Road Trip... Part Two

Just got this from Dad

All I can say is wow. WOW. He'll be a farmer yet!

I'm really ready for some pictures. But it's like my kids have dropped off the face of the earth. No camera phone to instantly send pics to me. No computer to post Facebook updates. I want to see the smiles on their faces. I miss their excited voices telling me all about what happened. Maybe they'll call their boring old parents tonight. Until then, we wait.

Road Trip... Without Us

On Tuesday night I took the kids to HC and loaded their clothes, a case of diapers, and all three of them into Grandpa's truck. Grandma Shell climbed in. They waved and shut the doors and left me standing in the driveway with David, wondering what to do next. Before they left I gave them a hundred rules to follow. Make sure they brush their teeth and change their underwear. Make sure they use sunscreen. Make sure they're polite. Be good! Help with your brother! Brush your teeth and HAVE FUN! Then they're gone. They wouldn't commit to a time when they'd be home. Did I mention that all of my kids are gone and I have no idea when they'll return?

They're taking a trip to the farm, the summer destination of choice. I know they'll have a great time, I know they're with people who will ensure their safety every step of the way, and yet, on Tuesday night, I was already missing them. They were just so far away.

Today I got this..

.A little background - many years ago I went to the basement bathroom to take a shower at Grandpa Shorty's house. Just when I was about to step into the shower, I spied a snake. In the shower!! I haven't been back to the shower in the basement since. That was ten years ago, maybe 15. And now my son bravely ventures down there... I'm so proud!!

Sun Pictures

First we went for a walk in the woods

Then we arranged our treasures

Then we marveled at our pictures!

A fitting end to Scout Camp

Dinner at Georgie Porgie's with Pack 141.
Re-telling the details of the Great Bee Swarm of 2012.
"Are you going to Family Camp? Yeah we are too. See you in a few weeks!"

Camp Week

This week is all about camp.

My Shelly - Always ready with a pose and a smile

Shelly's been at Zoo Camp, she brings home crafts and sunburn and her little lunch box almost-emptied of her lunch and snacks. She doesn't tell us too much about what she spent her day doing, and doesn't remember the names of the animals she's seen. Oh well. She must be doing somthing fun, because she's excited to go back every morning.

What a wild bunch of boys!
I mean, what a good looking group of respectful and courteous Cub Scouts.

Archer' been at Scout Camp with David. They bring home lots of stories, a couple of projects, and near-heat-exhaustion. Its been very, very hot (over 100 degrees the first two days) and when it cools down (all the way to a chilly 86) the humidity nearly suffocates the campers. But that hasn't slowed them down! There are sports, Scout Skills, archery and BB gun shooting, swimming, nature lessons, and lots of walking between everything.

Scout Skills - Knot Tying

Today I got a message from David that someone stepped on a bee hive between activites. Total injury count came to 3 adults and 9 kids. One of the boys was stung 8 times. I was so sad to hear it. What a story, I'm sure it will be told and re-told for years to come. I can only imagine the panic and running and screaming that probably happened. I'm sure I'll get the full report when they get home tonight. After it was all over, the boys were able to settle down enough to move on to the next activity, and David sent me this picture...

Archer's turned out to be a pretty good shot, hitting the target nearly every time he fires his gun. I'm so proud!!

The funny thing about this week is that, while its been exciting and busy for Shelly, Archer, and David, its been pretty quiet for me. Its been my most relaxing week all summer. Elijah and I hang out, just the two of us, and I'm seeing a little preview of what its going to be like this fall. Shelly called it a practice week, when she and Archer start school, this is what our lives will look like. I'll have time to get the laundry done. We won't be running off to the beach or pool. We'll go back to the real world. And I'll really miss having them home with me, but I'll enjoy the one on one time with E. And the routine, and peace and order.

David and I spend a lot of time discussing what the kids are going to do, how many activities we should sign them up for and the benefits of each. There's always the balance of over-scheduling and running around from one thing to the next, vs. the desire for them to have opportunities to learn and grow and have fun. This summer has been SO busy, but I don't think I'd change it at all. I couldn't pick a single thing that I wish we hadn't done. Its been so good.

RAIN!!! Finally!

It was spur of the moment, no sunscreen packed, not dressed right, only one towel in the car.
I told them not to get wet. But the waves were too big, the sun was too bright, the water was too blue to resist.

Telling them not to get wet was like telling them not to breathe. They couldn't stay away. The water was so warm, they couldn't stay out of it. And then, I couldn't either.

And we were all up to our necks in the waves and then covered in sand and it was the perfect way to forget that I was stressed, that I was tired of chores, that we were driving each other a little crazy. It was perfect. It was very good.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
~Genesis 1:31

Catch Up

Last week was busy busy. I nearly expired in the Firecracker Four. (Eighty six degrees at 8:00 and I hadn't been running at all and THEN I was foolish enough to think I could run FOUR MILES?? I spent most of my 52 minute run begging Jesus to just bring me home. And He did.) 

We had fun with family in HC and Racine. We skipped the fireworks but then watched from our deck, the perfect place because we could retreat inside when the heat got too bad.


We celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary. What an amazing man I've been priveleged to be with for the last nine years. Thank you God!

We laid low, stayed inside a lot because it was just so hot. I went out only to move the sprinkler around as we tried to save our grass and gardens from the drought. (As you can see, the garden is tolerating the heat very well!)

We went up to Black River Falls to spend the weekend with our family, the kids adventured around while the grown ups caught up on a year or two's worth of news. Way back when I was a kid, I would play with my cousins on the farm and we'd run off without the adults. We'd feed the horses grass. We'd play in the hay mow and groan when the adults told us we couldn't do (fill in activity here) anymore. Too dangerous. Then we'd ride bikes, build forts, make up new games every five minutes. And that's exactly what my kids did this weekend. With my cousins' kids. We're all grown up now, but without any direction, our kids took off and did the same things we used to do together. Because farms and kids always means fun. And dirt from head to toes, and a few minor injuries along the way.

I watched the quick transformation of city kids into country kids, as shoes were left behind and sweat and dirt caked their faces.

They ran themselves into the ground and bounced back up ready for more. By the time we left on Sunday afternoon I was surprised they weren't all sleeping within minutes. They eventually did, and we eventually made it home, with a childhood's worth of memories packed into two days.

Fun with playdoh

Lovin the Waves

Sunshine and Blue Waters

A Road Trip in Pics

These pictures are from the coming and going part of our trip, the middle, the being there, those pics will come later. In the mean time, here's our journey to and from...



Driving into the sunset on Friday night



The kids being entertained by back seat movie time



E cozy and cuddled up in the middle



Passing by the Mouse House!



And just passing through the Dells, stopping just long enough for a potty break



Guess where we landed on Friday night?
(Ok, its a terrible pic, but its the ORANGE MOOSE)



One little monkey trying to escape...



and two little monkeys in MY BED



We're ready for our adventure Saturday morning after breakfast



Saturday night after hours of fun with cousins -
it took FOREVER to wash off all the dirt
that the kids brought back to the hotel



A little midnight snack before bedtime



Departing Black River Falls, so sad to go!



The mighty Wisconsin River

It took us 6 hours to make the 4 hour trip
but we finally made it home :)

Five Minute Friday: Story

What's your story?
Today we read from Psalm 119, and this one line caught my attention:
     May my lips overflow with praise...

I picture a cup just spilling over as water is poured into it, more and more water, oh our garden is so thirsty and the air is so humid you could choke on it. And then there's the water, overflowing, out of the pool, the lake, our faucets...

I think my story doesn't usually overflow with praise, the way it should. It definitely overflows with blessings, but too often we're too busy rushing around to remember.

When Eli cries and I'm tempted to let him "cry it out" in his crib, this moment flashes back to me, I watched a short video of children in an orphanage, children abandoned and left to cry. And I know that's not Eli's story, I know he'll cry sometimes. But I don't want any part of his story to resemble theirs - abandoned because sometimes chilren are sooo hard to take care of. He's not so hard. My children are sooo loved. I want their stories to be of parents that love them and take them seriously and act silly and just plain spend time with them every chance they get.

I want them to remember this part of our story, the part where they're growing up and every time they make a craft project it revolves around writing "I love God, I love Jesus, I love Mom and Dad." I love that their love is overflowing. I need to work on my lips overflowing with praise. God is so good to us. My heart overflows. Do I let my lips share that too? Our small story, our little family, overflowing and abounding and so thankfully happy to God for his blessings on us.

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker & Five Minute Friday