Camp of the Woods President's Day Weekend 2013

What a treat it was for our family to spend President's Day weekend at Camp of the Woods in Speculator, NY. We think this weekend had some of the best weather yet, at least Saturday did! Once again, our family was able to rest well and spend really quality time together, making memories. 

One of our favorite places: the tubing hill! 

We had the hill to ourselves for a long time on Saturday! 

Anna Kate was the only one who time after time pulled her own tube up the hill (and sometimes someone else's tube, too)!

 Will wanted to run down the tubing hill and climb back up it, rather than using the path. 

 Will walking up the tubing hill

 Anna Kate and I had a lot of fun riding together down the hill!

 Everyone loves the tubing hill!

Will even rode all by himself this year!

 And, of course, a sleigh ride on Sunday, which was frigidly cold and windy. But who can say no to a horse-drawn sleigh ride? Not us! We bundled up and enjoyed ourselves, even getting the thrill of experiencing a sleigh-drawn "donut" in the parking lot.

We were very surprised to come to a house that was just over freezing - 36. We were thankful! Much colder and we would have had a big, huge mess on our hands, since our furnace malfunctioned over the weekend while we were gone. So, our pipes had (miraculously) not frozen - a warm February weekend had saved us! Dave figured it out quickly, but it was slow to warm up our house. Thus, the picture below: 

It's Birthday Season

It's birthday season around here. Dave's 35th was on January 26. The girls planned balloons and signs as a surprise for him, and we had a quiet evening together as a family (just the way Dave likes it). 

He picked a great meal: Chik-fil-A copy cat sandwiches, chips, salad and Pioneer Woman's Texas Sheet Cake. 

Will loves birthday candles. He has to take a turn blowing out everyone's candles.

Lucy's 7th birthday was less than a week later. We had a great celebration of our little Lucy's life. She was only an infant when we moved to Albany, so her life definitely marks time for me. She is growing in to a lovely young girl. She has a tender and sensitive and generous heart. She feels deeply and expresses excitement in big ways. She is working hard on school and becoming a stronger reader and doing well at math. She loves to draw and color and paint and make things and loves, loves, loves taking care of her dolls. She still loves horses and can create quite the playmobil fairy village. 

Of course, our dear friends Peter and Myra celebrated with us.

Christmas

 Will has recently decided he prefers to not wear clothes in the house. So he spent Christmas morning without pants on. Luckily, we did get him dressed after his bath for dinner.

 The girls each got an outfit with a matching outfit for their dolls. A big hit! Everyone immediately changed into their outfits, and we have worn them for days. Lucy and Julie looking smashing and party-ready. Jasmin (Anna Kate's doll) generously lent Julie her black tights, so Julie hasn't been too cold.

 Samantha and Angelina - purple is a great color for both of them!

 Samantha went with purple tights, too!

 Anna Kate and Jasmin, looking great in pink stripes and black leggings!

 Everyone all together - such a great family!

 Will had to show off a prized possession, too. A new helicopter.

Anna Kate's Birthday

Anna Kate's school Christmas musical was Friday, December 14.  It was another fantastic musical. She looked beautiful in her Christmas dress. Dave was sick, so he couldn't go.  I tried to take some video so he could hear the performance, but it would make you sick to watch it. Apparently, I don't have steady hands and it is made worse when a two-year-old is standing on your lap. 

On Saturday, we had a birthday party for to celebrate Anna Kate.  It was a blast! We hosted an American Girl Kit Mystery Game. Each friend (and Mom and Nicole our babysitter who just graduated) had a role. The girls dressed up to fit their parts, and together, we solved a mystery. It was a Kit party, and she is the character set in the Great Depression. So, we tried to stick with her character.
Since the house was set for the party when the girls arrived, we needed an activity to keep everyone in the right spot! we made no-sew aprons for the dolls, inspired by Kit.

Then we sat down to begin the Mystery Party. We had name tags and place cards for each guest. 

The snacks were inspired by Kit - carrot and celery sticks, apple and orange slices, and Chex Mix (Anna Kate's request). 

After we solved the mystery, we had hot drinks and cake and ice cream. In the spirit of Kit, Anna Kate chose a chocolate roll cake with whipped cream frosting.

God is so generous and so kind to us. And sometimes we see it. Anna Kate's birthday party and her birthday were times like that for us. We could see God's generosity and sweet attention to detail for her. I knew Anna Kate needed a costume. We had nothing that remotely resembled a 1930s girls' outfit. And what did I find when I walked in to a local Goodwill store? The actual Kit skirt, in Anna Kate's size. What a great memory this will be for all of us! Anna Kate looked just like Kit!

It was my turn to be sick on Anna Kate's birthday. Dave worked hard to make her requested dinner (chicken mozzarella sandwich). Anna Kate was really understanding. For her birthday, she chose red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. After we sang and she blew out the candles, Will insisted the candles be re-lit and he blew them out a second time