where we live

Sometimes when we travel, we pass through podunk towns and I just have to wonder about the unfortunate souls who live in that dump. What do these poor people do?!?
Then, of course, I realize that other people must wonder that when they drive through our local towns. There is a dump to welcome you into town in one place. The other one has about 3 businesses to its name - and the drive through town isn't going to wow anyone. Assuming you notice you've even passed through a "town".
But somehow we've made a good life here. We have a little house on the top of a hill in the middle of nowhere but it's a special place.
It was gutted when we got engaged so the house has grown with us. I see Jeremy's handiwork everywhere - over 100 trees planted, sheds torn down and rebuilt, the swing set built, the garden put in... I love it that the house has grown with us and shifted and changed just like our family.
We've filled the house with memories and kids. The house has given up its newness for busted light fixtures and dinged up walls and stained carpet. (None of that really gives me a thrill, to be honest.)
Here in the Midwest prairie, I found a spot that has a few gently rolling hills (if you're feeling generous anyway). I have a "view" unlike the county's northern "plain" sister.
This has been a long time in coming. I felt rudely uprooted when we left Ohio. Frankly, I never thought we would leave. Frankly, living out here never occurred to me. Frankly, it was not my choice and I hated it here - it was too flat and windy and the whole state smelled like pig poop.
It was quite an epiphany one dreary and dismal November day when I was driving down a flat country road, looking at the gray early winter landscape, to realize that this place was finally home to me. No matter how ugly and boring it was, it was where I belonged. (Transplants, take heart. I only lived here for 15 years before that happened!)

Just like me and my attitude...the house from what she was to what she is...

 Are you scared yet? The house was left vacant for about a year, I think, before Jeremy bought it and gutted it. Then it sat for a little while longer while he helped his brother build his house. The sad face of neglect here...

I love the little poser in this picture...much more than the transformation. And I love that a lot.

Hello, home.

The sign of promise - the Lord has blessed us here.

warren dunes

This year we acquired a camper. Jeremy was adamant that we actually USE it so we planned a little trip up to Warren Dunes with Matthew & Jodi & kids.
The last time we were up there was 5 years ago, in the middle of a roasting July. (Disclaimer: it was still a great trip.) Going in September made for perfect camping weather - cold enough for coffee in the morning and evening and warm enough for beach and outdoor time during the day.

 Surprise! Found a flat tire when we pulled into our campsite.

 Jeremy's craigslist camping table. Yes, he is proud of it.

 Our site was right beside the campground and the bathrooms. :)

 Making Mountain Man's Breakfast one morning. It was a hit!

 She was digging this trike. She needed a push every now and then but did pretty well riding herself.

 That girl in the pink pants? She's Miss Bossy. I believe she's telling the boys they shouldn't throw sand...notice the sand throwing in the background?

 Teacher Jodi having the kids girls make people and animals from found nature objects.

 The beach was empty (yes!), and the water was cold but the kids didn't seem to mind. To be fair, the water was cold at nearly all the places I took the kids swimming this summer, so they were probably used to it.

 River's collection of "shells".

 Sand, sand everywhere...

It should come as a surprise to no one that when Mr. Social hits up the beach, he finds someone to talk to. So he met a man who was sand boarding on the dunes, and he let Jeremy and the kids use his board.

 Trying to fly kites at the beach. It was not really windy enough.

 Finally got it up in the air.

 Finally. A nap after a busy day on the beach.

 Poor little guy. Some lady went by our site and said that "her" seat was so cute! Does he look even a little bit like a girl?!?! No, he does not.

 This fence made a handy clothesline.

 Prepping hobo dinners.

 Ingenius or lazy? Using a roasting stick to propel the lady when needed...

 I don't believe I mentioned that spare also needed fixed...

I did not stem from a family of campers. I recall camping the year Wes was a baby (89!) at Mohican with another family. We tent camped and he must not have liked his bed made from a box because it seemed like he cried all night. Then we went to Turkey Run years later (94?) and it rained. A lot. We didn't go after that.
So I wasn't really sure how this whole camping this was going to work out, me being a novice and all. But we had so much fun, I'm planning trips for next year. :) Wanna come?