Good "Clean" Fun

I wanted to share some pictures of our kids having some good, "clean" fun.

This kind of fun is free . . .

. . . takes absolutely no planning . . .. . . can keep our kids busy

all day long . . .. . . guarantees many smiles . . . . . . and is appropriate for all ages . . .
To experience this kind of fun, all you need is a few cousins . . .. . . time . . .. . . and . . .. . . a house in the country. :)
The kids had so much fun collecting tadpoles and frogs at my brother's home in Wisconsin . . . it was a beautiful day and the kids never wanted to leave.

While we were in Wisconsin, we visited my Uncle Phil's log cabin in the Middle of Nowhere. (you can't find that on a map) My cousin, Philip, built this house by himself when he was 19. I am amazed by that!

Isn't it lovely?

This is my dad and his two brothers. They love spending time here together.

The kids liked playing in the loft.

Four wheeler rides were fun.

Oh, and look what we spied on our way out of the cabin . . .

A Day at the Amusement Park

We had a lovely time at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I couldn't believe how cheap the rides were! We spent hours there going from one ride to the next and we spent a grand total of $20.00.

The kids' favorite ride was The Scrambler . . . poor John has a hard time not getting sea sick on these rides, can you tell??

I guess I liked The Scrambler, too. :) Grandpa liked it, too!

Caroline really loved the Ferris Wheel . . . Jake and me? notsomuch

The whole day was just wonderful . . not many people, a whole lot of rides, and sooo much fun!

home in Wisconsin

I haven't posted in a while because we are visiting my parents in Wisconsin. They live an hour north of Green Bay.

Yesterday, we went to the neatest little amusement park ever. (Bay Beach) All the rides were so cheap and the lines not very long.

The rides were just the right size and speed for all three of our kids.

The ferris wheel WAS a little scary for me, however. (especially when it stopped at the tippy top to unload and load people at the bottom . . . yikes!)

We also went to a fantastic zoo in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Wallace, MI is where my dad was born and raised. It is VERY small and in the middle of literally nowhere, I mean that.

BUT there is this amazing zoo!! It has more lions, tigers, and bears than our big Chicago zoos. I couldn't believe it. It has monkeys, white tigers, kangaroos, and much, much more! It is owned by a man and his girlfriend and they live at the zoo . . . you could say the zoo is in their backyard. They actually have a show on the National Geographic Wild channel. (I think it is called "My Life is a Zoo.")

(I will share photos of our experience there when I get home tomorrow . . .)

I had forgotten how beautiful it is where I grew up. John and I went for a run around the park in front of my parents' home this morning and it brought back many fond memories of living here when I was younger. There is this spot that I would always look for deer . . . right when I was telling John this, a doe and her two fawns walked right out in front of us . . . beautiful. Then we saw a wild turkey and some baby frogs (which John and I scooped up and brought back to the house for the kids). My runs in Chicagoland are just a wee bit different! :)

There's no place like home.

Family Time

It's always good to be with family.

On Sunday, we got to see cutie little Caleb. Uncle Colin took us for a little spin on the river.
our family on Uncle Colin's and Auntie Diane's boatJake chillaxin'

I got to cuddle with Caleb on the boat After the boat ride, it was time for swimming and the hot tub!!
We are so thankful for family time.

Check This Out

Check out this gorgeous honey that our friends make. (well, the bees actually make it, but . . well, you know what I mean) I have already tried it in my granola, and it is sooo delicious!!

click here for the granola recipe

And, oh my . . . check out these zucchinis that my neighbor gave me. What to make, what to make?? I think zucchini bread. I will have to search for a good recipe. (anyone?)

And check out this picnic table that John is making for me . . . I can't wait to show you pics of it . . . it is turning out rather beautiful. I can't wait to actually have places for people to sit and eat their dinner out by the pool. (John is becoming quite the handyman, don't ya think?)

brothers

big brother

little brother

little brother wants to be just like big brother

I'm glad Luke has such a good role model to follow.

Hebrews 13:1

"Let brotherly love continue."

The Family Room is Finally Finished!!

I have been reading a couple of decorating blogs lately. One of my very favorites is Layla Palmer's The Lettered Cottage.

After several months of reading Layla's creative posts, I decided that I was going to actually incorporate some of her ideas into my own home.

I decided that the family room was going to be my first adventure.
 

We ripped up the carpet (to find beautiful hardwood just waiting to be refinished) and started putting up a wall treatment called board and batten.

I am absolutely in love with the results . . . it's amazing what a little architecture can do to a room.

(I just want to warn you that if you put up board and batten, it will take you FOREVER to paint . . . it took me two complete days)

 

We splurged a little and bought a TV to mount on the fireplace. John figured out how to lower the fireplace mantel and install it on the bricks . . . I was very impressed.

I scored two of these from my sister's garage . . . one for each side of the fireplace. (thank you, Diane!)The curtains are the Matilda Curtains from IKEA . . .they were only $19.99 for two panels . . . I got 3 sets to make them look full. I hung them close to the ceiling and let them pool on the floor. I love them because they are so long and they are just so fresh-looking. 

The bamboo shades are from Target . . . $30 a piece.(we haven't painted the windows white yet)

The wall color is Benjamin Moore's Shaker Beige. (It was in "my plan" to buy tan furniture and paint the walls a grayish blue color, but that will have to wait . . . $$)

So, there ya have it . . . the finished product . . . I really love how it turned out.

(still looking for the perfect area rug)

Thank you, John, for all the hard work you put into this room.

And thank you, to my brother, Steve, and our friend, Peter, for the beautiful job you did on the board and batten.