Ozarks Vacation Part 2

Cont.
 
One day we rented a pontoon boat and cruised around the Lake for an hour. Jim was our captain, but each of the bigger girls got a turn at the helm. They enjoyed the power and control. Bridget asked Jim if she could go fast and the second he said yes she pushed it full throttle. Emma stumbled almost falling and PawPaw commented that he thought he was going to roll off the back of the boat. I spent the boat ride mostly sitting on the floor tracking an ever moving Johanna. Rachael enjoyed the wind in her hair and we all got a great view of rock faces and wooded shorelines. Grandma Kate and PawPaw looked rather serene in the back of the boat on either side. After our Boat trip we eat a picnic lunch in the park before heading to another part of the local State Park. Megan's one big wish this summer was to go horseback riding for the first time and I found a stable in the state park that did trail rides. We got to the stable and had time before our ride would start, so we all went to the playground together. Johanna loves playgrounds and climbed around as the big sisters and Papa enjoyed the swings. Hanna had come down with a cold and was a little more difficult than usual so we all agreed that she would need to go home for a nap. We rearranged cars and people so that Em, Rae, Meg and I would stay to ride while everyone else headed home. Bridget was on the fence about riding but ultimately decided the large horses were more than she wanted to experience. The trail ride was exhilarating as we each got used to our horses as they navigated the very rocky path. We saw both a doe sitting by a log and a buck up the hillside as rode along. We were told Rachael's horse Smokey was in a bad mood but really didn't giver her any trouble aside from trying to pass Megan's horse once. Emma, who started the ride right behind me, wound up at the back of the pack after her horse stopped for whatever reason, later she gained a number of places and was behind me again. Megan's horse Ceasar was an easy gentle horse, perfect for a 1st ride, although he did try to take a different path at one point. We got back to the pen an hour later, better for the experience.

On our last evening we went out to play miniature golf and found a great wooded course tucked into the hillside. We got off to a rough start with the adults on one team and the girls on another, with girls arguing and a crazy Johanna running around picking up balls and investigating everything. Once we put Hanna in her stroller and resorted the teams (Grandparents with Em and Rae and Parents with the little 3) we got down to focusing on the game and counting strokes. It came down to the last hole and Jim got a hole in one to take the lead on our team, while PawPaw handily won his team. We had fun tallying scores and decided to compare the 2 teams. It was pretty close but the Grandparent, Em and Rae team came out on top. We ended our evening with another round of icecreams and a game of mexican dominos. I was doing laundry and putting Hanna down to sleep in time to come out to witness Bridget, Grandma and Megan giggling through the round. Everyone was getting tired and they got a little slap happy. PawPaw made the keen observation that this was the last round. We were having so much fun being together that we didn't want the night to end.

It was a team effort to pack up the food, strip the beds, and take care of the trash but we got out smoothly and headed out to an early lunch together before departing on our separate road trips home. We met at Steak and Shake and shared our meal, and a few rounds of hangman. It was just so nice to be together, how lucky we are, and what a gift the week was.

Ozarks Vacation part 1

Our relaxing beach vacation was a great primer for the 2nd half of our summer vacation. We were all in a contented space as we unpacked, repacked and climbed into the van for a 15 hour road trip to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. We had really wanted to get together with Grandma Kate, PawPaw, and Uncle Bill but the beach vacation made the 5-6 days of driving that a trip to Colorado takes implausible. They were their ever-accommodating selves and got a time share where we could meet half way. Bill's work schedule wasn't as accommodating and we were all sad that he couldn't vacation with us.

We came home from the beach Saturday afternoon, unpacked and repacked and reloaded the car. Each of us enjoyed sleeping in our own beds. We left Baltimore at 6:00 AM, with our Zukus magnet on the hood of our van. We were prepared for the long haul, and in the morning stopped about every 2 hours, for food or bathroom breaks. The breaks were really efficient and we got back on the road quickly. On our first stop we did discover that the 3 youngest did not have shoes in the car with them and we had to dig them out of the suitcases, but even that didn't take long. Hanna was excited to get out like the big girls and she sat on the potty and peed at almost every stop. The girls occupied themselves with bracelet making and books and movies. Every time a movie was picked Hanna asked for Book of Life. She picked first so she got her wish right away, then we went in age order. They only watched 3 movies during our 15 hour drive.

We made great time and had easy traffic. We decided on the recommendation of friends to take 64 across instead of 70, and we are so glad we did. We had light traffic and good roads. There weren't many exits either which made for a smooth ride but also made planning ahead more important. We were exhausted as we arrived at the Ozarks and were greeted so warmly by PawPaw, Grandma Kate, and Aunt Carol and Uncle Rick. They live in MO so they came down for the weekend and stayed so we could visit a little. I don't know that we were very good visitors, since we were so tired, but Rick and Carol were able to come over again in the morning for a proper visit and of course some pictures. Grandma Kate and I went to the grocery store and gathered the makings of lunches and dinners for the week and enough icecream treats for an army. And we settled into a rhythm of relaxing around the octagonal lake house, playing games like "heads up" and "Rumio" and chatting, with trips to the pool mixed in.

We did a little shopping one day and we discovered an old school arcade. It was something we hadn't really done before as a family, so we each got tot try some games. Em and Rae played Dance, Dance, Revolution, Hanna rode some coin operated rides and had a blast climbing over and through games as Grandma tracked her movements. I played skeeball with the girls, and Megan and Bridge found a frog game where you had to knock over bugs as they went by. Jim's favorite find was a Galaga game.

cont.

The Beach

We were blessed again this year to get to spend a week at the beach in an amazing beach house that provides all of the space an amenities we could ask for, with a family we are really glad to call friends.

This year we didn't plan food as thoroughly, so we both overpurchased snacks, but we took turns making dinners and we both choose easier meals that were either made and frozen ahead or that didn't require much work. This year we also weren't as tied to Hanna's nap schedule. Hanna again slept in the master bedroom closet, she enjoyed calling it her room and was interested in sleeping on the nap mat that we brought instead of a pack and play. The first few nights Hanna woke up in pain and after a few night I realized it was heartburn. We paid better attention  to what she was eating and gave her tums and there was no more crying. Hanna did still climb up into the amazing king size bed with luxurious linens every night. She fell right back to sleep and it was really sweet having her snuggle with me.

The big girls were all very comfortable in the house and settled right into playing and relaxing and exploring the island. Emma and Rachael were also excited to find out that friends were staying just a few streets over and they got together to bike and watch movies throughout the week.

The beach and ocean was exciting and exhausting as usual. Megan was again fearless in the waves and this year had more strength to last longer and not get knocked down as easily. Bridget again found her happy balance of riding waves and playing on the shore. Hanna was mostly interested in the sand this year, digging, dumping, making imprints, doing head stands. She did spend time getting chased by waves and playing in the surf with her sisters. Emma and Rachael were out on boards and soaked up the sun. This year there were a lot more people on the beach and there tended to be a collection of young men near by our girls when they were in the water. Jim and Wendell were usually nearby so the collection dispersed. It made me feel protective in a different way.

We played lots of cards and dominoes and came home with great memories. We played family games and also got time as adults. We weren't hurried or scheduled and it was very relaxing. The Shumakers were also at the ocean the same week so we had they over for dinner and cards one night. Then Sarah had a sleep over with the girls in the bunk room on the 4th floor. Bridget was beside herself with joy.

Jim and Wendell went to the movies one day and we couldn't help teasing them when they both came down in the same outfit and sandals. One night they also went to a local brewpub while the girls stayed home for a movie night. Shari and I took the girls (minus Hanna) out for miniature golf. We split into two teams and the older 4 girls (Em, Rae, Meg,and Savannah) did the harder course while Shari, Bridget, Sierra and I did the easier course. This worked really well and both of our teams finished about the same time and just as it began to rain. It was perfect timing. We ended the evening by baking cookies.

On our last night together the weather was gray and the kids were a little antsy as we were trying to decide how to spend our time, when Shari came up with the idea to do a Scavenger Hunt on the island. She and I came up with a list of things for them to find and document with their phones. We divided the kids and the neighbor friends (Patrick, Adele and Marissa) into teams and sent them out together. they had so much fun and really got into it. This was such a good idea we will definitely do it again if we go back.

We were sad to have to go at the end of the week, but we were all so peaceful and soaked in the blessings that it was a great lead into our next adventure.

More of July 2015

I didn't want to miss recording some of the additional things we did in July.

Bridget:   Reading Readiness, VBS, and Firepit - This summer Bridget attended a Reading program that was sponsored by Loyola and was hosted at St. Marks. We began the process of addressing potential learning disabilities with the school system this spring, but they declined to spend the time and resources to actually test her until some interventions have been tried. We will readdress the issue in the fall. But over the summer we wanted to make sure Bridget got some additional instruction so we enrolled her in the Loyola program. Her cousin Ben also attended the reading program and Sarah did the afternoon speech program so it was a family affair. The program is well done and full of educational active games and projects with 1:2 instruction. I struggle to put in regular reading time so I was glad to have some help and attention given to Bridget's reading. Bridget also attended Vacation Bible school with her cousins at St. Mark's which she thoroughly enjoyed. She have a neighbor, Joanna, who attended as well and they had a really good time getting to know each other.

    Then during one of the weeks where her sisters were at camp Bridget asked to have friends over. So we invited some girls over for a firepit night in the back yard. It was a really wonderful group of girls and Bridget had a really good time, roasting marshmallows and playing games with her friends out back. It was a mix of school, neighborhood and family and they were all a great fit for Bridget. She picks her friends well.
 

dropping off at Camp Connonwingo

Rachael and Megan - Both Rae and Megs went away for a week at Camp Connowingo. It is the big Girl Scout property where they have attended camp for the past few years. They were excited and packed with great anticipation. I made them daily packages with letters, logic puzzles and a treat from home each day. As I send them off I trust that they are guarded by God's grace. It is good practice. Rachael this year was in BackWoods Adventure and we were surprised that there was only one other girl in her group. I was relieved to hear that they got along very well. Megan had a big group in her Camp Katniss Group and she floated above the girl drama that did pop up. They were exhausted and very content when they arrived home after their week outside.

Summer Stretch 2015

   The next week, Rachael and Megan attended Summer Stretch, a local middle school service week, with lots of their cousins. They served food to the hungry, visited the elderly, played with children and cleaned a daycare. The kids also went bowling, played and did a scavenger hunt in the inner harbor. (Rachael's team won).  This is such a worthwhile way to spend a week.

Emma and Hanna - These two spent the rest of July enjoying summer. Emma biked to Uncle Henry's house to put in some time working (sorting/ shredding papers) a few days a week and earned some money. And she also helped me with the kiddos. We went to the park, visited the nature center, and went to the pool. Johanna jumps into whatever grabs her attention and frequently takes us along for the ride.