Time Away

It has only taken me 8 years in the working world and 3 years of being a Mom to finally take some time off that actually included being at home!  We had it planned to go to the cabin in Guttenberg for a long weekend and it worked out that it was the weekend before Mike's week off between summer classes and his fall semester.  So, it was decided that I would take a few extra days after we got back to spend some time together, just the three of us!

We headed to the cabin on Thursday afternoon and arrived to an overcast day, but still had good enough weather that we could get some jumping in on the trampoline!  There are so many fun things to do at the cabin, but the trampoline ranks right up there with one of the most fun!  We grilled dinner and all settled in for the evening, watching some of the Olympic games on TV and enjoying each other's company!





We weren't going to have any success keeping the kids at bay on Friday!  They were ready to go for a boat ride!  After a nice relaxing morning we hopped on the boat for a ride to McGregor and some shopping at Paper Moon.  Grandpa gave each of the girls $20.00 to spend on a souvenier, boy was it a hard decision!!!  Lila settled on an adorable bracelet with a boat charm on it (how ironic) and a porcupine that lights up that she affectionately named, "Melissa."  My Grandma and both of my great aunts were there for awhile to visit.  Grandma celebrated her birthday on Monday, so it was nice to see her and sing 'Happy Birthday' to her before the big day!  Laura made a delicious meal for dinner, it was a replica of a buffalo chicken wrap that we all love from a restaurant in Iowa City called Atlas.  YUM!!!  It was then off to bed as we were bound and determined to spend more time on the water on Saturday!

Saturday morning we woke up and didn't waste much time putting our life jackets on and heading out!  It also didn't take us long to realize it was a bit chilly that morning!  The breeze on the boat was cold and so was the water, but it didn't stop everyone from doing the first round of skiing and tubing for the day!

If you will recall, Lila tubed a few weeks ago when we were up at the cabin and it didn't end all that smoothly, so she was a bit apprehensive about tubing...that is until she saw Celia and Jason go.  After that we couldn't get her off of it!  A new tube was purchased that allows you to literally sit on it like you would a chair and it was a hit with everyone! 

Back on the saddle!

Woo hoo!!!

Lila couldn't love her cousins more that she does and she proudly walks around talking about "her cousins!"  They all get along so well and the bigger girls are so sweet and patient with our littler girl that it melts my heart!

Loving her time with her cousin!

We pulled back in to the cabin in time for lunch!  The guys then decided it was time to finish the swing set they started last year.  There wasn't much left to complete, but there was still some work to be done, so they got after it.  Once the swing set was complete, it was time for a few games of volleyball.  The whole family got involved!  It was so much fun!  I am proud to say that the team Mike and I were on was the winning team, both times! 

After the games it was back out on the water for a little while so everyone could get some more skiing and tubing in!  Once again, Lila couldn't be held down, she was back out on the tube and was begging for more!!!

Celia and Ruby are just beginning to learn how to water ski and they have the neatest ski trainer!  It is similar to a tube, but it has holes in it for their feet so they can stand up in it as if they were skiing on double skis.  Then you can see in the picture that an adult actually holds the other end of the device, much like you would a ski rope, so that way if needed they can let go and it won't drag the child down quickly, it will allow them to float.  It was the neatest thing!  It sure as heck beat trying time after time on two skis immediately, when I was a kid that was hard work and it was hard to stay motivated after drinking gallons of river water each time!

Celia stood right up!  She is ready for the next level!

This was a breeze for Ruby!

After we finished up on the water it was back to the cabin where the kids continued playing and everyone began making dinner.  Another delicious meal was served and we were thoroughly stuffed! 

Action shot!

Dinner was followed up by a mean karaoke show put on by Celia, Ruby & Lila.  We did have a bit of a problem...all the girls wanted so badly to participate that only two of the microphones actually ran through the speaker on the karaoke machine, no one was all that happy to use one of the unplugged mics.  I sense a girl band in their future!



"Here's my number, so call me maybe!"

On Sunday we loaded up the family roadster and headed back home.  We had such a nice time up at the cabin with everyone!  It was some much needed, much welcomed family time together at the cabin!

Monday and Tuesday were devoted to just the three of us and I couldn't have been more excited for that time!  We woke up on Monday and Mike headed out to Kirkwood to get all his books for class while Lila and I got cleaned up.  We met up with Mike to take Lila to her very first movie in the theater!  We took her to see the movie, "Brave!"  It was so cute!  Lila likes Princess Merida because she has curly hair, "just like me, Mom!"  How sweet! 

Ready for the movie to start!

Tuesday morning came and we took Lila to her very first dentist appointment.  She had been to one of my appointments before just to observe what was going on, but she had never sat in the chair completely alone and had her teeth cleaned.  I assumed she would do okay, but you never really do know until you are actually faced with the situation.  My Aunt Beth is the hygenist, so we knew that was going to at least make things a bit more comfortable!  We are so happy to report that Lila went through her dentist visit like a champ!  She opened when asked, she bit down when asked, she let the doctor come in and count her teeth, it was quite remarkable!  We were so proud!

Lookin' good!

After our dentist appointment we went to the store to get all of Lila's school supplies.  It was almost surreal walking down the aisle grabbing crayons, glue sticks and kleenex that she will soon take into her classroom.  How did this happen?  How is she so big?!  It is wild! 

After our errands in town we decided to head to Iowa City to get some new Hawkeye gear!  You know, Hawkeye football starts in 17 days!  Not that anyone in this house is counting!  We seemed to be really successful at Scheels!  Lila made out with some new fancy shades, a new hat, a water bottle and a skirt!  She thought she was big stuff with all her Herky gear!  There was a very large Herky in the store that she kept saying, "hi" to and "let's go Hawks!"  She cracks us up!

One of the last things on her list for this fall was a new pair of tennis shoes.  I swear her feet haven't grown in quite some time and now all of the sudden none of her shoes fit her anymore.  She is practically falling off the back of her flip flops, I am kind of ashamed!  She helped pick out her brand new tennies and she couldn't be more proud of them!  They are her favorite color afterall!



As pink as it gets!

This time away was so good for me.  I have told Mike a handful of times how I need to be sure to allow myself to take more time off just because.  I don't have to take time off just because we have a trip planned.  In fact, I can't remember a time that I took off and actually felt rested like I did this week. 

It was so sweet...this morning when Lila woke up and asked if she was going to Connie's I told her that she was and she looked up and me and said, "I am going to miss you, Mom!"  Could it get any sweeter than that?!  I don't believe that it can!  I can't believe how fast our little girl is growing up.  Next week she starts preschool and I am facing it with such mixed emotions!  I know she is ready, but it is a major step in a lifetime of learning and in a way it means she isn't my "baby" anymore.  I am so happy that we took a break and spent this time enjoying each other before we embark on this next phase for our family!