So today after soup kitchen, Eli decided that he and Evan would play "Inja," better known as "Ninja." Eli was working on building his tough image and planning what they would do.
"Today the ninjas are going to..." he started absently.
Evan finished his sentence for him: "Play house!" Not exactly the ninja-like activities Eli had in mind.
Thankfully, my little ninjas have now moved on from their violent ways and they're playing baseball in the living room. I, with all my extensive knowledge of sports, had to instruct them that there are no such things as 4th and 5th bases. So I set them straight and they laid out the correct number of couch pillow bases. Currently, they are sitting on the floor several feet apart facing each other. Evan is swinging an unfortunately and dangerously long "bat" as Eli pitches my slipper to him.
I overheard Eli's comment: "I want to be a baseball player when I grow up. Actually, I want to do what Daddy does. Except at a goldmine."
Speaking of Eli's aspirations of working at a goldmine, here is a conversation from our long hours in the car last week: (Eli had just written a sentence after having spelling dictated to him.)
Kendall: You're going to be writing books soon!
Eli: No, I'm not gonna be one of those. You'll see.
Karen: What are you going to be?
Eli: Not telling. (pause) It's something like a cowboy that finds gold.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Slush
Today we decided to go outside and take advantage of the nearly tropical weather before it drops again. (25F) We invited a group to go with us and headed out to the lake with our ice fishing and picnic gear. Kendall took Eli to a friend's house to borrow his snowmobile. The two of them met us at the lake, after coming across snowmobile trails and a couple lakes. Kendall warned us that part of the lake (that we needed to go through to get to the other side) was slushy.
Now slush is an interesting thing that I never knew about before I met Kendall. Slush scares me. It can be a couple feet deep, but it hides under pure, innocent-looking snow. When we go through slush on the snowmobile, I feel like all that is between me and the great cold depths are a couple feet of soft, smushy slush. But Kendall and others have assured me that there is still plenty of hard ice there, it's just under the slush. Apparently, the 2 main dangers with slush are getting snowmobiles hopelessly stuck in it and getting wet and therefore dangerously cold.
As you can guess, this novice bushwoman has now experienced yet another aspect of the Great Dangers of the Wild North!
We started out onto the lake on foot. After going a very short distance onto the ice, Kendra and I decided that we would not be able to walk across the slush without getting our wet feet. It was just too wet and too deep. Practical (and perhaps wimpy) woman that I am, I began looking for a good fishing/picnic spot on this side of the slush. But along comes my fearless bushman on his white stallion (a.k.a. maroon snowmobile).
"Hop on!" says my fearless bushman. "Never fear! My handsome steed will get you safely to the other side!" So we hop on in this order: Eli in front, then Kendall, then Evan, then me. (My fearless bushman will come back for Kendra.) We load our gear on the sled behind the snowmobile. And we're off! 5 seconds later: Wait...oh shoot...can't...go...any...farther. We're hopelessly stuck. Our gear has a thick layer of slush sprayed onto it. But that's the least of our concerns.
The four of us are on a tiny island of machine in a sea of icy cold slush. Deep icy cold slush! Kendra stands helplessly 20 yards behind us on relatively dry land. (At least on real ice.) My fearless bushman once again assures me that we are safe. He jumps off our little island and begins to wade around in the slush. Ahhh...warm winter boots begin to let the water in. That's cold. Then Kendra is coming toward us. (She's no novice bushwoman.) Oops. Her feet are wet now too. She puts Eli on her back and slops back to dry land. Kendall tells me the grim news: "You have to get off the snowmobile. Your feet will get wet." So, much less bravely than Kendra, I gingerly step off the snowmobile. So far so good. My feet aren't wet. But I really can't just stand here. So I pick up Evan and start wading through the slush. Freezing! Cold! Water! But I'm not scared anymore. Just cold.
Meanwhile, Kendra slogged back through the slush to Kendall. After several attempts, with their boots getting ever fuller and feet getting ever colder, they freed the snowmobile. By the way, since I was just standing on dry land cheering them on (they needed encouragement, right?), the water in my boots actually seemed to be warming up. Kendall and Kendra's, however, had a constant source of new ice cold water as they moved around in the slush. Kendall drove out of the slush, then turned the snowmobile around and came flying back toward shore through the slush- No slowing down this time! And we made it out of there.
We weren't ready to give up our time outside, so Kendra and I rung the water out of our socks and headed back to the house to get three pairs of dry socks and boots. Then we had a great time at the fire. We stayed there with the group until dark.
Now slush is an interesting thing that I never knew about before I met Kendall. Slush scares me. It can be a couple feet deep, but it hides under pure, innocent-looking snow. When we go through slush on the snowmobile, I feel like all that is between me and the great cold depths are a couple feet of soft, smushy slush. But Kendall and others have assured me that there is still plenty of hard ice there, it's just under the slush. Apparently, the 2 main dangers with slush are getting snowmobiles hopelessly stuck in it and getting wet and therefore dangerously cold.
As you can guess, this novice bushwoman has now experienced yet another aspect of the Great Dangers of the Wild North!
We started out onto the lake on foot. After going a very short distance onto the ice, Kendra and I decided that we would not be able to walk across the slush without getting our wet feet. It was just too wet and too deep. Practical (and perhaps wimpy) woman that I am, I began looking for a good fishing/picnic spot on this side of the slush. But along comes my fearless bushman on his white stallion (a.k.a. maroon snowmobile).
"Hop on!" says my fearless bushman. "Never fear! My handsome steed will get you safely to the other side!" So we hop on in this order: Eli in front, then Kendall, then Evan, then me. (My fearless bushman will come back for Kendra.) We load our gear on the sled behind the snowmobile. And we're off! 5 seconds later: Wait...oh shoot...can't...go...any...farther. We're hopelessly stuck. Our gear has a thick layer of slush sprayed onto it. But that's the least of our concerns.
The four of us are on a tiny island of machine in a sea of icy cold slush. Deep icy cold slush! Kendra stands helplessly 20 yards behind us on relatively dry land. (At least on real ice.) My fearless bushman once again assures me that we are safe. He jumps off our little island and begins to wade around in the slush. Ahhh...warm winter boots begin to let the water in. That's cold. Then Kendra is coming toward us. (She's no novice bushwoman.) Oops. Her feet are wet now too. She puts Eli on her back and slops back to dry land. Kendall tells me the grim news: "You have to get off the snowmobile. Your feet will get wet." So, much less bravely than Kendra, I gingerly step off the snowmobile. So far so good. My feet aren't wet. But I really can't just stand here. So I pick up Evan and start wading through the slush. Freezing! Cold! Water! But I'm not scared anymore. Just cold.
Meanwhile, Kendra slogged back through the slush to Kendall. After several attempts, with their boots getting ever fuller and feet getting ever colder, they freed the snowmobile. By the way, since I was just standing on dry land cheering them on (they needed encouragement, right?), the water in my boots actually seemed to be warming up. Kendall and Kendra's, however, had a constant source of new ice cold water as they moved around in the slush. Kendall drove out of the slush, then turned the snowmobile around and came flying back toward shore through the slush- No slowing down this time! And we made it out of there.
We weren't ready to give up our time outside, so Kendra and I rung the water out of our socks and headed back to the house to get three pairs of dry socks and boots. Then we had a great time at the fire. We stayed there with the group until dark.
Friday, February 6, 2009
More (Random) Thoughts From the Road- Feb.4
Kendall has made it clear to me that when I am handing him something as he is driving it is my responsibility to look and put the object in his hand. He can’t look away from the road to see where exactly I’m holding the object. He has to keep his eyes on the road, you know. I am having trouble remembering that because I am also looking out the window as we drive. This issue has become his new favorite pet peeve and most important point to drive home. (No pun intended.) My pet peeve is that he can look at the computer screen right now to see what I’m doing. He is also very talented in looking at his iPod. That is so not keeping his eyes on the road.
My feet are freezing and we’re less than an hour into our 9-hour drive. For some reason, this lovely car spits out hot air on the driver’s side floor and lets in cold air on the passenger side floor. We brought along an old, nasty blanket especially for the purpose of warming the passenger’s feet. It’s not working too well right now and it only adds to the million other things at my feet. It’s crowded in here (to put it mildly). What we wouldn’t do for a 15 passenger van or a U-Haul right now…
My feet are freezing and we’re less than an hour into our 9-hour drive. For some reason, this lovely car spits out hot air on the driver’s side floor and lets in cold air on the passenger side floor. We brought along an old, nasty blanket especially for the purpose of warming the passenger’s feet. It’s not working too well right now and it only adds to the million other things at my feet. It’s crowded in here (to put it mildly). What we wouldn’t do for a 15 passenger van or a U-Haul right now…
Thoughts From the Road- Feb.4
And we’re off! Heading back home to Red Lake. Am I ready? How do I feel about it? Those are questions that I’m trying not to spend too much energy on. When I think of night time in our house, I feel happy. I’m ready to be in the comfort of my own home and sleep in my own bed. I’m ready to have the boys in their beds and stop living out of a suitcase.
Daytimes look a bit different. I feel kind of a bored, cooped-up-ness. Before we left, Kendall and I decided that he would work like a madman, picking up extra shifts and trying to make up for our 2 ½ weeks without work as best he could. The days are long and though I end up having plans most days, I was struggling with a bored desperation. (That’s not really a good way to put it, but I’m having trouble knowing how to describe it. It’s not exactly bored, not exactly desperate, not exactly depressed, not exactly cabin fever- But a bit of all of those things.) Anyway, for the next few weeks, Kendall will be working a lot again, so it’s back to long days for both of us.
So there are some aspects of going home that look big, but we are so ready for routine and closets. I’m looking forward to having my neighbors back and to reconnecting with people again. I’m looking forward to cooking and getting back into a routine of…well…we’ll say healthy living rather than eating tons of cheesecake and doing so much sitting around.
Well, so much for not spending too much energy on these questions. What it all boils down to for me, is that we’re going home and it will be fine. I said goodbye to family and friends again, but it’s also good to go home. And I really do feel like it will be fine- even good.
Daytimes look a bit different. I feel kind of a bored, cooped-up-ness. Before we left, Kendall and I decided that he would work like a madman, picking up extra shifts and trying to make up for our 2 ½ weeks without work as best he could. The days are long and though I end up having plans most days, I was struggling with a bored desperation. (That’s not really a good way to put it, but I’m having trouble knowing how to describe it. It’s not exactly bored, not exactly desperate, not exactly depressed, not exactly cabin fever- But a bit of all of those things.) Anyway, for the next few weeks, Kendall will be working a lot again, so it’s back to long days for both of us.
So there are some aspects of going home that look big, but we are so ready for routine and closets. I’m looking forward to having my neighbors back and to reconnecting with people again. I’m looking forward to cooking and getting back into a routine of…well…we’ll say healthy living rather than eating tons of cheesecake and doing so much sitting around.
Well, so much for not spending too much energy on these questions. What it all boils down to for me, is that we’re going home and it will be fine. I said goodbye to family and friends again, but it’s also good to go home. And I really do feel like it will be fine- even good.
Orr, Minnesota (February 4-5)
We left Iowa for the Great North Wednesday morning. We drove 9 hours to make it to our hotel an hour south of the border. Kendall’s grandparents had given the boys Christmas and birthday money while we were in Iowa. We used that to get a nicer hotel than we had on the way down.
Whenever we travel between Red Lake and the South, we pass a hotel with a big indoor waterslide that is visible from the road. We decided that was the place for us. The boys were pumped, of course. We had a good time.
Eli cracked us up as he flew down the big water slide. One of us would wait at the bottom for his arrival. It took a little while for him to make it through all the twists and turns. But we knew he was coming because he was singing the whole way down. From the top, we could see that he was in surfer form- sitting sideways with his arms out surfer style. Later when we asked what he had been singing every time down the slide, it was a song that went something like this: “I’m surfin’! Catchin’ a wave! So get outta my way!”
Radical, dude!
Whenever we travel between Red Lake and the South, we pass a hotel with a big indoor waterslide that is visible from the road. We decided that was the place for us. The boys were pumped, of course. We had a good time.
Eli cracked us up as he flew down the big water slide. One of us would wait at the bottom for his arrival. It took a little while for him to make it through all the twists and turns. But we knew he was coming because he was singing the whole way down. From the top, we could see that he was in surfer form- sitting sideways with his arms out surfer style. Later when we asked what he had been singing every time down the slide, it was a song that went something like this: “I’m surfin’! Catchin’ a wave! So get outta my way!”
Radical, dude!
Iowa (February 1-4)
Sunday was another day on the road for us. Since we were all still so tired, we had a rather bumpy ride. Once again, I will spare you the details and just say that we eventually made it to Iowa.
Our time at Nana and Papa’s was exactly what we needed. It was low-key and very relaxing. Monday morning Kendall and I slept until 9:45, which is a very rare treat. Tuesday morning our early riser (Evan) slept until after 10:00! That never happens. Monday I got to walk with Twila. After two weeks of eating cinnamon rolls and not exercising, it was so good to walk and talk. Tuesday Kendall and I went out for coffee. The boys were so happy playing.
So by the time we were ready to leave Wednesday morning, we were new people. The drive ahead of us didn’t look so overwhelming anymore.
Our time at Nana and Papa’s was exactly what we needed. It was low-key and very relaxing. Monday morning Kendall and I slept until 9:45, which is a very rare treat. Tuesday morning our early riser (Evan) slept until after 10:00! That never happens. Monday I got to walk with Twila. After two weeks of eating cinnamon rolls and not exercising, it was so good to walk and talk. Tuesday Kendall and I went out for coffee. The boys were so happy playing.
So by the time we were ready to leave Wednesday morning, we were new people. The drive ahead of us didn’t look so overwhelming anymore.
Ohio (January 29-February 1)
Thursday after lunch we left Indiana for Ohio to be part of Wedding #2. Leaving Indiana was sad, but not traumatic. I did feel cloudy all the way to Ohio though.
It was really good to be with the Hochstedlers again. It was hard for me to miss their get-togethers over the holidays. I was glad that we had this time to look forward to.
However, in spite of really looking forward to this time, we were a mess. Well, mostly me and Evan. We were exhausted. So I felt grouchy and tired too much of the time. But there were good times mixed in.
The wedding was fun. Hans and Joelle had a beautiful and fun wedding. One of my favorite parts was the happy couple’s matching Converse tennis shoes.
Kendall and I saw a lot of people from our past. It was fun reconnecting with old friends.
And as for the boys, they did great walking up the aisle. They were part of a large group of kids carrying all kinds of lanterns. Evan was pretty close to all-out refusing to cooperate. But when it came right down to it, another bribe worked beautifully. We were proud parents once again.
Saturday night when we got back to Tim and LaRonda’s after the wedding we had a great time. In fact, I enjoyed our late-night/early-morning time almost enough to make up for my earlier grouchiness.
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