House on the Rock

Today I was finally able to cross off some things off my bucket list before we leave Wisconsin.  We went to House on the Rock.  An amazing architect and collector built a house on a huge 60 foot rock and filled it with all kinds of museum games, toys, collectibles, antiques, entertainment, and pieces of history.  It is amazing!  There is a huge room with a life-size whale in it and so much more.  Lots of antiques and artifacts, and it has the largest working carousel with over 20, 000 lights inside the house.  Lots of automated music figures and instruments that play by themselves.

Pictures will never do this place justice.  It was amazing.  Everything was all contained in his house.  It was like living in a museum.

The grounds outside were amazing also.  Covered with flowers, plants, streams, and ponds.

Fun at the Grocery Store

We chose the right day to go grocery shopping last week when we were instantly greeted with face painters and balloon artists.  After complaining about having to run errands with Shawn and I the kids minds quickly changed after this.

Grant Park

An evening at Grant Park and Beach

 

Cole's Bday Pics and Video

Finally getting around to posting Cole's birthday pictures and video.  Here they are!

Here is the video.

Father Day!

Again, I have much to be thankful for on this holiday.

First, let’s start with my dad.  My dad was always the “fun dad”.  The one who was always playing games, laughing, and making everyone around him smile. He would hide behind the door with a bucket of water to drench the door bell ditchers, do crazy stunts on the tramp, always dress us for Halloween, make nachos and milkshakes every Sunday night and many other things.  I remember being at youth conference going down the river in rafts.  My dad was the first one to start a water fight, the first overboard, always pushing people in the river, and dumping buckets of water on everyone's heads.  Everybody liked him.  I was always proud to have my friends meet my dad.  He was pretty awesome!  I have soooo many fond memories as a child all due to him.  We would jump on the tramp for hours.  He would play steam roller and run us over on the tramp (and he was really good at it) and we had our own secret game called “space doggy”.  I remember laying on the grass on late summer evenings looking at the stars and having deep conversations.  Dad always liked to ask deep questions.  I always thought my dad was invincible.  He was strong, hardworking, and the protector of our family.  I looked up to him.  He raised me in a righteous home and taught me about God's love.  He taught me how to work hard, about serving others, and he taught me to love everyone.  I believe in the divine power of fatherhood and I know it's part of God's plan.  I'm thankful for my dad.  He has taught me how to live life to the fullest and continues to support me and my family.  I always felt lucky having him as a dad growing up, and I still do. 

I have an incredible father in law also.  He is funny, kind, righteous, loving, gentle, strong, and everything else a good father should be.  He is a great example of a stalwart follower of Christ and a leader of righteousness and truth in his family.  When Shawn and I were dating he went home one night and told his dad that he thought he was falling in love.  He hadn't even told me yet, but I thought it was neat that there bond was so strong he would go to him first.  I think that says a lot about the kind of relationship my father-in-law has with his children.  He is also one of the first people Shawn and I always turn for advice.  He always listens and councils us the way a father should.  I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful person to have as a father-in-law.

When my parents separated I worried a lot about my mom…. a lot.

I worried who would take care of her, make her laugh, and protect her.

And then one day her own knight in shinning armor arrived.

Since that day my mom has been spoiled and loved beyond what I could ever hope for.

My step-father has been nothing short of a blessing in our family.

He has doted on my mom and treated her like the queen that she is.

I am pretty darn lucky to get such an amazing step-father. 

He is a great father and patriarch in his home and a wonderful companion for my mom.

Last, but definitely not least, the father of my children. 

How do you express your gratitude to someone who has created a child with you?

To someone who is helping your raise them, love them, discipline and teach them?

I’m not sure you can, but I’ll forever try.

I could not have found a better partner to help me in my endeavor to be a mother.

He is an amazing father (which I’ve said many times before on this blog)

But, just in case you forgot, I said it again J

When I started working this past year I was worried about being away from my kids.

Worried that I would miss out on important things.  It was a big change for our little family.

It did end up causing a great change in our home, but not for the worse.

I realized that not only could Shawn fill in for me while I was gone,

But that he actually did an amazing job at it.

He stepped up and became at times both mom and dad

And because of it he has a deeper relationship with all of our children.

And we as a couple have a much better relationship than I ever thought possible.

We work together in a more complete way and I think our kids definitely benefit from this. 
Being a father is crucial.  Good fathers are an essential part of our Heavenly Father's Plan.
Lucky for me Shawn is an amazing teacher, amazing protector, amazing provider, and an amazing father!

Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dad’s out there and especially to the wonderful dad’s in my life.

Covered Bridge Park

More than 40 covered bridges once dotted the Wisconsin countryside.  Today the sole survivor is the Cedarburg bridge, originally known as the "Red Bridge".  I have been wanting to see this bridge for a while, so this weekend we made a special trip to see it.

Shawn may or may not have carved our initials on a tree by the covered bridge :)