'C' is for Creek (My 200th post!)

For 'C' week we invited our friends to join us for a field trip with the intention of going to a nearby creek.  The creek we planned on really wasn't child or mud boot friendly so we continued up  the road with a plan B.  My dear husband suggested the night before that if the creek was a washout try heading to a place on the river.  And so our creek was the Mississippi!  Kinda big for creek status but the outcome was just what I was hoping when it came to exploring.    

As you can see from this last shot we were right below the Lock & Dam.  It was one of the last BEAUTIFUL Indian summer days that we had and the picnic following our exploration filled the kiddos and settled them down a bit.  We enjoyed the story Let's Explore a River a great choice with many of the things our kids got to do the children in the book did, too! This thus far was one of my favorite days on the Alphabet Path with Kate (and friends).

Honeymooners

I think one of the best parts about our engagement and time leading up to our wedding day was the thought that I would get to enjoy some quality time with my new spouse when it was all said and done. And the other good part about that was that I wasn't in charge of planning it! Yes, Kurt's assignment was THE HONEYMOON. Sure, we talked about ideas together-things we'd like or wouldn't like in a getaway, a price range and budget, timeline and so on. But, when it came down to the trip I was completely in the dark. He even went so far as to have my roommate help me pack my bags without sharing a detail. Clothes for warm weather (bathing suit, capris, tank tops), clothes for cold weather (hat, mittens, sweatshirts), formal clothes (fancy dresses, heels, shawl), informal clothes (jeans, birkies, ball cap)....needless to say, I was baffled. And though I think everyone at Mass and gift opening that Sunday knew the plan their lips were sealed!

We were off to the airport Monday morning and at the ticket counter all was revealed as we lined up with travelers headed to Seattle. I of course cheered with an abundance of excitement! "I've never been to Seattle!" "What a great surprise!" etc. However, when the attendant checking our baggage asked if we wanted them sent through to Anchorage I was surprised once more and more exclamations ensued! Alaska!

Here we are in Whitting before catching our boat- a bit travel worn but so excited.

Upon arrival in Anchorage I discovered that Kurt planned for us to go on an Alaskan cruise. A fantastic honeymoon for a nature and geology buff. And the glitz of a cruise was an added treat! It was our first cruising experience and a great way to get a taste of Alaska including food and of course visits to ports along the way. We cruised south toward Vancouver, Canada with stops in Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. The one thing I would recommend though is to look into Mass times. That was by far the lowest point in our trip there was no Mass on board the ship and though there were Masses at the port that day they didn't coincide with the times that we'd be able to be ashore. I am not posting the 'sad pictures' of that day but here's a short photo review of the rest as I don't have time to write more.

Our dinner celebrating our recent wedding- with special dessert and of course looking our best.

My favorite day of the cruise, Glacier Bay!

While cruising we made friends with another couple from WI. In Skagway we went hiking with them.

We decided to splurge on one excursion. We couldn't resist the Bike and Brew-- mountain biking to the Mendenhal Glacier and hitting the Alaska Brewery afterwards for a sampling.

All in all, a wonderful honeymoon.

Head on over to Betty Beguiles and add your honeymoon story to the list!

My Love

My Love has been out of town this week but will be arriving home again sometime this evening!  Needless to say I am excited for his return.  The girls and I have missed him so much these past few days.  With all this enthusiasm who wouldn't miss him! ;-)

7 quick takes (not on Friday)

I haven't done one of these in awhile and it seemingly will fit my needs at the moment as a bit of catch-up here in Kieler.  Since I'm ready before Friday I'll post it now and if I remember link it to Jen's at Conversion Diary on Friday.

1- We've had some company here in Kieler.  My aunt Katie and cousin Heidi paid us a visit in September.  It was fun to have them for the weekend.  We hit Galena to do some window shopping and just enjoyed a visit.  Heidi even stayed to watch the Packers that afternoon! 

2- As you may or may not have been wondering.  I made it to Norway and back.  I returned with some special treats for our Moms Group.  Here are the pictures recording our celebration.  I can't imagine life in Kieler without these ladies from the environs.  They are such blessings to me as friends, sounding boards, support, and comic relief.

3- We harvested our pumpkins a few weeks back.  There were some dandys!  I haven't decided if I am going to process them for pie or just enjoy them for seasonal decoration.  Kurt says according to his favorite t.v. show that pumpkin is the one thing you need not make from scratch for the best taste/most effort. Hmmm.

Isn't she a posing pumpkin?

4- We've been enjoying the fall sports season here in Wisconsin.  The reigning Super Bowl Champs aren't doing so bad, the Badgers had a great win this past weekend and the Brewers- we're not the only ones rooting for them!

Notice Katie's hat?

Root, root, root!!

5- We've as mentioned started our way down the Alphabet Path here at home.  It has been a work in progress for me but that'll have to be a whole post in itself.  Beyond Elizabeth Foss' Serendipity site with all its Alphabet Path links and book recommendations I have been reading her book, Real Learning- Education In the Heart of the Home.   I also must mention that I have found these sites and the work of these folks very helpful and insightful--

On Montessori, Homeschooling, Reading/Literacy, and More-- Heidi's blogs at Work And Play, Day By Day and Work, Play, Read are gems that I continue to return to over and over.

Here's Julia having some sensory play with cornmeal.  She LOVED it!

On all the extras, crafts and fun stuff Catholic as well as great links for Religious Ed--Lacy at Catholic Icing is worth reading.

On trying things out for the first time, Monica and I have found ourselves in similar experiences.  She is full of ideas and as always is keeping it real.

6- We spent some time up north the end of September.  This is the only picture I took. It is my littlest nephew snitching some waffle, that Julia snitched from her cousin Kaylee.  He can't walk yet but was totally cruising on her so he could have a taste or two. 

We came home on Wednesday and brought Kaylee with us!  It was such a treat for the three girls to play together for an extended stay.  They were really well behaved.  We had so much fun!  My folks and family came down for the annual Kieler Parade (have you read about it the past three years?).  The weekend weather was pleasant.  The kiddos just wanted to play and for the most part that was fine by us.  The parade was the best yet in our opinion.  I enjoyed it to the fullest not taking one picture the whole weekend (shame).  Perhaps, this will entice others to come check out this one of Kieler's main events- you'll have to see it for yourself!

7- I found this at The Badger Catholic's blog.  I had to repost it here because nearly half of the people in it are from Kieler (or environs) and/or I know them!  Very fun! 

St. Pauls promo video from Backflip Films on Vimeo.

Apples- October Literacy Challenge

As I have been remiss in blogging for quite sometime I've decided to just start somewhere.  Recently, we've begun the Alphabet Path as a more intentional way of learning at home.  Along with 'A week' we did a "Storybook Science" unit on apples- our titles included-

Life and Times of the Apple
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
Rain Makes Applesauce
as well as a few other selections from our local library.  We also have been using Museum ABC.

 One day, along with our story reading we took up drawing apples.  After looking up some of the 'apple' works featured in Museum ABC we found a great link to an online story through the Met's web page. 

We listened and watched  Cezanne's Apples at the Met Online together and did our own drawing and tasting as told in the story.

 At the end of the week we visited a local apple orchard with some friends.  While there, we walked the rows, played on the swings and settled in at a picnic table for some apple stories.  Oh, and of course, tasted some apples!

For more ideas on family literacy stroll on over to Work, Play, Read.  You may even want to participate in the Family Literacy Challenge!

A Foggy Visit

This weekend we had the pleasure of hosting my cousin and her family at our home.  They made the round-about trip from San Francisco to Chicago with stops in Ames, IA and of course here in Kieler.  It was a GREAT visit.  Marla and Jason's son, Ethan is 2 yrs.  falling right in between our girls.  He and Katie had so much fun playing cousin to cousin.  They really hit it off.  We welcomed them Sunday afternoon and had pizza last night at Gooch's in downtown Kieler.  We shared great conversations over a few Potosi Steamboat Shandys.  This morning the girls and I brought them down to the Mississippi at Lou's Sandy Dam Acres.  Showed them Deere, cattle, chickens, turkeys, tractors, trains, dump trucks and dirtied their shoes a bit.  Ethan liked it.  Unfortunately the visit was short lived but after such a pleasant time promises were made to do it again...in CA, WI, IL or maybe TX next time.

Trying to get the kids to look at the camera.

Notice Kate's face hasn't changed.

Two out of three ain't bad.

Enjoying the playset in the backyard with Ethan.

Keeping Jason busy pushing.

"I Own A State" - Camping Trip

Earlier in August we headed to my college alma mater in Winona, MN for a 100th anniversary celebration at St. Mary's Parish, my first out of college job.  I was the youth director there and at the Cathedral Parish for 2 years after graduation.  Kate has a Winona State shirt and everytime she wears it she 'reads' it as "I own a state!"  Hence the post's title. 

Here are some shots from out overnight camping excurssion the day before the Centenntial Mass and Dinner held that same weekend.

At our campsite...

We had some of my friends come for smores that evening.

Coming out of the tent...

Waking up that morning...in the tent.

Before Katie woke up

The next day...the girls were 'bugs' lunch'

Back home with the marks to prove our camping success.