Moon Lake

We went to Moon Lake for my family reunion. It was beautiful there. The weather was perfect, there were no bugs in the evenings (how cool is that), and there was endless water and sand for the kids. We stayed in little cabins that were rustic but had a bathroom, kitchen, and running water, which is as close to camping as I like to get. Our cabin windows looked out onto the lake and we could walk down our own private little path right to the lake.

Carter loved the water and dirt and spent most of his time throwing handfuls of sand into the lake. Must be a boy thing, I don't understand the fun in that at all.

Grandpa was a good sport to play in the sand with all the kids.

Sand--the activity that brings all ages together.

Emily's sand art.

Emily was covered in sand from head to toe, and couldn't have been happier. She loves dirt. She looked like she had make up on for a couple days because I couldn't get the dirt out of her eyebrows until we got home to a real bathtub.

Kelsie loved being in the rafts and boats with John and spent most of her time on the lake.

Kelsie and her cousins made a crossing path to keep people off of our property. You had to dance to get through or they threw sticks at you. Lots of fun! But it entertained the kids most of the evening.

Me, the girls, Michelle, and Kandace around the campfire.Moon Lake 2009

Sidewalk Paint Recipe

Here's a recipe for homemade sidewalk paint. This is one of my girls very favorite activities.

Sidewalk Paint

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup water

food coloring (the more the better!)

Mix together ingredients and use big paintbrushes to paint the driveway. The paint is kind of chalky and has a cool texture when it dries. It washes right off when your done.

WARNING: This painting activity is a lot messier when a one year old wants to get in on the action.

Thinking Outside the Box

I signed Emily up to be part of a pilot program for a computer based preschool program. I thought it would be really fun for her, but she finds it quite boring. The other day she was purposely marking the wrong answers. I asked her why and she explained, "it takes too long and this will make it end quicker."

Today I sat down with her to encourage her to work on it. It named a letter and she was to click on the correct letter. She seemed to be giving it some thought but she marked the first two wrong. I started to wonder if she really didn't know some of her letters. I tried asking her but she just looked annoyed at me. But, then she marked the next two correctly. When she marked the next one wrong I was kind of baffled and asked "why did you mark that"?

She looked very serious at me and said, "I'm making a pattern: "two wrong, two right, two wrong."

Of course! Why didn't I think of that?

High School Musical

My girls and a friend have been practicing for their own "High School Musical" show all week. They had been learning the songs, choreographing their dance moves, picking out costumes, and setting up the stage in the basement. It has been all Kelsie will talk about. She loves this stuff. Today (with a little coaxing from me) was the much anticipated performance. (I think Kelsie would have been content to continue practicing the entire summer). Belle's mom and I came to watch the show. Kelsie and Belle gave us tickets and stamped our hands as we entered. Emily passed out popcorn at the concession stand. Emily's big moment was shooting baskets (as Troy) while the girls danced in the background. She did a fine job, despite some technical difficulties with the hoop falling off the chairs mid performance. Kelsie had assigned herself the main role of Gabriella (go figure) and sang the songs and had practiced all her dance moves. Kelsie loved singing for us and being in the spotlight, which really surprised me coming from her. It was really cute and they had so much fun. However, I do think my 7 year old may have seen that movie a few too many times. She has way too many lines memorized.

Horsey

Carter loves "horseys". His obsession with dogs has quickly moved to horses and he can spot a horse from a mile away and a picture of a horse no matter how tiny it is. He knows which of his books have horses in them and brings those to us and carries a plastic horse around. John took him to the equestrian park by our house and Carter was in heaven watching the horses. He came home and told John, "I wa horsey!" Translated: I want a horsey. (He's just started talking in little sentences and it's so cute). So, we took him to Farm Country. He yelled and pointed at horses to his hearts content and rode a pony. He was scared for a minute but as soon as the horse started moving he was grinning. Later that day we saw lots of family and he greeted each new person as they arrived and told them "sa horsey" and then he gives a nice horsey sound "eeeeee". Just mention the word "horsey" and his face lights up and he can't stop babbling about them. They make him so happy!

Pictures in Idaho

Idaho

We headed to Idaho to see my Grandma and celebrate her 85th birthday. As soon as we arrived Carter found a broom just his size. He was immediately taken with Grandma's house and spent the evening sweeping up for her. The girls love throwing rocks in the canal and wandering around the farm. Emily found wildflowers by the potato cellar and picked a bunch for Grandma. I love it here. It's one of my favorite places in the world. It's quiet and relaxed and everyone moves a little slower. John and I decided we want to retire here, or somewhere like it. It will probably never happen, but we can dream. It was the first time back since my Grandpa's funeral and it was sad and strange to not have him there telling his stories and asking us trivia about the world. I was feeling a little reminiscent and took a lot of pictures. There is something magical about Grandma's house to me. I'm sure it's because I spent 2 weeks every summer on vacation here. I enjoyed being with my grandparents and experiencing all that country life has to offer, before heading back to the crowded city life we knew. It's even more magical to me now as I watch my kids skipping rocks, picking flowers, and walking down the dirt road with Grandma. They are enjoying the same little moments I did as a kid. Twenty five years have passed, but in this one place nothing has really changed.

On Saturday we went to the air show. Grandpa loved to fly and never missed this yearly show and we couldn't bear to be in town and not experience it for ourselves. It was really amazing!

That afternoon we went to visit my Grandpa's grave and got a picture with Grandma. I miss my Grandpa so much. He was one of the neatest people I have ever known and always made me feel so loved. I am grateful for the knowledge I have that he is in a better place, surrounded by his parents and brothers, and that I will see him again one day.

Then we headed to the elementary school for my grandma's 85th birthday party. My uncle opened the PE closet and let the kids at the scooters, balls, and jump ropes. What fun! We did a big tug of war with families against one another. John got a little too into the tug of war, not that any of us were surprised by that at all. He can't stand to lose any type of competition. He took everyone down, but ended up pretty grass stained and scraped up from it! The highlight was when the giant parachute came out. Everyone joined in that fun and Grandma was out running under the parachute with all the kids. She has a lot of energy for 85! And Carter thought the parachute was the greatest thing ever. That may be the happiest I had ever seen him in his life. He was giggling uncontrollably and running in and out. He got pulled under during "shark attack" by an older cousin and he couldn't have been more thrilled. It was a fun time! Happy Birthday Grandma!