A wild week

We've run camps before.  We've run retreats before.  We've run all nighters before.  This was our first time running a vacation Bible school.  As expected it was wild, in a very good way.

Meet Professor Hooglraar

Moses with a cloud that drops "manna" (marshmallows).

This year we added an adult portion as well.  It was small, but it was good.  The topic: Parenting.  I think we all left feeling refreshed to know that all of us have our struggles as we learn to raise our children.

Along with a wild and crazy VBS, we had naps at Nana's while I had a Psych date with my Writer sister, we had a spontaneous play date, and a day in Bar Harbor with my long lost brother. 

 Okay so he's not really a long lost brother. In fact when we were kids we spent many, many weekends on the slopes together skiing. We also loved those itty-bitty chicken sandwiches KFC used to sell and we climbed Gram's walls together (literally).

When one is in Bar Harbor one ALWAYS must stop at Ben and Bill's for ice cream.

Even so we're pretty opposite of each other. I say whatever comes to mind, sometimes before I even process it. He doesn't say much. I grew up in the country, he grew up in the city. I'm a Momma, he'll never be a Momma. He's laid back and well I try to be.



Man of the woods, "He was pretty cool to play with." - This picture sums up the day.  Man of the woods hardly left his side.

It's been years since we last saw each other, so we planned a day trip to Bar Harbor.  The forecast said sunshine just days before.  The morning of, the forecast said showers.  The reality of it was a down pour.  We made the best of it covering the boys in trash bag ponchos and walked down town, ending the day with some rock throwing, and crab finding.



By the end of the day Laughter's trash bag looked less like a poncho and more like a tutu.

A first of

While this summer has marked some last of's as the boys are just about out of the baby stage. It also began the first of's on a different scale. One of these first of's is the trip we took last week to see our Missionary sister who for now is living in New York, just outside of the city. According to Google it was only a 7 hour trip, but with two stops and hitting some traffic to say it was a 9 hour trip would be putting it nicely. Even so the boys did a great job. At one point Man of the woods said, "You should have waited until I was five or six before we went on a long ride, because then I wouldn't be so bored." To which we said, "Don't worry bud we even get bored, nothing would change if you were older."...

...As you can tell. White boards were a great buy for the trip maybe the most used toy (by all of us). Along with the introduction of Mad libs. The driving parts of the trip went extremely well.

Between there seats we kept a basket of toys to entertain with a bag full of more toys to trade out once they were bored, but for some reason that never happened. Between the front seats we kept a basket overflowing with snacks.

Food is something we all enjoy and I think it made the trip go more smoothly. However we did learn what not to bring along:

Kit Kat bars are not good for little boys in the car.

About half way through Maine in talking with Strong man I wondered if he had gotten directions. He responded with, "I meant to."... So as we got close to the city the white boards also became some crazy directions to get us where we were going.

It was good to see her.

For breakfast one morning she took us to a bakery where you can go into the factory and hand pick the warm breads yourself.

She wanted a date with the littles, sending us on a date of our own. We stayed up until midnight while the boys slept in her room.  We did girl things, while strong man read, and the three of us had deep conversations.  Then as a family we couldn't resist the Ren faire...

 A place where Robin Hood protects the poor...

...And falls in love with Lady Merriam.

Where rides are manned by human strength.

Where Auntie's love tanks are filled.

Where boys play with sharp pointy things.

Where we find the kissing bridge.

And where the littles find marshmallow catapults.

Where archery happens.

And fights break out.

Where jousting is watched.

By even the queen herself.

Where good always wins...

...And the hero gets the girl.

EFA 2.19~Marriage, water, & dogs

It is reviving to have Strong man home.  Life feels whole with him around.  Today, his first full day home, we walked away from dishes, dirty floors, cell phones, and the mundane of life to just be together...

Random thought number one:  Do you see this hat? 


Strong man was sporting it all week at camp along with a bunch of buttons advertising the principal from each day.  As the days went on and the pins began to fade he added this one, another advertisement from the same program. 


A newly married couple holding hands.  So sweet...

Or at least that's what you think until you get a closer look....

The teens were slightly mortified...I asked if that meant I was now allowed to do this in public....He was slightly mortified...

...And back to this Epic Family Adventure...Strong man and I had just about decided that we would spend the day in the river fishing when Man of the woods piped up with, "I only like fishing with the whole family, Grandpa, and Deano, Chaz, and Krysta, Katie, & Philip." 

In the end we decided on Peaks-Kenny which turned out to be a fantastic choice.  There weren't any time constraints and there was mud, water, bathrooms, a play set, and a picnic spot.

We enjoyed it all.

Some of us even enjoyed certain parts to the extreme.

We made friends with a water beetle.  Laughter, "wobe him sooo much!" 

Random thought number two:  See the egg on his head?  As we were piling into the car today he had on his super heroes mask that usually slides down covering his eyes.  The fact that he can't see doesn't ever stop him.  Him and Man of the woods were running up and down the sidewalk doing long jumps.  It's now a known fact to all in my family that when one can't see one doesn't notice when one is jumping off the sidewalk into a hole at just the right angle that one's head hits the pavement...

Man of the woods as his new normal spent the entire day in the water.  He loved it when we would take him out over his head, throw him into the air, splash him, whatever as long as water was involved.

Once we were happily playing when the water began to bubble.  I thought the bubbles were from us jumping in the water, but Man of the woods informed me that really it was the first sign of a water dragon!

Random thought number three:  Isn't it strange that a man would be swimming behind a kayak while the dog kayaked?

Family photos!

The last time we did this Laughter was 6 months old.  Now he's four months away from being three.  I'd say it was about time.

I am more in love with him now then I was on our wedding day.

It wasn't long ago that we carried these boys on our hips now to walk hand in hand with them.

Man of the woods adores his Daddy, but is a spitin' image of me when I was a child even in personality.  We're both very neat, incredibly stubborn, naturally see life as black and white, and if we understand the why's and how's of things we're on board with the idea.  To add to that we both have cute freckles, blue eyes and long eyelashes

Laughter, boy through and through, but loves his Momma.  Seriously this past spring I was away for the weekend and this boy said he'd only use the potty for Momma causing Strong man to put him back in diapers for the weekend.  However, as much as he loves me he is his Daddy's son.  When told if you continue to do this you will be punished he responds with, "Okay give me a spanking" and continues on, just like his Daddy as a child.  Plus they both are willing to do crazy things just to get a reaction out of people, and both have the best dimple ever.

We never would have thought six years ago that we'd have these little men.

Or that we could possibly love them so much.

I am beyonds words that I am able to share a life with these three men.


If you like the photography check out more of Krystal's work on her Facebook page.

While our leader is away...

We have eaten Ramon noodles, Pizza, popcorn, pancakes, and chicken nuggets with french fries for our dinners.  Notice not a single vegetable was eaten during a dinner meal (Still the Momma in me is glad our lunches have continued to be pretty healthy)

We have slept in only to snuggle down in my big bed every morning as we slooowly wake up.

We have played everyday with a different friend.

We have played many games together, read books, and been the best of friends.

We have gone to bed whenever we wanted too, and have skipped naps just about everyday.

We have been patient with each other, showing love whenever we can, and worked as a team.

We have thought it "weird that Daddy isn't here to help us with the laundry because he can carry two baskets down the stairs and you (Momma) can carry only one at a time.  So it will take you longer."~ Man of the woods.

This I command you, that you love one another.

~ John 15:17