Scout Weekend at Devil's Lake State Park

For the second year in a row, I've taken the kids to join Archer's Boy Scout Troop camping at Devil's Lake. Those kids always amaze me. The Scouts are wonderful hosts (thanks Archer!). The rest of us are just along for the adventure. Incredibly, Eli hiked the entire trail both morning and afternoon with no complaints, no major injuries, etc. etc. There really isn't much more to say than that. We all had such a great time that I'm pretty much speechless.

Thanks Kids!


Abridged Summary of Events...

- Practically a dance party in the van on the way up to camp, great music, only a few wrong turns along the way
- No Rain
- No Rain Fly (left at home! oops!)
- No UPD (Universal Pounding Device, Scout speak for mallet/hammer/beat up old bowling pin) for pounding stakes into the ground
- Used IPD instead (Improvised Pounding Device, Mom speak for a ROCK)
- Amy, Mary, and kids arrived at camp well before the Boys, set up camp and then waited for many many hours for the Boys to catch up
- Picked a site across the street from the pit toilets, good I guess?
- 3 air mattress completely covered with mold, luckily the kids are small enough to share the remaining 3 good mattresses
- So many stars. Visible thanks to the lack of rain fly over the tent
- So much good food. Thanks to the Boys for all their planning and cooking
- Fun at the dance and around the campfire and on the ferry on the way home, new stuff (boys at the dance and who's dancing and who's not), repeat stuff (boys at the dance? a story for another time), great memories for all
- So many wonderful miles hiking around the lake, enjoying the company and laughter of friends and family. Let's do this again sometime!

Last Moments of Summer

School year has started, but the warm weather is sticking around and I couldn't resist picking up a dozen ears of corn from the roadside stand this weekend.

First, there was the kayaking. Thanks so much to Dad for inviting me out, it was very nice to spend some time on the water telling fishing tales and enjoying the sunshine. Feels like it's been way too long since I had a day like that.

I picked up the corn on the way home - I've driven past that stand at least a dozen times in the last month or two and always think I should stop. Finally I stopped.

We picked up a saxophone for Shelly. Every single one of us tried it out. This is going to be a great new thing in our house this year, more music, I can't wait to see where she takes it...

We came upon a movie night solution that made everyone happy. Some of us watched on the small screen with headphones, the rest watched the big screen. Thanks to wi-fi movie streaming and a headphone jack splitter, we all got our way. I'm sure glad that Archer was sitting close so I could grab his arm at every scary moment as we watched, there were more than a few of those!

Archer helped host a Court of Honor where all the scouts in his troop were presented with the merit badges they've earned over the last few months. He had no trouble standing in front of the crowd and telling about his camp experiences, along with performing in a couple of skits for the parents' entertainment.Way to go Archer, you've got 4 more badges to your name!

Finally, we got around to that corn. Eli and I went after that sweet corn and I just listened while he told me his strategy for the best way to get the leaves off. And identified the good ears and the bad. And talked about every single thing that came into his head during those 20 minutes that we sat out on the porch together. Priceless.

The kids finished out the day with tons of chasing around outside. They came in hot and hungry and tired. So summer continues, even as the school year marches on.

Habitat Day

The company I work for strives to encourage people to serve their community through volunteer work. Since I started there, fourteen months ago, I have attempted to support this mission and once every two or three months I suggest we spend a day working for Habitat for Humanity. Habitat does new construction, but also rehabs older houses that are in disrepair. Finally, after a year of asking the question - when can we do this? - we managed to put together a team of seven people. We all showed up at a house in Milwaukee and spent the day painting. We painted the entire thing. Three bedrooms, bathroom, hallways, living room and kitchen. There were some really bad parts like a few spiders, moldy ceiling and walls, stains splattered everywhere. But mostly there were some really GREAT parts like meeting new people, working hard with each other to do this great thing for someone else. The house still has a lot of work ahead of it, but it was nice to contribute in our small way to helping a family get on their feet with their own place to live. I still have paint in my hair. I wonder when we can do it again?  ;)

P.S. While I was off painting, David and Archer were at a Highway Cleanup with the Scouts. It’s really disheartening how much garbage people toss out their windows with no regard for their communities. It’s really wonderful when a group of people can come together and clean it up. It was nice to hear about the people who honked in support or shouted thanks to the boys as they drove by. Perhaps our own kids will learn to pick up after themselves, after seeing the mess it makes when others don’t?

Hey Summer, Here We Come!

Five school days left, and the kids are getting a head start on summer.

The HC Resort pool has officially opened and the kids haven't wasted any time testing the water. Eli was the first to jump in, but his siblings and cousins weren't far behind.

Cub Scout Rain Gutter Regatta aka Little Boat Race with Handheld Fans...

Eli was a trooper and raced strong, David cheered him along while Shelly and I visited with friends. Good job E!

Archer wasn't at the race because he was home finishing up some big school projects. One of these was his presentation on Norway. He had enlisted help from Grandpa and Eli and they made a zillion pieces of lefse over the weekend. Tuesday night we rolled up the lefse with butter and sugar and Wednesday he was off to school with two pans full. I'm happy to report that the Norway presentation was a huge success, and the entire class enjoyed the treats. And as far as I can tell, Grandpa is successfully passing on his lefse knowledge to the next generations. He makes everyone else do more and more of the work whenever we're around to participate. Pretty soon he'll just get to sit back and relax while the rest of us whip up a fresh batch!

Speaking of Archer... This weekend he and David are camping at the Milwaukee Zoo. This morning Archer participated in the 5K run, and although I wasn't there to cheer him on, I heard he did wonderfully. I think this is his first ever 5K? His troop has set up an activity station for kids to visit and learn about their group. David has reported that it's a VERY popular station and they've had a lot of visitors, despite the rain and the heat. Their troop won third place (out of 31 groups) for their presentation. Way to go Scouts :)

Since the gentlemen are out camping, the rest of us went looking for our own fun last night at First Fridays downtown. Live music, food vendors, all the shops open late, we went to check out the free admission at the museum. We visited lots of little shops and a gallery on our way to the museum. And guess what we found at the artists' gallery? Beautiful art, incredible pieces of jewelry and an impressive display of woodcrafts. And there, nestled in among platters and bowls and cups, I spied... you'll never guess.... A LEFSE roller! I knew what it was immediately, that long roller with the grooves, and it was incredible, an artifact that many people wouldn't recognize. But thanks to Grandpa's determination to carry the family tradition forward to the next generation or two, there we stood, admiring that lefse roller on the shelf with all the other beautiful platters and bowls. AND. And the artist who crafted those fine pieces was sitting right there, on a stool, watching us admire his work! He introduced himself and we chatted for a long time. He's Norwegian, he made that roller that we were looking at, he was surprised that we recognized it. It was a great chance to meet the talented man that created those things. I hope someday to go back and pick up one or two of his pieces. Shelly later told me that she thought he and Grandpa would like to meet each other, perhaps we can make that happen sometime!

When we left the gallery it was getting dark and we were finally ready to visit the museum. Sadly, we arrived just a few minutes too late and the doors were already locked so we headed for the van. Lots of fun just hanging out together, it was a wonderful time with the kids. And to close out the night, the snuggled into my bed so I wouldn't be lonely last night.

Today Shelly decided she wanted to try out a couple of smoothie recipes so we gave it a shot. One was OK, the other a huge hit. We'll post recipes later. The best part about it was trying new foods. Almond milk and dates, anyone?? It's great to see the kids trying new things, learning new things, and working together to create something we all enjoy. Great job kids!

Cub Scout Kickball

Last week I had the pleasure of taxiing Eli to his monthly Cub Scout event. I heard that it was a picnic and kickball event. So, we dressed warm, cause the temperature was taking a dive and it was chilly and windy. We brought cookies to share. Little did I know what I was in for.

This was not a scouts vs. siblings event, or older vs. younger event, it was Kids vs. Grownups. Participation Mandatory. And that was the moment when I had to decide - will I be one of the 3 parents standing along the wall playing on their phones, or will I join the crowd in the outfield? I wasn't wearing my kickball shoes, but still, I felt I had no choice. Off I marched into the outfield. The kids lined up to take turns at bat/kick. We spread out and waited. What ensured was some hilarious adventuring. Most of the kids were 2nd grade and younger. Many of them didn't understand the basic idea of the game. And so the grownups shouted out instructions/coaching while also pretending to try to get the kids out. Mostly the grownups fumbled the ball, tossed it to a teammate but tossed it too far, ran after the ball laughing. We looked like bumbling clowns. The kids looked like they were having a great time at our expense.

Then, the grownups turn to bat. We kicked the ball, but not too far. Sometimes too far, and the entire mob of kids went chasing after it, like bees swarming to a single flower. When my turn came, I managed to get to first base safely, but at the next chance to run I had to swerve around a crowd of kids that came up only to my waist, trying to run without mowing down any innocent bystanders. "Where's second base??" I shouted - there was a mob of children all standing directly ON the base. Again with my run to third base, don't plow over the children, push the mob off the base so I could stand there safely, attempt to make it to home plate with children hanging on my arms and legs, and AREN'T THERE ANY RULES in this game? Where are the umpires? It's anarchy!

As the innings wore on, the grownups started complaining a little more frequently, a gradually louder. We're hungry, when can we eat? It's too cold out here, can we go inside soon? Three innings of kickball. Only three minor injuries (one kid it in the face with the ball, one kid run over by his dad, another dad fell on top of his daughter as she tried to stop his run). None of the kids cried for more than a couple minutes, so I'd say that was a success.

The whole thing was followed by hot dogs and s'mores. Another Scout Adventure under our belt.

Scouting Again

Eli's scouting experience is keeping him busy...

Fire Station Visit

Scouting For Food bag handout day, we had to call in reinforcements (cousins) to help get the job done. Thanks Cuz!

Eli's car was one of the top 3 in his Pack so he was able to compete in the District Derby. Also, our family ran the event. We've done this before so it was all routine and there weren't too many big surprises.

Well, there was one big surprise. There was a promise made to the competitors that there would be a Blue Angel fly-by before the racing commenced.


Thanks to the Angels (and the boys who will not be named for making this possible!).

Eli registers his car.

Shelly and friend Claire run the concession table, selling hot dogs, popcorn, candy and beverages.

David did a fantastic job of coordinating everything and the whole event went off without a hitch. The boys in Archer's Troop were key in keeping everything running smoothly. Another day of great memories for all involved!

Lion Cubs Explore Gadgets & Gizmos

Hey, did you know that Elijah is now a Cub Scout? Also, David is a leader. Their first outing together was to the Betty Brinn Museum in Milwaukee to learn about gadgets and gizmos.

David brought a collection of gadgets for the kids to guess what they are and what they do, that was the educational part. The rest was supposed to be educational but was mostly just exploring. They all had fun, I think - once we got upstairs the kids all scattered and we didn't see most of them until lunch time.

Camp. (Devil's Lake. Badger Trail something or other.... Scouts EVERYWHERE!)

It started out optimistic. "All the rain is going south of that area," Bampa said. "You'll be dry, nothing's coming for the rest of the weekend," he said. We were all smiles and party songs as we left HC. That lasted about 30 minutes. Then the roads were closed, the rains rolled in, and we just kept singing as we tried to find our way onto the freeway just to get out of town.

The rain did not stop for THREE WHOLE DAYS. But we didn't let that slow us down on our way to adventure. The kids singing at the top of their lungs to every song that came on the radio, sharing stories with each other and enjoying the scenery along the way made me smile to myself as we drove into the sunset.

Three girls, a boy and a mom arrived at the campsites at 9:30 on Friday night. We were the first there, the rain was coming down hard as we sat in the van peering into the night thinking about what to do next. The Boy Scouts were an hour behind us and we decided to get started on our own. We picked our spot, dragged the tarp and tent out, and got to work. E was in charge of lighting the site while the ladies sorted out all the tent pieces. And tried not to get covered in mud. Amberlyn and Annika had never camped before, never set up a tent before, and both were wearing their good school shoes. We slogged along.

By the time the Boys showed up we were just about done with setup, and when they came along to ask if we wanted help, we shooed them away with cries of "Girl Power!" We ended up needing a little help with getting everything secured before we loaded all our gear into it, but we were pretty proud of our accomplishment for the night. We all finally crawled into our sleeping bags sometime well after midnight, everyone in good spirits despite the rain and mud.

Next Day - The Hike

It was drizzling a little but not too cold. Scouts, parents, cousins, siblings, all lead by the fearless Senior Patrol Leader headed out into the woods. This is where the rain was a blessing. There were almost no mosquitoes. Oh, but the mud. The Mud.

Archer and I waited until 3/4 of our way into the hike before the mud fight broke out between us. I can't remember now if it was before or after I fell down and was covered up to my knees with it, but it was pretty much inevitable. And it was ok - fun even. I'm not afraid of a little (or a lot) of mud, it was all good CLEAN fun!

Later, The Dance. Where I proceeded to probably severely embarrass the children and we all had a seriously fantastic evening. We were about five songs in before Archer actually started dancing, but the Cousins, Sister and E didn't waste any time.

Speed round to finish this waaaayyy too long recap -

The food was great all weekend long (thanks Boy Scouts!)
There were NO injuries!!!
One scout shared his conquests from the dance when we all came back to the fire that night (there was KISSING!)
We bailed early Sunday morning to make it home in time for ballet and we have been trying to catch up on laundry ever since

Maybe we'll get to have a repeat performance again next year, maybe it'll be a little drier???

What Kind of Mom...

Lets her kid go camping in sub zero weather, knowing he's planning to attempt earning a Freeze Out Badge and will be stuck OUTSIDE for a minimum of 24 hours? WHO DOES THAT? This Boy Scout thing has really gotten Archer into some situations I never would have imagined when he started this journey many years ago. I hear it's going to warm up to above freezing by then. But there's a good chance of rain... So...

What kind of mom lets her kid DO THAT? Me I guess. And all the other parents of the boys going on the trip. And when I was asked if I'd like to come along? Nope. I'll stay home in my warm cozy bed. Good luck Arch, I hope you don't lose your toes in this adventure!

Busy Bees!

Archer impressed us all in his role as waiter at the Scout-ghetti dinner on Saturday. He began his shift at noon and didn't get home until after 10p.m. There was the set up, serving and clean up. Archer kept his complaints about sore feet and legs to a minimum. But I think he may have gained a new respect for waiters and others who spend long hours on their feet. Way to go, Scout!

Sunday marked Shelly's last Nutcracker rehearsal at the studio. Shelly gained some laundry experience this morning when we realized she had no clean tights to wear to rehearsal. She jumped right on that problem, loaded up the washer and set it to go! All that remains are two rehearsals at the theater, and then we've got the big show, just a few short days away!

We wrapped up our weekend with four long hours of pool time at the Y. Note to self - next time, two hours will be plenty. Eli... Well, he got two hours of pool time wearing a life vest and followed around in the lazy river by me. After that I gave up and made him play in the shallow kiddie part by himself. Archer's game of constantly hanging on my back and trying to drag me under was getting too old.

We were ALL chilled, hungry, and tired. So nice of David to have dinner started when we got home. Thanks honey.  :)

Next Up...

Archer's Holiday Concert at JAMS

Two days of theater rehearsals followed by two days of Nutcracker performances

Christmas in HC with the family

AANNNDD... Are you ready? I'm not quite.  :)

I Think I Need a Personal Assistant, or Maybe Just a Tissue

It would be great if someone could help me manage all the different schedules I'm in charge of...

We are FULLY immersed in school now. Last night David said the return to the routine had gone very smoothly. We discussed how its not really new to me anymore, not many surprises and we just slip right back into it. Kind of.

The difference this year is Archer and Eli are both at new schools. They've done very well adjusting and I'm proud of everyone for their great attitudes. We are, of course, busier than ever.

Archer is still in Scouts, every Monday. He's also decided to join the Cross Country team at school (yay!). That's Monday through Thursday. He gets home after 5:00. Yesterday was his first practice and he wore my old running shoes (they're at 600 or 700 miles by now, worn out?). He came home exhausted - not only did they run, he walked a mile and a half home with a 20 pound backpack. I guess I'll be picking him up after practice from now on.

After missing a week of ballet, Shelly gets to officially start this week. She's gotten rid of the boot and she's ready to go! That's every Thursday.

Eli has gotten the hang of riding the bus and asks me many times each morning, "Is it time to go yet?" We hang out at the corner picking dandelions and making wishes. I hug him so many times in the morning, loving his warm little body against mine, a little sad for the time slipping past us and the time we can't go back to. My little boy, so grown up with so many stories and things to share. He told me today, "I know you're going to do all the really fun stuff when I leave!" I'm not sure what he's imagining, but here I am at my desk, working on emails, wishing he was at my side with his truck delivering random stuff to my feet. Or with his pockets full of tools asking what needs fixed, because he's the Builder Man and he can fix anything for me. Or am I hungry? He just opened up a restaurant called Peanut Butter and Jelly, but he can make anything else too.

Yesterday when we walked to the bus stop, I watched Eli and tried to remember when Archer and Shelly were that small, just starting out in 4K. So confident and stepping out into the world, onto the bus, on their own.

Maybe we've all started back up with the school routine, and maybe we're all getting pretty good at it. But maybe I'm also wishing I could just slow it down a bit, remember those single moments of holding their small hands. Maybe I'm a bit sad that Archer doesn't ask me to help him blow dandelions to make wishes anymore. Shelly doesn't want me reading to her or picking out books for her, she's got her own ideas about what she likes. She won't let me braid her hair and definitely not ever tell her what to wear.

I guess for now I'll just hold Eli's hand as we walk to the bus stop, wave him off and wait for the tribe to return home to me at night and share their stories.

He's Home!

And all is right with the world.

He came home not nearly as dirty as I expected. Only two minor injuries (ask him about the fish hook and hot tomato soup). Only two or three dozen mosquito bites and NO TICKS!

The gang is back together and enjoying snuggles and laughs before a (hopefully early) bedtime. And all is right with the world.

Dear Archer,

Today is your fifth day away from us. I miss you a lot. Before you left, we talked about how this will be your longest trip away from home. Nerves, excitement, planning, packing and finally loading up and driving away. I hope you're having a fantastic time!

Now it's 11:46 p.m. and I can't sleep so I checked WeatherBug. I hope you're sleeping well now. I hope your tent doesn't have holes. It looks like in an hour or two it will start raining. It looks like it will rain on you tonight and all day tomorrow. I'm sorry. I hope you can have fun even in the rain, maybe that will keep the bugs away. Maybe you'll have lots of great stories and come home covered in mud.

Last Saturday, when you were working at a car wash to raise money for this trip, Shelly and Eli and I snuck over to the post office and mailed  you a camera. Did you get it? On Monday we mailed you three postcards and a letter. Did you get more mail than anyone else? On Tuesday I mailed you a card with some jokes, did you share them with your friends? Did you have to sing a song to get your mail from the camp leaders? After that we didn't mail anything - by the time the letters get to camp you'll already be on your way home.

Eli has started sleeping in your bed. You might have to bribe him to get your spot back. You've missed out on pulling Eli in the trailer with your bike while I go running. Fourteen miles this week. We'll make up for lost time next week, what do you think? Shelly says, "Its just not the same without Archer here." 

I'm so glad for you to have this opportunity to go out into the world and explore. I miss hearing your jokes and stories and I'm looking forward to having you home. I can't wait to see your muddy shoes and dirty face and give you a great big hug and ALL my kisses the moment you step out of the truck. We'll make an Archer sandwich with all our hugs and we don't even care how much you squirm to get away because all your friends are watching. 

Can't wait to see you soon!

Love,

Mom

P.S.  You'd better start planning for a way to bribe your brother so you can get your bed back. Good luck!

He's Hoooommme!

Our world traveller has returned to us at last! He brought home half the stuff he left with, a hundred mosquito bites, lots and lots of stories. He was met by his siblings who couldn't get enough hugs from him, a banner made by Shelly and a hundred questions from Mom and Dad. Did you take any showers? Brush your teeth? Use deodorant? Sunscreen? No, not ever, nope, NONE! He looks like he's gained two inches and a year or two in the last four days. How did he grow up so much?

We celebrated his return by taking our party (and Chinese takeout) to Grandma and Grandpa's house. The kids are all now fast asleep in bed, recovering from the day's fun, finally!

Welcome home Archer!

Up Up and Away

We've been working up to this for a few years now. Archer joined Cub Scouts way back in second grade, we camped out a time or two every summer with the Scouts and one of us (David or I) always went along as helper/leader/chapperone/crowd control on the "Scouts only" events.

Anyone who's ever purchased popcorn or batteries or wreaths has helped send Archer to camp. Anyone who's helped Archer with important life skills like baiting a hook, rolling a sleeping bag, making his own sandwiches has contributed to his confidence in taking this next step.

This year we decided to let him go it alone. Not really alone, he's known these leaders for a few years, he's known the other kids since kindergarden, we've spent a lot of time with these people. So not alone. But without family, he's going without family and we're all excited for him on his new adventure. He packed his own bag, made his own lunch for the road this morning, and off they went. Seven boys, two leaders, lots of snacks and joke books for the road.

Last night I asked him if he was going to call me twice a day to let me know he's ok. "No." Will you send me a letter or two every day? "No." Cry yourself to sleep every night because you miss us? "No." Every question made him laugh at me more, and I was glad. I'd hate to be the one that holds him back from getting out there into the great outdoors with friends!

We spent the day wondering what Archer was doing at that moment, "Probably having lunch now... I wonder if he's already done the swim test?... Probably dinner time for Archer... Do you think he's sleeping yet? Nah, maybe a campfire right now."

Anyway, we really are excited for him, and eager to hear all his stories when he comes back home to us.

In the meantime, Shelly's come up with a project to keep us busy - she made a  mailbox and we can all write notes to him, so he comes home to a mailbox full of letters.

Have fun Archer, and don't forget to change your socks! And take a shower. And USE THE BUG SPRAY FOR GOODNESS SAKE! And deodorant. And have fun.  :)

How Scouting Teaches Real Life Lessons

Its incredible to me what Archer leans in scouts. Beyond the Scout Law and Scout Promise and Scout Handshake and Scout Sign and where to put all the different patches on his Scout Shirt...

There's the part about getting along with other people, learning to help and sometimes learning to just get out of the way when you can't help. Tonight, there was Changing a Tire. A lull in the activity elsewhere spurred one of the leaders to offer his own car as the guinea pig and stand back while the boys tried their hands and changing a flat tire. (There wasn't really a flat. They took the wheel off and put it right back on again.) The most impressive part of this was that while the adults stood back and gave directions, the adults didn't actually touch anything.

The boys worked the jack to raise up the car, took the wheel off, put it back on and lowered the car back down to earth. There was no fighting for a turn (everyone got one, even Shelly and E), there were no hurt feelings or fingers or anything else, I thought it a great success. (Also keep in mind that these boys are no older than 10, seriously, great success for such a young crowd!)

So the only question remaining is... How many Cub Scouts does it take to change a flat tire?

Answer: Six Scouts, two younger siblings, three dads and a mom (well, not really the mom, I didn't help at ALL)

There's More...

There's more fun... We had the big yearly banquet for Scouts, this time around I'm an official leader, it only took me three years to get sucked into it, but its a great organization and I'm happy to help where I can. Anyway, that's why I've got the scout shirt on (which really, the shirt, its one of the reasons it took me so long to become an official member, I just really DID NOT want to wear it, pride or something).

This year's banquet marked a milestone of only one year left before Archer graduates to Boy Scouts. That means that this is a year of lasts for him, and us - last Pinewood Derby, last year at Family Camp with this group of people, last last last. I really shouldn't get ahead of myself, but its hard not to consider that all of this that we've grown to love (the fun events, the people, the memories we're making as a family) is coming to an end.

On to the fun part, here are some pictures from the banquet.

Sassy Shelly? Just smile for the camera, pretty please??

Also, I just want to put this in writing, so we don't forget all our hard work years from now, we have been having SO MUCH FUN at our weekly meetings. David has helped the other leader and I come up with some great projects for the kids to make. Most of them Shelly gets to make too.

There's the pencil box with the secret compartment in the bottom. (Shhh don't tell anyone that I told you about the secret compartment!)

There's the marshmallow shooters, even E got to make one of those. Except he took his apart and just started throwing the PVC pipes at me one day.

There's the Belt Loop Displays, a nice way to display all those belt loops that they won't be wearing much longer, since they won't be wearing their Cub Scout belts when they graduate.

We made vibrobots with toothbrushes, we're going to make checkerboards this week, I can't even remember the other stuff, its already too long ago to keep track of. We'll just summarize by saying we're keeping the boys busy making tons of fun boy projects - I hope they remember Scouting as something that was fun, and maybe one day they'll even think, "Oh, I remember when I used that tool, learned about that saw, built something myself at scouts!"

Derby Time!

David's been helping the kids build a new batch of pinewood derby cars, the big races are coming up. This weekend Shelly's participating in the Awana races, and the boys are going to do the Scout races next week. Since David also helped some cousins put together cars, this year's total car build came to five. Total career car count is twelve, and he's just getting started. He's practically a professional, he's got all the associated tools and gadgets...

Archer's cars have kept a few signature lines through the years, but also evolved into a more carefully streamlined design as he's gotten older and perfected his stylings.

From top to bottom...
Archer's first car as a Wolf (second grade)
Bear car (third grade)
Webelos car (fourth grade)

Starting at the top and going clockwise...
Amberlyn, Archer, Shelly, Elijah and Austin

 

Some of these have big gaping holes in the bottom where they've been drilled out to bring the weight down. Others turned out just right, no adjustments necessary. All of them had their axels and wheels polished, axels straightened and then carefully bent to a secret angle to allow the wheels to ride on their edges... Most of them have extra weights added in the back, all of them have been meticulously sanded, painted, sanded and painted some  more. There is absolutely no excuse for slow cars this year, the Fortiers are going to dominate all of the regional races - Caledonia, Union Grove, BRING IT ON!!!

The Great Big Catch Up

We've been too busy living life to stop and write about it, so here's a catch up with pictures, enjoy!

Archer took David camping with the Scouts, there were supposed to be tents, but... there were no tents. Fortunately, some skeptical/prepared parents brought tents "just in case." David slept in the car, Archer was crammed into a tent with the rest of the boys. Of course this just added to the fun and they had a great time. After camping, they went to Cave of the Mounds for a cave tour and lesson on geology.

While the men were camping, we built a fire of our own and watched a movie... (I'm having deja vu, did I already write about this?)

We took a quick visit to a little beach but it was kinda scary... a little too secluded for my taste, bad graffiti, a dead stinky fish... We'll call that Scary Beach and probably not go there again.

E was eager to change out my license plates for me when some new ones came in the mail.

E took this picture of a flower at Bampa's house, I'm impressed with his skill! Of course, there were a hundred OTHER pictures that I won't show you because they just didn't quite turn out. He hasn't learned to aim the camera at people's faces and instead takes pictures of whatever's right in front of his own face. Imagine what that looks like when he's taking pictures of people...

Last weekend Shelly and I drove to Madison to pick up Aunt Laurie and then all go together to Black River Falls for a Ladies' Weekend. Look at our comfy cozy accomodations! The retreat was so comfortable, we all felt right at home and after we picked out our rooms we settled in.

On Saturday morning we got up bright and early to get to Cranfest. Shelly met a new friend and the girls enjoyed browsing around for the best doll clothes they could find. 

Shelly carefully considered all the options and finally found an outfit and a pair of shoes that fit within her budget, she couldn't wait to show them to her new friend, Carly!

After a long day of shopping, we were ready for something a little more relaxing, but first - the horse show!

Shelly met up with her old friend Pete when we went to see Uncle Mike at the horse show. We chatted with Lisa, then went out for soup (it was POURING rain by then, we were soaked and needed some warming up!).

That evening we were feeling adventerous and I goaded Shelly into climbing the ladder in the library at our cottage. She wouldn't go any higher than this, and when I tried it myself, I understood. It was SCARY. Aunt Laurie tried it too, but the other ladies were smart enough to stay off and not risk a concussion or broken bones for a little thrill.

When we started falling asleep on the couches, we realized it was time for bed. This time, no rush to wake up early and we all looked forward to some extra rest.

On Sunday we were woken just a little bit too early by a knocking noise... We all ignored it except for Shelly, she went downstairs to find out what was going on. She didn't figure it out, but then I heard Laurie whispering to Shelly, "Come here! Look, down there!" It was too early, I knew we had a long day ahead, but my curiosity overcame my sleepiness and I came out of the bedroom to see for myself. Down in the fireplace room, at the windows (which reached down to the ground outside), was a pair of turkeys! They were tapping on the glass, very persistently investigating whatever they saw. They continued for a little while longer but then slowly wandered off as we watched them. 

It didn't take long before the rest of the ladies were up and we were packing, eating breakfast, and sadly saying goodbye to each other. Shelly swiped the hat I'd bought the day before, I don't think I'll get to wear it much this winter!

We drove Aunt Laurie back home, then set our sights on our next destination - the Great Grandparents. 

We first visited Great Grandpa, arriving there around 2:00. It was so good to see him, he's such a blessing in our life and I love the time we have together. He has a story for everything!

Then we went on our way and called Nana. "Can we come and visit? In about half an hour..." The surprie and joy in her voice was so precious, and then we were there! We got to visit with her, share stories and laughter. It was a time of encouragement for all of us!

Shelly and I stopped at Culver's (see her cute hat? yeah, that's mine) for chicken before finally turning towards home. We drove 550 miles in 48 hours, made it home by 9:30 on Sunday night and went straight to bed.

On Tuesday Archer let me join his Field Trip to a nature preserve. I can't believe I didn't know about this place! It was beautiful. SO SO beautiful, peaceful, God's glory on full display all around us. We spent all morning walking around the ponds, prairie, woods, and riverbank. 

I look forward to taking our family there soon, to explore God's breathtaking creation.

This has become our new normal, our busy routine of after-school activities. Archer practicing his violin, Shelly practicing her math and reading, E roaming around distracting everyone at every chance he gets.

Don't let these peaceful-looking pictures decieve you, most of the time it feels like chaos barely contained. A hundred reminders to finish the to-do list, leave your brother alone, don't hit your sister, I know you're hungry I'm trying to make supper, just count on your fingers try to sound it out how is it spelled you still have to practice for 10 more minutes...

Today (we're almost caught up here on the blog!!) we sold popcorn for the Scouts. After lots of sales instructions, reminders to smile and some strategy discussions, we went at it. Popcorn, more popcorn, more and more... Four hours felt like eight. E and Shelly did really well hanging around and helping the boys. Good job everyone!

It seems as if the days fly by in a stream of busy little tasks, are we going to remember any of it, is it worth it. The laundry's never done, kitchen floor is sticky, windows always covered in fingerprints. And yet this is where God has us.

I read something encouraging last night. 1 Timothy 5:9-10. At first this seems to only apply to widows, or those caring for them, but the encouraging part to me was "bringing up chldren." This is listed with "all kinds of good deeds." When I read these verses, I was encouraged. The daily, minute by minute endeavor of bringing up children is highly valued in God's economy. And these tasks that go on the list to keep the household running and the children growing - they're important, each little and big moment, it counts in their lives, and it counts to God.

So, even though it seems to just be busywork, it counts in their lives, it counts with God, and I need to give it all my very best. Thank you Lord, for putting that reminder in front of me, at a moment I needed it most!!

No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

~ 1 Timothy 5:9-10