We Roll With It

We had been planning on going camping this weekend... We'd been planning it since April. In April, we sat down and looked at our summer calendar, penciling in several weekends that we wanted to go camping and this was one that we were going to use. Little by little, 6 weekends of camping got widdled down to 3. We went in June, to a campground in Clearwater- one that I wouldn't highly recommend. We parked our camper at the cabin in July with the Krugers for a weekend there. And now we have one weekend left, the first weekend in October on the north shore with my mom's extended family (a trip we do every year... and looooong for every year!).

This weekend just didn't work out to go. This week had been insane all the way around. By the time Friday night rolled around we were still "planning" on going camping when I looked around at my house, and I swear that Ike had hit here!! There was nothing ready to go camping because I was completely exhausted from the week and the pending weather for the weekend was looking extremely grim.

As we sat on the couch, talking about going, we decided to just stay put. The decision to stay home, one that you wouldn't think would be a huge deal but was, actually elated me! We so rarely get an entire weekend at home, to just BE. Since we had been planning on being gone, there now was NOTHING on the calendar- halleluia!! And now at 6:45 pm, I'm STILL in my pajamas!! :) It feels amazing. Despite the yucky, rainy weather, I could not have asked for a better day. My house is still a wreck, but dinner is planned and I've enjoyed my time with Jeremiah, Jonah and Aphia. We've played, done little tinkering things around the house, watched football, took naps, and ran to Target and Cub (don't forget I'm still in my pajamas-sweats and a hoodie... and of course I saw 4 families I know!). The normalcy of it all almost makes me want to cry. To not have to rush here or high tail it there feels simply divine!

I know that I'm busy person and we have lots of things going on as a family, but sometimes we just have to make choices to just BE. I know this... it's just the act of doing the "being" that I sometimes forget to do!

I've still been doing well with my morning dates with Jesus at the coffee shop, times that I truly cherish and revel in. He has taught me much, while staring out at the waking city of Buffalo. I get home as my own family is arising from their slumber and the day almost ALWAYS goes spledidly, this past Thursday was no exception.

As I look forward at our September and October calendars, I think it's interesting that I'm actually "planning" times of nothingness. How sad. But that's our reality right now and we roll with it.

I hope you have a day, or at least a moment in the very near future to just BE.

A Normal Saturday

Who dresses this kid anyways?! (At 19 months, she was insistent on putting on her 4th of July shirt... over her normal clothes. AND insistent on wearing Jonah's shoes... backwards. I just laugh!)

Jonah spending some time out in the rain today with his raincoat and rain boots! The look on his face says that the skies don't look real promising.

Saying Goodbye to Uncle Richie! He's headed to Durham, North Carolina for work! We'll miss you Uncle Richie!!

Last Family Wedding (of one side!)

Daddy's cousin Nate got married last weekend to BJ. Nate is the youngest cousin on Daddy's mom's side, and the last to get married. They had their ceremony in Granny's (that's Grandma Judy's mom) backyard and it was so pretty! She had put lots of time into watering her flowers, grass, and everything was so lush!
Here are a few pictures of us at the wedding!

This one is me and Phia, and our cousins Hannah and Emily

Here's my mom, Phia, me and my dad

Here's Phia touching the baby in Auntie Becca's tummy! Baby will be here soon!!!

Here's just a random picture of us being sweet with each other!

As Summer Fades...

There are those pointed times in life that when they come, you know that something else is about to draw near. Two of those things stick out at me, telling me that the end of summer is very, very close.

First, the Minnesota State Fair. When the fair comes, you know that summer is almost finished. The kids and I went, along with my mom, my sister and my aunt, who were amazing helpers to me! However, the next time I go to the fair with my kids, they better be old enough to pay for themselves! They broke the bank with all their, "I want a third corn dog Mom!" from Jonah and "Mo! Mo! Mo!" from Aphia when sharing mini donuts, cheese curds, roasted corn on the cob, a smoothie, nachos, a corn dog and more! The kids enjoyed the John Deere equipment and riding the big slide. Although I did enjoy the fair, I really enjoyed getting home, showering, and kicking back to watch a movie once the kids were in bed :)

The second is my brother Michael's birthday- August 24. This year was his Golden Birthday and so we celebrated with friends and family on a boat on the St. Croix. It was a surprise to him and Susie pulled it off remarkably!!

I just thought I'd thow this in... Where did my daughter get curls from?! Her mom and dad certainly don't have curly hair, or even wavy for that matter!! I'm just loving them!!

Webber's Cabin and Crazy Times

This past weekend we went up to Daddy's Uncle Wes and Auntie Colleen's cabin. We got up there late on Friday and spent most of the day there on Saturday. Daddy did some work for Uncle Wes on his ATV and lawn mower, but he also had a good time playing with us too.

Saturday morning we went out for a boat ride on the pontoon and I loved watching the motor and the wake it created. I also really loved to drive with Uncle Wes, although I wanted to do more donuts than him! Phia had a great time too, she was so relaxed just sitting on Mommy and Daddy's laps, watching the beautiful scenery. We got to see a big bird flying over head and some loons out, not too far from us. Daddy even got in some tubing time (not behind the pontoon!) with Ken and had a great ride! Although on Sunday he said that he must be getting to be an old man because he was sore!

Here are some pictures that Auntie Colleen took. She's a great photographer!

Mommy is wondering when life will slow down? We had a great time at the cabin, but had to leave not even 24 hours later to head down to Grandma Lollie and Grandpa Jeff's for Auntie Gina's Golden Sweet 16th Birthday! Then on Sunday Mommy went to the Twin's game with Michelle, Auntie Debbi and Uncle Ron. They got to sit in a suite, just up behind home plate, which was sweet (pun definitely intended!). Mommy says she feels like she spent half of the weekend driving! And life is so busy on the weekends. She always thinks that with the start of a new season that it's going to slow down a bit, but it never really does. Stuff just creeps up on the calendar and things get packed in! Whew... life is nuts. Michelle and Mommy in front of the window of the suite
Mommy and Auntie Debbi with their mits... they were ready to catch one from Joe Mauer!
Great seats for watching the exciting game!!

Video Games, Chocolate, and God

My sister and I went to Auntie Becca and Uncle Tim's one night while my mom and dad had a wedding to go to. It was such great fun because Uncle Tim bought a special new video game that he knew I would LOVE, it was a "Cars" game!! I was so excited, and I especially loved it when I'd ask Uncle Tim to smash the cars and he did!

I'm such a good eater that whenever we have dessert, I always get some, because I always finish my dinner! This night we each got some chocolate and it was so yummy! As you can see, I got it all over my face as I was devouring it! Jonah and I will be my mommy's treat buddies, since Daddy isn't too into them.

On another note, my mommy went on a weekend away with her MOPS Leadership Team. She came home a such a happy camper! I heard her telling Daddy a few of the things that she learned and experienced during the weekend. She talked about the friendships that continue to deepen with her friends. Being in the exact same place with so many people makes her feel so supported. She said that it's amazing to watch God do wonderful things. She learned more about prayer and depending on God, expecting the unexpected, and not limiting what God can do!

One of the biggest things that she took away from the weekend was that it is not her job, but the Holy Spirit's job, to convict me, Jonah, Daddy, and herself, of the things we should or should not be doing. She knows (but often times forgets) that God can do anything, and if she spent half as much time praying about situations as she does trying to correct them herself, then she could sit back and let God handle it... And I know too, that He can do a better job! God will work with all of us, I know that, to make us the best workers in His Kingdom that we can be. Mommy is working on holding her tongue in times when she should not talk, but instead talking silently to God about the situation. She's laying down her pride and laying down her requests to the Lord, instead of icky words or tones of voice she might have used before.

When she came home for the weekend, Daddy (along with Jonah and I) had cleaned up the whole house really well (he sorta owed it to Mommy, but that's for another time). It was so nice and clean and Mommy was SO happy to be home to us and a clean house. She was only gone from Friday afternoon until lunch time on Sunday, but she missed us so much and was anxious to get home to us!!

My daddy bought me a cabbage patch doll when I was born and up until now, she has just sat in her box on top of my dresser. The other day, after I woke up from my nap, I was reaching for her and wanted her out of the box. So Mommy and I took her down and opened her up! It was so much fun to play with my new Cabbage Patch Doll, Marlene Anastasia... we call her Anna for short. I'm a great Mommy to her!

The other day was SO hot, but I wanted to play outside. I had a grand time, playing by myself, which I haven't done in a very long time. It was nice to have some time to play while Mommy took some pictures of me. I just got to do my own thing, without having to answer to anyone! Every boy needs some time like this I tell ya!