Tearing up the Good

So we're working on installing our wood stove, and part of that involved cutting out some of the hardwood floor. This was really hard on Rhonda, as she kept asking "do we really have to do that?" and "what other options are there?" over and over! It's good to know she likes our floors! We have been looking all over for the right bricks to put on the hearth, but for now we just needed to get it going! It's a bit painful to tear up the "good" of our hardwood floor, but we know we're just making room for the "better" of the wood stove to keep us warm and toasty this winter! Reminds me of how God sometimes tears out the things we see as good in our lives to make more room for the better - more of Him in us! Hope your American Thanksgiving was a good one, my fellow Americans, and that my Canadian family and friends had a great last weekend of November! God bless!

Making our homemade firestarters!

Everyone (except Rhonda) getting into tearing up the old floor!

Making sure the stove will fit with enough clearances to keep it safe!

A busy fall...

So this fall has been very busy for us, with lots of activities for the boys. This was the weekend it all was to come to an end, and we were ready for the break. A full day Saturday of floor hockey final games and Sol's Lego Robotics competition, then an impromptu early Thanksgiving dinner with friends capped off the day! Alas, our busy time was not to end so easily, as Sol's Lego team did so well that, as a first year team, they advanced to the Eastern Missouri Championship in two weeks! We're thrilled for him, and it pretty much takes away all of the wishing it was all over, at least for now! Thad's floor hockey team only had one loss this year, and he was one of the stars of the team, scoring several goals and being a wall in net, only allowing 2 goals all season! Enjoy the pics of the boys and their fun weekend!

Sol's Lego team at the competition

More Lego competition

All the cousins in their hockey gear

Warming up for the hockey game

Sol's hockey team warm ups

Sol reading to his little brothers

Thad taking his turn to mow the grass (that's why I have all boys!)

Marble Game

Today while Rhonda took the older brothers to karate class, I stayed home and got to help the younger two build their marble tower, and then play with the glow in the dark toy! It was lots of fun so I thought I'd share it with you. I couldn't get the camera to work in the dark, so you have to watch it in the daylight, and the fun is multiplied by at least 10 when you turn out the lights! Enjoy more of the creativity and just plain love for life of my two younger boys!

Captain Redbeard

Today I returned home from a couple of days away at the Missouri School Counselor Fall Conference, and as usual had a few little surprises for my boys in the way of freebees that vendors gave out. One of them was a highlighter that came with little page markers, and Eli, my imaginative little man, decided they had another purpose as well. Enjoy his creativity!

The wealthy Captain Redbeard (that's money he's making himself!)

The fierce Captain Redbeard with his helmet clad younger brother (don't ask about the helmet!)