Neighborly

We have the greatest neighbors. They technically are our only neighbors seeing that we live in the country and the houses aren't close together. They are across the road from us and have lived on their farm since the 70's. J and J are so kind to us - sharing their surplus of garden goodies and letting the kids catch frogs in their pond. We fed their chickens for them last Fall and have plans to do it again this year when they are out traveling the country. It's a win-win. We don't go anywhere anyway so it's easy for us to walk over and feed, water, and collect eggs. They reap the benefits of having fresh eggs and meat, but don't have to be tied to home.

Today we went over to meet the new 'crop' of chicks. There are 18 fuzz balls staying warm in the garage. Soon they will move to their nice digs in the chicken coop. I've never seen such a NICE chicken coop before! I had no problem doing chores in my CHURCH shoes last fall - it's THAT clean! We also able to view J's extensive model train set. The kids would still be over there if we hadn't dragged them home. Before we left J showed us a project he's been working on. A huge workbench FULL of wooden crosses. Some from wood on the farm, others from his place of employment. They were beautiful!

He wanted us to have one. We picked one that was made from wood on the farm - seemed fitting. On the bottom are a series of Bible references about salvation. What a legacy! And what a keepsake! We brought ours home and placed it front and center on our fireplace mantel. It matches the woodwork beautifully.

Barely five minutes after we walked back into our house Jo and Howard's camper pulled in. Our camp hosts from the past two years are back again and we couldn't be happier. Julia exclaimed in excitement, "Can they stay for a while?" Her jaw dropped when I said, "Yes, SIX MONTHS!" Don't get me wrong, we enjoy the quiet of the off season, but it's worth the craziness of the camping season to have our friends back for the summer/fall!

Side note: When we went down to greet Jo and Howard we stopped over at the office for a minute first. I heard something in the upstairs storage area and had to laugh. So that's where the cat disappeared to! At least she was warm and I'm guessing had plenty of mice to eat - though she was mighty glad to return to our basement and her kitty food so maybe there weren't very many mice after all?!

The rain started coming down about 5:30 - (just in time for soccer practice) so I'm glad we were able to visit with our neighbors before the weather turned icky. 39 degrees and raining. Yuck! The kids toughed it out on the field for about 15 minutes and then an adult pulled the plug. Must have been one who didn't bring an umbrella. Me? I bought a Sport Umbrella at Sam's Club and am so glad I did! Between the wind last week and the rain this week. I've already gotten my $40 worth and I haven't even taken it to the beach yet!

Come on nice weather!!!! We're ready for you!

Sunday Snapshots

I did in fact take quite a few photographs this weekend, but won't be posting any of them tonight. They are on my phone and on my CF card which requires way more effort that I'm willing to make right now. Sorry, but I'm BEAT! I walked and was on my feet more this weekend than I have in a month of Sundays. Ouch! Before I crash I wanted to jot down some snapshots of our weekend. It was a special weekend, yet ordinary at the same time. Let me explain...

*Saturday - Julia's half birthday. We celebrated with half a cake and 4 1/2 candles, but we did it on Friday night because PapaBear and I had rescheduled our date day for Saturday. I was bummed to miss out on celebrating with Julia, but she didn't seem to mind. Going to Grandma and Grandpa's house was celebrating for her! PapaBear and I enjoyed a few hours wandering IKEA and the Mall of America and then we went home so I could get ready for my girl's night out with fellow bloggers. Fun times!!!!

I talked to the kids on the phone before bed. What is it about a child's voice on the phone that makes them sound like cherubs? Melt my heart! I was able to make it home by 10:30pm thanks a whole mess of green lights. I will be glad when the river isn't flooded anymore and crossing the river isn't so difficult!

*Sunday - Sunday school for the kids and breakfast at McDonalds for PapaBear and I. I really relish that hour he and I spend together over sausage biscuits. We read the paper and more often than not I have some project to discuss with him. It's peaceful and unrushed. We sat in front of my BIL and SIL at church this morning. It's always a treat to see them! Before we left the house this morning we prepped the kids on our expectations. What a difference it makes in their behavior during church! They both whispered when they needed something and for the most part entertained themselves and then watched the skit with almost their full attention. It was so nice to not be stressed out about their behavior!

Back at home we ate a quick lunch and then headed outside for Julia's 1/2 birthday portraits (complete with birthday girl hat per her request) Sam and Daddy joined us and after Julia changed clothes we wandered through the campground picking up walnuts, exploring the woods, observing snakes (there were a BUNCH!), and climbing on huge slices of trees that had been cut down last week. There was some damage done to the road by running water and the kids were very intrigued by the four foot hole in the middle of the park road.

Eventually we made our way home and did some work in the garden space. I'm leaving a few bales from last year in hopes of growing potatoes in the loose straw. The kids dug for worms, played baseball, soccer, hunted for more walnuts, and demolished our gingerbread house as is our traditional way of celebrating when the snow is (mostly) gone. We still have dirty piles here and there, but for the most part it's GONE!!!!! (Until tomorrow when it's suppose to snow again) But today The temps had to be in the 60's - it was SO warm!

By 4pm we were all tired and hungry so we came in for our simple Sunday dinner which this time consisted of chips & salsa - nobody wanted popcorn so we went straight to ice cream sundaes. During the original version of The Shaggy Dog there is a part where the characters are at a formal dance. Julia hopped down off the couch and asked Daddy to dance. So there in her panda bear pj's father and daughter danced in the middle of the living room. It was precious!

The Bible story tonight happened to be part of the same scripture the skit at church was based on and it was really nice to hear Sam make the connection just based on me reading the title "Son of Laughter". It took them less than 5 minutes to fall asleep once we tucked them in. I'm guessing it will take me all of 5 seconds! Goodnight!

What did you do this weekend?

BIG

Big ships


Big wind



Big water slides


Big waterfalls


Big beds


Big luxuries


Big jumps



Our vacation was B.I.G. F.UN!!!!

Then it was home to:

Big laundry piles

Big to-do lists

Big house to clean

you know....life.

But we have BIG memories to look back on and that's really really nice after 6 months straight of working in the campground!

Alphabitty Moments - The letter R

We're already on the downhill slide for this round of Alphabitty Moments! It goes so fast! By the end of the alphabet this time both my kids will have two books of every day moments to look back at. The beauty of this carnival is that you can do it over and over again because interests and ability change.

I don't know if Sam is going to outgrow is love of racing any time soon but I came across this picture* in my archives and new I had to incorporate it into alphabitty moments somehow.
Running, Racing, Romping....it all applies to my rough and tumble boy. He LOVES to race. He races his own teammates to the ball in soccer even after the whistle blows. We're working on that.

* I love how this picture shows the perspective how close we are to where we work. There is no doubt we live in the park. (That's our home behind the barn where the campground office is located. I stood in a campsite to take the photo of Sam racing across the island on a beautiful November day last year. The weather is just as nice today so I think I'll take the kids down to the pond for some frog catching. Fun times.

slowing down

Life rarely slows down for our family. Even the little trip the kids and I took to ride bikes on some new trails had a two fold purpose. One, our park system is developing a brochure for the new trails so I was asked to take some photographs while the colors are at their peak. Two, it's birthday month for our kids so I dressed them accordingly in hopes of snapping a few keepers to commemorate their 4th and 6th birthdays.

Our outing was fun and productive. I admit I found myself prompting the kids to hurry up so we could get to the next leg of the trail or hurry up to get their seat belts buckled (they can do it themselves now! Hallelujah!). I can feel my heart starting to race and the pressure mount when they move.so.slow. I can also feel that nudge to let them be. Do we really need to hurry up? Sometimes the answer is yes (like this morning when Julia slept until 5 minutes before our departure time) but much of the time I'm hurrying them out of habit.

It's something I want to work on - for their sake and mine. I've started to notice that when they ask for something like a snack or help with something they want me to hurry up! How does that saying go? "Lord grant me patience, and I want it right now!"




Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

The case has been solved.

No, not the one about our missing garage sale signs, but the one about our apple tree. Ever since we discovered there is an apple tree in our park I've been trying to figure out what kind of apples our tree produces and thanks to my mom, who helped us pick the remaining apples from our tree this week (thanks Mom!), I was able to connect with an apple expert and get some answers.

Turns out they do get a little more red than I thought, but JP Jacobson of Pine Tree Apple Orchard knew without even tasting a piece of the apple we brought to the State Fair Ag Building with us today what kind they were. He sampled a piece and confirmed that they are indeed "an early pie apple" known as "FOLWELL" Finally an answer! Considering we can harvest apples as early as mid August I would certainly call that an early apple. They hold up nicely in pies and don't turn to mush - even though they are a soft apple to eat.

One thing that isn't a mystery around here is what kind of pies we'll be bringing for Thanksgiving Dinner!

Missing the target

So my "how I spent my summer vacation" series isn't going as planned. I got behind, like always, and have yet to catch up. When I get behind everything piles up waiting for me to write about our days in chronological order.

I made it through a month of posts and have still been taking pictures, but with three weeks left until school starts chances are I'm going to miss the target at least one more time, but we're going to have in the meantime!

footloose and fancy free

Don't get me wrong, we are very tied to the park during the six month camping season, but there are windows of time that 'we' can get away. Two Fridays ago was one of those times. The catch - PapaBear had to stay and work. The kids and I headed out to find supplies for my kid's program scheduled for the next day. Traipsing across six different parking lots is not my favorite way to spend an evening but with the promise of ice cream and Psalty the Singing Songbook in between, we made the most of it.



The weather was beautiful so when I spotted a lacrosse game in progress at a park on our way home I pulled over.











It felt so normal to be out on a Friday night. We don't usually get to do normal. Funny thing is...I didn't miss it. We get to do the important things like spend time with our family & friends, worship in a church we love just down the road, & raise our kids somewhere pretty special.

And that folks is all that matters to this mommy.





For more Mommy and me posts head over to Kyrstyn's blog:

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

The next generation

We were blessed with an extended visit with my friend Owen and his family a couple of weeks ago. Owen and I go way way back. We met in sixth grade, went to youth group together, walked together for high school graduation, he was an usher in my wedding, I photographed his. He and his wife, Staci, are Sam's Godparents. We are their son Joseph's Godparents.

Now Sam and Joseph are making their own memories as friends.


Sam and Joseph (who Sam kept calling Moses) are 4 months part, but his little sister, Moriah, is only one month younger than our Julia - not to be confused with their Julia who will be two in October.


Ginny, their oldest, was so helpful with the water feature. It was fun to sit back and watch them 'work' while we caught each other up on what we've been up to since they moved back to Wisconsin.


It was nice to not be rushed. They camped in our campground for four nights so we had lots of opportunities to visit, to play disc golf,

and to eat treats....


Since our 15 year class reunion is next month the goodbyes we said when they pulled out after their (buggy) stay wasn't as sad as it otherwise would have been!

Wordless Wednesday - She was not part of our summer vacation plans

Music in the Park

As nice as our living arrangements is in the park, we need a change of scenery every now and then. Thursday night concerts offer just that!

It's fun, free (so is the popcorn!), and kid friendly to boot!

Yet another simple way we are spending our summer vacation.

As seen in our yard

all the colors of the rainbow and then some


(All photographed today around our yard)

By the numbers

33 - the number of hours this post will cover
2.5 - the number of hours my kids spent at VBS yesterday
4 - the number of chicken nuggets my kids each ate when they got home
0 - the number of naps my kids have taken
3 - the number of raspberries that were ripe yesterday
3 - the number of trips PapaBear made to the office yesterday afternoon
2 - the number of kids who played in the sprinkler yesterday
1 - the number of hours we were without water in the park yesterday
6:30 - the numbers on the clock when Julia fell asleep on the couch last night
17 - the number of things on my list for bringing to the wedding on Friday
14 - the number of things on my grocery list for tomorrow
25 - the number of dollars I sold our sandbox for
15 - the number of dollars I originally paid for it
12 the time on the clock we scheduled Sam's hair cut for tomorrow
6 - the number of errands we are going to run while the kids are in VBS tomorrow
8:30 - the numbers on the clock when my BIL and SIL arrive from Alaska this evening
100,000,000,000 - the number of freckles Julia says I have
1,000 - the number of freckles Julia says she has
38 - the number of freckles Julia has across her nose
4 - the number of books we read on the porch during the rainstorm yesterday morning
3 - the number of hours we spent at the beach today
4 - the number of people in our family who are a little pink as a result
5 - the number of summer squash that are growing in our garden
1 - the number of pea plants that are sprouting
91 -the temperature the van's thermometer read tonight
1 - the number of black socks I can find for Sam to wear with his tux
2 - the number of socks I'll have to buy tomorrow
3 - the number of flower girl dresses hanging in my dining room (can never be too prepared!)
4 - the number of days until we officially welcome Jamey into our family

Laughing at the Library

We walked into our local library just in time for Bill the Juggler's opening tricks. The kids sat down, Bill asked for a volunteer, both my kids raised their hands. Julia didn't have a clue why her hand was in the air. Then when Bill chose her, she got really really shy and that was the end of her volunteering. Oh well. Next time.

Once they settled in the kids laughed non-stop. See them there in the middle in the pink and blue? I loved hearing their giggles over the rest of the kids. Pure Joy.

After the program we came home to finish picking up the house before Daddy returned from his camping trip. It didn't take long with my little helpers by my side. Then we went out to play in the kiddie pool and read stories in the hammocks. I thought Julia was going to fall asleep in hers. We discovered that there's more room in Sam's hammock for all three of us and spent the next hour reading. Daddy arrived home to whoops and hollers (and some barking). We were so happy to see him!!!! Unfortunately it was off to the campground office for me a few minutes later but after work we were able to enjoy some time out on our porch - filling each other in on what we'd been up to all week. Good thing I've been writing every day so I could remember!

taking the good with the bad

Summer vacation is not always sunshine and pretty flower beds. Sometimes it stinks. Sometimes instead of being able to lay low with my kids I have to leave the house to get some work done. Yesterday was one of those days. I opened the park gate, did my yoga, ate two pieces of toast and then I was out of here. We have the cutest little coffee shop/gift shop in town that every once in a while I spend the day at. It was cold and rainy which beats having to sit inside on a nice day when I'd much rather be at the beach with my kids. Instead I worked my behind off to get some blog book work done. Two hundred pages thankyouverymuch. It was a daunting task to say the least but it had to get done...you know...so I can get paid. Getting paid is nice. It comes in handy every once in a while and since book projects can take months to complete there are sometimes long gaps between invoices.

After work I met up with my SIL, my MIL, and a cousin to tackle some wedding necessities. Oh what fun we had! It was a bright spot in what was otherwise a down day for me. I rolled back into town after nine pm and then realized I still needed to go grocery shopping. THAT wasn't fun at all. Kinda glad I'd forgotten about it as we talk about childhood trips to grandparent's houses over dinner. I didn't feel the need to rush and if I'd remembered what I still had to do when I got back it wouldn't have been as relaxing. The grocery store isn't that busy at 10pm but I was still in the store for an hour. We REALLY needed food and so I stocked up on two weeks of groceries before heading home to finish up park duties for the night and then collapse into bed at 11.

I hardly saw the kids all day and I never like days like that. Today wasn't all that much better but I'll save that for tomorrow's how I spent my summer vacation post.

Have a great night everyone! Don't forget that Alphabitty Moments is tomorrow - the letter D. I have a perfect word but need to get a picture to go with it still....

A no picture day

But that doesn't mean we didn't do anything yesterday! Just didn't stop to take pictures....so what did we do?

more wrapping of shower gifts
more shower games.
more yummy shower food
more funny stories told
great gag gifts
more funny stories told
back home to clean the house*

outside to catch more bugs
and to water the new flowers

back inside to deal with a crashed reservation system
to eat frozen pizza
and to call the owner of a stray dog

back outside to photograph the progress of our garden

back inside to send wedding proofs and make blog book pages until midnight.

*with all the summer stuff going on our house isn't staying as clean as I normally would like it to be. We are outside a lot and when we do come in, things get dropped and left. If I don't put my foot down, it just keeps getting messier. When I came home from Sunday's shower I started cleaning up from all the mess I'd made getting ready the day before. I was beat but knew that if I didn't clean I would only get grumpy having to walk past everything until I made the time to pick up. I don't want to be the bad guy that makes the kids stop playing to pick up. I also don't want to be the maid. I think I need to be more intentional about family clean up time every night. It's hard to be consistent though. How do you keep up with housework during the busy summer months?

Wordless Wednesday - Sunday's Excitement

The view from here

Three nests in three trees.



We watched mama birds feed baby birds from here.

Just this mama with her babies on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

These are the days I want to remember.

This post is part of Krystyn's Mommy and Me Monday. Click on the button to see other mom's who've gotten out from behind the camera.

Hosted by Krystyn

Living in a Campground- By the Numbers

3 - the number of hours I worked in the park office this morning
1 - the number of soccer games that I missed this morning (see above)
7 - the number of goals Sam scored at his game
4 - the number of people cheering for Sam from the sidelines
1 - the number of dogs cheering for Sam from the sidelines
17 - the number of people who came to our new Saturday Morning program (They made forest moblies)
2 - the number of hours Julia played in her bed at naptime
8 - the number of Keens our family wore today
1 - the number of [live] baby birds we saw today
6 - the number of [dead] baby birds we saw today
5 - the number of [dead] baby birds we scooped up with a shovel
1 - the number of dogs in the campground that look EXACTLY like Conor
4 - the number of turtles in Turtle Pond today
2 - the number of times Julia fell and scraped her knees this afternoon
5 - the number of bug bites on my neck and face.
25 - the number of people who came to my campfire program tonight
100 - the number of pieces of candy the kids 'fished' for tonight
5 - the number of people who almost hit me when they were practicing their casting
2 - the number of very well behaved and VERY DIRTY kids we scrubbed in the tub before bed

Sorry Folks

This is all I have time for today and maybe for the rest of the week....PapaBear and I were able to get away last night, just the two of us, (THANK YOU Grandma!) and I have some major catching up to do since my schedule is jam packed this month. Lots of fun things and lots of work things. Hopefully I'll be able to sneak in some blog posts somewhere - so many pictures to share, but no time to do it. Instead it's the Simple Woman's Daybook for today:

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...the wind is blowing one of our hammocks back and forth. It is beautiful outside!
I am thinking...about how much I want to be outside and not stuck indoors on my computer.
I am thankful for...my family and our jobs.
From the kitchen...chocolate chip cookies - compliments of Grandma.
I am wearing...One of PapaBear's Alaska T-shirts
I am creating...a Saturday Morning Mischief program for the campers.
I am going...to Sam's school tonight for a Mommy and Me Tea
I am reading...My Straw Bale Gardening Manual.
I am hoping...that I got the formula correct for the garden so we didn't just waste a lot of money on plants.
I am hearing...the water running. Our well was chlorinated and we were told to let the faucet drip for 30 minutes.
Around the house...there are 4 puzzles on the dining room floor. The kids LOVE to do puzzles and can do them by themselves now.
One of my favorite things...snuggling with my kids in the hammock
A few plans for the rest of the week:
1) Mommy and Me Tea tonight
2) Park Training tomorrow morning/afternoon
3) Birthday dinner for Grandma tomorrow evening
4) Prep for new displays in the campground office and programming that I'm in charge of
5) Mother's day celebration with my Mom, MIL, and future brother-in-law's parents

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...