Follow The Blue Blaze Path

Sing with me...Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the blue blaze path!

I assigned Dan the job of finding us someplace fun to go hiking over the weekend.  He picked Bennet Springs outside of Lebanon, MO (which is the little bit bigger town just southwest of us).

It sounded like a neat place to explore, that is, until we saw this sign.

Yeah.  You read that right.  3.6 miles to the tunnel, means 3.6 miles back to our car.  We set off with positive attitudes thinking we'd go as far as we could.  Dan really thought the kids could make it.

We found some fun places to rest and play along the way.

We saw a whole lot of nature.  There were butterflies everywhere.  We saw pretty flowers and came across two turtles.  We think we heard deer, but we never saw them.

This huge tree lent us it's roots to use as a picnic table for lunch.

At this point, we'd hiked about a mile and a half...still smiling.

At this point, we were maybe at 3 miles...not smiling.

And finally, my second favorite sign!  We made it!

I must admit, the tunnel was pretty cool.  We checked it out for about 20 minutes, before we started back (the opposite way - so another 4.1 miles).

The kids whined and complained a little on the way in, but the pretty blue sky got covered up with grey clouds on the way out.  We only really saw one good bolt of lightening, but we heard lots of thunder.  It succeeded in scaring the kids and in making their feet move double fast.  It also rained on our heads, but the trees worked as great umbrellas.  I bet we were walking 15-17 minute miles at the end. 

Overall, we hiked 7.7 miles in 4 hours and 45 minutes with breaks here and there.  Dan and I were  proud of the kids.  We were so thrilled to get back to this trailhead...

...that is until we started looking and realized we'd walked through a tick breeding area.  I'm not kidding.  Even with bug spray, we were coated in teeny tiny baby ticks.  We undressed in the laundry room and our clothes went straight into the washer on the sanitize cycle and into the dryer on high heat for an hour.  We went straight into the showers and looffa'ed off the ticks.  I bet Jaelyn and I had 50 of them on us.  We've found a few today and will be doing tick checks for days to come.  I've washed sheets and vacuumed just encase any fell off of us.  I'm still itchy all over just thinking about it.  I told Dan he needs to bug bomb his car.  I don't know how he's going to get them all out.

Rich - don't get any ideas about us taking you here. I'm N-E-V-E-R going back to Bennet Springs again.  Ewwww.

Caden's Story

Caden's writing is improving so much.  To begin with, it was a fight to get him to write during homework time so I started paying him a penny for every word he wrote.  He's made about fifty cents so far.  He brought home this story today.  I'm impressed.  His penmanship and speed are improving.

"When I was little I had a baby rattle.  And it was green.  And it had little balls in it to rattle."

The Wii Room

I hate the Wii.  Did you hear me?  I HATE THE WII.  It has brought nothing but fighting to our house.  I put it in time-out on a regular basis.  When Dan's out of town, no wii allowed.  Maybe I'm mean, but anything that causes my kids to yell at each other and cry is not worth having in my house.  Well, it got taken away just about as soon as it was set up after the move.  Caden was having trouble going to school, so I set up rewards for him to earn.  One was to earn the wii back.  He earned it back yesterday, but with new enforced, stricter rule.  I put the wii in our spare bedroom instead of the living room.  It is hooked up to a small TV.  One child may go into the room at a time, close the door and may play for 20 minutes with a timer set in private.  They've had the wii exactly 24 hours and all is well...so far!

Exploring

In typical Dan fashion, he's been doing a little driving around on the base and has found some pretty cool places.  He and Allie went exploring them two weekends ago and he took the rest of us back over Labor Day weekend.  This is Miller's Cave right here on base.  It's pretty steep to get down to it, but wow, what a neat place and what a view.  There are actually 3 rooms of caves connected by little tunnels.

Jaelyn put her inner monkey to work right away by scaling walls.

Was I right abou the view or what?  This is literally 5-7 minutes from our house.  There's another cave on the same trail that we'll have to find another day.

On another drive, Dan discovered a sign for Happy Hollow.  There's a creek and a playground with pavilions.  It was nice and peaceful.  The water was cold, but not too deep so the kids waded in and threw rocks.  I think Happy Hollow may become our new Jerusalem Mills.

Dan also took the kids to the museum one day while I was sick in bed.  {Allergies are in full blast here in Missouri.  We've been told people who have allergies no where else have problems here.  We have allergies already so I'm really worried.  The kids have been complaining of headaches and itchy eyes.  Everyone is on a daily dose of allegra from now until...we move?}   Tangent...sorry.  Here are the kids in front of a section of the Berlin Wall...kind of cool.

These chains can't hold me!

She's getting squished like a bug.

Allie's the damsel in distress waiting to be rescued. 

We also did a little geocaching.  One cache took us to a scenic overlook of the famous Route 66.

Stay tuned for more explorations.  Now that we are unpacked and settled, it's time to get out and see Missouri and make the most of being lost in the woods.

Calling All Prayer Warriors

This is Shannae.  Isn't she adorable?

These are her parents, Eddy and Sandi.

Sandi is one of my online friends.  I know, I know.  You all think I'm crazy, but I have made some of the best friends through an online ministry during our infertility days.  Unfortunately, Sandi lives in Australia so I may never get to meet her like I have with some of the girls in the States.

Sandi, Eddy, Shannae and Shannae's older sister Talia need your prayers.

Several months ago Shannae was diagnosed with MPS 1.  Sandi blogged about it.. It is a potentially life threatening genetic disorder, but there is hope through a new medicine.  In order for Shannae to get the medicine, her file has to go before a board of doctors.  They will make the decision that could save her life.  Sandi wrote more about it here.  Her file was just sent to the board.  They will be reviewing her case and making the decision in the next few weeks.

 

 

Shannae needs prayers.  Will you join me in praying for her and in praying that the board will decide in her favor so she can get the medicine?  Thank you.

Perfect Pulled Pork

Did I mention I spent a day at my parents house this summer pulling recipes out of magazines? They literally had a cabinet full they were cleaning out.  I have a whole folder of new recipes I want to try.

Last week, the commissary had pork roasts clearance "cook or freeze."  I bought one for under $4 and made the best pulled pork sandwiches using this rub recipe from the Kraft Food and Family magazine.  Jaelyn and Caden weren't too keen on it, but Allie LOVED it.  Dan and I had left-over sandwiches several days.

Perfect Pulled Pork

5 lb boneless pork butt shoulder
1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp gralic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water
soft sandwich buns

Combine all seasonings in a small bowl and rub evenly over roast.  Place meat in a slow cooker.  Add water.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours or until pork is very tender.

Place pork on large cutting board or platter and let rest for 10-15 minutes.  Pull, slice or chop to serve.  Serve in buns with barbecue sauce.

YUM!

Chipotle-Lime Chicken Skewers

I pulled this recipe out of a magazine ages ago and finally got around to making it.  It was really, really good.  I was worried when I made the marinade that it would be too mayonnaise-y tasting, but the taste mellowed out on the grill and we were left with creamy, citrusy, slightly spicy chicken.  I used the reserved marinade (that we didn't use for dipping - yuck) to make more chicken skewers for chicken nachos tonight.

Chipotle-Lime Chicken Skewers

1 cup mayo
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp ground chipotle chile pepper
2 lbs chicken breast or thighs, cut into strips

Combine all ingredients except chicken in a medium bowl; reserve 1/2 cup mayo mixture.

Thread chicken on skewers, then brush with the mayo mixture.

Grill or broil chicken, turning once until chicken is thoroughly cooked.  Serve chicken skewers with reserved mayo mixture.

Facebook Break

Just letting all my facebook friends know I'm taking a little break and unplugging. I'd appreciate prayers for my family. God knows the details. Thanks.

Sent while lost in the woods on my iPhone

Digging in the Dirt and Memories

I love to work in the yard which is good because this yard needs TLC.   This morning, I started pulling weeds in an attempt to get our yard in order.  In the front, we have rose bushes.  I've never had a rose.  The roses have been beaten down by neglect, roofers and renovations.  I cut the dead and damaged off and staked them up.  We have what look like knock-out roses and some sort of long stem red roses.  I wish I could call my Grandma Molly and ask her how to take care of them.  She loved roses and had a lot of roses in her yard.  She normally had a small bowl or vase with roses on her entry way table.  It made me feel happy to cut a few of the blooms and put them in her bud vase.

By the way, have I mentioned that the privatized housing company cuts our grass???  Seriously, every Monday a crew comes through with lawn mowers and edgers.  While I prefer a mulched yard with diagonal lines if I were doing it, I'll take whatever they do for me since it's free!  They also give free mulch, but they don't deliver like Ft. Gillem did.

Work it!

Experts My Foot

I wasn't quite sure what materials would be best to hang our swing from the tree so I asked the friendly "experts" at Lowe's.  I found someone who worked in playground equipment area, showed him the swing, and asked for help hanging it.  He told me which rope would be best and what metal connectors to use.  He acted like he knew exactly what he was talking about.  I should have checked the experts on YouTube instead.  Sheesh.  Within an hour of hanging it up, Allie was on her bottom on the ground crying where she landed when the rope broke.  The guy was right about how to tie it in the tree.  It was his choice of rope and the connection between the swing and the rope that was the problem.  Thankfully, Allie wasn't hurt, but that guy at Lowe's might be if I see him again.  The manager is not going to be thrilled when he and I have a talk tomorrow.

Postage Stamp No More

It is so great to have a yard again.  The kids love the open space and mature trees.  We put a swing up today for the kids to play on.  The ladder wasn't quite tall enough so Dan suggested I relive my childhood.  LOL.  Encase anyone has forgotten.  You shouldn't climb trees in sandals.

I have plans for a real tire swing in another tree.  I just need to procure a tire.  Walmart doesn't give them away for liability reasons, but one of the guys told me where a couple of mom and pop type tire places are and was sure they'd hook me up.  Until then, the kids are having a great time.

And I'm enjoying sitting on the back patio watching them.  {Mom look to the left side of the tree :)}

Jaelyn tried her best to get in the tree like I did, but her legs aren't long enough for the big step into the tree.  I'm glad because it's a long way down and I wouldn't want her up there when I wasn't outside.

Meramac Caverns

The kids were so sick of the car, but after signing for a house, we had a few free days with my parents.  We didn't want to hang out at the hotel so we take another road trip.  Missouri apparently is the cavern capitol.  There are caverns everywhere.  We went to Meramac Caverns which is between here and St. Louis.

We had to stop at Kmart to buy sweatshirts because all we had were tank tops and shorts.

Jaelyn's pointing to my mom's new pink shoes...a very hip Baba.

Allie and my mom were buddies.  The fearless one was actually scared while we were in the caves.  Go figure.  We finally found something that Allie is scared of.

After the caverns, I paid $7 each for 3 bags of dirt so the kids could "pan for gold."  They found a collection of rocks and got an identification card to identify them.

We really enjoyed the cavern.  This area is called mirror lake.  The top half of the picture is the wall and ceiling.  The bottom half is it's reflection in the lake. 

This is another area with the reflection. It was a really neat optical illusion.

Gramps, Baba and the kids...thanks so much for all of your help and support.  This has been the hardest move and we really appreciate everything you have done for us.  We love you!