Impromptu Cabin Night!

We spent an impromptu night away at a friend's cabin last weekend!

Sam and Dan were planning to fish there on Saturday morning,

so they asked to spend the night and Joe and I snuck along with them.

Now let me tell you how we squeezed this in...after Sam was done with tennis practice

at 7pm and Joe and I have to be back in town by 9am the next morning.

But, it sure felt like an escape!

DH was making us a fire when we got there.

It was a nice summer evening and the fire felt good.

My pics are dark but the memories are strong.

We 'might' have let the boys play in the fire

and make their own "glow sticks".

We didn't take a thing with us other than blankets to sleep on

and drinks.  We used the fire for our entertainment.

Joe took this picture...

We played 3 rounds of Sequence before bed.

No one wanted to be my partner, but Sam and I won 2 rounds anyway

and he changed his mind!

It stormed as we were going to bed and that made the cabin extra cozy.

We were rewarded with a hazy sunrise the next morning

And the storm/heat made the pond they fished extra mossy by morning,

but the fishing was good. John ( our friend who owns the cabin) came the next morning

and they fished the areas of the pond they cannot reach without a boat.

Dan and Sam stayed to fish and caught 25 or so - 

it made for delicious lunch at Grandma's on Sunday!

As Joe and I were leaving this family of deer were there. So very pretty!

Excellent family evening

Simple Saturday Night

We hung out at our friends' Greg and Lela's Saturday night.

We took our light up wheel scooters -

at hot dogs, mac and cheese and jello cake with our friends.

Love that we can be simple with them and enjoy it!

Boys scooted along the drive with their kiddos

and we took golf cart rides

and fished off the golf course (catch and release)

Boat fishing.

Saturday, DH took the boys fishing for the first time on Boggs.

Big news for these boys.

DH + boys (with life jackets for mama) + boat+ Boggs = Super Day of Fun!

Oh, mama worked.  Might be a better place for her.

DH says I am a mess on the boat, I would be better off if I just get in the water.

I like the water and I like the boat but the rocking of the boat from other people

makes me a total mess. In my defense, last time my babes were just that, babes.

But, from the smiles, they were not worried about mama's fears at all!

They fished from here, there are two tunnels and they did go thru, but

in the right direction

...I think, ha.

I love these boys,

I love that their daddy pours into their lives.

He does.

I pick on him, so.

But he loves these boys something fierce.

I don't think they caught much, only memories.

But, sometimes that is more important than the fish.

A Rod without a Reel

We left our friends at the airport and decided to lift our spirits

a bit with some retail therapy.

I need a couple of things from Trader Joes...almond butter, hello, yum.

And coconut chips, get in my belly!

And I spotted this store...

I don't know anything about it but

Blake sure does.  I knew she would swoon over

Nordstrom Rack.

I went in a looked around and she texted me a dozen times

And

would you believe I did not buy a thing?

Overwhelmed? I am not a big department store gal.

  One shirt jumped out at me, but typing this

I do not remember what it was, ha.  

And these two boys scored some new school stuff at the Nike outlet

and our shopping bug and zapped.  At least I thought...

so we grabbed some lunch,

we decided it was super quiet without our friends.

And my picture limit for the week was at a max, so no cooperation from these boys.

But then, DH remembered Bass Pro

and we made a stop

and 

DH spent a gift card on a new rod.

Not a rod and reel, just a stick.

What?

It is a stick with a grip on the end. SMH.

We had to send a picture of this the Mark

a Frog?

This was only a dollar, totally worth it

although it was tricky and I'm not sure the boys were very successful.

Big smiles from all 3 boys, the 4th slot was broken, boo.

We wrapped up shopping and headed home...because

there were Minecraft legos calling our name..

told you obsessed with building them as  soon as they are opened.

Joe asked for Sam's help, great sharing!

We relaxed a bit and then went to spot the boys projects at our 4H fair.

A Fish Story!

Simple Sunday a few weeks ago, before the weather (and the trees) changed!

DH was headed out to fish at the lease and it was Sam's turn to go along.

We've had to wait awhile for the boys to go because it is a long day.

Dan always wants to take them though, if the weather is good.

I love that.

And so did Sam, he came home all smiles and couldn't wait to 

show Joe and I his bucket of fish!

They caught crappie and a couple small bass.

He helped dad clean them and we froze them in water...

we just ate them this week - stayed turned for the mess

DH makes when he makes fish for us...ugh. Seriously,

he even agreed it was a mess.

And a few days later (because DH says pond fish is better after soaked in cold water and salt?!?) 

I trust him becuase it is sooooo good...and I am a picky pete fish eater.

We sat down to enjoy, 

but first we gave thanks to the Lord.

with the prayer that I grew up with...

Bless Us O Lord

for these thy gifts

which we are about to receive

from thy bounty

thru Christ Our Lord

Amen

 And, yes I have to gear myself up for this.

DH is not neat in the kitchen.

He makes a mess.  

And when he cooks I clean up and when I cook, I clean up

Something is not adding up here.  I am working on that...15 years later.

That morning at church Pastor Ed had a sermon about David and Goliath - I had kind of forgotten about the message after we came home ate lunch, etc...but Joe came bounding in

asking to make a slingshot, I think he listened to the message...

we did just that and we made and extra one for Sam!

We searched the yard for the perfect stick and used a rubber band with a duct tape pocket.

It was simple and effective and reinforced the message from church that morning!