It's A Happy Birthday!

My parents each sang to me over the phone, Ted and the kids gave me really nice cards and a fun magazine this morning, and fresh cinnamon rolls with a cup of coffee!
Here is an idea for a little treat for a teacher or friend...the kids took the bags to their teachers this morning to let them know we appreciate them and look forward to this year!

A birthday day gift from my mom-in-law...

a day of no school runs to "do whatever you want to do!" How nice is that!? So...I made an appointment for my first ever pedicure! The pink toes are for Alisa's benefit! And I enjoyed roaming through a couple stores, renewing my driver's license and van tags, and my new BH & G magazine that came today...what more could a girl want?
This pic is for you Mari! The pedicure was my gift from my husband and kids. This was the first time I requested a certain gift for my birthday...and it was so worth it!
Fun gifts for my birthday...from family and secret pal! Thank you all! I am enjoying everything and will continue tomorrow!

Look in your review mirror...

...sometimes they really aren't listening to you!
We were leaving school yesterday and I was asking Teddy a question...no response...so I asked louder...still no response...started to ask again and then looked in the mirror to see if he was responding...at all...uh, no! We keep the headphones in the car for those "just in case moments with Daddy!" What a kid!

My Son...

came home from school, ate lunch, and wanted to play with his buddy. The only rule is that he has to change out of his school clothes! He did...and left them on the familyroom floor. What a kid! New rule...put your clothes away, then play!

A New Box of Crayons Has Been Opened!

A new year...a new classroom...a new set of teachers...new friends...a new routine...
All things that will color our world this year!
We opened the box yesterday and found all kinds of bright, shiny, colorful crayons...just waiting to be used to make our life more colorful! No broken tips yet...but they will come when the crayons hit the floor. No dull crayons yet...but as they get used the color will rub off and blend with other colors to form interesting pictures. The paper will get peeled back, crayons will break in half, and some will get used more than others. I think I just found a new object lesson...a good reminder for myself! The box may get squashed and the crayons have to be dumped into a new container...but they are still useful! They still will add color...even in their worn state! I love a new box of crayons...they smell good, look good, and hold a promise of potential!

I found a new use for my "Happy New Year" stamp...the start of a school year! These were our first day of school treats for our teachers...easier than drawing a smilie face...stamp it!

It's official...school has started!

Breakfast as a family...
Time for Keys for Kids and prayer in preparation for the day. The key for today: Behave like a child of God. I'd say that was a good starting point!
Can we go yet? It was 7:30 and all was ready...Ted's plan is a good plan...it starts with adults up at 6:00a.m.
And we're off!
He did a good job...Mommy was strong till she got in the van! It is a new phase of our life...and I know I will adjust! A cup of coffee and bagel at Panera with my mom-in-law on the patio was very helpful! Thanks for thinking of that, Mom!

Second grade
First grade
Kindergarten
There are lots of boys in Teddy's class!
The "girls" on their way to recess stopped to say "Hi" and see how Teddy's day went!

This is how we take our Sunday afternoon drive!

We passed some very interesting individuals today...as well as many types of water-craft!
Our fearless captain is sick and tired of waving at every passing boat! We will try to rig up a wooden cut-out of a hand on a spring and zip tie (or duct tape...hmmm) it on to the railing. Now that's using your head...instead of your hand!
It was cool out on the water and Grampy is a good warmer-upper! We enjoyed a picnic lunch on our two hour tour.
Relaxed and loving life! Ted and Dad had a fishing expedition this morning (caught 10 fish!), Teddy and Daddy took a cruise around after lowering the dock (just the boys, Mom), and Ted guided us one more time down the river. Have you had your fill yet, honey?

Teddy helped his Dad push the boat out from the dock. Ted says he'll be able to do it by himself next year...he dug his feet in and gave it all he had!

How do you get ready for the first day of school?

"I don't want to go! I will stay home and go to work with Daddy!"
"I make sure my hair is perfectly arranged!"
"I think about all the fun I will have in my auntie's class!"
We invite Mom and Dad to the lake for the weekend and spend lots of time on the boat, eating, laughing, cuddling, and watching the kids...and seeing how much they have grown up and are changing! Then we come home, take showers, eat a snack, and go to bed by the appointed time of 8:00p.m., and everyone falls asleep...except Mommy...who decides to download the weekend pictures to make room for the first day of school pictures and contemplate the fact that 6:00a.m. is going to come awfully early!

Ready or NOT...Here they come!

The supplies are all bought...and some have been delivered to the classrooms.
Their backpacks all packed...and we're ready to go on Monday...but first we have to go to the lake again and breathe in the last scents of summer!

A five year old question

Why is there a berry in our name?

Getting ready for K5 was tough!

Because Teddy has a bad mommy...the worst one in the whole world...our third kid was forgotten when his 18 mo. shots were due...so Tuesday, he got four shots instead of three. I felt horrible! He was so brave and our nurse went so fast that the tears didn't start till poke three! Teddy came away with four Batman bandaids, four stickers, and four pencils for school...and a dilly bar date with his bad mommy! All the supplies are bought, mental preparations are being made, and just one more appointment...the dentist! School starts next Monday...which is five sleeps from now!

Dad chuckled, Ted rolled his eyes, Mom giggled...

at Kari's three strike out meal!
Everything tasted fine and everyone had enough to eat, but it went together with some difficulty!
First strike...the romaine lettuce for the salad was rotten from the inside out...no veggie. What to do? Found a small portion of frozen green beans...does that go with spaghetti?
Second strike...the noodles stuck together. Yes, I had salted and evoo-ed the water!
Third strike...no dessert. What to do? Take the cake crumbs (from the cake for James), put them in a pan, and spread frosting all over. The leftover red frosting looked cheery and the kids were happy...however, no adults partook.
Cinderella doesn't live here and evidently Martha Stewart doesn't either! They both would have planned ahead better, I am sure! Thanks Mom and Dad for coming for dinner anyway! xoxoxo

Fun with Family

A tenth anniversary is a good time to count blessings!

This is a gift I got from my secret pal yesterday as she remembered our tenth wedding anniversary...today! There are so many things to be thankful for each day, but this weekend I have been overwhelmed as I reflect on the blessing of the marriage that God has given us!
"When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."
I have a wonderful husband who is a perfect fit for me! I am so glad that God directed our paths to cross eleven years ago. Ted was kind, patient, and determined to "win my heart"! He treated me like a princess...and he often told me I was one. Now...he treats me like a queen! And he is my knight in shining armor!
"When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings, money cannot buy Your reward in Heaven, nor your home on high."
He is a gentle, strong man. I never have to guess where he stands on issues of life! That is one of the things that drew me to him...he knew what was right and what he was going to do with it. Some of those things were learned in difficult circumstances and made him what he is today by God's grace.
"So, amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey's end."
So many blessings in the last ten years...so many changes...so many challenges...and I am grateful for each one! We have a wonderful family with many precious memories because we waited for each other! So today...my heart is overflowing with love for my husband and praise to my Heavenly Father...He knew what a blessing Ted would be in my life!

We love our Uncle James!

Today, we have a party to attend! Uncle James is leaving for the Navy in a couple days! We will don our red, white, and blue and have some time together as a family. The kids have been asking "When is the party for Uncle James?" I am not sure they understand that he is going away for awhile...they might think it is a birthday party!? After all...there is cake!

We will miss our firefighter! He can build a good fire for smores! We pray for God's protection and leading in the coming days.

He is fun to cuddle with! He picks out fun gifts. He takes Teddy to the fire station and turns on his "blue light" for the kids to see when he leaves on an emergency call.

Now he is going to leave to go into the Navy and be "a soldier man", as Teddy puts it! We are excited to see what experiences he will have in this new chapter of his life! We love you, Uncle James!

Perks of being the owner's son...test drives!

Ready...set...go!
How fast can you go and not roll?
Big boys and their enjoyment of toys...is passed down to little boys!!!

Will the tooth fairy be able to find Ashlynn?

The "tooth fairy" has had "trouble" finding Ashlynn...lake, home, and now Grandma's! I am sure she will "catch up with her" tonight! Alisa "accused me" of forgetting because "I am the tooth fairy or Daddy is". I firmly pointed out that "I do not have wings and certainly your father does not have wings". A friend from church added, "There is nothing fairy about your Daddy...no way, no how!" We enjoyed a laugh and the look on Alisa's face!

Practice makes perfect...

Alisa has all the moves down!
Teddy has all the tricks!
Ashlynn watched them both!
And Grandma still has it! Everybody hoooo-la!

Remains of the flooding

This is the tree that I chained our pieces of dock to...I saved six sections but didn't realize what the force of the water, chain, and dock would do to the tree! Our neighbors said the water got pretty rough at times! Here is proof.

There are many such piles along the lake and river that tell of the power of moving water...sections of docks and trees tossed on shore...
You can see the water line on the trees...yes, the water was that high! It boggles my mind when you look at how big the lake is and try to understand how high the water was...all around the whole lake...many houses/cottages show the water line and destruction still!
There are big sections of land that "tipped over" with the trees and bushes. I forgot to take the camera back into the worst hit part of the park...it is almost too much to take.