Presque Isle

We got to spend the last week up in Presque Isle for the Annual Lindner family gathering.  7 full days of food, fun, cousins, water sports like swimming, skiing and fishing, crafting, games, flee marketing, laughing and goofing around, teething, and simple good old family bonding.  WE.HAD.A.BLAST.  I don't think many families could shove 22 people in one (HUGE) lakeside home for a week and say that they'd do it all again the next week.  Well, we can.  You can check out a bunch of the fun we had in the pictures that follow in the previous post.  It pretty much sums it up:)
Until next year....

Presque Isle in pictures (LOTS of them)

swimming, splashing, floating, jumping, skiing

campfires and all the yummy food to go with

 hot dog smiles and marshmallow eyes

manis and pedis

sleep overs

teaching Isaac how to fish

 picking wildflowers

Owie's silly face

Jack and Clayton fishing and kayaking

skinny dip (or maybe a chunky dunk)

cornhole by day.... glowhole by night

Northwoods gal

Andy took a breather after work today to sight in his bow in anticipation of the upcoming deer season.  Little D decided she was going to help hold the arrows and I caught her eyeing up the target just like her dad.  In true Northwoods gal fashion, she made her daddy smile.

hard work pays off

Jack has been working for about 8 months now to make money to purchase a game system.  He did various odd jobs for us and for Grandma and Grandpa, and used some birthday money that he had been saving as well.   He and Andy did a little research and with the information they gathered, Jack decided to purchase a tablet instead of the Nintendo DS he had been wanting for the last few years.  He chose the tablet because he could use the internet to find games that were either free or a few dollars, rather than purchase the DS which required more expensive games and didn't offer the other features a tablet did.  Once that decision was made Andy researched even more and we decided to supplement a tiny bit so Jack would be able to get a tablet that would be reliable.  Here he is with his new Nook Color, and the first game he downloaded- Angry Birds Space.  He is excited to have Pandora installed so he can listen to music, and to have started a personal library on it as well so he can read at bedtime.  He was tempted each time we walked by the toy section with new Lego sets and other toys, but always held strong, stating he was saving for his tablet.  I am so proud of him and glad that he could learn first hand how a little hard work now and then, and delaying gratification can pay off big time in the end.   

texting

I was playing with the kids the other day when my phone beeped, like it does when I get a text.  Lucy popped up and ran to go get it.  "It is from Daddy.  It says to write the commandments on the list."  "What??" I replied.  "I don't know, write the commandments on a list," she said and skipped away.  We have a list hanging on the fridge where I write my shopping list. I thought about it and had NO idea what he meant.  I flipped the phone open to look at the text to see if there was something she might have missed.  She sure did.  It said "Write condoms on the list."

teeth

Teeth in this family are a big deal. (For obvious reasons.) I finally got Isaac out so we could show off the goods! Funny, I think all my kids bottom teeth came in together.

terror

Last night was one of those nights where I had a headache (pretty bad) and I told the kids that they need to be pretty self sufficient (in simpler terms) because I felt so yucky and because Daddy was at a church meeting.  I snuck a little nap while he was home for an hour between work and the meeting and was feeling 50/50- like it could go either way.  The older two decide to go outside and play and I am relieved because they take all their rambunctiousness with them.  I lay on the floor with Isaac and Cassidy as they played.  Isaac signaled it was bed time (he has a very good internal clock) so I headed up with him, changed him into jammies and started to nurse him.  I am sitting in peaceful darkness when I hear blood curdling screaming heading towards me.  Lucy, I think to myself.  She has the habit of being a little over dramatic at times.  But then both Lucy and Jack burst through the door and I am a little taken aback.  They are shaking and screeching and sobbing and it takes me a minute to calm them enough to find out what is wrong.  Lucy is holding her arm and Jack under his arm pit and I manage to get that they were assaulted by a hive of bees!  They had been climbing trees like they have done many times but this time they happened to disturb a bee hive.  I rushed them into the bathroom, and told them to take off their shirts so I could survey the damage.  As Lucy let go of her shirt a bee who had been trapped flew off of her and another down the stairs, and sent the room onto a tizzy again so I rushed them into my bedroom and closed the bathroom door behind us.  I found only 2 stings on each, thankfully, and thought to myself that they were lucky because had one of them actually stepped on the hive there could have been a different story. It took me a long time to calm them enough to get them feeling secure enough to go to bed- and that was after a call to Daddy, a bedtime story, scripture study (which has been done simultaneously with a book on baptism-  Jack is turning 8 and in our church at age 8 a child reaches the age of accountability and can be baptized if he or she so chooses!  So excited!!) and prayers; placing a piece of tape over the small hole in their bedroom screen, and letting Lucy sleep in Jack and Cassidy's room for security's sake. We talked about how much they played outside and how this needn't stop them from playing outside away from the trees- because I could see them refusing to play outside following this- and they seemed to get the point I made about the number of times they had played outside versus the number of times they had been stung. I did put their bikes away for them however, as they were SO freaked out last night. I applied some sting-eze which helped a bit and had been keeping a close eye on them before putting them to bed since this was a first for both of them and I wanted to make sure their reactions were not life-threatening.  Poor Jack was still awake at 10:30 when I went to bed and made a few stops for some love and hugs throughout the night. My headache- it went away.  A tender mercy I believe.  Someone knew I needed to be able to care for the 4 most important little people I know in this frightening moment and relieved me of it.  I am thankful to know that He is aware of me and my needs and blesses me each day.  Tonight with Daddy we will go find that hive so he can do away with it. After the kids are safe and sound inside.

right here, right now

There are so many little things that go on in day to day life that make me smile.  Little things that get lost in the shuffle on many occasions.  In an effort to remember some of these precious moments, I have decided to keep a running tab.

I think you could probably start each point with "I love how..."

**Band aids are the cure-all.  Blood or no blood.  Bruised knee or bruised ego, a band aid works magic.
**I can tell how Cassidy feels about something by simply looking at her expressive 'lindner lips'.  She has full lips and they make some of the most absurd and at the same time cool expressions.

**At church during hymns Isaac 'sings' along with the tune; totally out of tune but aware of the special spirit and participating none the less.  (Brings me back to how Cassidy and Lucy would watch the music conductor and conduct in their chairs as tots as well :) )
**When I ask Cassidy if she has brushed her teeth, instead of a verbal answer she looks at me with those baby blues opens her mouth and breathes hard at me as to show me her minty breath, and at the same time answer me 'yes!'
**Isaac doesn't crawl on his hands and knees.  He evidently watched too much Olympic swimming and has decided to start training early.  He does the butterfly stroke around the house and when he is excited he kicks his little legs life a frog.  I swear if I set him in a pool he'd propel himself around.
**  Lucy is the little mama of the house.  She is the nurturer and is my go to gal when I need help with Isaac. I know I can count on her to keep him safe and that she will do whatever I need and do a quality job.

** That being said, Lucy can also be a little diva, and has been known to roll her eyes with a bit of attitude, and do that little tongue click thingy to show disagreement. I am kinda afraid to see what 16 brings....

**To knock Cassidy out of a funk or to show her approval all you have to say is 'Thumbs up D!' and give her a thumbs up.  She will reciprocate and forget all about almost crying. She has been known to initiate a thumbs up all by herself as well when she is super pumped about something as well.
**Although he is nearing 8 years old (am I old enough for a kid who is 8?!), Jack still refers to Andy as 'Da Da' and calls him it in this little kid voice.  Very sweet.
**Lucy never ceases to amaze me.  She will enter Kindergarten this year, and is starting to read chapter books.
**Isaac has already had 8 haircuts!!
**Isaac still loves to nurse and gets excited when I put him in the crook of my knee signaling feeding time.  He holds on and snuggles in and it makes me melt.
** Jack looks over the rim of his glasses when he is trying to make a point, with his eyebrows raised and forehead scrunched up and says 'seriously Mom, seriously'

**Lucy has a slight lisp with her two front bottom teeth missing.
**Zeekie has developed a special relationship with his blankie and will bring it to his face in sheer glee when he goes down for a nap.
** Cassidy and Jack are soda stealers. Beware if you leave an open can of soda around!  I know if I enter the kitchen when one of them is backed up to the cabinets with their hands behind their backs and their lips pursed around fat cheeks what I have caught them doing.
**When the camera comes out, typically:
              Kid 1 puts his hand in my face or bolts out of the room
              Kid 2 says 'mooooooooooom, no!'
              Kid 3 can be bribed easily to cooperate
              Kid 4 has insta-smile.  Let's be honest.  He has been trained since day 1 that you smile when a lens
              is in your face.

nine months

playing in the wild flower garden he 'helped' me plant

It is hard to believe that Isaac has been with us now as long as I carried him in my belly.  At nine months he is changing so fast!  In the last month he has started pulling up on furniture, clapping and waving (although not on command at this point- I just catch him randomly doing it... as if practicing in private), he repeats many sounds and much like Cassidy when she was his age, he growls all the time!  Instead of the typical crawling, Isaac does what looks like the butterfly stroke around the house.  He is quite efficient at it and we wonder if he will ever hand-knee crawl or if he'll just move on to walking.  Those two bottom teeth finally made their debut about 2 weeks ago; they shine brightly with his full mouth smile.  He frequently says 'mama'- especially when he is hurt or wants to be picked up. I won't lie... even after 4 children, I absolutely love the fact that I am the one he needs and the first place he turns for comfort and love. (Even at 3am!)  He intently watches my lips when I speak to him as if  trying to figure out how to do it himself and says num num and a variety of sounds.    He has started eating finger foods along with his jarred baby foods, and is a good eater.  He weighs in at 17lbs, 7 oz (15%) and is 29" tall (75%).  His head moved up to the 50th percentile- still not a bobble head like his sisters were! He has developed this special connection with his green cars and trucks blanket and will grab it and envelope his face in it in sheer delight when he gets it.  He continues to be the flexible, easy going kid his family has grown to love so very much.

busy busy busy

State fair 2012!

Holding true to the fashion of most summers, the past few months have been nothing but busy.  I have been making the best efforts not to let it all pass by in a blur despite all the activity, and do have a bit of blogging to catch up on.  The past few weeks I have been busy snapping away on my camera and even busier at night (spending my free time) editing shoots that my friends have been so kindly requesting.  I feel so blessed to have people interested in my photography and feel like I have grown leaps and bounds with my experience and in my ability to sit down and efficiently edit a photo.  I am slowly learning how to achieve the polished look I have been striving for and am thankful for all of this practice.  A big thank you to all my friends a family who have supported and continue to support me in this hobby:)

The kids and I returned from about a week of fun and relaxation in Milwaukee with family this past Wednesday evening.  And when I say relaxation, I mean the quick paced, fun filled, go-go-go kind of relaxation (if that kind exists).  We got to do some rummaging, school shopping, visit the State Fair, read plenty of books with and got many squeezes from Grandma and Grandpa, terrorize the neighborhood with our greatly missed cousins, stay up late and watch Storage Wars, Project Runway and other good cable TV (which we do not have), made and then demolished a chocolate cherry birthday cake for Grandma, and also managed to get away by myself to do a little fabric shopping.  Oh and I got to help my mom create a special crafty gift for a friend.  FUN!

Oh so back to the rummaging?  For those who do not know I love nothing more than a good deal.  Rhinelander lacks greatly in the rummage department.  One four letter word comes to mind: junk.  We spent one morning in Milwaukee (3 hours or so) and I found the kids some of the cutest stuff.  I think I spent a total of 36 dollars and came home with soooooo muuuuuuuuuuch stuffffffffffff!  Like adorable cowboy boots and Kamik winter boots for Lucy for $2 a pair (I was so pumped because I had been unable to find any at the after season clearance). And some fun fuzzy winter boots and snazzy red church shoes for Cassidy, and church dresses, and tons of 'like new' clothing for Isaac and pants for Jack and oh and we best not forget the Nike's that Zeekie debuted on Sunday at the City Branch. Check out this of this goodness!!! And ALL of it for the price of half of a pair of new winter boots.  It gives me goosebumps I tell you. Goosebumps.

couldn't fit it all in the pic, obvi... but you know my relationship with shoes

At the fair the kids enjoyed the animals and were amazed at how prickly a pig feels.  We snacked our way through enjoying freshly grown WI potatoes, grilled cheese sandwiches, Door County Cherry sundaes, Herb Kohl's yummy flavored milk (the kids all choose root beer milk, I stuck with chocolate) and of course relished the cream puffs!

On our way to Milwaukee we stopped in Menasha and saw Great Grandma and Grandpa.  It is a nice half-way point to stretch and a good excuse to stop for a visit.  We filled our bellies and ran around like banshees looked at their beautiful flower gardens afterward.  I loved watching Cassidy buzz around like a bee then every minute or so buzz back over to Great Grandpa grab his hand, guide him to another part of the yard and gaze lovingly up at him. I remember visiting great grandma and grandpa when I was a kid and there are certain things that will always remind me of them:  As we walked the yard, then subtle smell of paper mill lingered in the air; the popcorn tin full of the same blocks and toys I played with when I was a child; the scent  the dove soap leaves on my hands after I wash them;  the closet that Grandpa would hide our blankees in as a kid; the neat ice cream parlor glasses that grandma serves our milk at mealtime in; the knob on the cabinet that I ripped grandma's sheets on when I was a tiny girl jumping on the bed; the terrific taste of grandma's creamed cucumbers; and as we pulled away- the lake fly that clung to my window saying its last good bye. That house if full of memories for me. I find it amazing how independent G and G still are for being 86 and 88 years old.

Bills Jersey Challenge

We did this challenge a few years ago when Cassidy was a baby.  Andy's favorite team is the Buffalo Bills and we got this Jersey from some friends. I thought it was neat to see all of them about the same age and how different they looked.   Can you guess who is who?

Isaac's hair gives away who he is. And the others are in order.  I guess this challenge was pretty lame!

watch for the UPS truck

** WARNING** 

 If you are not into reading posts that admit that life is not always sunshiney and great- read no further

Yeah, you know that brown truck with the big UPS letters on it?  It might just be coming your way...  With a few kids inside.  The ones who bicker, throw half hour tantrums, talk back, argue, refuse to eat dinner and sob uncontrollably.  The ones who make me want to pull my hair out because nothing works to get us back on track! The ones who have helped me to realize that homeschooling parents must be some sort of deity because I would never be able to handle it.  Oh, and the ones that make me want to mutter fall cannot come soon enough. (And I do not love what comes after fall...)  I admit I have been struggling lately.  Struggling at keeping my own voice from yelling, from thinking thoughts like 'do we really still have 4 more weeks of summer left? why did I pass on summer school?' Uhhhhh.

Thanks for letting me vent.  It's not always that bad.  But the last few days have had me a bit, as you can tell, frustrated.  I have, to say the least, been getting the full benefit out of my zumba sessions.  Zumba, I tell you is my sanity button.  There is nothing better than an hour of kid free intense punching, jumping, kicking and being a little care free to get all of my pent up energy and frustration out.  And a husband who helps put everything into perspective.  Who offers to help with piano lessons when I hastily decided to put them off for a while until I could think straight again (above the usual stresses, I know exactly zilch about music) and who gets me to admit that perhaps I am taking on too much stuff and need to slow down and prioritize, and ask for help. And friends who offer to take my kids for a while to give me a break. And make me smile and realize there is life beyond these walls.

And then there is that child who I hear praying for calmness in the next room, so she can muster the gumption to eat her food and go to bed (because she sat there until an hour past bedtime), and another who comes to apologize and get a hug after a half hour of absolute raging for something he doesn't even remember anymore, because he 'feels like a really bad boy'.  And then the house is calm, and my heart aches for those kids who I love so much.  The kids that I want to be successful, productive citizens, and I wonder if I am messing something up.  If I am forgetting something or what I am doing wrong.  So then I go through my checklist and a little voice whispers to me what I need to do more of personally.  And when I read that special book, it seems to be speaking to me. I learn that as long as I am trying, I don't have to be perfect. That I won't be given more than I can handle.  That I am not alone.  And I realize that my children are unique beings, with special spirits who are not perfect either, but who need me to lead and guide them.  That this too, shall pass.  And I know I can do it, and I want to do it. And suddenly the outlook is a little brighter, and I am ready to start over tomorrow.