We hung two swallow houses last fall.  A pair nested in this one.  We will move the other house to a different spot.  I looked it up online and it says they like to be facing a clear field, which this house is. The other one is a little further back in the woods.  It says they eat up to 1000 mosquitoes a day.  I hope that is true.  I have already bought another one that we will hang up soon.  Hopefully next year, all the houses will be full!

 

 The larger bushes are raspberry bushes that we planted when we first moved in. We constantly plow up the sprouts.  These are hearty bushes and we get tons of berries.  This spring I dug up enough sprouts to make a new row.  They all transplanted really well.  Can't wait to make jelly.

 Our bird feeder, squirrel area.

 Mr. Woodpecker was visiting.

 I think it is time for a riding lawn mower.  I have never wanted one.  I enjoy the exercise and love mowing the lawn.  However, this summer I'm starting to feel it.  It is just too hard for me to do it all in one day now.  This is the side yard.

 Front yard.

 Behind the house yard. And the last picture is behind the garden yard.  We also have two big front ditches that I didn't get a picture of.  We threw long grass seed with daisy seeds in that part when we first moved it.  Looked beautiful for quite a few years.  Actually it still does if we let the flowers grow, but with not mowing it to let the flowers bloom, trees and weeds etc have taken it over.  So now it has to be mowed.

Carson at the high school on the track.  We decided to go walking one day and this was where we ended up.

Apparently they print these pictures into life size photo's and hang them around the rink.  I think they auction them off at the end of the season.

I have not blogged in a long time!  Sorry about that.

Lot's of changes to our household this last month.

Jared is spending this year's hockey season in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He has been gone just about a month.

He is playing for the USHL Cedar Rapids Roughriders. (well as of right now he is, final cuts are made this weekend).

He loves his billet family-2 girls-so a whole new experience for him!

He loves his team and said he is learning stuff every day, and that the league is incredible and that he can feel himself improving every day.

When Jared was around 14, I was on a road trip with him and a scout came to talk to us.  He was very impressed with Jared, and really wanted me to consider letting him move to Detroit or Chicago to play on one of the comp teams there, where he would be seen more often.  It was such a bittersweet meeting-I mean for some important scout to notice your child was pretty sweet, more than sweet!  But to honestly be telling me that my boy needed to move thousands of miles from home at such an important age to some huge strange city....I'm talking missing his high school years, first dates, dances, games, advice from Mom and Dad, moments with his brother, his birthdays....We just couldn't do it.

He is 18 now...

Even though we miss him so so much, It was time and he is where he needs to be.

Annual summer photo of the boys.  They weren't too thrilled...haha

Carson is now in High school!

My old high school in fact!  It seemed weird when Jared went there, but now, my baby too?  He loves it and is doing great.  All A's and 1 B so far.

He has also decided after a 3 year break from comp hockey, that he is going to join the High School hockey team.  He is very excited about it, and we are happy for him.

Cannot wait to see him and the Patriots in action!

Carson's 8th grade graduation

So proud of him!!!
Carson with Maggie who will be entering NPM next year.

Such a handsome fellow!

Both boys graduated 8th grade from NPM. Same school that I went to 8th grade in.

He had at least a 3.0+ GPA every quarter.
3.5 GPA for fourth quarter.

So so so proud of you Carson!!

Jared and the hockey team made it to nationals. To get to Nationals, they had to beat Kenai, which they did in 3 games. (Best 3 out of 5 game series). Then they had to beat Wenatchee...which they did in 4 games. In that fourth game, the game went into overtime, and Jared scored the game winning goal, helping to clinch them their berth to the Robertson Cup finals.

They went undefeated during that final tourney, but the games were anything but boring. The first game, they took the lead 3-0, then let the other team catch up and send the game into OT. They hung on for the win. Game two, down 2-0 but they fought back and won 4-2 during the 3rd period. The 3rd game they won it as well. They went into the 3rd period down 1-0 and once again fought back and won 3-1. For winning all 3 round robin games, they got a bye and a 1 day break. Then came the championship game. Down by 2 goals in the third period with only 6 minutes left of the game, once again the boys had a huge 3rd period attack and ended up winning the game by a score of 4-2. I'm so proud of my boy, the other boys, the community. We almost had more support for our team coming all the way from Alaska, then the hometown team.

What a great feeling seeing your child accomplish something so great.

Being a National Champion of anything is probably a once in a lifetime chance.

We all (parents and fans) got to go on the ice and celebrate with players. By the time we all got down there, they were all posing with the cup and taking team pictures with it. I ran over with my camera and snapped a few off, then started to walk back over to where most of the parents were. As I was walking away I heard Jared sceaming, 'Mom, Mom' I turn and he gave me the HUGEST hug I have ever received from my son. (well since he was a little guy anyways). It was long and emotional. Even after the goals he scored, hearing one announcer say that 'that Jared single handily beat our team in the 3rd period,' even after winning the cup...that HUG will be one of the greatest highlights of my life.

Jared and Tayler signed their National Letters of Intent to play with the UAF (Division I) hockey team. It was a very exciting day. Not only was it Jared's 18th birthday, but most of the family came out to watch this happen. I have the most supportive family anyone could ever ask for!!

These two boys were on their very first team together at age 5. Totem Chevron. I even have some video of them playing in a game. They also played two years of Bantams together and 1 yr of Midgets. Currently playing JR A Icedogs together. Many years in between there, when they were playing against each other. I'm so very proud of these two boys.

So proud of Jared!! He finished up the regular season with the Icedogs with the most points. http://nahl.stats.pointstreak.com/teamplayerstats.html?teamid=13174&seasonid=5863

He also did really well in standings for the whole league. Finished in 8th. http://nahl.stats.pointstreak.com/scoringleaders.html?leagueid=164&seasonid=5863

Hoping he and the team do just as well during playoffs for during the quest for Nationals! Good Luck Jared!