Man...

My dad said something very important the other day...

"A little boy has so much to learn to become a man."

I've been thinking about that statement ever since.

It is so true.

It is so beyond the scope of what I can understand alone.

It is what so many people miss in this day and age.

We are not all the same.

We can't step into the shoes of something we are not.

I am not a man.

I will never be a man.

I can't begin to understand all of the things that make men... men.

Thankfully...

Brysen has a dad, two grandfathers and a brother-in-law to help guide him along this journey.

The road ahead is long and... I'm sure... full of bumps and pot holes.

With the help of those good men I mentioned above...

He should travel that road just fine!

Thank goodness I don't have to figure it out all on my own....

Woodchucks...

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck...

If a woodchuck could chuck wood...

Where Were The Marshmallows?

Sunday was chilly.

After church, the kids department had Family Fun Day.

Everyone had a blast.

They fed us mexican food... yum.

Then the kids played on inflatables.

When we got home, the weather was perfect for getting some jobs done that just can't be done during the hot weather.  Who wants to do anything when it is boiling outside?  Not us!

There was some painting and cleaning up of the outside... which is a huge problem for me.

We all like a little pride in our homes when we drive up, right?

Anywho...

My dad started asking me some questions about our garden next year.

What did I want to plant?

How big did I want to make it?

We got busy talking this over and then took a walk out in the left front field to kind of map out how big we want this thing.

I was told that we would need to mow very slowly through the overgrown brush around the perimeter and then burn the inside.

I guess those boys meant NOW!

Then next thing I knew, Dad was mowing and then as the sun was going down...

the kids came running in to tell me that they were setting the field on fire.

I walked outside with the bigger girls and...

indeed...

fire was everywhere.

But...

it did warm things up a bit!

Mark is seriously having too much fun out there!

The little firebug!

Buck doesn't really care for the fire..

He proved several times why he is named Buck.

Above is Miranda and Sydnee...

my walk around the perimeter of the fire, "garden", partners.

and...

To prove that I actually live here too...

A photo of me at the fire.

It was a fun and productive way to watch the sun go down on a sunday afternoon...

But, where were the marshmallows?

The Work Day Never Ends...

When you run your own construction business...

The work day never ends.

My dad frequently comes home from an extremely long day and then sits and writes up bids and draws up plans.

I guess it makes for  a great nights sleep, though.

For those of you who care...

Football starts in our town tonight.
The whole town is geared up.
There have been rallies and bonfires and food and lots of talk...

All I need is my sweet son-in-law to sit beside me during the entire game and explain what is actually happening on the field.
Yeah...
That sounds good to me!