Summer 2015

In four days we will begin the new school year.  I have been rushing about this week, trying to finish the last of the summer projects, namely the office.  I'm almost done. I have been to Ikea more times than I like and am getting pretty good with an Allen wrench.  I'm really pleased with what I've got so far and I'm satisfied with the progress we've made over the summer to declutter and organize the house and garage.

And what a summer it's been. We've made many great memories this year. It's been a true blessing.

 First, we went camping at Glacial Lakes State Park to kick it off.  We had so much fun in my old stomping grounds. I want to go there again because it's so easy for the kids to go swimming and spend all day there while I sit on the sidelines reading my book. Adam enjoyed all the birding and hiking his heart could handle.

After we got back, we had Vacation Bible School (Catholic Camp.) I led the Music for it. It was my first music thing since I was pregnant with Alice! They really seemed to appreciate it and I had a ton of fun. Cora was a group leader and Henry and Alice were campers. Lucy played in the nursery and called it "Her Bible School."

Grandpa Tom had knee surgery and it pretty much took him out of commission.  We're still praying for his recovery of function and Grandma Jackie as she takes care of him. 

Henry (and Adam) had Cub Scout camp, where they did many adventurous, things like rock wall climbing, horseback riding, and archery/shooting. There were also tales of a Sasquatch sighting.
















The next week, Cora went up to Glenwood to visit Grandma Wendy and Grandpa Dan. To say she enjoyed her time would be a drastic understatement.  To bring her home, Mom and Dad met us at Clover Trail with Em, Sam, Max and Abby for the Fourth of July.  It was a great day. I don't think I'll ever forget watching Max watch fireworks.

Cora had her twelfth birthday and had her friends over for a sleepover and the next week was off to Schoenstatt camp in Sleepy Eye.   Adam stopped in to visit Grandma and Grandpa Roesch on his way home from picking her up at week's end.  Schoenstatt is a great blessing to Cora. The retreat seems to renew her and refresh her and she always comes back sunnier and more joyful than when she left. Hard to imagine, huh?










Any days we weren't specifically doing something, we either worked on decluttering and organizing projects or we went to the beach at the Elm Creek Park Reserve.  It is a great place and we bought season passes.  It was worth it this year!  Going to the beach is a quintessential summer activity.  Without it, you just haven't had a summer.

We also went for walks at the Coon Rapids Dam park and Henry enjoyed fishing in Turtle Pond.  The kids spent hours and hours just playing outside,pretending and just being together.


We also had a weekly meet up with our ECHO (homeschool group) friends at local parks. The kids love those days... and so do I. It's such a blessing to be able to see your friends every week.












Next was Waterama, and... what can you say about Waterama, but that it was awesome? Fun times with my whole side of the family and good food.  It's so great to get together like that. I didn't get to snuggle Max as much as I wanted to, but really... how could I ever get enough of snuggling of that little man?

Then, Ali and Lu had Critter Camp at the Eidem Farm.  They both LOVED it. LOVED it.  Lucy keeps asking if she's four yet so that she can go again. They sang songs and got to know the ducks, chickens, and sheep.  Alice loved to show me how to feed the goat. Lucy would often give the sheep a hug.






Wednesday of that week, Adam left for Alaska to visit Sarah, Steve, Marty and Alex. He had such a great time. He bounded up mountains and saw glaciers, birds, moose, mushrooms and berries. He came home with a camera full of pictures and stories galore.  He had a great time being with Sarah's family.  Thanks again, guys!  We miss you.

While he was gone, Cora had River and Rafting Camp at the Coon Rapids Dam and Henry went up to visit Grandma and Grandpa Peterson.    Alice, Lucy and I did all kinds of little girl things. One day we even went to the Children's museum. We went to the beach most evenings after dinner and we all were so happy to have Daddy back. I missed him terribly.

Henry's Daring Camp at the Coon Rapids Dam was next. One day he went fishing. Another day he came home completely covered in camouflage body paint.  It was that kind of camp. Right up his alley.


Another big thing...  Adam and I celebrated our Fifteenth Wedding Anniversary.We went back to Our Lady of Victory Chapel and then went out to dinner at Agraculture in Uptown.  It's hard to believe that time has gone by so quickly and all the changes since then. It seems like so long ago... and yet it doesn't.

 The kids and I went up for a few days to Mom and Dad's and had a great time just decompressing up there.  Beautiful Lake Minnewaska. How I love it.  Mom and Dad shared pontoon rides and their food.  It was such a blessing.

 Our last big hurrah was going up to Glendalough State Park near Battle Lake last weekend.  We've never been there. We had beautiful, surprisingly cool weather.  It was too cold to swim, but we went on many hikes.  The cart-in campsites made things very quiet and cozy and the facilities were well maintained. We arrived on Saturday afternoon and stayed through till Monday.  The kids got to stay up late with a campfire on Sunday night and I think they will remember that for a long time.

I've been slow and steady getting ready for the new school year and on one level I'm anxious to have it start again.  The kids are growing so fast and I just wish I could slow this down a bit.  I'm grateful for the wonderful summer we had and the chance to rest and recuperate from last year.  I'm refreshed and ready.  So...  there it is.  Thanks and praise to God for such wonderful blessings.

Today...

It's been three years? THREE YEARS? I guess this was the longest running journal I've ever had. Usually I pick them up, write a few entries and later buy another as I've forgotten about the one I started.

Let's see. Today, Cora is a beautiful eleven year old.  She loves to read and solve math problems.  She really wants an ipod touch (but her parents aren't getting her one.) She'd also love a horse. Hmmm... need to make riding a horse a priority this summer, I think.
She's in sixth grade and we're still homeschooling! It's kind of hard to believe and yet... not. It's been difficult some days, but most of the time it's been pretty great.  Even spending all this time together, time is flying by so fast. She can usually be found creating some new product to sell in her bedroom or reading a good book, or out in the trees playing.

Henry is nine now and in third grade. He just had his birthday party with friends a few weeks ago at the Goldenwings Collector Museum.  He loves Legos (Ninjago and Chima) and reading books. He loves building anything to suit his imagination.  And usually he's battling something.  He can often be found running about the house with a hand crafted item playing with a sister or two. He's involved in Cubscouts and really enjoys the activities with Adam as Den Leader.

Alice is four, almost five. Just a few more days and she'll be five.  Incredible. She's such a tenderhearted girl.  So kind and also firey. She is brave and stands tall and is at the same time so soft. I love her fiercely. She loves drawing pictures and cutting pieces of paper into shapes. She makes really cute little people when she's drawing. She loves to play with dolls and play imagination games with Cora, Henry and Lucy.  She's been doing preschool with me and has almost mastered her alphabet and the first round of phonograms.  Her memory is fantastic. She's memorized a lot of the big kids' poetry and Latin words...  It'll be interesting to see how much she retains. She shares a room now with Lucy and has been growing closer and closer to her little sister/playmate. I am excited to see how their friendship will develop through the years. And man... the girl can tell a good story.  One of these days I'll have to have her dictate one to me for you.

Lucy is three.  She's funny and smart with big, beautiful blue eyes and light blond hair.  She talks so much and is a big helper.  She is also tough and gets right back up after falling down.  "I'm okay!" she'll call.   SHe likes to climb right up on my lap, no matter what I'm doing and grab my face and touch her nose to mine.  It's pretty funny and reminds me to look her in the eyes more.  I hold her and read to her and sing songs and play (a little... I've become very bad at playing these days with so much work to be done.) She's been attending preschool with Alice 4 days a week at our kitchen island.  It's been such fun.  She loves playing with Alice, Henry, and Cora.  They all play so well together. And take care of each other.

They all have vivid imaginations and spend most of their days using them.  Now that spring has begun to show its head, we've been outside as much as possible going for walks, bike rides and just breathing. I needed this spring to come. Winter had become very long.

We sold the little house last summer after renting it out all these years.  It feels good that it should have a new owner.  It's been a relief and brings peace to mind and heart. I'm glad that Grandma and Grandpa's place will be taken care of and loved now just as we did.

We've made many improvements and changes to our home. It is becoming home, finally. We added a wall on the main floor and changed the functions of the rooms to suit our needs. Painted and added wood floors to almost the whole main level.  My next project will be to create a large central island in the kitchen and then to replace more flooring down the line in the living room, study, and upstairs.  Houses always need repair and rejuvenation, so... it will never be "done" but with the adding of the wood floors, this really became ours and feels so good.

We're planning out our summer and it looks to be exciting.  Perhaps, I'll find a way to blog more now that I've rediscovered it. It would certainly be good to document a few more of these wonderful days.  I've been on facebook posting tiny quips about our family life and happenings, but I notice even typing this that my fingers need the practice and my writing skills need a polish.  Sheesh... didn't know I could grow weak in this as well.

See you again soon?

Fourth of July 2012

We were home this year for the fourth of July.  After doing the Fortnight For Freedom, I was feeling especially patriotic this year. So, I wanted to do something special.  Adam and I got the kiddos in the car and stopped by Fleet Farm.  We picked up some cool ribbons to decorate the garage... wish I'd taken pictures, and I picked up... wait for it.....  a slip and slide!  I've wanted a slip and slide of my own since I was in the fourth grade and we used to slide on Heidi and Jenna's! Sigh... Happiness.

After the kids did that for a good hour or so, we took a rest and then had dinner with the highlight being an Independence Day Parfait for desert with blueberries, strawberries, and Cool Whip for desert... DELICIOUS!

Then, when the little girls were tucked into their beds, the biggers went with Daddy to see the fireworks in Coon Rapids. They had a great time again.  God bless America!

Gratitude

Dear Self,

Six months ago, while completely, fully nine months pregnant, you were down on your hands and knees, scrubbing the grout on the tiled kitchen floor, and you wondered, "Why?  Why? are you scrubbing the grout?  The baby doesn't need clean grout?!  Oh well... carry on."

Today, as six month old Lucy rolls around on it, spits up on it, and keeps her sweet little face close to it's clean coolness... I'm thankful for the "craziness" of that decision.

Carry on you "crazy" girl.  Crazy like a fox.

Love,
you

Adorable, 3 day old Lucy Professional Photos