It’s been awhile and much has happened.
Here’s a list.
1) Homeschooling is taking up most of time. Hence, my lack of blogging, as well as sanity. I did want to share with you this cute picture of my kindergartener extraordinaire, Little Dude’s, phonics page.
When I went to check it, I noticed he had already found a red pen and had given himself a 100%. And a star. (The check mark was my doing. It was so he knew what pages to complete. If you must know)
Such confidence!
2) On our way to town the other night, the song “You Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer came on.
Sweet Pea: Oh, I love this song!
Me: You do?!?
Sweet Pea: Yes! Wait. Is this the “Ice Vanilla Ice Baby Vanilla Ice” song?
Me: No.
Yes. It is sad that my 10 year old knows of this song. A little while into “You Can’t Touch This”, she shout/asks me:
“Mom!? What can’t we touch?”
And I truly do not know.
100 (meaningless) point to anyone who can tell me what MC Hammer insists we do not touch.
I hope it’s not naughty in nature. That would be awkward.
3) Sweet Pea was discussing college with her Grams and Handsome Dude pulled me aside. He looked very concerned.
HD: Mom? Is college good or bad?
Me: Good.
HD: Why would I need to go? What is it?
Me: It is just school. Most people go so they can learn more and get better jobs when they grow up.
He thought about it for a minute.
HD: What if I want to be a dump truck driver? Do I have to go to college then?
Me: I don’t think so.
HD: Oh, good.
And he walked away, full of relief.
Go homeschool!
4) So, remember our Wood Cutting Adventures, gone bad? You can read about them here and here, if you so desire.
Last Saturday, David and his brother, Alex, went wood cutting at the exact spot we have been going the past couple of weeks. I was at home with the children. We also had an extra kiddo, because the girls’ friend stayed over.
All the kids were in swimsuits and ready for me to take them to the pool when I got the call from David.
David: Yeah. The truck broke down.
This did not shock me. Have you met us?
So, apparently an axle and coupling broke. Don’t ask me what this means, for I do not know.
David and Alex hiked 3 miles to the top of the mountain to get cell service. I had to inform the children that instead of swimming, we got to drive to the top of a mountain and save Dad.
The drive was about 2 hours and we had to stop and get a new axle and coupling on the way. I was a bit worried that I would not find my brave Lumberjack, but I did.
Alex and David hopped in my car and drove back to where the truck was. They got right to work on putting on the new parts.
How much faith should we put in car jacks, I ask you?
Terrifying.
I enjoyed the fact that the brothers were wearing matching brown Carhartts and gray shirts for their day of wood cutting/truck repair 101 fun.
Matchy-Matchy!
This took them about an hour and half. The kids entertained themselves by building a “toilet” in the woods.
They spent the entire time building it, yet no one used it.
As soon as the truck was put back into order, the Lumberjack Brothers decided to try and get some wood in the truck and trailer before it got too late. They had already cut down a tree, so they attached a cable to the truck to pull the tree down onto the road.
About 30 seconds in, the axle broke.
The very axle they had just put on. And I know that’s what it was because I had just spent the past hour and a half watching them put the new axle on/praying the jack would not break and make me a widow.
The manly men assessed the sitch and determined that even though the axle was broken, the coupling was not and the truck was ok to drive in 2 wheel drive.
I know. It didn’t make sense to me, either. But it did to them. And that’s all that matters.
The boys got into the truck, which was towing the trailer, and headed down the road.
The truck looked pitiful and bereft of wood.
I, like the dutiful wife that I am, followed behind in my Envoy.
Which was not bereft of children. Or noise.
All of a sudden the truck stops. I see Alex get out and look at the front, left tire area. He throws his hands up, almost as if he is confused and looking for something.
I, being the helpful gal that I am, noticed the tire that SHOULD have been located in the front, left spot. It was in the road, behind the trailer. Which is less than ideal.
I roll down the window, point to the tire, and shout to Alex:
“I found it! Here it is!”
Alex looks at me like I am the world’s dumbest person, and then busts up laughing.
You see, dear readers, he knew where the tire was. He was just looking at the NEW damage the truck had. Now, I don’t know all the technical words for it, but whatever you bolt the tire to on a truck . . . that was basically destroyed. Pieces of brake pads and all sorts of other fun stuff were all over the road.
The bottom line? The wheel was not going back on and the truck was going to be stranded in the middle of a narrow, logging road.
I did not take a picture. There are times in life when a wife just should not be just standing around, snapping pictures with her phone. This was one of them.
We had to use the Envoy to pull the trailer away from the truck. Then, David managed to get the Envoy around the trailer and by the truck, hitch up the trailer, and pull the trailer out with the Envoy. It was quite scary on the narrow road. Little Dude summed it up when the experience was over by shouting joyously:
“And we didn’t even die!”
When we made it back into cell phone range, my phone went all crazy-like with 5.2 million notifications of people wondering where we were. A search party consisting of my mom and dad, lots of coats, and a box of saltine crackers had even already been dispatched.
It was fantastic.
David and his dad were able to go retrieve the truck the next day by using two trucks, two long trailers, and our Bobcat. The Bobcat was used to push the truck onto a trailer. So, I guess it is a good thing we spent ALL our monies on a Bobcat last spring. It came in handy!
5) Item number 5 on my list went excessively long. My apologies.
6) On Monday night, I took the kids swimming. I drove the Envoy and locked the car in the parking lot. When I went out, none of the three keys we had for the Envoy would unlock the car.
David called his friend (of whom we bought it from) and he stated he had no idea what was wrong, since he never locked it.
I did not know I could not lock my new car. I usually find the locking mechanism in a car to be an asset. But that’s just me.
David had to come pick us up and a locksmith had to come out the next day. Apparently we need to have someone rip open the door and put new locks in. Or something. I don’t know.
But I do know this! We know how to spend money, people.
Yes. Yes, we do.
7) The kids and I went for a walk on our property this afternoon. It was lovely.
We found this antler shed.
So, basically I have successfully harvested a bigger rack this hunting season than my beloved.
Har. Har.
We also found this bone. We think it is a knee bone. But, really. What do we know?
Handsome Dude: Mom? Do I look like I live in the “crunchie?” (country) Because I am eating grass?
Yes, son. Yes, you do.
Happy Thursday!
Some of my best memories from childhood were made while our cars were broken down and we were waiting for them to get fixed.
It sounds like you have had some challenging adventures that might lead one to have feelings of irritation and frustration. I too have had these lately and can take lesson from your ability to roll with it. And I appreciate Little Dude’s perspective on everything. I have not died yet either.
Tell the kids Ellie and I say hello!!
Priceless post! Thank you for living the life you do, to keep us all entertained!!! (Crunchie…I love that boy!).
Thank you so much for always bringing a smile to my face! I too have spent many hours on the side of the road while my dad fixed whatever was broken. Usually, though – I was inside said vehicle as dad was really fond of the Van… it was the 70’s after all… LOL! I do hope that it’s not overly expensive to fix the truck… again.
Can’t touch the fact that MC Hammer is so rad. Kinda like “you got nothin’ on me cause I’m so cool”. Pretty good explanation eh?
I’m so glad to see you here, and of course your tales of life in the wild never fail to make me smile. “And we didn’t even die.” Pretty sure I’ve uttered those words after a day in the woods with my husband, but I’m sure having 4 + 1 kids in tow makes things all the more exciting : )
That key thing would make me crazy. Just sayin’. I hope you get to read a book and take a nap this weekend!
I always thought MC Hammer was braggin’ on his spectacular dance skills, or skillz, if that spelling makes me cool, or uber cool…or maybe I AM just lame!
Methinks you get to spend all your money this year on a new truck?
Look out Craigslist………David will be on the hunt for a ”new to him” truck.
The bone looks like a petrified cow’s nipple. 🙂
You really need your own tv show……….driving 2 hours to get wood , let alone
driving it often……hmmmm……maybe next time they can take 2 trucks , get two loads
of wood or at least have a ride home. 🙂
M C Hammer……..I was thinking it was his cool you couldn’t touch…….or his hotness….
…or his dance moves……you know..whatever it was that made him attractive to folks.
That you ‘d never be as good as he is ……so don’t even try.
Bigger rack than your spouse……..heee……….keep bringing that up to him….it will make
him happy…….carry them, or a photo , with you to show everyone.
You know , with guys, locks are overrated, they have nothing worth stealing or if it is
stolen , they can get a new one.
Outhouse construction ……ALWAYS a good skill to have.
Couldn’t that somehow count for credit on some homeschool item?
The photo of the lumberjack brothers must be included in your Christmas card
or a calendar ……keep track of things like that and the photos and you can
make a calendar of them for presents.
Children’s thought processes are so endearing.
I am not at all good at math, yet I am pretty darned sure that you have the very most expensive wood burning stove in the region.
Or possibly country.
Maybe even the world.
You can’t touch this = You can never be as good as this (fill-in-blank) For example: being LJ’swife, mom, teacher, crafter, landlady, chicken farmer, daughter and daughter-in-law, niece, sister-in-law, traveler, blogger, Christian,etc. and looking good all the while…so you can also say “Can’t touch this”.
You go Little Dude. If I win the lottery I’m having two new vehicles delivered to your ranch with a big big bow on the roof.
Auntie Datenut…you hit the nail on the head with your “can’t touch this” example! 🙂
Love it.
Sorry, can’t help it – but your family needs to have the Wood-Gathering Disaster Plan. no joke. I want the men to wear fluorescent yellow or lime vests. They need a bull-horn to signal every agreed-upon minutes so you can find them if needs be. Other non-woodhunting family members need to know when you are leaving, when you plan to be home and/or what is the plan if they don’t hear from you at agreed time like: set out to get you? or drive to your home? or _____ Perhaps some markers, fabric strips, spray paint, logs, posts etc. on side of said logging road so distressed woodcutters can direct you to where they are located. Water and some snack foods, trash bags or cheap plastic for rain, maybe an old blanket or old coats. just sayin’…
It’s definitely not naughty by nature, that would be OPP.
You, Erin, are one very funny lady.
I cannot even leave a comment. Everyone else already left such good ones.
Taylor, you always take these crazy situations and make us laugh. You are a blessing, and may you be blessed.