happy camper

The teeth are falling out of our people's heads this week, I tell ya!  Reecie lost two and then Graham lost another on top. He's so sleepy and all wrapped up in his favorite "sports" blanket that Nana made for him.  It was about 11 o'clock when that thing finally came out!  His teeth always seem to get wiggliest at the end of the day and then he has trouble going to sleep until that wiggler comes out.  I helped him twist and turn that thing in every way, and then he finished the job-so brave!

We've been busy for the last few days laundering, packing, making a list and checking it twice because Graham's going to sleep away camp!  He is so excited to go to Cedarkirk with his "home brother" Johnathon.  Graham and Johnathon have been best friends since, well- since baby-hood!  I met Jill and Craig when Johnathon was about 9 months old and I was in my last trimester with Graham.  We were fast friends.   The boys have very different personalities, but boy do they love being together.  Sometimes we laugh, because they often remind us of two little old men with their banter and interactions.  They know each other well and it's fun to watch their friendship grow as they do.  Cedarkirk is a Christian camp and conference center, and they offer sleep away camps for all ages.  At Graham's age (8) it is a 3 day, 2 night camp.

Nana came and picked Graham up on Thursday for a little lunch and shopping for camp essentials like shower flip flops and some cool camo sunglasses.   Then this afternoon, Grandma and Grandpa came by and brought Graham his very own journal, pencils and a bookmark.  We prayed together that this would be a special time for Graham to meet new friends and that God would meet him in a special way at camp.

The "just in case" allergy medicine stash

Bible, journal + pencils, sunglasses, disposable camera, hat, swimsuit, bugspray + sunscreen and each outfit /pajama set bagged  with a special note in each bag.  I saw this idea  to bag complete outfits (down to socks + underwear) on pinterest and thought it was brilliant!  Plus, it'll prevent dropping clothes on the wet shower floor, I hope!

Millie's staying behind with grandparents so that we can focus on getting Graham settled in, and Reecie's coming along for sisterly support.  :)  Dan spent many summers at Cedarkirk and so he'll be able to show D.G. the lay of the land, I'm sure.  So happy for our boy to have this special opportunity and maybe camp at Cedarkirk will be a summer tradition!

a typical morning...

...looks something like this:  stuff all over the vanity (and floor), Millie freshly clean because she stripped down (without warning) to get in the shower with daddy.  Reecie decides a shower might be good too (bonus: clothing change), so she goes in after daddy and Camille.  Then we remember that Graham hasn't bathed in almost a week and has visible wax in his ears...so we drag encourage him into the bathroom to take care of personal hygiene.  Then it's my turn.  Super-duper quick shower. When was the last time I shaved above my knees anyway?)  Blow-dry my hair almost dry and fix it in my new favorite way, a little make-up and dig through my closet hoping that I'll find one thing that might match.  YES!  Last one.  Throw in a load of laundry (because I've now exhausted all of my options) and move on to breakfast.  Ezekiel bread toast and yogurt.  Kiss Dan goodbye, say a prayer and take a deep breath.  Our day has begun.

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!  Psalm 118:24

cousins with a cherry on top

I called Jen tonight to see if they'd meet us at the park for a picnic dinner.  Turns out they'd already done that today, so she invited us over for dinner.  So grateful, the kids were really wanting to play with cousins and it was a treat to enjoy a delicious dinner....we even enjoyed strawberry shortcake for dessert.  And Dan's pulling his 4th late night in a row at church this week.  Thankful that the weekend is just around the corner.

All of the big-girl cousins ( Taylor, Raeghan and Hannah Reece) have glasses now.  Cuties.

Emma doo!

The fellas:  Jacob, Colton (who was very proud tonight that he is *almost* as tall as Aunt Sarah), Graham and Logan.  These boys were rough and tumble tonight...even more than usual!

I baked today...chocolate covered cherry cookies.  Man are these good!  This batch was mostly for Aunt Jen's belated b-day gift and  Grandpa Rog's bday TODAY!   Only 2 left!  :)

Super dooper behind on G's school work, but that's ok.  We've had plenty of "holiday" so I think we'll use the actual school holiday's next Mon. and Tues.  to catch up.  :)  Grace.

LOVE

This year, I tried some new ideas for Valentine's day fun!  Thank you very much, Pinterest.   

Heart-shaped hard-boiled eggs...these were a hit!  Graham said he thinks we should have these EVERY Valentine's day;  :)  I agree!  Super easy and cute.

I wanted to add this to the bottom because they were actually dinner, but I'm having trouble with that.  First,  I poured a little batter into a sauce cup.  Then I  added a couple drops of pink food coloring, drew it up into a medicine dropper,  and made the "heart" in the waffle iron base.  I let it sit for a 10 seconds or so, to firm up and then added the plain batter, as usual.  Voila!  Valentine's waffles!  These were a big hit.  

We emailed dear friends and family members this pic as a valentine this morning.
 

A special valentine for my love...waiting in the sock drawer for his discovery, ha!

Special love notes for the kids when they woke up this morning.

Graham:  You are handsome, You are a great dancer, You ROCK, We love you!!, You rock at angry birds, You are so funny, You are an excellent reader, You have interesting ideas

Hannah Reece:  We love you!!, You are smart, You have a pretty singing voice, You have a beautiful smile, We love to laugh with you, You have a special way with animals, You are a hardworking girl, You are an awesome helper!

Camille:  You are learning to use the potty, You have cute dimples :), Your kisses are so sweet,  You are a fast runner, You make us smile, You are a great sleeper, We love you!!, You are a funny girl

I love how these turned out.  I plan to bring them out every year.  Target dollar section mailboxes, glued to wooden spray-painted candlesticks from Salvation Army.  Total cost:  $5!  The kids have really enjoyed surprising each other with  little Valentine cards over the last two weeks.     

Everybody pitched in on this little project.  Tissue paper hearts:  wrap tissue squares around  the pencil eraser, dip in glue, and press onto heart, repeat...again and again!  

Our photo wall all dolled up for V-day!   Gobstoppers in the mason jars.  Handmade Valentine's for each family member from Hannah Reece.  Millie's is covered in dried oatmeal, she loved it so much!  :)

It was a special day.  Daddy surprised me with 3 red roses at lunch time and he gave the girls the cutest soft, stuffed roses.  One pink and one red.  I'll have some time with my valentine later this week, he's teaching a Bible study tonight, it's season after all.  :)  Busy, busy.

Pumpkin Patch

 Graham and Hannah Reece spent the night with Nana and Papa last night.  The kids had a 4 day weekend with a couple of days off on Thurs. and Fri.  so they were ready for some fun and a change of scenery, I think!  This morning, Nana and Papa took them to breakfast at their favorite little spot on Ft. Myers Beach.  Then Nana took them to the pumpkin patch and for lunch a playing at McD's.  They can always talk Nana into McD.'s happy meals!  ;)

The kids picked out pumpkins for themselves and a baby one for Camille.  I'll have to add a picture of their pumpkins later.  They "decorated" them with sharpies.  :) 

While the kids were away, Dan and I vascillated between relaxing and trying to make the most of the time to get a few house projects accomplished.  I moved the living room furniture around (this seems to be a trend for me when the kids are away) to make a designated play area for Camille.  Now I have a clear view of her in her play kitchen while I'm cooking/cleaning-up in the kitchen.   I know it sounds weird, but organizing a cleaning really is relaxing to me!  Dan watched football, cleaned up the patio, tidied up the garage and was terribly thrilled to help me move the furniture *again*.  ;)   

I think Camille is growing, she slept for 14 hours last night!  From 4:15pm-6:15am!  That was a treat.  Dan and I enjoyed a few late night episodes of Parks and Rec on Netflix.  We are hooked on that show!

Fall weather hit Florida late last night with a cool front...the high was 87 today.  That qualifies as "brisk weather" in these parts, ha!    I am in the mood to make something with pumpkin in it....maybe this?  

Source: tasteofhome.com via Sarah on Pinterest