Just to see you smile

Lineman and I recently celebrated our 16th anniversary.  I had picked up a nice western shirt for him when he called me and said, “we’re not doing anything for our anniversary are we, let’s not”.  So, I hung that shirt in the closet so at least he would still have something new to wear, even if it wasn’t a gift.

He came home from work and we were visiting when he says “hey hon, can you go grab my slippers for me?” So I head to our bedroom when what should I see on our dresser but this….

That little stinker!  He said not to get him anything and then he goes out at gets me a laptop and all the goodies to go with (the hairspray is an inside joke).  Can you believe that guy.  After 16 years you think I would know all his little tricks!

He gave me a nice little card that sang “Just to see you smile” by Tim McGraw. 

Yes, his little surprise gift made me smile.  I’ll tell you what else makes me smile.  When he laughs, when he plays with the kids, when he laughs, when he smiles, when he laughs, when he is ornery to waitresses, when he laughs.  Oh, his laugh is infectious, medicine for my soul, I could never get enough of it!

The laptop is pretty great, it has Windows 7  and so far I’m loving it.  I hadn’t realized just how old and slow my desktop was. 

And in other news… right now it’s minus 15 feels like minus 29.  Phew, this Global Warming is tough to take!

Reason to smile

Remember this picture ?? Now I will show you the reason for this great grin. Sure he was having fun fishing with his dad, but check out what happened.

WaaHaaa, looks like he's got something on the line. Bring it in son!

This guy put up a pretty good fight! He actually broke the line just as he reeled him to shore. The fish almost swam away but Lineman reached down and grabbed him before he could swim off.

He was so excited he caught this fish! It was actually the 3rd one he had caught but the previous two were so big they broke the line each time. We switched poles for him after that.

There was enough time for him to cast a few more times. He had another bite and reeled this guy in. It was a pretty successful day..... in more ways than just fishing!

Together

Over the weekend my middle wild child got a some much wanted alone time with his dad. Our oldest son was with a friend and though the offer was for both of the older boys to go, the middle son was insistent that he go fishing with dad. That was all he wanted! It was quiet, one on one time. No distractions..... well, mostly no distractions......
I wonder what could have happened?
All I know is that it ended up like this.........

LM & LM

That is, a little more Lineman and Little Man!

This was another day of fishing again! I love to see this man with my boys. My heart goes crazy and there's a smile on my face.

All to himself

When Lineman makes it home there is a universal want among the boys. They want their dad all them themselves. Hey, I don't blame them. Mom gets pretty boring all week! When it comes to wanting dad all to himself, Little Man is no exception. In fact of all three boys he is the one who makes his wants known very clear.

Fishing last weekend he was content to just sit right by his dad. To be just like him. To mimic everything he did.

Just like dad.

He'll do anything he can to get dad all to himself!

On the job

This move has had it's ups and downs. This week was one of the ups. I had a chance to go see Lineman out on a line job he was inspecting. It was only a 2 1/2 hour drive to get there too.

I got there right at lunch time and we drove into town and had lunch together. Lunch wasn't great but the company was fantastic.

We didn't have long to stay as we had to get back home before the bus got there. But to be able to go to the job site and say hi (and bring him things he forgot) was just wonderful.

**The preceding photos brought to you by:

Our Recent Move

Teaching the next generation

With three generations together this weekend it was time for teaching. After our last shooting adventure and realizing our son was having a hard time with a regular .22, Lineman called his dad. My father in law went into town and picked out a new Cricket for our boys and brought it to us this weekend. It was such a treat for me to be able to watch a father and a son work together, so

eager to pass their knowledge on to the next generation. They taught him about safety, loading, safety, sighting, safety, the trigger, safety, the ammo, safety and knocking over that target. Oh, and they taught him about safety, too.

He held the rifle with ease, it's smaller size really made a difference. He looked through the sights, took aim, squeezed the trigger....

And hit the target on his second shot (he hit right about the logo). It was so fun to see the excitement he had. He really got the hang of it immediately and was hitting his targets very well. I'm positive he is waiting for his next outing with father, grandfather, or better yet, both!

It must be rough

When Lineman isn't out on a job checking out the progress of a powerline being built or inspecting a substation, he still has to go to work. In an office. It must be so difficult for him since he transferred. Right out his office door there are deer just hanging around. It must be so rough for him to work in such unbearable conditions. To take a lunch break and watch the bucks hanging around. Tough I tell you, tough.

The deer don't go anywhere either. They are always right around there. Always pestering and bothering him and his fellow employees. Those deer are a nuisance I tell you!

A lot of the deer I saw while we were out visiting him were bucks too. That could be a real safety issue. What if one of those bucks were to lose an antler right there next to the office. A person could trip on an antler and get seriously injured. I think it's high time that Lineman contact OSHA. It's the safe thing to do seeing as his work environment is so hazardous. It must be a rough job!

Hmm, what is this at my feet?

A pair of .22 rifles, I wonder what these are for. Who am I kidding! Being a family means doing things together again. Saturday Lineman took the boys and I out for a drive. We loaded up two rifles hoping to see a gopher or two. We never saw any gophers but we did find some very frightened cans!

We drove out to the middle of nowhere. That didn't take too long! And then we all took turns shooting at the cans. Those cans were just shaking in their boots. Or not.

The boys were using Lineman's old .22. I believe it was given to Lineman when he was just a boy. I need to get that whole story from him. We have seen the little Cricket in town but haven't purchased one. Anyone out there have the Cricket or something like it?

That is big country, no? Maybe that's why it's called Big Sky Country?

Of course each of the boys wanted to try it. The middle boy only got to shoot just the once. Before we realized it the evening was waning and we had to go.

Up for this weekend.... fishing!

I think we are getting used to this "family" bit, don't you?

Dad Time....

Now THAT is something to SMILE about!

A new sport

Last winter Lineman was working in Durango, Colorado. Lots of snow, lots of mountains and a childhood memory of snowshoeing. He bought himself a new set of snowshoes and had a fun time last winter.

About a month ago I got a set for myself. Lineman went back to the store and got two more sets for each of the older boys. It was so much fun and let me tell you it is a workout! Our middle son went with his dad and had an absolute blast. Fun stuff I tell you!

Lineman in Training

Our middle punk is full of spunk. And energy. And go. And energy... you get the idea. This is one way he shows his true colors - that he is a B-O-Y.

Sometime last year I walked into the boys' bedroom and there was our boy... climbing this post in his bedroom. Ever since then he has said he's a Lineman and he's climbing a pole. Here is what it looks like....

First you put a pillow down, I guess that makes it easier in case you "burn a pole" Burning a pole is pretty self explanatory, it's when you are up on a pole and you lose your grip with your belt or your gaffs, the sharp metal points you gouge into the pole. Needless to say you go down the pole, in a hurry, and I've been told it hurts. A lot. Especially when you get to the bottom.

You get a good grip and then it's just a leg up at a time.

Once you get to the top you admire the climb you just accomplished.

Then you sit back and relax for a few moments.

And then you climb - or jump down and marvel at your accomplishment.

Isn't it amazing the things a boy can think up.

A Boy + Winter = Anything crazy and dangerous. That's the way it is at our house anyway. How about your house?

How to spend an afternoon

Lineman enjoys taking a Sunday afternoon nap once in awhile. When a boy will join him that's even better. It took only minor convincing for the middle boy to cuddle with Lineman. It didn't take long and they were both zonked out. I love how Lineman threw his hat over our boy, probably makes him feel just like his daddy.

I loaded up the Little Man with some Tylenol and he is finally napping. Last night was just horrible with him.

Our oldest boy is a reader so that's what he's doing. Awfully convenient he is reading my new book. Lineman asked what I wanted for Christmas and I told him I wanted a Baby Blues comic book. Of course after peace, love, an end of war and all the family time we could squeeze in. After that I wanted Baby Blues.

How lucky was I that I got two Baby Blues books. Woooo Hooooo lots of reading for me! My mom was laughing at me the other day. We were both in a recliner reading while the Little Man was napping. I was reading Baby Blues while she was reading a 12,158 page book that she had to bring in on a dolly. Well, it's a big book, let's just say that. She was trying to read but I guess I was making it a little hard on her. I would read and then bust out laughing. More silence followed by more laughter. More silence and yet more laughter. Then I would have to read the comic strip aloud so she would know why I was laughing so hard. Boy it's going to take her a long time to get through her book if she keeps reading next to me!

Practicing

Well, I did it to myself, didn't I? Saying that I would be in a picture a week for 52 weeks. I thought I better get used to the idea and start practicing now. While we were at my mom's house over Thanksgiving she was nice enough to snap a few pictures of me and Lineman. I don't know if I should have let my mom use my camera though. She was getting pretty comfortable with it. I may have to find a good hiding spot for it =)

I'm just saying.....

If you remember yesterday's post I mentioned how the antelope were taking classes at school. Well, Lineman left a comment on that entry. Here it is, word for word:

Grooaann! Do you all see what I have to live with here??? How about, "how to look both ways before crossing the highway 101" or "beat the bullet 101" or "Vehicles really are faster than us 101"

This morning he called to tell me that he hit a deer. Coincidence? I think not.

Wheelie Time - Lesson Time

Saturday morning after we got the Little Man to take a nap we went out to the garage to work on a few projects. Lineman had to move the 4-wheeler to get at some things. He started it up and the boys flocked to him instantly. He took off on a little ride with them, I grabbed my bike and the next thing we knew our projects were on the back burners. Then the oldest and middle boy got on their bikes and Lineman took my bike. Next thing I knew they were all racing and I was going gray instantly. Then Lineman started in with the wheelies.....
I think he would have preferred the power of his bike over mine for the wheelies but he sure was fun to watch. The oldest boy came over to watch and get a few lessons on how to do a wheelie. He tried and tried but couldn't quite get the hang of it. I'm sure in a few years he will be doing them and I'll be wishing he didn't know how. Then I'll yell at Lineman for teaching his kids how to do wheelies.
The kids weren't the only ones getting lessons on how to do a wheelie....

More pictures coming tomorrow - I wonder who else could have given it a try???