Up North

We just got back from a two week vacation- last one of the summer. I know I've said it a hundred times already, but summer just seems to go way to fast. It seems to get faster each year.

Anyway, we started our trip in Milwaukee, where my husband has been going frequently for work lately. We were excited, however, because my cousins live there and my aunts live nearby so we scheduled to see them all. Little Gracie, whom we've never met, was quite the hostess. I'm sure she was surprised to see 4 kid's bombarding her backyard, but she was a good sport. Aunt Nancy came from the farm by bus to see us. She brought supper for us-straight from the farm: delicious hamburger and steaks and garden fresh vegetables AND her well-loved Oreo dessert that she has made for many a Thanksgivings. What a cook! We had a delightful evening.

The next morning the kids and I had breakfast with Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jim (and Aunt Nancy) from Green Bay. They were on their way to Michigan the following week so we were going to be able to see them again in a few days.

After Milwaukee, we started heading to my hometown - to Mema and Grandpa's. My (9 month pregnant) sister and her husband were there, near the end of their visit. Since Amy lives 45 minutes from me, we have never been to our folks parents the same time, since she's been married. We had dinner together and then checked out the last day of the Nautical Festival. Perfect timing! It had only a few hours left and it would be packed up and gone the next morning, so we let the kids pick out 3 rides and that was it. To end the fun evening we watched fireworks on the beach.

The week always goes by way too fast. I wish I could capture the smells of the lake, the pine and cedar, and bring them home with me. We did a lot of biking on the trails and swimming in the lake. We went boating, picnicking and star gazing too! We simply can't see all those stars at home... they were breathtaking! Aunt Ruth, mom and I one evening dragged a few blankets and pillows to the beach and lay on the sand dunes until midnight counting all the 'falling stars'. Our week also included parks (even exploring the new quarry pile where the kids can 'dig' for fossils), going out to the State Park to visit friends, trying out a new archery set we found at a garage sale .

Mom had a fun project for us to make. She brought down all her jars of buttons and we made bracelets. She got the idea from another aunt of mine and we had so much fun sewing the buttons on to elastic strips.

We were able to spend a couple of days with my favorite Mr. and Mrs. D. They are my 'second parents from home'. This was to be there last summer in RC since Mrs. D has been altered with her Alzheimer's, of late. It was extremely hard for me to say my goodbyes. Going home to visit will not be the same anymore. We love them so much and it's hard to see people we love get old! Makes us look heavenward...

Heading home, we stopped at a hotel we particularly like in Southern Michigan. I couldn't help but remember that the last time we were there we had 4 kids as well, but it was Sophia, Micah, Joshua and Samantha.

This time there was a slightly different mix of children: Sophia, Micah, Joshua and Judah.

Rapping up the trip, we headed home. As always, it's good to come home too.

Sophie's poem

My Happy Nine Golden Years
by Sophia

When I was born,
and first opened my eyes,
I was my parents
first surprise!
When I was 1,
I played and hid,
I crawled and rolled,
and slept, I did.
When I was 2,
My! Was I funny!
I believed in magic,
and the Easter bunny.
When I was 3,
I started to talk,
I could run, at last, laugh and walk.
When I was 4
I was finally me,
as everyone, is you see.
When I was 5
I had huge fun,
to my birthday, I invited everyone.
When I was 6
I still was excited,
I read, I spoke, I ran, I writed.
When I was 7,
I loved my age,
I think I loved to draw,
a picture on every page.
As I am 8,
I'm contently glad,
for I have no reason to be sad.
When I am 9,
When ten nears,
for then I'll remember
my happy golden years.

July...

Is going by in a blink, so I'm trying to catch and write down some of the moments before August arrives!


We started this month, with a trip to Southern Michigan, where my sister-in-law lives (my husband's sister) along with her husband, Jordan and two children. Their second girl was born in March. We had not met her yet, so we (Sophie, Judah and I) jumped in the car with Nena (my mother-in-law) and Aunt Stephanie (my husband's other sister) to meet her.



This is their backyard view...



They were planning for a very large (around 60 people) Fourth of July party. We helped set up and decorate.


There were 26 pounds of pork loin prepared for pulled pork sandwiches.



The master of ceremonies (Jordan) is a patriot, to say the least. The festivities were amazing. He had mazes set up, canoe races, sack races, paint-ball the redcoat contests, you name it. Also if you can guess the number of vintage bullets in the jar you can take this 'Don't Tread on Me' flag home.

The grand finale of the evening was a canon shot, that fired a firework, into the awaiting bonfire stick pile that ignited into flames. It was a hit.

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The day we departed was Sophie's 9th birthday! This was my grand finale. I'm so glad she's a part of my life.

Can it Be? Josh is 5.

Josh turned 5 this week when I almost wasn't looking!

We decided long ago to have the 'big' birthday parties (meaning more than one kid invited) every five years. Just too much work and too many kids! So... this was Josh's Big One this year.

He chose to have a Swimming Pool Party.

He invited 4 families (when you home school they come as an unit). So total, there were 15 children.


We had a hot dog cookout for lunch and then it was pool time.

Don't forget the cake!

Happy Birthday Joshies!

Intriguing

So a friend emailed me this recipe for making your own laundry soap... has anyone done this before? I'm very curious...

Ephesians 5: 8, 14

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord... Therefore He says:

“ Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

Highlights and Lowlights of the Summer

The summer has come fast and furious and I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible as it already seems like it's already over! Here are some highlights and lowlights so far:

Highlights:

My parent's came for a visit and the kids loved their time once again with them. My mother's ability to never stop loving on the kids while still managing to clean my house amazes me. I don't ask, she just does.

They watched the kids while my husband took me one evening to a rock concert. We had a great time. Just to go somewhere together without kids sometimes is such a treat!

During their stay I also attended a 3 day Practicum for Classical Conversations. I've decided to be a tutor this year. The conference was very exciting as it reminded me our home school goals and how to strive for excellence in this Classical way. It was exhausting. Including travel time it was from 8-5 and I came home admiring all the working mother's in this world wondering how they do it!!

We have so enjoyed our pool. We put an above-ground pool in our back yard last year ( an Esther Williams from Craigslist!) and have soo enjoyed it in this hot hot weather lately.

My handsome hubby has been given a great compliment at work. I'm so proud of him and know that he is such an excellent man. In this economic struggle I know that we all hold things loosely, yet I want to pause to be thankful what we do have, knowing that can all change momentarily.

Some lowlights:

Weaning Judah. I had such a hard time with this! I know it seems silly to many, but since Samantha, I cherish each stage more and therefore that finality of this baby stage was difficult! I cried for a week but he did just fine.

Kid's waking up in the morning covered with bug bites. In our wooded lot with all the rain breeds many mosquitoes. Poor Judah, swells up so it looks like a ping pong ball is under his skin. Learning more about bug sprays and using mouthwash as a spray...?

Bunnies eating my strawberry plants. Peter and Benjamin are losing their cuteness in my eyes fairly quickly!

My 'second parents' from home are struggling. This fine couple was such a great part of my growing up years. They encouraged me in Christ in so many ways. They introduced me to Hillsdale College, where I attended, graduated and even got married from. She is struggling with Alzheimers and it's breaking our heart. Realizing the need to get up there to Michigan to say our goodbyes has been very difficult.