Sept 6-12: Camping Trip

For the long Labor Day weekend, our family decided to attempt something we have never done before - we decided to rent an RV and go camping!  And YES, staying in an RV is considered camping, thank you very much!  It was a bit of a last minute decision (yes, yes, I know, no one is surprised by that) and one that we weren't sure was going to work out well for us.  However, we hedged our bets by finding a campground that is fairly close to us so that we could bail and come home if we couldn't stand it any more!!  To be sure that we had enough activities to keep us all happy, we went to The Campgrounds at Fort Wilderness at Disney World!  Ha, ha. I have to laugh at ourselves because it seems crazy to spend a whole week's vacation in an RV less than 20 miles from our home!!

Our home away from home!

The kids LOVED it!  I mean, they love love loved it!!  Erik began asking for us to buy our own RV the 1st day of our vacation and he was almost in tears when we had to return the RV.  Our little last-minute, close-to-home family vacation was a success!  One of my biggest worries was whether the kids would sleep well for the week because they have very different sleep schedules right now and Elin does not sleep through the night if she's not in her crib.  But again, the kids surprised me and did really well.  We rented an RV that had built-in bunkbeds, so the kids had dedicated beds & sleeping spaces which was perfect.  Granted, there were a few nights when Elin was tapping on my arm at 1 AM wanting to sleep with me, but she did pretty good overall!  Both kids even took naps every day - including the days we went to the theme parks (though those were very short naps).

Florida has been getting a lot of rain lately which was abundantly evident at the campground where our campsite had an accidental waterfront view!  I couldn't believe how much standing water there was!  We had a couple big thunder storms during the week which made our little RV feel nice & cozy (in a good way, really)!  I had to laugh since all the rain reminded me of my typical camping experiences 'back in the day' - I think it rained on me every single time I have tried camping in the past!  It was also incredibly hot during our week's vacation; we had the kind of temperatures that make me loathe living in Florida - and wonder if a person can actually be allergic to the heat!  I was so very thankful that we had an RV with AC to come back to at the end of each day.  I don't know how those poor souls who were tent camping survived!

We tried to do as many activities at The Campgrounds as we could - Kent rented a little "water mouse" boat one morning & took the kids for rides, the kids did the pony ride, we rented a canoe & kayak, we played in the pool & tried out the various playgrounds, we played at the beach, we attended the nightly campfire songfest almost every night and we rode our bikes as much as we could! I've included a few pictures below of our activities at the campground:

Kent, Elin & Erik in canoe - I was in a kayak.  Erik wanted to face Kent until he realized he could help paddle by facing forward!

The boys tried out the fishing - Kent caught a tree branch! 

Erik at the playground with our portable fan!

The kids exploring at the "no swimming" beach.  Oops, looks like Elin's pushing the limits on that rule!

Pony Rides

Elin fully embracing the concept of lounging!!

Erik eating his s'more

Elin seems to like hers!  This may actually be her first taste!

We did also venture out to the Disney theme parks - we went to Animal Kingdom on Tuesday, Sept 8, and then to The Magic Kingdom on Thursday, Sept 10.  Both days were scorchers, so we tried to do as many things indoors as we could!  At Animal Kingdom, the very first think we did was go to "It's Tough to be a Bug" - boy, was that a mistake!  Erik completely flipped out as soon as the bugs started talking and when the first two described their defense mechanisms of spitting acid (termite) and hurling darts (spiders), he lost it.  Elin saw that Erik was screaming & crying, so she jumped into my lap and buried her face in my neck.  Needless to say, we got up & left as fast as we could.  It was fine with me - I don't really like that show myself, especially the fake bugs that crawl over your feet & jab you in the back at the end!  After that, whenever we sat down to watch a show, Erik was extra worried that it would be scary.  Their favorite activity at Animal Kingdom was the safari truck ride and the petting zoo (this used to actually be at The Campgrounds!!)  On Thursday, we spent most of our time in the FantasyLand section of The Magic Kingdom; I can now totally understand why families will spend several days at that theme park.  You really can't get through too many of the attractions with 2 kids - even with the 3 Fast Passes that you are allowed to have.  Some of the favorites were the Dumbo ride, the Barnstormer roller coaster (Erik would have gone on this ride over & over again if we would have let him!) and the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (still one of my favorite things to do!)  I apparently didn't take as many pictures on our park days, so I only have a few to share.

Elin wanted to meet all the characters that she saw, but would then get shy & nervous!

Chip & Dale were favorites - they also came to the nightly campfire!

Family Photo at Disney World 

I love this picture of Erik!  Look at his happy face!

Kent & Elin (I think this was on the "It's a Small World" ride)

Elin & Mommy on the carousel, which she begged to ride

Erik & Kent

At the end of our week's vacation, we sadly packed up the RV and left for home.  We hated to leave and we decided that we definitely want to make this a repeat vacation!  As I mentioned above, Erik did NOT want to say good-bye to the RV and now wants us to buy one of our own. About a week after our trip, we had to go back to the RV dealer we rented from to pick up some dishes that we had accidentally left in the RV.  While we were there, we decided to walk through some of the RV's in the showroom - which might have been a mistake! Erik couldn't decide which was his favorite, but I completely fell in love with a fifth wheel floorplan!  While looking at the kitchen/living room area (the kitchen had an island and there was a fireplace in the living room!) I allegedly squealed & ran across the RV when I noticed that there was a "hidden" room beyond the kitchen that could be a dining room, extra bedroom or private woman-cave!!  Kent told me later that he thought we would be leaving with that fifth wheel the way I was gushing over it!!  Ha, ha!!  Now, if we only had the money to buy the fifth wheel and the huge truck required to pull to it (at least a 3/4 ton, I think)!!

Aug 23-Sept 5: A New Beginning

Hello again, friends!  I'm back on the blog, trying to get caught up for real this time.  Today is September 23, so I'm still a month behind - will I ever get this blog up-to-date?!  The big event of these 2 weeks was that the little part-time daycare programs for both Erik & Elin started on Monday, August 24.  However, sadly, Monday ended up being a non-event because Erik got a case of the pre-school flu at 4AM on Monday morning!  Thankfully, he was only sick for about 12 hours and was back to full power by Tuesday morning.  It was really odd on Monday, though, to have him tell me that he just wanted to go back to bed & sleep some more - after he had only been up for about 20 minutes!    Elin & I both got smaller versions of the same bug by the end of the week, but nothing too bad.

So, after that little set-back, our first day of "school" was Wednesday!  Neither of my kids were interested in letting me take any of those cute "First Day of School" pictures, so I was only able to get a few random pictures.  I wasn't sure how Elin would do with 'school' as she has become very attached to me lately; she only teared up a little bit as Kent & I left on Wednesday morning.  I spent the 3 hours of her program half expecting to get a call from the school that I needed to pick her up early, but her teachers said that she did great.  She only cried at the end of the morning when I wasn't in the first group of Mommies at the door.  She is still hesitant & clingy some mornings, but doesn't cry anymore.  I'm so proud of her!  Erik is also doing great in his program; he came home after the first week and told me that he could speak Spanish now!  I asked him to demonstrate and he replied "Hola! Hello!" (over & over)!  It was hilarious!  He also speaks Hebrew & French, by the way, and so I've decided to start teaching him German, as well!  Ha, ha, he has got to be the most multi-lingual 4 year old out there!!

On a personal note, a few weeks ago, I made a decision to recommit my heart & life to God.  It has become clear to me that I've let the world gain too much influence in my life and have allowed it to separate me from my faith and my God.  I need help on this journey. There are times when I am so scared of the future and where I will fall on the Day of Judgment.  I also worry about how my poor faith will impact my beautiful kids.  I really do need help on this journey; I am so thankful that I have people supporting me & giving me positive verses & promises to lean on.  From time to time, I may share how I'm doing or feeling or I may just share a verse that resonated with me.  I don't plan to use this blog as a soap-box or preaching platform (ha, I know, that is so totally not my scene!), but I have a burden on my heart to at least share this decision publicly (or as public as this very private blog really is!!).  Please pray for me.

Here are a few pictures for these 2 weeks:

Kelli & Elin at the beach on Sabbath, Aug 22

Kent spent some time showing Erik how to body surf the waves!

Elin in her classroom (Wed, Aug 26)

Erik & his class on the way to gym for PE (Wed, Aug 26)

Erik using Mommy as a footrest & Daddy as a headrest 

Elin & Erik walking together - so cute & Erik was so solicitous of Elin!

I beat down my anxiety & attended a ladies night painting class on Aug 29.  I think I did okay, considering I really am not artistic at all!

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Aug 16-22: Mmmm 'Licious!!

This week started with the last & final birthday party for Erik & Elin!  This party was a group party and also included Devin Cochran & Addison Zbaraschuk, who both turned 3 this summer.  The party was held at a local MyGym; I'd never been to a MyGym before though I have always intended to take the kids at least once.  It was a really neat place.  It has all sorts of kid-sized gym apparatus as well as the oh-so-popular, ball pit!  Erik & Elin didn't hesitate at all, but jumped right in and played on everything.  The staff were excellent as they coordinated several group games for the kids and also managed the clock for the adults - it was a huge relief to just be able to play with the kids rather than trying to keep things moving for the party.  At the end of the play-time, we had pizza, fruit, chips & other light snacks along with yummy birthday cake.  Each of the birthday stars had their own little cake and candle, so they each were able to enjoy hearing their "Happy Birthday" song and blowing out their own candles.  This was a highlight for my kids, in particular, since "Happy Birthday" has become Elin's favorite song!

Here are a few pictures from the party:

The Birthday Kids!  Nearly impossible to get a picture with all 4 looking in the same direction!!

Mmmm - cake!!

The whole gang!

The kids on the Birthday Wagon!

Elin walking on the balance beam!

Birthday kids' introduction - Erik was raising his hands that he was 4 years old!!

The beloved ball pit - you notice how my kids refuse to look at the camera!

"No pictures!"

Elin has begun to communicate so much in the past few weeks.  It is so much fun to listen to her; she is getting really good at carrying on an actual conversation!  She sometimes talks more than Erik does - which could be a girl vs boy thing!!  Elin loves smoothies (well, almost any food really, but smoothies in particular) and she has begun to say "Mmmmm, 'licious" after taking a sip.  She will hold up 1 finger while she does it. I've tried to get a video of this - hope it works so you can see it!

The rest of the week was spent doing the normal sorts of things that we do each week - run errands (the kids love going to the grocery store so they can get a free cookie!), go to the library, ride bikes (when Erik can convince Mommy to go outside in the heat), and make messes with their toys...I mean, play with their toys!!

Erik & Elin hiding in the closet when they heard Kent arrive home!  Somehow, he knew right where to look for them (Ein tends to giggle)!!

Erik on a bike ride

Erik helping Daddy with outside chores!

Erik & Elin playing with their sand table while it was pouring rain.  Their hair & clothes were soaking wet from running the rain & then it became caked with sand.  Needless to say, they got hosed down before I let them inside!

Playing night-night in Erik's room!  A current favorite game!

Another current favorite - sitting in cardboard boxes & playing games on the iPad!

Somehow, they convinced Daddy to get into the cardboard box with them!!

Addison & Elin - 2 little cuties!

Elin has developed an affinity for hats!  She won't wear them for long, but she does love to try them on and look at herself in the mirror!!

Aug 1-15: August Catch-up

Oh man, why can I never get caught up?!  I had done a massive amount of posting in late July/early August to get this blog caught up - but then, with only 2 weeks left to post, I got side-tracked with other stuff and am way behind again.  Why, oh why, do I procrastinate until I am almost 2 months behind (it is now mid September and I just posted the entry about Erik's birthday on July 30)?!  A friend has told me that I need to just post a few pictures each week and be done; however, I see the blog posts that some of my friends post and they do a lot more than just post a few pictures!  I want to be like them, but I'm going to have to concede defeat and focus on pictures instead.

So, here are a bunch of pictures from the first few weeks of August:

Erik got a John Deere hat for his birthday which matches Kent's and he insists that Kent wear his hat whenever Erik wears his!!

Erik is talking his train through this bridge derailment!

He desperately wanted to share his chair with his big bear, but couldn't quite get comfortable enough to read!!

Elin is a little monkey and loves to hang onto our necks or backs when we sit down.  She will continue to cling to us even as we stand up!

Elin learning how to clean up her own messes!  Praise the Lord!

On August 7, we met up with Amy & Addison Zbaraschuk at a local (or rather, not as local as we thought since it took nearly 30 minutes to get there) indoor playground to commemorate Addison's 3rd birthday!  Judging from the pictures below, you'd think that my kids didn't have much fun there.  That was definitely not the case!!  They just hate the camera - they will almost always both start fussing and saying "No pictures. No pictures" as soon as my phone or camera comes out!

Nap time after church.  Elin fell asleep on the way home; Kent got her out of the car & took her into the house for lay her down.  This is what I found when I finally got Erik out of the car & into the house!!