Even better.

Today the kids and I had plans to go watch the Warrior Dash up by Omaha. We were so excited. On the way there we were talking about which obstacles we were most excited to see. Eli wanted to see the fire. Hannah and I wanted to see the teeter totters. And Carter, was just along for the ride. =)

But when we got there, it quickly became apparent that actually watching the race wasn't really an option! They had a party area set up where the start and finish is with a big stage and band playing in the middle. We could see the last three obstacles but that was it. It was really neat but we were disappointed.

So we decided to continue on to Omaha for our own fun!

 And we rediscovered the joy of a simple point-and-shoot camera. 

The kids took turns taking pictures.

 And we ate our picnic lunches. There's little a picnic can't help fix. Any time of day.

 Especially in the company of such sweet faces...

 Even the messy ones.

 I simply love my kids. And doing things with them.

We still had the bikes in the car from our ride at the pond the other day so we got 'em out for a ride on the bike path.

Carter and I walked/jogged behind!

We took breaks when needed...

 

And then stopped by the fountain for some more picture fun

We finished our city trip with a stop at Target dollar bin, where the kids each picked a treasure. Hannah a crown, Eli a frisbee, and Carter a fishy tatoo pack. Another GREAT summer day!!

So much more than what I had originally hoped for!

Extra curriculars

I have not yet taken the plunge into signing any of the kids up for extra curricular activities. We do AWANA at our church during the school year but that's it so far. No athletics. I fear it taking over our week and that once we start we can't stop. We can't just say the next year "Oh no, you can't play ball this year." I love having a somewhat free schedule, and being able to choose our activities as a family. There is soo much we love to do (see last post!)

But I'm beginning to wonder if it's approaching time. In fact as I'm typing this I'm remembering another post about this and games on the Sabbath.

I was thinking soccer for Eli and gymnastics for Hannah.

And then I had another thought about that...

Is there danger is putting kids in sports where weight could be a controlling issue later down the road?? Gymnastics and wrestling are two specific sports that come to mind. You have to fall into a certain weight bracket in order to compete at that level, and it leads to unhealthy eating habits and damages your perspective on body image. Should I avoid this area altogether??

Thoughts...???

{summertime}

We've had such a grand time these first three weeks of summer, really living life to the full and enjoying every single moment. No bored days here, and no lazing around doing nothing!  We've been...

exploring at the zoo

discovering new parks

checking out new books at the library

garage saling

reliving history

reading books out on the trampoline

catching lightning bugs

sitting by the campfire

(in our own back yard)

watching the stars come out

splashing in the sprinkler

swimming at the pool
fishing at the pond

cleaning up trash at the park

(with friends)

picking sweet treats from the bakery

and eating it at the pond

for breakfast

riding bikes

going for family walks

picnicking

dripping with sticky popsicles

hosting our own kids storytime with friends

painting new treasures

going to ball games

just for fun

staying up late

just for fun

attending library storytime

in our teeny tiny town

BBQing

There's so much more we want to do! I can already feel summer FLYING by!!  So if ya don't see me for awhile, know that I'm off living and cherishing my time with my precious kiddos!!

Cleaning Chart

It's taken a few drafts to get to this point, but I think I've finally created a cleaning chart that works for us and I can follow {most of the time, never exactly}.

Ya see, I'm fine at doing laundry, dishes, vacuum/sweep, and general tidying. But remembering to scrub floors, bath mats before they're mildewy, and wiping fridge shelves, not so much. Thus the reason for the chart.

The first cleaning schedule I made was mostly random chores spread throughout the week. This time I arranged it by zones, and for each zone I have a specific checklist.

 

L = laundry. One load {most} every day, taking a day off in the middle of the week. I'm trying to get better about washing, drying, folding, AND putting away early in the day. Instead of unloading the dryer to put more in {so it doesn't get mildewy} right before bedtime. Then I'm going to bed with a basket of clothes already waiting for me to finish the next day. I'd rather go to bed feeling FINISHED for the day. Still working on this though...

I got a magnetic OrganizeHer folder (from Target) for the fridge, and I put my cleaning chart in the first page and use a dry-erase marker to cross stuff off my lists and wipe clean at the start of the next week. You could also use a plastic page-protector sheet. I'm a BIG fan of those (for reusable worksheets and whatnot)

Having this keeps you from feeling overwhelmed by your entire house. Just go day by day. Houses are all about keeping maintained. We all know they don't ever STAY clean, cuz we choose to LIVE instead! =)   If others, say your husband or friends if you've just had a baby, offer to help, you have a list right there and they know how to help.

Recently I also highlighted the chores that the kids help with. They actually are great helpers!!

So there she is! My 2012 Cleaning Chart!! Note, this is specific to our house and our layout and our family size, so feel free to tweak it as you go in order to fit your needs! This is at least a start and I hope it can help you too!

DOWNLOAD CLEANING CHART (file)

DOWNLOAD BLANK CLEANING CHART

Other cleaning ideas, for kids:
* Clean-up sticks
* Coin system

Memorial Day tribute

In the great big world
beyond what my eye can see
There is an army of soldiers
fighting their lives for me.

Giving extraordinary sacrifices I cannot even imagine.

Right now.
This minute.
The world does not pause.

They left their families,
their home,
the life they knew.
And they cleave to their God with all their might.
That their life would serve great purpose
as they stand for their nation.
Doing what needs to be done.
Through the night.
In the dark.
The days pass,
one to the next
and they keep going.
They fight.

Suddenly.
In an instant.

Another is taken down.
A life is ended.
A family is destroyed
in heartache and pain.

Suddenly.
In an instant.

Life is never again the same.

For the one who fought so bravely,
who gave it all,
who gave it all for us,
for me,
for a nation of strangers he'll never meet,
I stand tall,
hand over heart
and humbly say
THANK YOU.
Because of you,
we live freely.

Because of you.

Summer surprise.

It started during Easter season. Those pre-filled baskets looked so much fun. But since we don't do Easter baskets, I thought it would be fun to get one on sale afterward and gift one to each of the kids on the first day of summer break.

But who knew that they take 'em straight off the shelf after Easter?? There were hardly any to pick from, and when it came to it, they just weren't quite what I wanted.

So I started collecting items myself--small items here and there, mostly from the Dollar Store and Pamida. Little items for fun summer play and simple half-way healthy snacks to go with it.

THEN

I got the idea to make it a treasure hunt TO the gift.

At first it was just going to be a map to follow.

But then

I thought it would be fun to make clues instead. And off I went with the idea!!  

I created three clues for each child's surprise. After our fun breakfast of blueberry pancakes this morning and before ANYTHING was cleaned up, we went outside for our adventure!

In logical order of where I placed things, I had Hannah start first, and she opened her envelope containing CLUE #1:

"In the ground we plant the seeds. Someday food for you and me. 

We mash, bake them, eat them raw, Just like Daddy, chomp the jaw."

 On the potato buckets!

Clue #2! 

"Yee-haw, let's go for a ride! It's time to go play outside!

But hang on tight, lest you'll fall. Enjoy the ride and have a ball!"

 Clue #3

"It is white but rhymes with RED. We park our toys when it's time for bed."

yes, Hannah is kissing her bucket

Now it's time for Carter's search!

Clue #1

"Open the box, it's a mess inside. But a place our toys can hide."

Clue #2

"It's black with wheels and just my size. With seats for four, we go for a ride!"

Clue #3

"We climb and slide and laugh and play. With TV outside today.

It's all pretend, it's all in fun. Playing out under the sun."

(Backstory:  the kids like to pretend they have a TV down by the swing set)

One more treasure to find!

Clue #1

"We gather here when it's time to eat. Not in the house but under the trees...

...Look high, look low, look all around. 

Don't be afraid to get on the ground."

Clue #2

"Soaring high I can see. The rush of wind I feel free.

But hanging from the branch above. Tis a toy I most love."

 

Final clue of the day!

"It's big and red and on a farm. It's a word that rhymes with YARN."

 

And inside each bucket? Here are the goods...

(not pictured because they were already blown up, are punching balloons!)

 The kids had so much fun with their treasure hunt! As did I! They were patient as they helped each other figure out the clues, Eli read some of them on his own, and they waited til the end to dive into their buckets. So so fun to celebrate this first day of summer break!!