Just like Dad

Russ has never been more proud. He has raised an entire army of weed burners. Equip with water tanks, hoses, matches and of course deisel, the men of the house went weed burnin' this weekend. As you can see by the jovial expression here on Bridger's face, it was a great time. Can I just mention that these pictures were taken just 5 minutes before we were to leave for a dinner appointment at a friends house and that I don't think all the Tide, Febreeze, or Oxy clean in the world will ever get the smoke smell out of these clothes.

They actually took turns seeing who could stay the longest, unseen in the smoke plumes. Of course, that sounds like a lot of fun.

Sometimes I just try not to look.

We are building a firepit and barbeque area. Oh what fun we have been having. The boys have been a huge help, pounding nails, leveling the ground, placing weed barrier and building the pit. It was a fun weekend project which is really close to being revealed. I am currently decorating it with items found in old sheds, at reuse barns and the dump. Wait until you see the finished product. And you are all invited to our next bbq and weiner roast, BYOS (bring your own smile). Stay posted

Playing Pioneer

When I was growing up a power outage was very exciting. My Mom would cook on her old wood cook stove, flashlights and candles were a must we all huddled around the fireplace for warmth and we called it "Playing Pioneer". I know we loved it more than Mom did, we didn't see the eminent need for bathing or using the toilet, there was always the great outdoors and water boiled on top of the wood stove for those trivial things. The other day I was reminded of playing pioneer when just minutes before leaving for church the power went out in our whole community. We still went to church and had a very nice testimony meeting in the dark. The last two meetings were cancelled due to a cold building and no pottys. So, home we went to play our own version of pioneer. We made our lunch in the fireplace (toasted marshmellows and hotdogs) visited and read further on the book we are reading together, The City of Ember. It was a nice day and the power came back on that afternoon.

BB Guns and Boys

Spring is here so why not get out your gun? Sounds logical if you are a 12 and 10 year old boy.

You can shoot pop cans off of the barbwire fences

Or shoot holes in your Mom's favorite shed's window

Ahhh! the fun off Spring, A Red Ryder, a can of BB's and hundreds of possible targets.

At least they didn't " shoot their eye out."

Yipee Break Up is Here

Russ is on breakup, the time of year when the logging roads break apart and are not usable, so he's home with me. Those who know me well, know that this is a good enough excuse why my blogging has taken second stage. Those who don't know the details of Russ and break up are just about to find out.

When Russ is working and especially when he is at camp I rule as a friend, mother, and confidant. However, the day breakup begins I stink it up. It's not my fault, I really love spending time with Russ. We play together, visit, build, renovate, catch up on new release movies and do what ever we darn well want. My friends and family don't always understand that one day I might run to the phone to see what we could possibly do together and just like that the next day I may not even answer the phone at all.

So you can see why my blogging has suffered some, I am spending time with my husband and really I am not even making apologies. Just be patient with me, in only 3 short months Russ will be back at work and if you will still take me I will be back on top as best friend, mighty crafter, teachers help and fun sister. See you then. Jana

P.S. this doesn't mean I won't blog at all just keep checking up on me.

How to Build a Kub Kar

Oh, the Kub Kar. After this year we have assembled 7 Kub Kars and have estimated that we have 6 more to go. The boys love the Kub Kar rally (also known as the pinewood derby).

The scout leader hands out the little red box, complete with a block of wood, tires and 4 tiny, very loseable nails, I am speaking from experience here.

The boys sketch and finally choose what the finished car, the winning car will look like.

They meticulously sand the now formed block of wood so that any wind resistance will be avoided.

They carefully and skillfully paint on the design.

Dad adds the wheels, the weights and the all powerful graphite.

And the race begins.

The racers are nervous. Will they win? Will the "Blue Thunder" pull out a win?

Will all the hard work and effort pay off?

Nope! each of the boys won one race each, the big trophy has slipped from their grasps again. Their final race was fought brother vs. brother and as you can see no feelings were permanently hurt.

I have to say I am really pleased with my boys. Aside from Dad cutting out the shape and helping with weights and tires, the boys completed their cars on their own and they had a lot of fun doing it, plus they were good sports and that's not always easy when all that work only merits one little win each.

March 31st ?

This is what the northern world woke up to on March 31st. Yes, more snow, will it ever cease?

Ohhhhh!! the agony, the depression, the utter dispare. Wait, I won't let it get me down, I will fight this thing.

So like any other stubborn Gulbranson girl I decided I would face the snow head on and not let it get me down. I yelled up the staircase for the boys to join me and even before breakfast was to be served we had began the spring clean of the mudroom. You see, I have a theory, that if you take out all the winter clothes, wash them, pack them in bins and place them high in the shelves winter will disappear.

The boys didn't understand the reasoning but one look at my agitated face and they were off to work. We cleared everything out of closets, washed walls, floors, doors, moulding and every other source of wintery dirt. And you know, there may be something to my theory after all. The very next day things started to warm.

Oh, it's certainly not spring yet, but I think Mother Nature may have understood my frustration and is giving us a little sunshine. And you know, the boys really haven't minded blue fingers, wet feet or the chattering of their teeth. Like any other little boy they have only appreciated the cleanliness of the mudroom.

Bridger putting away skates and washing shelves

Good bye cruel winter.

Duties and Doughnuts

The General Priesthood Session of Conference is one of the favorites in our home. While the men are away on Priesthood duties, the younger boys and I make doughnuts. We look forward to the priesthood coming home and telling us about their favorite talks and listening to their favorite stories. We sit around the table, listen, sip ice cold milk and eat a fresh, warm doughnut. The other boys always look forward to being the next to attend Priesthood meetings with their Dad. This year was a first in our little family, Grandpa Jensen, Russell and Mckay all went to the session together.

Doughnut dough.

Cutting the doughnuts

Into the deep fryer

Out of the fryer

Rolled in Sugar

Coleson's Baptism

Congratulations to Coleson who was baptized on April 1, 2009 by his father Russell. Coleson has been excited for months about this special day. We discussed baptism the night before at Family Home Evening and practised what would take place the next day. I gave the talk on baptism and his brothers sang a song. Two others boys, Kaylon McKee and Tias James were also baptized. Thank-you to all his aunts and uncles who attended and to Grandma and Grandpa Jensen who came all the way from Utah to be here for Coleson's big day. The only people Coleson missed were his Cousin and best friend Conner and his other best friend Brennan Loose. It was a great day.

The Joy of Service

This past Saturday I packed a laundry basket full of the items I would need for the Stake Youth event in Prince George. It brought back memories of my mother doing the same thing with laundry baskets. I am in the Stake Young Women's Presidency and in that basket are all the things I needed to perform my duties that particular day. There are 280 meatballs, a bag of pencils, a 45 minute workshop on virtue, several dozen chocolate chip cookies, a picture of the Salt Lake City Temple, My church bag, several surveys and some mutual activity ideas for the Young Women Presidencies. I am so thankful to serve in our Stake, it takes a lot of work and requires sacrifice on the part of my husband and children but I hope that someday my boys will pack up a similar basket and head out the door to fulfill their responsibilities and remember a picture like this. We are blessed when we serve. I am thankful to parents who taught me well and who continue to be a good example of church service.

Spring is Coming

I had to find and post a picture I took last year from my flower garden to remind me that Spring is indeed coming. Today we set a new record low in Vanderhoof -38 degrees at my house this morning. Yet we keep praying for cold weather and thankfully Heavenly Father is answering our prayers. at -38 he must really love us this week.

The Thing about a 10 Year Old

Our ten year old is Caleb. Caleb is a marvelous boy with so many gifts. Caleb's gifts are not the sort that are as easily recognizable as some other peoples gifts but they are very important and very genuine.

Caleb has the most fun sense of humour, which he gets from his Dad. Caleb can make anyone laugh and sometimes at his own expense. He doesn't mind looking "uncool" if it gets a laugh it was worth it. We all laugh daily at Caleb. He is especially good at knowing just when to throw out a movie quote that fits the topic of discussion and can make us all laugh. He can always make a tense moment into a fun experience. Just a couple of days ago the boys and I were driving home from town and I was giving a stirring lecture on something like why we don't hang on the trees outside of the church or why we look people in the eyes when we order food or maybe it was about why we treat a brother better than we would treat anyone else, it could have been any number of things really. The boys listened for at least 10 minutes without saying a word so I asked, " Are you listening to me?" " Yes Mom." reported Caleb, "We are smellin' what you're stinkin'" Now normally I don't find those things funny but it reminded me to chill out a bit and find the humour in the response. Caleb is always a comic relief.

Our ten year old tries very hard. He has a twelve year old brother who picks up on anything with ease so Caleb tries hard to keep up. But Caleb works hard, tries hard and does very well at anything he puts his mind to. This year in basketball he was on the same team as Mckay and started off not knowing exactly what to do. By the end of the year Caleb was named the team's "Best Hustler" and had improved so dramatically that he was one of the top players, even fans from the other teams cheered on Caleb because of his impressive hustle.

Caleb's best gift is his soft heart and tender feelings for the underdog. Caleb befriends the friendless and even though he is the smallest in his entire class he is know for sticking up for the children that are bulllied. You can always find Caleb cheering someone sad. The other day at school the most popular girl in the class was heard telling another girl that she dresses horribly and it looks like she has a poor family. Caleb walked up to the very sheepish young lady and told her that he thought she dressed well and asked her to play with him that afternoon. Caleb has also taken it upon himself to help an older grandpa in the ward. Every Sunday Caleb finds Mr.Lunzer and helps him across the slippery parking lot to and from the church building to his car. His example has encouraged his older brother and several other young men to do the same thing for other seniors in the ward. We love Caleb's compassion.

Yes, Caleb can be a little rowdy in primary class and his humour a little disruptive in his school class but Caleb has the qualities that really count and we love him for all these good things. We would have a big hole in our family without this ten year old.

Scout Camps

I don't always understand the inner workings of a young man's brain. Winter scout camps leave me only more befuddled. This weekend Mckay and his scout troop are going on a winter campout. Let me give you the numbers. 12 young men, 7 leaders, -17 C weather, 2 days and 1 freaked out Mom.

I am happy at times like these that I am a girl. I can still sleep in my warm bed, eat a warm dinner and watch a good movie.

I have to say the clincher was when they were handing out the freeze dried dinners. The scout leader held up the first meal and commented, " This is a chicken and rice dinner." Two hands went up to claim the chicken and rice delight. Next he held up a spagetti dinner. " This is spagetti and meatsauce, he said, they are really good, but they do give you really bad gas." up flew the other 10 hands. That has to be the number 1 reason I would not like to attend a scout camp. You don't get stuff like that at girls camp but you do trade stench for crying, complaining and screaming over bugs and dirty nails.

Coleson's 8th birthday

Happy Birthday Coleson. Cole or Coley bear as we like to call him, turned 8 on February 26th. The birthday celebration dragged out for several days, I think Ryan McCoy calls it a birthday week. Wednesday evening Coleson's Dad came home a day early so we gave out gifts and sang happy birthday over the candlelight of an angel food cake. Thursday we had Coleson's official birthday by singing again and him answering many phone calls from aunts and uncles, cousins and friends from around the world, literally. Friday, we had the Elders over for a discussion and dinner and again sang happy birthday and ate Coleson's birthday meal, tacos. We love Coleson and wish him a very happy 8th birthday.

This year Coleson received a very cool yellow bike complete with rear shocks and hand brakes, can we get a Awhhhhh!!!! He also recieved several matchbox cars and some collector cards. From his Grandma and Grandpa J $25.00 American, which we explained is close to $107.25 Canadian. From Grandma and Grandpa G a brand spankin' new set of scriptures.

Coleson is very excited to be baptized in April when Grandma and Grandpa J come for a visit.