Kaj Isms

So Kaj on Friday wore tie tennis shoes at school.  He has been reluctant to learn to tie his shoes and has a complete fit when learning but he thought he had it kind of down on Thursday night.  He was only going to use them for gym.  At some point through the day he decided to use the "old stinky ones" for gym they were velcro.  And sport the tie ones.  I asked how it went and he said "it is so easy I can't believe I didn't know how to do this before!"

Yesterday he saw Dad grading the driveway and ran out to watch.  He notice that in the process of grading Dad had put a bunch of gravel on the blacktop so he got a broom and swept it off.  He told his Dad about it and his Dad said that is exactly what I was going to do after I got off the tractor.  Kaj said "Yeah I had one up on you there Daddy"

There was another one that he is starting to use  more "That's just how I roll"

Brandi you have been warned!

So I haven't actually told this story to Brandi yet.  This weekend Brandi turned 14!  To celebrate she stayed at her friend Andrea's on Friday night and then Saturday Andrea was busy so she hooked up with her friend Sophie who came and spent the night at our house.  Saturday early evening they took the 4-wheelers to Deanie's pit.  Deanie has a semi trailer there for storage and they were being snoopy teenagers and opened it and couldn't get it closed again.  They came back in a panic about it and admitted they screwed up.

Kaj caught wind that something had happened and asked me about it.  I told him what the deal was and he said "If Brandi and Sophie steal something when they are adults and end up in jail I am not getting them out.  I would say that you didn't learn your lesson when you were a kid to not touch other peoples stuff now you can sit here and learn it!"  Seriously that was what he said.  So a note to Brandi I just wouldn't get caught and put in jail when you are an adult because Kaj will not be bailing you out.

In other news...not much other news.  I had my class reunion.  Everyone and their families came to our house for dinner and horse rides and we were on a float in the parade.  Everyone had a great time.  I think we had half our class there.

The hay is half done and we only have Brandi for another week and half of that week.  So doing hay is going to be a major drag with out her.  She was fantastic this year and every year Kaj can help a little bit more.

Kaj is now quite good at driving the ranger, 500 and the yamaha and he wants a snowmobile really bad.  We will see how that goes.

Where has the time gone

Sorry that I have been gone for so long

There has been a lot going on

Brandi will be 14 on August 8th

Kaj will be 8 on Sept. 17th

I just can't believe how big they are

This spring we got to play with baby goats, we got chicks and a new puppy.  Seriously babies on the farm in spring are really fun.  

Anssi is still with us.  We do have to get is eye removed because of a tumor but he is putting up with the new additions just fine.  I will post more pictures of haying a bit later.  Brandi and I totally rocked loading the trailer the first night.  Unfortunately we only are going to have to do it about 8 more times.  The good thing is the hay is wonderful this year.

Runaway Horses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycQdD6TLp-Y
Above is the link to the horses running away I believe.  I will need to post more pictures soon of animals.  Hopefully I can get a bunch this weekend.

It has been a long time

I have told this story so many times in the last couple of days this one will be short and to the point.


Friday night-Simon our new miniature Hereford bull came home.  He is a year old and pretty sweet but still needs to get used to people.


Saturday morning-I am looking out the window upstairs and the horses are running from the barn to the field and back.  When they get back to the barn they look east.  Then back and forth, look....you get the idea.


Kaj goes to check on Simon and he says he isn't in the barn.  I thought he was joking.  He said I looked in the back and the front and he isn't there.  I said what about the middle and he says do you think that he is suffocating under a pile of hay.  Finally I go and check and sure enough no Simon.  He had crawled out under the gate about a foot and a half opening.  We went looking and found him down in the woods.  The first go around he was having nothing to do with going back to the barn or even letting anyone get close to him to tie him on a lead rope.  I went in and did dishes and thought I know I can get him in.  So I went back out and found him and he didn't even get up when I got close and put the lead on him.  Then it was a matter of pulling and heaving and he would move a bit and stand and wait and pull and then he would move some more.  So we did that and as we got closer to the barn the horses were still doing their running back and forth and look to the east.  Just as I was getting close to the round pen Tara runs down to the field and jumps the fence breaks it with her back leg and Romeo just bulls right through.  So far so good Lucky hadn't figured out the fence was broken yet.  I am so close to the round pen and the horses are still in the yard.  Then Lucky figures out the fence is down and he is out.  Just 5 more feet to the round pen.  The horses are at the corner (in my mind please go do Danny's house please) not a chance they head up the road.  Finally I get Simon in the round pen which wasn't too long and I take the lead rope and head for my car.  I didn't even tell Kaj I was leaving.  I didn't know where he was and I just wanted to catch the horses and I figured they couldn't be far.  (By the way Skinner was in Esko returning the Simon trailer) so I take off and I am not seeing any tracks.  I go across the gunlint because I see some people outside moving into their new home and ask if they saw the horses and they said they headed down the gunflint to town.  So I start driving and I am looking into the woods on either side of the road and looking down side roads.  I see a car that has its flashers on and I figure that has to someone warning of horses.  Sure enough I catch up to them at the bottom of the cemetery road but were they going to stop nooooooooooooo!  They were stampeding down the Gunflint on either side of the road, at one point weaving through traffic that had thankfully stopped.  I am trying to cut them off with my car and they wouldn't let me.  I was driving on the left hand shoulder following them and finally at Pinchusion I was able to make them turn in there and not go running all the way to town.  But then we had to go find them on the Pinchusion trails!  The people that had stopped to help me found the horses(down at the old city dump) and brought them to the parking lot had to go to their appointments and I had Tara and I said Lucky and Romeo won't go far because I have Tara.  Famous last words.  Skinner finally arrived in complete disbelief at what the horses had done.  So he went to go look for Lucky and Romeo.  Just before that Grandpa Jim had gone and picked up Kaj and they were already out looking for the other two.  So another hour later we had given up on finding Lucky and Romeo.  I talked to some hikers that were head out and about 5 minutes later I hear them yelling and they found Lucky and Romeo back at the dump part.  So long story short.  Everyone is on lock down back at WE Farms!

This morning's quote

I have had trouble with my alarm the last two mornings.  Yesterday we woke up at 7:15.  I like to be out the door at 7:35-7:40.  Not the end of the world unless you are trying to get Kaj to hurry but he did good.  We did everything in the order that he likes to do them but he just did it faster.  This morning we woke up at 7:30 so I am getting dressed and I am telling Kaj that we are going to have to really hurry this morning and as he is laying in bed he throws up his hands and says "Does it look like I care" My immediate thought is this is going to be a rough 15 minutes but he pulled through like a champ.

Last night the timer went off on the noodles I was cooking and he was stirring them in the pot.  After the timer went off and I am in he says " I'll let you take care of this situation".  So the line falls a bit flat when I type it.  Just try to imagine him saying that with a funny face and dismissive hand movements.

play play play

This weekend Kaj got up on Saturday and said I want someone to play with.  I said he should call Grampa and he thought that was a good idea so he called Grampa and they made plans for and adventure in the afternoon.  They snowshoed, waxed skis, went skiing, had dinner and went to the dairy.  Then on Sunday they went to the dog days of winter celebration at Trail Center and Rebecca raced in the Skijoring race with one of Julie Coleman's dogs.  Kaj came home soaked and tired so mission accomplished.  We will have to get more details from Grampa because Kaj is short on those but he was happy and had a great time. - oh when he was at Grampa's he had to call me to ask what that thing was the Auntie Bette had.  It took me a minute but he was referring to the eagle cam that Auntie Bette has to watch the eagles.  He wanted to show Grampa.

Influence of Kaj on Grampa or Grampa on Kaj?

This is what happens when Kaj and Grampa get together.  That is a wierd picture other than that I have no words to describe it.

Y-ski

Another year of Yski has been completed!  Ish 7 year olds hate having to go to things but when they get there they sure have a good time.  They had the Yski Olympics yesterday and they did the bobsled on ski's, a biathlon, shalom, and a race.  Kaj had a great time and got is peppermint medal at the end of the race.

Kaj and Brandi did a bit of snowmobiling on Brandi's new ride and now Kaj wants one.  In fact he offered to buy Brandi's and then she is going to buy a new one.

Brandi organized our kitchen cupboards which was great.  

Last night Kaj finally let me cut his hair.  He had a choice of me or Dad and he chose me.  He really wanted to go to Chuck the barbar but we just haven't been able to fit that into the schedule.

Kaj's quote of the week:

I have a variety of zits on my butt.

Tidbits

Grandpa got Kaj an emergency survival bag at a conference he went to.  Kaj has been using the emergency blanket to sleep at night.  I will try and get a picture later but it is one of those metallic blankets that fit in your pocket.

Kaj kept all there of his behavior tokens in school for 5 days straight so he got to pick a reward.  Instead of candy he chose to have lunch with his teacher.  I was astounded.

His comment this morning was that he hoped that Sissy would be gone for 4 weeks because he needed some time to himself.  And she is kind of crabby when she is home. (It is true sometimes, those teenager hormones are something else and she yells just like her mother it is horrible, thank goodness there are a lot more good times than those crabby times)

Brandi is currently at the Nascar races with her mother.  It sounded like she was having a good time.  She was glad she brought a coat though because it was kind of cold down there.

Skinner had a great birthday.  We got him a huge steak and we stayed in and then a few days later he had some friends over in the shop so that was good and he wasn't kidnapped and taken to the bar and everyone was gone by 9:30.  Perfect for the old man to get to bed a little late but not too late!

I momentarily was going to drive down to Missori for an aussiedoodle puppy but finally skinner agreed to allowing a dog in the main part of the house and hopefully our neighbor who I got Anssi from is having puppies again at the end of April and we will get one of those Australian Shepherds.

Memories

Kaj has lived a bit of life now so it is fun that he has memories and what he can remember.  Of course he remembers his beloved Eino and that Eino chewed a hole in his hat so he wears his ski hat to remember him.  Also the other day he was talking about he remembers (when he was 3) that he hung out with his Dad and Bruce Strand in the spring and when they were getting equipment out of the woods Bruce had put his coffee cup on the bumper of the pick up and after they followed Daddy out Bruce couldn't find his cup and he looked on the bumper and it was still there!  He also remembers when Dad hooked up the large innertube to the 4 wheeler and was whipping the kids around and when they hit a bump one time Kaj fell off and under the inner tube and then Sissy fell off.  But she did it on purpose to make sure Kaj was ok.

Massage

We got the kids massages for their Valentine's presents this year.  Brandi is an old pro and loved hers.  It was Kaj's first.  He was a for it a few days before but then he got nervous I think and ABSOLUTELY was not going to do it.  Of course like a mean mom I made him do it anyway (it was tempting to just take the slot myself!).  Before he went in he said "I am going to hate you for making me do this"  Immediately right after he got off the table he said "I am not going to hate you"  He was feeling pretty good after that!

Kaj Quotes

The school nurse calls me and says Kaj isn't feeling well.  It was towards the end of the day, like 20 minutes left so I have him tough it out.  He was supposed to go to the Y after school and he goes with his babysitter and he has her call me to pick them up.  So I do.  I drop her off at the bank where her mom  works.  Kaj asks if we are going in.  I say no and he says "uh I wanted to get a treat"  I reply that he was sick and therefore it is only healthy food and it will be off to bed early.  I say we have to stop at the grocery store as we are driving away from the bank and he suddenly puffs up a bit and gets a big smile on his face and says "Wow that was quick I am feeling much better, can I get a treat and the grocery store?"  Ummm No.

I pick up Kaj and Brandi one evening and we are rocking out to Rob Thomas This is how a heart breaks and the song ends and Brandi says "This song is my Jam"  Kaj responds "Jam goes on toast".

Kaj looking at the flowers from the funeral "these flowers are lovely"

Before going to school one day he says "My throat feels unusual"

Other news Grandma Gert passed away.  Kaj and I got to spend a lot of time with her in her last days.  It was great to see how even after she stopped responding to everyone else she would still respond when Kaj would come in.  He was her boy.

The funeral was nice.  Amazing how many people came considering it was a high of -10.

Brandi is up for the weekend and she brought her snowmobile up that she bought with her own money.  Too bad it is really too cold to ride.  But that helps keep things a bit quiter around here.

Also this week we found  a new home for Toby.  Sad and weird around here without him but now Kaj can have friends over and I don't have to worry about them getting nipped.

Of course now the hunt is on for a new puppy!

Cold Toes

Grandpa took Kaj out skiing on Sunday.  I don't think it was above 0 but they went to the George Washington Pines.  I can't be sure but in the end I think that Kaj might have been cursing at Grandpa because his toes were so cold.  I know he wasn't saying very nice things.  At least they got the nice picture above.

Brandi was up too but I didn't see her much because she was with friends and when she was home I was at the Landing but it sounds like she had a good time.  

Auntie Karen and Leslie came for a quick visit Friday.  It is always great to see them and God bless Karen for hanging out with Grandma so much during the week.

random

The Goings On

Brandi bought her first snowmobile with her own money.  $500 for a 24 year old snowmobile.  Apparently it is in great shape.  She is have some difficulties and her Dad has been trying to help her with it since is has it in Hermantown with her right now.  We will see how that goes.  It is mostly boys she hangs out with there and they all like to tinker on their snowmobiles.

Kaj and Brandi's swearing but not swearing phrase right now is turd nuggets.  I am not a fan but I feel these things should be recorded for them to be able to read about later.

Both yes Both have really gotten into farting.  I believe I might have to caught out all gas producing foods if I am to have well behaved children ever again.

Kaj got to go on an overnight with Brandi and some of her friends.  He watched his first horror movie (supposedly it wasn't a really nasty one just a whispy ghost that popped up here and there) Thank you Andrea Larsen.  So now he is scared to sleep in his own bed.  All this maybe is just the latest excuse to not go to bed because he really has a hard time with that.  Yesterday he said we should get up at 5:30 every morning.  I told him he would need to go to bed an hour earlier and he backed off on the getting up so early.

Karli had the Beargrease checkpoint stuff the last couple of days.  She did a very good job and learned alot about what to do and not do.  I think it was a success.  She has the same kind of energy that my Dad has for that kind of stuff.  To run for days on end with no sleep and not appear that you haven't gotten any sleep.  Me, I can not function like that.  Rebecca also came and helped for most of the first day.

On Sunday Kaj had skiing and as usual he didn't want to go but once he went he had a blast and even got a bunch of the other kids to go for another ski after the ski club was done.  Sounds like everyone liked that.

Kaj also had one of his friends over last Thursday night.  It was Trevor's first overnight anywhere other than Grandma's so his Mom was a bit nervous.  It went great other than Toby bit him on the nose.  Luckily just some scratches and Trevor was totally into Toby still.  Not sure what to do with that dog.

Auntie Karen is coming to Duluth to help Grandma for a week.  God bless her.  Hopefully we will get to have her up here for a day if Grandma will let her go!

Yesterday was the parent lunch at the school for the 2nd graders.  This is Kaj and his buddy Cade eating their tacos.  They had a good time.  

Last week and this week have been swimming lessons for Kaj.  He said the last couple of days he has been jumping off the swimmers diving stands, into the deep end.  And at least once he had to swim the length of the pool.  His legs were tired but he did it!  I have got to take him to the Y more often so he can practice on his swimming!

2015 Mail Run

 It was the 2015 Mail Run Dog Sled Race.  It was a race that was from Trail Center to the Landing twice.  Sometimes things can get a bit slow waiting for everything to get going so it would appear that Kaj and Brandi pretended that they were on the beach burying Brandi in the sand.  This picture is at the start of the race at Trail Center.

 The picture was a bit blurry but it was a beautiful night.

Having a little warm up time and some food at Trail Center.  Thank you G&G for bringing them up.  The kids had a great time.

After they got home a very exciting thing happened.  For those that don't know there is a 60s radio request station that has Cousin Brucie(he is like a Dick Clark kind of guy)  Skinner loves cousin Brucie and thus so do the kids.  Skinner decided to take a break from sanding his sheetrock and see if he could call in to the show.  He and Brandi have tried many times before but always got a busy signal.  Well he got through was startled when asked what would like to hear so he just said Nights in White Satin.  Then he thought for a bit and tried calling again and he got through again!  This time when he got through and the lady asked what would you like to here he said "Hi Loren"  Which kind of took her back a bit and she said Hi and what would you like to hear and he said I want to hear Rockin Robin for my daughter Brandi"  She said ok and could you please stay on the line.  While he was holding the kids got back from the dog sled race but of course Brandi didn't come in the shop she was showing Gramma Becca the camper.  Skinner told Kaj to go get Brandi because Cousin Brucie was on the line.  Kaj's eyes got big and he bolted off and got Brandi.  Brandi came running in and Skinner talked with Cousin Brucie for awhile and then he talked to Brandi.  Skinner said that her dimples were so big you could have parked a dump truck in them.  I am told the converstion when something like this.

Brucie:  So Brent you are in Minnesota?  Tell us where you are there.

Skinner:  Well you have a lot of callers from Thunder Bay Onterio and we are 81 miles down the lake from there.

Brucie:  It is cold there

Skinner: It is -2 right now

Brucie:  So you are wearing your long underwear

Skinner:  We wear them everyday other than one day in August!

Brucie:  (laughing) so this song is for your daughter is she there

Skinner:  Yes she is

Brucie: Can I talk to her
Skinner:  Sure

Brandi: Hi

Brucie: Hi so Brandi do you have any New Years Resolutions

Brandi: To be stronger

Brucie and Brandi chit chat some more but those where all the parts of the conversation that I was told about.

Very sweet.