The Cabin

We just got home from a beautiful week at my grandparents "cabin" in Minnesota.  

So.

glorious.

This spot is one of my most favorites on earth.  Growing up, we travled up to the lake every summer to see family and just enjoy.  Time at the cabin is mostly spent in either pajamas or a swim suit.  You take off your shoes when you arrive and go for days without seeing them again.  Mornings are spent drinking coffee and talking over the paper, afternoons spent playing in the lake and boating and evenings spent playing cards and reading.  The days are broken up by my grandma's fabulous cooking and millons of photos being taken by my grandpa.  I have so many great memories from being up at the cabin as a kid and now it is so fun to be going back with my family.  Our years spent in Ecuador were the only summers that I haven't made a trip to Ottertail.  It was a sweet reunion this summer.  This small spot on our big Earth means so much to me.

Originally, the home belonged to my great grandpa Harold and in those days it did resemble more of a cabin.  A few years back however, my grandparents completely remodeled the property and now it is a beautiful home on the lake and makes it possible for them to spend months out of the year enjoying Ottertail.  Although it has changed somewhat, the spirit of what it has meant for our family to "go to the lake" very much has remained the same.

So here are a few favorite photos capturing our week.  

Elsa has kinda curly hair these days!  I love it!

Also enjoyed a visit from my cousin and her family.  Of course I didn't get a picture of us together, but here are our handsome men with their daughters.

New addition to lake fun - kayaks!  LOVE IT!

Epic games of croquet - just one of the many lake traditions

Breck constantly stands with his hands on his hips these days :)

Celebrating Amy's 25th birthday!

Boating!

Amy brought back henna from India.  

First time on a boat.  Don't worry, she's a natural.

Breck getting pirate themed henna tattoos. 

Trip into the town of Ottertail.  

Ice cream stop!

Happened to be in town for the East Ottertail County fair.  I kept wondering if everyone there had us totally pegged as city folk.  

Tootsie roll pops - another fabulous tradition.

Breck has become quite the swimmer this summer.  He is now moving into working some synchronized swimming routines into his rotation.

Thanks for a great week Grandpa Bob and Grandma Bug!  We love you!

pixie dust

Wow.

Disney.

Wow.

That is almost all I can say about it.  

Being that last week was my first ever time experiencing the magic that is Disney, I had no idea what to expect.  None.  It was so crazy, insane in so many ways but we had such a good time and had so much fun with family.  Chris' grandparents very, very, very, very generously shipped the entire family down to Orlando for a family reunion.  

25 of us!

That in and of itself is pretty crazy to me.

So here are some random thoughts, memories and my favorite photos from the wonderful week.

Our kids were such troopers, and especially this little one.  Elsa got a fever the Thursday before we left and it hung on until Monday.  Boo.  We were ready to head out of the magic and into the real world to find an urgent care center Tuesday if things were not looking better.  But, Tuesday she woke up - no fever!  Hooray!  Just a rash all over her torso - boo again.  Turns out she had herself a case of roseola.  But she was awesome despite not feeling well, the fact that it was pouring down rain and her crazy parents drug her around the park anyway.  Gotta make the most of this once in a lifetime trip!

Recovering from the rain and cold with some hot chocolate and a little Curious George.

The week started out with TONS of rain (thanks for making an appearance, Tropical Storm Debby), but everyday it got a little nicer and by the end of the week we were enjoying heat and lots of sunshine.  We were all so gung-ho at the beginning, the rain couldn't get us down.  However, I know that had it rained at the end of an exhausting week, we would have had some days spent in room 4027 at the Pop Century.  

These boys love themselves some Uncle Jeff!

Totally unimpressed.

The highlight of the week for the 3 Hoskins boys.

The Tiki Room

I think I started hearing about the Tiki Room about .35 seconds after Chris and I started dating.  For whatever reason, it has made a lasting impression on these men.  

One of the best quote of the trip happened at a family breakfast we were all eating together.  Mickey Mouse was around and making his way to all the tables to take pictures and give out hugs.  Conversation:

Chris:  "Hey Breck, don't you want to go over and have your picture taken with Mickey?"

Breck: "No"

a few moments pass

Chris: "Are you sure Breck?  This might be our only chance to see Mickey"

Breck: "No"

Chris: "I really think that we should"

Breck: "NO Dad!  I don't want to take a picture!  I just want to make a memory!"

Priceless.

(But don't worry, we snagged a picture with this world famous mouse moments before leaving the restaurant.)

Another wonderful little gem we overheard between a husband and his wife:

"Honey!  You are not being a very effective human being right now!"

The magic truly brings out the best in us all.

The attention to detail in this place just blew me away.  That, and everything is SO clean despite the fact that 50 kajillion people are experiencing the magic with you.  We were eating lunch in China (in Epcot) and Elsa was going to town on her rice.  This Ecuadorian baby girl LOVES her rice.  So she is eating away and about 65% of said rice actually makes it into her mouth.  I feel badly whenever my children are eating anywhere that is not our home because we leave such a path of destruction in our wake - and this meal was no different.  Huge rice-y mess all over the table and floor.  So I wipe up the table and walk away feeling badly for the Goodwill Ambassador who will have to sweep up after my daughter.  And I kid you not, I turned around 5 seconds later and the rice was gone and the table sparkling.  Blows my mind.  

By day 3 we decided to double up the stroller to try and preemptively avoid meltdowns due to exhaustion by Breck.  Good call.  I was fully preparing myself mentally to endure at least one of these meltdowns a day while we were there, but happy to report we made it back to our home nearly meltdown free.  A few mini-meltdowns here and there, but nothing major.  Although, I feel like the Disney crowd would be pretty forgiving and understanding had these meltdowns ensued.  There are kids falling apart pretty regularly, so we would have been in good company. 

Breck enjoying a stein of milk in Germany.

With some birthday money and "fun money" from Grandma Kathy, Breck walked away from the week with these 2 new additions to his wardrobe.  I think the only reason the hat has left his head is because now he has a fever (perhaps roseola for the boy as well?  only time will tell).  But before the 100+ degree body temps, we were all Jack Sparrow, all the time.  

Breck also went on his first roller coaster, the Barnstormer.  

Not a fan.

We may have ruined him for life as far as roller coasters go.  I think it was a mistake to make this one of the very last rides he did, after a week of few naps and constant excitement.  It was too much.  He held it together until he sat in the stroller.  Then the little tears came.

The kids got to bed at a very decent hour most nights but the night before we left we stayed up late.  Breck and Elsa both ended up falling asleep in the stroller and Chris and I enjoyed the fireworks from the line for the bus back to our resort.  

The stories could go on and on but I shant bore you all.  It was a great week.  The best part by far was having the whole clan together to make the memories.  

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Kay for the trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Hoskins

Last night we said goodbye to Amy and Kris.  Tomorrow we will have to say goodbye to Henry, Olguita and Caleb.  Our house has been a revolving door lately.  36 out of the past 48 nights we have had friends or family staying with us.  So blessed to spend time with so many people we love.  The sheets for our guest bed have never seen so much love.

Pictures and stories to come, but now we must prepare for our next adventure.  Time to do some laundry, pack up the sunscreen and head to what some call the happiest place on earth.  

summer staff

One of the best parts about working for Merge were the amazing people we got to work along side.  From our director to the staff at Covenant World Mission, the other trip facilitators working around the globe to the local leadership and lay people - we have met some truly amazing people and great friends.      And some of the greatest of the great were our summer staffers.  About this time last summer, our staff was arriving for the summer.  And we didn't know it at that time, but it was a summer that would forever change all of us.  Serving alongside the same small group of people 24/7 for weeks on end is a unique experience.  We played, worked, cleaned, ate, argued, cried, laughed, cooked, misunderstood, got frustrated, shared, vented, talked, wondered about laying down hair, drove, did laundry, packed and loved each other well.  

It's sorta strange knowing that this intense community isn't happening for us this summer.  Some things about it we won't miss, but there is a great deal about it that we will long for in these summer months.  

Hannah, Liz, Richard, Nathan and April - We love each of you so much and know that we will be missing you tons this summer.

Ecuador Summer Staff 2010

(Mom was an honorary member...both summers)

Ecuador Summer Staff 2011

And these photos are really best appreciated in a series...

6

Six years ago our adventure began.

2192 days partnering in life together.

We have lived in 4 cities and on 2 continents.

We have moved 7 times.

We've had 2 kids.

We have had to say goodbye to 1 grandparent and 2 great-grandparents.

We've had 7 jobs between the two of us.

We've owned 3 different cars.

We have traveled together to 4 different countries.

We've celebrated with many friends and family as they started their life together and have also watched other's marriages fall apart.

We've spent hours in the car together and walked many miles side by side.

We've met countless friends who have impacted our relationship and how we do life together.

We've sat at the same table sharing meals almost everyday.

We've made it through 2 childbirths, appendicitis, the roads of Ecuador,  post traumatic stress disorder, our first semester of seminary and pieces of our world shattering into a million parts.

We have argued, laughed, cried, sat in silence and laughed some more.

We've packed a lot into our life together so far and we pray that this is just the beginning.  The mystery of what other adventures lie ahead is just so exciting, but not as exciting as knowing who will be by my side as the adventure continues.

And I am forever blow away by our God and the grace that he has shown us everyday.  That He forgives us so that in turn we might forgive each other.  And that he loves us so that in turn we can love one another.

And may the adventure continue for many years more...

ants marching

Breck got an ant farm for his birthday from Grandma Kris.  Now, I have to say that I had small apprehensions about inviting ants into my house, let alone a whole farm full.  But now that they are here, I can see how they may easily become a permanent fixture in our home.  Watching these ants do their thing is fascinating. 

 F.A.S.C.I.N.A.T.I.N.G. 

I had every intention that this little farm would live in the kids room.  However, they seem to have taken up permanent residence in the kitchen just because I want to be able to check in on them regularly throughout the day - see what new tunnels they are working on, watch them bury their dead, see them cleaning themselves, bringing food down into the tunnels to share with others - it is all captivating.

As long as they stay in the farm (and it seems to be very secure), I think the ants are here to stay.  Or at least they will fill the void in my little boy's heart until we can have a "real" pet, as he says.  (He has been missing Aslan so much lately).

The world we live in is truly an awesome place and creation is just beyond words in how amazing and complex it is.  And I am grateful for the ants living on my counter to remind me of that fact.

summer lovin'

I don't think my kids are ready for what summer in the US will mean for us.  Their endurance is low at this point, very low.  In Ecuador, since we enjoyed spring-like weather the whole year round, there was never quite the same urgency to get outside.  Don't get me wrong, we loved to be outside and tried to be outside as much as we could.  But if you didn't get out to enjoy the sun, no worries, cause it will be sunny the next day and the next and the next.  Or maybe from time to time it would be rainy and cold...but the longest I think we ever had to wait to get a day that was a great day to play outside was about 2 weeks.

 I feel like part of what makes summer so great here is that you know it won't last forever. You have to take advantage of every bit of sunshine and warmth. Every day there is a yearning to get out and feel the green grass under your feet and enjoy the shade that giant trees offer - because you know in only a matter of months the air will turn crisp again, daylight will fade and more and more time will be spent within the walls of our homes.

And I think my kids are not yet seasoned to this intense play that the summer months demand of us here where our life is set to rhythm by four seasons.  Granted, Elsa hasn't had enough life yet to be seasoned to much of anything, but for Breck this is a whole new ball game.  I think he will adjust, but for now it is taking it's toll.  He has gone back to taking a nap almost everyday (no complaining here!) and Elsa is back to two naps a day.  They play hard in the hot sun and we stay outside too late into the afternoon, thus pushing dinner time back.  Almost always this results in a pre-dinner meltdown because they are so exhausted and hungry.  But isn't it worth it?

Here's to hoping that our house becomes a glorious mess this summer only because we chose to get out into the great outdoors every second we can, instead of worrying that that there are dishes piled up in the kitchen sink.

 Love that these 4 little rascals all live under one roof!