Great Wolf Lodge 2012

 Pajama story time with at the tree house

the 'buffalo view' from our balcony in the morning

Griffin and his sweet girl playing in the water

Schaeffer, MeMa Laurie and Me coming down the large tube slide

 cousin Tobi in the cover-up MeMa Laurie made for him

Aunt Nikki, Uncle Josh & Schaeffer Jo shooting out of the large tube slide

Every winter the Schaberg family heads to Great Wolf Lodge for a weekend of waterpark fun. As the kids get older, it gets better and better and this year was no exception. 

Trimming the tree at MeMa Laurie's house

the 'kid' ornaments waiting to be carefully placed on the tree

 Schaeffer Jo selecting the perfect spot for her ornaments

hanging them with care

big helper Tobi

 the tree trimmed with not a branch to spare!

Each year, our family gathers at my mom & dad's house the weekend after Thanksgiving to put up the Christmas tree, decorate Christmas cookies and spend time together getting ready for the Christmas season. 

This year it an especially special weekend, as we were able to bless my parents by getting out their decorations and putting up the tree, as neither of them could physically lift the weight of the tree or the ornaments out of storage. We enjoyed a great evening of being together, sharing memories of Christmases past, and looking to the future with great joy and hope. 

Happy Birthday MeMa Laurie!

 Schaeffer Jo wrapped MeMa's gift with care

 the candles were lit with love

 they would not be blown out!

 look at that writing.

 the grimace on SJ's face is priceless

 that is one of my favorite color boxes!

forget the dutch oven, SJ likes the cardboard insert

A few weekends ago, we were able to be together as a family to celebrate my mom's birthday. It's always wonderful to be together, especially since my mom is quick to claim September as her birthday month.

Happy Birthday, mom--you are an irreplaceable part of our family. You bring laughter to tough circumstances, wisdom where there is none, maintain an undeniably fresh view on life, and most of all love with all of who you are. I am so blessed to have you both as a mom and as a best friend. I love you, and it's a joy to celebrate you. 

Bug Walk @ the Grass Roots Nature Center

Schaeffer Jo, ready to catch some bugs in her special net

Dippin into the stream to see if she could catch a water bug

We saw a big brown trout--where is our fishing pole when we need it?

here buggy buggy bug!

we caught a black beetle

Good bye Shanty Creek!

Thanks for all the fun--see you soon!

Before heading back home, we made plans to do the 'Bug Walk' at the local nature center. Schaeffer had a great time learning about bugs, using her special net to scoop for them along the boardwalk, and listening to the different sounds that bugs make.

What a fun week we've had!

Super Schaeffer!

"to the rescue!"

Schaeffer Jo was waiting to head into her shared bedroom on Thursday night, and managed to scare up some fun with a beach towel. It doesn't take much for my girl to find something fun to do (especially when MeMa Laurie is around!).

We're going on a pine cone hunt!

Schaeffer Jo, MeMa Laurie, cousin Tobi & Papa Al

Tobi, the chief pine cone hunter

SJ being the big-cousin helper

working as a team

putting the cones in the bag to save for winter to turn into bird feeders

Schaeffer and her Papa

Each summer we try to gather up pine cones to save until just before Christmas. Then, we roll them in peanut butter and birdseed and hang them outside for the hungry birds and squirrels to munch on. It's a fun way to bring our summer memories into the coldest months of winter--looking out the window and remembering where you were when you gathered up the pine cones last.

Shanty Creek: Day One

Hitting the links, with her own golf clubs!

will she be the next Anikka? She's ready with her sweet head(sweat)band.

Although I don't think many pros have their MeMa to

take naps on from 13-18?

Back at the condo, she was rarrin' to go!

My flying fish

Ker-plunk

Swimming with Papa Al

Life jackets not allowed

Swim, Schaeffer, Swim!

Every year in July, we spend an entire week at my parent's condo at Shanty Creek. As a family, with the entire family. It is a blessing to be together, to learn more about one another, make memories to treasure, and to look forward to the next July.

This year was no exception--with played hard, and ate well and laughed often. We learned to overcome temporary diffuculty and sought to find solutions that would be best for all involved.

Enjoy the first batch of pictures--there's many more to come, these are just from day one.

What to do when it rains at the Lake?

Play-Doh!

the fun never ends

moustaches

strike a pose, MeMa!

too big for the sink?

Our first full day at the Lake last week was overcast and occasionally rainy, but the weather was no damper on our fun!

Enjoy the pictures.