Up North in July

We went up north for a week in July with good friends of ours.  We rented a house that could hold all of us - four adults and seven kids.  Yes, we are crazy.  On the way up, we stopped at a gas station to eat lunch and use the bathroom.  Will stepped in dog poop.  After laughing our heads off, and realizing he wasn't laughing with us, we gave him some space to clean himself up, and we were on the road again.  In the below pictures, from top left in clockwise order: a truck we passed filled with bee hives which naturally caught our eye and then we realized that the driver of the truck was a guy we had sold some bee boxes to that very week, Will, before stepping in aforementioned dog poop, Will and Opal stretching out at the cottage, and finally, celebrating the littlest guy on our trip's birthday.

The cottage looked out onto Lake Michigan, and had spectacular sunsets.  We enjoyed relaxing in the backyard, watching shows the kids put on for us, and reading stories on the swing.

Will held Opal for many naps on our week-long trip, as we decided it wasn't worth the hassle of trying to get her to sleep in a strange location when we really could hardly get her to sleep at home. 

Lots of great food was eaten, and the kids played like they were all siblings.  Below, Emma is proudly showing off the first whole apple that she has been able to eat since losing all of her teeth. 

My friend and I decided that bribery would be in order to help ensure our brood went to bed and woke up at semi-decent times.  Lucy was the only child that took this bribe seriously, as pictured in the tiny notepad she jotted down her rising and sleep times.  We put the middle children to work one afternoon vacuuming the cottage only to have it hours later be filled with crumbs from a Costco-sized chip bag someone dumped out.  Fortunately, the kids knew now where the vacuums were kept. 

We enjoyed s'mores, campfires, donuts from the General Store that was but a few minute walk from the cottage, and the mascot from our trip - Chippy - an extroverted chipmunk that may have been several chipmunks as he was everywhere.

In true Liz fashion, I brought more books than clothes and so enjoyed reading stories to the kids.  We also had lots of beach time, which may have attributed to Will and I discovering all three of our older girls snuggled to sleep together in one bed.  This was a sweet thing to see, considering the complaining and fighting that went on about sharing beds with sisters.

Opal and I spent most of our time under the beach umbrella as I was afraid of her getting a sunburn.  If anyone remembers the Baby Toes rock that Violet found me on our last trip up north in May, Will was not to be outdone and found a Man Toe on this trip.  See below.

 The kids never tired of going to the beach, although there was one time where the parents got all of our STUFF down a long trail to a beach that we deemed unsafe and had to muster up all of our energy to load it back up, carry it back up a hill, repack the car, and drive a bit down the road to a safer beach.  We did it, but it definitely was a feat.  That's not even mentioning all of the sand EVERYWHERE in our cars.

We enjoyed a return favorite from last year's July Up North trip to a little cookie shop that sells fresh-baked cookies that are the best we have ever eaten.  We toured the local Farmer's Market, and Emma was even caught sticking her hands into the pocket of a bronze statue.  We asked what she was hoping to find, but she just giggled.

Opal did so well on this trip, and truly, being held constantly even while asleep, agreed with her.

 We went for almost a hike a day, and some of our favorite hikes included a wild blueberry patch we discovered on the edge of a bog... of which we have renamed the trail "Blueberry Bog".

 There was also another hike where the woods were covered in tiny, blue forget-me-nots and we have since renamed that trail, "Forget-Me-Not Forest".  After that hike, I started up a conversation with the man who is in charge of this particular land conservancy.  It was great fun to swap fun facts about pollinators, wildflowers and native versus non-native plants.  My kids and Will almost died from boredom.  Imagine my disappointment though when the gentleman informed me that the forget-me-nots were in fact, quite invasive.

 There was one hike which had spectacular views, and another that took us right out to Lake Michigan.

 Up North is more than a destination to me.  It is a place that my soul craves.  That may sound overly dramatic, but it is true.  I can count on one hand the number of summers where I did not get a chance to go Up North, and the feeling of homesickness that I felt made me promise myself to do everything in my power to make it Up North the following year.

I don't want to give the wrong impression about our trip though, as truly this is the highlight reel.  There were hikes filled with swarming mosquitoes, whining children, public fit-throwing (by myself and my four year old at separate times), sunburns and blisters on our heels.

Sleep deprivation was a very real thing, despite our bribery for going to bed at a decent time and sleeping in.  However, all of that is worth it for me to be Up North.  In the below picture, I found four trees in a row with the fourth one bathed in sunlight.  For some reason, it remained me of Luke, and I had the girls line up, with Luke's tree to the right.  After the picture was taken, Will brought me back to earth by informing me that the reason that fourth tree was bathed in light, was because it was dead and had no leaves.  Ah, well, it still made Luke's presence very real to me, and I will take it for the gift that it was.

Someday it may not take weeks to pack the car, but there will also be no need for me to bring storybooks, sun hats in every size, beach toys, and someone to help me eat the s'mores (s'mores are not Will's thing).  I hope that when my kids are grown, that they too will feel the pull to go Up North, and I hope sometimes that I will get to go with them too.

Four Little Ladies in July

July came and went before we knew what had happened!  Will gets the month of July off, but due to changes at his work, needed to go into work several times this past month.  Unfortunately, it was hard to feel like we were completely on vacation mode because of this, but on the other hand, I think it helped me transition back to him being at work again in August much easier than if I had completely gotten used to having two adults at home to manage and care for our four girls.  Here we are below, celebrating the Fourth of July at Will's aunt and uncle's house.  Lots of relatives got to meet Opal for the first time, and the girls had fun making rice crispy treat hedge hogs with Will to bring to the party.

We enjoyed several breakfasts outside this past month, and the most favorite item on the menu was homemade blueberry muffins.  Lucy also was inspired to make "s'more" based desserts for us as well.  Charlie loved all of the outside meals, as he is always happy to eat the crumbs that are inevitably dropped, and of course, his own wet cat food to keep him from getting too annoying.

The girls helped us in the kitchen from desserts to meals and Emma was even forced against her will to pick green beans for us.  I made several berry pies with our berries from the garden and even got some inspiration from reading a book about Butter and a biography about Milton Hershey this past month.  Yummy!

When the weather wasn't too crazy hot, we enjoyed painting, toad catching, butterfly watching and flower picking in the backyard.

Will puttered around with his summer to do list (see roof picture below), and we enjoyed watching the girls play in the sprinkler, slip and slide and kiddie pool.  There are designated Green Space areas across the street from our house that the city has been converting into a Monarch Way Station these past two years and we finally got to see the blooms of their efforts this year.  I can't believe that we are lucky enough to have a wildflower meadow just across the street from us in the middle of suburbia.  And of course, we have seen a lot more Monarchs this year too, which I attribute to the meadow across the street from us.

We had fun with neighbors and friends going for walks, playing in the sprinkler, having picnics and playing in a creek by our house.

 We enjoyed s'mores with neighbors, backyard games and indoor play with friends.

Will and I celebrated our 14th anniversary this past month.  We did a morning date where we hiked 6 miles before it got too hot out (it was still pretty darn hot by the time we were finished) and had a lunch picnic where baby deer came right up to our blanket and then we spent the afternoon and evening with our four little ladies at the park with a pizza picnic.

Will and the three older girls took his mom to the zoo for her birthday, and while they were gone, Opal and I realized just how much the three older sisters help us out at home.  I was reminded of the long days when it was just Lucy and I, and I ended up scarfing down my lunch standing at the counter while holding Opal and missing the conversation and distraction of kids that can talk and walk and play.  Don't get me wrong, Opal and I enjoyed our interruption-free snuggles, but I did miss my older girls too!

We had family eye doctor appointments, more park play, bike rides through the cemetery by our house, blueberry picking in my parents' backyard and - the photo on the right below - recreating with my girls a photo that I have of me and my middle sister in the same location probably almost 30 years prior.  I need to find that original photo and do a side by side comparison.

 My yard signs that I sell on Etsy went viral this past month and it was all we could do to keep up with the shipping demands.  This is a good problem to have, but did take us by surprise as spring is usually the busy season for our signs.  Will took over melting beeswax for me in our new solar wax melter, and the entire family helped me sell my products at a Homeschool Fair we went to.  It was Opal's first show, and she did great.

 On the days it was too hot, we enjoyed daytime movies complete with bags of popcorn (sponsored by Harding Honey) and juice boxes, as well as magnetic letter play and Lucy made some adorable felt donuts and cupcakes.

 Violet and I enjoyed "special time" in the play tent reading stories, the girls played together in their room, Play Doh was enjoyed and the girls put on several shows for us.

We have a very full and busy life right now with four little ladies and keeping gratitude and humor as close as possible is the only way to survive.  The photos in clockwise order from top left below: Violet showing me her nose ring, the pot of rice that I burned only after we made a special trip to the store just for rice, and Lucy helped me prepare it and dumped half of the bag all over the floor (yes, rice IS a four letter word), a feeling of gratitude that washed over me when I saw the four piles of little girl clothes I had just finished folding on my bed, what my ironing and mending looks like these days - fixing favorite dresses, shorts, stuffed animals and even Barbie dresses, a funny comment Will text me that Violet said, and finally, Lucy asking me to check yes or no for take-out while I am on the phone with my friend.  She sure knows how to take advantage of my distraction!  I checked no, but in the end, take-out (and my little ladies) won.

And finally, a selfie of us hiking the trail by our house in preparation of all of the up north hiking we were hoping to do on our vacation this past month!  A vacation post while be next!

Opal's 5th Month

Probably the biggest change this past month happened two days before Opal turned 5 months old - she got her first tooth!  I was not expecting this so early, and when her tooth popped out, all of her recent crankiness made so much sense!  She has been going to town on her teething toys, like a puppy on a chew toy!

One day this past month it seemed like Opal woke up and was a completely different baby - more mature, more grown up.  That same day she discovered her feet and now plays with them whenever she is on her back.  She also has perfected rolling - front to back and back to front but still sometimes gets an arm stuck under her belly when rolling to her stomach.

 She still loves her sisters, and being with them whenever possible.  She gets the most proud look on her face if we find ways to include her in sister shenanigans.  She was finally old enough this past month to use the jumper activity center passed down from her sisters, and you better believe all of the sisters were there ready to cheer her on.

 Opal enjoyed her second vacation of her life this past month too...

 ...with lots of sitting in the shade with momma at beaches, hikes strapped to momma...

 ...and some great naps snuggled on her daddy.

Opal has gained the nickname Hunca Munca, which the girls took from a Beatrix Potter character, but seems quite fitting for our little Hunca Munca.

 Opal, you are a real life doll baby, and we love you!

Endurance in June!

We finally finished school for the summer.  The kids had their last piano lessons until the fall, and I quickly decided that as long as they practice the piano every day this summer, I can let go of my ambitious plans of math flash cards and writing workbooks.  Maybe I will have the energy in August, but as I type this in July, I can tell you that it's not likely.  In the meantime, I have enlisted their help around the house.  Photos in clockwise order from top left below: Emma helping with laundry, Violet showing me her alphabet train puzzle she proudly built, and their last piano lesson for the school year.

 The girls had their dance recital this past month and did an absolutely beautiful job.  The love and pride that I feel when I see their shining faces on stage is one of my favorite things.  The girls in their ballet class, and the moms as well, are such a great group of people that we really do love our time spent with this dance studio.

Below are both sets of grandparents who also are big fans of our ballerinas.

This past month my brother, his wife and my niece were in town for Opal and my niece's double baptism.  My niece is six months old and lives in Florida, so this was the first time I got to meet her.  I already warned my brother that I would be an emotional wreck when I first met her, and true to my word, I cried all the tears upon meeting this sweet baby, my God daughter.  It was great seeing my brother and sister in law too, and another highlight was my parents having all of their grandkids together for the first time since my niece and Opal were born.  My sister in law had the idea of having one of the kids hold a picture of Luke for the photo, so he is included in the line up too.  My sentimental heart just loves photos like this!  The photos in clockwise order from top left below: my girls meeting their cousin for the first time, my parents with all of their grandchildren, God sisters Opal and Hayden, me holding a book entitled "Butter" that my sister in law who excels at gift giving gave me, and Will and my brother comparing dress shoes.

 There is a new splash pad by my parents house that we all went to when my brother was in town, and we also celebrated Grandma T's birthday this past month too.

 Will's first day of summer vacation started at the end of this month, and we celebrated our first week day morning with him by eating a special breakfast of strawberry shortcake outside.

Will planted my lilac bushes that he gave me for my birthday, and we discovered many beautiful insects in and around our yard this past month too.

Because Will loves me, and I love bees, the bees feasted on islands of clover that he generously spared from the mower in our yard this past month.

 The oldest three girls enjoyed the "kiddie" pool, the slip and slide, and the water table this past month while Opal looked on.

Lots of swinging, bike rides, neighbor fun and even roller skating took place...

 ...and we even got around to making a fairy cake kit with the girls that we hadn't had time for during the school year.  My friend Krista gave the girls the kits for Christmas, and have been begging us ever since to make them.  I must say that Lucy took on the project as her own, and made some unbelievably beautiful creations with Emma, Violet and me as her assistants.  The photo in the top right below is of a play the girls and Will put on for me, inspired by the move The Greatest Showman, and their creativity had me laughing and smiling so much!

 We joined our library's summer reading program this past month which has the theme "Libraries Rock" and enjoyed a workshop put on by a Girl Band Rock group where my kids got to try out all sorts of instruments.

 We also went to a Music and Matisse workshop where the girls made Matisse inspired creations while listening to music from Matisse's era.

We have excelled at reading this past month, and as I type this, have completed our summer reading program.  I'm so happy to share my love of reading with my kids with both old favorites, and also discovering new titles together. 

We found lots of baby deer this past month - one just born in a field by my bee hives north of us, and a pair of twins in the cemetery by our house.  The mama deer in the cemetery by our house still has her twins from last year with her, and so I feel a special connection to her with each of us having four earthly children.  We also attended a play at the local university called The Three Little Pigs which did not disappoint, and Lucy and Emma also attended a week of vacation bible school at our church.

It's hard to believe with all of the above pictures showcasing all of the fun things we did this past month that we were extremely sick for several weeks.  It started with Will, then me, and then one by one the kids.  It came with every symptom of sickness you could think of, and it was definitely a trial of endurance for us when Will and I weren't feeling too great ourselves.  Fortunately Opal did not get sick!

Because of our germs, we ended up having to reschedule our yearly family photos, but we were able to squeeze them in before the month ended.  The below photos in clockwise order from top left: a "behind the scenes" look at family photos, our attempt at a family photo, and four stacks of freshly folded little girls clothes - one for each of my girls - that hit me straight in the gratitudes.  I still can't believe my luck at having four earthly kids!!!

And finally, the polished and perfect looking professional photos that capture the highlights of my earthly family so very well.

I don't need much in the way of material things, but when it comes to capturing my family on film, the photos my friend takes every year for us are among my most prized possessions.  I want to hold on so tightly to these moments in time with my kids still little and us all under one roof, and while I know that the future holds wonderful things too, I really do love this chapter that I am living right now.  It is the hardest thing I have ever done - the endurance, faith and patience required is immense, but the rewards are so very great.

Opal's Fourth Month

Opal has become more aware and playful this past month.  She is getting stronger at tummy time, and we were told by our chiropractor that she has the upper body and core strength of a six month old.  That last fact may qualify as a brag, however I do think that her advanced upper body strength can be attributed to the fact that she still prefers to be held while sleeping.  Opal can roll over from her belly to her back now and is very close to being able to roll from her back to her belly.  She has also discovered her thumb, and loves to suck on it.

When Opal smiles, she lights up my world.  She is starting to laugh, great big belly laughs, and she is very aware of everything going on around her.  Almost too aware, hence the trouble with sleep.  Not only does she look so much like her sisters at this age, she is pretty spot on with her behavior as well.

Opal loves me as her number one, and then daddy as her number two.

Lucy is her number three, and I often refer to Lucy as Little Mommy.  Lucy loves taking care of Opal like a real life baby doll, and Opal adores Lucy.  Emma loves holding and picking up Opal, but Emma's attention span is quite short, so I cannot rely on her for too much help.  But Opal loves to play with Emma.  Violet would love to pick up Opal and hold her anytime she wants, but has to be content with supervised play.  Opal is cautious of Violet, but as seat mates in the car, loves to hold Violet's hand as she goes to sleep in her carseat when we are driving.  I love to hear each sister sweet talk Opal, and truly, it is some of the sweetest conversations I have ever heard.  And yes, they are conversations, as Opal will coo and gurgle right back to them.

 My time is now divided between these four little ladies and most days it feels as though there isn't enough of me to go around, let alone anything left over for Will or myself.  But, truly, there is no place I would rather be.

It sounds cliche to my ears when I say it, but Opal is such a gift to our family.  When I look into her eyes, I see the purest form of love there is, and I love to bask in the joy that is Opal.