Cabin time!!!

We got to spend the past four days at the cabin and it was so good to be back there again!!!  This was ACSI weekend for the school teachers which meant the kids were off of school since Wednesday afternoon!!!  The only big bummer part about the entire weekend was that Hadassah had a volleyball game on Friday night.  She DID NOT WANT TO MISS the game, so she had to stay back home for the weekend.  I tried to make some arrangements for her to get to the cabin or at least meet someone coming north on Friday night, but nothing seemed to pan out.  Mike and I were proud that she didn't want to let the volleyball team down by not showing up, but we hated to see her miss out at the cabin too.  It does turn out that their team did win again on Friday night and that gives them now 15-0 stats!!!  They are on their way to Districts!!!! 

Meanwhile, we got all packed up and squished in the last minute items for the cabin and off we headed for the cozy cabin in the woods!!!  I purposely did not give Austin a nap on Thursday, in high hopes that he would sack out as soon as we hit the road.  My plan did work for Austin but Ashlyn was asking the whole way there, "Are we about there?"  She finally decided to sleep the last 30 minutes before arrival!

We eat good at the cabin.  It's always a full cooked breakfast around 10 AM.  This gives us ladies a chance to sleep in if we want to and the hunters some time in the woods!  The scrapple and eggs and toast and coffee cake and coffee all get prepared while everyone else in the cabin wakes up!  We take turns preparing the meals.  This time I was in charge in a supper.  Mike suggested often already that when it's our turn for a supper, let's get pizza.  So we did!  Mike's not a big hunter anymore and maybe the boys will bring that sport back for him?.  He went out one time to hunt during the weekend and he soon sent me a text saying he's bored.  :)))  The next night, he went for pizza instead.  Plus, brother Jason did shot a doe and left us bring home the meat for our freezer!!!  It's a win, win! :)))

Games is something we usually play a lot of!  This time it was some Panic or Dice.  We didn't get too competitive and the books seemed to take higher priority this weekend.  The kids did play some shuffle board outside though on Daudy's new game!!!  The weather was perfect for them to go outside and shuffle!!!

Bears is something we see just about every trip to the cabin.  They are wild brown bears from the woods and they know where to find us!  For many, many years, an older man and his wife fed the wild bear at the same location as what is now ... Dad's cabin.  Richard and Anne lived in their little cabin for a long time and Richard had a hobby of feeding the bears.  Sometimes they came often enough to almost become his pets.  Other times, he had to board up his windows because of a few certain bears that would be bold enough to come right up to the cabin for more honey or tasty cakes or donuts.  When this dear couple got old and then passed away, Dad bought this piece of property with the tiny cabin now empty.  Just two years ago, Dad tore the tiny, drafty, musty cabin down and built a new, beautiful cabin right in the same place!  We now have much more room!  Plenty of space for the whole family and the kids can run around and have a good time.  A kitchen that allows us to appreciate cooking there!!!  It's a beautiful location back in the mile long lane!!!  It's become our family vacation spot and we love it when we go!!!  Thanks again Dad and Mom!!! 

Mommy D. was along up this time too and she bought the girls all a coloring book when we went out to Ollie's the one afternoon.

There was lots of coloring papers and crayons around all weekend!!!  Fun, fun!

Mike would much rather be on the tractor than sitting in the woods.  And so would Austin!!!!!  Austin got tractor rides and golf cart rides and strolls in the woods with his daddy!!!

A few years ago, the kids made a great big tee pee in the woods.  It is still there and something that they play in every single time we visit the cabin!!!  This time there were making a "garden" by it.

 The leaves are beautiful up there and the colors were so brilliant!

Ginger got to go along too!

On the three hour trip back home yesterday, we got into a major traffic jam.  Thanks to Penn State, our trip took us four hours to get home.  We also did a record breaker for potty stops on the way home.  Goodness, four times is just way too many stops to pee.  Come on kids!!!  :///  But while we waited in the traffic jam, we viewed the leaves and ate ice cream!  Instead of letting it get us impatient and all up tight, Mike and sat together and laughed at the kids.  When one wasn't whining or teasing the other, the other one would want a drink.  And then have to pee.  And then get hungry.  And then ask for Peter Rabbit to play for the hundredth time!  :)))  It was one thing after the next!  We do realize that the kids are growing so fast and the years do go by quickly and so why not just laugh at the ciaos???

There's something about these raw colors that I love!!!

At one out of the four potty stops, Mike grabbed two ice cream cones!!!  We shared and laughed and hopped that the traffic would get moving soon!!!

That had to be the longest trip home from Clearfield but we made it!!!  Without getting all bent out of shape!!!  :)))

Thanks for the fun weekend family!!!  We now have a deer at the butcher shop waiting to be made into balonie.  We have these fun pictures to record our memories!  We had another weekend of laughter, games and yummy food!!!  We are cheering for the upcoming volleyball games that Hadassah will help play!!!  We are so incredibly blessed!!!

In Loving Memory!!!

We just came through a crazy busy weekend and I already can't wait for the next!!!  Maybe it will be a bit more relaxing???  I know that we control our schedules, right, but sometimes I wonder if that statement is always true.?.  We always have something going.  Always some place to go or some place to be or something to get done.  Mike and I both like to do things and we HATE to miss out.  Maybe that's the main downer right there for having a busy schedule?  Usually, you have a spouse that likes to stay home and one that likes to go, go.  Mike and I both like to go places ... hence for the business I guess.

Friday, Hadassah did internship for school which means she worked at one of Mike's shed lots instead of going to 'school'.  Linville Hill High School has this program to get the teens out on the working field a bit more so that that can steer them into what their interests are for the future work force.  Hadassah is really liking the job but it does require some driving time to and from work.  Friday evening, she came home from work with Rosie, Mike's sister, and because Hadassah needed to be picked up in Exton anyway, we decided to make a night out of it and watch Jeff's football game!!!  But first, we made a quick stop at September Farms because a friend texted me and said that if your name is Lori or Lukas, you get free ice cream that day.  That Pumpkin Pecan Pie Ice cream was so yummy!!!!  :)))  We then headed to the football to watch my nephew, Jeff, play defence.  And they won!!! 

Saturday was a full day.  Honey brook Community Church, where we attend, is building a church and as a fundraiser, there was a 5K run and then an auction/family fun day in Honey brook for anyone who wanted to attend.  Mike ran in the 5K and even though he said it was a hard run for him, he finished in good time and did great!  We stayed for the auction and the kids had a ton of fun with their friends outdoors.  Ashlyn made a funny comment to one of friends that afternoon.  "My mom just don't ever buy me a pony!"  I laughed and laughed.  There were two pony's that got sold at the auction and she begged to tears for us to buy one for her.  I tried to tell her that pony's need a barn and food and a meadow and care ... but she thought she could provide all of that.  Or at least have her Daudy help her out with boarding the pony till we get a barn.  Sigh.  The pony's were sold and we did not buy them.

There was delicious chicken BBQ and homemade donuts at the fun day too!!!

We left the auction as soon as it was over because we also had a full night ahead of us.  (This is what I mean about full schedules.)  Mom Lapp invited all of us children to go to Dad's graveyard and put his tomb stone in place.  We wanted to do this and it was a special time!  Mike's mom and siblings all gathered around Dad's gravesite and watched the men dig a hole and place the tomb stone just perfect.  It was emotional and I still can't believe some days that Dad Lapp is no longer here on this earth.  He's gone and will never be back here. 

Mike hopped on with Ervin and his horse for a ride back to Mom's!!!

We then all went back to Mom's for a super yummy supper and fellowship.  It seemed like a Thanksgiving dinner but without Dad there.  It's hard and sad but we sang some songs and did really have a good time just being together again!!!  Mike's family is very special to me and I love them like my own family!!!  I miss Dad not being there and so does everyone else!!!

Sunday we went to church and had feet washing during the morning service.  Remembering and rereading how Jesus was a servant and how he shared a feet washing moment with his disciples is why we do the same still today.  Serving others, especially those in our churches and families is so important!!!  We Christians need each other and this was just another reminder to me to serve others with a grateful heart!

We got invited to John and Suz for a quick, impromptu lunch.  So, after we dropped off our teenager at home and I grabbed some quick dessert, we ate delicious sausage and meatballs off of John's grill!!!  The lunch was tasty and we love to be with John's and John's!!!  :)

It was time for naps and some relaxing time at home before heading back to church for our communion service.  I whipped together some dessert tacos and off we went again.  This time we sang songs of Christ's death and resurrection and then heard about how he died for our sins and that he rose again!!!  I loved all the communion messages I used to hear growing up and this story is still so real for me today.  Reading and actually going through the crucifixion stages and remembering all that Jesus went through for me is humbling.  There is nothing I can do to repay Jesus for the gift of eternal life other than love Him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength.  I can help others and be encouraging!!!  Letting my light shine to all who see me is always a goal I'll have!!!  Thank you Jesus for dying for me!!!

There was a fellowship meal after the evening service and sitting with our church friends is so much fun!!!  We were really ready to be back home though and get ready for bed!!!

Now, it's Monday.  The kids did good with getting up for school this morning.  I was a bit disturbed when I put a load of laundry in the washer and it wasn't spinning or working correctly.  I had so much laundry from the weekend and I really didn't feel like going to the laundrymat but that's what happened.  I filled five washers up before heading off to Bible Study.  This study on Gideon from Priscilla Shirer is SO good!!!  I'm like a sponge and drink up as much as I can before heading out those church doors and go tackle my laundry pile!!!

Hadassah has a volleyball game tonight but because we've been so busy and it's out of town, I guess I'll have to miss this game.  Sad.  Go Linville!!!

October weather is here and so are the two year old attitudes.

It's now October.  The months go by so fast and the last time I posted it was still feeling like summer outside.  Not anymore.  The lovely autumn air has come and we are now reaching for those knit sweaters and cozy blankets.  The fireplace goes on for just a bit in the morning to get the chill out and the tile is heated up nicely during the nights.  It still gets so beautiful outside during the afternoon!!!  That heavenly sunlight and warmth still feels so amazing when I'm pushing Austin on the swings or working in the gardens or mowing the lawn.

Yesterday was such a stressful day with our two year old that I feel like I need to post it.  One reason is because this blog has become something I look back on and read from time to time.  Two, because he is two years old now and likes he can do a lot of things by himself.  And I'm usually OK with that idea and helping him when he asks but yesterday was a day full, I mean to the tippy top full, of whines!!!  :/  He woke up grouchy.  He complained the entire time we took the kids to school.  By 10:30, I was so frustrated and told him that's it's already nap time.  I laid him down and hoped he would sleep soon!!!  FAILED.  He was just miserable.  I was trying to clean out some bathroom drawers and get some housecleaning done but instead I decided to go get some groceries and maybe that would help change his mood.  Nope.  The minute we got to the store, he wanted one of those car carts.  I just about refuse to push them big carts because half the time he is in and out of them and I'm trying to grab some groceries and steer that huge cart with him not even in it.  So I grabbed another cart.  We walked in with him screaming.  The rest of the shopping did go OK and we made it back home.  Only to start whining again.  This time I was serious about nap time but it took three times to put him back into his bed and some disciplining!!!  Why are some days such a mess and others are good?  I enjoyed the quiet and peaceful 2 hours of him sleeping but when he woke up, he was a bear!!!  He cried and whined and I didn't know what was wrong.  Was it an attitude problem or was something not feeling well???  I tried to look at books with him.  I offered him food.  We sat on the front swings.  But nothing seemed to help.  Finally, Matthew and Ashlyn came home and that turned his attitude for the better!!!  Austin is a super aggressive little man and he has lots of energy.  Mike and I have already said many times that he is gonna keep us young!!!  :)  We love this about him but on off days that are filled with whining and bad attitudes really wear me out!!!

Mike came home from work and after supper, he gave Austin a moped ride and was with him awhile before it was time to head off to Hadassah's volleyball game.  How would this go???  I was tempted to send him along with Mike to his Extended Leadership Church Meeting but even though my flesh wanted to, the meeting would have not been the right place for him!!!  So, he went with me to the volleyball game.  Hunter and Adrian were there too and he gave them some of his toys to play with but seconds later he wanted to trade.  Austin sat on my lap a lot and did help to cheer some.  I think that's why his voice sounds kind of hoarse today.?.  (Hadassah's team won three in a row again!!!)

We came home for baths and bedtime.  I couldn't wait for 9 PM and to tuck his little tired body into bed!!!  This momma was tired too!  Parenting can be rough some days but it will never, ever lessen my love for our children!!!  They are blessings and I love being their mom!!!

This morning, Austin actually had to be woken up because he slept till it was time to leave for school.  Believe me, I was hesitant and not sure how he was going to be like.  But, but he surprised me!!!  He's surprising me all day now because he is so sweet and plays with his toys like it's the best idea around!!!  :)))  Praise the Lord!!!

Because the weather is so nice outside today and because Austin is being so sweet, we took a drive over to New Holland to check out the fair things.  I thought that the animals would be there already and the rides would be up and going.  But not yet.  Austin didn't care a bit because he spied the tractors!!!  He loves, loves tractors and sat on them for awhile. 

And because I did tell him that would see some goats, we went to Hayloft Candles and visit their pets.

During these wonderful, fun two year old stages, we are loving how Austin communicates with us!  His words are so cute!!!  He loves whoopee pies and the other night he asked for one.  Mike wanted a bite and he said, "Daddy, get your own."  :)))

 

I love you, Ausitn!!!