~~WARNING: LOTS of PICTURES in this post!!!!~~

Wednesday night we decided we needed to take a break from the heat and sun.

After breakfast Thursday morning we got everybody loaded up in two vehicles and set out for the county road. We kept telling the kids that we were going on an adventure today. Little did we know! The first half mile of the journey was an extremely unmaintained stretch of county road. After making it past some deep crevices, over a small wooden bridge and through two locked gates, we finally found the main road.

We pulled up to the Children’s Museum in Seminole at about 10:45, I think. Since it was shaping up to be crazy hot we did the outdoor stuff first. There was a castle maze, a little town complete with traffic signals and signs and a train. After exhausting the town and maze we headed back inside to bide our time until the train departed. The kids spent a bunch of time at the Waterworks and climbing this crazy contraption they had.

IMG_9165

IMG_9166

IMG_9167

IMG_9168

IMG_9170

The train ride was all of 20 minutes maybe, but it was fun and we were all glad to be back in the air conditioned building. Before the train departed the station the conductor told us that we could yell all we wanted in the tunnels. After the first tunnel Abbie turned to me and said, “Why are they screaming?!” She never did yell when the other kids did.

IMG_9195

From there we split up into smaller groups. Mom took Nathan and Caleb. Dad had Luke and Abbie, I think, while I took Zeke. We just kind of explored everything and met up in various parts of the museum. There was a whole science/weather area, a hospital, and ambulance, a fire engine, an auto repair area, painting/drawing, a courtroom, grocery store, handicap area, dentist, schoolroom, a really cool mechanical ball maze (it mesmerized many of us for quite a while), and a Mayan area. Oh there was also a small aquarium, a news station, a puppet show, an airline cockpit, model airplanes, a Model T and a flight sim that went forward and backward. So much great stuff!!!

IMG_9179

Here’s Abigail changing out the muffler on the car!
IMG_9186

IMG_9187

IMG_9189

IMG_9191

IMG_9197

IMG_9201

Nathan had to give it a try too.
IMG_9202

IMG_9203

In the newsroom.
IMG_9208

IMG_9209

IMG_9214

IMG_9221

She’s in a tornado tube. The wind got up to 78 miles an hour.
IMG_9223

This ambulance was sticking out the side of the building. When Abbie saw it she was just enthralled. After checking out of she soon discovered that there was no way to get into it from the outside. After the train ride she kept asking to find the ambulance. Once we did she spent some time behind the wheel.
IMG_9227

The bubble station was WAY cool!
IMG_9229

They made bubbles around themselves!!
IMG_9231

Caleb was on trial for something…can’t remember now what it was though.
IMG_9236

This is part of the Mayan exhibit.
IMG_9238

Around 1 we headed for a catfish restaurant. Yummy! Everyone but Caleb got the catfish…he had 5 enormous butterfly shrimp. Literally I have never seen shrimp that big.

After lunch we went back to the museum for another couple hours. This time the kids settled down and picked some areas to really study. The adults got to do the same. We left about 30 minutes before they closed. I never would have dreamed we’d spend that much time there. It’s definitely one of the best children’s museums I’ve ever been to.

We headed for Shawnee to do some shopping. Mom had some coupons for JC Penney’s that she wanted to use on the kids. The boys hated the idea of clothes shopping, but it really didn’t take us much time at all. Then it was time for ice cream at Braum’s. Oh my goodness…it was sooo good!

Seems like we got back to the cabin after 6. We kinda snacked around and stalled until 7:45. The kids were dying to get in the water. They swam for about an hour until it was nearly dark. We got everybody showered, started the laundry (again!) and did devotions. When Mom and Dad got ready to leave it was 20 minutes to 10. Long day.

Still more to come tomorrow…

Category: Family  Leave a Comment

Learned this technique from Tresa Black. Her online tutorial can be found here. She does lots of amazing stuff!

For this card I removed the embossing before I added the color. I really like the effect…it’s very soft!
TresaBlack Batik
Supplies: CTMH – new colors (Cotton Candy, Smoothie, Sunset), Everlasting Life (new stamp set); organdy ribbon; Michael’s clear baubles; glitter

This time I added the color and then removed the embossing. The details are a lot more crisp. The sketch is Mojo Monday #150.
MOJO150
Supplies: CTMH – Olivia papers, Spring Leaves & Say it in Style stamp sets, buttons; Offray crochet trim; twine

The next morning we did a lot of running around the campground (back and forth between the motor home and the cabin). Then it started raining…a lot! Dad and Nathan had planned to drive the golf cart over, but got stuck at the motor home when the rain started. Mom drove back over in the truck to pick them up.

Mom and I spent the rest of the morning working on rocket making. She found a project in Family Circle magazine to make a rocket launcher from a 2 liter bottle, PVC pipe and plastic file folders. It took us all day but we finally got it made and it worked GREAT!

IMG_9094

We went to Sparks for lunch at the Nutrition Site. Mom and Dad introduced us to all their friends. The nutrition site is at the old Sparks school. They have a library and several other “city” offices there. After lunch we looked around the library for a little while. They have an amazing amount of books for a little nothing town. We also went to the post office and took the “tour”.

IMG_9057

Then it was back to the campground for swimming. Oh my!! The kids swam for a couple hours easy. They had so much fun with all the floaties that Mom got for them. No mishaps this time. The biggest issue of the day was right before we got ready to pack up and go to the cabin. Nathan went under the water and came up without his hat. Crazy kid wore his hat in to the water. We were hoping maybe the next day it’d wash up on shore. He lost the sole of his sandal the night before and Abbie found it the next day. Alas, no such luck. He had to buy a new hat when we got home!

IMG_9071

Abbie got stuck in her floaty and she was none-too-happy that I was taking pictures of her instead of helping to free her! :-)
IMG_9080

Zeke helped Grandma drive the tractor back around the cabin.
IMG_9093

We had dinner at the cabin and then played around outside for a while. We all took turns driving the golf cart, including Zeke. That was too funny, but I wasn’t fast enough with the camera to take a video. Mom and I laughed and laughed. Daddy pushed the gas and let Zeke steer all by himself. Good grief! He’s a wild man!

IMG_9099

IMG_9100

The kids swam again for probably an hour.
Not sure if this was a pleasure cruise in the canoe or a rescue mission. Dad paddled across the lake more than once to rescue escape floaties over the course of the week.
IMG_9103

Isn’t that pretty?!?!
IMG_9108

Then it was time for showers and devotions. The boys turned on the shark video to show Papa. They only made it halfway through…everyone was tired.

The third day was more of the same…shooting, swimming and driving.

After breakfast the big boys were given lessons on driving the ATV. They all learn quickly. Our only vehicular incident was with Luke and the golf cart. He took off a little too fast one time and Zeke fell over. He hit his head and was crying. While Luke was trying to make sure Zeke was okay he crashed into a tree. By the time we all got to them Zeke was still crying and Luke was hiding behind the tree. There was no damage done to the golf cart and he wasn’t in trouble. He got right back on that golf cart and took off again, more slowly this time.

Abbie was positively giddy! One time I saw her sitting on the back of the stationary ATV with her arms wrapped around Nathan, holding on for dear life and grinning away!
IMG_9115

This is Luke…pre-crash.
IMG_9132

That golf cart is great to drive. It feels a little squirrely on the gravel roads, but it’s a blast in the grass!

We had a weenie roast for lunch. The boys and Dad built the fire pit and fire then we all cooked hot dogs. We found a shady spot next to the fire ring and ate on blankets. Afterward it was time for s’mores. Everyone enjoyed those!

IMG_9136

Abbie and Zeke decided to try out the paddle boat, on the grass.
IMG_9142

While they were in it, Abbie found a frog! Can you believe she’s touching it?! Eww…
IMG_9144

With all the driving and fire prep we managed to keep the kids out of the water until after lunch. Then they spent two hours in the water. We started over in a spot across the lake from where we were the day before. Daddy mowed a section under the trees so we’d have some shade. But the lake bottom was super slimy and dropped off pretty quickly. The kids weren’t having much fun there.

Luke decided he needed ALL the floaties…since the bottom was so slippery maybe?!
IMG_9152

Dad got a couple things from the motor home and then we all headed back to the lake by the cabin. That was by far the best swimming water. It was warmer and the drop-off isn’t as severe. Abbie could go out a long way before she couldn’t touch bottom anymore. She got pretty brave when Mom and Dad were in the water with her…she was a long way from shore. Zeke was content to hang out around the shore and the dock. After 2 hours in the water I made them take a break for snacks and water. Then it was back in for an hour until dinner.

They didn’t seem to be itchin’ got get in the water as much after dinner. Daddy hooked up the hay ride wagon and took us on a ride around the campground. It was great! I really enjoyed the ride around the campground, even though Zeke fell asleep in my lap and made my right leg fall asleep.

IMG_9159

IMG_9160

IMG_9163

It was 8:45 or so when we got back to the cabin and the kids were all ready for bed. We did devotions and most of them are out.

There’s still more to come…

Category: Family  Leave a Comment

These are GREAT! Found the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers and knew I needed one for my Sunday school book. Since then I’ve made the rest of these.

EDITED: Here’s the one I made for my Sunday school book.
Corner Bookmark1-1
Supplies: October Afternoon – Fly a Kite papers; CTMH cardstock; Stamping Bella – Gracie Lollipop stamp

Ooohhh…I used a new (to me) technique too…plaid stamping. Love the way these flowers turned out!!!
Corner Bookmark1
Supplies: CTMH – new ink and cardstock colors (Pear, Cotton Candy, Smoothie, Sunset), Freshest of the Bunch & Angel Whispers (sentiment), Pear brads,; Fiskars Threading Water punch; Michael’s ribbon

Just so you can see what you’re supposed to do with these things. :-)
Corner Bookmark In Use

Corner Bookmark2
Supplies: CTMH – new ink and cardstock colors (Pacifica, Lagoon, Sky)

Corner Bookmark3
Supplies: CTMH – new ink and cardstock colors (Gypsy, Pear, Lagoon, a little Pacifica)

This one was inspired by a card that I made the day before.
Corner Bookmark4
Supplies: October Afternoon – The Thrift Shop papers; CTMH – Coffee Shop & Friendship Alphabet, black brad; Offray crochet trim; Michael’s dollar bin ribbon; Nestabilities – Blossom; flower cut from page in an old book

Category: Card Making  One Comment

There are 64 pictures in my exported folder (of the 216 that I took total) and with the pictures is plenty of commentary so I’m going to split it up over the next few days.

Our trip began at 6 AM on Monday, August 16th. We were actually ready to go at 5:45, but had to fill up with gas before we left. We were approaching the turn to get on E-470 when I began to question Nathan and discovered that he’d left some very important things at home…his bathroom bag! So we turned around and headed home. Fortunately we hadn’t gone more than 5 miles. After that little pit stop we were on the road at 6:20.

We stopped at McDonald’s in Limon and ate breakfast. While we were standing in line Jon and his carload (Bro. Randy, Robert and Austin) showed up. Then we saw the Thompsons pull into the parking lot too. We were all heading the same direction and needed food at the same time! :-)

We made it to Mom and Dad’s motor home in about 11 and a half hours.

After taking a quick look around the motor home we headed over to the cabin. The campground is run by the Assembly of God church. The cabin is used by their ministry for a get-away. The man in charge of the campground graciously allowed us to use it for the week. It really is a nice place!

The boys quickly found the BB guns…there was even one for Zeke. They set up the cans and got to work filling them with holes.

IMG_9026

IMG_9029

It didn’t take long before the kids were changed into their swimming clothes and in the water. They’d been looking forward to swimming since I told them we were going!

IMG_9037

Caleb’s life jacket was a little big! :-)
IMG_9043

In the midst of all the swimming Dad took Nathan, Zeke and Abbie out in the boat.
IMG_9053

The kids had to have been in the water for an hour and a half! They all had to have showers before getting into their pajamas, but thanks to 4 bathrooms in the cabin it went pretty quickly.

After Mom and Dad went to the motor home for the night the boys watched a shark video while Abbie colored. Zeke was wired from being in the car all day and just kinda bounced all over the place!

Everyone slept well (and long) that night!!!

To be continued tomorrow…

Category: Family  One Comment

The papers here are the “dregs”, if you will. These are my least favorite papers from the Lemonade pack and thus the last to be used. The sketches for all of these cards came from Jeanette Lynton’s book “Wishes”.

This one is called Keyhole. How ’bout that huge “h”? That was inspired by the book.
Wishes - Keyhole
Stamps: CTMH – From Me to You, Say it in Style

This one is called It’s a Wrap. Love the lollipop flower on this one!
Wishes - It's A Wrap
Stamps: CTMH – Happy Birthday

This one’s called Simply Said. Not crazy about this one.
Wishes - Simply Said
Stamps: CTMH – For Every Occasion

This one is Well Rounded. It’s a little plain, but I could not come up with any good way to embellish it.
Wishes - Well Rounded
Stamps: CTMH – Card Chatter Christmas

This one is called Circle Collection. I wasn’t sure I liked this sketch at all, but decided to give it a try anyway. It’s a little more funky than I usually make, but in the end, I really like it!
Wishes - Circle Collection

And finally Simple Expressions. Can you say, “Boring”?
IMG_8973
Stamps: Papertrey Ink – Signature Greetings

And with these all of my Basic Grey papers are used up! YAY!!!

Category: Card Making  One Comment

Zeke was super excited all through dinner. He could barely make himself eat his food.

When Nathan brought up Zeke’s cake covered in Batman’s villains…he was surprised!
IMG_9001

IMG_9002

Aren’t those cool candles?!
IMG_9004

IMG_9005

Everyone was good-sports and wore the party hats that Zeke picked out. :-)
IMG_9007

Arctic Batman made him really happy!
IMG_9016

Cap guns from Grandma Loree…definitely a hit!
IMG_9022

IMG_9024

Zeke is going to be so set on our trip to Oklahoma. He’s got all kinds of great little toys to play with all the time he’s trapped in his seat! :-)

Still more attempts at getting rid of paper. Both cards were created using Mojo Monday sketch #147.

MOJO147a
Supplies: Basic Grey – Lemonade papers; PTI – Signature Greetings stamp set; CTMH – Angel Whispers stamp set, buttons; Nestabilities – scalloped circle & circle

MOJO147b
Supplies: Basic Grey – Urban Prairie papers; PTI – Signature Greetings; American Crafts ribbon; Paper Studio brads; Nestabilities – Labels One

Category: Card Making  One Comment

It’s been quite a day!

We started the morning out running. Since Jon and I are both getting ready to take our vehicles on road trips next week, today was the day for servicing both of them. We headed over to Grease Monkey, dropped off the car, then Jon went back in the van. While he was gone the kids and I took a walk. Our walks seem to be getting longer over the summer. I’m sure the route we’ve taken the last couple of days is at least two miles. And Zeke walks all of it. Amazing!

Once we got the van back the kids and I headed out to Wal-Mart to do some birthday shopping. Zeke’s birthday is Sunday but we’re celebrating tonight so that all the cake is gone before we leave town! He had his mind set on some toys he wanted to get with his birthday money so we set out in search of them. Only found one at Wal-Mart, but we did pick up the things we’ll need for the trip.

Then it was home so that Caleb could finish his school for the week. We also ate lunch and met up with Jon. While the other kids ate, Jon and Nathan headed out to work. One of Jon’s customers has a bunch of computers that need to be tested. Nathan is a big help with the testing.

On the road again, the other kids and I headed for Toy R Us in hopes of finding the rest of Zeke’s toys. HOORAY!!! The other pieces he wanted were there. Zeke is on a Batman jag. He loves all things Batman and we’ve found these really great action figures. They’re small enough to fit in his pocket which is perfect for him. He’s already got 2 Batmans and a Joker. Today we found Mr. Freeze, Arctic Batman, Two-Face and The Riddler. He’s so excited!! We’re going to wrap some of them up for his party tonight.

That reminds me…we knew he’d want a Batman birthday cake but all my plans didn’t come together until yesterday which I’ve learned is too late to order a custom cake. Sooo…yesterday we went to Target and bought a pretty plain cake that we are going to decorate with a couple of the new Batman action figures. I think it’s going to be great and he’ll LOVE it! The boys found The Penguin at Target yesterday and we’d planned to use it on the cake with his two little penguin cohorts. Zeke refused to not look when we put it in the cart and ruined the surprise. ~Sigh.~ There was just no way to keep it a surprise I suppose. I guess it’ll still be a surprise because he thinks we’re just going to wrap all the new toys for him to open. He won’t be expecting to see them on his cake! :-)

After all the shopping this afternoon, we headed to the church. This was our week to clean. We made pretty quick work of it because the kids are so much help. The boys cleaned the bathrooms and emptied the trash while I vacuumed. Then Luke mopped the tile floors and Caleb cleaned the front door. Abbie and Zeke cleaned all the door knobs and swept. By the time we left things were looking really good!

At home, we made our own slushes as our reward for the hard work at the church. A few days ago Luke decided he was going to make his own slush. Good thing I got to him before he started. He was going to use ice, milk and lemon juice. ACK! Today he made the Kool-Aid, that he’d picked out at Wal-Mart earlier, while I started working on the ice. It was a huge success! We locked the other kids outside while we worked so they wouldn’t spy. They were really surprised when Luke called them in and there were cherry slushes on the table.

Maybe tomorrow I can get some pictures of Zeke’s birthday party on here…we’ll see. Tomorrow will be a busy day of laundry and packing. The kids and I are leaving Monday morning to spend the week with my Mom and Dad. We’re looking forward to it!!

All right…I think that’s all for now.

Category: Family, Life  One Comment

My next attempt at using up old paper started with this sketch from Jen del Muro’s blog (Sketch For You To Try from July 17th). I liked it so much that it resulted in two cards with different feels.

This one is soft and girly.
SFYTT 07.17a
Supplies: Basic Grey – Urban Prairie papers; CTMH cardstock, brads, ricrac; PTI – Signature Greetings stamp set; plastic flowers (from my stash); American Crafts ribbon

This one is more dark and heavy, I guess. I don’t know if you can tell or not, but the solid black piece is actually corduroy. It was an extra piece of spine cover for a scrapbook album. Guess I didn’t need it, it’s been sitting in my desk draw for over a year. I love the added texture!
SFYTT 07.17b
Supplies: Basic Grey – Urban Prairie papers; PTI – Signature Greetings stamp set; CTMH buttons; embroidery floss