Family Visit

This past weekend we headed over to Cleveland, WI to visit Nathan's Uncle Jeff and Aunt Nadine. Also joining in on the visit were Aunt Karen, Uncle Dave, cousin Christie, and Nathan's brother Michael who was passing though on his way back to MI from MN. One of the nicest things about living in Oshkosh is being closer to some of Nathan's extended family and getting to see them more often. It was a nice evening with them all and we look forward to doing it again sometime.

Photo One: A highlight for the kids was playing with Ruggie and Blackie, Jeff and Nadine's yorkies. Here they got to help pass out the evenings treats.

Photo Two: If I were title this one I'd have to call it "Grinnin' Girls." I love the matching smiles on the big cousin/little cousin.

Simulators

The other day we were at the EAA Museum yet again. (Thanks, Kevin and Mary since Nathan's Christmas gift is benefiting us all. :) These are shots of two of the simulators that they have in the Kid Venture area that are there to let the kids get a taste of flight in many different ways. My personal favorite is the hot air balloon one, I'll have to get a shot of it next time. Two things to notice in these pictures though,

#1: Hans is flying in the first shot and the plane is upright, not crashing, and actually in control. Hmm, I can't do any of those things when I try.

#2: Lydia isn't content to just watch Dad. Check out her hands and eyes. She's just as eager to fly as Dad is.

A Day On The Farm

On a family dairy farm near Pickett, WI the annual "A Day On The Farm" is held each fall. It's free to the public with small costs for the pumpkins and food. There are plenty of opportunities to give freewill donations in appreciation of the fun with the proceeds going to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. While we were there we played in a giant sand pit, played in a corn crib full of loose corn, made single servings of butter, got to "deliver" a load of hay to the elevator(pic. #1), got to pet lots of little farm animals(pic.#2), ran around in the corn maze, took a hayride, picked out pumpkins, "milked a cow"(pic.#3), rode ponies, ate caramel apples, and got to try to pet a camel(pic. #4). Our kids have voted it one of the "best days ever!!"

Kindergarten Olympics

On a sunny afternoon a few weeks back Evan's class had their version of the Olympics. The events were a bit different than those in Beijing in August but equally as entertaining. Since my help was conditional on Hans and Lydia coming too they had the chance to participate as well. Evan and Hans proudly wore their medals most of the weekend.

1. Evan competing in the "clothes race". The clothes were so large that two kindergartners could have easily fit into them!

2. Hans looks on as Evan does the classic bean bag toss.

3. The medal ceremony.

4. Lydia found her own event to play.

Driving 101

With kids it doesn't take long to get to know your neighbors. They have managed to meet nearly a dozen neighborhood kids and as a result we meet the parents. The neighbors we've gotten to know best are the one next door, we have an adjoining driveway. It's even more convenient since McKenna is the same age as Evan and Mason the same age as Lydia. If any combination of the five kids are outside you can bet they're playing together. An evening earlier this week found all five in the neighbors' backyard taking turns driving. A recent addition to the bikes, scooters, skateboard, and roller skates that usually clutter the driveway was a power wheels "gator." (It's not ours but the neighbors.) With a lot of laughter, a little apprehension, a few minor crashes, and a lot of fun they took turns driving and being driven around the neighbors' backyard. They rode long enough to wear out the battery which was timed perfectly with needing to pick up and come in for the night. Now the only sad thing about the whole story is that these neighbors are moving on Sunday. Hans' commentary on the subject, "I don't want them to move. They're my new friends." Bummer. At least we have the fun memories.

Something Scrumptious at the Smith's

My dearest friend and sister-in-law, Kristi, started a blog of her own called www.bowlofcherrys.blogspot.com and if you'd like a little daily smile and some laughter you should check it out. The reason I bring it up is that I'm stealing an idea of hers for this post. Kristi has weekly food posts (aka: Foodie Friday). Now I'm not committing to anything like that, my work here is much more...random. That said I couldn't pass up the chance to share Saturday's dinner. I'd seem something like this in a food magazine awhile back and ran across a recipe again so I came up with my own version of portobella pizza. I inverted the cap of a portobella mushroom, brushed it with pesto, filled it with browned sausage, covered that with garden fresh tomato slices, and covered the whole thing with mozzarella cheese. After 20-25 minutes in a 400 degree oven it was perfect. If you like mushrooms on pizza you might want to try this at home. Nathan and I both thought it was scrumptious.

Since our kids aren't mushroom fans we made them mini homemade pizzas that they appreciated in their own way.

1. My attempt at taking a foodie magazine style picture.

2. Trying to take a close up of the pizza but getting a hilarious shot of Hans instead.

3. Evan ready to dig in.

4. Lydia's happy to eat her share. (Yes, she's wearing a paper crown.)

Candid Captured

Every once in a while a silly moment that would otherwise pass in a flash can be captured and held in time. This pictures is exactly that. The kids were wrestling around like they do nearly everyday and for some reason I took out the camera and happened to get this picture. I admit I did crop it and change the color but the genuine smiles, contagious laughter, and sweet joy in the eyes can't be edited. These three have my heart: hook. line, and sinker.

Grandma

One of the things I really think was neat about this past camping trip was that it was a four generation trip. As my brothers and sister and I grew up we camped with not only our immediate family but also our grandparents, a special uncle, and various family friends. It was just a lot of fun for me to watch my Grandma enjoy camping with her family all the way down to great-grandkids. (Here she's relaxing around the campfire with my youngest brother, Brian.)

In a Little Boat

As I mentioned earlier one thing the boys were really, really, really looking forward to doing at Camp was fishing. They spent lots of time on the dock dropping in their lines and are now both accomplished casters. After dinner one evening Nathan and I took them out in one of Camp's little row boats to see if we could find anything bigger than the bait-stealer's that hang around the dock. We found a few fish before it was really too dark for us to be on the lake anymore. There weren't enough for a meal but certainly enough for the boys to have the fishing bug in a big, BIG way.

**Note: We planned on taking Lydia but she's turning a little girly and didn't want to be by "yucky" fish or is a "noisy, loud boat." Sheesh! She stayed on the beach and played in the sand with Grandpa instead.)**

Getting Along

If you've had the pleasure of meeting our youngest you know Lydia is a mite stubborn. She doesn't let the fact that someone may be older, bigger, an adult, or in charge stop her from doing things her way. When we're with my family her biggest "battle buddy" is my nephew Jesse. The trouble with the two of them is that they're only six months apart in age and WAY to much alike. Usually we take turns pulling them apart while they scuffle over toys, food, Grandpa's lap, etc... While at Camp they had a few minor skirmishes but, as the pictures prove, they managed to get along for at least a couple of moments. Maybe as the terrible twos give way to the terrific threes things will keep improving.

Here fishy, fishy

Since getting to go fishing with my parents the summer the kids have been begging to go fishing again. This weekend the kids had the chance again, and again, and again. Here is Hans with his prize catch. Grandpa kindly filleted it and Hans made it part of his supper. Yum.

On Lake Rooney

Part of the fun at Camp is being in the water. It wasn't overly warm but just warm enough to let us splash and play on in the afternoon sunshine. What a great way to pass the time.

1. Cousins at play.

2. Hans and Nate afloat.

3. Lydia and I happy to be at Camp.

4. Hiking up the hill from the beach back to the cabin to dry off for supper.

Camp Croix

For as long as I remember I've been camping on Labor Day weekend. Until recently our family of five has headed to the mountains in WY or MT with my brother-in-law Matthew and my dear friend (also his wife :) Kristi. This year we're a little too far to make it to the mountains and back in a weekend. So we took the kids to a place Nathan and I both hold dear in out hearts, Camp Croix. As a child I grew up attending summer camp here and usually camped with my family and other families from our church Labor Day weekend. In high school Nathan and a group of friends began counseling during the summer camp weeks. If you ask either of us about our fondest summer memories some will certainly revolve around Camp Croix. It had been eight years since we'd been to Camp so the trip this past weekend was long overdue.

Friday we headed to Camp with the intent of meeting my parents, Grandma, sister and her family, and youngest brother and his wife for a long weekend of camping. Nathan's parents also came up for the day on Saturday. We had high hopes for the weekend and were not disappointed. Our family was able to stay in one of the cabins there while everyone else had a camper they'd brought along. We gave the kids the option of the tent or cabin but they wanted to be in a cabin since it'd be more like Laura Ingells. The weekend was full of laughing with family, cousins playing, swimming, fishing, fire roasted food, relaxing, and just general fun. The kids didn't want to leave and I can't say the parents did either. It seems like, as long as we're in WI, we've found our new Labor Day weekend destination.