Wood cutting

A couple of years back, my in-laws installed a wood burner to heat their home and shop in the winter. There are great benefits to it, but the only down fall is that Bryan has to do a lot of wood cutting to keep it going.
Last year we asked what he wanted for Christmas and he said he would like it if all of us "kids" help him by having a day of wood cutting. This is how the tradition began.
One day over Thanksgiving break we cut wood as a present from us for his birthday.
Over Christmas break, we also have one day when we all get bundled up and head outside to cut wood. This is our Christmas present for Bryan. It works well for everyone, it is a fun time of family togetherness and plain physical work and Bryan is always so pleased to not have to worry about cutting wood..it's a win-win!

This is the wood pile at the beginning of our work day
This is one of the piles at the end of the day...

...and this is the second pile.

The wood burner is the red and black box.

Two of the little ones came out with us for...20 minutes or so. It was cold and not much fun for them do to, so they went back inside with grandma!

The Hoben girls (minus Carley)

One of the wood splitters we use

Second wood splitter

The headsets had radio and we were jamming to the music...and we were being silly :)

Lunch break!After lunch, we cut down a tree and here are Brett and Chris cutting branches off the tree.

Hawkeye fans gather here!

We enjoy getting together with friends on Saturdays to watch the Hawkeye games.

We always have such a good time!

The guys: Kevin, Sam, Brett and Benji

Benji and Abby
Kevin and Hannah
Sam and Ale

Good times!

All things Football...

These 2 boys are brothers

...and these 2 brothers love football!

They like to play catch

They like to make silly poses when mommy asks for picturesThe older brother tells the younger where to stand to catch the ball

...and the little one listens (every once in a while he does!)
He makes pretty good catches! They both do!

The football itself is a much loved item in our home...and some of us give it kisses

They learned all things football from their dad


...and they LOVE it!

Slow dance

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic fly?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down

Don't dance so fast

Time is short

The music won't last

Do you run through each day on a fly?

When you ask "How are you?"

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast

Time is short,

The music won't last

Ever told your child,

"we'll do it tomorrow"

And in your haste

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch

Let a good friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say "Hi"

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast

Time is short

The music won't last

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there

When you worry and hurry through your day

It's like an unopened gift thrown away

Life is not a race

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over

(Unknown writer)

Field trip to the FARM!--*Homeschooling*

We concluded the "Life on the Farm" thematic unit with a field trip to the Farm!

We went inside a combine

We visited a pig farm

We got piggy back rides at the pig farm(well-Mya did!)

We picked eggs from the chicken coop

We climbed a huge hay bale stack...

(i loved my farm girl boots!)

We also fed cows, goats and played with farm cats

We went on a hay ride at Barnyard Blooms

We ended our field trip at the Corn Maze...followed by a shopping spree(for moms) at the Barnyard Blooms antique shop.

We learned so much and we had such a good time!