Quentin turns 14

Quentin turned 14. He's growing like a weed. He already wears the same size shoes as Paul!

After they had cake, Quentin and the boys put up our tent We are going to spend a week camping in Saskatchewan Canada and Paul's Mom is going to join us, so she gets the bed in the camper and the boys are going to sleep in the tent. They wanted to make sure they had all of the parts before they packed it away for the trip.
Quentin got a kit to put feathers on arrows for his birthday. We took a hike up the mountain behind Nondalton and he had a chance to test them out.
The guys spotted a couple of spruce hens and below you can see Quentin stalking one while everyone looks on.

He got it with the first shot!

Below David is carrying the spruce hen that Paul shot with a pistol and the one Quentin shot with his bow and arrow. He and Benjamin took turns carrying them until we got to the top of the mountain and Quentin dressed them out.

Last year for Quentin's 13th birthday I put together a nice slide show that you can see here. http://quiverfullofkids.blogspot.com/2010/06/quentins-13th-birthday.html

We are going to start traveling down the Alcan (Alaska Canadian Highway) today so please keep us in your prayers.

Spring Things

The ice has all melted from the lake, but long before it was gone, the kids were out swimming in the frigid water. I use the word swimming loosely because they mostly just dare each other to dunk under the water and then come up freezing. We've had a few beautiful sunny days that made you just want to jump in.

Sarah with Gilana and Kinsey.

We were all out doing some yard work. Below David is pounding loose nails back into the boardwalk.
David, Benjamin and Sarah each have a hammer and had a lot of fun pounding on the boardwalk.
The greenhouse now has three sides. I'm not sure who appreciates it more, the plants, our kids or our dog Princess. They all love to soak in the sunshine in it.

Anna is sewing a skirt.

One day was so gorgeous, I volunteered to lend my muscle to the boys putting the snow machine away.
Paul, Quentin, Joshua and Josh A. tucking the snow machine under the eave out of the weather.

Below the kids are giggling and laughing and working on their teamwork as they lift Paul.

Family Camp at Tanalian Bible Camp

Back in April, just before Passover, we spent the weekend at Tanalian Bible Camp in Port Alsworth. Every spring they host a family camp. It is always a good time of fellowship and good Bible teaching.

It always falls during spring thaw so there is lots of mud and snow. The little boys love it!

David swinging...

Paul and I along with Lavonne and our kids Joshua on down, decided to take a hike toward the falls. It was a gorgeous day, perfect for a hike. It didn't take us long to wish we'd brought a sled for Sarah.

The boys could have used a sled for sliding too, but they are very creative. They made do with what we had. Sarah's mud boots kept falling off. By this time she was asleep in Paul's arms.
Benjamin's raincoat worked the best. He was like a little otter sliding down the hills.

Lavonne took a picture of the rest of us resting alongside the trail.

Caleb found a fun tree to climb.

Remember the post about the guys that came up from Iliamna to snowboard with our kids in Nondalton? While on our walk we found some graffiti that one of the guys, Lee to be specific, left behind on a walk he took with his family about an hour previous to our walk. At least this graffiti will clean up very nicely all on its own.
Lake Clark Air and a few of their planes lined up alongside the runway. The plane to the far left is one that Paul flies a lot.
Lavonne, Josh, Tia, Caleb and Sarah are stuffed in the plane for the short ride home. They got to hold their pillows:)
We love Family Camp, so much so that we are planning a trip down the Alcan to a week long family camp in Canada this June. Paul's Mom is going to drive up from North Dakota and meet us there for the week. We are all getting excited for another motor home adventure. We love traveling in our motor home. Even though the quarters are tight, it is always a special time that produces lasting memories.

Lake Walk & Mud

Spring has come! Most of the ice on the lake is now melted. One gorgeous day in April we took a walk across the still frozen lake.

Caleb and David, being boys, found a puddle on the lake.

The guys brought their bows and arrows and they shot and retrieved their way across the lake.

Paul & Quentin shooting.

Abigail &Quentin with Paul looking on.

Of course we had to line up for the family picture... I thought it would be a nice touch with the village in the background.

Sarah was quite enthralled with the puddles in the road.

It made my hands cold just to watch her playing in the puddles.

William &Lee, friends from Iliamna drove up on their ATVs to go snow boarding with the kids on the last of the snow. Our older kids drove halfway to meet them. Paul went with them part way to make sure the lake ice was good. About 5 minutes after he left them, they broke through the ice in a huge puddle of water. They got soaked to their knees getting out. By the time they got home they were covered in mud.

But smiling :)

That evening they rode with them part way again on their way home. It started snowing the biggest flakes I've ever seen as they left.

By the time they got home, they were caked in snow, wet, very cold and tired.

Deborah, taking off her dripping coat with her frozen fingers...

Paul & Anna turn a year older

My beautiful sweet Anna turned 12. She still loves climbing trees and she can still wash dishes with her feet on the counter or in the sink. She is maturing though, just tonight she asked if she could re-upholster the lazy boy chair. We girls did one already, but I haven't gotten going on it's twin yet. I told her to go for it and she took it apart. Hopefully she stays motivated for the project tomorrow:-)

Anna opening her birthday present.

Quentin and Josh A. lighting the candles for Anna's cake.

Anna

Paul and Anna

Two days later was Paul's birthday. We were in the midst of a community three man volleyball tournament.

Paul serving.

Paul, Quentin and Josh A. made up one team.

Abigail, Deborah and I along with Regina, made up another team. We both won one game and lost one game, so of course the tournament bracket pit us against each other. One of us would be eliminated! The girls had a simple strategy, keep the ball away from Paul. My handsome husband is a good volleyball player, and while the boys will be great one day, they just don't have as much experience as the rest of us. Our strategy worked well and we beat the guys. But they were great sports about it. That is one reason I love sports, under proper supervision you can really develop your character for the good while playing sports. Nothing shows your good and bad character traits faster than a good competitive game. We have taught our children how to play and have fun and be good sports and it was a joy watching them play in the tournament.
Last year Paul used a blow torch to light his candles (you can see that post here). This year instead of putting all ? candles on his cake, I used the candles to write his age. Can you make it out below?

Paul, "Where's my blow torch?"

Happy Birthday Paul. May God bless you this year as you lead our family!