Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving at the Cabin is always a special family time.

This year, our anticipation of Thanksgiving had been building for weeks.  Our decorations were hung.  We had enjoyed E-Bear's Paraliturgy.  We had ingredients on hand.  We had been talking about the many things for which we are thankful.  And, perhaps most of all, we love being at the Cabin together.

This year, as usual, our Thanksgiving meal was a feast.

We enjoyed the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry thanks to MoMo.  We enjoyed stuffing thanks to Auntie Sharon.  We enjoyed traditional fruit salad thanks to Auntie Cindy.  As a loving salute to T's family, I made squash casserole and sweet potato casserole.  At the beginning of our meal, the plates were as stuffed as the turkey.

By the end of the meal, it was our tummies that were stuffed.

MoMo gave us all a puzzle as a family gift for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We made short work of the puzzle.  After all, we had a multitude of hands working quite hard next to the warmth of Papa's fire.

We also had a great time enjoying the wintery feel of the north woods.  T and I took the kids for a hike on the sled.  T pulled the sled, and I took the pictures. :)

The lake was frozen solid.  

We ventured just onto the shoreline.  

T and I are still too cautious to go out very far.  

E-Bear made a great snow angel on the ice.  

Before we left, Papa let the kids clean out the ashes from the fireplace.  This ended up being one of their favorite activities of the weekend!  Just look at those little Cinderellas!

We said good-bye to the Cabin for the winter as we left.  Buddy Bear was in tears, and I couldn't blame him.  We love Thanksgiving at the Cabin!  Maybe we need to plan a winter snowshoe weekend.......

Happily Ever,

Queen B

Taking GG to the Cabin

This year, for Labor Day Weekend, we took GG to her cabin.

Watching another generation enjoy the cabin with GG is a tremendous treat.

All the effort and energy that we put forth to get to the cabin together is worth it.

The cabin hasn't changed much in its 94 years.

It remains the cabin of many memories.

Of course, with a crew our size, tents are required (and thoroughly enjoyed).

MoMo and Papa's tent hasn't changed much in my lifetime either.  

This Labor Day, G-Bear, E-Bear and Buddy Bear got to sleep in the tent.

They chattered with MoMo and Papa late into the night and woke up to read stories with the late-August sunrise.

During the day, our favorite activities always include fishing with Uncle Scott.
Cousin B and Uncle Scott helped our Bears find their worms.

Then, they were out to the end of the dock, where everyone gets a fishing pole and a chance to catch a fish!  G-Bear has become a pro.  Buddy Bear is just a beginner.  I remember when G-Bear was Buddy Bear's size, learning to catch a fish with Uncle Scott.  Those days felt like yesterday as I watched my crew fish the lake.

Looking back to shore, what a sweet sight to see.

J-Bear enjoyed exploring the cabin for the first time.  She was here last summer, but she was just a newborn.  This year, she got to experience the cabin for herself.

Our sweet little J-Bear loved running in the yard, digging in the sandy shore, kicking the soccer ball with her siblings and Big Cousin B, and dipping her toes off the dock with me.

Can you believe that GG was J-Bear's age when the cabin was new?  

The best part of being at GG's cabin is the same today as when it was first built:

 the time spent together.  

Of course we had our traditional fireside dinner with hot dogs, hamburgers and s'mores. 

The corn this year is sweet and delicious!  J-Bear is just like her GG and her siblings.  She loved it!

The view from the pontoon was lovely as usual.  

We rode the boat to town to get an ice cream at the Dairy Queen.

What a blessing it was to give GG yet another tour around the lake.

T and I sat by the fire before heading to bed one night, and we watched the light of the tent and listened to the giggles from the sleeping bags.  Summer days at GG's cabin are sweet.

Thank you, GG, for all of these wonderful memories. 

Thank you, Lord, for GG and such sweet times together.

Fabulous Fourth

What a crew!

What a Fourth!

This Fourth of July we were up at MoMo and Papa's cabin.  My Seattle cousins were also visiting with their children -- more cousins for the Bear crew to enjoy!  So many treats were in store.

The biggest project of the week was the arrival of a new playset. 

Cousins R and K and T worked overtime to put it together for the kids.  

There were many pieces.....

...but they were undaunted by the task and persevered. 

What a treat it was for the kids to wake up to the completed swing set!

Uncle C was also in attendance, having traveled all the way from Arizona for the holiday weekend.

As always, he was the cool uncle, arriving with fireworks for the crew to enjoy on the night of the Fourth.  In MN, our fireworks are pretty tame because of the laws banning large fireworks for private use.  But, the kids thought each one was better than the next.

 There was always great anticipation as Uncle C announced the name of the firework and lit the fuse.

A hush inevitably fell over the crowd.

But the squeals of delight were unmistakable!  They loved each one more than the last.

The weather was lovely, so of course we spent plenty of time down the path at the dock.

Aunty Cindy's paddle boat was a favorite, especially when Papa played "Good-bye and Good Riddance!" 

On Sunday the boys joined T and me for a paddle boat ride across the lake to the other shore.  It was a gorgeous day and the water was so blue.  The boys and I just had to slip in and swim to shore at the end!  Papa jumped off the dock to meet us out in the deep water.  The boys were so delighted.  What fun!

In the end, this crew went home exhausted, filled full of s'mores, dilly bars and lots of wonderful memories of a special week.  God, thank you for these special days.  Bless America and our families this Fourth of July.

Giving Thanks 2013

Last week, G-Bear quizzed me, "Mommy, did you know that 'Thanksgiving' is a compound word?"  "Yes," responded E-Bear before I could answer, "because it could be changed around to 'Giving Thanks."  Clearly, there had been some coaching going on, but I was impressed.  But no matter how you say the word, we have had a wonderful time giving thanks this Thanksgiving.

This year, we celebrated at the cabin.  

We spent Thanksgiving morning eating apple cake and making pilgrim napkin rings 

and Thankful Turkeys.

We romped in the woods with loved ones.

We peeled carrots, 

mashed squash, 

chopped brussels sprouts,

 and pureed sweet potatoes like true pilgrims.  :)

After the turkey was carved, 

it was time to feast.  

E-Bear loved the turkey, G-Bear loved the mashed potatoes, 

Buddy Bear loved the cranberry, and J-Bear even tried some sweet potato.

But that wasn't all.

This year, the kids put on an after-dinner production of the First Thanksgiving.

I was the narrator, E-Bear and G-Bear were pilgrims, and Buddy Bear was Squanto.

It was a hit!

We also continued the tradition of the annual After-Thanksgiving puzzle.

(Some people shop on Black Friday.  We puzzle.)

This year, it was a Disney special with 1000 pieces. The puzzle took us 2 days.  

Everyone pitched in (including all of the kids!), and it was a great pastime as always.

There was also a bit of football to watch.  We won't say much more about that.

There were some fireworks to watch as well 

(Those turned out better than the football).

All in all, we are feeling blessed and grateful for family, friendship, and full lives.  We also come away from our family weekend feel compelled to share our blessings with others. 

Could there be a better segue into Advent?

Happy Thanksgiving.