The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas Eve is in only 2 more sleeps.  :)

These next several days are some of my favorites.  School is out, which lowers stress all around. Finals are behind us, hooray, celebrate all A's for all three kids!  We have very few outside commitments.  It is time to bake, play games, watch movies, be creative, and wrap gifts.  I love having everyone home!!  

At our house, Christmas Eve day is an extravaganza spent at my parent's home followed by a trip to church on the way home. Christmas day we get up, open our gifts, and then drive 3 hours to Jeff's mom's house for more food, family, and fun.  We are so very blessed.

So, these days before the festivities are to begin take on a preciousness all of their own.  There is the added joy of anticipation.  There is the simple pleasure from quieter times.  For me, these are the best days of the season.

A Big Birthday

We had a big birthday come and go for our youngest.  How can he be fifteen?  These teen years are zooming past us.  He wanted a zoo membership for his present.  We had not been in many years, so we really enjoyed our recent trip.

We also had a family party and he received a really huge expert level Lego set.  It was fun to watch him build it.  He had to build in his free time, so it took a little longer than the average set.  Do you know that I have never put together a Lego set?  That seems so weird in this house of Lego nuts!

Now I am in Thanksgiving preparation mode.  I really need to get out the carpet cleaner, wash windows, cabinets, and on and on the list goes.  This year I am trying not to let the holidays sneak up on me.  I love hosting Thanksgiving and I want to make sure it is a good day for my beloved family. Do you host Thanksgiving?  Are you ready?  

Official Start of Summer

It is officially summer now that Memorial Day has passed.  I feel we were so blessed to be able to get away for a fantastic trip up to our favorite lake, Lake Michigan.  We were so fortunate to have Friday through Monday in our favorite camping cabin near Michigan City, IN.

I love camping cabins, especially when they have a private bathroom, a splurge!  There is no real kitchen, just a sink, small refrigerator, and microwave, no worries.  I am not there to cook.  There is one sleeping room with two bunks. The best part of the cabin is the front porch with the picnic table. It has just enough room to set our folding chairs and drink our coffee each morning.  Awww, blissful.

The tidy campground itself is family owned and operated, which I love. They keep the grounds well maintained.  The pool is the main attraction for our kids.  If they did not have one, we would probably look for another spot, it is so important.  I love the laundry facilities myself.  I was able to wash three loads at once while they swam.  That means no big laundry to do when we get home.  Yay!

This being a holiday weekend, the campground was full.  That was to be expected.  It was still nicer than going to the state park with literally 10,000 others trying to get to the beach.  After doing that for years, we are now a little wiser!

This year, we did go to a very lovely beach a little farther east, only 20 minutes from our cabin in New Buffalo, Michigan.  We were able to park close and enjoy the beautiful day with fewer "friends." There we have gone since before we were married, but not often with kids, as the state park beach is closer to Grandma.

In closing, here are some pictures from our weekend below.  I never tire of the beauty up north.  You know it is a good trip when you get home and start searching Zillow for a beach home.  Sadly, it is not in our budget, but it is fun to dream about.  We get to go back in July, September, and October.  I will be content with those wonderful gifts!

Us in the cabin.

Michigan City lighthouse

National Lakeshore access in Beverly Shores, IN. 

Grandma joined us at Deep River Park in Hobart, IN.

New Buffalo, MI 

Bloom Where You Are Planted

It is perhaps the most wonderful time of the year when all is blooming or about to bloom.  It seems the grass could not be any greener and cannot grow any faster, too.  There is an almost constant hum of lawn mowers about.  We are no longer in survival mode.  We thrive!  (Well, try not think about the allergies this season brings!)

Tomorrow our home learners will have reached day 180, which is always a great day.  They have loved their online school.  Each has grown in ways that have surprised and delighted me.  God blessed our efforts beyond my expectations.

We are looking forward to some time off but the kids will be very busy with a couple trips, camps, a youth group overnight outing, and band camp for the oldest.  The few weeks of summer will go quickly.

It is a time to grow things, ride bikes, read for pleasure, swim, create, and enjoy all our blessings.  It is blooming time for plants and our own lives as well!

Merry Christmas

Getting Ready For Christmas

The day after Thanksgiving begins our Christmas festivities around here. We are not much into shopping with the crowds. Decorating is our chosen pastime. Most of our treasures are passed down from grandparents or have other sentimental meaning. It's wonderful to open up the boxes and rediscover old friends!

My great grandmother's chair