Holy Week Photo Dump

It just seems wrong to have the words Holy and Dump in the same sentence. Back in the day I used to do posts about each of our adventures. I seem to have trouble fitting that type of blogging in these days but this blog is also a sorta scrapbook and I like those memories being saved. So I'm trying just to dump a bunch and write about it. Some of this will be repeats if you follow me on instagram. 

For Holy Week, we did our regular family seder dinner with the kids helping me make matza. After using the same recipe for the last 6 years but never actually writing in down, the blog that held it disappeared and I was left scrambling. But I managed to find the ingredients list on another blog and I knew enough of the directions to make it work. So for next year, here's my version based on the one that used to be on the Tammy's Recipe's blog:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup honey/sugar

2 t salt

3 eggs

1.5 cups water

6-6.5 cups flour (I've used all purpose and whole wheat but normally use a mix)

Combine everything but flour. Slowly add flour until its soft and smooth and slightly sticky (don't overflour). Roll out to about 1/4 inch thick, sprinkle with salt and roll one last time to make salt stick.  Poke with a fork a few times, cut into rectangular-ish shapes and transfer to a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 7-12 minutes. 

We also colored eggs the night before since we needed hardboiled eggs for the dinner. We did a marbalized technique where we added a bit of oil to the dye for a second dip and I really did not confident but it worked really well. Which of course meant sad kids the next day when I insisted we actually crack and eat them - even after Jonah had given each of his an individualized name! What can I say, I'm a cruel mother. 

The dinner itself went great. We upgraded to an actual script this year after just reading the bible and talking about them the last few. It was a short script but just enough to for the kids to get a bit more. And Norah was adorable because as soon as we sat down she kept asking "what is dat?" and "oh, and what is dat?" 

Good Friday we did a Good Friday nature walk that a local homeschool mom had set up. Despite the rainy cold days before and after, that Friday was actually nice out and the path was dry enough (although I made my kids all wear ALL THE RAIN GEAR just in case). And I actually took my good camera. Although that came back to bite me. The event had several stations that held signs and props with the bible story of Easter and we made story rocks at each. It was a lot of fun and I hope to do it again next year. And we had never used story rocks before but my kids have already asked if we can get paint pens and make more. 

Picnic fun with homemade leftover matza "lunchables"

But after using my good camera, I forgot to charge the battery. So I got a few Easter pictures at home that were too dark. Then I moved the kids to a better spot only to have Jonah accidentally elbow Norah in the eye as he sat down. So no good pictures then and my camera was flashing its battery warning at me. So I thought I'd just charge the battery while we finished getting loaded up for church and then I'd take some at church in our fancy new foyer. Except I'm sure you can see where this is going. I get to church, no battery. It's charging in the outlet right by our door, where I "wouldn't be able to forget it." So the one year I actually make sure the kids have cute Easter outfits, I have no camera! I took a few with my phone but Jonah and Norah are so bouncy its hard to get a non-blurry shot of them. I mean, Jonah tries so hard but he just doesn't get the concept of NOT MOVING. And Norah was looking at everyone BUT me. 

There, got one!

But all in all, a good week for celebrating our Lord and Savior!

February Field Trip

We love to camp but last summer had a bit of rough luck in our attempts, several stormy days and a tummy bug mid-trip really put a damper on our fun.  But not the kid's enthusiasm as for the last few months, both Lucy and Jonah have been asking when its camping time.  We would try to remind them that it was WINTER still but then they'd just ask again. So when we saw the weather report had a whole week of 60-70 forecasted, we figured, why not go camping in February?!

We had planned it for later in the week then we realized we had made a mistake in calculating Craig's day off so Sunday night we decided to go camping on Monday! And we are in the middle of a fairly intense elimination diet for me as well as a gluten-free/dairy free trial for Jonah (with everyone else tagging along because I am not about to fight a 4 year old with every meal because he can't eat the same thing as his sisters). But I quickly made a meal plan, we threw stuff in the car in the morning and off we went. 

And surprisingly, we did pretty well. In answer to my question "Why not go camping in February?" Well, for one thing, the parks don't have firewood for sale - oops! Don't worry, we made it work and marshmallows were toasted and enjoyed by all (but me). And we had to use the dreaded VT instead of the nice bathrooms with running water. The plus side is that by the time the kids were desperate enough to give in and try them, we were the only family left at the park so I could leave the door open and let some extra fresh air in so Jonah didn't have to keep holding his breath. I was pretty sure he would have passed out if I didn't. It was only afterwards I realized that he was a boy and since the park was empty, technically that whole experience was unnecessary for him. Apparently I'm more of a girl mom than a boy mom still! And if Lucy has to give up gluten and dairy for him, then he gets to use a yucky bathroom same as she does. Fair is fair! Just kidding, after that I let him pee in the bushes.

You can see an empty campground around us although right about the time we brought out the marshmallows, another couple did show up so we weren't totally alone. But the kid's loved having free run of the playground and scootering all around the loop without having to worry about cars. And we've generally had good experiences at our state parks with neighbors being respectful, it certainly was a bit more peaceful than usual around the campfire -at least after the kids went to bed.

Everytime we go camping, I tell myself to take more pictures. The pictures above is the only pictures I had on my phone when I got back! That's really a good thing because I feel like our camping times are some of easiest times for me to just focus on being present with the kids.  I played with them on the playground, I read a bit while they scootered around me, Craig and I both did some reading aloud around the fire once everyone get into their jammies. It was nice, even if I don't have photographic documentation. I did manage to scavenge a few from Craig's phone of our big hike from Monday, some of which I did take.

And I got this video of Norah after she figured out how to climb up the bars and slide down herself. She was really proud of both new skills and repeated it about 20 times. 

She had already hiked a pretty good amount (for a 1 year old) earlier that afternoon before moving to my back and by the end of the sliding time she could barely lift her legs to the next rung but she didn't want to stop. All that moving made bedtime pretty easy. And I've figured out podcasts on my phone so the big kids got to listen to their regular kay ray reads to you podcast at bedtime as usual and we had a lot less of the "He's kicking me!" incidents of the previous years. Our camping as a family skills are definely improving - although I still can't ever remember to bring a potholder! We really need to work on a master camping list because apparently, we sometimes go camping at the last minute! 

T-day in review

So I know Thanksgiving is over and people have moved on to Christmas but bear with me! I've got pictures to share! We ended up heading over to Kanses the day after Thanksgiving to have some family time.

The first day we went back to Fort Leavenworth. My family has lived there three different times so we have a lot of memories. Some good - like visiting the house where Craig asked my dad's permission to marry me, and sledding down the gigantic hill (with or without proper clothing like pants and a shirt if you are my brother). And baptizing Lucy at this little church.

There were also some more painful memories as that was also the place where we sat with my mom when she took her last breath.  But it was fitting to take some time for those memories as it was also the 5th anniversary of her passing. We were able to see the tree they had planted in her honor.

 

 I also took a second to get this one of me and my girls. It's taken at the same spot this one of my mom and her sisters was.

Lucy was our only child when my mom passed away but I know she would have been overjoyed to see Lucy gain a sister. It's amazing to think of all that has changed in the past five years. I've done a lot of grieving and a lot of healing but in some ways I can't believe it has been more than just a few days since I last talked to her. I actually composed a long post in my head during our drive home about my mom but now that I've "gotten in out" I don't need to write it down. But I will say that I do believe her legacy in my life is only getting stronger.

Of course, we couldn't only visit sad spots. The kids needed to get out and have a bit of fun after our drive. So we took multiple trips on this old carousel. And by the last one Jonah even decided he was brave enough to go on a horse that went up and down! (But only one of the small horses that only goes up a little :-)

 

 Another highlight of our trip was that we finally got to meet my little brother's girlfriend. I try not to be an overly curious sister but getting any information out of this guy can be like pulling teeth sometimes so it was nice!

 

 

 Ben and Craig decided to try the Rocky Mountain Oysters. They said they were good but...yuck!

The highlight for the kids, besides seeing family members, was probably Legoland! I wasn't sure what to expect but it was great. Not too big that I felt like I was always counting heads. But enough to keep us all interested for 3 hours. 

The 4D movie. Jonah was not sure about this one.

Norah clapper for herself every time she stacked a block. But half the time her clapping would knock the whole stack over again. She didn't mind.

We also spent a good amount of time just hanging out together in the hotel. Swimming a bit in the "technically heated but still too cold for adults pool," going to the park, sneaking out for a date lunch (Craig and I) and trying to spell things out of partial pretzels (Jonah and Lucy). In other words, a good time was had by all.

The pool water was cold but the kids really enjoyed putting their feet in the hot tub although Jonah had to be reminded several times where his feet stopped and his belly began ;-)