Only One Way Down

Today my MIL and I took my kids and cousins Carter and Lily to the Aberdeen Aquatic Center.

The boys had been talking about the high dive and we happened to walk up just as the boys were taking their first jumps.  Carter and Nathan jumped off without a care.
Then Landen climbed to the top--a little more timid.  A lot more like his mama.  He stood looking over the edge for a few minutes and then started to come backward to descend the ladder, ready to accept defeat.

The young man life guarding close by told him that once you go up, you have to jump off.
There was only one way down.
So, Landen cautiously and reluctantly turned back to the plank.

His grandma and I started cheering him on.  Carter and Nathan started cheering.  The long line behind him, filled with swimmers of all ages, started cheering him on, too.

He still just wasn't sure.

Then the lifeguard did an awesome thing.  He climbed up the ladder and talked to Landen about it.  He gave him some pointers on how to make it a bit less scary.
Landen still wasn't quite so sure.  After several minutes, he negotiated a "sit and scoot" method.  The lifeguard agreed to one time of that, but if he didn't go soon, he was going to push him off no matter what.

Landen scooted off, but no matter how he did it--he was victorious!  We all clapped and cheered.

The high dive was CONQUERED.

The lifeguard returned to his post and Landen returned to the line, ready to jump off confidently several more times without a care in the world for the rest of the afternoon.

We talked about it on the way home and Landen was thankful to the lifeguard as well.  I said it was so nice of him to be encouraging.  Landen said with a chuckle, "Well, he said he was going to push me off."

Encouragement is encouragement.

This is us.

My sister was so kind to take some family photos of us a couple Sundays ago.  I thought if we took a bunch, we might get a good one.  Between squinty eyes, silly faces, pouty faces, and downturned faces, we didn't get what I thought was the ideal Christmas card shot, but we did get THIS one!

It's probably the best representation of our family, so here you go!

Friends, Saints, and Wonders of the World

Friday took David and me to Sioux Falls--He to a benefit golf tournament and me catching up with my college friend Michelle.  

We hadn't seen each other in over 10 years, I believe.  We reconnected awhile ago through Facebook and my blog, but there is still no substitute for a real live conversation. We have much in common, both being NSU alumni, former teachers and now moms of four.  How could an afternoon be anything but great with fun--uninterrupted--conversation, a delicious lunch at Bracco's, shopping, and dessert at Oh, My Cupcakes!   

David still had several holes of golf to complete when our afternoon reunion was over, so I did a little shopping on my own.  I stopped at Barnes & Noble, not really looking for anything in particular but longing to be in presence of thousands of books.  I found the Treasury of Saints and 100 Great Wonders of the World in the bargain books, and also decided on a guide to Rome.  I guess my inner, future world traveler is coming out in me.  I have plans to travel to Rome in 20 years or so, and I figured it's good to be prepared.  :)

Lemon Angel Food Bars

Time for a super easy 2--that's right--2 ingredient recipe.

Lemon Angel Food Bars

I have Pinterest to thank for this recipe, but there are many variations posted on the site.  

This is the one I use--

1 22.5 oz. (larger size) can lemon pie filling

1 angel food cake mix

Mix together and spread into a lightly greased/sprayed 9x13 pan.  

Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes until it looks like this:

Remove from the oven and cool. After it cools a bit, I take a spatula and lightly pat it down.  

These can be dusted with powdered sugar, or my personal favorite, covered in cream cheese frosting!  I've also added a little lemon zest to the top of the frosting to make them pretty.  The result is a light and airy lemon bar.  Delicious!

I have made these a few times and just realized this last time that the can of lemon pie filling I was using was larger than the size in the original recipe, which was 15 oz.  One of my local stores carries the larger size, while the other carries the smaller.  I had both sizes in my pantry, but decided to stay with the larger size.  

One variation I found on Pinterest actually called for 2 15 oz. cans of pie filling and one cake mix.  I might have to try that next time!

All of the variations are proof of one thing--these might turn out a little differently depending on what you use, but these bars cannot be messed up!

Baseball Concludes

Tonight were our last baseball games of the summer!  The weather was absolutely gorgeous--the kind of night MADE for baseball!!

Nathan hit a double in Jr. Pee Wee and Landen caught a fly ball in left field. in the Pee Wee game  They even made a play with Nathan at third and Landen catching in the Jr. Pee Wee game.

Until next year, we will miss the crack of the bat, the baseballs and leather gloves, and the walking tacos, too!

Johnston/Melius Lake Date

Saturday was our annual Lake Date with the Johnston's at Enemy Swim Lake.  With each year, our children get to try new things out on the water.  This year, the boys were naturals on the kayak.

 We took Rachel for a few spins on the paddle boat.  She was happy on any kind of "boat" for the day!

The boys did great on the homemade "ski board," too.  This was the 4th generation of Meliuses and Johnstons to use it!

 There always has to be time for tubing!

 And, for the grand finale, Camp Director Bo took the big kids across the lake to the island on Enemy Swim, a mysterious place my boys had always wanted to visit.  Needless to say, that was the highlight of their trip!

We are always thankful for our time with the Johnstons, as our visit is not only time to catch up with our families, but it is our fun time on the water for the year.  Add in fun conversation and yummy food, and it's always a successful date on the lake!

*Thanks to Melissa and Denise for the photos!

Summer Reading Party

Today was our local library's Summer Reading Program Party.  

It was held at one of our favorite places in Faulkton--the Happy Times Carousel!  Even though she is not old enough to be in the reading program, Rachel could not wait until 10:30am so she could "ride a horse!"  

There are so many benefits to being the baby of the family.  

(Of course, I wouldn't know, but I observe.)

The party was made complete with prizes--Teresa's 4th place finish in the coloring contest and Landen's 5th place in number of books read in his age group--and snow cones with literally every flavor of the rainbow to choose from.

As our kids have gotten older and more responsible with things like library books, I have really come to appreciate the library.  My big 3 love to visit during their off-time from swimming lessons, or anytime for that matter.  I've never been one to keep my children--or anyone--from a book or two! And the thing is, my boys will walk in the library, open a book, and read!  

I don't know why, but they do.  And it is awesome. 

There are so few places to take multiple children that don't cost a fortune AND are beneficial.  Our library also has great children's programs in the summer to supplement the reading program and Story Hour for preschoolers during the school year.

To learn more about our local library, visit here:

Faulk County Library.

Farmer's Market

Today we harvested our first green beans and we had a Farmer's Market open for business for awhile this afternoon.

 The little philanthropists were raising money for people "who didn't have money and who needed surgery."

Later, Teresa learned that after you tell your customers that you are giving your money to charity, it is not right to take it and plan use it on gum balls.  

It was a good lesson to learn. 

I am so grateful for their kind hearts.

And love of vegetables.

Applesauce Oat Muffins

It's Coffee and Donut Fellowship Sunday our parish this week.  During the school year, we have breakfast potlucks, but we keep it a little simpler with our once-a-month get-togethers in the summer.  Since our family are big proponents of coffee, donuts (including other assorted breakfast pastries), and fellowship, we are happy to help out whenever we can.

I am bringing Applesauce Oat Muffins to this month's gathering.  I have had this recipe for over 10 years and make it from time to time.  These muffins come together quickly, but look complicated.  They are pretty healthy as muffins go, too. 

Applesauce Oat Muffins

1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg, (if you like)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup fat-free milk (or substitute any milk)

3 T canola OR vegetable oil

1 egg white

Topping

1/4 cup quick-cooking oats

1 T brown sugar

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1 T butter, melted

(Mix together.)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In another bowl, mix the applesauce, milk, oil and egg white. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full.

Sprinkle topping over batter.

Bake at 400 for 16-18 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.  (The original recipe says to cool them in the pan for 10 minutes, but I prefer to move my muffins to a wire rack as soon as possible as it makes them easier to remove from the liners.)

YUM!

Play Ball!

The big 3 and I spent our morning in Redfield at the Play Ball! Minnesota Youth Baseball Clinic.  Coaches from the Minnesota Twins worked with the approximately 90 kids on fielding, throwing, batting, and working hard to achieve their goals.  

We all had a great time--despite having to be indoors because of a downpour!

Holy Heroes

Last spring, I came across a special promotion from Holy Heroes and their Glory Stories series.  

I decided to give one a try, since we have a half-hour drive to Religious Ed every Wednesday night, and really, everywhere we drive is at least 20 minutes.  I figured we might as well use our drive time for something worthwhile, besides the usual things kids like to do on car rides (like drive mom CRAZY).  And, if the kids didn't like it, I wasn't out all that much.  

As it turned out, they all loved the introductory CD on Blessed Imelda and St. Juan Diego (Our Lady of Guadelupe)!  Following that, I ordered the CD on Saint Pope John Paul II and just recently received this one on St. Anthony of Padua and St. Joan of Arc. Nathan told me yesterday he wants me to get them all!

Each story is a reader's theater of that saint's life.  I also love that world history is brought in, telling about what wars, etc. were happening at the time. It also helps the kids place in the saint in history. For example, in following John Paul II, Nathan could connect how John Paul II compared in age with his great grandparents and that he died the same year Nathan was born.

We're halfway through swimming lessons now (20 minutes away) and Glory Stories have helped me out once again.  If there's any qualms about getting in the van now, I just mention that they can listen to a Glory Story and everyone jumps in!  Really.  It's true! Praise God--I never would have guessed they would love these this much.

Visit www.holyheroes.com for Glory Stories and more Catholic educational materials.

  

Happy 4th of July!

Our 4th of July was spent in Faulkton with the extended Melius family.  We started off with the parade in the morning, filled in the rest of the day with yummy food, swimming, golf for the guys, more yummy food, and "Old Timers" baseball game (I really don't like that I am only 5 years younger than the "oldies"), and ended with the traditional fireworks.

We went to another party at our friends' house last night and once again came home sticky, dirty, smelling of bug spray, and very happy.

We are truly blessed to live in this country with all of the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted.

73

Today was the PERFECT day.  With NO WIND!  That NEVER happens in South Dakota.
I knew it would be a great day early this morning when KELO predicted a high of 73--my FAVORITE temperature.  I had thought about changing my favorite temperature to 80, but David says there's no changing a favorite temperature once you have one.  :)  So, 73 it remains.  Above 80 is great for all sorts of things, but 73 with no wind is perfect for playing in the yard and enjoying the day without dirt in my teeth. 

I had been waiting for David to clean all of the winter gunk out of the grill, but then in a moment of clarity and girl power, realized I could do that myself.  After I had the grill all clean and was planning on burgers for supper, I realized I was missing one major component.  FIRE.  We had used up the last of our matches.  I didn't learn how to make fire in Girl Scouts and I've seen enough episodes of Survivor to know that it's not easily done.  Thankfully, our neighbor Camille came to the rescue with a box of matches!  The little things can make such a big difference.  Our burgers were a most delicious end to a PERFECTLY good day.

Just a thought . . .

Only a mom would start the vacuum cleaner for a little "peace and quiet."  :)