Our Trip

So a friend of mine encouraged me to do a short daily blog post about our trip. When she mentioned it, I didn't think I could or would do it.  But, I figured I would give it a try! 

My posts won't have pictures while on the road because I have hubby's computer (from work) and I don't think I can upload them.  But, I promise I will post bunches when we get home.

So, we are day two on the road.  We drove about 2 1/2 hours to my hubby's brother's house late yesterday afternoon.  We figured if we got a couple of hours out of the way, the rest of the trip would be a whole lot easier.  And so far, that idea has paid off.

Anyway, we had a great dinner with my brother and sister-in-law and my two nieces.  It is kind of funny because the next time we see them will be in just a few days in Pennsylvania!  Anyway, we all went to bed early because we had big plans to get up at 4 AM and get on the road bright and early. 

We were on the road by 4:30 and half of the kids were still in their PJs.  I took first driving shift.  I love to drive.  But, because I didn't sleep well I was only able to drive for a couple of hours.  Which was kind of a bummer because when we pulled over to change drivers, the kids woke up.

They packed books and crayons and books of puzzles.  The Kindles were a big hit and so were the DSs.  Amber, the name we have given our GPS, was a little off today.  She led us off the interstate to a Chick-fil-A that didn't exist.  The next place, on a different exit, was closed because of a broken water main but we finally persevered and were able to eat lunch.

After lunch was movie time.  We had made it through Georgia, S. Carolina, N. Carolina and the never ending state of Virginia.  We were making great time until we got to the DC area.  In 5 o'clock traffic.  It was crazy busy and backed up.  In every lane.  I guess Amber was trying to help us get around all the traffic and she directed off the interstate.

We went on a wild goose chase around a suburb of Baltimore, near as we could tell.  In 5 o'clock traffic.  It was crazy.  We were lost.  And it took us forever to find our way back.  The highlight of the whole mishap was that we got to see some really great old, old homes!

We are safely tucked away in our hotel room in Gettysburg.  Watching the Packer game after having a great meal of PB and Js and pastrami sandwiches.  We took a dip in the indoor pool and jacuzzi.

We have about a half day's travel tomorrow and a trip to Cabela's to look forward to.  There might be more blog posts because it is kind of fun.  But, then again there might not.  We will see how it goes . . .

Birthday Party

This will be my last post for a couple weeks.  Tomorrow we are on our way to Pennsylvania to my oldest nephew's wedding!  EG will be a flower girl and Boop a ring bearer.  On our way back we are going to stop for a couple of days in DC.  Seemed kinda crazy to drive right by and not take advantage of our proximity to the nation's Capitol.

So my last post for awhile is about the unique birthday party we all went to a couple of weeks ago.

A good friend of the girl's had a birthday party camping trip. I thought it was a super cool idea!  So about three weeks ago I packed up all the kids and a tent and took the girls to the party at a local state park about an hour and a half away.


I wanted to go for moral support and to use our new tent.  Hubby had to work the weekend so I had to take Boop and EG with me.  We loaded up the car, drove to the state park and then helped our family friend's celebrate their daughter's birthday!

The weather was pretty good, the state park was beautiful and all the kids (adults too) had a great time.  Eating hot dogs, making smores, swimming, going on a nature walk and just hanging out.

It was our first time using our new tent.  I am glad Mr. S was there to help me set it up but it really was pretty easy.  Boop, EG and I slept in it.  I learned a few things that we will need for our tent camping trip in October.

First, it will be sleeping room only.  There will not be enough room for anything else in there.  Second, it will take the kids a little bit to get use to all of the nature sounds at night.  They kept asking me "what is that noise?"  Third, tenting camping is cool but I think I will enjoy it much more with hubby along! ;)  And fourth, it is so cool looking up in the morning and seeing the beautiful trees and sky (we slept with the "windows" open to catch a breeze through the tent.)

Anyway, I am glad my girls' friend had such a great idea for a birthday party.  It really was special . . .

Friends in High Places

Recognize anyone familiar in this picture?

Well, I will start by saying that the lady in red is our state's Attorney General.  The gentleman standing next to her just happens to be the Governor of our great state.  The others are various Cabinet members.  And, in the middle with his "foster parent" is our former dog Snoopy!

I got a call from my sister this morning, who works for the AG, and she said that on the Cabinet's agenda this morning was the adoption of dogs.  And, as a guest to the Cabinet meeting, was none other then Snoopy.  We were all shocked and amazed by the craziness of the whole situation.

My sister said he paid a lot of attention to her and slept under her desk while he was there.  She said he did great!

Of course, it made us miss him.  We have been following him through the website and have called the Humane Society just to check up on him.  For as much as we miss him, we are confident that he will find a great forever home.

Now that he is a star . . .

Beautiful Ballerinas

Ballet season has begun!  And the girls are so, so excited!  We will spend most of our week day afternoon's at ballet.  I now officially have three beautiful ballerinas.  And I am thrilled!  We have been with this school for 8 years (except the one we took off after EG was born) and have loved every minute of it.

This year is a little more committed.  Nature Girl has two classes on Monday and Little Mama has one. EG started her very first class a week ago Wednesday.  NG, to help with tuition, is assisting in a class on Wednesday as well, which is really nice.  NG has two classes on Thursday and Little Mama decided to try ballet again so she has a class on Thursday as well.

We love the dancing.  It helps the girls stay active and gives them discipline and teaches them to take care of their bodies.  We have met really great friends, both me and the girls.  They take classes with their besties, many of which they have been dancing with from the beginning.  And, most importantly, the girls' dances are a praise and worship of God.  It just has a really great focus.

I have no idea where we will go from here.  I don't know if the girls will desire to continue to dance.  But, I do know that this has been a wise choice and investment in our girls' lives.  And I am so, so excited to continue to watch them dance and to see what the girls learn this year . . .

Coveting My Days

This year we have been given a couple of amazing opportunities to learn a couple of new skills.  For free.  We were able to take advantage of one over the summer, learning some sign language.  It was something I have had in the back of my mind for awhile so when a friend organized a little group to learn, I was all for it.

I thought it was just a summer deal.  Then I realized that the opportunity would go on at least through the fall portion of the school year.  On a day we typically stay home.  As I tried to decide what to do, take advantage of a fabulous opportunity or covet the two days a week we don't usually schedule anything outside of the house, my practical side won out.

It is so darn easy, especially when really amazing opportunities come up, to over schedule myself.  And as I have alluded to before, I am not good at that.  Ultimately my family and I pay a price.

I love being at home.  I love to have dinner ready at a reasonable hour.  I love the opportunities that being at home create.  The kids play together, sometimes.  The girls do cross stitch or swing or draw or read or write or a number of other things to occupy their time.  The little guys run around together, listen to music, create, play games.

I like the time to bake and plan and catch up.  Even though we were busy over the summer, we were able to do a few of those things and I don't want to give those things up.  For us, for me, it is what makes our house a home.  It is hard to say no, especially when the opportunities are fabulous.

But, I covet my days at home.  I need to try to protect them.  We need to have a little cushion and flexibility.  I have to think about what is coming up in the future (travel, basketball, etc.) and I am not very willing to give my days up.  My plan for today is to see how the fall goes and then go from there . . .

Shakespeare

Over the years we have done Shakespeare in a number of ways.  Mostly read very good shortened versions of the plays written by the Lamb and others.  We have even used paper dolls and dressed them up as the characters.  We have rented one DVD, A Midsummer Night's Dream (with Mickey Rooney).

But, this year, because I have three to read Shakespeare to, one of which is suppose to read the actual plays, I decided to do Shakespeare on CD.  Back in the summer I ordered A Midsummer Night's Dream because I know the story and the kids have heard/seen it in various forms.  Plus, we have car time every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon on our trip to ballet.

So, this past Wednesday, we put in the CD.  At first LM said she didn't understand.  But then the story got going and she recognized some names.  When we got to ballet I read to them the very brief synopsis from the insert of the CD.  It helped tremendously in their grasp of the story. (I told them from now on I would read the over view first.)

It was hard to understand in some places.  The actors use Old English and takes a little bit to get use to.  By the time we made it to ballet, everyone, even EG, was listening with great attention.  What made it even greater was that the girls came out of my bedroom this morning saying that Boop was saying "Lysander, Lysander" one of the main characters in the play!  He is six so him just remembering a character was music to my ears.

My plan was to only listen to it on Wednesdays.  I want the CD to last the whole semester.  But, when I got in the car this afternoon, they requested to hear some more!  So, we listened to Act I, Scene ii and the first part of Act II.

It isn't easy and I don't expect them to understand all of it.  Heck, I don't.  But, it is kind of cool to be cruising down the road and have the car quiet because the kids are listening to Shakespeare.  Just one of those great mom/teacher/life moments. . .

Hope

The funeral was Friday.  When J (Ms. B's son) and his wife told us about funeral plans I asked if it would be OK if the bigger kids came.  She was a part of their lives and now she is gone.  He said "yes, definitely, she would want them there."

Death is scary.  No body wants to die.  But, it is a reality.  I want my children to have a wonderful appreciation for life.  And for death.  I am not afraid to go through it with them.  Is it easy?  No.  Is it painful for a mom to see a son with tears in his eyes knowing he misses someone?  Yes.  But we can not hide from it.  It is so real.  And, I, we as believers, have hope.  I could not imagine going through this with them without hope.

Jesus died on the cross for my sins.  He was crushed for my transgressions.  He is my hope.  As we are learning in our Catechism class we all are born with sin because of Adam and Eve.  Boop said the other night he wished Adam and Eve had not sinned because then we would never have to physically die.  I agreed.  Life would have been so different.

But, then I said to him that God has given each one of us a choice to obey, to accept, even Adam and Eve.  We now have a choice to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior or not.  I have to be honest, I don't want to be forced to do anything.  I want to choose.  I choose Jesus.  I choose hope.  I choose life eternal.  Love born of choice is so much sweeter than a forced allegiance.  And I choose to live for Him everyday.  And with that comes a sort of peace.  Especially when faced with death.  I have hope.  I am teaching my kids about God's hope for a forever future.

I am a sinner from the very beginning and I continue in my sinful flesh everyday.  I am learning to love and serve and share Jesus.  But, no matter how my day goes, my life goes, I have hope and a promise from God.  "In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you."  John 14:2

I just can't imagine going through life without hope . . .