Wordless Wednesday-Robyn's Nose Dive!

Book Review~When Children Love to Learn

I ran across this book at a used book sale a few weeks ago!! Sadly, I wasn't able to purchase it so began a search online to see if I could round one up for cheap!! Fortunately, I found it for the best price of all. Free-if I want to read from the computer! Which I intend to do, a few pages at a time. So far I have really enjoyed it and wanted to pass along the info. You can read it HERE online.

Just the 7 of us for a day!

Last Saturday we found ourselves with only 5 little girls in our home. The older kids were off for the whole day so we took off to the north woods of Wisconsin for a picnic and to play in the woods. It was a fun time.

Some fun balancing tricks!

A Picnic With Daddy

Mary talked daddy into a little picnic. She served red raspberries, blueberries, cheese and crackers.

Kids Bog Fridays~Video Case Ocean Diorama's

Happy 20th Christie Dear

Christie Amaris turns 20 today. June 23rd. Christie is such a blessing to have for a daughter. (they all are) She is extremely pleasant, tender hearted, loving, kind, and patient. She is one of those people that would go the extra mile, and then some with those she loves. Christie is a trooper in all things to say the least. Her faith in the Lord is immeasurable and we so proud and pleased in the way she walks in the Lord's way. We love you tons Christie girl. Hope your birthday is fabulous. Sister Robyn made Christie's favorite dinner the night before her birthday. Pizza!!

Sisters, sleepovers, smiles, and Colorado fun

Sisters enjoying some time together. (Hey, where's Christie?)

Mary has to say see ya to Kim at the airport in Denver because she had to get home earlier than everyone else in order to get back to work. Mary is pretty much Kim's sidekick and they love being together.

Janai think's she's a cowgirl. But she rides a motorcycle, not a horse!

Mary and Robyn romping on the trampoline at their Aunt's house in CO.

I don't call this camping but my kids will.

Having a fun sisters sleepover at Aunt Ashley's house! (oops, where is Christie, Mary and Juli?)

Me with 6 of my daughters.

Mary and daddy

Mary and the grandkids!!

Yum. What could be more fun than to enjoy root beer floats with your nephew?

How about having your niece teach you how to swing!!

Mary and and our granddaughter Aubryn (in the jeans) had the best time together while we were out in CO. They played for hours.

I found that grandson Beckham loves to play in the sand. He had the best time sprinkling it all over himself!

Dentist Visits and Fat Lips

As much as we would have liked, our trip to CO was not all fun and games. We all, including Mary ended up spending a little bit of time in the chair!! Here, Mary, under the loving care of her Uncle Jared is all smiles but her happiness is short lived once reality sets in.

Recovering from her "traumatic" adventure and coming out of it all with just one fat lip.

Amazing how quickly they recover!

Uncle Phillip and grandma are busy with Makenzie and Janai. Dentistry is somewhat of a family affair!! Grandma is Phillips assistant! I love having my children under the care of those they love and know, and who loves and knows them because there is rarely any fear or anxiousness when it comes time to pay a visit. What wonderful blessings "the uncles" have been for my kids.

The rest of us ended up in Uncle David's chair. But we were all old enough (and smart enough) not to land ourselves in front of the camera. Here is Uncle Dave and wonderful wife Aunt Ashley!

And all because these two people fell in love....

It will be 50 years next February this special couple became one. And have sense they have be co-creator in building a wonderful legacy. A legacy filled both with love, and children. They are parents to 12 children, 48 grandchildren, (almost 50, under the age of 28), and 4 great grandchildren. (almost) They are currently living in CO amidst several of their children and grandchildren. Below are just a few pics taken while we were in CO visiting a few weeks ago. But only a "few" of the many cousins my children have.

Great grandma and grandpa Smith.

Mary and cousin Kyle

Aaron, cousin Derek, and Gregg

Janai reading to her cousin Denise

Fun on the slide!

Here we have Suzie, Denise and Mary. And again, Suzie, Denise and Mary the second time around!! Above are 3 of my sister in laws, and below are my daughter Mary and neices Denise and Suzie.

How many cousins can you fit.....

In a telephone booth?

On a floating log? (once they shove it into the river)

On a bridge?

And on a trampoline?

Honoring My Father (and missing him)

This is my father. He passed away 10 years ago Father's Day week. I have been thinking about him a lot lately and would like to honor him this Father's Day. He was a wonderful father and husband. He worked hard, loved lots, and said little. But the few words that came from him were filled with wisdom and I learned so much from him. Amazing what one can learn from just watching someone who did much and spoke little. He was an electrical engineer and designed, maintained the radar bases for our country based in Greenland and Island. Working in connection with Norad in Colorado Springs. He loved motorcycles, camping, kids, shooting, hunting, anything outdoors. I see how I am his daughter!!

From him I learned:

To walk the road less traveled giving no mind or thought to the negative words of passers by.

Do the right thing and the needful thing without question.

If a job is worth doing, do it right and with might.

To laugh when I fall down.

To pick myself up and start over again.

Speak less, listen more. (I'm still working on this one)

"Make up and paint make a girl what she ain't" was his famous words. And it was fitting especially since he had 5 daughters.

That family is the most important institution on the face of the whole earth.

I think above all, he taught self reliance. In spirit, mind, and body. With him discipline was key. In all things. (He taught me this the hard way. He had a cut in the palm of his hand that gave him blood poisoning. Rather than take antibiotics or any meds he got rid of it the old fashioned way. For a full 5 minutes every day he stood at the bathroom sink running the hottest water over the cut without batting an eye. This draws out the infection. He actually invited us children to come watch him. As a parent myself now, I believe it was his intention to turn this into a learning experience for his 6 children.)

Two great stories about him that stand out in my memory!

He was a navy man during World War II. One year he did something "just for the adventure and challenge." He stayed in a tent in Alaska for an entire year. He hunted and trapped for food. There was a newspaper article written up on him about this adventure and I need to get possession of it. One of my favorite stories was when he was working up in Greenland on one of the radar bases. Something got messed up and he lost all power. Which, when connected to Norad is NOT a good thing. Norad got quite excited because they were "off line" in a sense and my father knew he had only minutes to get the back up system going so as to not get Norad too anxious over what was happening. (I'm surprised he didn't lose security clearance over that!)

He met my mom while at her house one day to pick up her older sister Donna for a date. Donna was sick so he said fine, I'll take your other sister. (my mom) And that was that!

My dad, Christie and I at the time we lived on the island!

Wordless Wednesday-Grandma & Mary

One Big, Happy, Motorcycling Family

I can hardly remember a time in my life as I was growing up when there wasn't a motorcycle around to enjoy. My husband grew up the same way and I believe we have spread that excitement to our children. Now Juli and Vance are enjoying dirt biking with their children. Here are some pics we took while in Colorado. Mom, dad, most of the children and 2 of our grand loves.

Mom and Dad

Daddy loading the bikes

Daddy is teaching Emma the "how to's"

Kaydee, Makenzie, grandson Beckham, and Emma

Aaron with granddaughter Aubryn, Juli and husband Kelly with their 2 children

"The family photographer" Juli, who just found out she is expecting baby #3. Grandma (me) with Beckham

Juli and Uncle Stephen (who is younger than her) Juli's hubby Kelly

Daddy, Janai, Mary, and Gregg

Kim, Mary, Daddy, and Kaydee

Janai with gandson Beckham, Gregg, Makenzie, Kaydee, Daddy, and Emma

Gregg, Robyn, and Aaron

Robyn, Gregg, and mom

Christie

Vance Jr. gets in a bit of riding when he can. But this trip he and Heather were quite busy with Baby Vance's birth. And we missed them so very much.

Emma took our videos and created one-4 and a half minute clip of everyone riding. Beginning with Robyn and Gregg almost wiping out. Janai does wipe out. It's hilarious though! Amazing considering we rode for hours and hours!!