Flooding at the lake...2008

A drawing for Daddy

I had to share this pic of our Teddys...the younger showing the older the picture he drew "just for Daddy". "That's us, Dad, we're fishing...the circles are the rocks, the blue is the sky...and we have stick-em-up-hair!" He was so proud...and Daddy enjoyed the fact that he had green facial hair! What a pair! Another special Father's moment in the busy-ness of life!
(If you click on the pic...you can enjoy the attention to detail too!)

Happy Father's Day to my Father

"A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian...and most of all, his family ought to know." D.L. Moody
Dad...thanks for your example through the years. You have lived what you preached and preached what you lived...and because of that you have children who depend on your example and encouragement to help us weather the stormy times of life. Your life and ministry have touched so many people...and they/we can look back over the years and see your faithfulness to your Heavenly Father through the storms of your life. I appreciate the time and counsel you give to us...it has been a great help...and knowing that you pray for us brings a peaceful calm in the midst of storms! Thank you for being a father who has loved unconditionally, served unselfishly, and lived uprightly! With love and gratefulness, Kari

Happy Father's Day

"Authentic men aren't afraid to show affection, release their feelings, hug their children, cry when they're sad, admit it when they're wrong, and ask for help when they need it." Charles Swindoll

"The acid test of a father's leadership is not in the realm of his social skills, his public relations, his managerial abilities at the office, or how well he handles himself before the public...it is in the home!" Charles Swindoll

To our Daddy...we love you for so many reasons...but the greatest...is the time you spend with us at the end of each day! Even when you are superty-duperty tired...your arms around us make us feel loved and safe...thank you for being a wonderful Daddy!

Ashlynn's birthday

A fun-filled week of simple pleasures

Alisa lost her tooth, put it on the counter, and I am pretty sure I "cleaned it off" when I wiped down the counter. "That's ok, Mom, the tooth fairy can get it if it went down the drain!" Does she know who it is? I was not about to take a drain apart!!! Anyway, the tooth fairy's wings were pink and she was happy! 4 quarters=1 tooth! "Mom, I have a window for my tongue!"
The kids found a turtle...twice...so they decided to "put him in a little box"! We kept "Stripe" for a day and then let him go so he could eat...what do turtles eat? We didn't have the internet or wilderness books to help us find out! With all the rain, he had lots of little ponds to choose from!
It is always fun getting settled at the lakehouse...the kids find toys to play with and fun places to play in...and Mommy gets peace and quiet for almost an hour...then we have to take a ride!
How fun to have a special place to hide and play..."seating for one...only!"
We also stuck with the plan to do schoolwork review each day...the girls are doing a good job...now to get serious with the summer library reading program!

We're home...only because we had to...

leave the lakehouse...they shut off the electric to our area due to flooding! All the rain in northern and central Wisconsin has to go somewhere...and the Rock River is a good place to go...which then empties into our lake...and the flooding of last August?...isn't anything compared to this!!! We stayed up to monitor the whole flooding situation and celebrate Ash's birthday...and planned to stay longer...till they shut power off this morning...which meant emptying the fridge and freezer and making sure things were picked up...just in case! Pictures to come as soon as I unpack!

Girl's Night

A light summer evening supper while watching a new to us Shirley Temple video...
in the cool of the basement...while Mom is on the computer making labels for the shop...and crafting when she isn't messing up the print job! (Do you know how easy it is to hit the wrong button when you have five windows open at once? Multi-tasking isn't all that it is cracked up to be!)

Simple Activities...don't cost much!

After throwing some hot dogs on the grill for lunch, Alisa suggested roasting marshmallows and making smores...hmmm...what a yummy idea!
While the kids took a much needed nap...separation from each other and from Mom is more like it...there was wildlife to watch in our yard...maybe she too was looking for some peace and quiet on a cloudy, rainy afternoon.

The cake diaries

I had several people exclaim over their recent consumption of the cakes I made...they were good! The key was freezing the fresh baked cake...made for a very moist cake! Here are a few pictures of what was involved...minus the baking, mess, and decorator!
Beating the frosting for a long time is the key!
Lots of cake mixes were used!
Crumb coating to keep the crumbs out of the decorated layer.
Pink and brown makes a fun color combination! The cake was marble.
Light green and yellow are a new favorite too! Chocolate cake with vanilla filling and white cake with chocolate filling.

Grat-i-tude (grat'i-tud), n. the state of being grateful: appreciation of favors received; thankfulness.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words! The only word that comes to my mind is ingratitude (the absence of gratitude; insensibility to kindness.) well, and the obvious embarrassment that is felt at such times of honesty by one of my children in a group setting. Teddy used his direct honesty as he opened a present from his grandparents...much needed school clothes, t-shirt, and shorts for this summer!!! "Clothes are not a good present." Now we all know grandparents always add something special to something that is needful...a little lunch box for cars and gadgets or for his snack for K5 and two little cars! Another teaching opportunity for us and another chuckle for all those who have "been there, done that, and survived!"

When it is raining outside...we have memories inside!

Playing in the sun, sand, and water at the lake...

A walk through a special garden...
Days like today are nice for remembering or cuddling up with a good book or movie...so that is what we shall do...while we wait for the sun to come out again! Ah...the lazy days of summer...