Tis The Season

It's hunting season. A few weeks ago Babe and Gabriel were off somewhere in Colorado hunting antelope for some days. Gabriel is not old enough in Colorado to actually shoot big game. Twelve years old is the age to look forward to for big game hunting but Gabriel can tag along and hang out, have fun, and learn. They didn't get an antelope but came close just not close enough. They saw a fair amount of antelope but they were either the wrong gender for the tag they had or in the wrong hunting area. They did one time find what they needed for their tag and in the right zone but couldn't get close enough for a good shot. Nevertheless they had a GREAT time!!! They came back with stories of stars, bugs, antelope, and the game warden. I guess the stars in the middle of nowhere where just amazing. The game warden got to know them some and tried to help them out. He seemed to like Gabriel and it was good for Gabriel to learn about game wardens and what they do. They saw a truck of guys being chased down by the game warden!

Yesterday Babe, Gabriel, and Ross headed off to near the Nebraska border for deer hunting. Babe and I decided to let Rossers go and he was SOOOOO excited to be going with the big boys. It was fun to see how happy and excited he was. We'll see how he holds up to early mornings, etc. I've prayed they'll have a great time. Ross told Daddy that if he gets a deer that he will give him a penny. Cute.

Well, poor Carson had to stay home. He is used to at least Ross being home but with Ross gone I think it was a little harder. Even though Carson adores Annalina she is not one of the boys. Today he said a couple of times that he wanted to go hunting which he has never said before. When Annalina, Carson, and I were sitting at dinner he said "I am a big boy that has to stay home." Annalina and I got a kick out of him.

Annalina was excited for them to get a deer and liked spending time with just me but she still likes it when everyone is home. I told her that is a good attitude  . . . she's excited for them and thankful she and I can hang out, but will miss them. She and Carson had a great time doing "gymnastics" on the couch in the evening. Annalina and I stayed up and hung out which was fun. She and I have a few crafty things we would like to do during the coming days.

The big event of the evening was that I fed Jedidiah dinner and then he had a big spit up so I had to take off his clothes so I left him in his crib in his diapers to play around while I got some stuff done. When I came back he was on his belly with YUCKY stuff on the mattress under his mouth. I thought that was weird he seems to have thrown up but that is weird looking throw up. Since the mess was under his face that is what it looked like. It was under his nose and around his left eye (a Big chunk of it!). But he was so happy to have just thrown up. I went to pick him up and saw he had pooped out the back of his diapers and it ended up on the mattress and then he had flipped over and put his face in it!!! Carson was disgusted!!!! I got Jedidiah into the baby tub and got him cleaned up. Jedidiah loves baths now but wasn't so keen on them when he was really young. The kids and I sat around and watched him play for awhile and then Jedidiah peed while in the bath. What a baby! He sure was happy though!!

Cute Kid Stories

Ross and Carson were playing Indians yesterday and I don't know what Ross told Carson to do (Probably dealing with climbing on something)  but I heard Carson say "I'm scared". Ross replied "Indians are never scared." Carson, "I'm scared." Ross, "Then you are out of the tribe." Carson, "But I'm a scared Indian!" I told Babe this and later on in the day when Babe and I were together I asked Carson "Did you get kicked out of an Indian tribe today?" Carson, "Yes." Very matter of factly and a bit frustrated.

I may have already blogged about this but just in case I am going to type it out. While Carson and I were in the van recently he told me that some people tell you to follow your heart. So I asked him who are you supposed to follow and his reply "Jesus".

Gabriel's First Swim Meet Ribbons

Yah, I yelled and yelled and cheered for my Gabers. He won his race in freestyle and in backstroke.
Unfortunately, it was his first and last meet. We want to get him in more lessons and possibly a more challenging swim team. It was a great experience though and maybe we can get some practice times that are a little less hectic to our schedule.

The Duck Song

This reminds me of Carson and Ross. The duck being Carson and the lemonade stand guy as Ross!
Tooo Funny!!

Cotopaxi, CO

Went to Cotopaxi, CO for a very mini-vacation and had a great time. Got to do what we were looking forward to  . . . hanging out as a family. The kids got to fish, have a picnic, have a camp fire and roast smores, play on a playground, play with and climb on rocks down by the river, shoot their wrist rockets, learn to play Skip-bo, etc.

Jedidiah and Daddy hanging out.

Down by the Arkansas River.

Ross having fun shooting his wrist rocket!

Not sure the conversation happening here.

Ross LOVED LOVED the merry-go-around. This was probably built when I was a kid. The equipment was old and they don't make merry-go-rounds like this anymore on playgrounds. The kids played a long time on it and Ross laughed and laughed and laughed!

The first day they fished Babe caught a trout and everyone ate some of it 

for dinner but me! They thought it was good. The second day it was almost time to go and Gabriel still hadn't caught a fish. I prayed silently and asked that he catch one and that it be bigger than Daddy's!:-) Minutes later Gabriel caught one and it was AT LEAST a 12 inch long trout. Babe had gone to check out of the cabin and I coached Gabriel wrong and the fish got loose and he and I both went into the river in our clothes to get it. I grabbed it and got freaked out and let go and it got away. I felt REALLY bad. I don't know why it bothered me that much. So we got no picture of it. Gabriel was so good natured about the whole thing. He was disappointed but had a great attitude. When we went up to find Daddy Carson excitedly told Daddy that "Gabriel caught a MONSTER fish." His words not ours, it was pretty funny. He was excited for his brother!

Jedidiah, our happy camper.

Carson visiting with Jedidiah.

Carson had eaten one smore and ate hardly any of the next and I saw him roasting another marshmellow and I commented to him. He said "I am full of that one. I am burning another one." After having his fill the fun part was burning the marshmellows.

Staying warm with Daddy by the camp fire.

We saw lots of pretty scenery which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Saw this fence in Leadville, CO and thought it was really cool.

Ross and Carson

I was reading Ross and Carson their Bible story for Bible class and it was about Joseph and his brothers. We were to the part were Joseph invited his brothers to dine with him. Carson said "That is scary . . . they were scared." I listened then continued reading and one of the next sentences said that the brothers were scared. Carson said "See, I told you so!"

Today we were on our way home from piano lessons and Gabriel put the Sound of Music in. Julie Andrews is singing and I hear Ross say "She is a really good singer." Then I hear him say "I don't know who is better her or Auntie Theo?" Little later I hear "They are both really good!" He just couldn't pick because they were both so good. I thought it was GREAT that he held his Auntie in such high regard. I told my sister-in-law and she said she is going to have to give him his own copy of her music CD when she gets it done which will be really fun.

Box From Grandma and Grandpa Arrives And With That Fun!!

 Grandma and Grandpa sent the froggie glasses and I found the coat at

 Goodwill recently for less than 99 cents!

 Grandpa J found these matching shirts and hats for the girls in California

and they really enjoyed them. Both girls have a pizzazzy personality and the shirts

match that! My nieces were here on Friday along with my brother and sister-in-law so we opened the box while they were here since something was sent for all the kids.

 Ross got a old time Navy uniform.

Lt. Lysne reporting for duty!

An intense sword fight taking place brother against brother!

Some Pictures of My Kiddos Back in March of This Year.

 Ross-March 2012 (5 at the time)

My older brother Ben came out to visit us in March hoping Jedidiah would be born while he was there but it didn't happen. We had a great time with him though and while he was here he took the pictures of the kids for my family picture wall in the house. I LOVE the pictures he took! He captured their personalities so well.

 Ross and Carson-March 2012

 Our house is the roof on the left.

 March 2012--Ross giving Mommy a big kiss.

I was still pregnant with Jedidiah and about 40 lbs heavier than now but I still like the picture with my sweet Rossers.

 March 2012 Mommy with 2 of her boys

 Annalina our budding musician

 Annalina--March 2012

I am surprised at how much older she already looks from this picture!

 Gabriel--March 2012

Gabriel LOVES this picture Uncle Ben took of him!

He thinks he looks like a big kid!

 Daddy and Rossers in our backyard-March 2012

Carson--March 2012

Royal Gorge

 Ross, Carson, and I got to go on the Royal Gorge Bridge this summer. I am getting around to blogging about it now! We had such fun! I can't say I'd pay the price to do it again but I am glad I did it with the boys because we really enjoyed it.

 The canyon below sometimes you could see people whitewater rafting which 

would be a cool thing to do in that canyon!!

 The boys loved stopping to look through the cracks in the bridge. I found this most unnerving for some reason!! I could look over the edge of the bridge fine but to look down under my feet through the cracks gave me the creeps. The boys found this humorous and so did other people on the bridge as they heard the boys say "look Mommy!" and I was obviously nervous

 but that was part of the fun of it. So the boys were brave and Mommy was a scaredy cat!:-)