Advent calendar ideas

We aren't going to discuss how long it's been since I've blogged...or read any blogs.  Too busy with a fuor-legged creature and driving a car-full of peeps to various activities.  I really should be sleeping.  Or working on my annual shutterfly books (I warned Mike he won't see or hear much from me until the shutterfly books are done.  That's seriously how many hours I spend on them!!  But I love it.)  But, instead of doing either of those things, I wanted to make a quick post and see if I can get feedback before December 1st on Advent calendars.  Of course I've been on pinterest to check ideas out, but I'm looking to make one with fun ideas of things to do each day (not ones where you get a little gift everyday).  Do you have any ideas or suggestions or links to fun Advent calendar ideas?  Here are some I found or came up with:

• Write a wish list
• build a snowman
• Cut out snowflakes
• Make a gingerbread house
• Camp out around the Christmas tree
• Call Grandma and Grandpa and sing a Christmas song to them
• Spend time dancing to Christmas music
• Drop off gifts to the neighbors
• Have a hot chocolate tea party
• Make paper chains to decorate kids’ bedrooms
• Visit friends and family around town and take pictures of all of them wearing a Rudolph nose or Santa Hat. Develop the pictures and you them to decorate (hang then on the fridge or put them in frames that hold multiple pictures
• Watch a Christmas movie like The Santa Clause or How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Work on Christmas cards – mom and dad can write theirs while the kids create their own
• Drive around to look at Christmas lights
• Buy a new ornament – let each child choose their own and record why they chose it in an album, then when they leave home let they take their collection and album

Time flies...

...whether you are having fun...or not.

Summer has been consumed by heat.  Baseball.  And the dog.  Then summer school (which contrary to what at least one of my children think, it is a GOOD thing...).  And the heat.  Injuries (bruises, scrapes, sprains).  Some swimming.  And the dog.  More baseball.  Some softball.  Heat. Instagram (LOVE).  The dog.  A never-ending cycle, almost merry-go-round like.  Typically I enjoy the kids' baseball games, but quite honestly, I've had enough (mostly because of sitting in most of them in the vicious heat.  Sometimes with the dog).  Our summer so far: in one blog post.

There has been very little "me" time this summer...so I look forward to fall:  cooler weather, a potential vacation or two, a scrapbooking getaway (hopefully?!), new sports to cheer for, new places to drive, and a dog who isn't tearing this place up.

it's been ruff around here...

meet Tucker.  He is a nearly 16 week old Golden Retriever puppy.

We went to a breeder the night of April 27th and the kids thought we were going to look for new furniture (HA!  Like that would ever actually happen. New furniture?!  Who are we kidding?!)  We pulled off the road and into a parking lot and had them open a box that had a note..."We aren't really going to look at furniture, we are going to meet..."  and then they lifted the note and there was a picture of a Golden Retriever puppy.  Surprise!!!

Fast forward to May 3rd:  Mike picked the pup up after work and brought him home, surprising the kids as they didn't know when to expect him.

We had quite the list of names for little Tucker, and it was hard to choose one.  Others we liked included Zeke, Miles, and Cooper...and the list goes on.  But ultimately we choose Tucker because you should see the way he "tuckers" out.  And his Momma's name is Ever, which I immediately thought of "Tuck Everlasting".  He's earned a few choice words from me, that I won't publish on here.  I knew he'd be a little handful, but in the morning he is nothing short of a monster.  All of the white woodwork is pretty much damaged in the kitchen (that is the only room he is allowed to roam).  While I knew puppies chew things, I didn't think it would take his little teeth 5 seconds to destroy.  Daily he attempts to eat the cabinets and the bench, as well as the doorframe.   He DOES sleep all night, which sounds rare, and he has pretty much from the start, so he has one really good thing going for him.  I am looking forward to it getting easier.  A baby would've been much easier.  I could at least step away to brush my teeth.  Now I have to put him in his kennel every single time I leave the room.  Sigh.  I'm not looking for sympathy : )  Just for someone who wants a puppy (J/K).

He's awfully cute.  When he's behaving.  Or sleeping, haha.

TEN

Hard to believe this gal is ten years old.  All she's been asking for (for years, really) is a a dog.  I am not sure what made me think it was a good idea, but that's for another post : )
It was a birthday filled with sporty shirts, puppy themed treats, and puppy related gifts.

And a birthday, of course, goes hand-in-hand with how many years cancer free.  That would be 6 1/2!!  wow!  Happy birthday, Kaycey!

almost 3000 miles!

Over Easter break, we took a little road trip.  Okay, a big road trip.  Mike, the two big kids, and myself ventured across the country.  We visited South Dakota and then on to Colorado.

We left late on a Tuesday night and drove straight through to South Dakota (with a couple potty stops along the way!)

We made it to to Badlands JUST in time to see the sunrise!

There were "BEWARE! Rattlesnakes!" signs everywhere!  The kids were convinced we'd see one (we didn't).

climbing around

Then it was on to Mt. Rushmore!

Then we went "panning" for gold.

We took a ride through Custer State Park along the Wildlife Loop.  It took hours and it was a very frightening ride (for me!)  Lots of loops, drop-offs, switchbacks while driving...I do NOT do well with those heights!  But we did see buffalo.

On Thursday morning we headed to Colorado.  Our first stop was Red Rocks Amphitheater. It is SO beautiful there!

Friday morning we went on a dinosaur hike near Red Rocks.

Here's a view of Red Rocks amphitheater from a distance.

Then we were off to Colorado Springs.  We stopped at Seven Falls. It was beautiful, but we were disappointed the trails were still closed for the season.  There were FOUR hundred steps to climb.  Mike and Kaycey did them all.  I did the top half, but shouldn't have!  SCARY.  Cal didn't do them, he doesn't do well with heights either!

Then we took the drive up to the summit of Pikes Peak.

Unfortunately, I got really sick on the way down (my friend is figuring it was altitude sickness.  It was like I was drunk.  It was awful!  I went to bed at 7:45pm.

Saturday morning we dropped Mike off at the airport.  He had to be back for work.  We decided on a whim to go to the Denver Zoo.  We are glad we did!  The zoo was awesome!

Cal got chased by a duck.  It was rather amusing.

Yes, that's snow : (  While it was 80 in Wisconsin, it snowed in Colorado Saturday night!

We went to a Colorado Rockies game on Sunday.  It was SO cold.  

It ended up pouring rain during the game.  Good thing we were under cover!

Here are the kids saying good bye to "Coco", my friend's dog.

There's Helene with the kiddos!

Helene and I

We then met Sarah and her Mom for lunch and to say good bye before heading home.  We only made it to North Platte, Nebraska that first day.  But the next day, Tuesday, I drove all the rest of the way home.  I was worried about the drive, doing it alone, but it went pretty well.  The kids are asking when we are going back : )

have a looksie

Here are the layouts I made last weekend when I was away scrapbooking.  I can't wait to go again!