falling in love with WI

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd wind up living pretty much in the middle of metro suburbia when I dreamed about raising a family someday. Especially when I fell in love with a guy who only wanted to talk about mountains, 3rd world countries and places like Tibet. So it's kind of funny that we winded up where we are now. My husband loves teaching at TEDS and we both thoroughly believe that it was a divine appointment that moved us here. I remember the first time we drove around looking for homes (after living on 2 acres in beautiful rural Michigan and where all of our church community literally lived within a 5 mile radius of each other) here in the burbs and we knew family life was going to be an adjustment. Now, four years later we still find heartpangs for places like Alaska & Africa but we are blessed to have made Wisconsin a home and especially blessed by the friends and community we've established here. Earlier this month we were able to slip away as a family and do a fall camping trip to Devil's Lake state park near the Wisconsin Dells. It was one of the most beautiful camping weekends we've experienced and as we drove home our hearts were grateful for our new "homeland".

Playing football with Dad at the campsite. The boys are in love with football...what is it with Josiah?...it is all or nothing with that kid. First he was obsessed with trains, then dinosaurs, then wild animals, and now football. The other night I had to read an entire book about the Seattle Seahawks to this boy. And twenty times a day he asks me "What's your favorite NFL team, mom?", only to be followed up by "What's your favorite college football team?" I have very limited knowledge (not to mention lack of desire to learn more) about football...but then again I have learned quite a bit about carnivorous animals over the past few years. I suspect I'll learn a bit more about football...
One of the beauties of having a larger family is the ability to have lots of helpers...like when Isaac wanted to play in the back of the suburban at our campsite. Josiah happily obliged him...and especially enjoyed cleaning up (make that eating) the bag of chips Isaac had dumped out. Josiah is wearing his coonskin hat (prized possession) with which he wants to be Davy Crockett for Halloween this year.Cole helps Maddie organize her beautiful leaf collection.In the parking lot getting ready to head out for a hike. Isaac was very excited that he was "free" on this trip due to the fact we forgot to bring the backpack carrier for him.
The four kids in front of the infamous "balanced rock." The pictures made it look huge but when you got up close it wasn't even as tall as Tom or I. The hike there was beautiful, though, a reminder that the journey is the destination sometimes.

"Mr. I-Can-Do-It-ALL-by-Myself!"

More to come...