Are Summer Breaks To Long?

My sister-n-law and I were just talking about this, and I have been pondering it. I am wanting to write my thoughts down and so you all get to read my rambling thoughts...I would also love to hear your opinions!

Last night we had a cookie social with my kids school. It was a way for the kids to reunite with their buds and teachers and for the new families to fellowship and get acquainted with everyone. It was a good time and I realized how much I really missed seeing everyone and how loved my kids are by The River Academy community. It was really quite a nice evening. One theme I heard through out the evening is that everyone is ready for school, and anxious to get started, that the kids need to get back into their routines etc. So, it brought me back to my conversation with Signe, is summer break to long? Really, 3 months to hang out with friends, sleep in, and travel? Brant and I have a hard time filling the 3 months because the grind still happens here. We can't totally take the summer off with them. Yes, I know we need to establish routines at home over the summer, but we failed miserably...I think it's because we know that having everyone home isn't the routine, so establishing a new one over the summer between trips and stuff is hard. Aren't we striving to prepare them for life as adults? Maybe more frequent breaks through out the year for 2-3 weeks at a time makes more sense? Or, maybe the point is to give the kids and the parents a long break so we are all REALLY READY for school to start come Sept. Hmmm...I'm sure I will not turn into Miss Popularity over these thoughts and I'm not so insistent about it that I would take it to the board at The River Academy. I also realize that the summer is almost over and I am ready for them to go back, maybe next spring I will be begging for 3 months off? What do you think?

Violet and Grandpa's Outing With Joe

My father-in-law is an amazingly wonderful man who believes in giving his time to his grand kids! He is a fantastic grandfather who does so many wonderful activities with his grand kids like hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, riding horses, watching sporting events, eating ice cream, and watching silly little kiddo movies among other things. He understands that time with them is worth so much more than any physical object he could buy for them. All of our kids look forward to their time with "The Fishing Grandpa." Violet and Grandpa Madson have a special little bond because she was born on his birthday. She TOTALLY gets that they share a birthday and LOVES that she has a special little something extra that she can share with him. This weekend while we were in Colville, Grandpa took her out on her birthday outing...she chose to ride Joe, his horse. Vi, is bonkers about horses and Grandpa so this probably ranks right up there in the best day of her life.

Another Big Boy Bed!

It's official, the crib is gone and Ben has his OWN big boy bed! It was a BIG family event, all participated in the resurrection of the Loft Bed. I loved watching Brant assign all the kids to age appropriate tasks. It was quite wonderful to see them all happy, working together cheerfully to build Ben's big boy bed. I can honestly say Brant did such a good job managing the troops that there was no fussing or grumbling about being left out. He is a great delegator! I also have to say I am quite impressed at my children's engineering skills. I almost think they could have done it without him...almost...

Ben happy to be on his big boy bed

Ahhh...fast asleep!
Earlier in the evening...boys stopping for a picture
Hard at Work

Time for a little rest

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were

I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were

With sweet love and devotion deeply touching my emotion

I want to stop and thank you baby I just want to stop and thank you baby

How sweet it is to be loved by you

How sweet it is to be loved by you

I close my eyes at night, wondering where would I be without you in my life

Everything I did was just a bore, everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before

But you brightened up for me all of my days With a love so sweet in so many ways

I want to stop and thank you baby I want to stop and thank you baby

How sweet it is to be loved by you

How sweet it is to be loved by you

You were better to me than I've been to myself

For me, there's you and there ain't nobody else

I want to stop and thank you baby I just want to stop and thank you baby

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You!

James Taylor

Today we celebrate 13 wonderful years of marriage! It gets sweeter every year! Nothing to special planned for this evening since it looks like we will be taking the puppy in for possible IV antibiotics! Nothing more sweet than finding a sitter for your kids so you can take the puppy to the vet on your anniversary...:) I'm not kidding! I am hoping it is nothing to dramatic and we can head off to dinner after that. We'll see...I'll let you know tomorrow! Cheers and I hope all your loved ones are feeling the sweetness!

15 Yr Reunion

This past weekend was my 15yr informal reunion. Classes above and bellow us were invited, which I think really made the evening a blast! In my opinion more reunions should be that way since most of us all had good friends above and below us! It was a lot of fun to reconnect with old friends, see their families, and talk about life. It was a pretty mellow event and overall I think a huge success! Can't wait for the 20yr!

Maggie, Sym and I
Kim and I
Here is a picture taken my senior year of the student body officers. Can you find me?

Church Is Exhausting!!!

Ben fell asleep during the sermon, slept through the Passing of the Peace, Lord's Supper, after service fellowship and all the cleaning business of the sanctuary (ie...moving folding chairs and vacuuming right up next to him). All I can say is, he is so totally NOT a first born!