Aaah...vacation.

We are in Brainerd for the annual Lane family vacation. This vacation started 10 years ago with the Lanes, Kerrs and Ketterlings. There was only one kid at the time, Reed. NOW there are the Lanes, Kerrs, Ketterlings, 7 kids ranging in age from 10 months to 11 years and 2 sets of grandparents...16 of us in all!

Despite the large number of participants, this year, this has been a great week of relaxation and disengaging from our hectic lifestyle. We rent a house every year and this is our first year in this one. There is enough room for everyone to have a bed...having a bed does not guarantee privacy, just a bed to sleep in. The house is on Rush Lake and has its own dock and in ground pool. We have enjoyed hours of fishing, swimming, bike riding and just chillin' out.

Tomorrow we head back to the Cities. I'm not ready to go...if I throw a temper tantrum, can we stay longer??

Next week it will be back to all the jobs and keeping the kids entertained for the remainder of summer break...which, always seems to fly by once family vacation is over.

Thanks, Dad and Mom, for this great break from the routine!

Where'd the Siding Go?

Today is a work day. So, the boys were keeping themselves occupied by watching a movie and I was working away in my windowless office today trying to make sure I am caught up before I leave for vacation on Saturday. Rick walked in the house, a bit puzzled as to why the boys and I were completely oblivious to the huge storm taking shape outside. (because they were watching a movie and I was working!!) It was definitely a big storm. Rick was actually on the phone with the insurance company before it was even over.

At last check, we are missing a large section of siding from one side of our home, our hot tub cover is broken and we had water leaking in through 4 different spots in the house, the worst of which is right in the middle of our family room. It looks like our dog somehow managed to pee in the middle of the ceiling.

So, right now, Rick and our neighbor are on the roof getting it covered up. Hopefully no more storms will blow through! Hopefully the damage to the inside won't get any worse as long as we can keep that part covered. Siding really does have a purpose...It's not just to give each house it's own personality...go figure.

Here's my question...if all the siding has to be replaced, do we get to pick a new color? (Of course, this is assuming the new color matches everything else that ISN'T to be replaced.) Any suggestions?

Recovery

Well, the 4th of July is history. We did the parade in grand style again. We thought we would have a lot less people this year. But, in the end 58 people joined us in "our spot" for the parade. (Rick & Ryan were the "counters", I am taking their word for it that they didn't count all the "sticker people" as they stopped by our spot!) Some came early for the food (which was cut back this year for convenience sake.) Some just came in time to watch the parade. But we had fun. It was definitely a new experience to be short a couple of kids.

On Saturday, I started staining our deck. We built our deck before our "less is more" phase started. This means that our deck is huge! I stained for about 6 hours on Saturday and got half of the the floor, top rail and the support posts done. We bought the same brand, same color stain as last time...guess what...totally different color. No cheating this year, I have to do it all!

I finished staining the floor on Sunday and Rick, Chase and Hunter stained the lattice that goes around our hot tub. Our grass is now a lovely shade of "Natural Cedar" as Hunter likes painting about as much as Rick and decided to paint the grass instead!

This week, I have to find time to finish staining the deck, clean the house (post holiday weekend, eeek), and work. All before leaving on vacation on Saturday. Today it is supposed to storm, so I will work and clean the house, I guess! I am feeling overwhelmed....I need to make a list!!

Unlimited WHAT?

Rick and I made a decision about cell phones recently. We decided that we were ready for the boys to each have their own cell phone. We have had one that the three of them have shared for the past 3 years. It stays plugged in unless we have given permission for one of them to take it. It has allowed us to feel more comfortable with them going to the park near our house, over to a friend's house, etc...

This summer, one phone between them hasn't really been enough because they are all going different directions constantly! So, we made the move. We got on a family plan where our bill SHOULD be the same with all 5 of us having phones. (The first bill hasn't arrived yet, so I reserve the right to complain later if it costs more!) The plan came with minutes to share and unlimited texting. No media and no photos. The existing rule about the phone usage is still the same...plugged in unless permission is granted.

Right now, the phones are like a shiny new toy that is much too hard to resist. Especially when mom & dad are gone for a couple hours. The speed dials that we put on "in case of emergency" are too much to resist. I think Auntie Kristie counted 10-15 calls on Wednesday alone. Hunter worked a free lunch out of Grandma. Chase found out his best friend also has a cell phone (different carrier, though, and he was the one who pointed out to me, that they will have to keep their calls short! ) Uncle Ryan got a surprise phone call from a number he didn't recognize while at work. (Hunter's number) The ironic thing is, we tried to call Hunter on his phone to tell him to come home from his friend's yesterday for dinner. Guess what...he left it home!! Reed forgot to take his phone to youth group. Obviously, we are still working out the kinks in our plan.

So, if you receive a call from a number you don't recognize, it is probably a Ketterling boy. Rick and I are riding out the storm and we apologize in advance if you receive "unlimited text messages or if you are a Sprint to Sprint customer". We are banking on the fact that they are going to settle into a reasonable amount of use soon.

To Parade or Not to Parade

We have had a tradition in our house for the last 3 or 4 years. We do July 4th in a big way.

We are those nerds that put our tarps out to save our spot for the parade 24 hours before the parade begins! We load up a grill, tons of food, games, chairs and we invite anyone we know to join us if they want. Bring your own meat and something to share. We have been at the same spot every year. It's not even really about watching the parade so much as it is the excitement of the day. We have a lot of fun...and it is a lot of work.

Then we go to Grandma and Papa's for another cookout. And eventually, to the park for fireworks followed by neighborhood fireworks when we get home. SHHH.

This year, we will probably be down 2 kids. One is going to ride in the parade with a friend. One may go to family camp with Grandma and Papa (which, in turn cancels out tradition #2 on our list). Something tells me that kid #3 will find someone else to hang out with for the day.

So, we aren't "feeling" the parade like we have in the past. I suppose these are the types of things that will start happening with more frequency as the kids get older. But, I've been told, "this is the tradition...we HAVE to".

So, look for us on the hill near the Joann's parking lot. We'd love to have you join us! Bring your own meat, and something to share!