Promises

Sunday evening we left our three children with my parents for a few days. As Nathan and I drove back to Oshkosh we had four hours of uninterrupted one-on-one adult time. While the variety of topics we covered in our discussions were vast and deep there were times we just contentedly rode in peaceful quiet side by side. Many of the things we talked about involve the years ahead-watching our children as they grow into the people they'll become, educational choices for those children, what jobs and careers lie ahead, where we might live next, our idea of home, our extended families and those we love so dearly in this life. As much as we enjoy sharing our plans, dreams, and hopes for the future, we don't actually know what the next pages of life will bring us or where they'll take us. Sometimes those unknown factors bring a certain amount of fear. Right about that time a small storm cloud to the south burst and showered rain upon thirsty fields and woods. As we passed by the sun shone through creating first a rainbow and then a double rainbow in the sky. There in full color was a not so subtle reminder from our Father who keeps his promises, "For I know the plans for you declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11) We still don't know what will be next but we do know the one who does. That's all we really need to know.

A wordless wonder: Lydia

A few more of the reception

Joel and Catie's reception was in her parents' backyard. Dinner and dancing were in a large tent with hors' devours served throughout the yard, a bar was on the deck, and there was plenty of room for the kids to run around playing with the supplied bubbles and hula hoops. As I mentioned in the last post, it was a very fun wedding and reception. Thanks for including us Joel and Catie, Frees and Zarlings. It was wonderful!

1. A peek in the tent.

2. Hans and Nathan by the bubbles.

3. Lydia was living it up and here she's dancing with Mary.

4. I'm not sure who had the idea but Joel and Evan put glow sticks in Evan's socks and then Evan danced around wildly creating an impressive effect.

Wedding Season 2009: #3

Our reason for hitting the road last weekend was Joel and Catie's wedding. Joel is one of the Frees from Rapid City who are so dear to us. The wedding was very simple, very classy, very elegant, and very much a good time. We hope the bride and groom take to heart the words of the sermon and that their marriage is even more wonderful than the wedding.

1. Joel, Catie, Pastor, and Mary.

2. An impromptu dance in the dark I happened to catch.

3. Four Free Boys who I'm lucky enough to know.

La Crosse Rest Stop

Last Friday found us on the road again. Usually when we travel across WI we do it as quickly as possible with the trips to our parents taking 4-4 1/2 hours. This time we slowed down and actually stopped a few times. Nathan had found a few geocaches along the way at roadside parks and rest stops. We stop for three of them. This is the last one at the stop along the Mississippi river near the lock and dam in La Crosse. Usually we don't have the luxury of extra time but Friday it was nice to slow down and spend the afternoon as a family. Summer is going too quickly.

New Table

Our little round table that was hand-me-downed from my aunt and uncle when Nathan and I got married has been getting smaller and smaller as the kids grow. Last summer I found this table at a garage sale for $5. The lines of the table are beautiful but the black stained top and orange painted pedestal left a lot to be desired. I figured for $5 I could afford to strip and then refinish the table. It was more work than I first assumed with all the curves on the table but I'm happy with the finished product. The top and front to the drawer are stained a lighter more red color and the bottom are a darker, deeper brown. Nathan helped with the varnishing process and is also building a bench for one side. Lydia's chair usually sits on the near side in front of the drawer. Dinner anyone??

It's Raining, It's Pouring....

It was a warm summer day and this was a gentle rain so when the kids asked if they could put puddle boots on and go play in it I figured why not. They spent nearly an hour dashing around stomping in puddles and catching raindrops. We followed it up with warm baths, early pajama time, and a movie together before bed. Childhood only comes once.

Visiting and Visitors

In the two days following our road trip adventures we got to do some visiting and be visited.

Monday afternoon and evening we spent visiting with some of Nathan's extended family. Aunt Karen and Uncle Dave and their girls hosted us along with Aunt Jane and Uncle Joel and their three kids who were in WI from New Hampshire. While we enjoyed the chance to spend time with family we don't see often the kids looked at it as an opportunity to see "big cousins" and play with Karen and Dave's kitties. In picture number one you see Hans about to be whacked with a pillow by "big cousin" Ethan. Don't be fooled, Hans had just tackled unsuspecting Ethan and there had been a good wrestling match. Picture number two is of Sophie and Lydia. These two have a bit of a resemblance with their dark hair and deep brown eyes. I'm not sure what secret they're keeping here but I'm sure it was a good one.

Tuesday the Frees stopped in to visit us while they were touring WI between family weddings. We spent the afternoon catching up which is always a treat.

Hans is 5

Did I mention that in the middle of the road trip craziness was Hans' 5th birthday? He turned 5 on Thursday July 16. As a mom I was feeling bad that neither Nathan or I would be with him on his birthday. He on the other hand had a great day. Grandma Smith had it all covered with balloons and singing at breakfast, a cake to take up to Great Grandma Zemke's for "coffee", a hotel stay for the following night, and then Aunt Joanna stepped in the next two days with a sign in the front yard, a banner in the living room, and a DQ cake with a helicopter. What more could a five year old wish for his birthday?

1: Hans and his cake made out of ice cream with a helicopter!!

2: The birthday boy sporting new Eagle wear. One more way he's ready for school.

3: Ooooh, AIRPLANES!! Uncle Michael and Aunt Tammy gave this really cool present.

4: And, the boy who takes hundreds of pictures on our camera now has his own. He has since then taken several hundred pictures of everything from another wedding to his brother and sister playing in the van to every flower he sees.

Happy birthday Hans Jeffrey! Hans was named after two very special men, our friend Hans Caauwe and my Dad, Jeff. Two things that these men have in common is their unwavering love for their Savior and their tendency to make us laugh. Our Hans has captured both of these characteristics. It's a joy to watch him grow in every way but especially in his faith and this little boy brings us so much laughter at his goofiness. You are so precious to us. We love you, Hans.

Road Trip

The middle of the month we had an unexpected road trip. A friend from St. Paul's Rapid City passed away (She was not only a special lady but the mother of a dear friend of mine and the grandmother of two students Nathan had taught.) and I wanted to attend the funeral. Nathan's parents kindly helped my out and agreed to watch the kids at their house while I drove out myself and Nathan stayed home for work. To make matters more interesting we had already had plans to be taking a bit of a road trip to Moline, IL where Joanna, Nathan's youngest sister, would be being installed as the k-4 teacher that Sunday. The plan was for me to drop the kids at Kevin and Mary on Tuesday, I'd head to Rapid Wednesday, they would take the kids with them to Moline on Friday, I'd drive from Rapid to Oshkosh to meet Nathan on Friday, Nathan and I'd go to Moline on Saturday, and we'd all go back to our respective homes on Sunday. Sounds easy right?? Except that the van broke down in the middle of SD. Due to the kindness of Rapid friends who happened to be traveling a few miles behind me and hardworking mechanic I was taken care of very well and back on the road with a new transmission by noon on Saturday. I toured scenic Iowa as I went straight to Moline and met Nathan, who had driven from Oshkosh himself, and the rest of the family. Installation went smoothly and Joanna is officially a teacher. Sunday night after driving 1000s of miles we all made it back home.

Reading to a Dog

Evan has always loved books and loves to hear a good story either in person or on a book on CD. One thing he missed this past year was story time at the library and he was eager to get to participate again this summer. One other program they were offering was "read to dog" where kids could come in and read with a trained therapy dog for 20 minutes. Evan learned to read this past year in kindergarten but he'd much rather have us read to him than him read to us. But reading to a dog interested him. He got to read twice to a lab named Desi over the past few weeks and loved it. He picked out several books about dogs for the first week and practiced them with us before the session. The second time he read a beginning reader about Skippyjon Jones (a silly cat who thinks he's a dog) because he thought the dog would find it funny. The teacher who was with Desi did a great job and not only Evan loved the experience but Hans and Lydia as well since when Evan finished she'd let them have a turn as well. We'll look for this on the library schedule again.

Summer Fun

In the neighboring town of Winneconne there is a man made pool/beach that we discovered via some good friends. Several moms from the mom's group here at our church got together with their kids for an afternoon at the beach. The day was gorgeous and the company was perfect. We spent hours splashing in the water, building sand cities, sliding onto the water on the slides, lazing under the giant umbrellas, eating our picnic lunch, and enjoying time with friends. The pool is only open in the afternoon but we hope to make it there at least once more this summer.

More Goofing Around

1: After the parade we headed back to my parents. The squirt guns were such a hit with the kids that they were allowed to keep them. There were many water fights during the afternoon between not only the kids but the adults as well. Here you can see my kids getting Uncle Brian cornered in my parents' shed. Who was having more fun is debatable.

2: WI has been pretty dry this summer and my parents have some young pine trees out in the meadow that needed watering. I'm not sure how much help the kids were but they loved getting to ride on the four wheeler and in the trailer. (Lydia is behind Hans waving a stick.)

3: Dad bought some do-it-yourself fireworks to put off in the back yard for the evening. He and Brian enjoyed setting them off for us. This one was made to look like a smiley face and Nathan managed to catch it mid-boom. Hans and Lydia both enjoyed the fireworks more this year since they got to wear ear protection ear muff to soften the noise. Lydia was so undisturbed by the noise that she fell asleep on Katy's lap.

4:On Sunday afternoon we headed to Interstate State Park for the afternoon for tadpole hunting (None were found.), fishing (I think we caught two bait stealers.), and geocaching (We didn't find it.). It might sound disappointing but really it was just an excuse to extend our stay. We all had a wonderfully relaxing weekend and finally made it home after 11pm.

Parade

Over the 4th of July weekend we went to visit my parents. While there we were drafted into service and helped with their church's parade float. This year's theme was "Drink From The Water of Life" and along with the church information candy, temporary tattoos, and small bottles of water were handed out as well. The kids had the joyous job of attracting attention to the float by squirting the crowd with water guns from inside the well on the float. In the first picture you can see them taking aim at my brother Brian and sister-in-law Katy. After we'd finished the parade we gathered for lunch and visiting. The second picture shows the back of the float as we reached the end. It was just part of a memorable weekend.

Father's Day

** Right now I"m so far behind on this blog I may never catch up. Bear with me while I cover things that are a month or more past.**

We were traveling back from a trip to MN on Father's Day this year. As a result we celebrated Nathan's Father's Day a week late on the following Sunday. The gifts were simple (a t-shirt, two books, and a chocolate airplane) but given with over flowing love. The kids created a giant card for Nathan by coloring pages of a banner. They thought it was great fun to have Nathan keep his eyes closed while we got them into place with his gifts below the banner and then shout "Surprise!!". My favorite part was watching my kids and my husband delight in each other. I'm very blessed to have married a man who is not only a wonderful husband but also an excellent father to our children. Happy Father's Day.

VBS

The past three days Evan and Hans have been able to be part of the Oshkosh area WELS churches VBS. The program was run like a day camp complete with the kids in assigned to "cabins", games, crafts, Bible lessons, puppet shows, sing-alongs, skits, and a whole lot of fun. Much of the organization was done by a group of teens from Camp Philip (a WELS run summer camp near here) but any area congregation members were involved as well. The weeks activities ended with skits and a sing-along that the parents were invited to attend. Since my kids are already talking about next summers VBS I'd say it was well received.

1. Evan was part of Cabin Chicken and they acted out the story of Nicodemus.

2. Hans was part of Cabin Star Wars and they acted out Jesus washing the disciples feet during the Passover.

3.The puppets said farewell to the kids and we heard one final song.