Fun Souvenir Project

While we were camping, the kids and I scoured the shore line for some pretty driftwood. We knew we wanted to do something cool with it to remember our trip. This is what we came up with. It was really simple and we just used what we had on hand!

Items needed:

2 pieces of pretty drift wood

2 scrap pieces of 2x4

2 chop-sticks (fresh and new, though you could recycle used ones I guess!)

(We only used chop-sticks because we didn't have dowels...we improvised, but you can use a dowel if you want to!)

2 label plates

black paint

We drilled holes in the 2x4's and the drift wood to fit the chop-sticks. (We drilled the hole in the drift wood a little bigger than the chop-sticks so we didn't damage the wood trying to get the chop-stick to fit.) Cut chop-sticks to desired height and hammer into 2x4's. The boys painted the 2x4's and the posts. (Not a very smooth paint job and they missed spots, but I think it adds character!) Print desired description for souvenir and fit to label plates. (We put the date on one label and some of the highlights of the trip on the other.) Attach label plates to (dry) 2x4. Finally, slide the pretty drift wood onto the posts. Wallah...your very own beautiful souvenirs!

Counting Blessings...

We had such a fun family weekend. We gathered up the gang and headed north to Lower Lake Mary, Az (just outside of Flagstaff) to go camping. After a few HOT days, we were expecting some cooler weather and possibly some snow...Yippee! We got both!
We arrived at our destination late Friday afternoon and set up camp. It was COLD so we bundled up in all of our layers. Our neighbors said they woke up to 5 inches of snow that morning and to expect some more that night. We didn't have to wait very long before it started falling down. It was so pretty. I know some of you may be sick of snow, but when you don't live in it, it's such a treat, and especially at the end of May!
What isn't such a treat is a leaky tent! We snuggled really close to stay warm and about 1am, I felt a splash on my cheek...uh oh! I felt around and I didn't feel anything wet around me, so I laid back down and waited for another drip. Well I found it, right in the middle of Carly and Ridge. It splashed on me because it had soaked right through their blankets and sleeping bags! Freezing cold water and neither of them woke up! Yikes! So we adjusted and I attempted to "tap" the snow off the top of the tent and ended up uprooting a couple of the poles, so I had to venture outside to fix the tent so it didn't all come crashing down (have I mentioned I'm a wee bit clostrophobic? A tent falling on me, covered in heavy snow while I am trapped on the far side in a sleeping bag doesn't sound like too much fun!) Well, it was breathtaking when I walked outside the tent! Little pops of snow everywhere. It was dark but I could still see. BEE- UTIFUL!
There was enough snow when we woke up for Carly to make a snowman head and for the boys to throw some at me! But not enough to go sledding, much to the dismay of the kiddo's. But we weren't short on things to do:
Sean took us fishing and Ridge caught a fish! His first one...a pike! We went on nature hikes and picked wildflowers (I know we're not supposed to, but it's so sweet when your little ones bring you flowers with that precious little smile and sweet little excited eyes!) The kids turned tree stumps into horses, fought the bad guys with the endless amounts of swords in the woods, climbed on rocks, watched for animal tracks...and poo, which, I should add, there was a lot of both! Grandpa and Grandma came up and brought their 4 wheeler and took the kids for rides. They loved it! (No pictures with them, darn, the batteries died! -Next time though!) We cooked hotdogs, cowboy stew, pancakes, eggs and ham, and of course hot chocolate and smores over the fire! We had rain, snow, and sunshine! We couldn't have asked for a better camping trip!
Thanks for coming up Mom and Dad. We'll have to do this again with everyone! We're going to try to make this a tradition. We were so thankful for the fun time we shared together.
I titled this blog "Counting Blessings" for a reason. I have 3 little blessings in my life. Our little ones are so precious. I know we all pray that we get to keep them for a good long time. But sometimes our long time isn't what we think it will and should be. Life is so beautiful and we need to remember to fill it with beautiful things with the ones we love. My heart and thoughts go out to all of my family and friends who have lost someone they love, and especially those most recently. I am thankful to have all of my kids and husband with me. I am thankful for our Heavenly Father who knows each of us individually. I know He can comfort our hearts if we will let Him. Give your kids a little squeeze and love!
Count your blessings and know that when I count mine, I include you!
Have a great week.
Life is good. Lisa

Where'd you come from?

This morning at breakfast, Ty was pretending to eat everyone's food and gobble it up. We were laughing and I asked "where did you come from?" He said "a tornado!"
Now that explains a lot!