Camping

We went camping at Wild Mountain campground in Taylors Falls a few weekends ago with some friends from church. It was quite the adventure with a 14 month old (and their 19 month old), but we had some awesome conversations, enjoyed the great outdoors, and practiced our tent-building, hot dog-grilling, bug-swatting skills.

It's really amazing the amount of stuff it takes to go camping. It's not like a hotel that provides towels and bedding. Our car was packed to the brim.

We took along some toys that could be easily washed off. The ball - "ba" was a hit with both kiddos.

We borrowed a tent from my parents (brand new/in the box) who seem to have everything anyone could ever need - it was perfect with plenty of room for a pack n play, our queen air mattress and our stuff. Tom could even stand up in it! Our friends Dana and Rosa were pretty impressed with our "porch."

Swimming in the campground pool!

I do believe this was dinner time.

Yep, kids look relaxed and sleepy. Tom is warmin' up some beans.

Can we talk about that grin?

Who needs a steel hot dog roasting fork when you have long sticks!

Sleeping was a bit rough. Gwendolyn went down pretty well around 8 pm despite having a pretty bad cough, so I thought we were in the clear, but she woke up about 2.5 hours later and was not a happy.........camper. Ha. 

But for reals.

Camping with a crying baby late at night makes this mama's heart race. I was so nervous that we were going to wake other people up, especially little Hudson who was sleeping right next door to us. Thankfully he slept through the entire thing. And her cough was definitely not good.

She basically refused to go back in her pack n play and wasn't too happy laying down with us at first, but then was so tired she eventually nursed to sleep. I was then able to gently and ever so quietly move her into a more comfortable position for both of us where she slept the rest of the night. Thank you Jesus!

I secretly kind of loved having her sleep with us. Neither Tom nor I slept well at all, but falling asleep under the stars (they were so beautiful), snuggling with her all night, and waking up to the peacefulness of being out in the middle of nowhere (at least it seemed like it) was worth the lack of sleep. 

It was definitely hot during the day, but the temp at night was perfection.

(Tom snapped this around 5 am. One of our best pics,wouldn't ya say? *smile.)

We slept on and off from 5-7 am and then we got up and had some coffee and breakfast around the camp fire.

Is she glaring at me? Never.

We spent most of the afternoon at a beach right outside of Taylors Falls on the Wisconsin side. 

We had debated about staying two nights, but we could tell Gwendolyn just wasn't feeling the best and needed good sleep, so after ice cream in town, we packed up our things and headed for home around 6 pm. 

Let me tell you this, a shower after camping is the best shower EVER. It was amazing.

We had a great time, and just love Dana and Rosa and little Hudson. They're great friends and we're so thankful to have them in our lives. Speaking of Dana...I can't believe I haven't shown you the amazing job he did with the new back splash in our kitchen back in March. I'm not a big decorator and I don't really care about home stuff, but I did get it in my head that it'd be cool to do a back splash and Tom was game for it! Sweet!

Before: 

And after:

He started at 7 am and was done when I got home from work at 5 pm. He's amazing. I can't believe we lived with that other stuff for almost 5 years - the tile makes such a difference!

We decided on a Wednesday night (during small group actually) to go ahead and do the tile since the only day that worked for him to do the work was the next day, Thursday and I really wanted it done for Gwendolyn's first birthday party that following Sunday. (Am I high maintenance?) So we're sitting in small group and talking about it and I'm like, "Yeah, I just don't think it'll work now since we don't have the supplies we need or tile picked out" and our small group leader, Ron, was like, "Well let's all go to Home Depot together!" So we did. And it was awesome. 

So Dana came over the next day and finished it, and we just love it. He rocks.

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So that was our camping adventure! We'll treasure the memories and laugh about how crazy we are to have taken a 14 month old camping. 

Mober

Mober Janae Sinclair was born the summer before I went into 5th grade. I remember the anticipation of her and her siblings arrival like it was yesterday. Her mom, Delta, was a neighborhood stray who was as sweet as could be. Thankfully mom and dad had a soft spot for animals so we fed and loved on her like crazy. Before long, she got pregnant (scandalous!) and we were expecting kittens! Oh, they were the cutest, tiniest little things. One orange one in particular captured our hearts with her constant purring, and it was decided that she was going to stay. For good.

The others were found loving homes or eventually ran away, and then one day Delta just stopped coming around. But we still had our little Mober (given her name due to her “motor” like noises.)

We used to say that Mober’s identical twin brother would occasionally come by for a visit, but they never seemed too interested in maintaining a relationship. I think he was jealous of her luxurious lifestyle compared to his street life…her circulating water bowl, fancy food, toys galore, heated bed, and endless love and attention. I mean, who wouldn’t be envious of that?

Growing up, she made her rounds at night and almost always found one of our necks to snuggle into. (I’m so thankful that Tom got to experience this Mober-ism during one of our visits.) And once we’d all left home, her nightly routine consisted of crawling up on dad’s chest and being petted for as long as she deemed necessary. You’d often hear her making a racquet as she played with toys and zipped around the kitchen floor in the middle of the night. She could stare out the window for hours and loved watching the birds and squirrels from the comfort of the back yard. Her meow was adorable, and she always let you know when it was time to eat. I loved being greeted by her at the front door whenever we came home.

She was a shoulder/lap preferrin’, cat nip cravin’, bird watchin’, midnight rippin’, sunlight lovin’ cat.

Mober would have been 19 this coming Saturday (my dad remembers the exact date…so sweet.) Out of love and respect, my parents made the difficult decision to put her down yesterday. They held her for as long as they could while she peacefully passed away. She had stopped eating and was very thin. Her kidneys weren’t functioning properly and she’d lost that kitten spunk that she’d held on to far past the kitten stage. It was definitely time, and while I realize not everyone is a cat person – she was a part of the Sinclair family for almost two decades and she’ll be missed.

19 years old.

That's one great, long, fun, happy cat life.

Boy was she loved.

Here she is "meeting" Gwendolyn when we were home only 2 weeks after she was born - April 2011. She was probably jealous of Gwendolyn's position on Grandpa's shoulder *smile.

And again checkin' out baby Gwendolyn over the 4th of July three months later - July 2011. She always put up with the grandbabies so well.

And the last picture take of her yesterday morning sunning herself on the deck (one of her all-time favorite activities) while mom and dad had breakfast.

You were the best cat ever, Mobie! Love and miss you...

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Cats are Wonderful Friends

Gentle eyes that see so much,

paws that have the quiet touch,

Purrs to signal "all is well"

and show more love than words could tell.

Graceful movements touched with pride,

a calming presence by our side -

A friendship that takes time to grow -

Small wonder why we love them so.

-- Author Unknown

Dear Daddy...

Dear Daddy,

Happy Father's Day! This is a very special day, so I wanted to tell you a few things that I've been thinking about.

I know sometimes my action would lead you to believe that I prefer Mama, but you know how she can get…I’m just trying to be sensitive to her sensitivity. I hope you see how much I adore you by the twinkle in my eye upon you entering the front door. In fact, sometimes I fall over stuff trying to get to you so quickly!



Speaking of you getting home from work, thanks for not being late.


I love that we both eat slowly and with much caution. I know you’re better about trying new things than I am, but don’t worry – I’ll get there. I actually think it’s quite funny that you guys ever thought I’d eat canned black beans in the first place. Who does that anyway?


I think it’s really fun to have daddy/daughter days and just hang out. We get to stay in our pj’s all day and don’t have a schedule, although I’m thinking mommy would probably like it if we added “vacuuming” to our list of things to do.


Nah.


I know life gets busy and it means so much to me when we just get to be together.


Someday…when I’m bigger…I promise I’ll play video games and watch Lord of The Rings with you.

It's not even so much the swings that I love, but more that you're the one pushing me. You push so high!

Thanks for working so hard for our family. You never complain and you take amazing care of us. I hope I learn how to manage my money so well like you do!


I was wondering…how in the world did you come up with the nick name Scooty?


I love how ticklish you are! You just laugh and laugh and laugh when I tickle your toes. I must be a reeeeally good tickle monster.


Thanks for teaching me manners…


and showing me grace and patience as I navigate new waters as a walking 15-month old.


I may be a girl, but I look forward to the day we get to play sports together. I bet you’ll teach me a lot of really cool things.


Or maybe someday I’ll make you proud on the stage doing an Irish dance.


Thanks for taking me camping and teaching me how to plant flowers and telling me about bugs and birds and plants and immersing me in the great outdoors.


Three things I always look forward to…
1.) Bath time (except for the “hair” washing part.)
2.) Reading books before bed (you are the best book reader!)
3.) You picking me up from daycare.


Thanks for saying yes to the really cute pink velour Gap leggings for next winter even though I don’t need them one single bit. And to licks of your ice cream. You’re the best.


You'll always be my favorite boy to slow dance with.


Thanks for loving mommy. I can tell you think the world of her, and I hope someday I find someone who loves me that way too. (But not for a long, long, long time, of course.)


I know that God hears every single one of your prayers for me. Keep praying.

And thanks for striving for holiness in your life. I don't think there's a more important gift a daddy could give his children than the wisdom and knowledge that comes from pursuing a relationship with Christ.

Oh, and one more thing….............I think I look like you too.

I love you, Daddy. I know you'll make mistakes and won't have all the answers all the time, but I can see how hard you try and I know you have a solid foundation. I think we'll do just fine.

Happy Father's Day!

Love always,

Your Scooty, Gwendolyn

Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

She just gets better and better...

Gwendolyn has been working on her dancing skills and we've seen vast improvement. As if she wasn't already an amazing dancer before as seen here and here.

Sometimes she doesn't even need music to dance.

But on this occasion, the music of her papasan chair was enough to get her going.

She just gets better and better!

Wordless Wednesday

May in pictures

Ya'll don't mind some May pictures in the middle of June do ya?

Well good, because that's what you're gonna get today.

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She knows she's not supposed to go behind the chair...

She never lets you get too far away. Here she is right at my feet after I sat down for 2 seconds. I love this face...it's her "whatcha doing now, Mama?" face. And those cheeks. Oh, those cheeks....

And here she had backed her little self up and plunked down into my lap with a rattle in each hand. She is such a lover!

She loves dipping things in ketchup.

And eating ketchup alone. (Gross.)

Sportin' her new bonnet, which I just adore and daddy isn't so sure about.

"Swinging and walks wear me out."

Out to dinner at Chipotle with my two loves on my second Mother's Day! It was a wonderful day - Tom wrote me a heartfelt note and said he'd take me on a small shopping spree without any complaining. Woohoo! (This comes after a recent discussion about how easily tired and bored he gets if we're ever out shopping for me. Ha.) We haven't gone yet, but I'm looking forward to it!

On a completely serious note....are we not totally TWINS?

*smile

"Helping" plant flowers in the courtyard. Which, by the way, look FANTASTIC thanks to my hubby. I ended up chasing the baby around more than helping and I think he got sick of my freaking out about spiders so eventually he sent us inside.

Not joking - one FLEW out of mid-air and almost landed on Gwendolyn. You'd have freaked out too. And it was HUGE. "As big as the whole house," as I once said when I was little.

Spiders and me just do not get along.

Please note the dirt around her mouth. Yep, she had her first taste! Must not have been a fan b/c it only happened once.

View from our bedroom window - daddy grilling and Winnie already started on dinner b/c she's VERY impatient when it comes to food.

I love this picture for two specific reasons: 

Tom is wearing socks and flip flops.

My fabulous hanging baskets that I came home to and was totally surprised by (Tom and Gwendolyn were home all day b/c we didn't have daycare and they got a lot done - including a secret trip to Gerten's!)

Playing with our doll house, of course.

Can we talk about a naked baby wearing only a diaper?! 

SQUISH!

We checked out the opening ceremonies of cousin Jacob's baseball season. Four-year olds in baseball uniforms is just too much.

Watching that ball come in...

Great throw!

May was fun and busy! As you may remember, we got in some very successful garage saleing and got away for a weekend in Wisconsin. Gwendolyn started walking, cut three molars at once, and overall stayed healthy - yay! 

My photography business also kept us on our toes with scheduling shoots on days off, nights, and weekends, handling day-to-day business emails, and lots of hours logged on the computer editing. In fact, take a look at Connor whose pictures I just finished last night!

We also had a little "urban" photo shoot as we were scouting out new photography locations - you saw a sneak peek of them on my Mother's Day post. It was great b/c she hadn't started walking yet so she just stood there. Ha! 

Here are some of my personal favorites...

I know she's my daughter, but I just think the world of her.

Off to do my devotional, clean, wash a load of towels, edit pictures, and clean Leo's cage. Think I can fit it all in before somebody wakes up from her nap?!!!

You can bet I'll try!