Little did we know...

 when we booked this vacation house that we would get to share it!  This wasn't the first choice of places that Ted called about...but it was the one that was available for the days we wanted, the price, and they allowed a dog.

 More room than we needed...

 Ashlynn liked having her own space.

Teddy and Alisa didn't care where they slept.

 We had a king size bed in a room with a whole wall of mirrors...just a little unnerving.  Ha ha ha.

 The place was clean and the toilet worked!  Yeah!

 Friday morning...Mari texted from Grand Haven State Park stating that the rain and wind had bested them.  They were packing up and heading home, "Brad is soaked and loading up.  He banished us to the van."  I texted back after consulting Ted, "Don't go home.  Come up here!  We have so much room to share.  It will be fun!  You can set up the camper in the carport to dry out!"

 THEY CAME!!!  They arrived before noon and everyone settled in...with room to spare!

                                                       The guys set up the camper to dry.

The girls watched a movie.

The boys went out fishing.

The adults sat and talked.

 Allison sang with the singing fish..."throw me in the river...."

          Lollie tried to play with Chevy...but he just doesn't like to play much any more.

 What fun to have our family come and spend time with us at this place!  God knew what was going to happen back when Ted made the reservations!  He prepared us to be able to share a blessing!

                                              It was a refreshing time up north...for all of us!

A Fun Get Away Up North on Lakeview Drive

 A fun little get away trip up north started with a stop at Tim Hortons for a can of coffee and breakfast!

 Oh...look...how pretty the trees are...

 The kiddos were passed out!  I guess last week was a little rougher on us than we thought!

 Ted and I enjoyed our coffees, conversation, and pretty leaves.

 Oh. wow!  Honey, you nailed it again!  This is perfect!

 Right on the lake...

 We didn't have to unload in the rain!

 Beautiful views...

 something for each one of us to enjoy!  We ate lunch.  The guys went to get worms and a couple other things...like "fall candles" to make things smell better for Ashlynn.  Upon entrance, she opened every window in the place "to get fresh air in here!" She made a special request of her Dad and he delivered in a big way...Pumpkin Spice!  "You have a sense of smell just like your mother!"

 The smell was overwhelmingly Pine Sol in an old home...I understood and agreed...quietly!

 We cuddled up on the couches with pillows and blankets and put in a movie.

 "This is so nice!  I love the view of the lake!"

 "There are the guys!  Do you think they will catch anything?"  I wasn't sure...but the guy told us it is good fishing...and it is gently raining/misting.

 "Did you catch anything?"

 "You mean, you didn't see us? They were this big!"  Yah, right!  "We did catch and release 3 Northern Pike that were about 12-15 inches long.  But we are cold now."

 Watching the news and seeing the weather for the next couple days...RAINY, WINDY, AND COLD!

 We stayed nice and warm!  We had no plans or ambitions to do anything but read, watch movies, eat, sleep, fish, and just be lazy...so we were perfectly fine with the weather radar update.  We kind of felt like we were outside with all the windows in the place!

 Ashlynn was our resident organizer!  She helped with the kitchen prep and clean-up...and keeping hot water on the stove ready for hot chocolate!

 Chevy was antsy with a new place and lots of new smells.  There was a fenced in yard he could wander around, but he was too cold to be out long.  The heat kicked on for awhile...whoops...Ashlynn, time to close the windows!  Didn't know that was on!  At least we know it works...forecast for Friday afternoon and evening...40s!  Brrrr!

Catching up Again

 Autumn has graced us once again with beautiful colors and cool weather!  We crave the smell of fires and all things cinnamon and spice.

 A memory...a grace-less moment on my part last Sunday in the parking lot.  I rolled my ankle and fought all week with swelling and black/blue colors.  This was mild looking compared to Monday after school!  Yikes!  We kept pushing through the week with special meetings and work responsibilities...and I...kept a bag of ice handy!

 This could be the reason so many children have issues with clowns!  Disturbing artwork to put together in the K3 class!?

 A lesson about that "sneaky snake satan" who whispered to Eve to "take the fruit even though God said not to eat the fruit".  Mrs. K. put out a temptation plate with instructions "not to touch the candy on the plate".

 They were a captive audience!  Did someone say CANDY?

 "Ok, Mrs. K and Mrs. D, don't say anything or remind them not to touch the candy, even though everything in your being will want to help them not touch the candy!"  Even with the snake around the plate to remind them...they all at one time or another gathered around the table...to look and play with the snake.  TALK ABOUT REAL LIFE OBJECT LESSON!!!  We will stand by, sit by, touch, watch, smell, and whatever else we can think of around sin.

 Satan just lays and waits for us to give in to the temptation.  And then God sends friends across our path to remind us...sometimes not so gently! "DON'T TOUCH THE CANDY!"  I didn't get a picture of the little girl that did give in to the temptation.  She grabbed two gummy butterflies and had one in her mouth...and several children yelled at her "DON'T TOUCH!" She took it out of her mouth and put it back toward the plate...thankfully, I was able to intercept the offended gummy butterflies.  All the children got to visit the candy plate at the end of the day...getting more than just the one they would have snatched.  The little one who did grab and give back received a candy too.  A picture of God's grace and forgiveness when we do begin to go the wrong way, but follow His Holy Spirit's prompting...in this case...demonstrated in K3 friends.

 Tis the season of fresh apples from the orchard!  We made applesauce in class with some of our apples.  Yum!  Thankfully...I had cinnamon sugar pita chips and caramel in my lunch box...OH YUM!  My new favorite fall dip on the go!

 Meet a grasshopper friend!

Meet a toad friend!  Be thankful you are where you are...I had them shoved in my face at recess so I "Look, Miss Kari!"

 Camping Day...in a tent...counting gummy bears...going on a bear hunt...and eating smores!

 Mrs. K had a moment of clear thinking amidst the crazy of the day.  "Let's cut the marshmallows in half for smores.   Listen to them!  They do not need more sugar!"  Good idea...because I was only putting one little section of chocolate on anyway!

 Not as messy either!  It was a win-win!

 Cute campfire pictures with their little hands for flames...red and yellow put together make...ORANGE!  We made it to the end of Wednesday!  Hooray!!! Now...two days off for Teachers' Convention for one Mrs. K and a family trip for the other Mrs. K.  Guess who was more excited...the children or the teachers?!!?