Camp Week

This year Ella went to CentriKid camp, Monday to Friday. It was Ella's first time at camp. Lily attended FUGE camp once again this year. Her camp ran from Tuesday to Saturday of the same week. They each went with a great group of kids and sponsors from our church. They had a wonderful time making new friends, playing games and growing in their walk with Christ.

Jake & I enjoyed our week with Benny & Wren. We had some fun things planned as well as the usual - Lego's, rollerblading at the park, dress up, art projects, and a Monday evening picnic at Blockade Runner.

Wren signed up to make dinner on Tuesday. She made scrambled eggs, sausage links, toast and fruit.

Benny signed up to make dinner on Wednesday. It was 90 degrees out, but he wanted to make grilled cheese and tomato soup. 

Thursday morning we met some friends at the UNCW Seahawk Summer FAM program. It was Mad Science. We learned a lot and laughed a lot. From there, we headed to the Fort Fisher Aquarium. 

Friday Benny & Wren each invited a friend over to play. Benny & Maverick even ended up dressed as twins.

Summer trip to MINNESOTA (part 3)

Sunday, June 18, was Father's Day.

Monday, June 19, would have been my Dad's 71st birthday. Thankfully, my Mom was out of the hospital and up for a trip to Dad's niche with all the kids. We spent some time recounting God's faithfulness and a few of the things we LOVED about Grandpa.

A fun tradition - Grandpa's Stick! Years ago my Dad pulled out this old scrap of wood. He started measuring the kids every time they were in town. When out-of-town grandkids are in MN, then the in-town grandkids also get measured. We are keeping up the tradition.

A lot of swapping of kids happened over our 10 day trip and cousin sleepovers are always a highlight. 

Cousin Monopoly

The girls made breakfast - french toast.

Tuesday we were able to have dinner over at Eric & Jen's. Later that evening we watched Carsten's soccer game. Our kids cheered him on! 

After the game, our kids went home with Aunt Bekah for a sleepover. More memories made!

Also, this guy. He did a lot of projects for my Mom: hung 2 ceiling fans, filled up her water softener pellets, cleaned out the gutters and blew off the roof & porch. He did some projects for his parents. He installed an ice maker and switched around the fridge door for his sister. 

Until next time M I N N E S O T A . . .

Summer trip to MINNESOTA (part 2)

The "unplanned" part of our vacation:

A little background: When we landed in MN on June 11, my Mom had not been feeling well for a few days. She took herself to Urgent Care that morning for a lot of congestion, cough and overall feeling weak. They gave her an inhaler and an Rx for the cough. Monday she felt poorly and stayed home (while we did the Mall of America). Then Tuesday she still felt badly. We called her PCP, talked through a few things, and then got an appointment for Wednesday morning.  Tuesday evening she came to Lily's birthday dinner, but only was able to stay an hour or so due to how bad she felt and how much pain she was in. Wednesday morning we took her to the doctor. They ordered a chest x-ray at another location. We did that immediately. We were home only an hour when her PCP called to say she had pneumonia in her right lung and she needed to go to Methodist ER immediately. After sitting in the ER for a while and doing all the check in things, the doctor let us know they would be admitting Mom.

The first diagnosis was pneumonia in the right lung and a pleural effusion. After 24 hours of 3 different IV antibiotics, they did not seem to be attacking it. They first drained the fluid but the CT scan showed a lot more. A chest tube was inserted on Friday. That was very painful. The chest tube stayed in for 2 days until the empyema drained. They collected 1300ml! 

The "planned" part of our vacation:

We had planned to drive to Jake's parent's home in Spooner, WI Thursday through Saturday. Jake ended up doing that with the kids. I stayed at the hospital with Mom.

Jake & the kids stopped downtown to see Aunt Bekah, on the way out to Spooner.

IDS Center - downtown Minneapolis

The Spooner Railroad Museum

Walking to the spring - twice!

Saturday lunch out before they drove back to The Cities

Happy Father's Day to one of  T H E  B E S T !

I also need to say how amazing Jake is and was, especially this trip. He continued doing vacation with our kids and seeing all the family while I was in the hospital with my Mom (Wednesday through Sunday) and then helping her at home the remainder of our trip.

Cousin row at church

My Mom was discharged from Methodist Hospital at 2:30pm on Sunday. So incredibly thankful. The grandkids made this sign to welcome her home. Even though the middle of our vacation did not look how we thought it would, I am so grateful that we were in MN to help Mom with her hospitalization and be with her. 

Lily Anne, T H I R T E E N

We officially are parents of a teenager. I'm not sure how this happened, but it did. Lily celebrated her Golden Birthday, 13 years old on June 13, in Minnesota. Grandma Tuttle had a special surprise planned with donuts that spelled out her name. Cousin Margot also spent the night so she was there for the super fun birthday breakfast.

Later that evening, Jake & I hosted a birthday dinner for Lily at West Medicine Lake Park. The kids could play at the park and swim in the lake. We kept it easy and did street taco kits from Costco, chips, veggies, and ice cream bars for the birthday dessert. All nearby family was invited. Really special to have a birthday with extended family. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a group photo.

 Happy 13th Birthday L I L Y !

Summer trip to MINNESOTA (part 1)

We flew to Minnesota on Sunday, June 11. The cousins have been writing letters back and forth for MONTHS and planning our Minnesota trip. One thing everyone wanted to do was go to The Mall of America. We made this happen on Monday!

Margot has waited, since her 10th birthday on May 24, to get her ears pierced when her cousins could be there to watch. So sweet! After the ear piercing the kids rode a few rides.

LEGO-land was a huge hit with all of our Lego masters.

Last Day of School 2022-2023

 

This year has flown by and they have each learned and grown so much. We are proud of all their hard work.  Check out the First Day HERE

more adventures at the beach house

Tuesday I checked the kids out of school early after the Leadership Awards and we headed to Surf City. We skipped school on Wednesday too. Wednesday morning we went for a walk on the beach after breakfast. It was like Flaming's ecological marine adventure. We saw some treasures: lots of bomb jellyfish, a starfish still alive, 5 different species of seaweed, a blue crab and a European spider crab. 

The girls on a sunset kayak & paddle board tour.

The sunsets here are incredible.

We caught this sunset before last Friday's movie at Soundside Park.

Lily & Lily surfing last Saturday.

Benny is always building something in the sand.