Here Moosey-Moosey-Moosey!

We got to see something kind of out of the ordinary the other night.

 

Keaton called us from the barn and said "Uh... guys...  it wouldn't be a good time to head out to the barn right now.  There's a bull moose right outside my door."

 

So we all ran to the windows and strained our eyes to see through the dark night, to locate the said moose.  It was dark, real dark.  Winston was the one who spotted it first.  It was eating the old shriveled apples from our apple trees.  It would stick it's nose up, grab a branch and the whole tree would bend way down.  Then it would take it's bite and the tree would slingshot back up to it's normal height.  Really, all we could see was it's sillouhette against the light out at the barn.

 

Tom tried to take a picture, and this is the best we could get...

Ears and rack.

In this picture, he's standing next to the tractor.

 

He stuck around for a long time and was definitely not afraid of the dogs barking from their pen.

Other than work, work, work, school, school, school... our only other real exciting news is that our football team won their last game (which they were very much predicted to NOT win).  So we're pretty excited for Trenton to get another step closer to a shot at State.  He's playing tonight.  If they win this one, they have one more game before going to State.  We'll be rooting him on from the cozy warmth of our living room - listening to the game on the radio.  It's just too darn cold out there to sit in the stands.  It's supposed to get down to 13 degrees tonight.  Brrrrrr!

Well, that's all she wrote!

 

Until next time...

A much needed 3-day weekend...

I am so thankful to have a three-day weekend.  It seems like we've got things coming and going like crazy, and it's good to have a couple of days to take a breather and get caught up on a few things.

 

We just finished with Parent-Teacher conferences at school.  Things are going pretty well for Winston.  He is just (still) struggling in math.  Last year we made the choice to put him in special ed for math help.  The purpose was to get a little extra help with the classroom curriculum.  As the new CC standards are being implemented, we've found he is getting more and more lost.  For a kid who has an auditory processing disorder, figuring out story problems and multi-function math is really hard.  He can do some of it, but it takes him a loooong time.  But we also found that in his attempt to process that kind of math, he's lost some of the function knowledge - you know, basic addition, subtraction and multiplication.  So as a team with his teachers, we've decided that he just needs to get the basics learned well enough to be cemented in his mind, and not worry about the standards questions so much.  Thank goodness for teachers who are willing to work with us!

 

Winston also has had a couple of situations that he was involved in at school.  It's a bit daunting when I'm called into my supervisor's office (i.e.: the principal) and have a talk about my son's attitude.  Winston has been following a 'group' of his friends into situations that spell trouble.  Then when he got questioned about it, he threw a big fit in front of his teacher - then in front of the principal.  We've been trying to get it through to him that he doesn't have to do what his friends do, especially if it will get him in trouble.  He's such a good kid, I really can't believe we've had to go through this.  I'm thinking it must be the age.

 

Today Tom was able to get all the gutters cleaned out and a drain worked on to keep water out of the basement.  He worked on it pretty much all day - but at least the basement won't flood anymore.  I worked on getting some organizing done.  I start full-time work at school starting Tuesday.  I'll be filling in for a teacher while she is on leave for a few months.  I will also still be filling my own scheduled duties.  I'm looking forward to the double paychecks - but I just know my house will probably fall down around my ears with laundry and dishes during this time. 

 

Preston is on a field trip this weekend for his forestry class.  He didn't know exactly where they were going to, but they will spend the whole weekend there.  He was looking forward to that.  He has also been working on his schedule for next semester.  It's looking like he will probably have to go one more semester past this one.  Evidently his math requirements have yet to be met, plus he's thinking of taking a minor in (I can't remember the name of it...) basically it is computerized/satellite map making.  It will probably be very useful when it comes time for him to put his degree to work.   

 

Keaton has been enjoying a quiet time at home - in his home-sweet-home, the barn.  He has Sally cat to keep him company.  She up and moved in with him.  He is still doing cartoons for the  Evergreen, as well as working for the Foundation.  Classes are going pretty well for him, too.  Lots of art - he likes that. 

 

Trenton is at another football game tonight.  If they win this game, they go on to the playoffs for State.  If not, this will be it for the season.  Tomorrow we take him to the airport so he can fly home and see his family for a couple of days.  His Mom, Carrie, has been very much in our thoughts and prayers these past days since she was diagnosed with cancer.  She starts radiation and chemo on Monday.   We love you, Carrie, and will be thinking of you as you go through this.  I'm glad Trenton is going to get to be with her for a couple of days.

 

I think Winter hibernation is settling in around here.  All of us are just tired all the time.  The weather has been pretty dreary - raining with a little bit of snow.  The snow melts as soon as it falls, though.  After such a lovely Autumn, it's hard to be ready for the winter blah-ness.

 

I am thankful, too, for this Veteran's Day weekend.  Thankful to those who are serving, have served, or given their lives, for our country and the freedoms we enjoy each day.  Even though things in this country are a crazy right now, we still live in the best country there is.  I am grateful for that.

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY, EVERYONE!

Senior Night

Friday night was Trenton's Senior Night football game.  Mark was able to be here to watch the game.  We've been enjoying our company this weekend.  Mark, Marcia, Karen and Kirsten are here.  It's been great!

For Senior Night the announcer calls the parents of the senior players and cheerleaders to the field.  Mark was able to be here for that.  We know that Carrie would have been here for it if she could.  We were thinking of her.

Father and Son.

Trenton is doing a great job this year, and we've been so proud of him and all that he's accomplished.  We're so glad to get to be a part of his senior year!

Tom and Marcia decided to watch the game from the car, as the temperatures got pretty cold.

Mark even popped in during half-time to warm up!

They also got to have a visit from our good friend, Janice.  She brought along Sweet Pea, who she is watching for her sister and brother-in-law.  They are vacationing in a warmer climate.

I'm a bit jealous.

Meanwhile, the girls and I decided to tough it out on the bleachers.

Me, Karen and Kirsten.

It was very cold - but we did it!

It was fun having them along.

We are trying to eke out the last bit of Autumn that we can.  The weather is supposed to change soon (like possibly tonight) and we'll be seeing the white stuff.

 

I think it should wait until after Thanksgiving.