Happy Fourth of July

Another tradition during our Fourth of July visit are the Bayfield fireworks. I giant waffle cone is a must! Henry even gave ice cream a try. Cozy on the laps of Grandma and Uncle Mike my boys enjoyed the fireworks again. I think I spent more time watching them take them in. Henry clapped and seemed to love them. He signed more! many times! Charley got a little wild right before the start but once they started he snuggled right in and enjoyed the show. We then arrived back at the campsite around 11:00 and all went right to sleep. It was a warmer night, with mama and daddy on cot mattresses! Everyone slept through the night until 7am! Whoopee! I am so curious how night three of camping will go since this afternoon after Henry's nap we will head down for a more normal camping experience....although we will plan to have pizza delivered - I know...not camping....but sure hits the spot!

Happy Independence day to baby Eli! Word of a homecoming is coming soon! Happy Independence day to Mama Raina, Uncle Andy, and baby Eli as they head home to be independent as a family...without all the kind help from doctors and nurses! Can't wait for official word!

Cousin Morgan

Today I was thinking and realizing that last year at this time Charley and Henry had "just" an awesome Uncle Mike and Aunt Becca. Now they have an adorable little cousin Morgan. (and Cousin Eli) Morgan is oh so tiny - after holding her Henry feels like a monster! She is getting her fill of naps in on the couch, and is being loved up by all. Mama Becca and Daddy Mike are at ease, relaxed, and very attentive parents and yet they still find time to spoil our boys with tons of attention. I can see that in the next few years it is going to be so fun to see this little girl grow up and add to the fun at Grandma Charlie's! Amazing how a year gone by can bring a new little miracle into our world. Maybe next Fourth we will be camping as a family of five. ha! I made this comment to Ed and he laughed.

Fourth of July Parade

Another tradition is the Fourth of July parade. This year Grandma Charlie and I headed out early to get us a curb spot. Candy was thrown and retrieved. Henry thoroughly enjoyed his first sucker. Charley loves the whole event. I still get chills when I hear the drum cadence. Uncle Mike and Becca brought little Morgan for the first time! Good times! Times that are so important for our children.

Camping...night 1!

During our trip up north we decided we would attempt to camp with both boys in our new tent. We figure, we are a mile or less from Grandma's...so we can run home when needed. So yesterday, Charley, daddy, and I headed to the site to set up camp. It was only our second time setting up our tent...which is massive but awesome!

No worries! The tent was assembled without any snapping or fighting! I think it is common for a husband and wife to fight when putting up a tent..especially when it is dark. But this one...even though it weighs nearly 65 pounds took minutes and was easy enough! yay!
Picnic dinner, a walk around the campground, a fire where the boys enjoyed hot dogs and smores, and then it was bedtime. Charley has camped a couple times but this was the first time with a brother. We put them in the tent together. Henry of course grew excited and stood in his pack and play and tossed his nuks out laughing at Charley. Charley of course got silly. We all enjoyed listening to them be brothers. Then after many attempts by mama, peeking in the window and threatening never to camp again if they don't lay down...daddy went in and laid down the law...or rather laid down and night! night! They both went. Henry woke up in the wee hours of the morning and joined me in my sleeping bag....since it was pretty chilly...somewhere in the upper 40s or lower 50s. He slept snuggled for a bit but was awake for the day by 5:30am. Charley was awake around 6 and we were back up by Grandma's by 6:30. Ed's dream of coffee in the perculator will have to wait for tomorrow morning. Our goal tomorrow morning is to last a big longer down there! Because if we ever do this camping thing for real we need to not rely on Grandma's shower, pancakes,et.

I grew up camping with my family and those memories are some of the best. I remember complaining at times that I didn't want to go or do certain things. But I am thankful that I had those experiences. Ed also camped with his family growing up. It is so fun to hear the many similar experiences that we were both raised with. I truly believe that camping is an activity that can make a family stronger. Even with some of the newer luxuries...air mattresses (let it be known that ours had a hole in it so last night we slept on the ground with nothing!), camping makes a family simplify life, take time to interact without the everyday distractions (computers, phones, tv, toys). I really hope that we can get this camping thing down so that we can go and enjoy as the kids grow up.

We've been busy...

Strawberry picking
Blueberry picking
Planting potatoes
Making homemade ice cream
Playing games
Walking to the park
Playing with Grandma's toys
Eating yummy food

Berry Picking!

Tradition...so fun that we are starting to form our own. We have spent our Fourth of July at Ed's parents for many many years. Before the kids we came up and celebrated with friends....good times! Now we bring the boys and do some of the same festivities year after year. One of the things we always do is pick Bayfield strawberries. Yum! This year, Charley and I, along with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law Becca headed out to pick and ended up with 63 pounds! Last year I made 7 batches of jam. Loved it! Loved sharing it! So this year I was determined to make more! Ed's mom and I spent a couple hours on Thursday night making jam. We are a good team! Here are a few photos of our strawberry picking.

My boys!

The Shakes have subsided

On Wednesday I packed up my computer, and the rest of our gear for our fourth of July weekend up north and traveled four hours with the boys. Upon arrival I noticed my computer was no where to be seen. PANIC! Either I forgot it or it was stolen when we stopped for lunch! FREAK OUT! Ed wouldn't get home for 5 hours.....so I waited! Eventually he got home and called. It was sitting right there on the kitchen table. UGH! He was due to arrive up north on Friday! So for almost two days I was without my computer - shakes! Withdrawal...it is okay, good for me...but boy is it good to have it back on my lap.

Eli meet's the SOME of the people that love him.

Since Eli was moved out of the NICU he has been blessed with many visitors, of course I am biased, and believe that he most important visitor is yet to get to visit and hold the little bugger - but I WILL COME SOON! Here are a few of the family who has journeyed from a far to meet him and love him up!

#7 Grace in Small Things - before I became a mama

Things I appreciated before I became a mama...actually I don't think I appreciated them but rather took them for granted...

1. Waking in a lazy way, maybe to my alarm clock, maybe when I felt like it....

2. Showers that lasted more than 5 minutes!

3. Being able to drop what I was doing to go on a date with my husband.

4. My car....not my minivan!

5. Not having a kitchen covered in sticky or crumbs.

6. Not having to bend over 100's of times a day to pick up match box cars...

7. Listening to my music in the car and being able to hear the words and letting them settle in my heart.

8. Patience...I had a ton....

oops...this was only supposed to be 5 things.

We travel 4-5 hours depending on traffic, stops, and whatever else crosses our path today. My boys travel wonderfully for the most part. There are usually only 4 times in a 5 hour trip when I question my sanity - Why am I traveling alone with these little buggers? But for the most part we do well! My next post will be from the north woods!