Kohl's Was A Bad Idea Today

I should have known not to even step foot in Kohl's today after I had to get the kids back in their carseats when I realized that Abby had a full poopy diaper (which I had changed right before we left) and I had forgotten to put diapers in my bag before we left. I really just should have known that the whole Kohl's experience was going to be a nightmare.

Kohl's was having one of their great sales today. In fact, it was the "everything's on sale" sale and we do a lot of shopping there. I like their home section and their kids clothes. I have been looking for a mirror for our dining room, and I knew that if they had one there, it would be 50% off. I am also on this photo album kick. I have 5000 + pictures on my computer and have decided that even though I REALLY want to be a scrapbooker, that it just isn't for me. I'm not crafty and I do not have the time or patience to do it. And do I really think that I can catch up on 5000 pictures while keeping up with my current ones? So, I am working on printing my pictures out and organizing them into albums. Albums were 50% off today too, so I was on a mission.

After returning home and changing Abby's diaper, the kids and I strolled into Kohls. Abby was in the stroller (buckled of course because she climbs out) and Jenna decided that she wanted to push her princess Bible in a Kohl's cart. Thinking that would keep her busy, I agreed. Wrong decision. Jenna kept running the cart into my heels which really, really hurt. After three times, I told her that if she kept ramming my ankles, that we would have to put the cart away. She burst out into tears upset that she was hurting me and upset that I threatened to take her cart away. Then I felt horrible because I shouldn't have expected her to be able to push a cart that was taller than her.

After she calmed down and put the cart away, we made our way through the clothing. Abby grabs at all the clothes as we pass and manages to get about a fourth of them on the floor. So, I finally just went really fast through the aisles, making sure to keep moving so that Abby coudln't get a hold of the clothes.

Our next adventure happened in the picture frames. Abby decided that being in the stroller was no good, so she screamed, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!" over and over as loudly as she could. After trying to tune it out so I could pick out picture albums, I got her out and held her. So, I'm holding Abby and then Jenna starts crying because she wants these princess picture frames that are ridiculously expensive. And not that I think about it, weren't onl sale which means that Kohls lied about the "everything on sale" thing. Anyway . . . Jenna cried for a while and once I got my albums, we started to leave. Then I spotted the perfect mirror for my dining room that was 50% off! I grabbed it! So, I have a crying 3 year old, a crying 1 year old in the stroller, and me trying to push the stroller, carry the big mirror and keep Jenna with me all that the same time.

By the time we got to the checkout, I was thoroughy exhausted.

I should have known that when I had to turn around and go home to get diapers for Abby that staying there would have been the best choice. But the Kohls sale was calling me.

At least I got what I went there for!

Ole Blue

While on vacation in northern Wisconsin, we encountered a bear for the first time at the cabins in Eagle River. For years, my grandpa always told us that bears hung out at the town dump, so we always thought that that's the only place bears were in that area. Apparently, the dumps are closed and the bears have discovered campgrounds and cabins.

Here's what happened! On the second night of our vacation, my cousin, Stephanie was in her cabin working in the kitchen around 9:30pm. She heard some rustling outside, but thought nothing of it. Raccoons often get into the garbage, but leave only a mess to clean up. She looked outside and saw a large black figure. Since it was close to being dark, she wasn't entirely sure.

Nate drove in late that night, since he had to preach on Sunday. I was waiting for him at our cabin. When we got in, we went over to my cousins' cabin. Not five minutes later, Ole Blue appeared. (Ole Blue is the name we gave our bear friend). We heard this loud crashing,which was Ole Blue knocking down the garbage cans. After waking up all the adults in the cabin and peering at the bear out the window who was literally 5 feet from us, my cousin, Sean grabbed his gun and went outside with Nate. They Ole Blue was about ten feet away by this time eating some of the garbage. He didn't seem to be bothered by them at all and just sat there eating his meal. Sean hollered to try to get him to go away, but nothing worked. He finally ran into the woods after a few gunshots in the ground.

Of course, we were nervous about the bear the whole week. We constantly were running to the window, looking for Ole Blue. We didn't want him to come back, but at the same time, it was exciting to see a 500 lb black bear standing in front of you.

He made one more appearance late in the week. He was walking by the lake by our cabin when some boys spotted him and started yelling. Ole Blue didn't harm anyone, but those boys stayed in their boat on the lake until he was gone.

We were pretty freaked out by seeing a black bear, but we came to learn that they are common where we were. It seems that they are used to people and are only interested in old trash.

Ole Blue sure gave us some excitement in Eagle River!

Vacation in Eagle River

We have just returned from an almost two week vacation in the Midwest. We spent a week in northern Wisconsin with my side of the family in Eagle River, a family gathering spot for many, many years.

My grandpa and his parents and siblings ran a resort on Big Bass Lake in Eagle River, WI. The resort included log cabins and a lodge that were built in 1923. My grandpa lived there for several years before having to leave due to the crash. My great-grandparents owned the property even though the resort was not in operation. When my great-grandma died, she gave Camp Balsams, as it is called, to her church to use as a retreat place. In the original agreement, she asked that the family be allowed to use the camp as well. My mom spent summers at the Balsams with her cousins and then brought us there as well. We all have many good memories of being at the Balsams with our family.

This summer, we all made it up to the Balsams for the first time in five years. Nate, the girls, and I spent the week with my parents, my cousins and their families as well as my brother and aunt and uncle. Some others came for a few days as well.

It was a great week. Some family wounds were healed and some were undoubtedly were created. Isn't that how it goes in families, though? I don't have many cousins or much extended family that we see regularly. But we were always close to my cousins in Illinois growing up. Now that we are all adults, we still enjoy being together and Eagle River is the place where we can all gather.

I haven't stayed up until 2 or 3 in the morning all week since college, but we had a great time playing games until the wee hours of the morning. It was wonderful to have our girls up there too and for them to meet their cousins ( I think they are 2nd cousins) and spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. Since we live far away from all of our family, we cherish the time we get to spend with family.

After Eagle River, we spent a few days at Nate's parents house as well. Glad to be home, but thankful for the time with our families!