HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I've always said that the start of the school year is more like a "new year" than Jan 1st for us. Today was the boy's first day of school. I start tomorrow and Lydie starts daycare tomorrow and preschool next week. I just love the first day of school the butterflies, the excitement, the new backpacks. It's the best! ( I know I'm cheezy!)

Daddy and Jonah posing pretty for the first day of school. Daddy was more sappy than me.

"I don't know how to open it?"

"Got it"

And just so Lydie's not left out she posed with her favorite book. 

The last week of summer

 The kids and I made a list of the things we wanted to do the last week of summer and I had big plans of documenting it by taking a picture each day to share with each of  you, Well that didn't happen. But if I did have a camera I would have taken a picture of all these things.

Monday: Jonah playing Bocce Ball and beating his mom and dad. 

Tuesday: We had a most excellent trip to the zoo. I would've taken pictures of the Asian deer in the water, the baby wolves, and the crane named Stanley that was very interactive and made Lydie giggle and giggle. 

Wednesday: I would have taken a picture of bike ride to the park and our nature walk, complete with "Nature bracelets"

**** take wide masking tape and wrap it around each wrist (sticky side out ) and have the kids walk around the park finding things that God created. It was great to talk about the bracelets and see how beautiful they turned out. We even found feathers to put on them! Hmmm, maybe I am ready for school to start.

Oh and I would 've taken pictures of a botched paint job in my kitchen, dining room. It was bad. . . very bad. And all the cute paint boy's fault. A very long story, that will maybe post another day, if any of you who I haven't told the story to already, inquire about it. 

Thursday: I would have taken pictures of a fun swimming trip to my friends house.  And I Jonah at back to school night, meeting his teacher for the very first time! 

Friday: I would have taken pictures of our bike ride, in the rain, to the post office,  to send Jessie and Bjorn a package and a trip to Scheels that was SOOOO fun. ( It was the waterfowl festival and we got to watch the hunting dogs jump in the water and we got lots of fee stuff.) Uncle Jason will be glad to know both J and L have duck calls now. 

And finally today: I had my camera, YEAH! It was Bean Days in Horace and these are a few pictures from this morning.

Blayke, Lydie, and Jonah waiting for candy at the parade.
Posing after getting  their face painted.

reflective

I have been concocting  a blog in my head for the last 3 days about the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. The bottom line is I'm very reflective this time of year. I look back at this summer and I am soooo thankful for all it was. 

It wasn't exactly what we thought it would be, but it was so great just the same. In fact,  I found Jonah's list we made together in June of all the things he wanted to do this summer ( I know start them early with lists). We were able to cross them all off. We went camping, fishing, to the park, took bike rides, slept in the tent, stayed at the farm, played basketball, went to Bible school, went to Jessie's, went to the zoo, went swimming, and played ( alot!). . . WHEW it makes me tired just thinking about it. But, really there is just something about summer we have more time to get to know each other better doing activities that we don't get to do the other 9 months of the year. I love summer! 

Having said that, I look forward to the school year. I'm praying the transition goes well for everyone. I'm excited to see what the school year will be for each of us. It is an exciting time of year! Now,  just in case you ever wondered. . .

Today, we were on the way to a friends house to go swimming and Jonah and Lydia are talking about swimming underwater. 

Jonah asks, " Why can't we breath under water?" 

Lydia says," I don't know."

 Jonah then continues  "Do you think we will be able to breath under water in heaven ?"

He then concludes, "Yep, we must be able to breath under water in heaven because you can't die in heaven."

The things kids think of. 

This world

 Have you ever had one of those moments when you knew that God put your children in your life to teach you something big. So much of parenting is training and praying and teaching them to do what is right. Then all of a sudden a moment happens and you have this light bulb moment where God teaches you this big concept in just a few seconds. Ok now that I"ve build it up I hope I can write this in a way that you can understand the bigness of it. 

It happened last week when we were on our trip to the North Shore. We had spent two days walking in the woods, throwing rocks in babbling brooks, seeing loud, rushing water falls and being in awe of the giant, blue lake. I remember we were rock hopping through the falls and Lydia said "I like this world" Then later when were wading in the cold water looking for pretty rocks. She said  "Mommy, I love this world" The girl was having a blast and I thought it was cute how she equated this "this place" as a whole new world because she had never seen anything like it. Then as were ending our exploring for one evening we were walking across a rocky beach and Lydia slipped and scraped her foot, her response was a wailing "OOWWWIEE" followed by a disgusted" I hate this world."

In that moment, God laid this huge truth in my head and on my heart and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. So here's the lesson. How many times in my life when everything around me is beautiful, the people, the scenery,  the activities. And when I slip and "fall on the rocks" or one little thing doesn't go right I jump into "I hate this world" I don't like the things around me and I let that be the center of my thoughts instead of the beauty and blessings around me.  So from now on when something doesn't go right I"m going to try to focus on the beauty and blessings around me. Thanks for letting me share what God has been teaching me. 

We're baaaack!!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I forgot to write on here that we were taking a little trip. We got back last night.  We were blessed with great weather and as always the scenery was gorgeous. There's nothing like waterfalls and a giant lake to remind my of God's greatness. And there's just something about camping, and vacation to bring you together as a family it's a different kind of bonding that I"m thankful for.  

Rock hopping was definitely one of the favorite activities of the trip.
I really like this picture! It sort of captured one of those "I love this!" moments. 

In a cave by Gooseberry Falls
Hunting for rocks in the big cold lake! 

more deck pictures

Here are more of the deck pictures with the spindles on for uncle Jason, and whoever else wants to look. We had our first official meal on the deck last night. The weather was perfect, and the company was good too!

Here are the kids at my bargain deck table and chairs. We went to just "look" and price out what a table and chairs would cost and found this set for $85! I love a good deal.
Here I am enjoying using that power drill. Thanks for all your comments. And yes, Jason and Aaron do nice work. It's been fun to see it all come together.