overheard at the park last night...

We took a little family walk to the playground after dinner last night, as the sun went down.  Andrew and I were sitting on a park bench near where Logan was playing, and another boy about his age started playing with him.  I know Logan hasn't nearly mastered the art of making friends and this little boy was extremely polite, telling Logan his name (Joesph) and asking him what his name was.   "My name is Logan."   The other little boy says "Logan.  Why is that your name?",  (and this is when my ears perked up).  

Logan's reply, after a pause (I could almost hear the wheels in his brain turning to come up with an appropriate answer), "Because that's what people call me."

Well, Joesph, you asked!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

We're heading to a party tonight with close, fun friends and I'm looking forward to an evening of laughter and watching the kids frolic in the fresh evening air.

I'm making this to dip fresh strawberries, pineapple and raspberries/blackberries.  Its so simple and light, fluffy and utterly delicious.  I have a thing for coconut, and always keep a bag in the freezer ready to rock for drinks, shrimp, desserts...

I recently found a recipe for something else coconut-y that sounds really great, so its in the oven right now smelling delicious.  Can't wait to try them tonight!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup coconut
2 rolls (16.5 oz.) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough (the rolls, not the pre-cut square cookie dough)

Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in coconut.

In ungreased, 9- or 8-inch square pan, break up half of cookie dough. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. Spread cream cheese mixture over dough. Crumble and sprinkle remaining half of dough over cream cheese mixture.

Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store in refrigerator.  Or, in your belly.

where are we? what's my name?

I'm not quite sure how we got here, but here we are.  So many times in months past, I've touched on how challenging life can be with Logan and his moods, and how hard parenting is, and how we're trying to find our way through some challenging times with him.  Then things would get better for a while, and we'd laugh and carry on as usual.  Or at least pretend to.  He is four, and yet I feel I've aged 15 years in the past four years.

We've suddenly hit a wall this summer, and we're needing to take some time to sort things out. Until I can get to a place where I feel like things are under control again, I'm afraid blog posting will be lighter than usual for a while. I'll post when I can, when I have something funny to share, or a light hearted story.


I've never gone into the absolute full explanation here about Logan and I know we don't even know everything yet.  So for now I'd like to keep most details private still, as its something our family needs to work on together.

Our main focus right now has to be to get some help for Logan, and for all of us. 

We're thankful for the many family and friends who are there supporting us and helping us through this time.  Parenting is never exactly what you think it might be, just as life itself is full of surprises.  But through the surprises and challenges we learn things about ourselves, and we come out stronger in the end.

we're baaaack.......

....and I suppose you could say I have a vacation hangover.  It was a lovely seven days filled with plenty of belly laughs and around the clock fun.  But now I'm trying to re-group and just get back into the swing of things around this joint.  Lots and lots to do, and four more weeks until school begins. 

It seems every year at the lake house gets better and better. It gets slightly easier the more independent the kids are, and the more things they can try to do. This year Logan went tubing by himself for the first time, and Dylan practically lived on the tube being pulled behind the boat.  We spent just about every waking hour on the beach soaking up the sun, and going back down after dinner for campfires and cornhole. 

Its not a truly relaxing vacation when you have 9 kids in the same house.  Meltdowns are inevitable and there's pretty much a big mess everywhere you look.   So, you just hunker down and enjoy the change of scenery, while eating great food and enjoying the company.  The bonding time you get from living in a house for a week with other people is priceless.   I love that our kids will have these memories with their cousins forever.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the week, but narrowing them down from well over 100 photos wasn't easy!

Bubbles on the beach..

Robby measures to make sure the cornhole boards are regulation distance.

Dylan on the boat.

Andrew and Chris fish on the boat dock.

Aunt Jasmine and Cousin Trent

Grandma and Aunt Jessica serve up afternoon slushies.

Chris and Josh drive the boat.

Logan, Maya and Josh munching on some popcorn.

Dylan and Jimmy get ready for some tubing..

Mom and Robby

double tubing...

Logan helps Grandpa drive the boat.

Aunt Heather and Ryder..

crab feast!

30 pounds of legs

Dylan picks his first crab.

Messy and delicious.

Robby and Logan build the campfire.

Logan and Maya share a hug.

campfire fun.

Scary Logan.

Tattoos!

Mid-afternoon ice cream party on the beach.

This is pretty much how we spend our days there.

family kickball tournament - The Crips against The Bloods (Uncle Jay and his brothers Jimmy and Jesse)

Andrew and Dylan take a tube ride.

Maya and Logan take a turn, their first time alone!

Another great vacation, a hundred more memories...