The last Harry Potter movie

A flashback to Sidge's 2018 Halloween costume.

We are enjoying December as a family. We are enjoying John's job not kicking his butt. While COVID has reared its head a bit more in the ER, and the flu is now a bit more prevalent, John is home. Our stress is down. And we can just be a family when we are on family time.

John read and watched all the Harry Potter movies with the boys when they were younger. (He read some of the books with them, and they read some of them on their own.) 

Somewhere in the middle of the boys Harry Potter adventures, I decided to read the books. I had started them decades ago (seriously! Maybe sometime in the early 2000's.) But for some reason, I just didn't get that into them. Sidge asked me to try again. And I did. I started reading and was completely and utterly hooked. J.K. Rowling is seriously a brilliant writer. I was flabbergasted time and time again as I read at her talent. This isn't a fad. It's simply ... amazing. (I wrote a previous post about this topic HERE.)

Earlier this year John started reading the books to the girls (with the boys along for the ride again.) John is devoted to pre-bed reading. He tries to do it nearly every single night. He usually does a devotional of some sort with the kids, some sort of apologetics, and also a novel of choice. 

I don't participate in their family reading. This is my "adult time." John reads and does bedtime (unless he's on nights) while I do my own thing. I love this as a mom since, as most moms know, bedtime is the time that we are just plumb tired from doing the mom thing all day.

For as long as I can remember, it's been Harry Potter that they have been reading through. A few days ago, they finally finished book 7. I had been waiting for the girls to finish them so I could watch the movies with them. Each time they finished one of the books, they watched the movie in celebration and then went on to the next book.

Tonight we finished movie 7 and then watch the entire 8th movie. It's hard to believe that we've been parents long enough to go through this with the kids two times. And to be honest, I have a feeling it won't be the last. This is such a fun adventure for our family. Aren't books so magical?

Longview Ranch

We just got back from 48-hours away from the farm. We drove a horribly long thirty minutes to get to Longview Ranch in Mosheim, TN. This was, by far, one of the best adventures our family has ever taken together. We had a BLAST!

While Longview could host about 8-10 families at a time, due to COVID-19, there were only four families at their very first FAMILY QUEST, and we were all kept socially distant from each other. 

Here was our family's schedule for the weekend:

Listen, my husband is an introvert. He has ZERO need if he is not at work, to be anywhere but our farm. But even he was completely SOLD at how wonderful this weekend was for our family. 

Isaac really did NOT want to go on this weekend. He, too, would rather just be at home. But he also had a BLAST! We all did.

We had an opportunity to participate in skeet shooting, S'mores, horseback riding, canoeing, archery, hiking and be the guinea pigs on their new and amazingly fast outdoor water slide!

Another thing: I really thought the food would be just "acceptable." But it went beyond that. I thought it was delicious and a definite step above what I envisioned camp food to be. 

All of our food and entertainment was taken care of. All we had to do was show up with our own bedding, move into our family cabin (complete with our own private bathroom) and enjoy the weekend. 

I truly canNOT say enough good things about this opportunity for our family. It is something we will definitely do every year if the ability presents itself. 

This camp is a fantastic place with fantastic people. The staff was amazing. The food was great. It was clean and beautiful and peaceful and just simply a GREAT getaway for our family.

I'll be singing their praises for a long time to come!

Here are some bird pictures Abigail took at the ranch or right outside of it:

Summer Tanager

Barred Owl

Louisiana Waterthrush

Scarlet Tanager

Ragged looking Pine Warbler Singing

Red-Headed Woodpecker (Rare bird for this location!)

Harry Potter Day

JB finished reading Book 4 of Harry Potter with the kiddos last week and that meant it was time to watch the fourth movie together! (My boys have already devoured the books on their own, and both JB and I have read them solo as well.)

John made Butter Beer and Polyjuice Potion and Pumpkin Pasties and some other fantastic snacks. It was a super fun day!

Mammoth Cave Park Adventure

We took our camper to Mammoth Caves National Park for three days. We met our good friends and camping buddies: The Pleasant family! It was fantastic. If you have not been to this National Park: What are you waiting for? It is conveniently located to so much of the USA. GO SEE IT!!!!

Getting pictures inside the cave was not an easy task, but JB attempted it:

That's me trying to duck.

And here's a few fun pictures outside of the park:

 

The greatest Dad

Every year, my husband is required to get "continuing medical education" (CME) credits to keep up his medical license. You can get these anywhere, but John really likes to get them with the Wilderness Medicine Society.

I remember before JB planned his trip last year, he said to me, "I hate that I have to take a week away from my family."

And I said: "Why don't you take your family with you?"

Of course, our first thought was that all six of us could make this trip together. But I knew better. Being in charge of four children at a hotel is not fun for me. And I've learned to know my limitations and be wise with them.

The next option would be for JB and I to go together. But we just did Maine. That wasn't really an option either.

Why couldn't he take one son, old enough to sit through the conference?

So last year, he did just that. He and Isaac -- our oldest son -- went to Utah. And this year, it was Sidge's turn.

Here are some pictures from their trip to Salt Lake City / Park City. I love that my husband craves time with his children. And I love that my children get this amazing time with their dad.

 

On the airplane heading out. Sidge was SO excited to be with his dad. And just as excited to watch unlimited nature movies together!

 

With wild bison and antelope! 

 

 

My husband with his mini-me.

 

John planned a horse back riding adventure which was a real step of faith for Sidge. He has ridden before but only being led. He was very scared, but he was brave and tried it and LOVED it.

 

 

On their way to the airport to head home, John got a kidney stone and had to drive himself to the Emergency Room. This was a first for him and the worst pain he's ever had. Sidge did great though and they were able to get on a flight later that evening.

A Look Back at D.C. Vacation

We arrived in D.C on Tuesday, August 24. We stayed with our good friends John and Becky. We met them at Eglin AFB when Becky and I were both childless. There are now six beautiful children amongst us. They have made MANY trips to our farm so I am sure you have seen them around and about. I actually failed to get a single pic of our six kids together, but I did capture this picture which includes our buddy William later on in the trip so I'll include that.

John and Becky's sons are in the front. That is Jonah (left) and Joshua (right)

We hung out Tuesday evening and went to bed super early. Becky made an AWESOME curry that we just gobbled up and had for leftovers the next day as well. John and Becky had a wonderful guest set up for us in their basement. After living in one tiny room, it felt like a palace!!! They are such wonderful people and a great family. We love having them as life-long friends. Becky and I realized that Isaac will turn ten this year. She and I met right before we adopted Isaac. SO NEAT!

JB also LOVED their backyard. It backed up to a nature trail. He saw SO many birds from their backyard and said it was the best birding backyard he has ever seen. A huge compliment! :)

On Wednesday morning, Becky let her boys go in late to school so the kids could play and then we decided to take off for the UDVAR HAZY MUSEUM. Neither JB or I had ever been there and it is amazing. It has the Enola Gay and the Space Shuttle Discovery among many, many other things. Here are some pictures from our day there:

Space shuttle Discovery

We let the kids decide if they wanted to try a simulator or not. These three said yes.

Our more cautious boy opted to take a turn operating the controls on a plane.

Scavenger Hunts for my kids are such a great idea. Isaac especially takes the museum on in a whole new way. It was so cool of the museum to have this for the kids.

Abigail the Astronaut

On Wednesday evening, my good friend from the Azores, Claire, came to Becky's house for dinner with her kiddos. It was so nice of Becky to host everyone. Here is a picture of all of our children:

A great picture of all the kids I love how kids can just play like they haven't not seen each other in so long.

Not a great picture, but here is Abigail with Claire. She went right to her!

On Thursday we decided to do a BIG day touring in D.C. since it was the only day with really good weather. We went just the six of us and oh did we have a wonderful day. The weather was GLORIOUS. And it was just so fun.

The kiddos at a fountain by the building housing the Declaration of Independence!

Abigail saw the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and asked, "Is that how tall he really was?"

Me: "No."

Abigail: "Even without the thing he is standing on?"

Abigail: "Is Thomas Jefferson still alive?"

Sidge: "No, he died."

Abigail: "How?"

Hannah: "Probably from oldness."

Probably one of my favorite family fotos ever!!!

We got to see the White House. We also had lunch at the famous OLD EBBITT GRILL which has been open across the street from the White House since 1856. We took a chance and showed up without a reservation and were seated right away! I love traveling in off-season time.

We did a quick jaunt around the Natural History Museum.

So fun!

There were even some Cherry Blossoms in bloom. I must admit, I really see myself in this little face.

In front of the Capitol Building

Hannah actually said, "Dad, take a picture of me with this rock. It's my very favorite rock."

When we got home from touring, everyone wanted to watch National Treasure after seeing the Declaration of Independence up close. Oh, and by the way, when we saw it, Hannah said: "That's just a very old piece of paper with nothing on it.

Here we are watching the movie!

On Friday, my good friend Stebbs who lives not far from Becky, let her William play hooky to go touring with us. She dropped him off at Becky's and we took two vehicles to the metro stop. Becky and her boys joined us for a fun day at the Bible Museum!!

Here's Hannah getting herself dressed for the day. She picks out the most interesting clothes.

The kiddos reading on the Metro ride

First up was the Bible Museum. Oh was I excited to see this!!!!

The highlight of my day was being able to see a copy of the TABURU scriptures in the Bible Museum.See all those yellow boxes behind me? Those are all the languages that still do not have a Bible in their language!

There's my Aunt and Uncle listed under the translation team!!! (Ed and Jan!) Folks the Bible Museum was simply AMAZING!!! Truly I could have spend a gazillion more hours there. I can't wait to go back.

Fun with William in the Bible Museum

Check out Abigail! Lol!

Check out this picture above of my boys walking with their buddy William. 

Stebbs put these side-by-side. This was them when we lived together in Turkey. Man oh man. Emotional.

A close up look at Hannah's outfit 

Sidge and Joshua -- these two are like two peas in a pod. (That's his mom Becky in the background.)

Hannah and Jonah. Jonah usually pops between playing with all four of my kids. He plays Legos with Isaac or goes on adventures with Abigail or does whatever it is a Hannah does.

Me with the kiddos in front of some beautiful tulips (my favorite flower!)

When we got back on Friday, we headed over to the Stebbins' family house, saying good bye to John and Becky. Ryan made homemade pizza the first night and smoked a pork butt (his specialty!) the second night. Both were sooooo good, and we had such a great time. I also got to run over and see Claire one more time and introduce her to Sarah Stebbs. (They live only a few minutes away from each other!)

The rest of the weekend was spent laying low. Chik-fil-A, Target, sword fights, video games, and just having an awesome time catching up with our friends.

Stebbins sent me out front to watch the kids playing. Major FAIL here folks. That's me -- enjoying vacation. I work hard but I am not afraid of a vacation!!!!

Graham, William, and my kids. Graham and Hannah are six weeks apart in age and really played great together!!

The three amigos. I think the best part of this picture is seeing Sidge in an Auburn sweatshirt! Roll 'Tide. Oh, wait, that isn't Auburn it isn't. Isn't it a War Eagle?