Hiking/Tubing in the Smokey Mountains

After rafting, we hiked up the trail to show Adam and Tara where we would be tubing. Here are some of our photos.

Later we tubed the same route. Some of the kids went several times.

Adventuring in North Carolina

Tyler, Jasmine and I left for Bryson City on Tuesday. Adam and Tara too. We all got here in the evening. I was worried about my car, but it made it. I was worried because the forecast for this area showed 90% chance of storms everyday. The weather has been beautiful.

Wednesday morning we went whitewater rafting. It was not nearly as fun or challenging as last year. Partly because last year we had Felicia from "Stare if You Must" blog's kids with us. Her adult kids were guides. We had two rafts and a lot of competition and rescuing of each other. The water is much higher this year, so not as many obstacles. And her adult kids weren't here to guide, so we did a guided trip. It seems like we floated more than rafted at times. But we had fun being together. Just wish the trip had been more thrilling.

Since then we have done a lot of tubing, and now the Stare If You Must crew is here too,and Rick and the twins will be here soon, so there will be a lot more photos to come. But I only have internet using Adam's hotspot so I'm not sure how often I'll be online.

My Girls

Winter six weeks old

River 17 months old

Quick Tips: Budget-Friendly Summer Fun

This is a post I have on my parenting blog, but thought it might be helpful to some of you. You can read more quick tips on my parenting blog HERE

Today author and speaker Dena Dyer shares ideas for inexpensive summer activities.

Budget-Friendly Summer Fun—in Your Own “Backyard”

Financially, the summer can be tough on those of us who have children at home. How do we keep them engaged without A) allowing them to spend too much time on screens or B) blowing our budgets? Thankfully, there are ways to do both, without even leaving our own area:

Libraries and Museums

Most public libraries have free children’s, tween and teen programs during the summer. And family memberships at museums—especially science/discovery ones—easily pay for themselves because of their variety of programming.

Local, State and National Parks

Parks are great for hiking, swimming, exploring, picnicking, and fishing. Many of them even have free explorer/Junior Ranger programs.

Movie Theaters and Bowling Alleys

Thousands of local bowling alleys participate each summer in the “Kids Bowl Free” program. All you pay for is the shoes! Also, check with the closest movie theater—they may offer special kid movies at drastically reduced prices.

Colleges and Theaters

Look up your local college’s summer offerings. These institutions often schedule low-cost children’s and teens classes during breaks from school. In addition, many community theaters host dance, acting, and singing camps for talented kids. (Ask about scholarships if the camps are pricey.)

Other ideas for kids of all ages: volunteer for charity; create their own business (lemonade stand/photography/dog walking); attend local VBS programs.

Bottom line? You can create a memory-making summer for your family. It may take some research and creativity, but the results will be worth it.

Here are some of Dena's books:

Dena Dyer is a professional writer, speaker, and teacher, as well as the author of eight books and hundreds of articles who lives in Texas with her husband, sons and dog Princess. Her interests include traveling, reading, cooking, time spent with family and friends and a lot more. You can connect with her on her webpage or purchase one of her many books here.

Other Quick Tips You Might Want to Read are:

Fresh Starts

Embrace the Season

Keeping Your Mind Strong

Getting Your Preteen to Read

Help for Clutterbugs
Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful
Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes
Having a Personal Quiet Time with God
Beating the Winter Blues
Friendships That Cross Boundaries
Five Fresh Starts for Living
Positive Parent Teacher Relationships
How to Make Your Words Matter
Gluten Free Eating
Picture Book Month
The Healing Power of Forgiveness

What's Up?

Well, Jasmine is up! Way, way up north about 40 miles south of the Canadian border. They left Friday afternoon and only made it a couple of hours before the bus broke down. They were supposed to arrive in KY at their hotel about 9 p.m. but arrived at 5:30 a.m. and slept for a bit. They went on to Holland MI where they sang at Benjamin's Hope. Monday they were at Mackinac Island and today are at a camp.

Biking on Mackinac Island

On the ferry to the Island

Sunday was parent/child dedication at church, and Winter was dedicated. Hunter wasn't there, so Jessica went up with River (siblings usually go up too) and Winter, one in each arm. She was last, so Pastor took Winter and held her during closing prayer. Then he invited everyone to stay for the reception and said, "I'm taking this one with me, but I'll give her back." That was really nice of him. And Winter was a total angel. She had woken up,but she just looked up at him perfectly calm.  

 Praying for all the parents and babies

 River is thinking, "That man has my sissy."

 I love this picture of Pastor walking down the steps with Winter. It's like the verse where Jesus says, "Let the little children come to me..."

 The twins were there, but they were more interested in the food tables than pictures.

Yesterday Kayla and I went to inprocess for Teen Court. I think it will be a very good thing for her. She has a whole notebook of homework to do. She has to go to a life skills class that I will also attend with her. She has to appear in a court with a teen jury who will determine her community service hours and other things, she has to have an evaluation and she has to do both public apologies in court and written apologies. She will have a jail tour and has the option to go to the ME office. No dead bodies, but it is required if there are any drugs involved, which there is not so she does not have to do this step.

The good thing is that the lady will allow her to go on our short vacation and on to mission camp for five weeks, and that will count as 8 community service hours. Then she'll start her court things. Unfortunately both she and Kaleb are several hundred dollars short for camp.

Another good thing is that when I told the lady we had a completed homestudy to adopt a teen boy she didn't tell us we were crazy, ask why we'd want another one when we were going through this with one etc but said that we are doing a good thing giving another child a chance and dealing with the issues with the ones we have.

We have not yet gotten the final copy of the home study so have not inquired about any specific boys. I am afraid that most of them will not want to leave their counties, schools, and friends to start over in a new place though. We will see what happens.

Jasmine's tour finishes Sunday with a concert at our home church, although we are not the church that sponsors the choir. The kids are from many churches. Tuesday three of us pack up and leave for NC with the other three following on Friday. From there, Jasmine and I will go on to Elkhart, IN, Cincinnati, OH and Montgomery, AL and home. The others will drop the twins at camp at Merritt Island and then head home. I will be gone June 13 to July 1. 

I am going to be a mess because my hair is in serious need of a cut and perm but the lady who does it is out because of foot surgery. Her niece was going to do it but then had some weird stuff happen with stroke like symptoms and is now out too. I'm going to go for the scraggily look rather than have someone I don't know do it. I have quirky hair and am seriously afraid I'd greatly regret letting someone else do it.

What's up with you guys?

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Good, bad and ugly. Kind of describes life around here right now. 

Good-- River went to her first pageant. It was in Orlando. She did well except for the event scheduled during her nap time!

Winter is doing well but has a medical issues that needs immediate care so is being referred to a specialist three hours away.

 The pageant was in Orlando, so they went to M&M world

I won a free dive and paid to take Tyler and Jessica with me. None of us have dove for over two years. We had a classroom session, testing in the pool and then out into the open water. I forgot my Sealife Camera, but the instructor took a video I should get in a few days.

Papa Rick watched the girls all day.

Today was the last day of school, and Jasmine left for her choir tour immediately following release. The bad is that the bus broke down just a couple of hours later, and they are still waiting for a new bus!

So that's most of the good. The bad is that a certain nameless child didn't believe her brother would turn her in for theft if she stole from him again. She did. He did. She lied to the police officer and said twin had taken the money and given it to her. She knows that even if that was true, it's still wrong to accept stolen money. But it wasn't true. She had also left campus to go to FOUR stores to spend the money. She had lied to us about having to go early for a before school band practice. And it was actually Tyler driving back that way after dropping the other two that saw her walking down the street loaded down with bags. 

The ugly is that the very next day even after filling out police forms and getting detention for leaving campus, she hit a boy square in the face and got out of school detention! We have a hearing Monday. I do not know what is going to happen about our family vacation or her mission camp.

I don't know what I am hoping happens. Obviously the thought of it has not slowed her down any. We are just trying to stay consistent and handle things calmly as they come. Hopefully in the long run this will be a learning experience.

The twins did not attend school the last day and a half. So summer is off to a weak start. We did make sure to have a family time last night and tonight despite all that is going on.

I will keep you updated.