Camping Chronicle

This past Saturday our little family set out for another mini adventure. Just less than an hour away we set up tents, explored in the stream, and cooked on the fire... all for our first family camping trip. Joe has taken the boys multiple times now - so us girls were the rookies.

I didn't set out unprepared though... in fact some of the prep work I did, turned out to make camping a breeze...sort of....if you are curious just know it has something to do with a 5 gallon bucket, a pool noodle, and some kitty litter. #lifesaver

Our wildflower pickin', overall wearin', stream side explorin'  Selah Jo.

Details.

The boys totally wrecked their tennis shoes , but the exploration done was totally worth it.

 

We got a family pic to prove we were all there ;) 

 On the menu: leftover tacos, scrambled eggs, toaster pastries that pop and aren't very tart, grapes and coffee. Saving 'smore's for the next trip.

The night started with all of us in the tent and by 3 A.M. ish  us girls ended up in the back of the van with more blankets and actual sleep. 

 

Next trip, I would really like to bring some colored pencils and notebooks for some nature journaling during downtime.

 

Overall, I'd say it was a successful one night /half day of trial and error, lessons and blessings, and the start of a new adventuring chapter for our family.

Messy + Mundane = Grace

Hello 2017. I honestly wasn't even sure if I would be able to sign in to write this post. But clearly, it has worked and whoa! it has been a minute (is this what the cool kids say ? ) since I last posted. I left off mid week of "Week in the Life" and kept telling myself I couldn't stray from those posts until I completed the week. But here I am breaking my own silly rules.

I woke up Wednesday morning to a house that was very much out of order. Toys here, laundry piles there, and evidence of watercolor fun- just a fraction of the complete disarray of it all.

 Let's play "spot the broken crayon".

 Yesterday's checker game.

 yep.

The laundry that wins the award for virtue in patience.

 Then there is me.

Some argue that a home that is disorderly means a heart that is disorderly. And quite honestly, whether my home is spic-and-span - "Better Homes and Gardens" worthy or is spewing evidence of people living here....my heart is one of disorder. Even on the days it is clean. Fallen world=Fallen human. I am not a perfect person. I do not even strive for perfection. Sure- a clean home has its place- just not on Wednesday mornings following a day that was full of cultivating friendships and hospitality, homeschooling, a fellowship meal at church, followed by an unexpected visit to the E.R. We all have days-sometimes weeks- even months like this. But I see so much beauty in it all- so much hope in it all- so much sanctification in the tidying of it all. I choose to see the grace in it all - because I serve a God of great grace. May you be encouraged through the messy and mundane!

-Carol

Week in the Life™ 2016 | Wednesday, May 11th | Words + Photos

 Wednesday. Mostly a blur in the evening and flew by so quickly that I don't even remember what we ate for dinner. I didn't write it down. I didn't photograph it. But there were moments that I want to remember and thankfully I did do some documentation. Coffee was had. Routines were off a bit. But it was totally a day with magical moments sprinkled in.

Favorite Moment of the Day : Reading 30 pages out of a joke book (by request) to Brandon, who was up at 6:45A.M., then sent back to bed so I could grab my coffee and soak in a few verses from Colossians. He eventually made his way downstairs at 7:10 A.M. beacause it was "light outside." (insert any appropriate emojis here....also, random thought...in 20 years will we even know or remember the language of "emoji"?...I digress.) ANYWHO. It was such a sweet 20 minutes with Brandon EVEN IF my coffee got cold.

 

This kid decided he would make his own breakfast. While I was hesitant at first, I decided it was totally appropriate- seeing as he mops floors now.

Banana + Leftover Corn Tortilla + 1 piece of Elk Steak + 8 Almonds.

Followed by this messy haired boy joining in for the second course of the morning, YOGURT. 

And as routine would have it, they got in a bit of PBS Kids, while I got in Yoga. This is new for me. My Mom bought me the mat, (as she has been doing Yoga lately) and I decided again, that all excuses were gone. I need moments to breathe + stretch , and while I don't look or feel like a Yoga guru, I think it's helping. Hoping to bump up my "once a week" to 2 or EVEN 3x per week.

30 minutes pass and since Selah was still sleeping I rush to make grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches for lunch. We have a picnic with friends planned and I am behind schedule as per usual. Thankfully I got a text message saying our friends needed a few extra minutes too.

Out and about.  Hello Mountainscape.

Back home to chores for a bit, but the day is just too lovely to not go out again . We found ourselves swinging the afternoon away. 

If every day could be a park day- I know I will miss this one day.

As I mentioned earlier, the evening was a blur. A fuzzy mess of time where boys sat and colored, Selah sat and ate little puff snacks and Joe and I Face-timed with family trying to purchase and coordinate travel plans for the summer. Jet Setting as a family of 5. Super thrilled and thankful that is done and we can move on to other things....like packing for a family of five.  Let the list making commence.

Week in the Life™ 2016 | Tuesday, May 10th | Words + Photos

Messy bun for the win. And for the necessity. And for the convenience.

Breaking the fast with some microwave in a mug "puffy eggs".

Plus 1/2 of a banana, bacon, and frozen raspberries. Quick + Simple.

 Giving black beans a quick rinse before throwing them in the slow cooker. If you don't cook your beans this way you are missing out. 

A quick rough chop of seasonings and dinner prep has begun.

 

Mid prep session, Simon comes in to get help pulling up his sagging pants. 

Officially drinking the second cup of caffeine for the day...this time it's tea.

Boys have their book time / play trains while I go to get Selah Jo up.

GO FISH!

This girlie is still waking up. :)

 Before lunch, I am prepping for our afternoon "Spring cleaning" activity. Washing the walls, baseboards, and magic erasing the WHOLE floor. Do not be fooled. It only happens once a year (or at least, once this year).

Popcorn making for lunch.

Man of the house home to eat said popcorn.

Apple Chicken Sausage, Carrots, Yogurt tubes, popcorn.  

 

I chill on the floor with this girl and she keeps rollin'. 

  Lunch for me: Chocolate PB protein shake.

I notice all the little beads of rain on the window when I take Selah to her room for a nap. Rain is so dreary but I am praying it keeps the fires away this summer!

Just washing up the cooking vessels. I spend a lot of time at the sink.

My view while I take a quick break before the floor and wall scrubbing begins.

 So much dirt, so much fun, so much work, and they earned a bit of money towards new bikes. :)

Getting dinner going. The day has been long and flown by all at the same time.

Fish, Corn Tortillas, Sour Cream, Chipotles in Adobo, Lettuce/Red cabbage mixture, Black beans.

Yay for full bellies and sparkling smiles.

Brandon thought he would earn even more $$$ towards his bike. It's hard sometimes for me to let go of the fact that it probably didn't get mopped exactly the way I would have done it. Easy for me to embrace the fact that it probably wouldn't have gotten done if it were on my "to-do" list.

The night ended with an attempt at "home date night" - where phones are put away and the "to-do" list shoved aside. The soundtrack of the evening ended up being that of crying babies. One ours, and one our neighbors (joining walls). Sometimes, most times when my expectations meet reality, the moment becomes one of irritation rather than thankfulness. Definitely something I need to work on and for sure something I am glad to be made aware of. So that was Tuesday and this is life. Thankful to be living + learning. Yay for a temporary clean floor.