Summer Camping Fun....

Last weekend we tried a new campground (for us) Sheridan Lake.  The sites were beautiful will very tall ponderosa pines, the lake was gorgeous and not too cold, the weather was great -- and even more fun to spend the weekend with good friends (hey there Drolc family!!).  :)  The only drawback is the drive there (and back) -- I do not envy Dirk one bit driving the camper on that narrow, windy road!!  I'm not exactly sure I want to know HOW Monte drives it pulling both the his camper and his boat?!?!

This picture is terribly blurry, sorry -- but so adorable too :)  After 5 hours at the lake Lars could hold out no more... he ate 5 bites of his mac and cheese, drank his milk and couldn't even waste time changing out of his swim suit... He was in slumber land :) 

We are getting ready for our biggest trip for the summer - 4 days at Angostura, then 4 days at Stockade Lake.  The first 4 days will be exclusively family; the second is our churches annual Family Camp Out.  If I have my dates right, we've been gathering with our Dove Family for a campout every years since 2006.   Here are some of the "flashback photos" This was 2006, at Custer State Park, Stockade Lake.  

Here are a few from a couple of years later at Chris Camp outside of Spearfish, SD.  

Pardon the photography here, I'm going to say that Liv took these pictures just so you don't think I'm the worst photographer in the world.... really I'm pretty sure it was Anika or Liv -- trying to get some pics from around the campfire at Stockade Lake - 2013 - you can see Laney (from behind), Lars and Anika.  Why sunglasses around the campfire?  My girls are convinced that when they wear their sunglasses, the smoke and heat from the fire doesn't bother them as much. :)

Whatever you are doing this summer I hope it's super fun Family Adventures! <3

Time for a trim :) 

Can you believe she took off 6 inches?

summer crafty time

Apparently I have not left my crafty days of 4-H completely behind.  We've had so much rain this first month of summer break, we have only made two of our usual weekly pool days -- and only one afternoon at the park.  On the other hand, Anika and Liv spent one afternoon working on Iron-On transfers that were a Christmas gift from mom/dad -- an apron for the American Girl, as well as each of their own aprons. 

Hold you amazement please, this involved no sewing.  I haven't regressed THAT far back into my 4-H days.... the aprons were already on hand ready to go. :)  Now each girl has a coordinating apron with this doll-sized version... plus an afternoon of creativity.  

If the rain continues this week, the plan is to open Grandpa's garage, set up a long table and bring out all of his unused wooden forms and spend the day painting.   Grandpa Alan has a treasure trove of who-knows-what over at his place.... and he is ready to start weeding out some of the extras.  I don't think he every really liked painting on the wooden forms anyway.  He offered to have a "grandkid painting day" -- and we are going to take him up on his offer!  I'll have to post pictures of the masterpieces when they are finished :) 

4-Wheeling Adventures

I wish I were better at remembering to take pictures!!  I have no excuse... my phone is my camera.  99% of the pictures I own are from my phone.  But as I'm experiencing life with my family -- I just don't have the desire to get it out at take pics.... bummer.  Afterward, I wish I did have pictures.

Thor's long lasting wish to FINALLY go 4-wheeling was accomplished this past weekend -- at the Palmer Gulch (campground).  The kids and I tried to have the camper as ready to go as possible -- Dirk was home by 5 -- and we were parked in our campsite ready to have fun by 7pm that evening.  :)

Everyone wanted to take the ATVs out immediately, but Dirk knew there was only about an hour of good sunlight left, so we opted to check out the swimming pool instead.   For those who have been to Palmer Gulch KOA, you know it's more like a resort than a campground -- two swimming pools, a riding stable, a playground, a sprinkler park, a water slide, BB courts, volleyball, mini-golf and a "jumping pillow" (sort of like a trampoline, but air not springs).  They also have quite a few miles worth of ATV trails right from camp... so we had determined last summer to bring the ATVs and check it out.

Saturday morning we set out after breakfast -- Thor on the Blaster, Dirk and Anika on the Kodiak and Mom, Liv & Lars on the Grizzly.  Thor's ATV is "old school" - clutch/shift operated -- which is good for learning experiences like starting on an uphill climb (yuck, even I hate that).... and a bit of mud bogging (not much -- it hadn't rained yet).... and one pretty long bumpy rock climb.  We had a great morning out -- saw some great scenery, etc.  Anika had her first experience driving with mom coaching.  She was a great driver, but did NOT like going down steep hills, especially with rocky terrain and a few steep ditches.   Drivers Ed cannot start too early :)

The dust and pollen were getting to everyone, so unlike most other campground we ATV from, we had the option of going back to camping and jumping in the pool!!  Which sounded heavenly!!  So we did.  :)  I wasn't sure the kids were ever going to get tired of swimming -- but sooner or later everyone got hungry so we headed back to the camper.

After lunch, the rain clouds moved in -- along with quite a bit of wind.  So guess, what -- we had hail!!  Oh boy!! a pretty good hail shower!!  Everything was fine - no damage at all.  But we did take in one passer-by with a little boy about Lars age.  They were trying to get back to their tent, but the hail came up quick.  They waited it out with us inside the camper -- I think it might have been pretty dangerous with a few golf-ball sized hail falling.  (mostly smaller - but some were that big)

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon for us now ... so today we are just catching up on laundry, etc.  Just looking forward to our next weekend out over the 4th of July!!

foggy noon time at Legion Lake

 Camping weekend at Custer State Park - Game Lodge.  It was a damp weekend, but nice enough on Saturday to get out, play Ladder Ball, go for a couple of walk/hikes, let Lars ride his strider all over the campground and even sit by a campfire to end the evening.  A short but sweet trip to one of our favorite spots.  The weather gave us a good excuse to just stay inside, sleep in and be pretty lazy!

On our way into camp we got caught in a Buffalo Jam -- about 50 mommas and maybe 25-30 baby buffalo.  The babies are SO cute!  :) But I was driving so no pictures taken.  I wasn't afraid of hitting a buffalo, but the other less than attentive drivers all around me.... wink wink.

Can't believe my cell phone caught him mid-air!

splishing and a splashin"

Wet -- but totally happy!

 Oh the joys of a 3 year old.  :)  I used to say 3 was my favorite age.  But I forgot.  It's not.  I absolutely like 4 year olds much better.  The problem is, this little cutie is not far from 4 (end of Sept)... and I'm not seeing the change in attitude I was hoping would miraculously happen at 3 3/4.

It's a good thing he is cute -- and gives good hugs.  Phew.

On the other end of the spectrum we have the teen agers -- As you can see from Anika's face the Tweens have arrived in our family as well.  ;)  Almost every day they are both a ton of fun and even MORE help keeping the house and family run the way they should! I certainly wouldn't be as sane as I am (that might be questionable) if they were not such good babysitters and overall help with chores, etc.

So here are a couple of funnies from the kids this week:
Lars is just entering the  "talk all the time" phase -- and completely mispronounces words ALL the time.  This of course is absolutely hilarious to older brother and sisters -- but makes him pretty ticked off.  He does NOT see the humor in it at all.  But we giggle our little heads off.

Liv:  discovering the world of YouTube -- or Yube Tube -- as she calls it.  :)

Lars has a friend named Dale.  Dale is a single guy who goes to our church (early 30's) -- isn't particularly close with our family -- but a good acquaintance friend.  But Lars thinks this guy is his personal best buddy.  A few Wednesday nights Dale has come in early and said "hi" to Lars.  One night in particular Lars told him to "Dit Down!" -- And Dale did, he ended up staying in the Toddlers class the rest of the night!  Another week, Dale came in and sat down next to Lars who was playing cars on the floor.  I came over to ask Lars if he was having fun, and Lars told me to "go in the Red Truck -- Bye Bye mom."  Apparently I was NOT needed!  A couple of weeks ago we were at a BBQ and Dale was also.  Lars made sure everyone in the family said "Hi Dale" -- at least 3 times each!  :)

Today was Swim Lessons for Lars.  He loves the water, but doesn't exactly love taking directions from anyone.  Today I was reminding Lars he was going to be a good boy, and listen to Miss Mary and say Yes Miss Mary.  Lars replied every time -- "no go with miss mary.  no say yes miss mary."  See what I mean about the 3 & 4 year old stuff!  At least he did listen and follow directions today.  Small victories make the learning process survivable!!

Renewing season

It's been a heck of a long time since I've put up a new blog... Let me tell you since Thanksgiving 2013 I just didn't have anything left for "extras" in life.  But it's summer -- and sometimes what a girl needs is just a little journaling and photo therapy after the kiddos are off in their beds.  I almost don't want to go to sleep at night because I'm having so much fun doing whatever I want to do!!  And I don't HAVE to get up at any particular time in the morning.... so why not?  My solitaire score has gone up considerably... as well as reading about 100 pages each night... I'm getting a lot of my "extra" projects accomplished! :)

Another camping season has begun... but also lots of yard work going on at the Morrison household.  Thor has a few mowing jobs in addition to our yard.  Anika is renewing her skills as the Laundry Lady -- and IS good at it too!! :)

Liv & Lars are not too serious in the chore department, but we are having some fun "school" time occasionally -- I just got new sets of flashcards for both (ABC's for Lars, and Addition 0-12 for Liv).

Memorial Weekend we hit the trails in the Wolf Pak (camper) to the Badlands.  It was a fun weekend, connecting with camping buddies -- letting down with nothing serious to do for 3 days -- a few trips to Wall Drug -- overall "Vacation."  But the most memorable moment was just after this photo was taken.  The anomotronic T-Rex in the building behind this Jack-A-Lope puts on a great show -- but I think Lars gave him a run for his money?!  He was holding his ears, had eyes as big as saucers and was shaking from head to toe.  Even having daddy wasn't enough to help him out -- he ran of the the building as fast as his little legs could go, and would not return for love nor money!!  He must have asked us 100 times over the next 3 days if "saurus was all done?"

Anika's 5th Grade Graduation Night

 This week we started swimming lessons and "cousin fun time" with Abby, Anna and Theo.  The cousins spend time at our house while mom is working -- sometimes 2-3 days -- sometimes not much at all.  But we all enjoy the time together.  We are working on our summer bucket lists of home-fun projects as well as places to go - things to see. :)

I'll see if the kids can get some pics of our "pinterest" projects attempted as home entertainment...

We ARE doing a RE-DO for our tie-dye shirts, for sure!!