Black Powder and Black Eye

The last few weeks have been quite eventful here in BangsundLand, and have involved some things that aren't regular fare for us.

When we started reading Little House in the Big Woods, I realized there were going to be all sorts of items and experiences with which the boys would be unfamiliar.  At the same time, I also know that I am too busy and too lazy to churn butter (which Luke can't even enjoy), or bake bread from scratch without my bread maker.  Know thyself.  I know myself, people.  Instead of making myself crazy with all the craziness that Pinterest suggested, I reached out to a friend of ours to discover that he owns a muzzle loading rifle from close to the same era as Pa's.  Oh yes I did.  Check it out.

 This is the associate pastor at our church.  He rocks for many reasons.  His name is also Paul.  My sons adore him.  Actually, all the Bangsunds think he is pretty awesome.

 Big Paul patiently explained how the muzzle loader works while the boys watched.

 He showed them the lead bullets that were similar to what Pa would have made for his rifle.

 Then he put a cap in and fired it off.  Both boys were very impressed.  The other pictures I took were very blurry because the boys were so jazzed they couldn't sit still.  A HUGE thanks to Big Paul for taking the time to come early to our staff meeting and share this piece of history with my guys.

A few days later on Friday, Erik and I had procured the fabulous Miss Rachel as childcare so that we could hang out with Dave and Lynne sans interruptions.  She had just arrived and was receiving dinner and bedtime information when the boys crashed into each other at top speed.  Luke let out that sad whimper that told me he was really hurt.  And he was.  Both Erik and I could tell instantly that this was going to be a colorful addition to Luke's face.  We calmed him down.  We iced it.  We gave him ibuprofen.  And then we went on our date, thankful that the damage had occurred before we left and that Rachel would probably have a quieter evening with a more subdued Luke.

The next morning, Luke emerged with an amazing shiner.  I only took one picture because I just couldn't bring myself to record it more than that.  Poor guy.  The good news is that each time I asked him how it felt, he said fine.  The Mommy Heart in me did not like seeing her boy looking so beat up.  Remember the big gap?  He just looked a little too much like he had lost in a fist fight.  But here is the smiling, happy bruiser, complete with bed head.

And now, because I can't leave that as the final image, a few cuite pictures from earlier in the week.

Happy Paul

Happy Luke