Birthday Trip Day

So, really its Monday when my birthday is...we don't usually 'celebrate' - we like to concentrate on the kids birthdays but ours are mainly quiet, at home or perhaps a meal out. Since mine falls on Monday and we have work and home school and things to do we decided to make a day trip out of today and 'celebrate'...a trip to Micheal's craft store for some goodies for momma...some new knitting yarn in beautiful lavender and green, some wooden pieces and a wood burner- something all of us have wanted to try- so excited and also a few crafty decorating scrap book items as well, stuff for card making, some new markers. Momma has been missing her creative time and the kids are excited too. Then onto a family lunch and an adventure into Coeur d' Alene for a visit to the library there for the first time- WOW again two stories of book goodness! Our family does love a good library! And a huge beautiful park next to the water scape with playground. The kids read and played and we took a walk to visit the sites- a beautiful day and back home for our first 4H get together in our new town. Birthday or not its truly a wonderful day just spent enjoying our little family and our time together.

Couldn't ask for a better birthday than just spending time enjoying my husband and children. So blessed in this life with so much love surrounding me.

First Moose Sighting and a Cat Rescue

This morning was eventful...going out to take the dogs on leash to potty and we turn the corner of our home to go into the yard and there it was knelt down eating our yard's grass....a Moose! Our first sighting at our new home. The dogs weren't thrilled- hair raised, barking...we got them inside then took a few pics from a distance and let it be as we watched from indoors at this giant beast graze in our yard. Funny creatures, it was fun to see one in person rather than on video's or on tv.

We then had an adventure traveling to our in town park again where this is the second time our children have seen the same stray kitten- brought to tears today, not because she couldn't keep it but our daughter, an animal lover begged with us to find it a home so that it wouldn't freeze. Remembering an animal shelter in town, we went over there to inquire about them taking in a stray kitten- they had no room but the owner was so touched she said she'd take it into her own home because she couldn't stand the thought of it freezing outside. Back to the park to retrieve the kitten and back to the shelter. Wrapped up in this woman's arms, the kitten purred and pushed its head against her chin and neck. The woman smiled down at it and said she'd get the kitten all fixed up with a warm home and some food. The woman thanked the kids for thinking of the kitten - I told our daughter she did a very good thing here- even though she couldn't keep it she found it a home.

Bless these sweet kids hearts!

{this moment}

Linking to Soule Mama

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{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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 A new musical instrument to fill our home.

Joy of the Day

The excitement and joy of today was finally getting our family library cards. Our kids were beyond thrilled to now be able to check out books, put books on hold and search out new stories to read. They can't live without a library and I love that! A small in town, quaint library with just enough books on a variety of subjects. A sweet downtown brick building. Last night we had went to the other library in the town nearby as well to print a few things out and look around- two levels of book goodness there- it was huge! A few really great libraries super close to explore. And on the way into town last night we also saw the first signs of snow on the mountain tops- so close and soon to visit us down in town according to the weather...possibly next week.

A few books checked out and more put on hold when we arrived home with those precious library cards in hand...bird books for our bird boy of course along with the story of the Nutcracker as a read aloud and hopefully a Christmas surprise of getting to go see it this year come holiday time too.

The librarian seeing our son's choice of Eagle watching also let us know that during the winter months the lake does eagle watching tours and you can really see all the eagles during December and January- beyond excited he was to hear this...I believe some bird watching specifically for eagles will be done very soon!

Library fun for all!

Morning Hike

The wind chill was so cold today - I told the kids it was going to freeze my ears right off my head. But bundle up we all did to take on another hike around our yard in the woods...I think the morning started out around 22 degree's and warmed up to 29 a little later on as the sun came up....and last night- we saw snow fall, barely, lightly, but it did fall- we stood in the yard shinning flashlights up into it watching the glittery little flecks fall from the sky like stars- amazing! Although there was not much ice on the ground this morning as yesterday when we got to the trail on our hike there was a nice frozen puddle the kids had fun sliding across, grabbing hold of each other as to not fall..until our son did fall! Laughs all around- even in the cold it was wonderful...and what a glorious feeling to find that little ray of sun poke through the trees. We'd stop along the sun beam streaked path and put our faces up to the sun, warming them then hike some more. What a beautiful world we live in.

Chilly fun  morning hiking!

A bit of Freeze going on around here!

This morning we woke up to find icy cars, icy grass, icy roof...ice everywhere. The dogs crunched as they walked outdoors this morning and sniffed at the ice below their feet. Our son grabbed his sled and was able to get some sliding going on...the ice made it just enough slippery - and with the help of Momma pulling he went fast sliding down the hill! We went on a cold hike in the woods...exploring and examining some mushrooms, frozen leaves and tree stumps. Running into about 12 wild turkeys, hearing birds sing and saw some deer droppings but no deer. A good day but great to get back inside to the warmth too! Movie and reading time remains for the afternoon today!

A beautiful cold day in the woods...our backyard.

Pend Oreille

Finally during the day late this afternoon were able to cross the long bridge across the Pend Oreille River in Sandpoint. The last time it had been past sun down and not much was able to be seen. Today, even with over cast clouds it was beautiful...the water, bridge, mountains and treeline.

The Pend Oreille River begins at Lake Pend Oreille in Bonner County, Idaho in the Idaho Panhandle, draining the lake from its western end near Sandpoint (The Clark Fork River enters the lake from its eastern end). It flows west, receiving the Priest River from the north at the town of Priest River, then flows into southern Pend Oreille County in northeastern Washington at Newport. 

(Source-from Wikipedia)

A day venturing into town to check out a few stores, shop and come home with a computer desk for our kids to share for homeschooling. A little lunch out and back home in time for dinner. A lovely afternoon sight seeing and being together.