Minivan, hunting and school???

There are many things to write about these days . . . we are so busy! We just bought our first minivan (I know, sad day.) She is a pretty dark blue/green color, a Honda, and has all the bells and whistles. She won't be able to enjoy the easy life for long, as we have a road trip planned for next week! :) She fit right into the budget we had planned (once the dealership decided they wanted to sell a car,) and into the miles range that we wanted as well. The bells and whistles all ding and toot like they should, and the kids are thrilled that 1) we have a minivan, like all the other families at church (well almost all of them.) 2) that we bought the car from a salesman named Aladdin 3) that "all the bells and whistles" means that we again have a DVD player for them to watch on road trips! (I'll admit, that is a perk for more than just the kiddos!) Karl and I wrestled with the idea of being a minivan family for quite awhile before breaking down and just doing it. We have always been a truck or Suburban kind of family more than anything else . . . four wheel drive has been the name of the game for us (and no, all wheel drive isn't the same.) Okay, so that's enough of that . . . moving on . . .

Deer season for bow is in full swing, and I have been enjoying my first season, minus the 50 plus mosquito bites I got in one afternoon hunting outing. I enjoy holding Karl's hand in the dark while we hike to/from our stand or ground location. What I don't enjoy about hunting is the waiting. I have been out a couple of times now, and not one deer has been seen on any of those times! :( It's so frustrating! Karl has seen deer on every other hunting outing. Last night he actually shot two! He only recovered one, as the other ran onto some private property adjoining the land we hunt. :( So, while it was an exciting hunt, it was a bummer only to recover one. But, on the flip side, I now know that there really are deer out there! :)

School has been going pretty well this year, and the fact that we are 2 months in . . . is reason enough for us to have a day off today! :) No, really, today is a day off! :) The boys are loving learning about the Roman Empire and all it's "larger than life" heroes. Katy just likes to read and seeks to please. Kindergarten is so easy for Joe, that I am having to find things for him to do that are extra-curricular - art projects, flashcards, chores, etc . . . to keep him occupied for at least some of the day. Oh well, I guess it's a good thing that he already knows most of what it says I should be teaching! :)

Well, I guess that's about it for now. We are enjoying the cooler weather. I wish we had enough time to slow down and have a fire in the evening, but "life" has again taken over our schedules, and there are few (if any) nights that we are home before the kids' bedtime! Anyhow, I am off to waste the day away! Trusting everyone is well!