bear lake 2012

i love memories.
i love making memories.
i love bear lake.
i love making memories at bear lake.

finally!!

i like bingo.
i have been trying to win a game of bingo ever since the 2nd grade at my school's fundraiser.
i never have.
until tonight,
at bear lake's free family fun.
i wasn't feeling lucky,
but i was.
i got a bingo.
i screamed out "BINGO!" in a voice you might imagine for someone who has never won but wanted to.
i'm not ashamed of my victory dance either.
and i sure will be happy when i'm using my miniature golf ticket prize.
will won't ever know how this feels because he won his 1st game tonight,
and he's only 4.
hooray for both of us!
now i can mark that off the bucket list.

house on the hill

we just spent 2 weeks at my home in oklahoma visiting my grandma.
it was our first road trip back.
it was full of typical road trip things...
camping stops,
gas station snacks,
long stretches of nothing,
bad navigating (by me of course),
night driving,
and a little bit of picking on each other.
and i do mean only a little.
the kids were angels.
bless the binders i made for them.
i was shocked the hours of entertainment that made.
our trip very well could have been the best ever back.
it was slow and purposeful
and full of the typical things that we love...
jumping on the hay bails,
playing with the dog,
sliding on the cellar door,
slip-n-slide,
walking the mile (can't say we loved the tarantulas),
exploring the shop and barns,
riding scooters on the cow lot,
playing tether ball
eating Roy's bbq,
climbing fences and the lane gate,
going to the Branch,
playing at the park,
fishing with aunt linda,
the zoo (btw, 1 of the best zoos!!),
mt. scott,
picnics with linda (the best kind with all the familiars),
lots of ganny's delicious cooking,
catching up with old friends,
lots of Thunder basketball watching (go Thunder!)
sorting through sewing stuff,
and just visiting.
the visiting is always the best part.
there is just something unexplainable about seeing my children make the same connections that i did as a child,
connections with the same places and people.
the most magical part was seeing my grandma fall in love with my children just like she did with me.
she posted this on Facebook after we left:

My Hill is way too quiet. DeeOgee and I are both sad. Almost two weeks of enjoying time with my grandkids, was great. A wonderful little family!!!!! A Mommy and Daddy that love each other. Maggie, that is amazing, and could open doors, (any doors)pull up a chair and the top door of Fridge was easy,(popsicles). Will, so quiet, awesome brown eyes that missed nothing, loving to his sister, and admiring brother Sam. Sam, who had ideas, and followed up with them. All weeds are cut in the cow lot. (kinda bothered me too).He became a THUNDER fan.

she got it.

she could have said anything,

but what she chose to say says she got us perfectly.

and that's what i love the most.

always going home and being 'got'

and my children being 'got' in just the same way.

 

 

i could get used to this

the view out the front of our cabin

i'm a dreamer.
a big time dreamer about certain things,
like where to live and how i want my family life to be.
that dream always lands us somewhere in the woods, with space, and a river.
we spend our days unplugged and in it.
i'm never giving up the dream,
especially when i get a taste of it on almost every trip we take.
who couldn't get used to this view?
sitting on the wooden porch swing of your little cabin,
with the river rushing 10 feet away,
the breeze blowing just enough to sway your swing,
and children at the river,
attempting to catch fish with a net they were so desperate for they bought with their own travel money,
and baby girls climbing fences and creating make believe at every turn,
and a dad just being the dad,
keeping everyone safe,
right here in the perfect dream spot.
oh, and then sitting out on that same porch swing with all your children sleeping soundly just on the other side of the wall,
just watching and listening.
watching the full moon burst over the mountain right in front of you
and listening to the river rush away.
i'm not giving up on the dream.
perhaps i should just start looking for property.
better yet, get going on more trips until we stumble upon the perfect spot.