So much has happened, and much to you all's (I'm sure that is not a word, but whatever . . . ) bitter diappointment, there will be no picture with this blog post. I know, I know, my writing is not what you all come here for, but our camera is broken (got dropped on Christmas) and we just found out, the warranty we purchased for it expired on the 28th of December. :( So, pictures will be at a minimum for awhile, as the priority for funds right now is to get our whole family to Oregon again this summer, for what is going to be another fantastic Saemenes' girl wedding. Yup, if you hadn't heard anywhere else, you heard it here . . . Linnaea is getting married! I really don't know a ton of details, but the family is really enjoying getting to know he Tommy, and Bellcastro (his last name) will fit fine just after Linnaea's name. :) Our family is very excited to see all of what God has planned for their lives together!

Hunting season is essentially over . . . there is just some really, REALLY cold bow hunting to be done until the 31st for the die hard or desperate hunters out there. We don't have to be out, as we have 9 deer in the freezer! I got one, my first, a buck, and Karl got 5! Also, we had a friend who gave us a couple to help feed our little, but evergrowing army here. (No, that was not an announcement - we are not pregnant. Our kids just don't stop growing!)

Hunter wasn't so sure we named him correctly, as his deer season didn't shape up like he has imagined . . . each time deer were close enough to get a shot at, he was either snoozing away in the stand, or he was too excited (Buck Fever) to pull the trigger. One time, he told Karl that his finger wouldn't move! :) So, we figured we had to find a way to convince him we named him right . . . so, on to goose hunting it was. Hunter's first time out was last Saturday, and don't you know . . . he shot two! Of twelve guys out that day, he got 2 of the 8 they shot as a group! The smallest went to Hunter, as did the biggest! Oh, and the goose jerky . . . Yummy! It's amazing! I hear boiled goose hearts are good too, but I left that eating to the boys! :)

I did take Josiah (5) out hunting on one day. He was so cute all camo'd up! He wasn't too sure about the sitting still or being quiet thing, but he loved using the range finder to see how close the trees were, as the deer were much to far away to even see! ;) And I loved seeing him enjoy his time with his mommy and in nature!

Andrew is chomping at the bit to get his Hunter Safety Course under his belt! He loves to shoot the bb gun and airsoft guns that we have, but he wants so badly to hunt with daddy! We are excited that next year, assuming he passes the course, will be his first year hunting. We just aren't too sure how we are going to take each of the kids hunting enough to give them a real shot at getting a deer, and still have time to get the deer we need to fill the freezer! We'll figure it out.

Katy, has been saving for almost a full year, to buy an American Girl doll for herself, and she finally got all the money she needed - and then some! So, we have a new doll in the house. She's a look alike doll, that doesn't look a thing like Katy! Katy named her Justine, because she does look like a sweet friend who used to babysit the kids all the time when we lived in Maine.

We have a lot going on this year, and any numbers of changes that could come down the "pipeline" so to speak. I just signed to be a Pampered Chef Consultant - working this business will help us to afford the plane tickets for our entire family to be at Linnaea and Tommy's wedding in June! Then in March, we find out the results of the officer package Karl put in. In April, if we don't get the officer package, we will start looking for our next set of orders - that could lead us - who knows where! In May, we have Hunter's birthday, and who knows what else, and then in June . . . the wedding! (Oh and Birthdays galore and our anniversary - 14 years!?!?!?!?) And then we will get to the summer . . . maybe! :) In the midst of all of that, we plan to get more chickens and guineas, raise another pig, keep our jobs at the horse farm, continue homeschooling and still have sanity! Looking toward the fall . . . the biggest couple of things on the agenda are a hunting trip for Karl in Wyoming (the kids and I MAY be going, but not sure yet.) AND . . . our cousin Abby Michelle, getting married! There's no firm date yet that we have heard, but we just can't wait . . . we have had the opportunity to get to know her Matthew over the past couple of years, and they are a great couple, make a great team, and with them, we are excited to see all of what God has planned for their lives together!

So, as you can read (assuming you can read) we continue to stay busy and continue to love our lives! The busy-ness may make for craziness, but the craziness makes for fun, and who doesn't love to have fun?!?!?!?!