Finding Things to Do...

Like I said my previous post, we were almost in Iowa. And let me tell you, we were in the middle of nowhere with not much to do! One day Jon decided to do a little yard work. Jon is the kind of guy who loves to keep busy and doesn't mind hard work! The kids love to "help" daddy while we works...

I thought this was so cute...Jon was walking around a tree trimming off some branches...and James took it upon himself to start picking the fallen branches up and put them in the little trailer. Children learn best by example...and James was just following what his daddy was doing and helping out!

When we weren't outside we were most likely inside...doing what you do on vacation...eating junk and watching tv! We all got a healthy dose of iCarly, Shake it Up and whatever other singing tween shows happened to be on. I now remember why we cancelled our Dish Network...kids and tv do not make a healthy mix!

I am my children's favorite toy. They really don't need blocks, barbies or any such toy. They just need me to lay on the floor...I can be an airplane, a balance beam, a sick patient, a tumble mat, a person at a salon...you name it!

The kids did plenty of dancing and wild play...

Another fun place to play...the very steep stairs! I am not sure why kids are so attracted to stairs.

More than once I would be in the kitchen making dinner and I would hear giggling coming from upstairs...it was cute to hear them playing together...but I really didn't like James crawling those steps!! He did fall down the one little step going out of one of the bedrooms...and he left his mark! Just maybe there is now a little bloody spot on the carpet from a certain little guy's tongue...oops...sorry Grandpa S.! Think of it as a little reminder of James!

Love this picture...Before we left on our trip, Elsie called auntie Lisa and asked to borrow her vintage suitcase. He clothes all fit in the suitcase perfectly...and she thought it was so fun to have a little mirror in her suitcase...and a special pocket under the mirror for undies! James had a cute little vintage suitcase, too. I am now on the hunt for our own set of vintage luggage...preferably with retro flowers or something super funky!

We had a fun little vacation...even if there not much to do! We all enjoyed just being together...

Little Trip...

A few weeks ago Jon and I loaded the kids up in the car headed out of town...we headed down to the very edge of Minnesota...2 miles away from Iowa, to be exact! Most of Jon's extended family live in that area. Our intention for the trip was to visit Jon's grandma...every weekend the grandkids take turns calling or visiting Grandma Ardis...and that weekend was our week for a little visit. This time was special because we were able to stay on the farm in Ardis's old farm house...Jon's dad lives lives there part-time now. Normally we don't get to stay there...so that was a specail little perk this time.

By the time we finally arrived at the farm it was late...super late for a couple of little kids! Elsie was a little freaked out about staying in a "new house"...and she was a little freaked out that Jon's dad would be there {she does not do well around people she doesn't know!}...so we cuddled and talked for a while to calm her fears...and by morning she was glad we were staying there. Sometimes it just takes a little while to get comfortable in a new situation...especially when you are just three years old!

Jon's grandma loves to garden...her whole back yard was a beautiful garden at one time. I remember seeing it once when she still lived there...it was beautiful! It is kinda sad to see it now...it resembles secenes from the secret garden before it was brought back to life.

I don't remember the full story about her house...but I know that she raised her family in that house...and lived there for many, many years. Jon talks about lots of fond memories of playing there as a child...I think it was fun for him to bring his own children to the house that meant so much to him growing up.

When we were there it was hot...almost too hot to do much! Thank goodness for an air conditioned house! It was hot and misserable outside and there were too many new discoveries waiting for James inside...so we did the next best thing...loaded him up in the car and drove until he fell asleep! 

When you are on a little vacation that means two things...you can eat junk and watch tv! Elsie was beyond excited to find chocolate dairy-free ice-cream in the grocery store!

She managed to talk daddy into buying her some...then she enjoyed some with every.single.meal! No lie. She had a couple spoon fulls after breakfast, after lunch and after dinner...and maybe a few more spoonfulls for a bedtime snack. She was beyond happy. I assured her it was only something we do when we go on a little vacation. {and I was on vacation too...so she ate out of the container so I had one less dish to wash...can you say lazy!?} 

James on the other hand found the tomato patch out back. I am not sure how many tomato he ate. His favorite part was picking them off the plant...he would pick one, sit on the back step and eat a couple bites, then drop it on the ground and go pick another one. He had tomato juice everywhere!

The kids also found the ruhbarb patch by the tomatos...Elsie loves ruhbarb! This was the first time James had eaten ruhbarb...and I think he loves it too!

Snack time of homegrown food...yum! {and maybe a little ice-cream for an after snack time snack?}

More pictures coming tomorrow from our little trip...

Friday Phone Dump...{on Saturday}

Life gets crazy sometimes and things fall behind...like posting a Friday post on Saturday. Could be worse, right!? Truth be told this week has been one of those super "off" weeks...we haven't had a week like this in a long, long time. It is the kind of week where I stress out about every little thing...and the kids have one melt down after another. We went to a family wedding last weekend, and Elsie consumed a couple Kiddie Cocktails...and sugar, dyes and juice is just not her friend. It makes her have behavioral issues for several days until all the junk is out of her system. So...I am happy to report that after a week of issues...she is back to normal! Next week is gonna be a better week. We have lots of projects and plans to keep us busy! While having a bad week is no fun while we are in the middle of it...I keep reminding myself that it will pass...and next week will be better. {and next time we know no Kiddie Cocktails will be consumed!} Anyhow...on with the Friday Phone Dump...

1. James can be found standing on the bench in the kitchen looking out the window...he loves to watch the squirrels!

2. Lunch on the "special glass plates"~ homemade pizza, beans and shoes string potatoes...such a healthy lunch for someone already having food issues!

3. This week my project was to put all my old Africa pictures in a photo book. I went to Sierra Leone on a mission trip in 2004...I had a bad reaction to the shots and medicine I had to take and got severely depressed for a long time after coming home...so I packed the pictures away in a box. Last week while cleaning the attic we found the box again so I figured it was time to give them a book! Feels good to get them in a book...even if the sad pictures of the starving babies cannot go in the book yet. I guess I am not quite ready to have those out. Maybe someday...but maybe not.

4. Elsie loves looking at the photo book...She loves Africa and still often prays that someday we can adopt a baby from Ethiopia.

5. This week while reading the Elsie Larson blog we found a tutorial for making a bow in your hair. I showed the tutorial to Elsie and she wanted me to try it out right away! Love that she loves girly things!

6. My husband is the kind of guy who believes you should only buy clothes if your other ones are completely wore out...therefor he rarely has any nice clothes! So...on our way to my cousins wedding last weekend we had to make a stop at JcPenny so Jon could buy a new outfit...nothing like waiting for the last minute!

7. I made Jon try on several pairs of pants {and he had a little fit!} so while he was trying on clothes the kids played in the big mirror. They had fun...and burned off a little energy before getting to the wedding!

8. Jon and James at the wedding. I have lots more pictures from the wedding I will be posting at some point...it was a fun night!

9. My girl...we curled her hair...and she said she felt just like Taylor Swift!

10. James can do a pretty awesome smile when asked! Love watching his sense of humor develop and change. And love his spiky hair...we even put some bright red tinted gel at the tips for the wedding!

11. James has been into colouring with markers lately...like every day...several times a day. He is getting good with colouring on paper...but he still eats the tips off far too often. When I see markers all across his face and lips and I ask if he was eating markers, he always shakes his head no with a very serious expression. I am not sure if I believe him or not!!

12. James and Daddy taking a little nap in the new rocking chair...

Campfire Night...

After we were done at the beach...my parents went home to their house and we came home to our house. We were going to have a little campfire...so we called up my parents and told them to come over and enjoy the campfire with us. It was very spontaneous thing! So spontaneous that we didn't even have paper plates...we just roasted a hotdog and rolled it up a paper towel and ate it. {We did have a couple dishes of Ketchup since we slightly over use ketchup on everything!} It seems like those spontaneous evenings always create the best memories. Several weeks later, Elsie still talks about this evening like it was the best time ever! The kids don't remember that we didn't have paper plates...they remember running to the back door every 10 minutes to activate the motion lights so we could see...or the cuddling in the big quilt and looking at the stars...all the giggles and funny stories. Those little things are the real memory makers...the little things are sometimes the most cherished things.

I feel like I end 90% of my posts with the same sentence..."a perfect evening". But, this really was another perfect evening. I love layed back evenings...and being surrounded with Family...I went to bed with happy thoughts...and I know my babies went to bed the same way. That is the best way to go to bed...with a smile on your face and happiness in your heart.

Elsie and Grammie...

My Children are blessed. They have amazing grandparents. They have fun grandparents. They are going to have so many warm fuzzy memories! My parents go out of their way to be the best grandparents ever. They spoil my children in a way...but mostly they just treat my children as part of the group. There is only a 5 year difference between my youngest sister and Elsie...so my kids are "just part of the group"...and that is pretty special!

Elsie begs to go over to Grammie's house almost everyday. We do spent quite a bit of time at Grammie's...because I can truly think of no better place to let my children hang out.  

I think it is a special thing that my children can feel just as comfortable at Grammie's as they do at home. So comfortable that they even know what chair is the time out chair!! And they know Grammie will put them there if need be.

My kids are just as in love with their Papa Wayne as they are with Grammie. James loves papa Wayne and lights up when he comes home from work! {I think it might have something to do with 4-wheeler rides though!}
I would say my kids are lucky. They have a very rich family life. Everyone needs family...

Beach Night...

These are old pictures again...from the last days of August. Jon was still home recovering from surgery and we were enjoying every minute of Family Time we could. The end of August was not a very warm time...but this evening the weather was perfect...not too hot, not to cold. Perfect weather for enjoying the beach. We met my parents at the beach...and Laura's boyfriend, Ryan...he and his mom were gracious enough to bring their boat over so everyone could enjoy some boat rides and do a little tubing!

Playing at the beach is so much better better when wearing Red Sparkly Shoes! {we almost forgot the shoes at the beach...that would have been major drama had they been gotten forgotten!} 

Everyone took turns going for rides. It was a fun little treat! I think we should all pool our $ together and buy a little boat for more fun family times! James loved the boat...I think he road in the boat most of the time.

Jon had just had surgery a week before...and was told he could not submerge his leg for a month until everything was healed. Had I not been at the lake too, I know he would have gone against the Doctor's orders and went tubing!

Laura and Ryan on the tube. I have a ton more pictures of the tubing and water skiing...but I am not posting them. At some point I am sure my Mom will post some on her Blog.

My {crazy} Man...

I have posted before that Jon climbs towers for his job...when he is home it is hard for him to stay on the ground! I don't think Jon will ever grow up completely...and that makes me happy. Sometimes you just have enjoy life! 

I would like to point out that due to just having knee surgery Jon was using a wooden cane to walk with...he layed the cane down on the ground then proceeded to climb the serpent. Some days I feel like I have 3 children!

Jon took the kids over to the big Serpent and helped them climb up on it. I am glad Jon knows how to be a fun Daddy...

Love this picture of James...waiting patiently for his turn!

Happy Kids, Perfect evening. Thank you Ryan {and his mom, I don't remember her name!} for the fun boat rides!

Daddy's Shadow...

James is Jon's little shadow...he is literally always at Jon's heals. When Jon was home recovering James was in his glory. All day he followed Jon around. "Helping" whenever he could.

I love these pictures. Jon was busy prepping the front step to be re-painted and James picked up a little scraper and started helping.

I tend to think that there is a silver lining in everything. We found many silver linings about Jon having surgery. One of the best silver linings was that Jon was able to spend almost an entire month devoted to the kids. Both of the kids benefited from that...and probably Jon, too. Sometimes it is hard on everyone that Jon is away so much...so that month of recovery time was a blessing.

Toes...

I love details...little details make things special. I love this funny little detail about Jon~ he has a webbed toe! I love it. I prayed that one of our children would have a webbed toe...but they don't. Bummer.