Memorable Monday

As long as he has hair, Wolfgang has had long hair. He never worried about it until we got here. The older ladies are always trying to braid it; and HoneyBun tells him she'll steal him home and have his head shaved.
Last Monday I cut seven inches of his hair off in our kitchen, with knowledge from youtube and a borrowed clipper kit from a neighbor. (Which turned out to be a dog's set, but it worked. It was my only option.) I was nervous, but my talented hairdresser-friend sent me enough motivating texts to finally do it.
Good thing. He loves it. He proudly shows everyone and tells them he is a bigger boy now.

 Even with bed head- the haircut suits him...

Ben keeps saying he looks like a whole new kid now. Older and even more handsome!

That afternoon and evening were productive. Wolfe and I made a loaf of caraway bread to go with the Reuben sandwiches Josh planned for that night. (Josh is our very next door neighbor, Ben's childhood friend, and Wolfe's hero. A single guy who loves to cook, can and kill animals.) Ruby was taking a longer nap so we spent time counting cups and teaspoons and talking about the need for yeast.
Then that evening, Luke and Eliza Owens asked us to the river to go fishing with them. This is a biggy for me. On Mondays Ben works to at least 6:30pm, and by then I'm struggling for some adult company. Activities outside with other people and their kids equals time well spent and tired out kids.  We all hiked down to the Nushagak river. There Luke would cast Gracie's little princess fishing pole and have the kids take turns reeling in the little graylings. Even Ruby pulled her first fish in that evening (although I'm sure her eyes were on the Disney princess on the pole and not on the fish.) Wolfe and Grace climbed up a muddy slope in between catches. Sliding down on their bums to create stiff mud pants. (Go for it, right? My theory is that if my kids get dirty outside, it is a good sign that they played hard.)

We got home late, but not too late to enjoy Josh's corn beef, canned sauerkraut and pepperjack cheese with Wolfe's caraway seed bread. (So that's not exactly a Reuben, but you use what you got in rural Alaska! To me it was just as good as a Marie Catrib's style sandwich.)

Good thing mom made these while growing up- I remembered how to assemble them:)

That night I found it appropriate to read Wolfe and Ruby the story of the little boy who shared his lunch. A loaf of bread and a few fish (don't those fish look like the ones we just caught?!)