Frozen Treats and Campfires

This Saturday, June 27th, is the Great American Backyard Campout. To add to the supply of things I have already frittered away for this occasion, I am going to go to the store and stock up on Bomb Pops because...tomorrow is National Bomb Pop Day! If you would like a $1.00 coupon to use, click on this link.

Riley and I are going to pitch our tent in my parent's back yard. We had thought about doing it at our lot, but there would be no "facilities" available for our personal needs, if you catch my meaning.

We plan to roast some wienies on a fire my dad said he would start for us from a pile of trees he cut down, and drink lots of cold pop, and a beer or two for the adults. There will be laughter, Frisbee tossing, stories, and definitely S'mores. And bug spray.

Riley has already asked if we can charge the battery on the portable DVD player so we can watch "Friends" in the tent. I think I am going to have to say no to that. Every little person should be able to experience camping out, even if it's just in their own backyard. There's nothing like listening to the bugs and the breezes and cuddling up in a musty old sleeping bag. And it's always fun to sneak up on someone who is in the tent alone and scare the baJesus out of them.

My Mom used to take us kids camping on the weekends in the summer, I say my mom because my dad was always working, and he and the other dads would come out at night and help the ladies "man" the grill. Even though I was very young they are still some of the best childhood memories I have. We swam, and fished, and played hide and seek.

I wasn't much of a swimmer, and I'm still not. I finally was brave enough to put my face in the water when one of my buddies told me he would buy me a candy bar at the little store we went to that was a short walk through the woods if I would do it. I guess us girls will do anything for chocolate. I loved that store, I'm pretty sure it was just an extra room that an older couple had built at the end of their house, and they had Bazooka bubble gum (the kind with the comics you could barely read), Tootsie Rolls (small or large), and some assorted frozen treats. I can remember getting out of the lake, wrapping up in a towel, and walking there barefoot, dripping the whole way.

Unfortunately our campground was bought out by a "man with a lot of money" who built a big house on the lake and ended our times there, but we found a new spot to go to. And it had a pool, with a slide, and on Sunday mornings they would throw coins in and all of us kids got to dive for it. It's a good thing I got used to putting my face in the water.

Here's to a beautiful weekend, with good weather, and lots of giggles.

And It's All Ours

Riley and I visited our lot the other night to see just what we were in for. The neighbor who sold it to us walked down to introduce her little boy to Riley. Riley is just a few months older than him. I can see them being friends already.

The couple that we bought the lot from had planted many trees, all of which I will save and plant around the lot lines to give us some privacy. I can see taking Riley's picture next to one of these trees in 9 years, just before he leaves for college, and realizing how much both of them have grown, and how fast time went.

As you can see, we are both very happy about our new lot, and the building project to come.

What a great place to start our new life together.

Goodbye, 3rd Grade!

What a year it was. My boy, Riley ended up having a really good year in third grade this year, even though he got off to a rough start.

I owe so many thanks to his teacher, Mr. Peterson. For his personal insight about children going through divorce, for his communication, and for always making it known to Riley that he would make time for him to hang out at lunch or whenever he needed to talk. I know when Riley grows up that Mr. Peterson will be remembered fondly as one of his most favorite teachers.

We started out the school year living with Grandma and Grandpa, and we end the school year at the same place, with a new house just over the horizon, or just up the hill in our case. This summer will hold so many fun things for us, picking out paint and appliances, working in our new yard, and making new memories on our very own porch. There will be visits to the beach, fishing with Grandpa, traveling to St. Paul to play with his cousin, and many trips for ice cream. And mosquitos, of course.

Tonight I will be taking him out for his last day of school dinner, just as I do every year. We had cheeseburgers and fries for the first day of school dinner, and I imagine that will also be on the menu for this evening.

Treat your kids to something special this weekend, whether it be a fun meal, a movie, or just throwing the frisbee around the yard. It will be a great way for them to unwind.

Fishin' Girl is on Facebook!

My sister and I just started a new group on Facebook called "Fishin' Girl".

If you are a girl, woman, mom, aunt, or grandma who loves to fish, head on over and check us out. We will be sharing fishin' stories, pictures, and recipes.

Here's the link to get there! FISHIN' GIRL