daddymoon

We spent a fantastic {and sweltering} camping weekend with some of our favorite people. I took entirely too many pictures of our kiddos...bordering on the intrusive, but flinging a "you'll thank me in 20 years" at the reluctant subjects.

we fished, we swam {so hot,} we ate {still dreaming about that granola, JRS,} we played

{each camping trip, I challenge myself to make something in the dutch oven on the open fire {I should probably stop}...this trip, I tried Granny's fruit cobbler using the peaches from Grandma and Grandpa J and blueberries we picked with Opa

it was a little crispy around the edges, but worked okay...tasted okay...it'd be better with ice cream, but I haven't figured out how to camp for four days keeping ice cream cold...let me in on the secret if you have}

Daddy arrived to meet us a day after we got to camp...safe and sound from Tennessee. Home {well, camp home.} Together. 

To round out our trip, we met friends at another campground for a night, opting for a cabin in the rain instead of a tent. Wise choice. We swam indoors, ate cheap pizza, and played bingo with dozens of other campers. I won twice...9 bucks {enough to pay for the pizza} and left as soon as people started glaring at me.

Now we're home {real mortgaged home.}

Fifteen hours...the number of hours asleep I've had in the last 24. Blissful. There was the quick go-back-to-sleep, snuggling with my best boy as the rain fell outside our cabin. A cat nap on the car ride home. An honest to goodness sack out after the great unpacking. And then starting a family movie at 9:30. {I mean, come on...that's not even giving me a fair chance.}

I must have needed it. My annoying cough and cold must have needed it.

So, the house is a wreck...we're assimilating his stuff with our stuff...it reminds me of getting married. And there's the soggy, muddy laundry and the food that stayed in the cooler too long to deal with. All very much worth the weekend fun.

I'm loving the nip of fall in the air...fully recognizing that it may not last...but I'm ready for it.

Goodbye, summer. Hello, autumn. Hello, Sweet Man. I'm going to wrap myself up in you.

more harvest

Carrots...a friend was surprised that we could grow them in an Ohio summer. {I'm surprised that we can grow anything in an Ohio summer with my annual case of it's-the-end-of-July-I'm-over-it neglect.)

Bug carried in 2, then three, then 5 and 6 carrots at a time for about a week and before we knew it we had a veggie drawer full.

Bug: Can we make a carrot cake? {Has he ever tasted carrot cake? I don't think so.} 

me: Of course, what a great idea! We'll take it to our picnic on Saturday.

shredding is hard work

Friday, we baked. Saturday, we decorated, shared and enjoyed.

Some of you may be thinking clever boy wearing his carrot shirt. Nope, it just happens to be his favorite shirt (from his daddy) and he wore it both days we worked on the cake.

If you're keeping track, like I am...Sweet Man returns home in 3 days for good...very good.

first day of school

we prayed, pledged, read, & snuggled

we discussed the fruits of the spirit while noshing on fruity kabobs

we counted, practiced our phone number and address, wrote compound words

we cut, identified letter sounds, subtracted 9's

we stayed on schedule {huzzah!} thanks to Bug

we marked the day with a pose

{moments before this, Bean had a beaming smile on her face as she wore her floor length velvet skirt and high heeled patent pumps...I asked her to dress for first day pictures, after all. I offered 3 optional more casual skirts to change into and she begrudgingly did so. She made sure I didn't forget she was not happy about the wardrobe change.}

we celebrated our day with a new board game {a total blast...} and banana splits for dinner {perhaps, not such a good idea}

and just before drifting off tonight, she asked do we get to do school again tomorrow?

nitty gritty

Back to the original purpose for this journal...an account of our travels and life...instead of all that book reading mumbo jumbo. This is what some of you really want to know. Most of you couldn't care less.

Currently we are in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Been here for a bit, staying for another while. 

Bloomington and Normal are two cities that grafted into each other. Together they make for a larger town/small city. There's a saying, Bloomington is 10 minutes from Normal. Some people think that's funny.

In the combined towns are 3 university campuses, Illinois State University being the largest. 

We live on the eastern edge of Normal, with Uptown Normal {Children's Museum is there} to our west and a large commercial district in between. {TJ Maxx is a hop, skip & jump...holla!} Our favorite places in Bloomington are Miller Park Zoo and the Davis mansion.

Sweet Man was moved into a one bedroom apartment right around Valentine's Day. Roomier than the hotel, we have an enclosed bedroom, more storage and a larger kitchen. In the move, we lost a pull-out couch and a table. But we gained a washer/dryer! Oh yeah...and a wall for the bedroom! We're making due as Bean sleeps in the large closet in the bedroom {she thinks it's fun} and Bug sleeps on couch cushions in our room. The kids eat at a bar in the kitchen and Sweet Man and I use our laps...meals around a table will resume at home.

I've been cooking every night. Finding a back issue of Cooking Light in my stash has inspired me to try some new recipes this week: cabbage rolls {who knew those were so yummy?} skirt steak with a cucumber-pepperocini relish, and the older favorite: mango salmon...guess I'm bored with soups and casseroles at this point in the season. So the kitchen is pretty well stocked...no mixer, but I brought a few other essential tools from home...even my frying pan.

{ our view on a dreary day}

It's very quiet...our windows look out onto a pond and there are houses beyond it, but no street noise. And it's very hot...we're on the second floor so our windows are open more often than not.

Right across the street is part of the extensive bike path system. Lovely, although it sometimes uses sidewalks as the path and has several street crossings. So we drive to the bike path. Second problem...they all have bikes, I don't. I want to get one, but don't want to spend the money...seems foolish to spend money again on a meantime bike. I should just go for it, right? Can't do it, yet.

Sweet Man discovered that on one side of our apartment complex is a path that connects to our favorite playground. Bonus! It's a 5 minute ride/walk to the park with one street crossing. Just sent the kids off for the day...just kidding. And finally the weather is allowing us to enjoy the outdoors...cold and rainy when we first returned...latter part of this week has been in the 60's, 70 yesterday. 

School is great...Bug's almost finished with his Math book and his phonics/spelling. And because of that, we've loosened up on our schedule a bit...not that it was ever tight. I'll be supplementing those areas with something, surely...we can't be done yet. Too much day to fill.

We're never finished with history, but we've camped out for a few weeks with the Corps for Discovery {the Lewis & Clark expedition.} Lots of map work and fun stories. Bean is calling everyone Pompy, the nickname of  Sacajawea's baby. Today we are cutting and assembling a balsa wood keelboat, a replica of what they used to get up the Missouri River. We'll launch it on the pond when Sweet Daddy is home from work. 

Don't have a handle yet on where my Jellybean lands in her school skills...but she will surely be a different student than Bug. She is hungry for learning, whereas he is a bit more passive. Mom, can we do letters? She wants my attention pretty constantly...and I try to oblige more often than not in these fleeting days. I did have a mini-fuss a few days ago when she said, for the 27th time...Mom, you're not playing with me. I proceeded to catalog our activities for the day: read/cuddled on the couch, played Set, played monkey in the middle over the bed, played Pollies, she helped me in the kitchen...didn't work...I ended up on the floor drawing with her. No regrets, of course.

Other sweet news: Sweet Man was finally able to visit the zoo with us, Saturday. We took him to see our favorites, although we found many exhibits empty...boo.

I discovered that the church we attend has a Zumba class twice a week!!!! I went Monday and it was a little more hip-hop than I'm used to, but fun.

The kids and I went to another favorite playground yesterday afternoon. Sweet Man arrived after work, shamrock shakes in hand...yum, then ugh! The plan was to play a little tennis. Sloshy bellies were not part of that plan. Sweet Man and I played first while the kids hit against the wall and then they convinced us to all play together...mixed doubles. Ha, it was a sight! And no dinner for me after that 550 calorie (!!!!) shake...I felt so yuck...definitely not worth it.

So we've settled back into this area. I have plans to visit with a college friend who lives in Chicago in a couple weeks. The kids and I will go up and spend the night. I haven't seen her for 15 years{? is that possible?}...a late night and much catching up in our future.

{I feel like I should explain about the hair...it is very windy here in Bloomington, it's bath day - that's right...the day of the week for baths....in addition, we're homeschoolers...so we don't much care about hair....}

Okay...gotta go play Flip Puppy Over the Bed. Tell me if you're itching to know anything else.

Goodbye, September & Cincinnati

We leave tomorrow for home. Again, we're in a holding pattern until we know where Sweet Man's next assignment will be. I'm crossing fingers for Atlanta...I love Atlanta and Savannah. I think I love the South.

Today was laidback. We did school and then letterboxed. What is letterboxing, you ask? It's a treasure hunt  of sorts. It's fun, adventurous, cheap, and gets the blood pumping. Perfect for this family on the move. (Geocaching is very similar, but this Momma is low-tech.)

We found three boxes within 5 miles of our hotel. Why didn't I remember to do this when we were in Wichita or Houston? Ah, well. But we have remembered to letterbox (yes, it can be a verb, I think) on vacation on the Outer Banks.

I need to be a bit more organized to do this...keep our supplies together in the car. Maybe even make our own symbol stamp and come up with a cute family name. Any suggestions?

Racing to the starting location

Locating a letterbox

Does this look like a treasure? (Well, of course, he is....) 

Beauty along the trail

Just throwing this in here...'cuz I love him.

I love fall

Yesterday we went to a beautiful park with Sweet Daddy and then to Shaw Farms to visit the pumpkin people.

Railroad ties

I think I just gave myself an aneurysm trying to bite into frozen mini snickers...ouch. I'll keep working on it, rest assured.

Got out of the hotel today to travel a mere 10 minutes to EnterTrainment Junction. Oh, wasn't too excited about this one, folks. Bug really wanted to go. But we had a great day with the extra bonus of meeting my sweet friend and her nephew who are here for a few weeks. Fortuitous.

The main feature is a giant model train display with amazing detail and some railroad history scattered throughout. There was also a kid's train-themed play area and a seasonal walk-thru exhibit.

Here are pictures ~ the photographer was not on her game this day ~ forgive her. And yes, that is the brown dress Bean's wearing...imagine.

We shall return, Kelley's Island

kayakers on the shore

twin sister boat of the ferry we are riding to KI

Momma, Opa, Sweet Daddy, Bean in Daddy's arms, Bug on the bench

glacial grooves...truly amazing

with Opa

Happy Friday! Here we are...up in East Harbor State Park, near Sandusky, on the banks of the Great Lake Erie. My dad has been here since Monday. We are just staying tonight.

We have spectacular weather today, a full-up fridge, and a promise of a campfire tonight.... 

And my girl is back with me after 4 days...she's asked me to stop telling her how much I missed her. And I do believe she had a fantastic time with Grammy and Grandpa. I bet they're napping as I type. Whew!

On our drive up, today, we happened upon a fun General Store in Olivesburg...old-fashioned candy, Amish furniture, interesting things. Here are the kids, each with their candies of choice. Yes, it was about 10 o'clock this morning and yes, I'm a superb parent.

The kids and I have already been to see the glacial grooves that are exposed in this state park.  But the most famous ones are over on Kelley's Island. Tomorrow we'll probably head over there or do something else tourist-y. I'm driving my dad and husband crazy outlining the planning options for tomorrow. 


They all went off for a walk to the camp store and I find myself here alone, half-wondering when my momma is going to get back from wherever she is with a plan for dinner. 


Ooo, I smell campfires already. I really think I could become a full-time camper. I love this.

Makeover madness

When I was four, my mom trimmed my long blonde hair in preparation for an Olan Mills picture session. Don't remember much about getting my picture taken, but I do remember coming home and seeing scissors left on the back of the toilet, gleaming in the glow of the nightlight. Mom was busy making fried rice in her electric skillet. Our Irish setter, Bridget, was napping under the table. I grabbed my brother and we joined her. And I brought the scissors. I cut his hair, the hair above my right ear, and the hair on Bridget's left flank. My mom lifted the tablecloth and found us. She called, "John!" and began to cry.

Fast forward, 33 years...this morning, I french-braided my Bug's hair into two braids.

Then, fateful mistake...Sweet Man and I were napping (I know~I already feel guilty,) kids were playing. Bug walked into our room, complaining about wanting to take her braids out. I could see little wisps of hair as she struggled with a comb. I thought, "Ahhh, I thought those braids would at least last the day." I began to undo her braids, but hair was coming out in my hands. And then I looked closer...the wisps were not escaped hairs, they were cut hairs....AAAAAACCCCCKKKKK! The scissors were still in her hand.

The little imp had the forethought to bring the scissors (which she had to climb on a stool to reach) and the wastebasket from the downstairs bathroom, upstairs into her room. I found it with clumps of hair in it. And that's when I cried. And so did she.

With his wits about him, Sweet Man retrieved his clippers and a stool and was ready on the porch to finish her job.

She thinks she looks like her Mimi. I think Mimi would like this new do.