a crowded camper is better than an empty castle

I am still scratching my bug bites from this weekend's camping trip. 

We spent 6 days in the camper enjoying 3 days in Michigan and 3 days in Indiana. 

Although there was an infestation of mosquitos everywhere, we enjoyed every minute.

We met all of the Hubby's family in Michigan on Marble Lake. 

The kids had lots of cousins and friends to play with and spent every ounce of 

energy out on the water. 

The Hubs actually posed in a pic for me. 

We appreciate all the time getting to know our future Aunt Ashley #2 better. 

(Me between the 2 Ashleys)

We haven't quite figured out how we are going to tell the two apart yet, except for saying #1 or #2. 

But we are working on nicknames.

Gigi is pretty much love struck when her Uncle Neil is around.

The ice cream sandwiches at after every meal helps.  

AND these two.... don't let their smiles fool you.... they are trouble! 

To extend our vacation a little bit longer this year, we spent the early part of this week camping with my in-laws in the beautiful Pokagon State Park in Indiana.  

The park was loaded with trails, bike paths, playgrounds, Nature Center, and a public beach.  

It is one of the nicest campgrounds we have stayed in. 

{Lightning Bug catching}

Grandma and Grandpa and a slew of the grandkids. 

 As hard as it is to grow up as an Aunt and Uncle who live farther away the 

nieces and nephews don't know us as well... time together means so much more.  

By day 5, Nate finally had Miley warmed up to him. 

 When we drove into Pokagon we saw that they had horse stables.  Hubby knows 

my love for horseback riding (which I do as often as I can which is like once every 10 years, LOL) 

So he splurged and let the kids and I go on a trail ride.  

Lil Miss got to enjoy a small pony ride and she was smitten with Roxy the Horse.  

We are now drawing pictures for Roxy everyday and putting them in envelopes in hopes to send to her.  Let's hope the horse likes getting mail.

The kids and I rode 45 minutes on Roxy, Fred, Chauncy, and Whiskey. 

Mommy was on Whiskey, the slow horse, who liked to go off path and eat the tall grass. 

The kids found this all too funny.  

I keep telling Hubby we should sell the house and move into the camper. 

Because we could do it. 

Yes, I would desperately miss my long hot showers and my washer and dryer, 

but camping suits us. 

When I get home and have to sweep our house and clean all 4 bathrooms, I think 

the camper is soooo much easier to clean. 

But he sadly informs me of Iowa winters (Brrrrrr) and we will save the camping for 

extended weekends from Spring til Fall.   

He also informs me that if we were to move all 6 of us and 2 dogs and "our stuff" into the camper, 

I would not find it fun anymore.  Agreed. 

School is Out! Scream and Shout!

We are officially in Summer mode. 

School let out on Thursday and we celebrated another year completed.

{First and Last Day of 4th Grade} 

{First and Last Day of 3rd Grade} 

 {First and Last Day of 2nd Grade} 

 {First and Last Day of 3 Day Preschool} 

In true mommy fashion, I had a little pile of new things for waiting for them in the morning.

The downfall of having surprises for the kids is the excitement. 

On the last day of school Bubba, came down for a glass of water at 5 am 

and saw the gifts on the table and then woke up his little sisters.

When Nate went downstairs to go to work 3 of the kids were up and 

ready to start the day.... WAY to early. 

Let's home they learn to sleep in the rest of the summer. 

It is always fun to see the kid's delight in getting new books, notebooks, 

pencils, bookmarks, and reading logs for the summer. 

In fact that morning they were all ready delving into the books and Bubba 

was penning his first entry in his new journal. 

Let's hope this excitement lasts all summer long. 

Mommy is way to excited to start The Babysitter's Club books with Gigi. 

Next year will be Rosie's last year in elementary school. 

It is crazy to think about. 

I remember dropping her off on the first day of preschool when she was 5.

It is amazing how much the kids can learn in a year.  

Rosie continued her love for science and fell in love with geography this year. 

Bubba has found an eagerness to read.  He has ventured into more advanced chapter books and his vocabulary in one year has really broadened.  We are currently reading the first book of Harry Potter!

Gigi loves school and is my little writer.  She is always journaling and writing mini books. 

Last but not least, Lil Miss has grown up before my very eyes in 3 day pre-k. 

 We love our school. 

They really have great school pride and school spirit. 

A great tradition is the last day of school, all the students congregate outside with the parents around the flag pole to take the flag down.  In brings everyone together.  

I great way to say good-bye to another year.  

Once again we celebrated with our "Welcome to Summer" party.

The kids each had some friends over and we celebrated with music, water balloons, 

slip-n-slide shenanigans, and lots of laughs. 

Celebrating the ordinary days is what I do best. 

I love having parties.  I like the planning and the fine details (even when my hubby is 

telling me I'm nuts for decorating the chalk board at 11pm at night).

I found this quote a long time ago and I have made it my philosophy. 

Turn ordinary into extraordinary!

 Don't Wait for extraordinary opportunities, 

sieze common occasions and make them great. 

Orison Sweet Marden

  I had spent an hour and a half the night before filling up 100 water balloons. 

I have a nasty blister to prove it.  Those balloons in all the craziness lasted all of 7 minutes

when the balloons started splashing Boys vs. Girls.

We can honestly say we have jumped wholeheartedly into summer and 

can't wait to make more memories.  

More fun to come....

Bon Voyage

So my mommy vacation is finally here! 

I am headed to Columbus today to meet my mom and then at noon tomorrow we 

will be on a plane headed to Europe, where we will meet up with my sister who is already there.

I have been preparing my kids and myself for this 10 day trip for 

over a month.  I am going on a cruise and visiting 

Venice, Italy

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Corfu, Greece

Santorini, Greece

Kusadasi, Turkey

Piraeus, Greece

Katakolon, Greece

While I have been packing, writing letters to my kids, 

and trying to stay caught up with the laundry, I have also been enjoying my summer 

with the kids.

Bubba had his last games last week.  He had a blast this year and the 

icing on the cake was having Dad as a coach.  

{Rally Caps On}

The last game for our Dairy Queen team was Saturday night.  

After the game we stopped by Dairy Queen, and they treated the 

team and coaches to FREE ice cream.  The smiles on the boys faces were 

priceless.  

  We put checked something off our summer bucket list this week. 

Having a lemonade stand.  

The girls have been begging me since school's been out to have a lemonade stand. 

I gave in, and the kid's did really good.  They learned how to approach people (and how not to shout at people in cars to buy lemonade), how to make change, and how to work as a team.    

{Lil Miss was their best customer} 

We have also gotten a lot of our Back to School stuff.  

I don't want to think about it... but August 13th will be here before I know it.  

I am going to miss my lovebugs everyday that I am gone, but I 

know I am leaving them in very good hands.  

Daddy will spoil them and they will be begging me to stay longer.  LOL 

So I have my bags packed....

and Daddy ready to take care of 3 girls. 

Now if only they could fit in my luggage.  

Europe here I come.  

Little Boys

Every year I find a little time to shoot a few pictures of Beth's boys and their family. 

Her boys are super cute and I love how I can always manage to 

get them to smile for me.  Even if it does take me acting pretty silly and short of me standing on my head.

They have grown so much.  

Lincoln has grown leaps and bounds just from his birthday at the beginning of June. 

Here are their pics from last year. 

The littlest Reed, well he is just the best baby in the world.  

No Lie. 

 Beth and Scott sure have a lot of memories here in Tennessee. 

It is where they were engaged and where they were married. 

  

 {The family}

  

 I love taking these shots.  

It challenges me each year to think outside the box and find a 

new place to capture these boys smiles. 

 Little Boys are the Cutest!