Once was lost but now I'm found :)

I've traveled to Bass Lake 3 times in the last 6 weeks. I went twice for relaxing getaways and once, this past weekend, for a dear friend's memorial service. On our 2nd time in Bass Lake we forgot our camera. I was fairly certain that it was left at the house where we stayed. On Friday night, back in the same house, I spotted the old friend under the couch. I was so excited... I sent a picture of the camera to Ron who was holding down the fort at home... picture of a camera? Isn't that redundant!!

Here are some Bass Lake pictures from the beginning of March before we got the plague. I managed to escape it somehow.. by God's grace.

Do you know how hard it is to get 4 small children balanced on a log in the snow? The fact that they are all looking in the same general direction was just pure luck :)

I certainly passed down my obsession for Danny's Pizza Factory Turkey Sandwiches to my eldest.

S.I.C.K

Warning: If you're easily nauseated, do not read this post.

I'm a sympathetic vomiter.... or a vomit wimp. I dry heave for days if I hear it or smell it. If a student threw up in my classroom when I was teaching, the janitor would find me curled up in a ball under my desk with my hands over my ears humming the Star Spangled Banner. I was a mess as a kid on the ski school bus up to Badger Pass every Friday. Tea Cups at Disneyland? No thanks. Not because I'm afraid I will get sick, but because I'm afraid someone else will.

I remember having a conversation with my mom at some point before I had kids:

Me: "What am I going to do if my kids ever throw up? I'm going to totally freak out."

Mom: "No you won't. It's different when your own kids are sick."

Guess what? She was right. By the grace of God, I'm not bothered... at all. I can scoop up a vomit covered Eckert child with not so much as a gag. I can hold hair back and rub backs, no problem. There are a lot of things that I suck at when it comes to being a mom. But, I'll take it as a gift from God that (today) I don't suck at the throw up.

Thanks, Lord, for the gift of being a mommy. Thanks for the learning and growing. I'll take it, vomit and all.

PS We did have another lovely weekend in Bass Lake prior to vomit fest 2011. Weekend pictures to follow!!

What I Wore Wednesday

Well, it's what SHE wore Wednesday, and she most certainly dressed herself.

purple shirt, purple whale short sleeve shirt, green peasant skirt,

brown corduroy pants and brown boots all compliments of Ruthie Rozema's hand me downs.

Holes in the knees of the corduroy pants? Those are compliments of hours on the floor putting puzzles together and countless afternoons in the sandbox.

Scooby Doo sticker- guest reader at preschool

sweet, sweet smile and adorable little sister- straight from heaven

Happy President's Day Weekend

Snow snow snow, LOTS of good food and drink, 5 happy kiddos, fort building, a snowman named Dixon, a talent show, thunder and lightening, kids spa night with Uncle Ron, Pizza Factory turkey sandwiches, walks, fires in the fireplace, feeding the ducks, mandatory naps (for all), more good food and drink, great conversation, snow Gelato, plenty of laughter = perfect weekend.

No Thanks, I'll Walk

She's walking! She's been taking a few steps at a time but hasn't shown too much interest in walking in the last few weeks. Yesterday, she decided to go for it. I guess she really wanted to share her raisins.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, friends.

May you know how deeply you are loved today!

Oh, Washington!

The girls and I got off of the plane in Seattle last weekend and I said, "Ah, it's good to be home!!" Oh, wait. I don't live here... but it sure FEELS like I do... amongst the wonderful friends, familiar places, plenty of good coffee, and that good 'ol grey sky.

Ready for takeoff.

It's not a party until someone gets a strange balloon animal.

On our way to Gig Harbor with the Rozema girls to see the Vaccaros

Vaccaro, Rozema and Eckert kids (minus Ben and Sadie)

Rozema's House

The girls stay entertained while Ron recruits at Seattle Pacific.

Ron booked my flight to and from Seattle on the spur of the moment which means we flew home on separate flights. Ron took Sadie with him since she's still free and doesn't need a seat and Rosie and I flew home together. Rosie's a piece of cake to travel with... guess what I did on the way home? Read a b.o.o.k. I never thought the day would come.