When my son heard there was a place near the Twin Cities where you could interact with wildlife, he nagged me until we made it happen – and I’m SO glad we made it happen.
Fawn Doe Rosa is a one-of-a-kind experience. Stepping onto the grounds feels like stepping into the Garden of Eden. There are big trees, a peaceful pond, lovely bridge, rolling hills….and beautiful animals that graze among all the guests!
We loved it. Even my TEENAGER was fascinated by this experience (and not much fascinates him right now).
Fawn Doe Rosa opened in 1963 and was originally called “Bambi-land.” The staff focuses on care, conservation and rehabilitation of the animals in the park.
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We went on a Saturday, and though there were lots of other people, the grounds were spacious enough that it didn’t feel crowded.
We brought our lunch and ate at the picnic area outside, because they ask that you don’t bring any food inside. There is a playground next to the picnic area.
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We enjoyed chasing chickens, adoring the baby fawns, feeding the goats and llamas, but the highlights for us were:
1 – Cuddling with the large buck:
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2 – Feeding the animals:
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It’s not free (in fact, it’s not cheap), but it’s a bucket-list spot. Adult admission currently costs $10.25/person and kids (ages 2-12) cost $9.25/person. Children under 2 are free. At the admission counter, you can pay for animal feed or pony rides. They offer coupons on their site for the animal feed.
Thanks to every single person who took the effort to put up Christmas lights this year or send out cards. It definitely brought Christmas JOY to our family.
My favorite tree!And this house!
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The new Hawkeye series on Disney Plus
When Ted asked me to come watch Hawkeye with him and the boys, I brought a book to read. I’m not really in to the “Hawkeye” character, and didn’t want to watch this new show, but I did want to hang with the boys while they watched it.
Little did I know how much we would ALL enjoy it. The storyline was so engaging and the characters were endearing. We just finished the final episode on Disney. I said to Ted. ‘Let’s watch that series again’ (I never say that. It was truly THAT GOOD)!
Wrigley is the SWEETEST DOG. However, when he’s outside and not on his leash, he doesn’t always come back when you call him. If he’s not done playing, he will run AWAY from you when he sees you coming toward him.
This became a HUGE problem two times in December. Once when I had to go to work and couldn’t get him inside. Another time when he ran onto the pond and we weren’t sure if it was thick enough to hold him. Paul was a wreck thinking his dog might go through the ice and there was nothing we could do.
Enter the world’s best invention. A collar that beeps, vibrates or shocks. (We don’t use the shock)
The very first time I gave Wrigley a gentle vibrate and beep and said “COME,” he immediately came and sat next to me. I was shocked and overjoyed how well it worked then, and how will it continues to work. I only needed to use the vibrate twice, and now he obeys when he just hears the BEEP!
This device is usually $50, but they are currently 20% off. This was the best $40 I ever spent.
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YouTube videos the whole family can enjoy
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https://youtu.be/-N8860D2ITY
There are so many ANNOYING YouTube Channels. However, there are a handful that we can all enjoy together.
Mark Rober – a former Nasa scientist who makes entertaining videos by creating gadgets and fun experiments.
Dude Perfect – a group of guys that met at church and now make trick shot videos and a ‘game show’ called Overtime.
Fantastic 2 – I can’t NOT mention the channel my son’s created. 🙂
Most of our kids are back in school, sitting 8 hours a day, often times wearing a mask. Getting out in the backyard, enjoying fresh air and family time is perfect for fall.
The temps are more mild and kids are ready to burn some energy after a long school day. Playing together not only helps you and your children ‘de-stress,’ but also strengthens the bond with your kids!
Here are FIVE free games to play with your family!
1. Dog tail:
Pull out the longest socks you own.
Everyone tucks one sock into the back of their shorts, like a dog tail.
The object is to grab everyone else’s “tail” (or sock) while keeping your own.
Say GO and the last one wearing a sock wins!
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2. Mr. Fox, what time is it?
Select one person to be Mr. or Mrs. Fox. This person will stand with his or her back to the rest of the players.
All other players line up on the other side of the yard/field. The players take turns asking Mr. Fox what time it is. (“Mr. Fox, what time is it?)
The fox will then respond with a time, such as 3 o’clock. The players must then take the same number of steps forward (in this case, 3 steps). These steps may be as large or small as the players wish, no matter how close they get to the fox.
When Mr. Fox is ready, he will respond to “What time is it?” with “LUNCHTIME!”
When the kids hear ‘lunchtime,’ they will run back to the starting line and try not to get “tagged” by Mr. Fox.
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3. Create an Obstacle Course
Work with your kids to design an obstacle course in the backyard and time each other to complete the course.
4. “Vote with your Feet!”
This is a take on the “Would you rather?” game, except your kids have to run to one or the other side of the yard.
If they “vote” for the first one, run to the right. If they vote for second, run to the left.
Would you rather….
Be Superman or Batman?
Eat Pizza or Hotdogs?
Ride a roller coaster or a water slide?
Go to Target or Walmart?
Laugh or cry?
Jump high or run fast?
Have summer all year or winter all year?
Be really smart or really funny?
Drive a truck or a sports car?
Go back in time or go to the future?
Be able to fly or be invisible?
Have ONE great friend or 20 pretty good friends?
Be in the Mountains or at the Beach?
Take a ride in a speed boat or helicopter?
Go Skydiving or Swim with Sharks?
Build a Sand Castle or Play in the Waves?
Go Skiing or Ride a bike?
Watch a Movie or Read a Book?
Go Rock climbing or Swimming?
Own a Cat or a Dog?
Write a Story or a Draw picture?
Clean the Bathroom or Vacuum the carpet?
Ice Skate or Roller Skate?
Drink Pop or Water?
Play Inside or Outside?
Take a Shower or Bath?
Take a trip to Australia or Italy?
Go Fishing or Make slime?
Play a Video game or Board game?
Have more time or more money?
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5. Be creative with sidewalk chalk:
Lay down and trace each other – then decorate with clothes, faces, etc.
Write a word of encouragement for passers-by
Use tape and color in the spaces like stained glass
Clark’s artwork
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What game will YOU play outside this fall? Leave me comment!
This post was originally written for the Help Club for Moms group, but I thought I’d share it with you as well!
Starting the new school year can be a little crazy if you are a ‘fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants’ or overly laid back person like me. Lots of rushing, perhaps some yelling, maybe tears, and forgetting important things (like lunch) have all been a part of our mornings because we had no systems or routines.
So, here are some changes I’m making this year to start the school year strong.
1. PRACTICE your Morning Routine.
If you want to prevent a super stressful first day of school, begin your ‘back-to-school’ routine a few days beforehand. Slowly start going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. In the morning, “play” like you are going to school. Work out the kinks and see how long it takes everyone to get ready. Mom tip: Take the kids to the park when everyone gets ready on time!
2. Prep the Night Before
Have your children get in the habit of prepping for school the night before:
Clothes laid out?
Ipads charging?
Backpacks and shoes by the door?
3. Get out the calendar
Whether you use a paper calendar (like me) or a digital one, take time to add activities right away – school breaks, conferences, parent-teacher night, and even testing dates. Put important dates on the calendar NOW, so you have time to plan ahead.
4. Email the teacher
As soon as you get the teacher’s email address – send him or her a short and quick note, letting them know how thankful you are that he/she will be investing in your child this year!
The benefit of this is two-fold:
– You establish a positive relationship from the beginning.
– The teacher’s email is now in your contacts, so when you need to email the teacher during the school year, you aren’t scrambling to find the paper that contains the email address.
5. Set the Tone
You set the tone for the attitudes in your home. If you keep a positive attitude, it’s more likely that your child will as well. Focus on the positive and share what you are excited about regarding the new school year. If your child is feeling stressed or anxious, listen to them and pray with them. Remind them that you are available, and God is always with them.
Hope those tips will help you this year! Praying this year is a great one for you and your children.
If summers are for making memories, we made a TON OF THEM in July. Here are some highlights!
July started with a vacation:
A week in Indiana is better than a trip to Disney
My aunt, grandmother, and cousins
Cousins and mamas
Luke and my nephew Eli
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My mom and all of her grandchildren!
A letter my grandmother received from her uncle during WW2.
George hearing the story of my grandparents opening their store more than 50 years ago.
My nephew was excited to see my book at my grandparent’s store.
At my grandparent’s antique store
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We had a wonderful dinner and date night at Kelly Jae’s in honor of my sister (in pink) and brother-in-law’s 21st anniversary. My sister and her husband (in white) joined us, as well as childhood friends (on left).
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I got to spend a morning with childhood friends. Only one still lives in town. The rest of us happened to all be there for the 4th of July!
My dad took us for a boat ride down memory lane. These homes on Lake Tippecanoe used to belong to my grandparents. My mom and dad lived in a small cottage behind these two homes, and it’s where I was brought home from the hospital. I grew up swimming, tubing, and learning to ski on this lake.
My grandparents sold this property when I was in high school, and this was the first time I’d been back!
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Wrigley’s World
While we were in Indiana, some good friends took the BEST care of Wrigley.
Though the boys had a blast in Indiana, they were SO happy to see Wrigley when we got home.
My chauffeur:
I put Wrigley in the car and ran in to grab my phone. I came back out and found Wrigley ready to drive Miss Daisy Egly.
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Pan-o-Prag – our local fair
I’m not sure how the fair in Lakeville got the name “Pan-o-Prag,” but that’s what the locals call it and we spent a hot afternoon enjoying it all – carnival games, rides, fried food, and a parade! To keep the cost from getting out of control, I told the kids they could ride two rides, play two games, and pick one snack.
We have a tradition of eating breakfast at Jensen’s on the anniversary of our move to Minnesota. The boys are thriving and happy. They love all the lakes and fishing. They also love our neighborhood and the many friends they’ve met.
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Date Night Re-make
July 31, 2018
July 31, 2021
Three years ago Ted and I went out on our first Minnesota date night. We went back on the same night to celebrate!
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A night away and all alone
Downtown Stillwater, MN
The Stillwater walking bridge across the St. Croix River
My breakfast in bed
My home for the night
For the first time since being a mom, and possibly the first time ever (?), I spent the night at a hotel all alone. After a busy summer, I was craving some peace and quiet, so I booked a night at a Bed and Breakfast in Stillwater, MN and had a glorious 24 hours to myself!
I explored, did a little shopping, a lot of walking and reading. I slept 10 straight hours and was awakened by a knock on my door with a tray of breakfast and hot coffee!!!!! What an absolute delight! I could have stayed in bed all day, but I had an 11am check-out. I asked for a later check-out and was awarded an extra FIFTEEN MINUTES! Woot. woot.
Thanks so much for reading about our busy July! What have you been up to? Leave a comment by clicking that little comment box next to the title.
Do you want to have a better day? Then let me ask you a question: What do you see when you look at this image?
Did you say a black dot?
You’d be right.
HOWEVER, do you notice anything else besides the black dot?
If you thought: “white space,” then you’d be right again! There is actually more WHITE space than black.
Very few people point out the WHITE space. It takes a little more effort to even notice it.
Let’s say this dark spot represents the problems in our world. The white space is the GOOD stuff happening. There is ALWAYS good stuff, we just tend to overlook it. The black dot GRABS out attention. It’s EASIER to notice, and it’s TALKED about more!
If you watch or read the news, the focus is almost exclusively on the ‘black dot.’
We need to PAY attention to what we are PAYING Attention to!
We can’t control the negativity in the world. We can’t prevent the ‘black dot.’ We CAN control what we watch, what we listen to, what we talk about, and what we FOCUS on!
What we FOCUS ON determines how we FEEL!!!!!
Let me say that again in a different way…
Our focus determines our feelings
A couple of months ago I told my boys we were going to the arboretum. In typical kid fashion, they were like
“The arboretum…to look at trees? Mom, that’s BORING!”
So I turned it into a game. I let them bring their school iPads and I said: “Whoever takes the best picture, gets $1.”
Suddenly, their attitudes changed. It was a competition! They had a goal. They had something to focus on.
Look at these incredible pictures and the beauty they found that day:
Paul was on the hunt for flowers and found some!
Paul pointed out this amazing curved tree
Mushrooms
I love the reflections in the water
We got home and my boys proudly showed their dad the pictures they captured. My husband pointed out that our boys would have missed this beauty if they weren’t on the lookout for it.
They FOUND beauty because the LOOKED for it!
You FIND what you LOOK FOR!
Beauty and goodness aren’t hard to find, they are just overlooked.
What’s wrong is ALWAYS available, but so is what’s right. We find what we look for.
Change your FOCUS because: Your FOCUS determines your feelings!
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How do become Queen? You put on your plastic crown and declare it! (Thanks, Ted, for the crown!)
The boys and I celebrated my birthday with a great breakfast at Hope Kitchen. Instead of a cake, we ate some delicious Crumbl Cookies.
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What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man
Ted asked us to do a hill hike with him on Father’s Day, so we lured the boys to the top with Dunkin’ Donuts.
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America Ninja Warriors
A local gym was running a special for a month-long membership so I signed my boys up. They had so much fun and burned LOTS of energy!
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A quick trip through Illinois
On our way to Indiana, we had one full day in Illinois. We got to eat at our favorite restaurant with some of our best friends.
At Bien Trucha with the Hoeft family.Makayla Beebe’s been babysitting the boys since they were tiny. And I was her children’s pastor when SHE was tiny!
On the way to Indiana, we stopped at Portillos.
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What I’m loving
I love this Alba face wash! The scent, the way it makes my skin feel, and the easy pump!
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This quick dry towel. It’s super thin, so it doesn’t take much space in our swim bag.
What are you up to and what are you loving? Leave me a comment!
Because of this unique year, we feel incredibly blessed to have spent a week with our Oklahoma family.
Here are some highlights:
One of the blessings of this season is that we are exploring more outdoor spaces. Of all the years I’ve lived in and visited Oklahoma, I’d never been to the Redbud Nature Preserve. My sister and her family invited us to join them here for a hike and we absolutely loved it!
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The Gathering Place
This is a phenomenal outdoor park in Tulsa. (Click on this link to look at this place!) The big boys played football with Ted, while I explored the play structures with Luke.
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Thanksgiving Day
What’s your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving? My favorite dish on Thanksgiving is the mashed potatoes and gravy – I’ve loved that dish my whole life. It might be my favorite because I only eat it once a year – on Thanksgiving!
My mother-in-law made turkey, ham, and the most delicious mashed potatoes and gravy. I made green beans, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin and pecan pie.
I forgot to add the sugar to the pumpkin pie recipe so I just sprinkled some on top before I baked it. It was a ‘healthier’ version and not super sweet, but still tasted good. This might be the way I make it from now on?
3 generations of great men
My family with Nana and Papa, and my sister Brooke
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Fishing adventures
Papa and Ted took the boys fishing and they each caught a big one!
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We celebrated Paul’s 9th birthday with cousins and cupcakes!
Paul wanted a real animal – but he had to settle for a stuffed one. We had cupcakes with cousins, then went on a hike and found an abandoned hive.
Clark and cousin Elle
Paul and cousin Ava
Nanny with her grandkids
Thanks for reading! Whether you stayed home or celebrated with family, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, too. In spite of this challenging year, we all have so much to be thankful for!
A lady I enjoy listening to, raised four amazing sons and swears by the power of spending time with your kids around the table – not just eating, but staying to play games. She said the boys didn’t always want to play, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Playing together opens up conversations you may not normally have. Games make you laugh and connect in a new way.
A really fun and simple activity that can act as a physics lesson and opportunity for an experiment. Make a simple ramp using cardboard or a piece of wood, and roll different objects down: measure how far they go, how fast they roll, or hold races between different kinds of balls to see which wins!
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7. Go Fishing With Magnets
Create “fishing poles” using pencils, string, and magnets.
Place a variety of items in a bin–some magnetic, some otherwise–and let them go to town exploring the concept of magnetism!
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8. Draw self portraits
Luke age 5
Have your kids look in the mirror and do a self portrait!
Be sure to have them write their name and age. It will be fun to look back on this when they are older.
You could have them repeat this every year around their birthday to see how their drawings improve!
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9. Make a Flip Book Animation
Kids can learn how to make a flipbook animation in less than 5 minutes. All you need is a pen and a stack of paper, or even better, a sticky note pad. This video is a great and very quick tutorial
Here is one of my son’s first flip book, using index cards:
If you have snow like we do, this is fun for all ages!
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12. Skiing
Luke learning to ski and LOVING it!
Skiing requires gloves, you can wear a mask, it’s outdoors and fairly easy to stay ‘socially distant.’ Many ski resorts have special rates and lessons for beginners.
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13. Play with shaving cream
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14. Have a make your own pizza and family movie night
My fourth grade teacher once gave us the title “The Entire City Lends a Hand” and had the class each write their own story. Read a rendition of that here.
If you have kids who are 8 and older, they can earn money or serve their neighbors by shoveling, cleaning up leaves, or helping any other outdoor task.
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40. Find a place to explore!
Though there are some places that are closed for Covid, you can still find a new place to explore with your kids!
Being bored is a natural part of life as a kid. Try not to offer an immediate solution to their boredom and see what they come up with! It’s often in times of boredom that children show their greatest creativity!
Build a Marble Maze / Labrynth
