Out of the blue Family Vacation

This week we will be taking our son to a Water park near us. He loves the water! Ever time we go he goes until he is nearly asleep. We have taken breaks through out the day, he's a bit older so I'm curious to see if he can make it all day.

By the time this post we will be back at home. I'm going to try and add to this post while I'm there. He gets so excited, we all do really. It's fun having some one else cook and clean and your only focus is having a great time. We usually end our evenings with movies and snacks from the bakery.

Another fun thing I'm doing is I'm not talking about it before we go. I'm going to wait until we are in the car or maybe even when we are pulling in. He has heard bits and pieces but he usually doesn't believe things unless I say that we are doing something. I guess I shouldn't say believe I mean he doesn't get it.

On our way to the water park he kept saying "I'm going to be so excited!" He was! We got there and they were so busy they put us on a list to call us when our room was ready. So we went up to the arcade and played for a bit. He kept wanting to go to the pool. I wanted to be in the room first. Luckily we didn't have to wait long. We actually ended up switching rooms. I really like being on the second floor where we can get to the pool easily and to the restaurants.

We got into our room and then got ready for the pool. He had such a good time. In the past he didn't like going through the openings that have water rushing down. This time he was doing figure eights through both openings. I was impressed. We got a little hungry so we left the pool to clean up and find some food.

After we ate we all snuggled up and got some rest. The next morning we realized the day before took a little more out of us than expected. We woke up a little late but that didn't stop us. We got back to the water park and played for a long time. We stopped for lunch and a nap. As soon as we got up we went back to the water park. They have a story time at night so we put on our pjs and listen to the story with hot chocolates. We ended the evening playing at the arcade. We racked up tickets in no time. I actually think he likes the arcade and pool about 50/50. He enjoys doing the rides and games with his daddy.

My husband and I enjoyed this token game where you feed coins onto a shelf full of coins, tokens and cards. Then if you do it just right it pushes stuff over the edge and hopefully that pushes more things over the final edge. We also hit a jackpot and got a thousand tickets on one game. We were discussing that the arcade is like training kids to go to Casino's when they are older.

The next morning we had a good breakfast then packed up of the day and also cash in our winnings at the arcade. The kiddo made out, the prizes seemed a bit better this time. We picked out a toy that looked like a light spinner. Come to find out it shoots our sparks. I over reacted and took it away. I should give it back to him. I sometimes want to protect him a little too much. I remember being able to walk over to my friends house when I was little. I didn't walk on the road or anything but I did go on a long path. I have been thinking more and more about how people today are raising children then when I was growing up. We do have to be a bit more careful these days. But I have a little boy who is excited to learn and I don't want him to grow up in fear. I want him to travel and enjoy things that are new and not second guess himself.

So while keeping this in mind. I stood back a bit at the water park this past week and let him explore a bit. Yeah he fell down but he learned to slow down with out me yelling at him. We also, I was so nervous, went around the corner when Xander was sitting down at game in the arcade to see if he would look for us. He did luckily! It still made my heart heavy. I do have to say I won't be letting him play outside by him self yet. But I also won't be holding him back as much. He really is growing up and he is paying attention to his surroundings.

Every time we come to this park it gets better and better. Meaning my son, he is becoming an independent little boy. Next fall he starts Kindergarten and I'm still nervous. I know he will do well but I don't think I like him growing up so fast.

Well that was our little adventure! It went by so fast, it was needed for our family though. We get busy in our lives so it's nice to step back and be together. Please share with us some of the small adventures your family takes.

Have a great weekend!

New Gates are Installed!

First I have to apologize for the blurry picture, messy carpet and funny lighting (and the weird paint job - we are planning to add floor molding eventually) - I had to take it as I was running out the door this morning...at least I'll have plenty of time to get better pictures starting next week!!

Now onto my actual post - the gates!  Our dog recently injured her back for the second time, and these gates came up as part of our brainstorming to figure out ways to prevent this from happening again.  Winda LOVES to jump - and one of her favorite things to do is to run full speed down the stairs and jump from the second or third step.  She does this when she is excited or just for fun, but also when she hears someone at the door.  That is actually how she injured herself the first time - so we definitely wanted to limit her ability to do this.  After living with regular gates for a few days I was determined to find a better solution - climbing over or moving them every time I needed to go upstairs was a pain!  (For the next 4 weeks Winda is not allowed to go up or down the stairs because of her injury - so we have a gate at the top of the stairs as well)  I did a little research and found these - North States Industries Supergate Easy Swing and Lock Metal Gate in Matte Bronze.  Knowing that we would eventually need gates for kiddo's - we decided something semi-permenant was the way to go.  They are pretty easy to open and close, and I think they look pretty good for a gate lol.  So now we have gates and hopefully we can stop any future injuries - for dogs and kids :)

Have a great day!
Beth

Organizing Our Mail

One of the most unorganized things in our house is the mail.  It comes in and usually ends up in a large pile somewhere downstairs, that moves to an even bigger pile somewhere upstairs, and eventually we get frustrated and then spend hours sorting it - and 80% could have been tossed as soon as it came inside!  So, now that I will be at home I have decided to get serious about tackling that problem.  After looking at a lot of different ideas, I decided I did not want to see the mail after it was sorted, and since I don't have a desk downstairs I needed a 'hidden' drawer.  I found this great box at Michaels on sale (and the white one inside it).  I spent around $12 for the whole set-up, but I could have easily used something from around the house and spent less - I just really wanted the box :)  I decided to make it a 'desk in a box' and I plan to put my cards and notepads in there as well - as soon as I find them!  I also printed a calendar for keeping track of due dates and other random things - I know it's very low tech but it is easy for me to sort the bills out and mark them down for both of us to see.  I plan to add a calendar app or organization app to share on our phones (or maybe just Google Calendar) - but I haven't really figured out which one yet so this will work for now.  I also have sections for shredding and things I want to look at or need attention later.  Hopefully, this will help eliminate the chaos of not being able to find a specific letter, notice or bill (or you know - the money from Christmas that I found in a card last night...).  When the box is shut you can't tell that it hides all our mail, and it makes me smile when I read it (which counteracts the whole paying the bills thing lol)

  

 

How do you organize your mail?  I am obsessed with getting organized right now!! Lol

 

Have a great day!

Beth

Apple Dumplings

This was the craziest recipe I ever made! You pour 7 up between the dumplings before putting into the oven. It's so good. I just need to remember to peel the apples next time. The skin on the apples wasn't too hard or chewy. I just think it would taste even better with out the skin. The apples nearly dissolved, it was amazing.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Get out your 9 by 13 baking dish.

Recipe

2 tubes of refrigerated crescent dough 8 count each
2 granny smith apples
2 sticks or 1 cup butter
1 & 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 heaping teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 & 1/2 cups 7 up or your favorite lemon lime soda

In a small pot melt butter with sugar, add vanilla and cinnamon. When the mixture thickens remove from heat.

Peel and core apples, then slice into eights. I used a corer and slicer tool, that's why I spaced on the peeling. Mine actually slices 10 wedges so we just ate the left overs. I liked the smaller wedges.

I don't know about you but I freak out when I have to open the dough tubes, especailly the crescents. Seperate the rolls. One by one starting at the tip roll the apple wedge into the roll and seal any over hang. Put each one into the pan.

Pour butter mixture over the top. Then carefully pour the 7 up around the edges and in between the dumplings trying not to pour over them.

Bake for 35-40 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Enjoy with ice cream or whip cream or by itself is excellent.

Big Changes are Coming!

Change is such a hard thing for me - especially when I have a plan and it changes unexpectedly!!  I like to plan - it's my thing - but I also try to keep an open mind.  Life isn't really good at following my plans :)  One thing Eric and I have always done is to set short and long term goals together, and we constantly re-evaluate where we are and if they are still valid goals.  This has helped us meet a lot of our goals, both individually and as a couple, over the last 17 years. 

Sometimes, something happens and it changes all of our short term goals - which is what happened a little over a week ago!!  One of our goals was for me to 'retire' this year (which just sounds silly).  This was a goal for closer to the end of the year, but in 5 short days I will no longer be working outside of the house!!  After a week of jitters, anxiety and 'oh man's - I am to the 'so excited I just can't wait stage'!!  Originally, I was hoping for the "Stay at Home Mom" title, but for now it will just be "Housewife" (which Eric really dislikes, so I'm open to other title suggestions lol).

So, what does this mean for me?  Hopefully I will be able to do more sewing/craft projects, work on the blog more, do more to help our house projects along faster, organize my house and keep everything clean!!  I already have lots of plans and I can't wait to get started!!  Maybe my kitchen will stay clean for longer than 3 days?!  Here's hoping!

Have a great day!
Beth