Caught in the act...

For years I have been trying to grow big, orange pumpkins to use for decorations in the Fall, and every year I only get a few teeeny-tiny green pumpkins.  So, last year I did some research and learned about hand-pollinating, where you take a male pumpkin flower and brush its pollen onto a female flower (just in case the bees and butterflies don't do their job well enough).

Male pumpkin flower

Female pumpkin flower

So I tried it this year.  I admit, it was a little embarrassing at first--I may have even blushed.  :}  My husband thought it was hilarious as he watched me go out to the garden many-a-morning to help my pumpkin plants mate. Apparently, he thought it was so funny that he even caught it on camera.  It was the only time I've seen him pick up my camera in 5 years!  :)  What a stinker.

Caught pollinating...

But, I do feel slightly vindicated now that I can see the fruits of my labor.  We got 10 big, beautiful pumpkins this year!  Some of them were still green when I had to bring them inside to avoid our early Montana frost, but even those have now turned orange.  The kids and I had so much fun watching them grow all summer, and now we have our very own pumpkins to decorate our home and to turn into "Saint-O-Lanterns" in October.

Proof that hand-pollinating worked!

Aren't they pretty?

They make our living room look so Autumnish :)

Here's the cutest pumpkin of all! :)

HAPPY FALL!!!

Joseph, our TEENAGER!

We now have a TEENAGER in our house, and Joseph celebrated his birthday in true teenage fashion.  He didn't want a party, nor presents, nor party favors (he wouldn't even let me bring treats to school this year!?!?).  He just wanted to invite a few buddies to go mountain biking with his ne mountain bike.

They had an epic time despite the strenuous uphill climb, despite the dangerous switch-backs, and even despite the 3 crashes involving scrapes, bruises, and a cactus impaled in a leg.  Danger and blood apparently make things more fun for boys.  Good thing they have their adventurous father to help make birthday parties like this one happen.

Here is Joseph with four of his best and bravest buddies!

From left to right:  Daniel, Isaiah, Aidan, Alex, and Joseph

Dear Joseph,

Daddy and I are so proud of the young man you have become...

Calm and confident,

Smart and witty,

Athletic and artsy,

Handsome and helpful.

You now where shoes bigger than your mom,

and deodorant daily like your dad :)

We trust you to mow the lawn

and babysit your brood of brothers.

How crazy, how wonderful.

We love you

our first teenager.

Farewell Summer

The kids are now back in school, but we are still reminiscing about our summer highlights.  Here are a handful of them from our last two trips of the summer.

First, we took a 12 hour trip to Aberdeen, SD to visit my side of the family for a week:

Isaiah and I had lots of fun splashing in Richmond Lake at Uncle Mike's house.

My brother Mike and his family live in the house I grew up in,

so going out to his house on the lake still feels like going home.

Joseph was so proud to learn how to ski this year!!!

It only took him 3 tries!  Perhaps snow-skiing talents helped him out a bit.

This was also Joseph's first year where he was big enough to ride

the go-carts by himself!  What a reminder to me that he's not my baby anymore.

In fact, he turned 13 this month!  CRAZY!!!

The boys loved spending time with their cousin Elizabeth;

especially getting her soaked in the bumper boats!

Michael had a blast bungee jumping for the 1st time!

Fishing with Grandpa Pat is always the favorite for the big boys!

They caught lots of delicious walleye, and even a few Northern Pike,

but Grandpa Pat refuses to let them bring a pike home.

Then we drove another 5 hours to Minneapolis to visit Paul's family for a week.

We rarely get to spend time with our Minnesota cousins,

so it was very special to spend a week getting reacquainted.

We took the big boys to a Minnesota Twins vs. the Detroit Tigers game.

Michael's is a die-hard Tiger's fan, so he was thrilled...

can you tell?

Miguel Cabrera is Michael's baseball hero.

Michael tells me that Miguel is a good Catholic because he has a rosary tattooed on his body.  Hmm. 

It was pretty cool to see him play in person rather than just on a TV screen!

My favorite part about the Twins game was sharing Super Nachos

with my sweet sister-in-law Rachel!

Dominic loved the ice cream and also the train ride to get to the game!

Paul's favorite part about the Twins game was flirting with me on the train ride :)

He and I were able to go on a couple of dates while we were on vacation, 

which was a huge blessing!  Flirting and dating helps our marriage so much...

we need to do that more often! 

We went to the Mall of America for a game of mini-golf

and a ride on a rollercoaster!

Aunt Rachel's brother let us play for a day at his swimming pool,

which was buckets of fun.

The big boys especially loved the diving board!

We also took a trip to the Komo Zoo

and Komo Town Amusement Park!

Kennedy liked hanging out with Michael and Joseph!

Holli and Natey became fast friends.

I love this photo of Natey...he looks terrified, but I promise you he was thrilled about all the rides.

We sure wish we lived closer to our MN family!

Isaiah was the best baby ever on this trip!!!

He is such a laid-back, happy little guy

no matter where he is.

Then we drove 16 hours to get back home to start school and schedules again!  In case you were curious, 16 hours is a reeeaaally long time in the car with 5 youngsters.  I was eternally grateful for books on tape and lollipops.  Seeing our family was well worth all those hours in the car (but I'm not sure we'll be taking another road trip for a reeeeaaallly long time...I'm still recovering!)  :)

Poem Explained

Perhaps it would be fruitful to explain the thoughts behind the last poem I posted, just to clarify that I do not regret getting married or having these beautiful boys the Lord has given my husband and me.  That is not the case at all.

However, I do go through periods of wondering who I am because, in reality, a mother gives all of herself to her vocation of wife and mother.  We sacrifice our wants (and sometimes even our needs) in order to nurture the souls placed in our care.  This sacrifice feels very natural to me and I know it is what I am called to do, but at times, I do feel like I've lost myself.  Sometimes I grieve a little bit over the talents I once thought I would use to do great things in this world, talents like oil painting, flute and guitar playing, Spanish speaking, picture taking, creative writing, and even sill things like ballet dancing.  I no longer have time for many of those talents, nor do I think I am meant to use any of them for any grandiose purpose anymore.

Perhaps God will allow me to use my talents and hobbies in small ways for His glory, and I'm learning to be OK with that.  Mother Teresa reminds me that I don't have to do great things, only small things with great love, and I can still do that as a mother.  I may have lost some of my talents, or the time to use them, but I have not lost the ability to love.  I can do that nearly every second of the day--I can love by changing a stinky diaper with a smile, by making a meal for a friend in need, by snuggling with a son whose heart is hurting...the list of little ways to love goes on forever.

It is true that some days I grieve over lost talents and dreams--like being a missionary in a 3rd world country, or being a great homeschooling mom, or leading the music ministry at church, or writing inspiring articles to convert even an atheist's soul, or painting masterpieces that would point people's hearts towards God... But lately God is teaching me to be content with being little.  In fact, I prayed the other day that I could become so little that I could fit into Jesus' side and hide within his glowing heart.  That dream I will hang onto to, for as long as I am found in His heart, I know I will not be lost.  And that's good enough for little me.

Lost and Found

Somewhere between "I do" and baby #5
I found myself lost.
No one told me that loving
came at such a cost.
I didn't realize it was happening--
just discovered it one day.
Giving myself to so many
my "self" went away.
So who am I now I wonder?
Who am I supposed to be?
I asked this to my Savior who said,
"You're lost and found in Me."

Brave Sir Dominic's Belated Birthday Blog

Summer was so filled with fun that I am very late in posting these photos of Dominic's 8th birthday party which was way back in July!  Dominic had such a grand time at his party that he just couldn't stop smiling for days!  He chose a "Knight and Dragons" theme, and I was able to find some fun backyard games that played upon that theme...

The first game was:  "Rescue the Princess."  It was very similar to the popular game called "Capture the Flag," but instead of questing for the opponent's flag, the participants try to get by a fire-breathing dragon (whose fire is in the form of water from a squirt gun) to rescue the princess on the other side of the yard.  Dominic's friends all took turns being the dragon and the damsel in distress, which made both boys and girls very happy indeed!

The next game was for the noble knights and fair maidens to practice their swordsmanship by trying to keep a balloon suspended in the air using a toy sword (or a princess wand, if desired).  Those who kept their balloon afloat without it hitting the ground received some candy for a prize.

The last game was an archery tournament where all the contestants tried to hit a dangerous dragon with an arrow.

This game was quickly followed by demolishing the dragon pinata and happily collecting all the candy held within his greedy stomach.

It was a grand party for a very grand and noble young knight!

Happy Belated Birthday, Brave Sir Dominic!

At age 8, you continue to be such boisterous and sweet boy.

You have not outgrown your love of snuggling and giving hugs and kisses.

Your joy and curiosity bubble from your mouth in constant chatter,

a joy that is contagious and endearing.

You have become a huge helper this year,

ever-vigilant at keeping your younger brothers safe and happy.

I love you more than all the bricks on a castle,

all the scales on a dragon,

and all the weapons in the grandest armory!

May you continue to grow in holiness, wisdom, and chivalry

with each passing year!

Our Family Tree in Photos

Our family...
(I feel slightly outnumbered!)

Our extended family on Maria's side, 

gathered together to celebrate Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary in Custer, SD...

Maria with Mom and Dad and her 3 older brothers...

Just us...

still learning how to love, 

still striving to guide each other towards heaven...

All these pictures prove that indeed we are blessed,

and we have so much to thank our Heavenly Father for!

"We will tell the generations to come

the praiseworthy and mighty deeds of the Lord,

the wonders that he performed...

that they too might put their trust in God

and not forget his works

but keep his commandments."

Psalm 78:4-8

(P.S. A big thanks to Jenni Hahn for taking such lovely pictures

and making the picture-taking experience a joy rather than a stress!)