal of the number of books I wanted to read.  In 2010 I managed 24 and hoped that maybe I'd do the same for 2011.  I got close with 20, once again starting off with many books at the beginning of the year, fewer in the summer, a spurt again in the fall, and then tailing off around the holidays.  That seems to be my pattern and I am satisfied to be in the 20 to 24 book range for my annual tally.  Here is a list and a few words about some of the books: (*denotes books read for my book club)

Dark of the Moon - John Sandford

The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson  I felt compelled to read after reading TGWTDT in 2010 and I've read some of the final installment, with a lot of skimming; perhaps I'll try reading TGWKTHN in its entirety this year

Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins  Despite being classified as "Young Adult", I absolutely loved this series (thanks J.L for pointing me towards it!)  Some may scoff at the YA rating but I still found all the books great page-turners, about teenagers surviving in a post-apocalyptic America and fighting to the death in the barbaric "Hunger Games".  I know I am but one of many fans looking forward to the first movie coming out in March http://hungergamesmovie.org/category/hunger-games-trailer/

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Pomme de Terre - Candace Simar The second book by a local MN author about Norwegian immigrants around the time of the Sioux uprising (1862) and in the years following.  Makes one appreciate all the modern conveniences we have today!

The Shack - William Paul Young  * Read for book club; an interesting look at God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit but in novel form; I learned a lot.

Water for Elephants - Sarah Gruen Thought it was good, the movie as well.

Moloka'i - Alan Brennert * Read for book club; an eye-opening look at leprosy and the effects it had on the Hawaiian people.

Vermillion Drift - William Kent Krueger The 11th book by this author (guess I'm a fan of his too) about a small town Minnesota sheriff-turned-PI.  I like the main character and recognizing some of the locales and settings.  The author is coming to a local library in February and I plan to go listen to his presentation.

The Thirteenth Tale - Diana Setterfield * My choice for book club though I had no knowledge of it, just sounded interesting.  It was very Jane Eyre-ish, and most of the book club gave it a thumbs-up.

Divergent - Veronica Roth  Another teenage-post-apocalyptic plot line, not sure why I picked this one up but found it decent.  Funny, I am reading ANOTHER similar book right now, must be a theme I am into.

Sex with Kings - Eleanor Herman  Very interesting and informative book about royal mistresses (and yes, Camilla Parker-Bowles did receive mention) throughout history.  I found the format of the book a bit hard to follow but it made me want to read more about some of these highly influential women.

The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton

Birdie - Candace Simar  Third book by the local author about MN settlers

Bossypants - Tina Fey  Good for a few laughs

The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff *  Book club selection about the Latter Day Saints; I think we all learned a lot about the history of polygamy and the development of this religion through this novel.

The Hiding Place - Corrie ten Boom * Dutch resistence during WWII; made one thankful for fleas (you'd have to read it to understand)

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand  Probably my favourite book I read last year.  The true story of an American airman shot down over the Pacific in WWII, survived 40-some days on a life raft, only to be captured by the Japanese and stuck in POW camps for 2 years.  I learned so much about the Pacific theatre of war, the unbelievable and inhumane treatment that POWs suffered at the hands of the Japanese and the resilience of the human spirit.  The author did such an astounding job of research that you would swear she was perched on Louis Zamperini's shoulder through it all.  Tough to read but I highly recommend it.

Bride of New France - Suzanne DesRochers  The hardships faced by French women brought over to marry fur traders and help populate the colony that became Quebec.  Made me thankful for electricity, central heating and indoor plumbing!

And I am proud to include a list of the books that I read to my children last year.  I took some book suggestions from "The Read-Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease and others I just decided to read when I came across the book on the shelf ("The Wizard of Oz" for example). 

The Magic Treehouse series #1 to #37 - Mary Pope Osborne  History, adventure, culture, biology all rolled into a kid-friendly package.  My kids would sit and listen to a whole book in the Magic Treehouse series in one sitting if I felt like reading that long; they love the Jack and Annie books, we learn a lot from them and as soon as we finish one, they ask "what's the next one about?"  We have almost caught up to the end of the series and then will unfortunately have to wait a little longer between books.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl  Fun book, haven't shown them the movie yet

The Incredible Journey of Edward Tulane - Kate DiCamillo

Wizard of Oz (shorted but beautifully illustrated version) - Frank Baum

Stuart Little - E. B. White  (We just started "Charlotte's Web" last week!)

Babe:  the Gallant Pig - Dick King-Smith  I didn't know the movie came from a book; the author has a different style that made reading aloud a bit awkward sometimes but we loved the book.  We'll rent the movie soon.

The Water Horse - Dick King-Smith  A suggestion from "The Read Aloud Handbook", great story about kids finding and raising a Loch Ness-type monster!

I have only finished one book so far this year, "Northwest Angle" which is the 12th by William Kent Krueger, but I do have another three books on the go.  I always love to hear good book suggestions, ones you have read yourself or to your children that you enjoyed.  I'm hoping for a 24 book year again this year and have a stack on my nightstand and a list of requests at the library to help make that happen.

Let's Try this Again!

When I decided to start a blog last January about this time, I never even had the faintest hope that I would post daily.  Nor did I think I'd even manage every few days; I was hoping for weekly posts at best.  Well, seems it was more like monthly posts as I only managed 12 posts all of last year.  I am not resolving to do an extreme turn around and post every few days this year but I will try my best to do more than the measly 12 of last year.  My parents are FINALLY hooked up to the internet (woo hoo!), with an iPad no less (jealous ;)) so I have good reason this year to post updates about what the grandkids have been up to lately.  So here goes, let's try this again.....

We have had a very mild winter here so far and snow has been almost non-existent.  The kids are anxious to get outside the minute they see snow in the morning, for fear it will disappear by afternoon.  The lastest snow we received at the very end of last year is still hanging around, and though it doesn't even completely cover the long grass and leftover leaves on our lawn, it has been sufficient to go sledding in our backyard.  We spent nearly two hours outside yesterday and about an hour today, and my shins are sore from walking back up the hill umpteen times.  But it has been so great to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine and get a bit of exercise together.

We had an enjoyable holiday season, celebrating Christmas at home and New Year's down in the Twin Cities, where we also celebrated Rob's 40th birthday.  The tree came down today and now I have to tuck things back in boxes, decide how much of my window display can stay up as a "winter" scene for a few more weeks, and get back into the regular routines.  Jonathan is back at preschool this week but Sarah's session of her class is done and we do not sign up for the next one for a couple weeks.  This leaves us Mondays and Fridays at home and hopefully we can get to the community center to go skating and swimming a few times this month.



Cutting a Christmas tree with Grandma and Grandpa Stoby and Grandpa Maroney, December 4th



That's where we stand for now.  Here's to a productive 2012 and hopefully a slightly more used blog!

Lesson in Instructions

The other day, I was feeling very lazy.  And as it turns out, it was a great thing that I was.

We were all in the living room and I was on the floor flipping through a recipe book - must have been trying to decide what to have for supper.

My son was across the room and asked me if we could put on the Thomas tape.  Yes, we still have a stereo with a cassette tape and we still have a Thomas the Train story book on tape.

I said, "Sure".  Then he asked if I could get up and do it for him, even though he was standing right by the stereo.  This is where it was a good thing I was feeling lazy.  I did not feel like getting up and decided he could do it himself.

I said, "No, you can do it; I'll tell you how."  So I proceeded to issue him instructions.

First he had to find the Function button, to switch from the radio to cassette.  He cannot read yet but recognizes all his letters so I told him to look for the button with "F" "U" "N" on it.  He found it.

Then I told him to find the "Play" button down on the cassette controls.  He found that.

But the tape was at the end on that side.  So I instructed him to find the "Eject" button and press that.  He did.

Then I told him to flip the tape over.  I think he got it upside down so I told him to turn it over with the fatter part going in first.  He did that.

Finally, I told him to find the "Play" button again.  He did and the tape started!!!

Wow, what a lesson in instructions!  I thought about it afterwards, the letter recognition he had to employ, following instructions exactly, manipulating the tape, etc.  That was rather complex for a 5 year old.  And he did it with flying colours!

Thank goodness I was feeling lazy.