We’ve been home with Baby Brother for a couple of days now, and of course we can’t imagine life without him. Looking through these pictures, there is a sweetness in knowing that I recognize him now. That little face becomes more and more familiar every day, as if we’ve always known him. Just the way time passes these first few weeks, the present feels so much more like a memory. Birth storyBenjamin was born after the most beautiful day of laboring. Friends took care of the girls and the dog, allowing me to labor at home- resting as needed, eating what I wanted, and treasuring the time to myself to experience the day. Matt came home as the contractions progressed, and we strolled through our neighborhood before heading to the hospital. Since this was my third time delivering at our hospital, we were lucky to be welcomed back by staff who had worked with us before. We felt so well taken care of! And best of all, my nurse midwife was able to arrange things so she could be there with me even though she wasn’t originally scheduled to be. With Matt and the caring staff around me, Benjamin arrived after 30 minutes or so of intense pushing. He was nearly born with his amniotic sac intact, which felt like some kind of good omen :) For me, experiencing the contractions, one at a time, during the first stage of labor felt calm and natural- even empowering. Every contraction had an added element of excitement, knowing they were each bringing me one step closer to delivery. And the moment he was born? There is nothing like that immediate sense of relief and accomplishment. Add to that those first few moments of meeting our little baby boy, and it’s clear why it was a moment I’ll treasure all my life. Name OrginsI’ve always loved the name Benjamin, but it wasn’t until we saw him that we knew it was the name that suited him best. And his middle name? Sometimes he just looks so much like his dad that it was a no- brainer :) I hope he’ll see himself in the stories of the scriptural Benjamins and aspire to make something of the name himself. Meeting the girlsBecause of current visitor rules at the hospital, the girls didn't officially meet Benjamin until we brought him home. Though they'd both been anxiously awaiting his birth (playing "going to the hospital" and counting down on their calendar), it was cute to see how their different personalities approached their new baby brother. Emma wanted to hold him immediately while Annie kept her distance at first. They're both smitten, even as we all figure out how we each fit into our new family of five.
There is something about bringing home a baby to his siblings- it felt the most like bringing him home to our family. It will be a while before we're back to our (new) normal, but the last two weeks together, all five of us closed off to the world, have added to that feeling that makes a house a home and strengthened those bonds that make a family.
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I have such sweet memories of my mom when she was in this same stage of life as me. She had a knack for making things special, and even after all these years, those little efforts shape the type of mother I want to be. One of my earliest memories is of her taking us to a local pond to see tadpoles in there natural habitat. And for whatever reason, I have loved tadpoles ever since. As a kid, we spent summer evenings catching frogs in my grandma’s Southern Utah neighborhood, and just like with the tadpoles, those frogs in their natural habitat piqued my interest. We get toads in our backyard now, and I get more excited about them than either of the girls! Our zoo has a lily pond that was teeming with tiny froglets last spring, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of them! So, though I’m no homeschooler, the topic of frogs was one of the first I turned to when we were looking for a nature study to do last year. We invested in a few new resources, utilized what nature had to offer around us, and found every frog book the local libraries had to offer. The girls loved it and learned a ton. And with any luck, they too will hold onto the childhood excitement of frogs, toads, and tadpoles that continues to bring me so much joy! ResourcesClearly, I am not the only one interested in teaching my kids about frogs- there are a TON of great resources out there! Here are our recommendations:
CurriculumMy girls are young, and these activities reflect that. When they get a little older, maybe we'll look into dissection (or at least this cute felt version!)... though maybe that's best left to their biology teachers. I'd also love to raise a tadpole with them, but I'm not ready to commit! Maybe someday, when they've been properly introduce to Harry Potter, perhaps we'll make our own chocolate frogs? And though the girls are a bit young to pick up knitting and crocheting, I am in love with this Frog and Toad knitting pattern (also available in crochet)! So I may just whip that up myself in the meantime :) LessonsFrog Life Cycle | Identify the stages of a frog’s life cycle. Learn how different types of frogs lay and protect their eggs. Frog Anatomy | Identify the anatomy of a frog What is an Amphibian? | Define Amphibian and identify different types. Frogs and Toads Venn Diagram | Compare and contrast frogs and toads Types of Frogs | Identify the different characteristics of various frogs. Our favorites are the Red-eyed Tree Frog, Poison Dart Frogs, Bullfrogs, the Desert Rain Frog, the Purple frog, and the Goliath frog Frog Habitats | From ponds to the rainforest, learn about the places that frogs call home Camouflage | Define what camouflage is and learn how different types of frogs utilize camouflage to survive Hibernation | Define what Hibernation is and learn how different types of frogs hibernate. Fiction | Compare and Contrast the different accounts of the Frog Prince ActivitiesCrafts
I grew up in California, just 30 minutes from the Pacific Ocean. But visiting the Oregon Coast for our bi-annual Robertson reunion meant getting to experience the Pacific Ocean in an all new way. And while both beaches have something unique to offer, now the Oregon Coast will always remind me of treasured memories with family- Grandparents, cousins, and siblings all together under one roof, and my own little family nestled happily amongst them. It may have been July when we arrived at our Beach House in Lincoln City, Oregon, but northern coastal weather meant jackets and boots, and salty, wind-swept hair- a welcome respite from the hot summer weather that most of us had left behind. We left bathing suits behind and geared up for tide pools, deep sea fishing, and a hike through a conifer wilderness that felt miles from the neighboring sea. We made the trek up to Gearhart Beach to hunt for Sand Dollars, and walked within the Devil’s Punch Bowl at low tide. We explored the tides at Black Pebble Beach with the Yaquina Head Lighthouse looming over us. The girls were good sports, though Emma didn’t like to be cold and Annie didn’t like to get wet :) We collected shells and rocks and driftwood, treasures that made it all the way home and into Annie’s display of treasures. We walked around town, bought salt water taffy from a local candy store, and we wore ourselves out with adventure. We were sandy ALL the time, but we were together, we were exploring, and we were happy. It all just leaves me grateful for a family that makes such a effort to be together, to have experiences like these together, and to have such treasured memories together. Oregon Coast, Northern Minnesota, Yellowstone, the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee- However big the family gets, and however spread out we may be, there is a pull that draws us back together and keeps us close until the next time. More MemoriesWhen winter first sets in here in Minnesota, you turn to thoughts of the holidays. In fact, the cold seems to make everything from back-to-school to Christmas feel a bit more enchanting. But come January, the cold outside can start to weigh you down- especially during a pandemic. But I love the idea of developing a positive winter mindset, and the way that the people who live up north don't let the dropping temperatures keep them from living their lives. I don't think that idea has ever been more relevant for us than it has this year, and luckily we live in a place where people truly do embrace the cold. "Wild ice" skating, snow shoeing, snow sculpture competitions, cross country skiing, ice fishing- you'd be surprised how many people you see just out for a walk on any given day, especially when it warms up to over 30°. And heading up even further north in the dead of winter? We like to do that too. What to do up North in the winterThere is plenty to do when you head up north in the summer, so the trick to this trip became finding activities that were kid friendly AND had something to offer in the depths of winter. Keep in mind that every stop required that we suit up and that with two little girls, we only had so much time out in the cold with each new venture. Obviously, our stops had to be worth it. But even if we only got out of the car for a few minutes at a time, the cold, frozen landscape made every stop add to the sense of adventuring. And every time we piled back in to the car and cranked up the heat, we had smiles on our faces even if we were chilled to the bone. Black Beach at Silver Bay, MN In addition to saying we're heading up North, Minnesotans also call vacationing on Lake Superior "the North Shore." So I thought it fitting that like Hawaii, Lake Superior also has a Black Beach, though it's rock, not sand. It was beautiful, but FREEZING! The wind coming across the lake was absolutely unforgiving... but we did have the place to ourselves! The landscape of our North Shore is so unique, that despite the cold, it is part of its beauty to see it all in the winter. Pincushion Mountain Trial at Grand Marais, MN A short drive up the Gunflint Trail, we turned off on to the trailhead of the Pincushion Mountain trails. The views of the lake were pretty spectacular from up there, and the hike we took was very kid friendly- even in the snow! We brought a sled to pull Emma along, and we only went a short distance, but the trails wove through an evergreen forest and the ground was all covered in snow. I don't know if it was the way the trees blocked out the wind, cold, and noise, or the way the surroundings made me I feel like I had just stepped out of a wardrobe into Narnia, but this may have been my favorite outing of the trip. Where to stay: Lutsen REsortWhen I first started planning our trip up north, it was under the assumption that we wouldn't be able to do much because we'd have our two littles in tow. But staying in a cabin on Lake Superior with no where to go sounded like a dream compared to continuing to do the same thing at home! And besides, we would be staying at our neighbors' cabin at the Lutsen Resort- Even if we weren't up to braving the elements, we could light a fire in a cozy cabin or drink hot chocolate at the lodge. We could fall asleep to the sound of the waves (They truly reminded me of the ocean), and at least we'd be together and away. So although we did go on plenty of adventures, where we stayed made all the difference. We had everything we needed at our fingertips- even complimentary ice skate rentals! On our last day, we skated around the tiny rink with Emma following behind on the sled again. After we warmed up inside with hot chocolate, we got S'more kits from the front desk, and sat around a bonfire until it was time to head home. Thank you to our neighbors for suggesting their cabin! We highly recommend it. We did some of our own meals and brought a few of our own toys, but between the cabin and the resort, we were set. I'm already dreaming of going back! What to Eat up North in the winterFirst of all, double check when places are open if you head up north during the winter- turns out that resort towns don't keep their summer hours in the middle of the week in the middle of January! So quite a few places we wanted to try were closed up, BUT the places where we did eat were delicious!
Tobies Bakery in Hinkley, MN We were told that we absolutely must stop at Tobies for a cinnamon roll on our way up north. Totally worth it. Poor Matt is going to have to pull over every time we head that way from now on! Hungry Hippie Tacos Grand Marais, MN As soon as I saw the menu for Hungry Hippie Tacos, I knew we had to eat there on our trip. Because Frybread Tacos?! Come on! And all I can say is YUM. I would drive four hours all over again to eat there tomorrow. Or any day for that matter. In fact, in my head I'm already planning our next trip north just so we can go back for some more :) If I had to pick just one word that could sum up how I felt on this trip, it would have to be A W A Y. After months of hunkering down at home, A W A Y was all we wanted. The moment we pulled out of the garage and headed out, there was an immediate relief just to be going. And yet, we weren't in a rush to be anywhere. We were A W A Y, together, and that was all that mattered. Banner, Wyoming | Longhorn Cabin at creekside ranchAfter a full day of driving, it was like a dream to pull up to our little cabin on a working horse ranch in Banner, Wyoming. Annie immediately got out and went to watch the horses in their pasture. Chickens followed us around as we unloaded for the night. There were wild turkeys wandering through the yard and nesting in the trees. And the quiet from such a secluded little spot made for such a nice respite from our travels for the night. We had pancakes for breakfast and collected feathers before we headed back out on our way. cody, wyoming | Trout ranch camp TeepeePulling up to our next stop, I must admit that I felt some mixed emotions. We had close neighbors and our baby wasn't sleeping well, and no electricity with hours to kill before sundown. Maybe a fully furnished teepee on the bank of the Shoshone River wasn't the best idea after all! And yes- it was FREEZING by the time we woke up in the morning, but in the end, had no other reasons for my initial anxiety. Annie took to the place immediately and just fell in love with her "woof" (wolf) teepee. We read books, threw rocks in the river, and fell asleep to the sound of the rushing water. It was Annie's favorite part of the trip, so I'd definitely do it again... next time I'd just figure out how to turn on the gas heater before we went to bed! Along the way, we also stopped at Minnesota's Largest Candy Store in Jordan, Minnesota, the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota, and two national parks (which merited their own post). And then there were simple moments- like our picnic next to a creek somewhere outside of Sheridan, Wyoming where we saw a mother moose and her calf resting in the brush. And on another day we found the world's greatest playground in Rock Springs, Wyoming- or at least it felt that way for a family of weary travelers. We drove through six states and two national parks, visited family and friends in Idaho and Utah, and slept in a different place every night of the trip (except for one). Still, even after all that time in the car and all of these stops, in the end, I could have just kept driving. It really was hard to come back after being. A W A Y, but we brought all those stops along the way home with us. We came back feeling a little less restless and a lot more present. And as ever, I can't wait for our next big road trip, wherever it may take us :) “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” -Terry Pratchett
Yellowstone National PArkIf you know us at all, you know that we firmly believe that the point of a road trip is not the destination- that is simply one of many stops along the way. So from the moment we left home until we returned again, our road trip was about taking the road less traveled just to see where we would end up. We only had one day in Yellowstone, and our first stop was a small hike to Trout Lake. It's not necessarily a destination the Park is known for, but it had somehow found its way onto our itinerary. We pulled up first thing in the morning, surveyed the trailhead, and nearly got right back in the car. It was frigid. Annie had been feeing a little carsick. We still had hours left to drive that day. And yet, the prospect of what awaited us at the end of that trail beckoned. We dressed in layers, grabbed the camera, and set out. Now, when I think about what we might have missed if we had just driven past, I am so grateful that we didn't! Annie, the self proclaimed "polar bear of Yellowstone" was such a trooper. Those little legs carried her all the way up the hill and down into a picturesque valley, complete with mountain views reflected in crystal clear waters. We practically had the whole place to ourselves, with the exception of one lone bison grazing across the lake from where the trail led is down to the shore. "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks." - John Muir Back in the car, we made our way along the north road, stopping to see herds of bison and a group of elk, and even walking the crowded walkways of Mammoth Hot Springs. And every time, without fail, the view up close was far better than the view from the car window. Badlands National PArkStill, the longer you are on the road, the easier it is to rationalize driving through and driving by. On our way back east, we made a similar trek through Badlands National Park. With miles of road ahead of us, we were faced with a detour almost as soon as we entered the park. Should we stay on the main road? Or should we venture down a dirt road toward Roberts Prairie Dog Town? I look at these pictures and just shake my head at what we would have missed! Mountain goats, Pronghorn antelope, buffalo, and prairie dogs gathered as if to greet us, and once again, the path we almost didn't take became one of our favorite experiences in the Park. With the year we've had, it was probably easier on this trip to just be glad for the change of scenery. But I hope that the sentiment stays with us on future road trips when the hurry of life starts to crowd back in. Because in the end, I have no recollection of how long we were on the road on either of these days or how many hours "behind" these stops put us. I just remember feeling like we were doing it- living our life, seeing the world, not in any hurry to pass these memories by in order to be on our way.
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