6 in the Sticks

Bear

Leave it to Jeromy to shoot the first bear of the season. I don't think he's been skunked a season yet.  It is a tad bigger than Bud's from last year, not much though. But a bear is a bear. And all of our non-hunting animal lovers that are a little worried this may classified as a cub, it's not. No worries.

Moose

Brian shot a moose! 37 inch spread at 6:45am yesterday/opening morning. Shooting time was 6:37am. He was a little disappointed that he wasn't even able to sit in his chair that he was setting up when he heard the crunch in the distance and called him in. Bob is still working on his, hopefully he'll shoot one soon. We have to admit, we were a little relieved that he didn't shoot one yesterday as well as we were a little worn out.

Mom and Brian

Hunting continues. Bob is still working hard for a moose. Hoping today will be his lucky day. Bear hunting is coming to an end soon and I'm hoping that I will have filled my tag by then. The weather hasn't been cooperating with us so well either.

This is the "shitter". The boys have managed to accommodate themselves with all the comforts of home. Someone is always thinking. I love it.

We got the majority of the butchering done on Brian's moose yesterday and ended the night with a five star steak dinner. Thank you Brian!

We also got some sad news yesterday as well that my great uncle passed away, just two months after his son. It has been a hard year for my dad's side of the family. We haven't been able to get together much in the last ten years as families grow, get older, move away and so forth. The majority of my childhood we'd get together at least once a year, every February for sure, for a snowmobile weekend. I can't remember how many snowmobiles were running the trails all together but I'm sure we looked like a giant train coming through town. Not to mention how many Bolducs stayed in one house alone. Very good times. I will cherish them forever.

Uncle Wilmer, you will be sadly missed. But I find comfort in knowing that you're on the other side with Johnny.

I'm really not sure if we will get snow or not. I can wait just a while longer as I am behind on everything this year. Today was the first time this season I heard we may get snow.

Jack wanted me to come outside and take a picture of him popping a wheelie. After several tries, this was as good as I could do. Good job Jack! Bad job mom.

"Are you getting it mom?" One of these days I will Jack.

Charly is still plugging away with ballet class even though she's in the painfully shy stage. Her instructor asked me if she can actually speak. Eventually she'll speak to her I guess. Her instructor understood as she was very similar at that age. At least I get to sit with the other parents now and I'm not apart of the class itself.

Charly wanted to show off her new leg warmers too. So fancy.

Last week I went to the Dr after having hard chest pains for half an hour. I had quite a few tests done and everything came back normal, even though I was afraid I was having a heart attack. I'm glad everything looked fine though. I've been stressing a lot this year. So much going on and so much to try and get to. I feel like I'm on a suicide mission alone just becoming a hockey mom while dotting the I's and crossing the T's to try and get into nursing school before the year is over. Everything will pan out, it always does. Anyway, maybe my little scare was just a wake up call to chill out a bit. I was very glad my mom was here though. She drove me and took care of the kids until Jeromy brought me back home.

Mom is doing very well. Still tired at times but still fighting to be a survivor. She wasn't looking forward to heading in for chemo again this week as she thought it was kind of nice having a break for moose hunting. If my memory serves me correct, this is the tail end of her fourth month in chemo. She's looking forward to seeing the end of her six months and hopes the cancer is gone for good. I can't say it enough, thank you so much for the warm thoughts and prayers. It means so much to us.

Moose camp came to an end last weekend and everyone left Monday afternoon. Bob was not able to get a chance to fill his tag. He hit it hard though, he was out every morning and afternoon. It was a good time though. I was not able to fill my bear tag either. Another day, another animal I suppose. I hope to be successful this deer season anyway.

Cooperation at moose camp.

While Brian cracked the whip. Just kidding.

Wet wood. Not a good thing.

After Brian shot his moose opening morning, he became Bob's, "moose camp B----", if you will scuse de french. Light the fire! Sweep the tent! Cook me chicken pot pie! Cinderelli! He sluffed this particular day. Poor Bob.

Below are some hunting and fishing recap pictures from last year. And mom finally unloaded her pictures while she was here so she should be good for the next year or so. Silly momma.

Me no Jane.

Me big bertha of northland. Uffduh. Me hunt big animal.

He shoot small animal.

Fishing on Big Stone.

Very windy day. We all pretty much ended up pink by sundown as we didn't apply the sunscreen. Youch.

Jeromy and I swapped fish for the pictures. He's getting tired of me always beating him with larger game. Spaz Man.

Turkey hunting teaser. Mom always has wild turkeys coming into her yard every year. This last spring, she counted twenty.

Until later.

Little Jackson. You never know what he is going to say. He cracks us up constantly and managed to have Granny and the hunting gang bust a gut a couple of times.

My mom and Jackson were looking at the Outdoor News together one morning. Jackson pointed to this picture below and said, "Hey Granny! This girl looks just like you. But she's just a little bit younger."

She's just a little bit younger.

Sometime during all of the hunting festivities, my mom was sitting outside while the kids were playing around in the yard. My mom looks at Jack who is just sitting at the picnic table rolling something around between his fingers and studying it very closely. My mom noticed his tackle box sitting on the table close to him and thought maybe he had hooked himself or something.

She asked him, " What ya got there Jack?"

Jackson said while not even batting an eye in a nonchalant manner, " A slug"

Jeromy walked up to give his two cents thinking he was up one on his boy and said, " Are ya gonna eat it?!"

Jackson replied, "Nah Dad. I don't want to make you jealous."

We never did get snow yesterday. Some ice sprinkles for about fifteen minutes and we were done. Beautiful sunny day today if you don't mind forty-five degrees. We love it though.

We woke up to three inches of snow and very slick roads. It's kind of weird to see some green grass in places with snow slightly covering the ground. It was a pretty morning though.

Jackson and Charly were so pumped to see snow. They told me to hurry up and start making the ice in the front yard fro our ice rink. Jackson can not wait much longer to play hockey. We hear, at least six times a day, "Oh, I really wish it was time for me to play hockey." Or, " Mom? How many days until I can play hockey? I want to play so bad."

We got his gear all set. We haven't got his pads and gloves from the team yet but what he does have, he takes out of the bag a few times a day to check it out. His bag contains, helmet, mouth guard, hockey skates, jock shorts with athletic cup in place, a new roll of yellow tape for his new black and yellow stick as he's decided blue is not his favorite color anymore, yellow is. Here is his helmet.

Finding the right helmet was kind of hard because for such a little guy, he's got somewhat of a large melon. Who'd a thought. We'll get more shots once he has his complete uniform. He is SO excited.

Just a couple of shots so far this week. I'm going to get some of all the kids and their costumes tonight and tomorrow. So, for now, a couple of our little Charly Grace.

Snack after ballet class.

Yesterday morning. Charly was headed to preschool for her Halloween party. She gave her teachers dissectable, edible frog and a heart. She was so excited to give them to each teacher, she was hoping it would freak them out. Silly girl. I think they were surprised.

We still have snow. I guess appropriate for Charly's Snow Princess costume but I can handle it melting and coming back in a month. She originally said she wanted to be Padme dressed in white. Now she's telling us she's just a snow princess. This disheartens Jackson as he was set on being a storm trooper and Charly being Padme. Don't worry, the force is still with her.

Deep Thought By Jack Handey:

If a kid ever asks you how Santa Claus can live forever, I think a good answer is that he drinks blood.

Witches! And Goblins! And Ghouly Ghosts too!

Pumpkins! And Candy! Rat soup mixed with shrew!

Look over your shoulder!

Tricksters are sure to find you!

I know, I need to start reading books at a higher level.

This is Ashley this morning before she headed out the door to school. She is going to be Bat Girl tonight. She is going over to a friend's house for a party with an hour of trick or treating, then back at the house for spooky movies and treats.

One of the things I love about living up north is you are never too old to trick or treat. Well, you don't see actual adults, but the teens still dress up and head out. And you don't see or hear about horrible pranks (minus Jessica's Halloween trick a couple years back on a teacher) or older kids stealing candy from the little ones. Everyone, all ages, almost all religions, get decked out for Halloween.:) Just plain fun. So much fun, that I've avoided the Haunted Hayride in fear of the of the guy from the Texas Chainsaw finding me and finally catching me! So spooky.

Hoping to get some good shots of all the kids in their costumes this year.

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween!