Montreat Memories

The last week of our vacation also included 2 different days of visits with Whitney, Jock, and Addison.   Whitney has been my best friend since we were 10.  We've never lived in the same state, but where we live is the only thing that isn't close between us. 

This picture is really special because it's filled with special ladies in my life: My Mom, Grandma, daughter, "niece", and "sister"

Our Traditional Picture (with Brough niece #2)...we have taken a picture similar to this one almost every time we've been together over the last 21 years!  One day we'll make a book of them (if we can find them all, this predates digital people!)

Addison

At the end of the week, we headed over to Montreat!  Montreat is a Presbyterian college and conference center where my brother (Tim), Whitney, and I all attended summer youth conferences throughout high school.  Whit now lives about 10 minutes away.  This particular trip to Montreat was special as Tim and I shared it together and shared it with our families.

Montreat Rock Hopping with our families!!! One of those really special memories that is such a blessing to share with our kids and words can't do it justice.

Joel is hidden between Jim and Trevor, but he is in there.

Kelsie and Kirstin rock hopping, too!

Scoping out the next rock like a pro

Tim's family hiked Lookout Mountain after lunch.  However, the trails have changed since we last hiked many years ago.  The trail that used to take about 2 hours round trip was about 3 hours to the top.  Good thing we were on vacation and could be flexible with plans.

My parents, Jim, Joel, Kirstin, Whitney, and Addison went to the Huckleberry...yummy and inexpensive ice cream!  We would usually go on a daily basis while at Montreat.

Joel sharing his Huckleberry ice cream cone with Addison.

What a great 3 weeks our family had together on vacation.  We are already brainstorming how to pull that off again next year.

More Family Fun

At the Baughman family reunion, the Great Grandkids had a fun little water balloon "fight" the one afternoon.  

What a great week with my family!  I miss them all and can't wait until the next time we are together.

Raindrop, Plop

Just a few days after the sandbox was ready to be played in, we had a full day of rain.  Joel was so disappointed that he couldn't play in the sandbox.  However, we had fun another way.  While Kirstin was napping, I helped Joel get his raincoat and rain boots on to go play in the rain.  He had fun splashing in the puddles and getting wet.  However, it was a chilly day (in the 50s, even though it had been 100 just 2 days before).  

We've been reading Spring books, many of which are about rain or bugs.  While playing in the puddles we both thought about the book "Raindrop, Plop".  We went inside and made hot chocolate, just like the did in the book.  Joel requested "6 tiny marshmallows" in his hot chocolate.  I couldn't figure out why he wanted 6, until I remembered that the book is a counting book and that's how many they marshmallows are in the hot chocolate in the book.  Joel has a great memory! :-)

Special treat of drinking hot chocolate on the couch in the living room.

Raindrop, Plop! 

He was so cute because he knew this was something special.

All snuggled up. Can you see Scheppy poking his head out of the blanket?

He actually looked at the camera!

I just love that I'm able to be home with my kids to create fun moments and memories out of a seemingly disappointing day (rain, so no playing in the new sandbox).  

We had a fun "Raindrop, Plop!" day. 

Sandbox bliss

Since my kids both have summer birthdays, I've been brainstorming gifts and parties.  Also, Joel loves to go to our neighbors' yard to play in their sandbox.  So, I researched sandboxes. 

Well, I found one that I liked.  The Naturally Playful Sandbox by Step2, which on their website sells for $119.99 plus $9.99 shipping.  The reviews suggest that this is a nice sandbox because it coordinates with yard decor, nice, but not essential to my sandbox needs.  However, it holds 200lbs of sand, has a lid (to keep all the neighborhood wildlife from using it as a bathroom), and will allow 2 kids to sit in the sand.

Now, I didn't want to pay that much for a container for sand, even if it was great and going to provide hours of entertainment for my kids.  So, I did some searching.  It was a little cheaper at walmart.com for $76.  I called Toys R Us and they had it on sale for $69.99.  However, Toys R Us online had it on sale for Memorial Day weekend for $54.99, with free shipping to the store.  Then, I found a coupon code for $10 off that specific sandbox from Toys R US!  So, I paid $44.99 plus tax!!! :-)  (Ok, technically, my parents paid that because they got it for the kids for their birthday present, but still, I was excited for my deal!).  

The sand was also on sale at Home Depot for Memorial Day weekend!  :-)

Checking out the new (empty) sandbox.  We found a shady spot in our yard with a tree that hangs over top, so even as the sun moves throughout the day, the sandbox is in the shade.

My sweet girl!

Kirstin is helping Daddy to open the sand.  *Their matching white hats with UV protection were also purchased at Toys R Us on clearance for $1 each!

Serious concentration

Filling up the sandbox

The dump truck and monster truck fit!  They even fit with the lid on!! :-)

This sand stuff feels different.  Yes, she's tasted it a few times too and gets upset when she's removed from the sandbox after putting it in her mouth multiple times.

Dump truck was full

Another day and back in the sandbox...everyday for hours!! :-)

Oh, how we love the sandbox!  We've even figured out to put a large beach towel next to it so that Kirstin can sit with me outside the sandbox, but still play with it (this minimizes the amount of sand she eats!)

The neighbors have even come to our yard to check out the new sandbox.

Crazy winter weather

We've had a mild winter for Chicagoland this year!  For those of us that much prefer the winters in Florida and Texas that don't ever require gloves, scarf, hat, heavy coat, or boots, let alone all of those at the same time or else you might just freeze, this winter hasn't been too bad.  Jim declared it a "no complaining winter."  We do try to get outside as much as possible, regardless of the weather.  

Our "Sweet Peach" on the grass for the first time.  This was in early Feburary.

Her mitten came off.  She wasn't too sure about actually feeling the grass.

"What's this stuff in my hand and can I eat it?"

Two days later... taking Kirstin out in the snow for one of her first "playing" in the snow experiences.

Needless to say, her Daddy quickly (and enthusiastically) took her back inside out of the cold.

About two weeks later... really wet, icy snow

Kirstin stayed warm this day by hanging out with Jim.

We made big snowballs for a snowman, but couldn't successfully make the snowman due to technical difficulties and some laws of physics probably.

Fortunately, Joel was pretty happy about the snow chair.

We smoothed out the front so he could sort of slide down (with some help).

All of this snow was gone after just a few days and we've even been out without jackets a few times recently.  We are ready for Spring with daffodil buds appearing, but I wouldn't be surprised if we still got more snow before Spring really comes.