Mystery Adventure Saturday

Last Saturday we found ourselves without any firm commitments. A wide open day to do whatever we wanted. We decided to load up the car for an impromptu trip head to the cabin. Construction is still in full swing on the new cabin so we couldn't make a weekend of it. But we could still spend the day on the lake fishing, swimming and tubing.  Plus we were all anxious to see the new place. 

We were loaded and ready to go at 7:15 a.m. ROCKSTARS. Barely get going and turn around to get Bennet's fishing tackle. Strike 1. 

Stop for gas, snacks and drivethru breakfast and realize that we left the boat battery at home. Turn around again to get that. Strike 2. 

Finally on the road. 

We got to the cabin and realized that both sets of Boat House keys were back in Wausau. We only brought 1 fishing pole with us. Oh well- we'll make do. Strike 3. 

Get the pontoon prepped for a day on the lake. As I'm sitting there I think to myself, "Hundred bucks says the life jackets are in the Boat House too." I check under the seats. Yep. No lifejackets. Can't cruise the chain without them. WE'RE OUT! Not today. . . 

Because it was still fun .At this point we just kind of laughed. We didn't have concrete plans. Nothing was ruined. We were just seeing where the day took us. Mystery Adventure Saturday. 

We gave the kids 2 options. Option 1: Cut off the locks and stick with the original plan or Option 2: Swim a little bit, pack up and go to Wildwood Wildlife Park in Minocqua and perhaps stop at Aunt Jenny & Uncle Tony's cabin on the way home . They chose Option 2. 

On the way to Wildwood Wildlife Park. All four kids asleep at the same time. Miracle. 

New to the park since our last visit (summer 2011) were 2 baby giraffes and a zebra. Scout LOVES zebras so she was over the moon.  And Bennet saw owls which made her literally squeal. 

This giraffe is the same age as Spenser. Ellie thought I was soooo silly when I told her we should bring him home with us. 

Then it was off to Tony & Jenny's cabin. The kids hung out with their cousin Morgan and their pups Harley and Spenser. They swam some more. We drank Bloody Mary's and Nick grilled some bbq chicken. Bennet took a ride with Tony on the paddle board. 

It was one of those days that was imperfectly perfect. We all went with the flow. The kids got along.  Spenser was a perfect 9 month old. The 6 of us were just happy being together. I guess sometimes you just need to lower expectations and let the day take you where it will. Take those bumps in the road and spin them to your advantage. You never know- you may end up with the perfect summer day. 

Hoot Cute

Playing catch up from Halloween. I got started on Ellie's costume really early last year. Good thing I did since Spenser was born 10/17 and came home from the hospital on 10/30. I may just have to have an early costume deadline every year.

I made her costume and love how it turned out. I just raided my fabric scrap stash for the feathers on her wings. All the tutorials (mask, shirt and wings)  are linked below.

Mask: Here
Shirt: Here
Wings: Here 

This Girl

Oh how this girl makes me laugh. Big, loud belly laughs. At 28 months she is just a riot! Yesterday she found a Frankenstein hat and went on to wear it all through dinner and our walk to the park. Seriously- only Ellie! In the first two photos she was trying to grab the camera to "See Ellie!"

She loves to snuggle. If you pick her up she'll nestle into your shoulder and give your back two little love pats.

She will come up to you and give your leg a giant hug and then kiss it before she walks away.

Actually- she rarely walks. She's usually running. Full board, non-stop.

She LOVES to dance. She will spin, jump and shimmy to anything with a beat. Check her out at last Friday's Spring Fling event at Bennet's school.



Yes- I giggle when she falls down.

Did you notice the killer death grip she had on that bag of chips? She carried that bag around for the whole 1 1/2 hours we were there. To quote Joey from Friends, "Ellie doesn't share food!"

She is definitely the most stubborn and determined of our girls. And she isn't afraid to let you know in extreme volume when she doesn't like something.

You certainly make our lives interesting Elliebean- we love you so very much!

Sunny Summer Days = FUN with Grandma

Grandma Mary Ella came to surprise the girls Wednesday night and was waiting on our front steps when we got home. As we pulled into the driveway Bennet burst out of the car. Scout shreiked, "Mom- get me outta here!"

We went to the Mint Cafe for dinner and then caught the beginning of the Concert on the 400 Block downtown.

Thursday we drove to Green Bay to enjoy  Bay Beach Amusement Park. We went last summer and had so much fun that I wanted to make in an annual event.  

They have 16 rides. There were only 4 rides that the girls were too short to ride. Even better is the fact that tickets cost 25cents a piece. Most rides are 1 ticket but never more than 2. Can't beat that! Bennet was SUPER excited for her very first roller coaster ride. Unfortunately she was a little too short. "Maybe when I'm 6 1/2 Mom!"

When I went down the giant slide with Bennet she said, "That kind of made me feel like I had to go potty. Weird right?"


I love Ellie's face here. She was a little unsure at first, but once Scout showed her how to work the bell she loved it!
 
Molly Jo- Do you see your cousin Bennet is riding a puppy named Molly? That made everyone smile!

Holding hands on their own as they wait in line. Melts a mom's heart.

And if Bay Beach wasn't enough on it's own, we went to the pool when we got home. We spent a little under an hour there, but the girls LOVED splashing with Grandma. Ellie was in bed by 6:15, Bennet and Scout followed by  7 p.m! A fun, busy, summer kind of day!

Fresh Cut

I've made no secret about how much Bennet's long straggly, snarly, Rapunzel inspired hair has driven me a little bonkers this summer. Couple the tears that come with the tangles with the fact that she's also growing out her bangs and you have a hot mess.

Well, yesterday morning she decided that she DID in fact want a hair cut. "Can I get a Cute Little Bob Mom?" Um YES YOU CAN!  I jumped at the chance before she changed her mind. I called JCP and took whoever they had. Her stylist happened to be the same woman who cuts Grandma Barb's hair. You can imagine her excitement over that. She had to call her when we got home!

We cut it up to her shoulders so she can still pull it up if she wants. And according to her she had her bangs trimmed- "She trimmed up the tips Mom". She's all ready for school.

I asked Scout in the morning if she wanted a hair cut. She told me no. Of course once we get there she wanted one. I should have known. Luckily for her, Nick was with us and was able to take her to a different salon in the mall and have a trim as well.

Wildwood Wildlife Park

On our way to the cabin last weekend we stopped at Wildwood Wildlife Park in Minocqua. On Friday morning, Nick suggested stopping at the Park on our way up north. We normally don't do too many touristy things, much less when we're heading to the cabin. But, if he was up for it then I was game!

We didn't tell the girls we were going. When we pulled into the parking lot Bennet still didn't get it even though there is a giant sign with animals all over it. Scout was the one who shouted, "It's a ZOO!" 

It's not exactly a zoo, but it's much more than a Park. Tigers, zebras, river otters, camels, peacocks, bald eagles, monkeys. Plus-all sorts of hands on things to do. Feed the free-roaming deer and fawns, get up close with a pot bellied pig, pet a giant turtle. . .  

Or feed a Brown Bear a special sugared soda pop.

Or feed the parakeets in the Aviary.

Or snuggle with baby bunnies.

Or have your feet licked by a Mama and baby goat.

It was so much fun. All three girls were bursting with excitement. Ellie got right up close and personal with the goats. I am so glad we made the visit. It seems like Friday afternoon was the perfect time to go. It felt like we were the only people there- no crowds. Of course they are already asking when we can go back.

At the Cabin

Here are some of my favorite photos from last weekend (June 3-5th) at the cabin. Now that Nick and I are both working full time and we have 3 little chillins', it's tougher for me to just 'get up and go' to the cabin. But then the second I get there I remember how much I love it. I remember how much it revitalizes and centers not only me, but the whole family. It has such a special place in my heart. I just LOVE spending time there. I feel very grateful that my mother-in-law and father-in-law have this retreat and that they let us make memories there.

 The Worlds BEST Bloody Mary at Bent's Camp.

 Bennet looks so tall and old to me here.

 Watching Dad get the fishing poles ready.

 This photo cracks me up. She insists on weating skirts AND fishing. So this what I see. Such a dainty outdoorsy girl.

 My guilty pleasure at the cabin is looking through old People magazines and Entertainment Weekly special issues. This one is a 2003 review. The EW one is from 1999. It's like a Where are They Now in reverse. I love seeing who is still together, what stars were hot then and no longer around. I've read them countless times.



Why I Scrapbook

Life is unpredictable and always crazy.

I often feel like the 5 of us are on

a merry-go-round.

Round and round.

Day after day.

I can't slow down time.

I only get 24 hours in the day.

But those hours are filled with little moments.

Moments that seem ordinary now

but will become the moments of legend

as the years pass on.

As I grow older I find myself

remembering random memories

from my childhood.

Hide-and-Go-Seek tag on

 hot summer nights.

Monday night pager tests.

The way my Mom always says,

"Oh ha! You liar!"

The top row of the fridge filled

with blue and pink cartons of

milk from the milk man.

How my Dad used Duct Tape and a Sharpie

 to labelthings in the garage.

My 3 siblings and me in the Suburban

driving to South Dakota listening

to one oldies tape

Over

and

over!

Someday my girls will

remember their own little moments.

Things that right now seem insignificant.

That is why I scrapbook.

It's a chance for me to take a

snapshot of our lives.

From my perspective.

I hope someday that my girls

sit down with their

 books and say

"Oh- I'd forgotten about that.

Hey Scoutie- do you remember. . ."

"Ellie- look how little you were!"

"OMG- remember when Mom's hair looked like that!"

This is why I scrapbook.

This layout captures one of those everyday moments that would have been forgotten had I not put it to paper. The event happened on April 11th and I scrapped it on the 12th. I just had to get it down. The layout was inspired by Karen Grunden.



First Date- 10 years ago today

10 years ago today Nick and I had our first date. (Story of our First Date). You can tell alot about a person in 10 hours.

Two of my favorite older photos of us.

My first trip to the cabin- 2001

At our Engagement Party- 2003

Part of me knew on that very first date that he was someone I could spend alot of time with, perhaps forever. I am so glad that he is my forever.

He is perfect for me. He supports me, he cleans, he cooks, he loves me for who I am, he's handy around the house. He makes me laugh daily! I can't imagine myself anywhere else...everyday I'm reminded that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

I love you Nick!

Happy Mother's Day

I love being a Mom. I always assumed I'd have kids, but I was never one of those girls who dreamed of being a Mom from a young age. But sometimes you don't realize something is a dream until it comes true. Being a Mom to Bennet, Scout and Eleanor is simply a dream come true.

It isn't an easy job. You always wonder if you're making the right decisions. You want to set a good example. No more sneaking a pull of milk straight from the carton :) Sometimes just the sight of them learning how to walk, ride a bike, or brush their hair makes you cry.

You play referee. "Scout- stop hugging your sister so hard" "Bennet- you're just fine. No tears please" "Ellie-my hair is attached to my head and I'd like to keep it that way"

You play boss "Scout- I understand you want a snack and I'm working on it" "Bennet- it's time for bed. No more whining" "Ellie- if you stop opening drawers you'll stop getting your fingers pinched"

You hope that when you repeat the important things 100 times in a day they are listening just 10% of the time so it sticks.
It's not always easy to balance all the roles I play as Mom. Sometimes my lack of patience gets the best of me. But somehow everytime I'm feeling like that one of the girls will do something that makes it impossible for me to stay crabby or pouty. At the end of the day no matter how crazy it was, it's all worth it. 

Happy Mothers Day!!
Photos from last Mother's Day.
TITLE: Room for 3

 
My Mom:
I was asked to create a layout for the May edition of ScrapStreet Magazine that focused on something or someone that influenced your life. I knew right away that I wanted to make a page about my Mom. I can't post the photo here since it's in the current issue, but just click the link.
 
http://scrapstreet.com/ss11/5may/open2.htm

My 2nd Mom:
My mother-in-law Bar , shown here with my sister-in-law Sara. I feel very lucky to have a fabulous mother-in-law. Not only did she raise her son to be a wonderful husband and Dad, she makes me feel good about myself on a regular basis. Can't beat that!

And of course I am thinking of my sister Katie who welcomed her second daughter, Morgan Mary, to her family this Tuesday. I hope she is able to enjoy a relaxing day at home with her family. I love you Squirt!

Teacher Appreciation Week

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. I saw this idea on eighteen25 blog  and knew it would be perfect for Scout's main teacher, Miss Carol. Of course what she really could use was a pair of ear plugs :) The photos aren't the best, but you get the idea.

Scout delivered it today and it was a huge hit!

 

Psst- Casie/Kim/Jess: I finally used that giant green ric rak I always talk about.

Tonight Bennet and I need to finish our card/gift for her teacher. Never a dull moment!