Moose Meat and 1st Birthday

Since Aaron got a moose a couple of weeks ago, meat processing has been on the agenda many many days recently.  We are finally, almost, done, with only one side of ribs left to go.  It is a tedious, tiresome process, but well worth it for the year ahead.  We cut some steaks, roasts, and ground lots of meat to be used as a beef substitute.

Backstrap

One side of ribs

Ribs and a leg

Leg

Grinding lots and lots of meat

Zeke was very interested in the process

In the midst of all of that, we also celebrated Zeke'st 1st birthday.  We had a little party for him the Sunday before his actual birthday.  I took the day off on his birthday, and we spent the day together as a family, which was so nice to have our own little celebration.

Finished footprints project (minus the one year footprints)

A new Jeep truck from Auntie Brenda and Uncle Russell that makes lots of fun noises that Zeke dances to

Birthday cupcake at his party

He was not so sure what to do with it initially

Ending the day with some play time

Birthday morning!  A "bike" from us

And a birthday breakfast of waffles

Followed by the favorite pastime of looking out the window

And another cake

He got into this one a lot more than the first one

He really liked the sharing part

A fun birthday for all.  He won't remember it, but we sure will.  Honestly the celebration was as much for us as him.  It definitely feels like a milestone to reach one year of parenthood.  

2014 Moose Hunt

A week ago Monday Isaac and I flew up to the Yukon in his Super Cub for a moose hunt. What an awesome plane! It can get into some really tight areas. We camped out Monday night, endured a snow/rain/wind storm, and then enjoyed a calm and beautiful morning, with a sky full of stars and the Northern Lights! We were able to get a big bull moose by Tuesday afternoon. After an incredible amount of work, we were able to get home safely Tuesday evening. Rox and I have been processing meat for the better part of this week.What a blessing for both of our families, we will be enjoying tasty moose for a good portion of this new year.

A Year in Review

A few days old

One week

Two weeks

Three weeks

 Four weeks

 One month

Two months

 Three months

 Four months

 Five months

 Six months

 Seven months

Eight months

Nine months

Ten months

 Eleven months

One year!

It's amazing to see how our baby has grown into a toddler in just twelve short months.  This is one of two projects I committed to do so that we could see how Zeke grows and changes.  The other was a monthly footprint project that you make into cute little butterflies (an idea given by a friend).  I knew I could do something twelve times this year in the chaos of two very different work schedules and a little one's constant demands.  I'm so glad I did it!  (And a little relieved that it's complete) It's like we have a whole new boy today from those first days.  I really cherish those newborn days: getting to know our new son, figuring out his likes and dislikes, looking at him in complete awe wondering how he could have possibly come from us and is now ours forever.  Yet I can see how it is true that you forget those days very quickly, even though it doesn't seem like you can ever forget some of those sleepless nights in the moment.  But, I have, and I look back on those days with so much gratitude and, again, awe.

Now, life beats to a different drum, for sure.  We have a motivated, walking, blabbering, mischief-attracted, funny, expressive, affectionate little boy on our hands who makes us laugh every single day.  Sleep is a piece of cake now, which is good because, contrary to popular belief, some days take more energy now than the newborn days.  These days have just as much joy as those first days, and the best part is that Zeke now shares that joy with us.  He knows we're his parents.  He knows if something is wrong he can come to us, and we'll figure out what's wrong and take care of him.  He loves us, just like we love him.  That's one of the great things about this stage that can be hard to see with a new baby.

Lots of lessons and love.  That's the theme of Zeke's first year with us.  On to the next.

Zeke's First Christmas 2013

Zeke's first Christmas has come and gone.  He was actually not into ripping open presents like we thought, but he is still having fun with all his new toys.  It was another quiet, relaxing day this year.  Just the three of us at home.  We have come to appreciate these holidays we have together, just our little family.  Here are a few pics from our day.

Last year on this day, we were waiting for a little baby to arrive that we didn't even know yet.  This year, we had a little boy (all boy) who brought so much personality and spunk to the day.  It's hard to believe that a year has passed between then and now.  Our lives have changed so much.  We're excited for this New Year and our new life with a ONE-YEAR-OLD!