Summer in the life of a DeWilde girl

 What a summer! It really has been a good summer with our girls. Of course, at times I sigh and need to catch my breath, but we've been able to do some really special, fun things. For the most part (minus the fighting), I have enjoyed having them home and I'm not the mom saying, "Does school start yet?" To be honest, when Madison went in for her assessment this past week, I found myself bummed that the summer bliss is almost over. In this post we'll cover some highlights of the past month.
Right after Breanne's awesome Slip & Slide Birthday party, Breanne started Drama Camp and preparing to perform, The Wizard of Oz. She made for one adorable munchkin and really enjoyed the opportunity. The performance was very well done and Derrick and I thought the Munchkin Musical sequence was the best part!
This also became the first time in my life that I've ever felt like the "soccer mom" many refer to stay at home moms as. We put on about 40 miles a day driving her to and from camp. Except for Wednesdays, when Madison tried her hand at gymnastics which was in Farmington...on Wednesdays, we put on 80 miles to get everyone where they needed to be. On most days, Madison, Aliya and I would stay in Burnsville and do various shopping (lots of fun garage sales and really, any sale!), run errands, go to the library, play at parks, swim, or if it was too hot to be outside, play at McDonalds. I think it was good from the standpoint that it made me stop and just "be" more because I couldn't be "doing" at home.
While Bre was busy with drama camp, Madison got busy sewing! Actually, what one sister does, the other needs to do as well, so they both made fleece blankets and bags to carry them in. I was pretty proud of them because they mostly did it on their own. (If I watch to closely, I tend to micromanage.) I would explain the procedure and then let them do it. They were really proud of their work and finished them just in time to take them on our road trip to the Pipestone County Fair to see the Kracht cousins show their cattle.
It was so fun to be at the county fair again. Minnesota sure knows how to do a fair! The Kracht cattle looked great and the kids did a great job having them tame and ready for show. Aliya was too young when the baby pigs were on dad's farm, so I couldn't resist taking a million pictures when she was so captivated by the baby pigs that were born at the fair.

Cousins, grandpas and grandmas are definitely the highlight of being back in Minnesota from all of our vantage points. We sure love and appreciate it!

We were able to enjoy a bit of fair food and one ride (thanks auntie Kelly!) And of course, no Pipestone County Fair would be complete without a visit to the Dairy Booth for and ice-cream cone!

 Madison and Braelyn dared to ride the Octopus. Derrick and I think they're nuts!

 The day after the fair, we stuck around to freeze 253 quart bags of sweet corn! Mom said, "Even Becky was getting crabby toward the end of the corn." Tis true, tis true! However, looking back, I am grateful for the opportunity to work together with family. Grandma Veldkamp got to come help as did Grandpa Kracht, so how cool is that?

 Madison wowed all the grandparents and great-grands with her jump-right-in-and-help attitude and perseverance!

 We stopped by the DeWilde farm after the corn massacre and wouldn't you know it, the applesauce apples were ready to pick. When it rains it pours. I was so exhausted from the corn, I sat and watched while Derrick picked a box of apples. However, when we got home, it was I who canned the first 20 pints of applesauce with my secret weapon: Madison. She is pretty proficient with the colander. She impressed me! I told her that Grandma Great Kracht would be so proud of her for learning how to can. Grandma Kracht always took such pride in all her canned produce!

 And what a joy for me to pass down that legacy!

 The following weekend, we got three more boxes of apples for applesauce. Thankfully, Derrick took that week of vacation and was able to help with this batch and we did another 40 pints. But more importantly, he took a day to build a sandbox with his girls! They absolutely LOVE it. And I loved having him home and taking a nap in the hammock together!

After the sandbox was built, we spend the next day at Valleyfair. I might be getting old, but I just enjoy watching the girls have fun. The roller coasters have lost their luster for me.

On Thursday of "vacation week," we headed north of Brainerd to a cabin with Derrick's family. It was beautiful and awesome to get away from phones and home!

 The weather was cool and especially so the first day, but we enjoyed the sun and snuggles on the dock, went biking and geocaching, and I took a nap and read.

 It was entirely too much for Aliya. Kayla almost tripped over Aliya while walking downstairs to look for her. She fell asleep on the steps. Nothing like dropping where you are.

 I needed the nap so I could wake up early one morning and watch the sun rise over the lake. It was gorgeous and oh so worth it! I took a ton of pictures, but this one's a favorite.

 We also did lots of boating throughout the weekend and enjoyed plenty of really good food! I think everyone had a great time, but I believe the highlight was reading snippets of How to speak Minnesotan out loud. It often left us with side-aches and tears, saying "that is so my mother," or "I've said that!"

School starts in another week, but we're still loving summer (though I'm getting sick of picking and freezing green beans!) Today, the girls started one more sewing project: pajama pants along with their cousin, Rebekah. I may have underestimated how tricky it would be to lead three girls through a sewing project with only one sewing machine. So many times this summer, I've thought, how did my mom do this? But still, I count it a privilege to teach my girls such life skills like sewing, canning, gardening, keeping a home, cooking and baking!

Minnesota Adventure

The first weekend in July, we were able to meet up with Bryce and Kayla at Sibley State Park outside Willmar for a weekend of camping and boating. Thankfully, the heat let up about mid-Friday afternoon so we could sleep comfortably and even pull out the pants (not because of mosquitos) and enjoy a campfire (although not sitting too closely.)

We were able experience something new with the girls: geo-caching. They loved it, as long as every girl was able to take turns carrying the GSP. (Hearing a 3-year old say geo-caching and GPS is absolutely adorable.) Madison and Breanne found the treasure at the last coordinates and on our way to check out the Interpretive Center, they ran back on the trail to Derrick and I to report they had found some baby "birds" on the trail. As we approached to investigate, an angry momma-turkey ruffled up her feathers and with much squaking, caused us all to jump. It gave us quite a scare, but as Derrick said, better to see an angry momma-turkey on the trail than an angry momma-bear.

 Of course, the girls loved to spend time with Kayla. (The famous Uncle Bryce has now been replaced by Miss Kayla.) And Madison and Breanne are aspiring to become a photograph hound like their momma. I've created monsters...oh well, it could be worse.

Madison and Breanne are becoming quite the tubing hounds. I think spending time with their wilder cousins has rubbed off on them. Surprisingly, it is Breanne who actually enjoys a more wild ride. However, after all that crazy riding, it's time to relax...

Aliya is quite brave on the tube for a 3-year-old. "Sometimes I forget she's only 3," Derrick says when the bumps get a little bigger. But after a 5-minute ride or so, it's time to refuel...the tummy and the whole body.

Thanking God for...

What a privilege we had last week Friday when my cousin Ashley stopped in the area to see us for a couple hours. It was a pretty low-key afternoon with a small sweat-away-the-pounds, wood tick hopping hike, gatorade run, picnic lunch, game of "Sorry," and a great visit. Thank you God for being able to facilitate more drop-ins!

This week, we are thanking God for new shoes. Why not, He is the giver of all things! Madison was able to pick out a new pair of school shoes (size 4 already...I'm already struggling with sharing everything with them...Derrick, my kitchen, my bathroom, my favorite foods...before long I'll be sharing my shoes!) Meanwhile, Breanne scored a great deal on her first pair of Chacos. (Yes, she finally spent some of her moldy money but not before giving Madison a ten-dollar bill because, "I have so much money and Madi really doesn't.") It just happened that the on-line ordered Chacos arrived the same day Madi picked out her shoes. We celebrated by modeling and Aliya inaugurated the shoes by trying them on her little Toddler size 11s. Hey, nobody ever said this DeWilde family has little feet!

Amazing Grace

Often times when Aliya was a baby, I would sing "Amazing Grace" to her before putting her to bed. Madison and Breanne have always called it Aliya's song because apparently I only ever sing it to her. The other day while driving, Derrick turned off the radio and asked Aliya to sing "Amazing Grace" for him. She very willingly belted it out as we drove along. Last week, Auntie Deb was tickled when Aliya requested they sing "Amazing Grace" while riding on the tube. Tonight, while Derrick was practicing "Amazing Grace" on piano, we heard Aliya belting out the words while in the bathroom. I dropped everything to get her to sit down (at the kitchen table, not on the toilet) and sing for you...

Slip & Slide...thank God for cousins!

We were so blessed to celebrate Breanne's 7th birthday with our families and the weather was perfect for a slip & slide. Cousin Braelyn, about summed up the event with two phrases: with hands on hips and just arrived, "woa, that's a big slip and slide," and as we tore the cousins (and dads) away from the slip & slide to have cake and open presents, as soon as the cake is served, "when are we going to turn the slip & slide back on?"

We laid 10'x100' black plastic down the hill and used the backyard pool as a "bumper" to stop people from sliding into the garden. At one point, the pool began creeping overtop the cucumber plant. Thankfully, Derrick & Luke were able to move the pool back out of the garden. The garden has sure taken off after all the water and the high humidity the past week.

You can view video Mike took at the party here.

We sure missed Micah & Traci, who couldn't make it since Micah was admitted to Mayo. But I think Daniel was right on when he asked, "Can we do this again next year, because Micah would really like this." I think we will!

Unfortunately, Aliya did not want anything to do with getting wet...fortunately, Grandma Barb was ready and willing to snuggle!

We found out that Carter is 1/2 Seal. He flew down the hill, then just popped up and over the edge of the swimming pool. It was just a fluent movement, it was amazing! Then everyone else starting trying to replicate the move, but nobody mastered it quite like "Carter the Seal Kracht!"

You never know what to expect when these cousins are together...but they sure are cute!

 Breanne is quite the diva in her new floppy sunhat, sunglasses and coverup!

 We were so blessed to have my grandpa and aunt Dar make the trip up for the party! He even called on Monday to sing "Happy Birthday" to Breanne! Grandma passed away the week before Mother's Day...he misses her so, but he is showing us all that he is here for our family and will carry on the legacy of love and commitment to family!

 I think it's a tradition...gotta have the grandpa & grandma with birthday girl pictures.

We were lucky to have cousins spend two nights with us after the party! Six girls and Derrick in the house. It didn't phase him too much, face it, he's used to being out numbered. We got to spend the evening with them after the party: cowboy golf, sunglasses, Crush (or Mountain Dew), campfire, s'mores and hot tub! It was so fun to watch them interact and enjoy each others' company!

 We even got to take all these girls to the lake on Sunday for an afternoon of tubbing and water skiing. Deb and her girls were able to join us and Deb got video of Braelyn water skiing.
On Monday morning, Bre's actual birthday, she got to open her presents from us, mom & dad. She got a cupcake decorator. Braelyn says, "Oh, I always wanted one of these." And before we know it they decided they'd take the mess outside and make cupcakes on the front step.

Needless to say, the porch needed a hose down after their endeavor..but the smiles it brought were oh so worth it!

To the Flag