What's been going on...

My camera was just recovered yesterday! I'll tell ya where it was later. In the meantime I have been watching my morning glories grow from seeds up the fishing line, the would climb forever! Wondering when the flowers will come. Bruno, our awesome boxer. Check out that head conformation! I need to find a big German boxer to breed him one more time. We want his lifeline! He has a silky soft coat and is the best dog in the world. If anyone knows big boxers, please let me know!

We have completed our extra curricular activities for the summer. Here was the one day in Lexi's life she has gotten to go to a class and she enjoyed it so much. Here with her focus on the instructions of what she was doing. If I had a better camera half my pictures wouldn't be junk. I just can't afford to, even with my attention though because I try not to read instructions and do not understand most of my electronics to their fullest potential. I could go on for days with the corners I cut:) So back to the activities...Noah, Libby, and Reany did tennis. I need to see if my mil can lend us the rackets she always lured us with but never delivered on. And we got busy enough that they only played tennis during their class for the hour a week. And the girls missed their first 2 lessons. One because I forgot I put them the next class same day to reduce travel until after coming home that night. duh! and then the second when we were on that trip. Reany did a dance camp and Libby did gymnastics. Now we are on break and will not do anything but school related things. Speaking of school, ecstatic to decide with ease for Noah to attend school 8-11 m-f. Wow! I can't imagine. And that is their academics program, but I am only registering the preschool 3 day, I guess it matters sometimes to be honest. I told her I was debating to save $100 a month to go to cherub (our church's daycare in the big city 15 minutes away.)
Wow this caption has turned into a novel. Guess I missed blab blogging! Without my camera though, it just isn't the same. By the time I have a novel kodak will have some killer deals to print this collection of my ramblings:)
So, Lexi is just great and I wish that we could snag her long enough to get some lessons or something. We are starting piano with her, but need to get a little assignment log where she records her practice and then go through another lesson of the basics. She has some natural talent because she is interested in music. I hope she changes her mind about band, she changed hers after begging and begging mom to do clarinet. When I caught wind of that, and heard the story of her crying to her mom and that, now to be convinced in effort to please, that she didn't want to do it anymore, point of no return. So I told mom she should never discourage the investment of music or skill to the girls without talking to us, because we want them to be involved with positive and smart things. Music is smart. So is Lexi. Every other weekend is not enough! Boo Hoo to broken families and may those dealing with that and those unknown to that- let's teach this generation healthier ways then our own examples even sometimes. God created us for relationship and trust me, the evil one is lurking in every corner you give him. Power, love, self - control.

And, on the market we have a beautiful metal twin girls frame with a shorter lofted style cabin underneath. Cute pink with red ties tent under it. Please note: the slide is not attached in this picture, but it has a slide on it! This bed is super cool and perfect for preschool through about 250 pounds. Plenty room to grow:) We took the one down and are using it as a bunk with Libby underneath the bottom, her twin mattress fits perfect, but then has no boxspring and is right on the floor. Their room was crowded for too long now. When we bought them 4 years ago I did anticipate they would be done at about 8. Next on the agenda for their room is real size bunks, as the metal are shorter. Libby really wanted a desk in her room too, and so that has been added. My girls are growing up! The boys went to camp last night and the girls asked to have a sleep out in the living room and get to watch tv at night. Neither of them have done a sleepover yet, and wee intend to keep it that way for a while, so I was happy at their excitement to be with one another. With a family this big who needs friends? Just kidding, we love friends, contrary to not having any!

And this bubbly day, wow! Let's just say if a whole bottle of yummy bath and body works soap dumps in your beach bag, you do need to rinse the towels that absorbed it. Again, trust me. I know what works and doesn't work. If it doesn't work I can tell you why! Bubble maina! And this was after noticing the problem and then ending the cycles to only rinse. Then I am thankful to have a side door right outside that mainfloor laundry and bathroom duo, complete with a hose. I actually forgot that the soap was in those towels and did not think twice to include the tents from both of the beds. That is a nylon poly blend and must have just been perfect for bubble making. I am again thankful- as every moment of my life- but the machine is still running. That is an essential around here!

We have had some wicked weather this summer. So when the sirens go off we take shelter, women and children. Luke tries to get some good pics. wth? Very seldom does Luke take pictures, but have no fear when danger is near- Luke will photograph:) And here is the winning prize...the camera was safe and sound in our storm shelter that whole time! Yea!

look at some of these kids!

i hope some of you peek on these kids, i bet lots of you have room for another twin bed somewhere in your house!! through Christ all things are possible!

too lazy

too lazy to go look for my camera. i know i lost it somewhere downstairs. and while not a necessity, i wish to have it back. but as i move around the home i get a little sidetracked. never a boring moment here to try and get ahead. for when the time does come I'm exhausted...time for bed! they say the cobwebs don't go nowhere; but I've seen a decaying frog. lovely. There really are various culprits to bringing that guy in the house. technically the cat could have, but unlikely.

oh the cat, my beloved princess. calico cutie from cambridge. my little barn cat i domesticated because she has some wild blood in her. I went to london in 99- thanks Prince I can always remember because it was New Years. Which means Princess was born in 1998, making her this August: 13. And she's getting old. When I called the vet and said I had to bring a cat in the asked if it was Jubilee.

I said no, you put Jubilee to sleep going on a couple years here. Maybe you can update his chart. It's Princess who is starting to decline in her abilities and desires of an indoor cat.

Chicago

I think I am changing my mind! This week I made a quick decision after pondering for months about joining my sister in Chicago. She is joining my brother there already for a big wedding on his wife's side. The impulse was what a great idea to do that and save 8 hours to see my sister and love on adorable Ellie, who both I miss greatly.
But, their hotel was filled up. So I booked a mile down the road for 10$ cheaper and free breakfast! Top priority for mommy here, gotta get a breakfast.
Luke has a sister that is recently moved to Chicago as well, and as luck has it her bus ticket cannot be renewed and she is coming home for the weekend too. But at first we thought it would be better for her mom to come with me and give her a ride back or something or drive her car out to her, what she wanted. But I wanted to visit with my niece and spend a little time with them too, and now staying at a different hotel sounds tough- she was going to stay in with them too. Going Sunday would be better, and then I could stay in the same hotel as my siblings; however, Sunday is their touristy day and we would barely get 2 hours in the museum. Just not feeling it worthy of the budgeting for it at this point. Hopefully we can meet up there another weekend, and the arrangements would be more friendly to the solo traveling mom:)

It was going to be a girls trip, their suitcase is back. Luke says it's good for them to know that things don't always work out and that we will obviously still do something kinda special. After grandma goes into care I want to set up a little suite for us . when we go to the cities. Bruno could even come with, it is her own property. That will actually be kinda fun.

With our science museum pass, we have plenty to do in the cities. Plus, going to Chicago we would have free admission to their Science and Industry Museum, so that is cool. For the Iowan brother and Michiganigan sister, Chicago is a four hour drive. I would hope to make it for a weekend vacation sometime. It is 7 or 8 hours for us, but if done right it isn't the most miserable thing with kids, and I have never been to Chicago.

Now I just need to cancel the room reservations!
I am so worried about planning things, I even have the rail schedules- I will just tuck them away. Sad to not see my niece and sister though.

Leech Lake Vacation

It was a shady moment in the front yard there, it just kept getting better and better.


Luke and his trailer skills, let me tell you. He is good. I couldn't back out of anything with that wheely thing. Then again, he is a professional driver:)
We walked on the road, to each resort to each end of the road. The road just ends in a resort, kinda funny. There must have been dead end signs before our stretch.

Blueberry Pancakes! Libby did pretty good, danger for my summer:)


And she wanted that pic right away. I thought she could climb on the mantel too, but we didn't get that far. Lexi almost got up and Libby just didn't have much luck. There was about maybe 10 inches between.

Great walkway, couldn't snap everything. The big misses were the kids playing and swimming, Luke wrestling with his boat in a wave storm, the momma and her 8 ducklings, and a family pic. Who forgets the family pic? Me.

Great Photo Op, nice tounge, Noah. Can that word ever look right or is it mispelled?

Look at that fuzzy hair! Cruisin' with mom...always puts her to sleep too:)

Yum Yum, Smores are good. The only place reward comes before work is in the dictionary.

We did manage a fire each night, that was impressive for us.

Have I ever mentioned I love plaid?
We had a great time on Vacation, a good time had by all. It was a peaceful area. Creation was no mistake. Wow! Nature and lake life is so tranquil, all of our spirits enjoyed and thrived! It was great for everyone.Check out vrbo if you're going somewhere. Wonderful opportunity to have fun memories with the kids and relax.

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to my wonderful husband, Luke is the best.
And to my dad, who teaches me so much.

Thank you Luke for being great with the kids and always stepping up and being the funnest man in the world!

I never really imagined what God has made for our lives and I am so thankful to have my life with you.

So in honor of Fathers Day, a shout out to fathers- you are important to your little girls...thank you for being wise and helpful to your children. Thank you Father in Heaven!

Vacation clean up and VBS

First off, a vacation for us is more than one night. And we were blessed to have found a beautiful home to rent for a vacation of 3 nights up at Leech. For probably the equivelent to gas money for our original idea to do Yellowstone. Another year. Infact, not sure. I learned, as great of a time we had and it was truly awesome up there, I like all inclusinve's better. Family camp, with an itinerary, cooked meals, and various programming is a better trip with the kids. Who'm I kidding, it's a lot of work! But it is so worth it because it is great to explore with the kids and give them that opportunity, even if it is limited, spending time away from home and tourism is fun! I grew up going there several summers, but never did see the location of where that resort was that now isn't the same or name or who knows. That's a huge lake, can't even see across it! It was peaceful and rejuvinating to be on the lake and do nothing but enjoy life away from home. I even came back with clean laundry because they had a washer and dryer. There is proof, that running laundry is kinda like walking for me. Haha. I did get some help unloading my heap of pressed time laundry routines, consisting of my dryer heaped in 3 feet of folded stacked clothes needing to be put away. Typically semi sorted too.
VBS stands for Vacation Bible School. A really fun week and both boys are working too, so it will be great seeing them in a orange shirt! This year I am doing preschool music, and am really enjoying it. My stream of classes come in and I am jumping around, thinking their "motions" are too much now. The best thing is that they are having fun though, it's all good. We do a cute little show on Friday and the whole week is just awesome. Decoration is phenomenal too. I feel really laid back this year, as I didn't work committee- and not with a classroom too. Starting to be a good week though, even with scattered showers. Rec was in the old sanctuary. WHERE I GOT MARRIED!! I have pics to prove it:) Growth. Everything wants to grow I told Luke about my trouble gardens. Everything that has breath praise the Lord!