Winter IS here!

Its been really windy! It has snowed a little over 5 in. and its still coming down. Tomorrow's high is 35 degrees so it will probably melt. Here's some more pic's. ~Trevor

Winter is coming - by Trevor

Or is it already here! 32 degrees and snowing outside. Dad and I were taking apart the old deck getting ready to put in a new one. We've been working for a farmer named Howard Rodgers, driving tractors and stuff. We've been enjoying it! Courtney got a couple of fillies she'll probably be blogging about soon. TTFN.

Deer Hunting...with a car

Last week I drove the Stanza to Howard's for the first time. I hadn't been driving it because the driver's window wouldn't go all the way up, and it had been cold and rainy. But it was a nice day so I took the Stanza. I harrowed in the wheat fields until it was almost dark, so it was after dark when I drove home. On a dark stretch of highway a deer jumped in front of me and stopped right in front of me. I locked up the brakes but was still going pretty fast when I hit him. It was a large buck, and his rack hit the windshield right in front of the steering wheel. I must have had my mouth agape when I hit him, because I was chewing glass the rest of the way home! I'm just glad he didn't come through the windshield.

The next day Trevor and I stopped at the skid marks on our way to Howard's. He had made it about 30 yards out into a flax field before he died. He was a good looking buck...I would much rather have shot him!

Ice Skating

Tuesday of last week we went ice skating for Callie's birthday and the whole family enjoyed it! We should do it more often. My friend and I (Tucker) would skate from one end and slide and hit the wall on purpose but after a while our pant legs got wet and then we stopped. Skating was two hours long and once the two hours were up we got our skates off and went to Burger King because it was Callie's birthday. Then we went home and had cupcakes and ice cream. Usually we have cake but she wanted cupcakes instead. Mom and Dad gave her a bike and Courtney and Trevor gave her a Camelback water bottle. Ithink she likes it too!

~Tucker

Sheryll's haircut

Before

After

I was feeling the need for a little more "bounce" and less heavy. I am liking it...I hope you do too.

Our Weekend - by Courtney

Sisters...

Sheryll coordinated a homeschooler's day at the local ice skating rink. Here's Timmy showing everybody how it's done.

Mom helps Callie learn how.

Tanner skates with the help of "the learning bar."

We went to a Family Camp with fellow home schoolers at Crystal Springs Lake near Jamestown, ND. Here we are relaxing on the shore of the lake.

Carrie...

Brothers...

Trevor enjoyed the jet ski! He enjoys pretty much anything he can drive.

Taking the canoe for a spin.

Sisters

Putting up a playhouse for the kids. It says it takes 20-24 hours for two "moderately skilled" people. So far we've had Randy Zachry, Grandpa Paulson, Tim Seavey helping me. Not sure how much time we have invested, but we're not done yet...

Grandma and Grandpa were here for a couple of weeks, and we were able to have Dad dedicate Carrie at one of our home church gatherings. What a blessing! We so enjoyed them being here...it was just too short!

[Editor's Note: My sister, Donna, suggested that we have the children blog as part of their schooling. That way the blog would be kept more current and they could have practical writing assignments. We thought that it was a great idea! Here's the first one.]

Last Saturday we were invited to the Hughes for a night of volleyball and fellowship. The Hughes' house is only about 1/4 of a mile from our place, so the older kids often walk. When we got there we played a few games of regular volleyball and then we picked teams for speed volleyball. After that we went inside to eat. Then all of us, except for Dad, came home to give the little kids baths and do chores. Some of the chores were already done so I (Courtney) finished chores while Trevor and Tucker milked Bell. After chores were done, Mom was stayed home to give baths so Trevor drove Tucker and I back to the Hughes' house. The Hughes are enclosing their garage, and the service was in there. Mrs. Hoverson had made some bars that were kind of like Hello Dollys without the coconut. They were very good.

On Sunday morning we went to the Nelson's house for home church. After lunch we watched a little bit of a Lew Sterrett DVD. He teaches/preaches while training horses.

Latest happenings

A moose we saw on our way home from Lake Metigoshe.

Courtney, Tanner, and some friends playing in the water at Lake Metigoshe. Our entire home fellowship went camping Saturday and Sunday. Courtney and Tucker were baptized in the lake Sunday morning. This picture is a pretty good shot of the new modest swimsuits that Courtney and I (Sheryll) got this year. The bottom is a skirt with attached pants underneath. We really like them.

Another shot of the children playing at the lake.

Our good friend, Tim Seavey, watching over the children as they play.

My $1.00 ice skates I found at a garage sale this summer. I can't wait to try them out!

We got a "Sky Fort" playset for the children. It says it takes 22-24 hours to assemble. When you can only work on it a couple of hours a day every few days, it tends to take quite a while. One of these days it will be finished!

Our dear friends, the Zachry's, came to visit for a few days. Here is Vanessa with Carrie.

Randy Zachry entertaining the children with his Donald Duck sneeze! They had so much fun!

Bob on his new Toro zero turn lawn tractor. He and Trevor are both loving this new addition to the farm.

A hen hatched 11 new chicks for us! We love the natural expansion of our flock! We have been selling our eggs and we have not been able to keep up with the demand, so more chicks are a very welcome sight. We are just praying for mostly hens!

Having fun with a new look

Let us know what you think. Just felt like change is good now and then.

FINALLY, some new pictures! (Or maybe they're not so new anymore)

These ended up from newest to oldest. It's been too long since I (Sheryll) have tried to blog. But at least it's done! I hope you all enjoy these pictures from the past couple of months.

Carrie's first feeding of solids...sweet potatoes, yum yum!

Cool Timothy!

Timothy and Callie

Poppy and our beautiful Courtney

Courtney, Tucker, Seth, Tanner

Poppy & "Pooped out"

Trevor & Carrie

Poppy & Titus

Tucker on the "50" as it's called around here.

Poppy had some fun while he was here too!

A new experience for Seth.

Carrie really enjoyed Poppy's visit!

This is mostly what Poppy did, I think.

Tyler and Carrie

Our hard-working Trevor!

Titus

Timothy on Misty. He must be our little equestrian. (Second to Courtney, of course)

This is mostly what Seth did on his visit here with Poppy. The children LOVED it!

Courtney leading Timothy on Misty.

Timothy leading Titus on Misty.

Carrie

Carrie and Tanner. He really loves babies!

Tucker's 11th birthday. He got his Red Ryder! ("You'll shoot your eye out!")