Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts

Monday, July 18, 2011

The Cabin

My favorite place on the entire planet.  It's always my favorite part of summer.  The place where we go to rest, relax, play & fill our souls.  I'm so grateful that I am blessed enough to share it with my lovelies.

 {Abby Splashes in the Lake}

 {Lauren Steps In}

{Lizzie Guards the Steps}

{Room For a View}


{Lovely Strawberry-Picking}

{Lauren Fishing with a Loon}

{Minnesota's State Bird}

{Papa & Lauren's Perch}

{An Eagle Fishing Down the Shore}

{Papa & Lauren....
Lauren's First Ride in Great Grandpa's Boat}

{Abby's First Ride in Great Grandpa's Boat}

 {Papa & His Girls Fishing off the Dock}

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Thank You Thursday

1. I'm thankful for summer vacation, and for the memories we're blessed to make.

2. I'm thankful for the people in our lives that teach the girls about some of the best parts of life.  You know who you are.


3. I'm thankful to be back in Minnesota.  This will always be where my heart is.  There really is no place like home.

4. I'm thankful for the strength to go to the cabin on my own.  I hate being here alone, but I guess just being here outweighs the fear.

5. I'm thankful my parents & Shawn are coming up to the tonight.  The girls & I are looking forward to the fishing & the company!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Monday, July 11, 2011

Abby Talks Fishing

These days Abby loves to talk.  She loves one-on-one time with adults, just chatting, just talking about life.

Last night it was my turn.  Me & my girl snuggled up my bed watching one of my Sunday night faves, Minnesota Bound.  One segment featured a young woman's adventures in fishing.  It sparked Abby's memory of trips to the cabin gone by, and with this year's cabin adventure closing in, she's looking forward to getting into Great Grandpa's boat and dipping the line of her new pole in the water with her Papa.

This is Abby's take on how to catch a fish....

I think that you find fish when you're swimming in the water.  You catch it with your fishing pole & you bring it into your boat.  Then you find it some water.  There's a box & there's water, and you can put the fish in there, and you close it up.

You bring them in the house, and then you bake them.  Or you can put them in the fridge.
 

{Lauren & Abby Watch Fish in Uncle Kim's Live Well}

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Golden Girls

Yesterday just might have been the best day of our trip!  We worked hard cleaning up Grandma & Grandpa's house in the morning, and in the afternoon we played.  By now we've been here two weeks and we've built up quite a base.  But Friday was golden.


{Aunt Heidi & Lauren Floatin' in the Pool}
 
{Lauren Toss}

{Abby Toss}

{Jump, Lauren!}

{Lauren Plays with Her Circle of Swimming Friends} 
 
{One Tired Tiny}

{Abby & Grandma.... The Golden Years}

Friday, July 8, 2011

Flashback Friday

Probably my favorite picture from our first trip to Washington.

June 27, 2009


These shaky little buns sure are going to miss Washington.
Until next year....

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Thank You Thursday

1. I'm thankful for the fresh mountain air. Geoff & I took a drive up to Mission Ridge {Washington's highest ski resort} last night.  The temps were nearly 20 degrees cooler than 20 miles down in the valley, elevation thousands of feet higher.  Never in my life have I seen snow and been bitten by mosquitoes on the same day!  But most of all, the air was intoxicating.  The most amazing aroma of mountain fir.  If I could bottle it it would have made an endearing keepsake.

{Mission Ridge}

2. I'm so thankful for my in-laws.  You have made this trip to Washington so special for us all!
 
 
{Ice Cream in Leavenworth}

3. I am thankful I finally got to do Washington wine tasting.  Fun & delish!

{Brooke, Geoff, Heidi & David}

4. I'm thankful for my girls.  Without these lovely little ladies my life wouldn't be nearly as fun!


5. I'm thankful Abby has her aunt, Heidi.  The conversations & quality time make Abby's soul sing & smile.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Ten on Tuesday

1. Only four of the fifty states do not have water defining their border.

2. Now I've pretty much seen the fireworks in all corners of our great nation. Fireworks from the mountains....

 {Walla Walla Park--Wenatchee, Washington}

3. We've been glued to the Casey Anthony trial, so it's no surprise that Abby's been cued in. After today's verdict she had this to say: "It isn't nice to kill a child or an adult.  You should just let them die on their own."  Well said, my six-year-old little lady.

4. For the record, my favorite place to watch fireworks is Minnesota. Nostalgia for sure. But also, nothing tops the fireworks on the lake, be it Pokegama or Superior with the Lift Bridge for a backdrop.

5. Hands down the best gift anyone has given my girls is their time & attention.  If you are one of the selfless givers I thank you.

6. We're still waiting for Abby's baby teeth to come out.


7. The Casey Anthony verdict has been eating at my mind all day.  Yes, I think she did it.  Maybe I'm wrong, but all of the signs point to her.  What bothers me the most though is the greater lesson: you can lie and get away with murder.  What a shame if that is the standard we set.

8. Tonight....
Her dirty feet tell the tale of her travels.

9. If you want to know why we come to Washington for two weeks exactly when we do I have two words for you: This Tree....

{Cherries!}

10. I love surprises.  I also love gifts that are given for no other reason than the fact that someone was thinking of me.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

The Important Post

Inspired by The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown.


The Important Post....


The important thing about Washington is that its terrain is varied & unique.


Its capital is Olympia
And it is in the Pacific Northwest.
It is the only state named after a president,
And pop is ridiculously over-priced.
But the important thing about Washington is that its terrain is varied & unique.


The important thing about Wenatchee is that it is where we all come together.

  
It is named after the Wenatchi Indians,
It rests along the Columbia & the Wenatchee Rivers,
And prides itself as The Apple Capital of the World.
Located in the center of Washington, it's at home between the mountains.
Grandpa & Grandma live here,
And we love all of the fun we have when we visit.
But the important thing about Wenatchee is that this is where we come together.


The important thing about Slide Waters is that it is fun for us all.
 

It is perched on a mountain,
And it overlooks Lake Chelan.
Every year we voyage there,
Spending a day playing in the sun.
But the important thing about Side Waters water park is that it is fun for us all.


The important thing about Leavenworth is that it takes you to another place. 


It is embraced by snow-capped mountains,
And graced with a Bavarian flare.
It has great Christmas shops,
And ice cream, and lollipops.
But the important thing about Leavenworth is that it takes you to another place.


The important thing about The Owl Soda Fountain shop is that it serves ice cream.


It is old-fashioned & charming,
It has a counter with spinney stools. 
And we go once a summer for a tasty treat.
But the important thing about The Owl is that it serves ice cream.


The important thing about Aunt Heidi is that she's our aunt.


She's our dad's younger sister,
And she lives in Spokane.
She plays with us,
And does projects with us.
And she has a silly laugh.
But the important thing about Aunt Heidi is that she's our aunt.


The important thing about Uncle Kevin is that he is fun.


He is married to our aunt, Heidi,
And he has a bushy beard.
He hails from Nebraska,
And he's not afraid to put us in line.
But the important thing about Uncle Kevin is that he is fun.


The important thing about Grandpa Phillips is that he loves our grandma. 


It is true that he is smart,
And he likes to play golf,
And he has a giant heart.
But the important thing about Grandpa Phillips is that he loves our Grandma.


The important thing about Grandma Phillips is that she's all ours. 


She takes us to the park,
And treats us to toys....
and gum....
and ice cream.
And she always greets us with a hug & a smile.
There isn't anything we don't love about our snow cone makin' granny.
But the important thing about Grandma Phillips is that she's all ours.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Flashback Friday

This is our third annual voyage to Washington for a super-summer visit with our family here in the valley.  Today we flash back to our first trip; our first visit to the pool in the mountains.

June 26, 2009

{Brooke & Abby do Gymnastics in the Pool}

{Lauren & Heidi Soak Up the Sun}

{Basking in the Mountains}

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Thank You Thursday

There are so many things to be thankful for this Thursday, where do I start?!

1. Thank you Gail & Dan.  Not only do you open up your hearts & your home, you make us feel as though we are at home.  I can't think of a better way to spend time with our family than living it up at the Phillips compound.

2. Thank you Geoff.  You work hard year round so that we can take these trips in the summer.

3. Thank you Kevin for treating us to The Hangover Part II today.  Just hanging out with you is enough of a treat, but we're never going to turn down a good laugh, even if it is sooooo wrong!

4. Thank you Grandma Phillips for taking the girls out for a special day, just you and them.  You warm their hears with memories that will last them a lifetime!

5. Thank goodness for Coca-Cola.  My stomach is suffering from altitude corruption.  Even at $6.99 a 12 pack, you are worth your weight in gold.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Dipped in Chocolate

Leave it to vacation to seize the opportunity to dip our world in chocolate.  After an afternoon voyage to the local Safe Way we collected enough goodies deemed worthy of dipping in chocolate.

Our collection ranges from the obvious to the questionable.  Some of our results were surprising.  The entire experiment, entertaining.

With six samplers on hand the rules were simple. Each specimen variety had to be dipped six times, one for each taste tester. Each tester had the right to pass, and the specimen did not need to be finished in order for the vote to be cast. Each sampler gets one vote; each star represents one vote.

Meet the Samplers....

Geoff: 34 year-old male. Father of the lovelies. Not a fan of salty & sweet combos. Skeptical of the bacon & cherry tomatoes.
 

Brooke: 33 year-old female. Mother of the lovelies. Ringleader and curious about the bacon.
 

Kevin: 32 year-old male. Uncle of the lovelies and willing to try anything.
 

Heidi: 31 year-old female. Aunt of the lovelies. Envisioned a beautiful spread of chocolate-covered creations and made it happen. Not a fan of fruit & chocolate. Curious about the cherry tomatoes.
 

Abby: 6 year-old female. Not a fan of chocolate, but ready for the chocolate party. Pretty much a fan of it all.
 

Lauren: 5 year-old female. Loves chocolate. Loves parties. Added a balloon for affect. So disgusted by the chocolate-covered cherry tomato that she locked herself in the bathroom and rinsed her mouth with mouth wash.  It was her final sample.
 

The results in no particular order....
 

Bacon: ★★★★★☆
Twinkies:

Bing Cherries (fresh from the tree):

Strawberries:

Nilla Wafers:

Double Stuff Oreos:

Double Stuff Mint Oreos:

Kettle Corn:

Bananas:

Pirate Booty:

Potato Chips:
Graham Crackers:

Pineapple:

Honey Combs:
Powdered Donut Holes:

Goldfish:

Cherry Tomatoes:



 {Chocolate-Covered Cherries & Powdered Donut Holes}

{Chocolate-Covered Bacon}

{Heidi & the Samplers' Paradise}

{The Twins Fan & the Twinkie}

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Ten on Tuesday

1. Mountain living is not for me.  Love the view, but not what it does to my head.

2. Something has changed in Abby.  All of the sudden, just in the last two days, she's matured.  I noticed it yesterday at the water park.  Then today when she was talking to the dog.  My little babe is not such a little babe anymore.


3. The only outdoor water park I've ever been to where you can see snow while you swim....


{Slide Waters Water Park on Lake Chelan, Washington}

4. Homemade clam chowder tonight.  Bliss.

5. How do I know the Twins haven't been winning?  Because I haven't gotten a $1 off text from Caribou.  Good thing I'm not in MN to collect my discounted drink.  C'mon, Twins!

6. Abby & I cannot help ourselves.  Harmonizing "The Lazy Song".  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-eah.

7. I have a love-hate relationship with avocados.... I love them, but hate the way I feel when I eat them.


8. I find clowns creepy. Circuses, too, for that matter.  So it isn't a stretch to say I was a bit leery about going to the circus Friday night.  Long story short, we had a blast.  Best circus, hands down.



9. Lauren's really into buns lately.  Shaky ones.  Particularly hers.

10. I'm pretty sure whomever invented the Keurig is a genius.

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Fairborn, Ohio, United States
I'm a teacher by trade, writer at heart & mom in every sense of my being. I never considered writing as a profession, but after I got married and began moving around the country, I began sharing my adventures, misadventures & updates through a sort of e-mail newsletter. I found a true passion in unconventional story-telling that has followed me into motherhood.