Every summer season means summer camps for our kids. It's a rite of passage, a growing up experience. And it can mean being homesick. Especially your first time away. So, I have a little tradition that I do for the kids their first time away for an extended youth camp. The night before they leave I sneak several packages, one for everyday they're gone, and hide them inside their clothing. 

You'd think that this reminder from mom might make them more homesick, make them think of home, but it doesn't. And the contents aren't really the big deal. it's the magical feeling of surprise. And being excited and looking forward to something. And knowing someone loves and misses you. 

My second to the youngest had her first week long camping trip and I put her envelopes inside her pack. I decorated the envelopes with the day she could open them. There is a downside - one of her friends told me that my daughter was so excited that she stayed awake until 12:01am so that she could open one of the packages. I laughed. I'd rather hear a camp story like that, than some of the other's I've heard before. She had a great week. I'll keep up with the tradition, one more to go.

Here's a list of what I put in this time -

     • Light-up shoelaces, found them from Gabrielle Blair's post and love them $6-ish
     • A flannel pillowcase that I sewed and stenciled her name, I sewed the pillowcase $4-ish + time
     • A small sketch book and miniature pencils, from Hobby Lobby for less than $5
     • A "miss you" puzzle, you might notice the similarities here and here $1 + time

What things might you put in? Add to my ideas for the next time.

I am CELEBRATING! The three DIY weddings are over! I'm thrilled for the marriages of my kids, but glad I'm at this end of the work. Here are the 3 DIY Wedding dresses. Luckily, I didn't have to sew all three. I sewed 2, which wasn't so bad, except, they were customized patterns, and you know, for the timing of 2 months to do both. Thank goodness they were simple. (Well, that was after I vetoed trying to make a Vera Wang number for wedding #2.) 

Here's wedding #3 dress and couple. 

Here's wedding #2 dress and couple. My two girls look different and have totally different styles.

Here's wedding #1 dress (compliments of her Grandmother) and couple. That's my son, so pleased.

The last of our 3 weddings is this week but I had to do a quick post. The other couple that we're married to (long story) just had their first grandchild. Definitely a time to celebrate.

A couple of months ago I ordered some baby burp cloths from Creative Mommas (my sisters) and had them sent to her. Just a little something for the Gramma-in-Waiting. New Gramma Steward loved them and now gets to use them. I was just wishing I had a reason to get some for me. Which, I just might have reason now, Shhhhhh....

This happened this week. You gotta wonder if this is a celebration. It depends on how you look at, I suppose. And, I suppose, I'll look at it this way -

• the son wasn't hurt in the accident
• the other kids weren't hurt
• it wasn't the son's fault *relief*
• the son gets to live another day because it wasn't his fault
• we might end up getting a newish car
• I don't have to sit in the aroma of that dead-animal-puked-in-our-car-after-it-stepped-in-a-pile-of-it-sour-milk smell, courtesy of the 2 large buckets of cow's milk that spilled in it months ago, by said son

So what troubles are you celebrating lately?

I mentioned earlier about the 35 nieces and nephews that the Groom had. Just his family. Kids and weddings aren't always a great mix but I feel it's important for them to be part of it and have their own memories. I thought up doing a chalkboard kid table. 

Really I wanted to do it twice as long as what is shown but we ran our of board and didn't get to the store to pick some up. It's masonite, cut to size, and painted with chalkboard paint. I didn't round the corners because we are making a frame for it and using it for the next wedding. The small scale folding chairs I picked up at the local antiques store and they were already that color. 

It was a hit and served its purpose! It kept so many kids occupied and out of cakes. It's a definite do again thing. Here are some photos. 

Since we have one more wedding, do you have any good ideas to occupy the children?

Every year we celebrate the girls that are  turning 12, (which a daughter of mine was one of them),
 and coming into the Youth Program. 
While in the program they focus on learning values, building character and coming closer to Christ.

I get to work with these girls a lot, which means I spend a lot of time sharing ideas.  I did this night.
It's a pleasure and privilege to work with them.

Every week we have a family night where we spend time together learning a lesson about something and having fun. (Well, sometimes, it's just craziness.) This week my daughter and I taught a youth lesson that I did here, to the rest of the kids. Then we had the tattoo tote activity that brought out their inner artist.

We put the lid in the center of us, surrounding it. Then we drew a swirl, then a scallop, then dots and then we rotated the lid. Yes, turned the lid clockwise. So, then we had to draw on the drawing that ended up in front of us, and build on it. At first, we all did the same icon, then we did free drawing. The kids were surprised at how good it looked. I wasn't. 

We all laughed and talked. That's what family night is all about.

My sister posted this video the other day. It was so on target that I had to see if there were anymore. And there were. They're delightful so I'm sharing.

Fatherhood Involvement PSA - Cheering
Fatherhood Involvement - Manicure
Fatherhood Involvement - Double Dutch
Fatherhood Involvement - Ruckus
Fatherhood Involvement - Surgery

"More than 79% of Americans feel "the most significant family or social problem facing America is the physical absence of the father from the home." Research shows that the lack of a father in the home correlates closely with crime, educational and emotional problems, teenage pregnancy, and drug and alcohol abuse. 

In an effort to show dads the critical role they play in their children's lives, the Ad Council has partnered with the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and volunteer ad agency Campbell-Ewald to create a new PSA campaign that communicates to fathers that their presence is essential to their children's well-being. The campaign provides fathers with the information they need to become better dads."
                                                           Fatherhood Involvement • http://fatherhood.gov/


The Boyfriend has been the best father I could wish for, for my children. He's been invested in our family since the word... yes. That's never been a question in my mind or the minds of my children. He is essential to their well-being. And mine. I would have great difficulty parenting without him.

With all of his wonderfulness, I can't see him doing some of those things in the videos - manicure, cheering, double dutch - but that's part of the message. As a father, do what you do. Your way. Your style. The father of my children does things his way. Like starting a pig farm,  shooting guns, or building a boat. Some of his way makes me crazy! Like the pig incident. But, that's only from my view. My son thinks differently. And that's the point. So, do something, "Take Time to be a Dad Today".