Swinging with the monkeys!

Last week, Hadassah and I were off to the zoo with her class!  It felt good to be on the comfortable bus and finally on our way.  The preparation for me to go along on this field trip was worth every effort but very tiring!

After having all the suitcases packed, the laundry completed, the lawn mowed and food prepared for our fun upcoming weekend at the cabin ... we were off by 8 AM to see the zoo animals.

All year, whenever a field trip opportunity came up with Hadassah's class, she kept saying, "Don't volunteer for this trip.  Wait for the zoo!"  (They have a policy at school that if you went on previous field trips that year ... you need to give other parents a chance to join the fun!  It's a blessing to know that parents really are interested in their child's school activities!  Hence the wait for this trip!)  When I realized that it's the same weekend that were going to the cabin for three days, I right away was disappointed.  I just couldn't see myself be able to do all the preparations, have a babysitter, and be gone all day long.  Really all day long ... 8 AM - 6:15 PM!  My first response to Hadassah's teacher through email was regrets that I wouldn't be going along.  Hadassah was so heart broken and let down.  Let down with me and with the fun trip!  That evening was a date night for Mike and I and we re talked about the field trip.  Could I do it?  Should I go no matter the cost?

Later that night, I emailed Hadassah's teacher again and asked if I could be added to the list after all?  There were cheers that shrieked from the rafters and Hadassah would not, or rather could not, stop thanking me for reconsidering!  She went from wiping tears of disappointment to cheers of joy!  Amazing.  I felt wanted, needed, and loved!  I was also thrilled in knowing that this really meant that much to her!

We left for the zoo in cloudy, rainy conditions.  Not the ideal weather for miles of walking and scouting out animals.  The weather was chilly too.  All day we kept having to open and close the umbrellas.  We made sure to see all the indoor exhibits.  :)  We had such a blast and I enjoyed the trip so much no matter the weather conditions.

MONKEY'S!!!!  ALWAYS SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH SWING AROUND!

THE GIRAFFES WERE REALLY COOL.  I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW NOAH'S INTERACTION WITH ALL THESE EXOTIC ANIMALS ON BOARD THAT HUGE ARK WAS!?!  I'M SURE NEVER A DULL MOMENT!

 IT'S KINDA TRADITION NOW THAT WHEN HADASSAH'S CLASS GOES ON A FIELD TRIP, WE DO TONS OF BRAIDS IN HER HAIR.  HER CHOICE.  12 BRAIDS IN TOTAL.

 THE ZOO HAD A REALLY  COOL BIRD EXHIBIT. 

 IN THE GIFT SHOP ACTING CRAZY WITH THEIR BUYS!

 HERE'S THIS BIG GORILLA THAT WE ENJOYED WATCHING THROUGH GLASS.  CHEETAH!

 THIS WAS MORE THAN COOL ... IT WAS AWESOME!  THE TIGERS PUT ON A NICE SHOW FOR US AS WE WATCHED THROUGH GLASS.  THEY PACED BACK AND FORTH AND HADASSAH JUST LOVED IT WHEN THEY CAME RIGHT UP TO THE GLASS.  IT LOOKS LIKE SHE IS PETTING IT.  NOPE.  JUST AMAZING!

 THE TWO OF US READY TO HEAD HOME!

 THE THREE GIRLS IN OUR GROUP.  SUCH GOOD FRIENDS!

 MISS. KREIDER AND HADASSAH ... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS. KREIDER FOR BEING SUCH AN INSPIRING, AMAZING TEACHER.  I'M NOT SURE YOUR SECRET BUT YOU STOLE THIS GIRLS HEART ALL YEAR LONG!  HADASSAH LOVED, LOVED HER YEAR AT SCHOOL!  MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!  (Oh yeah, see Hadassah's shoes?  Some of the girls planned to switch shoes for the day.  What next?  First it's the none matching socks and now shoes?  :)  )

 

There was one incident though that had my heart throbbing hard for a few minutes.  We were all in the monkey exhibit and as we were leaving the building, one of the moms said she hadn't seen the big gorilla.  She turned back and went for a quick peak.  Hadassah and Laurie also turned around and followed her inside.  Jolene had not realized the girls followed her and so after her quick view of the huge gorilla, she came outside and rejoined our group at the next monkey exhibit.  A few minutes went by and one of the boys asked where Hadassah and Laurie got to?  What?  Weren't they with us?  Oh goodness ... we immediately set out to find the two lost girls.  Inside I knew that they were OK if they stuck together but being lost in a big zoo was not a good thing.  We went right back to the first monkey building and the girls were not there.  We walked around the paths and hollered their names.  Still no girls.  We called a few moms from the other groups and asked if they had seen them?  Nope.  I said a prayer for help!!!  God cares and knows we need Him!  After a few more minutes or searching, I suddenly heard Hadassah holler "Mom".  I looked at Jolene and said, "I heard Hadassah!  It came from that way!"  We set off and sure enough we found them!  They both seemed calm but were really glad to reunite!  They said they thought about asking someone for their phone and call us.  That was a great thought!  Then I asked if she was hollering for me?  She couldn't remember if she yelled out my name or not.  She didn't think she did that.  I didn't care if she did or didn't.  I knew it was God leading us that way and helping us find the girls.  I may have heard the voice of God that afternoon!!!  I like to believe that it was God leading us right to the girls!!!

We finished the day with Starbucks and the souvenir shop.  Hadassah bought a stuffed baby cheetah!  It seems to be her favorite animal right now.  Now she has a cheetah in the midst of about five stuffed pandas lying on her bed!  :)  The bus ride back was quick and we went from the bus, to the van, to home, to the shower, to packing up the cooler with cabin foods, to the truck, to the 2 1/2 hour ride North!  I knew midnight was going to come quick!

We arrived safe and sound and excited at the cabin!  Our friends were all there already and greeted us with chatter!  When I finally laid my head down for a nights rest, I thanked God for keeping us safe, for giving us a great trip at the zoo, for the road safety, and for a bed to give my weary body rest!!!

Thanks so much Miss. Kreider for organizing the zoo trip so well and for the great year you gave to the fifth grade class!  Hadassah LOVED school this year!  I am convinced that the teacher makes that happen!!!  Blessings!!!

Memorial Day Weekend, 2013

This is probably the most looked forwards to weekend for this bunch of friends!  It continues to be such a blast and we never have dull moments!  I took so many pictures, again, of our weekend and if you care to join me for our detailed fun weekend events, keep reading!!!

It started out early Friday morning with Hadassah and I going together on a class field trip to the zoo.  The rain was disappointing but we just kept opening and closing the umbrella!  The whole day was really fun and the animals were all amazing and what a creative God we serve!!!  (I will have a post on this trip soon!)

We returned home from the zoo tired and we both felt like we walked miles.  We probably did!!!  It was a fast, refreshing shower for me and then as I quickly packed up the cooler, I breathed a prayer that I would stay calm and be polite to my family that was waiting for me to head out the door ... again.  I think I did it in good time of 1/2 hour!  Mike did a great job picking up the two youngest at my sisters house (thanks again so much, Jody!).  He had them and all our suitcases loaded up and ready for the cabin!  Hadassah and I hoped in the truck still tired but ready for our upcoming, exciting weekend with some of our very best friends!

It was a drive through stop at Chick-fil-a for us and then to the Turnpike!  We had a great drive and at 10 PM, we were unpacking our things and greeting our friends on the cabin porch!  Ashlyn slept on the way up and she was laid down for her night of rest when we arrived.  Hadassah and Matthew hung out with their friends and us adults had a late night of chats!  By 11:30 PM, let's just say it was high time for rest.  A nights rest!!!

Saturday was cool and windy.  Other years, it has been hot and warm and the need for the AC to be cranked.  Not this year.  We actually had a small heater on for the morning hours and enjoyed sitting around the camp fires. 

The kids are doing the scavenger hunt organized by Martha!  She always thinks of the kids and has some kind of party/event for them!  She had a prize for each kid!  Wow!  Matthew is trying out his smoke bomb!

 It would not be a complete weekend without a photo with Jordon!  These two have such fun and here they caught some cray fish in the creek!

 Ava and Ashlyn are so cute!  Bath time was wet and fun!

 Golf cart rides were loaded with all our precious children!

 Poor Jen ... this girl was brave and did good under her circumstances!  She got stung by a bee and her foot swelled up terribly!  Between sprays, creams, and wraps ... she did good though.  Her foot swelled up bad and yet she hobbled around to play with the other children!

 Matthew and Jordon had a great time together too.  Between playing outdoors and with gadgets, they posed for a picture!

 Daddy time!!! 

The kids loved the button candies!  These were from Martha too!

 Going to the creek is an annual event for this trip!  Mike and I walked down to the creek and she went on the golf cart!  Her greeting was way adorable!

 Girl creek time ...

 I'm just saying that this bunch of guys have a hilarious time together!!!

 She wanted to walk back to the cabin from the creek.  We had left her shoes at the cabin, so she used my flip flops to walk!

Our beautiful photo session ...

 

 

I am so sorry Suz, it's the best photo I had of us ladies!  I will have to have a copy of one of yours if it's better!!!  :)  These ladies are great!  I treasure our friendships like gold!

The discussions, chats, laughter, and memories all stem from God putting these friends into our lives!  We love each couple and their children are our children's friends too!  Thanks everyone for loving our family and for being such great influences!  We hope to continue such friendships for many more years!!!

The weekend did get a little warmer and we soaked up the sunshine and laughed as the men pitched quates and the kids did a scavenger hunt created by Martha Rose.  Matthew loved his smoke bombs that he was given!  The button candy was a hit too.  Between four wheeler rides, golf cart rides, a four hour Acquire game played by the men, plus a golf outing for some of them, a five mile run, creek time, a photo session for Ashlyn, naps, snacking, drinking coffee (even hazelnut decaf on Monday because that was all that was available!), kids crying, kids laughing ... it was a BLAST!!!

Each meal time consisted of wonderful food!  Seriously the best steak and BBQ chicken!  Our chefs are amazing up there!!!  Thanks!

Clean up time always comes too fast!  We ended the weekend by a nice drive home, picked up Ginger (thanks again Sadie), and then off for Matthews little league game last night.  My laundry pile was crazy!  I had piles washed and folded and needed put away.  Piles that were dirty and needed washed.  Blankets, sheets, and shoes to wash.  I got some done last evening and the rest today.  The suitcases are cleaned out and the cooler back up to the attic!  Memorial Day memories will last for a lifetime!

Thanks so much Dave and Suz for hosting us all at the cabin!  These weekends are truly the best!!!

 

Batter Up!

We had a delightful night at the ball park last night!  The weather seemed to cooperate with those of us that like the warmer ballgame nights! 

Matthew's team played so well against the Flames!  15 - 12 was the final score!  The Rookies had a win!!!  They deserved it too!  Each boy played the game so well!  I just love to watch these little guys play.  I know I mentioned it before, but they are really good!  Really good for 7 - 10 year old boys! 

Matthew had some hard hits and he was so proud to say that he only made one out the whole game!  All the other hits he got to bases!  Good job Matthew!!!

 Because this is a church organized little league, there are boys that Matthew knows from church, school and just friends.  I love to see them have fun together!

Because the weather was warm and I didn't just want to stay in my cozy chair, I was able to capture some fun photos!

Little miss here was cheering, "Go Matthew!  Go Matthew!"  :)  She loves, loves her big brother!  Hadassah loves Matthew too but she's entering the 'hang out with friends in public places' stage!  :)  She took off looking for friends as soon as we got there and we never seen her again till it was time to get ice cream!

 

We finished off the game by celebrating at Rita's for some soft ice cream!  The night was such fun!

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Here is Ashlyn this morning.  The sunshine is warm already at 9 AM.  It's fore casted to get up to 84 degrees today.  Ashlyn and Ginger love to walk around outside each morning.  They go to the gazebo to the barn to the swing and then to the garden.  Just walking around in the morning dew.  I am loving these beautiful mornings and warm days!

 

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The windows are open.  The ceiling fan is already turned on high.  It will be warm today ... but that's what we dreamed of in March!  Thanks Lord for sending us the sunshine and warmer weather!

Electronics ...

This is only an opinion.  Nothing to get all worked up about!

I find myself asking the question in my mind, "When are kids going to be real kids?  Kids that live a 'real life' are ones that play outdoors.  Explore.  Get dirty.  Climb trees.  Play in the sand box.  Swing on the swings for hours!  My opinion here.

I think it's so sad when all the little kids know how to do is play on electronics or press the buttons on the remote.  It's becoming such an issue in America families and I really am not welcoming that pattern of life.  I love it when Hadassah and Matthew come home from school and go outside to play.  (Well, after they give me their lunch boxes, papers, and grab a snack!) 

The weather plays a huge factor in this routine.  Thanks to our lovely Spring time right now, it welcomes them outdoors in the late afternoon!  Matthew is more prone to go outside and swing.  He loves doing that with Ashlyn!  He likes to ride his bike.  He begs for a dirt bike or motorized something.  He shots basketballs and collects sticks.  He enjoys it outside a lot.  That is why when he started to ask for a Gameboy or DS, I shot the idea down pretty fast.  I find it hard at times to limit the computer time and TV shows with the children.  I just didn't feel it was necessary to be putting more limits to another electronic. 

Buying a DS was something he wanted for long time.  He had it on his Christmas list.  He really hoped my mom would bite for it!  :)  He had it on birthday lists.  It was always a wish!  Well, if you remember that a few weeks ago he won $100 from the trash-a-thon fundraiser that they worked so hard at collecting funds for school.  Matthew was so proud of his prize!  We left it up to him with what he wanted to buy with his money.  Of course, I suggested a new basketball backstop and net.  They really need one and that would be perfect ... I thought!  He wanted a Nintendo DS.  Oh, boy.  I sighed.

I asked him on the way home from school once when he was suggesting to buy a DS, "Matthew, if we buy a DS, when will you go outside and get dirty and be a kid?"  He looked at me and smiled.  I think he thought that was going a little far with my assumptions.  He said he would still play with other toys!

He knew the place to buy one.  He thought he knew the price.  (He's been asking the boys on the school bus and at school for some info.)  We agreed that on Mike and I's date night, we would check out the game and consider the purchase.

Well, the night of our date came.  The kids and I went to some yard sales in Strasburg after school.  We knew we didn't have much time to browse but I remembered of one house in particular that I wanted to go to.  Previous years we have done well there with clothing.  It was one of our first stops.  Hadassah and I jumped out of the van and looked around.  There laid a blue, Nintendo DS.  Only $40!  Great condition.  Works.  Includes a charger!!!  Wow?!!!  I immediately called Mike and asked for his guidance.  Should we?  Great price!!!  His reply was, "Yes!"

I bought the DS and we returned back to the van with one happy seven year old boy!  He was so delighted!!!  He wanted to get the game insert of Mario Brothers yet.  So, later that night on our date, Mike and I went to the game store where Matthew knew they were for sale.  Yes, they sold them for $160 new!  I was proud of our earlier purchase.  We did buy Matthew a case and the Mario Brothers game.

Now, he has a Nintendo DS, charger, three games and a case for a total of $98!!!  I think we did great with the prices!!!  That's just one reason yard saling is sooooo much fun and at times very rewarding!

The kids have been doing great with not over playing on it.  I really am proud of how they have kept it to a minimum!  If needed, we will set limits!  :)

Here he is playing on his Nintendo DS for the first.  He's so happy!

   
Let your children get dirty today.  It won't be long when they will be all grown up!

Blessings!