A Week with Mom and Dad

Besides sleeping in and playing in the pool, we didn't do a whole lot this week. It took Mom and me three days to play one game of Scrabble--that's how laid back things were around here. We let the boys shoot off plenty of fireworks, and brought Mom and Dad with us to our friends' 4th of July party. The kids played in the lake while Mom and I floated around on rafts. We all enjoyed the huge firework show that night.

Braylen took charge of a project for me this week without being asked! He sanded my old picnic table and reinforced the shaky benches and table legs with new screws. Then he and my dad stained it--with help from Aaron. :) In my opinion the table and benches have never looked better.

Lining up their soldiers and artillery for battle

Kaleb and Aaron worked hard on their flag!

Aaron adds the finishing touches

Pool time! Derek set it up for us while we were all away for the week.

Getting started on the shaky benches.

All lined up to watch fireworks in our driveway. Where's Derek? ;)

My dad's favorite place to be at my house. :)

Time for some stain

Aaron was Grampy's helper.

Don't they look awesome?!!

My brand new table :)

Grammy & Aaron spray Grampy...

...and Grampy fights back!

Gathered around our "new" table

What a fun week we had! Grampy even came to Kaleb's first golf lesson of the summer. That was a special time. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for taking the boys on a vacation to Springfield AND to your house, and then bringing them home and staying for a week with us. I sure am liking your retired lifestyle! Come back this fall and we'll fill our days with football, marching band, and more fun!

To Camp and to Springfield

After a week or so of settling in back at home, we geared up for more travels. I did not hear many complaints from my kids about being bored this summer. It must be because we stayed on the go for an entire month. :)

I prepared for my second summer volunteering as a camp counselor while the boys packed for their trip with Grammy and Grampy. Derek stayed home to work and take care of Ginger...and mow lawns. Lots and lots of lawns.

Shuckin' corn while Ginger supervises :)

On Wednesday, June 25th, I drove the boys to Des Moines. Jacki came along to keep me company on the long drive home, and I am so grateful for her help. We met up with my parents at Culver's, had some treats, and the boys piled into Grammy and Grampy's van. They drove east, headed for a mini-vacation together in Springfield, IL while Jacki and I drove back home. It was a long day, but I am thankful for loving, involved, helpful grandparents. I knew they were all going to have fun together.

All squinty and ready for our drive to Des Moines

The very next day I needed to leave for camp. Since I wasn't able to help Derek with all of his lawns, his mom came to the rescue once again. I snapped this picture without her knowing. :) Together, she and Derek finished all of the lawns he needed to get done that day, including ours. We sure are blessed with awesome parents.

My pictures from the boys' trip are limited to what they sent me along the way. Mom also sent me a few, so here is what I have. Most importantly, they had fun together and made memories. :)

On their way!

Breakfast at Hampton Inn & Suites. Hmm, I think we've been here before. :)

Treats at DQ--Blizzards for B & K and a hot dog with cheese for A.

A corn dog restaurant in Springfield

Braylen and Kaleb with Abe Lincoln, somewhere in Springfield :)

Lincoln's Tomb on a pretty day

Their Monopoly marathon

I had a great time at camp while the boys were with my parents. Working with those hurting girls always humbles me and makes me want to hug my own kids and never let go. For a few days I was able to come alongside the "least of these" right here among us, and I receive so much more than I give. At least that is what it feels like.

On July 1st, Mom and Dad brought the boys back home and stayed for a fun week of relaxing and celebrating Independence Day together. Our month of traveling and going here, there, and everywhere was over! We settled in for a fun July at home. And that deserves another blog post, along with some pictures of the boys with my parents. :)

Making Our Way Home

Saturday & Sunday

June 14th & 15th, 2014

Vacation Post #10

This is it, my final vacation post from our 2 week trip! It's taken me most of the summer to write about it, so it's about time! :)

Ginger welcomed us home to my parents' house with leaps and barks of joy. We learned she was quite busy while we were gone. She dug a hole and chewed up a metal downspout--all because of some pesky chipmunks, who I am sure were taunting her. :) She went for at least one walk every day, sometimes two. Grammy filled a wading pool with water for her to splash in, and she was given free reign to roam throughout the house. I wasn't sure she wanted us to take her home!

We relaxed on Saturday and it felt great. The boys played in the yard while the rest of us sat back to watch. Derek, Dad, and Braylen went to Cabela's--no surprise there! Since Father's Day was on Sunday, I gave my dad his gift and took our boys to the store to pick out some treats for Derek. We soaked up this day before getting on the road to drive home Sunday morning.

Enjoying time on the back patio

Ginger's home away from home

Fire away!

My daddy loved his gift--a book Braylen picked out and we purchased
together at the Air & Space Museum.

Kaleb and Aaron played with their civil war soldiers on my old desk.

Eric, Amber, and Will arrived Saturday evening to begin their Chicago vacation, so we squeezed in a family photo in the back yard. On Sunday my parents traded our family and our dog for Eric's family and their cat--but for one night we were all there together!

I love my family!

That evening Braylen built a fire and we roasted marshmallows for s'mores. Mom even had Reese's PB cups, so of course I used one of those instead of a Hershey bar. Why did it take me so long to try a PB cup s'more??? YUM!!!

Nice fire Braylen!

Eric takes cool pictures!

With all of us here at the same time, the sleeping arrangements were a bit different. Mom made name signs for our rooms to make it fun. Will really liked the one night he spent with Kaleb and Aaron in the same room, so we just might put them together at Christmas too!

Braylen liked sleeping in the sun room!

Happy Father's Day to my husband, my dad, and my brother!
3 of the favorite dads in my life!

We loaded up our vehicle Sunday morning and were ready to be home. Our kids were such troupers the entire trip. Driving all of those miles and being gone for 2 weeks was quite the adventure! All in all we drove 3,170 miles. We saw 49 out of 50 USA state license plates, the District of Columbia plate, and plates from two Canadian provinces. The only state plate we missed? Mississippi! We counted 711 campers along the way, give or take a few. :) Most importantly, we built bonds and made memories together as a family while seeing new sights and experiencing new places. I know this is one vacation I will always treasure in my heart. And thanks to this blog, I just might remember most of it! :)

Our Ohio

Thursday, June 12th & Friday, June 13th
Vacation Post #9

This part of our vacation is the "cherry on top!" I just don't know how else to describe it. We left Gettysburg Thursday morning for Ohio. Derek and I met in Ohio. We began our friendship in Ohio. We fell in love in Ohio. The best part of Ohio today? My brother and his family live there!!! Right where our story began.

We arrived at Eric's house just before supper time. My sister-in-law treated us to our first home-cooked meal in almost 2 weeks. It felt so incredibly good to be there. Later I told Eric that being in his home felt like coming home to me. My 3 year old nephew quickly took to his big cousins and before long they were playing cars and dinosaurs and planes. :)

After supper we drove 10 minutes to our university. Of course the campus was empty--it's summer. We walked all over and although a lot has changed, our memories haven't changed. We shared a few stories from our college years with our boys. Braylen was especially interested, since college is only 4 years away for him. Yikes!!!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our walk down memory lane that evening. Pam, you will enjoy these pictures. :)

We're really here!

Countless layers of spray paint on "The Rock."

Eric has a little fun with his camera and I capture it with mine!

This is taken right outside my freshman dorm--it's where we first met...20 years ago this fall!

Derek shares a story with Braylen while we look at our beautiful campus.

Kaleb helps Will up the steps at the library.

2 out of 3 of them jumped!

Will and Aaron are buddies too!

I love the clouds reflected in the windows.

A new building in the background, but same Derek & Sarah :)

I love my brother

Derek even has a memory at this brick wall, and shares it with our boys.

We walked this path so many times, it felt good and right to walk it again.

Thank you Eric and Amber for coming with us to visit Cedarville. It was a special time for us! Hopefully we will be back before another 7 years go by.

Afterwards we went to our favorite ice cream place--Young's Dairy. It was just as good as we remembered it to be. I loved coming back with our kids!

That night back at the house, we tucked the kids into the cute little beds Aunt Amber had made for them and stayed up late into the night catching up on life. I wish for many more nights like that one...maybe when Eric and Amber come visit us at our house next time?!! :)

In the morning we hung out in our jammies while the boys played and watched Cars. Amber's french toast casserole was delish! Thank you Eric for these pictures.

Eventually we got dressed and had lunch together at Colonial Pizza in Cedarville. Saying goodbye to Eric, Amber, and Will was made easier knowing we would see them again the next day at Mom and Dad's house. Yes, they were going on their own vacation and we would have one more evening together in Illinois before our drive home!

Before getting on the interstate, Derek and I just had to make one more stop. John Bryan State Park was a special place for us during our college years. We drove through and stopped for a very quick look at our park. Next stop--my mom and dad's house! We are excited to see them and to get our Ginger Girl back!

How fun to be back here!

So pretty

Goodbye Ohio! We will be back!