3 Reasons Why Family Camp Was Just What We Needed

 I have good memories of going off to summer camp as a kid.  But my own family hadn't had a chance to go away to a camp until this past weekend.  And I'm so glad we went.  Here are three reasons why.

1.  The Fresh Air and Scenery

Where we live the land is flat and not particularly interesting.  There are no lakes, rivers, or ponds in our community, nor are there many flowers around, even after all the snow melts.  So it was lovely to enjoy the view at the water's edge and see the green hills of the Qu'Appelle Valley on our way there and back.  I spent many hours roaming the grounds with my youngest daughter and skipping rocks at the shoreline of the lake while my other children explored and collected rocks and shells.

2. The Food

I was unsure what to expect from the dining hall.  Memories of camp food from my childhood did not inspire me to expect much.  However, the volunteers at our camp made some fantastic meals and evening snacks for us.  The highlight was fresh donuts.  Move over Tim Horton's. Eunice makes some of the best in the country!

3.   The Freedom!

The best feature for me and my husband was that our kids were not always with us.  Not only that, I was free from my household responsibilities like preparing meals and doing laundry, while my husband was able to leave his job responsibilities at the office for the whole long weekend.  So we relished the opportunities to listen to Bible teaching twice a day while our children were engaged elsewhere in the children's program.  And there were other moments to sit and talk when our kids were busy playing and running around the campground.  We came back truly refreshed.

What are your summer camp memories?

Do you have a favorite spot you like to go for getaways?

I'm sharing this at the Pintastic Pinteresting Party and Thrive at Home Thursdays.

Great Read-Aloud Books to Fire the Imagination

Though our children are now school age (save one), we still believe in reading to them.  My husband has a knack for picking great books to read.  On our honeymoon, he read The Chronicles of Narnia to me.  And he finally read the Narnia series to our children this past year.  But we did not stop there.  We've developed an evening ritual of Daddy reading to the family, and more often than not, we can be found entering the imagined worlds found in the pages of a book.  It is delightful for all of us.

Books We've Read Together: 

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

The story of Edward proved captivating, as the main character was gradually transformed by his experiences and hard knocks. This book was actually one of the choices in the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program, though that is not where my husband got his copy.  Sadly, my daughter chose a graphic novel over this, but I think she might choose differently after hearing it read.



The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

We read this tale on a long road trip to Canada.  When he drove, I read, and vice versa.  Hearing it together was a thrilling way to travel.

A Kingdom Far and Clear: The Complete Swan Lake Trilogy 

My husband just started reading this trilogy by Mark Helprin to the children. While it is a bit above my five-year-old's comprehension, he still enjoys the reading ritual that has been established. So far we're getting the background to the main story, and I look forward to discovering how the plot unfolds.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 

While having our garage sale this summer, we discovered that a 12-year-old friend from our church had never read these classic fantasy books, though she had read The Hunger Games. What a travesty! We immediately thrust our well-loved set into her arms. And then my husband ordered a new set (Book One Through Book Seven) for us to devour again. 

 
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  by Roald Dahl   

My 5-year-old son absolutely loved this book, as did the rest of us. Prior to reading the book aloud together,  I had only seen the movie version, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which is also a classic. We watched the movie after finishing the book. And then we read Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

 

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl 

I thought this book might be a little scary for my son, but he mostly enjoyed it along with his older bug-loving sisters. The movie was a bit too intense for him at points, but diverged from the book considerably, and was therefore more palatable to young viewers than the original story would have been.

  

The 13 Clocks by James Thurber  

The theme of heroism rings through the absurdity of the language and the ordeals that the protagonist encounters. This book was an unexpected treat, and demonstrated to me again why it is wonderful to have a husband who excels at selecting great children's literature.

Their Imaginations Will Thank You 

Perhaps this list will inspire you to search the shelves of your library or bookstore and slake your family's thirst for stories.  These books would also make great holiday gifts for other families with school-age children.  But the key is to invest time as a family reading together, entering other worlds and gaining new perspectives as we strengthen our imaginations via the written word.

 

Painting Themselves Silly

On the week of my daughter's birthday, we decided it would be fun to take the family to a paint-your-own-pottery shop here in town.  To save on the cost, we let the kids each pick out a piece of pottery and had fun watching their creativity in action.  A week later, after the pieces were glazed and fired, we picked up our hand-painted ceramic pieces.

 

My husband and I are already planning to return on a date night so we can try painting for ourselves.  Not that we get out that often, but still it's refreshing to have alternatives to dinner and a movie, isn't it?

 

Painted donut prior to firing

Final result: A glazed donut

I'm linking up with fellow adventurers at Try New Adventures Thursday this week!

Introducing Winter Activity Week 2011

The Bleak Midwinter is upon us here in Nebraska.  And I want to learn to like it.  Because normally I dread its onset all year long.  Those single digit temperatures repress my desire to revel in the outdoors.   Add three kids who must be bundled up, and it's the perfect recipe for cabin fever.

{Our family took a trip to the zoo this week.

Peacocks apparently don't mind the cold.}

Starting on Monday, January 10th, I plan to post at least one new winter activity per day (some indoor, some outdoor, all kid-friendly).  On Saturday, I will gather a list of links to additional fun winter-inspired activities we've discovered and enjoyed from other sites.  If you have a link to share, leave it in a comment. I will try as many of your suggestions out with my kids as we can.  Then on Saturday I will choose our favorite ones to include in a list of links to wrap up the week.

Feel free to join in the fun by trying the activities
(or sharing something fun you've enjoyed recently or long ago).

Would you like to join us next week?  
Leave a comment and say so.

The more the merrier!



 

More Ideas for Fun in the Backyard and Beyond

Photo by thru the night

The north woods are as beautiful as ever this summer, and our family is enjoying two weeks of slower paced days in northern Ontario, on the island where my husband and I honeymooned.  I hesistate to use the word "vacation" because we are still quite fully occupied with the kiddos, but it is refereshing to be able to explore such beautiful surroundings together.

We've hiked through the woods, collected rocks and shells, and enjoyed going out for generous scoops of ice cream, among other things.  My girls and son love to climb on the rocks and fallen trees in back of the cottage, proof that nature can provide as much fun as a swing set.

Earlier this month I mentioned our "fun jar" ideas, featured by Quirky Momma.  If you are curious to find out the 30 remaining ideas for outdoor fun, part 2 of the list is now posted at her site.

Summer Travel Tips to Keep Us (and the Kids) Sane

                                                                      Photo by kevinspencer

Have you ever had a travel tale that featured multiple mishaps and regrets? While they make for interesting "war stories" later, I'd rather forgo the drama. Lately I have noticed a number of helpful posts and articles on preparing for smoother family trips. We are planning a huge road trip to Ohio and Canada in July, and I want to be well prepared. Here are some of the most helpful tips I've found or written:


1. Quirky Momma amazes again with this essential collection of more than 40 travel tips for families with toddlers and preschoolers.


2. Our family has endured road trips in the past year that did not go well.  After last summer's misadventures, I was compelled to share 8 travel pitfalls to avoid. Trust me, you don't want to repeat our mistakes!


3. Tiffany at Simply Modern Mom had a great travel series this spring. Check out her advice for international travel , domestic plane trips, and going on the road; you will become a more travel savvy family as a result.


4. As for handy travel contraptions to keep kids occupied,  I loved this homemade clippy toy and this travel art case .  Will I actually get out my mini-sewing machine and attempt to make either of them before July?   Or is it mere wishful thinking?   

If you have any more tips, please share them in the comments. 

And if you have a travel tip post, do tell!

Joining in the Seuss Celebration: Read Across America Day on March 2

Straightening up our bookshelves was the perfect prelude to a week that celebrates reading.  Read Across America is a national event that kicks off this Tuesday, March 2, on the birthday of Dr. Seuss.  The official website for the week is here.

For links to a printable certificate of participation, a doorknob hanger, and a word search, you can go to this page on the Seussville.com website.  I'm planning for us to use all three of these free materials to augment the fun of reading our Dr. Seuss books.  We will also engage our sense of taste by sinking our teeth into some real green eggs and ham (check out my naturally green recipe here). Yum!

Enjoying the Books We Own

We will be devouring books by other favorite authors and illustrators as well.  Since I just arranged all of our childrens books on the shelves, I thought I'd share several more authors that we adore.  Shelf-by-shelf highlights include:

1.   Sandra Boynton, Eric Carle, Ruth Krauss
2.   Syd Hoff, Crockett Johnson, Arnold Lobel, Dr. Seuss
3.   Richard Scarry, Laura Ingalls Wilder
4.   Margaret Wise Brown, Jan Brett


Treasuring Library Books on Loan

Besides classic authors, I wanted to mention two recent reads we enjoyed that celebrate family life.  Kitchen Danceis a new book by Maurie J. Manning which shows the joy of a loving couple in their kitchen.  They eventually welcome their children into the fun.

Last month my daughter brought home The Seven Silly Eatersby Mary Ann Hoberman.  We loved the plot, plus it featured a larger family with seven children.  Families with more than two or three children are a rarity in most illustrated books; I want my children to see that healthy families come in many sizes.

I hope you will take a few minutes to search some bookshelves and read to a child this week. The moments I spend with a book in hand and a child on my lap are some of the sweetest of the day.  We should do it more often, and this week I am determined that we will!

Christmastime 2009 Recap

Now that the new year has begun, you won't hear much from me on resolutions. My thoughts on the matter are captured well here by Jamie at Steady Mom. I've shared other random ideas on self improvement and attainability in this article.

Meanwhile, I am still reflecting on the time we spent together as a family between Christmas and New Year's Day. It was a rare opportunity to slow down and enjoy having my husband at home with us.

We did:

• re-enact the biblical Christmas story as a family (minus a sleeping boy).

• enjoy homemade cinnamon rolls from the frozen dough that my sister-in-law made for us at Thanksgiving.

• decorate gingerbread houses at the home of some friends of ours.

• make microwavable salt dough ornaments.

• purge the house of excess junk and miscellany when my husband organized all the toys.

• take a sudden two-day excursion to Kansas City, where my parents-in-law live. My kids also got to play with two of their cousins from Chicago who were visiting with their parents (my SIL and her husband).

• shovel hundreds of pounds of snow from our l-o-n-g driveway.

• remain safely ensconced inside our cozy brick house from the evening of December 23 to December 27.

• watch several movies at home as a couple. I'm still pondering the documentary we watched, Let the Church Say Amen. It has great potential for fostering a group discussion on the role of the church in society.
  

We didn't:

• remember to hang and fill Christmas stockings until December 26th.

• travel to Ohio to celebrate with my grandfather. I felt heartsick about not going.

• bake Swedish tea ring, Christmas cookies, or other traditional holiday edibles.

• feast on my husband’s holiday specialty—Garlic Spaghetti. The reason: I forgot to buy ground beef.

• attend a Christmas Eve service at a church.

• stay on schedule for our Advent readings from Preparing for Jesus, by Walter Wangerin, Jr. We should finish mid-January. It has been wonderfully vivid so far!

• send Christmas cards by post. A belated e-mail newsletter had to suffice—again.

• watch A Wonderful Life...yet. It’s been a yearly tradition for my husband since he was a child.

• enjoy even one bite of my family’s traditional fruitcake. I missed it.
  

I hope you were able to savor some meaningful moments and traditions with your family in the last few weeks as well. Feel free to comment and share some of what you did or didn't do as you wrapped up 2009. I'm glad to be back with the Company Girls this week!

A Worthwhile Journey

Winter travel intimidates me. So why would we risk an 800 mile trip in the middle of winter? Our love for my grandparents compels us.

Through the time shared with my grandparents and the stories of the more distant past, I want my children to understand that wisdom and simplicity are admirable goals. Growing older is not really something to fear, so long as a person lives life to the full by continuing enrich the mind and spirit and by seeking to contribute to the lives of others.

Most of my grandparents' lives have not been spent in the spotlight. What has amazed me is their faithfulness in the ordinary tasks of each day. They have been ordinary folks, devoted to God, living with quiet grace.

This is where I falter. In my longing for extraordinary experiences, I would rather skip the mundane parts. Yet these rather unremarkable actions are essential to living well, to the glory of God. As I think of my grandparents, I realize I need to alter my course and not squander the rich heritage of faith they have given me. I will never regret the moments I've spent with my grandparents. There are few gifts I treasure more.

Together in 2007

This post is linked to Steady Mom's 30-minute blog challenge.

Winter Road Trip Plan: To Grandfather's House We Go

Going on a winter road trip is not something I am eager to do. Summer road trips are difficult enough. Hopefully we will have decent weather and not pass cars that have spun off the road every mile or so. We drove under such harrowing conditions in 2000, the first year we were married. To risk traveling in December is something we have been very reluctant to do ever since. But this year my grandfather is turning 90 years old just a few days after Christmas. My daughters and husband are on an academic schedule, and this may be our only chance for many months to see my grandparents, whom we love and respect. The last time we saw them was two years ago.

So we're seizing the chance to go. Thus, in addition to celebrating Christmas this week, we will be busy preparing for a two day road trip to Ohio. We learned at least 8 lessons from our last road trip with the kids. We plan to put these tips into practice to make our upcoming winter trip, which is twice as long, go more smoothly.

I've also gleaned three more travel tips that I think are keepers:

1. Assign each child a roll of coins and take one coin away per infraction. When we reach our destination they can spend whatever remains.
2. Display a map or chart with a marker to show our progress to the kids. I used to keep track of our progress with trip tiks from AAA when I was a child.
3. Pick up a AAA tour book so we're aware of what restaurants and motels are available at each exit along our route. My parents used to do this, and I hope we can finally snag one and reap the benefits ourselves.

I'll report back after the first of the year and reveal how we fared on our journey!

Simple Tip of the Week: Using Kids to Compact Your Leaves

Step 1: Fill a bag.

Step 2: Grab a kid.

Step 3: Enjoy some smiles.

Step 4: Remove kid.

For more fun ideas, hop on over to Works for Me Wednesday!

Providence and Thanksgiving

Good morning, Company Girls! I've been enjoying the change of pace this week with my daughter home for fall break (five days off!). We're trying to do some special activities that have dropped out of our regular routine, like baking, visiting the library, and playing at the local children's museum. I've also been doing a bit of reflecting as another change of season is here.

Providence

Two years ago, an elderly gentleman came to our door. He explained how he was connected to a family we knew before our move and gave us a copy of a sermon, plus he added a tip about the local food distributions he visits. As providence would have it, we later joined the daughter church of the one where the sermon originated. And I began to frequent these free food distributions since our income was so uncertain for the first year of my husband's graduate program.

Then, one year ago, I began my blogging experiment. After taking an unsuccessful stab at work-at-home assignments, I wondered if a blog would provide an outlet for ideas and other things I had to say--on my own terms. In some ways, I've been happy with the outcome. I enjoy having one "place" in the world where I can arrange things "just so", and they stay that way (unlike my carpet). On the other hand, going online can also be my guilty pleasure, as I tiptoe over to my laptop like Meg Ryan did in "You've Got Mail." My oldest daughter calls me on it too. "Why do you like working on your computer so much?", she inquires. Why? Well, it's complicated.

I appreciate SteadyMom's advice about limiting time online. Now to apply the wisdom is my daily challenge.

Thanksgiving

My husband and I strive to make a big deal about celebrating Thanksgiving, especially since the trend is to sweep this holiday aside. Halloween "advent" calendars are a ridiculous demonstration of how people are trying to supplant Christmas (and Thanksgiving) with something less significant. So when I came across the idea for a Thanksgiving countdown this week, I knew I must take it and make it our own.

As difficult as the last two years have been, I also realized recently that God has actually granted many of my longtime desires. I have an intelligent, diligent husband who takes his faith seriously. I've been blessed with three adorable children who are eager to learn about the world. We even have a tiny house that doesn't require a great deal of upkeep. Furthermore, for the first time in our adult lives, our residence includes a fairly spacious backyard for our outdoor play, and a bit of gardening. Our student loans are paid off in full. We have no car payments. And the list continues. God and the rest of the world owe me nothing, but I've been given so much.

And how about you? What desires has He graciously given to you?

A Return to Gratitude

I confess that I haven't been taking my recommended doses of gratitude very regularly. Let it be known then, that I am truly thankful for so much. Looking back over my recent Friday posts I was surprised by just how much discontent wove its way through my "wistful" words and thoughts. Part of the antidote is found in grateful reflections on our recent days.

After months of knowing I should plan more activities to do with my kids, we finally started doing some! My four-year-old daughter and I managed several fun activities this week--about one "project" per day. A paper strip pumpkin was Monday's creation; Caroline giggled with glee as we worked. On other days she helped me make chocolate pudding on the stove top (warm and yummy with a sprinkling of cinnamon!) and a batch of homemade chicken noodle soup.

And thus, as we waited for our cold/flu symptoms to diminish, our confinement turned out to be a blessing. I learned that I can choose joy even when I cannot go to my weekly get-togethers with other women. By focusing on what matters at home, I can be fruitful and fulfilled.

Another uplifting instance during our convalescence was when a sweet friend from church brought us some hot soup and raspberry muffins. I still need to get the recipes! That she would notice and make the effort to bring a hot meal over was heartening. Upon hearing that we were sick, she quickly took the initiative to offer her time to bless us with her cooking. God seems to send friends like this over every-so-often to remind me that He knows my troubles and He cares. Amazing.

Yesterday, on the other hand, my "mom rating" was less than stellar. I was late to pick up my daughter. Her birthday invitations remain undelivered. On the other hand, both of my daughters were well enough to attend school. A bouquet of red roses from my husband graced our living room with beauty this week. Despite my shortcomings, I can choose to be thankful for all that's been given to me, and start this day afresh with new mercies.

So now, as the autumn leaves start to fall and the first snowfall is in the wings, I am not dreading winter's confines quite so much. The overall reason? "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good!" Amen?

Good-bye Mountaintop, Hello Loneliness

Whereas last week I had a dear friend accompanying me all through the day and helping in the kitchen, this week I fell into a serious housekeeping slump. The contrast between this week and last was stark. It hit me again that one of the hardest parts of being a stay-at-home parent is spending my days apart from other adults.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Several women have admitted to me that a fear of isolation motivates them to work outside the home. I completely agree that it is easier to have someone working alongside me, pulling me in the right direction. Now that the "mountaintop" moments are over, I need to find proper motivation to press forward.

Adequate sleep, Bible study, a shower, and exercise are invaluable for gaining momentum. But when one or more of them are missing, I have not forged ahead as I should. Other people, like my husband, keep going regardless.

So without making excuses, I'm trying to figure out how I might implement the "two are better than one" principle (Proverbs 15). In this season of life, forging and growing new friendships is difficult, since there are so many things I need to do for my family. To have a friend I need to be a friend, but not at my family's expense. This is my challenge. If I were more faithful in keeping up with the needs of my household, might I have more freedom to befriend others?

Remembering that God is my constant companion is a solace that can help propel me and keep me from grumbling. And I should be grateful for the face-to-face fellowship I have at church, in our small group, at a playgroup, and at a new weekly Bible study. It's too easy to focus on what I don't have rather than what I do. Healthy doses of gratitude would go a long way.

And yet I can't help thinking that there must also be ways for believers to have less solitary lives--that we might encourage one another to live, laugh, and love more abundantly.

Thanks, Company Girls, for walking with me.

Simple Tip of the Week: Improvise with Mayonnaise

This week's tip comes in two parts since I did not post a tip last week. Read and you will discover why I always keep an extra jar of real mayonnaise on hand.

1. Macaroni and Cheese Solution

If we run out of milk or the milk has gone sour, what's a parent of Macaroni-and-Cheese loving children to do? We improvise. With some cholesterol free mayonnaise and a little water, we found a perfectly acceptable, creamier version of our beloved pasta dish. Though not essential, adding pureed cauliflower along with the mayonnaise makes the sauce even better.

Macaroni in a Pinch:
Just add mayo and water.

2. Ranch Dressing Made Simple

Mayonnaise and plain yogurt can be combined and seasoned into homemade ranch dressing. This creamy cucumber version stemmed from my original simpler creation. This first homemade version was born when I decided to mix up my own ranch dressing while on vacation; I did not want to buy anything else that we couldn't finish before leaving.

This week's tip is linked to Tuesday's Tip Jar and Works for Me Wednesday.

A Free Night at the Museum in Lincoln

My kids had a grand time exploring the UNL museum for free on Thursday night last week. We dined at the picnic tables outside before heading in to see the mammoth, dinosaur, and animal exhibits. The only drawback to the evening was parking; the free spots for museum guests were full when we arrived. But it was certainly a night to enjoy and remember later. Hopefully we can return before the free Thursday evenings end on July 30th! You can find more information here.