Monday, June 1, 2009

I think the real me is most happy barefoot and pregnant

Sometimes I think I really contradict myself. For instance, I am truly a girly girl. I started using hairspray and painting my nails when I was like 6. I have loved perfume, lip gloss, and dressing up for as long as I can remember. I love high heels and going out for a nice dinner. I loved our anniversary trip to Chicago back in March. Nice hotel, great shopping at ridiculously high end shops (and when I say "shopping" I mean "looking"). And then there is the other side of me. I grew up in the country. We had huge gardens and raised chickens. I was barefoot from May till October. And that is the side of me which breathed in the smell of dirt and campfire smoke the instant we got out of the truck Friday afternoon and grinned. Dave is an outdoors guy if I've ever met one. He'll do the fun fancy stuff for me every now and then, and he enjoys it to a certain extant, but his real love lies in making fires, being outside, on a boat, in the grass, whatever - it's what he loves. So, as you can imagine, this past weekend of camping was so much fun for each one of us! It was the first time we "really" camped (meaning not in our yard or grandma and grandpa's yard 8 miles away) since having the boys. Turns out they are miniature Dave's. :) Their love of the outdoors was evident in dirty faces (and legs, and arms, and hands...) huge grins, days full of fun and giggles. It was so wonderful to be with my parents and all four of my siblings, their spouses, the nieces and nephews. Good chaos. Full, tiring days. So much sunshine. Peaceful nights listening to the waterfall near where we were, and too much food.
Here we are. All five of us. The span between me, the youngest, and my oldest sister April is only 8 years. Love them all so much! {Yes, I had been enjoying the camp food. Quite alot.} Brothers, Ben and Eric, and sister Trisha, me, and April.
Noe with Grandpa. This little boy loves his grandpa!
Little boys in their element!
Big boys pretending to be little boys... And don't mess with me and my sisters playing Dutch Blitz. Seriously. It's scary. Little boys who look alot alike. Could pass for brothers, but they're cousins. Here's Levi - And Noe - Not like their mama's look that much alike or anything. :) My sister Trish becoming Noe's hero. :) Trish with little boys. There were little boys every where. :) My mom and dad. How cute are they? :) Peacefulness.

18 comments:

Mel said...

sounds like the best time!!! although the whole outdoors camping thing is not my thing...i bet the kids slept great every night as did the adults.

Rachel said...

So glad you had a great time. Camping & family what could be better?

Heather said...

Looks like you had a great time. It has been years since I've been able to go camping. I really miss it!

Katarina said...

Looks like such a wonderful time. It is so great that your boys love it! Hopefully you can get out camping again this summer.

God, My Savior Forever! said...

I can totally relate to you. I am smiling because your post has brought reminds me of really good times in my life and brings back memories. I was a girly girl ever since I can remember. When I was like 5 I would take the longest towel I could find, put it on top of my head holding it behind my ears and call it my LONG hair. I would also take get this...scotch tape and wrap every finger with it and called it my "long nails" lol. I was so eager to wear makeup...when my mom finally allow me to wear clear chap stick I was on cloud 9 lol. I loved getting "boots" from my grandma and I would borrow my mom's jewelry and shoes. My mom would tell me that I looked like a Christmas tree cause I put on every thing I saw lol..incluing one ring on each of my 10 fingers lol. But I am also that country girl that loves to be around nature, in mud, barefoot, camping tent and all something my hubby was happy to see..he thought I wouldn't do it. My grandpa had farms growing up and I would love it when we would go! My hubby is also an outdoorsy person. I'm learning new things through him.

Great pictures btw...you have a special way to capture special moments! Such a blessing to me with family isn't it?

Hugs, Susan

Stacey said...

Looks awesome!!

Sara@iSass said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time! And sunny days too!
I would love to camp if I didn't have to worry about bugs. ;)

Lindsay said...

I'd say you had F.U.N.! This was a fun post to read because I too love going barefoot :)

Have a GREAT week Wendi!

Lisa said...

although I am NOT a camper, your weekend sounds fantastic!!
Nothing is better then weekends spent far away with the ones you love....

Anne Elizabeth said...

It looks like you had a great time! I look forward to my kids getting older so we can go camping again. We went last summer and they were still too young. The trip was more stress than fun.

Amber said...

Sounds/looks like you had a great time! I love camping, and so do my kiddos. It's so nice ot be outdoors and enjoy so much of God's wonderful gifts to us all.
Glad you had a great time.
ak

Heather of the EO said...

What a great time!!! SO many boys...I'm sure the days really were FULL :)

Joyfulsheep said...

We will have to get together and play Dutch Blitz! That is one of my top 3 games of all time. None of my family will play it with me. They don't like games where everyone plays at the same time.

As for the "twin" cousins...wow...if you hadn't told me that it wasn't Noe, I would not have known! I am so glad you all had a great time.

Joy Junktion said...

Our family used to go camping all the time but we haven't been in years. I miss it - sort of!

You look great but where is your baby belly? You are so tiny!!!

Blessings, Cindy

Penny said...

I love all the pictures!! Looks like so much fun!

P.S. I hope I look as cute as you when I'm pregnant!

Mozi Esme said...

The country side of me thinks this looks like an amazing time!

Jennifer Perkins said...

this is such a sweet post... :o)

Katja mit Fabian und Florian said...

Hi from Germany,

I found your blog by chance.

I have a special needs boy, too.

My son, Fabian, age 10, is wheelchair bound since he fell from a tree two years ago.

It was a very hard time for all of us after Fabians accident. The moment when the doctor told us, that Fabian is paralyzed and the moment when we must told him that he never walk again, was so terrible. Especially terrible was the day, when Fabian got his first wheelchair. I still cry when I saw him sitting in his wheelchair at the first time.

But Fabian is so brave! I am so proud of him.

Since his accident Fabian visits a school for special needs kids. All other kids in his class are disabled, too. The most kids must use a wheelchair, tree kids can walk with a walker / quad canes.

Every Saturday Fabian visits a sport group for children in wheelchairs. Two hours they play together in their wheelchairs. It is so funny for the kids.

Two month ago he got a new “Spidermann”-wheelchair.

If you are interest I will send you some photos of him in his new wheelchair.

I will be glad about a short answer mail.

Best wishes Katja
(Katja.Kretzler@web.de)