Welcome, summer. We're ready for you!

We are just getting settled after being in Bass Lake for a few days. Allison made the trek with us and most of the week involved a lot of "girl time" as Ron was working lllloooonnnngggg hours getting ready for camp to start. 

I am sure you know by now that we love Bass Lake. I'm still getting caught up on laundry and everything smells faintly like campfire and every shirt either has syrup drips or sticky marshmallow down the front. That's a sure sign of a good time. 

 like Sadie's helmet? She insisted on wearing it most places and even hanging around the house.... say, coloring, for instance. Love the phases that kids go through. 

The Pioneer Woman's homemade ice cream was delicious for dessert... and also breakfast the next morning. Don't judge. We're on vacation. 

Goodbye, San Clemente Preschool

Rosie wrapped up her last days at SCPC. 2 years of great fun and lots of learning. We are so grateful for her time there.

One of the highlights of Rosie's year  life was the Owl's enrichment program that she participated in on Thursday afternoons. Mrs. Apin and Mrs. Wright stole Rosie's heart and captured her attention with their science and art lessons. Rosie can tell you all about the water cycle, polar bears vs grizzly bears, the Schumann family, how to play the bells, milk snakes... the list goes on and on. What a gift!

  

Wonder Woman

Sadie and Ron have a special bond. Sadie prefers being where Ron is... especially if it means "tinkering" in the garage. 

We are storing some friends' refrigerator for the summer and Sadie assumed the roll of dad's helper as he they moved it in to the garage.

Ali's Graduation

Rosie and I took a quick trip out to Minnesota this weekend to see Allison graduate from Bethel University. We are PROUD of her. She's sort of a favorite around here and we wouldn't have missed her big day for anything. We were able to celebrate Allison, spend time together as a family, explore some of the old Eckert haunts and enjoy the midwest (there is a rocking thunderstorm taking place as I type. LOVE it).

 Steve and Lori kicked it off with a great speech at the graduate dinner on Friday night. They did such a great job. 

Waiting for the graduation ceremony to start. Looks like this one has her ladylike behavior nailed. 

Checking out the old stomping grounds. Here is Ron's childhood house. Getting around the town was a little intimidating as I have NO sense of direction. None. Praise the Lord for iphone maps. About 2 minutes into each ride in the the car Rosie's worried voice would pipe up from the back seat, "Mom, do you know where you're going this time or are we lost again?" 

We made it to each destination... eventually :)

Como Park Zoo. 

I felt like I came straight from the concrete jungle when getting off the plane in Minneapolis. I could not get over all of the grass!  Everything was so incredibly green and spacious and open. Everyone's backyard was a park to Rosie. We got to Como Park and Rosie just ran and ran until her little legs would take her no farther. 

Watching basketball with Marcus at Grandma Ginny's house.

 Rosie has lots of love for Uncle Steve. 

What a  wonderful trip to celebrate such a wonderful young lady. So proud of you, Al. So proud of what you've done these last 4 years. I am excited to see what the next chapter holds. I know you'll do great things. You have lots of love and a huge cheering section as you turn the next corner. Love you so much. 

 What a joy to be a part of this family. 

Weekends Together

It's always a great time when the Eckerts get together.

Dave, Gayle, Sierra and Caleb joined us for 3 days of fun. When they all left on Monday morning we were all incredibly sad and blue.

That's a good thing. That's the joy of being together.

 Dave, Gayle and Ron have their roots planted in the midwest, so it's only fitting that the family take part in a game of Kick the Can. Or, as Gayle likes to call it... Kick the Bucket.

Lots of snacking when the Eckerts get together. 

These two. I remember when they were little... doing Gollum impersonations and making s'mores around a butane s'more maker in the dead of winter in Alaska. Here they are at 17 and 20. They are incredibly smart, thoughtful, smart, beautiful and handsome, creative, hilarious, conscientious, kind, smart, fun... the list goes on and on. Did I mention how smart they are? I love them. 

These two. They LOVE being around Auntie Gayle and Uncle Hairy or Uncle Gigi depending on who you ask. 

On a side note, Rosie has turned over a new fashion leaf since we started reading Little House on the Prairie together before bed. 

And this one's just the cutest little snack cake in the world.