Our Little Grand Finale

Swingin' Single

Ron is traveling on business and I've been single parenting all week.....seeing this picture made me miss him even more.

Amish Country!

 Explanation needed?

I figured.
Maddie & I (and Grandma!) headed out to Amish Country last weekend.  Madeline has been wanting to go for about a year now so I told her if she read the Little House on the Prairie series (my original books that I saved from when I was her age!), I would take her.  She whizzed through the entire series in a couple weeks.  Yikes, didn't realize she was that serious.

You didn't think she was going to dress like a commoner for the journey, did you?  

(on a side note: she was photographed quite a bit from other tourists.  The Amish don't photograph themselves or allow photos to be taken of them so once people realized she wasn't "official", they started snapping away.  Hilarious!)

Here she is, on our tour, convincing me that we could "totally" live without electricity.  (you realize I'm serious, right?)  She came home and tried to convince Ron to let us all "try it" for a week.
I love this girl.

 Wearing denim and short hair, I'm not sure if there's a spot in heaven for me.

We saw lots of Amish children riding ponies along the roads.  And dozens of buggies over every hill. Definitely no texting while driving in Amish Country! (or anywhere for that matter)

Here we are buying all things Amish from the local shops. 

A-ha!  I caught them without their bonnets on.   A big no-no for the Amish, even in their homes. 

 (partial credit for Amish-looking pj's though)

We had a fantastic time.  The tour was amazing and made lots of memories shopping, eating at the local Amish restaurants and buying home-baked goods to bring home.  We stayed in a small hotel that was built in 1847 and was orginally a stage coach stop.  It has 20 rooms and lots of history!

Abigail is already planning her journey....

Santa Maria

The girls and I took a field trip to the Santa Maria last week.

This is what they used for toilet paper.

(true story...and more info than I was hoping for on this tour)

Heading up to the bridge.

Release the jib!

Today's Spanish Lesson

Family Farm Chores

Headed to a local organic farm for Family Farm Chores. The kids get to milk the cow, gather eggs and feed the chickens, goats, sheep, etc. I got to watch. ;) Lincoln too....from the Ergo.

(have I mentioned recently how much I adore the Ergo??!!)

Taking hay out to the animals. Don't pull a muscle Gabe.

Abby: I will hold this hen. I will!

Maddie snatches an egg right out from under that poor hen. 3, actually.

Lauren is convinced she can get the goats to eat the hay out of her hands. Me? Not so much.

Touche.

Hocking Hills Part 2

We headed back a few days later with the gang.

Ron, careful with that walking stick. ;)

Maddie, Abby & Lauren exploring a cave.

Lincoln, thank goodness you loooove the Ergo.

The girls and me at Cedar Falls. (Ron took picture from the gorge)

Hocking Hills sans GLLAM

Last weekend, we headed to Hocking Hills to do some camping with Tom & Beth. We hiked 10 miles on Saturday....and of course went off trail to get back to our camping site. We were hiking with my brother after all.

Yes, the cliff drops off several hundred feet just behind us. (I'm really gripping that tree)

Tom, the Adventurer

Beth, the Tree Hugger

Me, the Wannabe

Ron. Isn't he handsome? (blushing)

The girls went to Ron's late-night basketball game last night and I woke up to find 2 letters in the kitchen this morning.

Dear Mom,

Thank you for being the Mom that you are. Thank you for keeping us healthy. Thank you for homeschooling us. And thank you for taking us to fun places like you do. I love you yes I do.

Love,

Madeline

I love you FOREVER

Deare daddy,

i know you Love basekit ball and i love it to and i bet that donut is going to be so yummy, i love you and dad my love can never chnge and i stil love you even if you play Baskit-ball all day. i love you Dad.

LOVE Abby

*Ahem* Donut? What donut??

Busted!

Who me? Pull Lincoln out of bed and bring him down to cuddle while we watched MF? Huh?

Ron would have to whip out the camera for proof.....

I asked one of the kiddos to "tidy up" the pantry......

Patience is a virtue, my friend. And apparently the definition of "tidy up" varies greatly.

Might I mention this was 30 min. before I had to have GLLAM out the door.....and I still needed to feed them dinner.

Minor detail.

Six Months of the Everlasting Happy Meal

I'm not getting into the politics of all this....but I always enjoy a good tune.

I know you'll want to download the song. The Fast Food Song, by the Fast Food Rockers.

You're welcome.

Chicken Soup for the (Mom) Soul Moment

Lauren: Mom, are you 1/2 Mom and 1/2 kid?

I so know where this is going....I'm such a fun, cool Mom that she thinks I'm like a kid....

Me: (corny, big smile) What do you mean sweetheart?

I mean, I already know, I just have to hear her say it.

Lauren: Well, because you're our Mom but really, you're God's kid.

So, 1/2 and 1/2 right?

Me: Oh. (seriously deflated) I mean, yes of course. 1/2. And 1/2.

We have thoroughly enjoyed....

....our Indian Summer.