We spent this past week in Arkansas at Bull Shoals Lake with all of my extended family. This is a yearly tradition for us and it’s something we all look forward to.
We rent a boat and take turns going out in groups to do various water sports and swimming.
The kids LOVE getting to hang out with all of their cousins on my side of the family!
Grandpa (my dad) spends almost all day driving the boat so that his kids and grandkids can enjoy tubing, water-skiing, kneeboarding, and more!
Here are 5 things I’m loving from this past week:
1. Time Away
It was good to be away… we loved getting so much time to just be together as a family and to do fun things together. We made so many great memories.
Also, it’s amazing how much easier it is to travel now that our kids are older. This was the first time that we took a road trip where our kids completely packed themselves and I didn’t even check what they had packed! That was pretty incredible and made packing a complete breeze!
2. Kneeboarding
I learned how to kneeboard two years ago, but I actually fell in love with kneeboarding on this trip. I realized how much stronger I felt doing water sports now that I’ve been weightlifting.
3. Bowling
We went bowling while on our trip and, I’m not sure what happened, but I found some sort of winning stride and I ended up bowling the highest score I’ve ever bowled before.
{By the way, if you’re on Snapchat, be sure to follow me there. I post lots of photos and videos of behind-the-scenes things in our life that I don’t post on the blog or anywhere elsewhere online.}
4. Fishing
The kids were so excited about getting to fish. They jumped out of bed early every morning eager to go down to the lake to fish with Uncle Zachary.
{Uncle Zachary not only is great at helping kids fish, he also has impressive skills in taking photos… This catch looks pretty amazing until you look closer and see how tiny the kiddie fishing pole is! :)}
5. The Olympics
A list of what I’m loving this week wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Olympics. You all know I’m SUCH a fan of pretty much all the Olympic sports — especially swimming, diving, and gymnastics! If you need me the next week and a half, I’ll be in front of the TV. 😉
{We kicked off the Olympics by doing the activities in the Olympics-themed Surprise Ride box I got just for the price of shipping recently. Get your FREE box here (just pay $5.95 shipping!).}
I sorry but, I just this Arkansas article. I’m from Arkansas we live in Greers Ferry on the Greers Ferry lake. Theirs lots to do here in Arkansas. So blade you had a great time.
1) We are moving, and our good friends, let us borrow their truck, and their enclosed trailer to move. (saving money on not having to rent a moving truck)
2) Kroger markdowns – got a huge pizza for $4.49, 2 racks of ribs for $5.49 each
3) Free stove from a good friend, for our home we are renting.
4) Our daughter’s engine went out the weekend after she paid cash for her 1st car, and another friend who is a mechanic, replaced the engine without charging her or us the labor for it. Only had to pay for the engine.
5) God’s daily blessings
I was sick this week but still had fun before and after – tubing in MO (I’m from Mt. Home, AR – 20 min from Bull Shoals so one of these times you come down I should tell you some other cool things to try … like Cotter Springs with a cool rope swing!) Sunday our church had a fun kickball meets waterslide/pool activity after the morning service and a potluck and I’ve made some money being a first time consigner for Rhea Lana’s!
Oh! That sounds so fun!!
Love this! So glad you got to enjoy time with family. My five things:
1) I actually followed through on a blogging goal/promise! I just published the final post in a 4-part series, and I posted every single article on the promised day. I needed this win to remind myself that I CAN make and meet writing goals.
2) My husband and I celebrating our 12th anniversary with a weekend away, just the two of us!
3) A new chore system for the kiddos that might actually work 🙂
4) Frugal home renovations that are making a huge impact.
5) Just hosted my final Teaching from Rest book club meeting a few days ago. So, SO good with so much encouragement from attendees! I’ve always considered myself an introvert, but this really filled my cup <3
WOOHOO for following through on a blogging goal! That inspires me!
I always love seeing the photos from your week at the lake each summer.
My five things I am loving…
1. Chris Fabry books. I just finished my second one of his books and am about to start a 3rd. I got them through Tyndale Rewards (of course!).
2. A return to routine. Summer events are ending in our area and although I love them I am glad to get back to daily routine.
3. Soccer season starting. Year 16 of sitting on the side lines of the soccer field!
4. Fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden despite the mess I made of it this year (picture on Instagram trust me it is a mess).
5. Padded biking shorts and plush biking seats (trust me they are a bike riders best friends!)
Padded biking shorts and plush biking seats (trust me they are a bike riders best friends!) <---- After watching the cycling in the Olympics, this made me chuckle! 🙂
Well okay perhaps I should specify and say they are an amateur bike rider’s best friend! As in for those that bike for donuts or Chick-fi-la and not Olympic gold!
Ha! I realized I was not clear in what I said. I meant to say that after watching cycling this weekend, I can only imagine how much of best friend they would be. We kept commenting on how much their behinds must be hurting!! 🙂
I am loving:
1. The rain. My garden is flourishing!
2. My husband having an interview for a job that could dramatically increase our household income
3. Shopping at ALDI, bought a whole cart load of healthy food for $61
4. Preparing my middle child for kindergarten…she is so excited!
Yay for rain!
I also love family time. We got to go to Family Camp at an amazing Christian Camp this week.
My 5 Things:
1) Being able to Praise and Worship Jesus every night this week, as well as listen to an amazing speaker.
2) Being Home again today, getting my laundry done.
3) Trying out tubing for the first time in almost 10 years with my 8-year-old daughter.
4) That Jesus never leaves us nor forsakes even when loved ones die. (as happened to us this week) And that she loved Jesus and went to be in heaven.
5) Receiving Homeschool curriculum in the mail. It’s a great treat!
5)
I’m so glad you all got to go to Family Camp!
I love surprise ride!!! I’m seriously thinking they have one of the best boxes out of these new companies doing this! 🙂 I got my free box when you posted this deal awhile ago. We had a ton of fun doing it!
I’m so glad you’re loving it, too!
I’m happy you all got such great family time together! Your daughter’s huge smile says it all!
This week, I’m enjoying preparing some preschool lessons for my daughter. I’m so excited for this special time with her!
I also am Loving the Dove ice cream bars that I found on sale at King Soopers 🙂
Yum! Dove Ice Cream Bars!!
1. A knit and crochet along on Ravelry- the Ravellenics! You pick your events.
2. Fruit cocktail cake with walnut and brown sugar topping. It’s like a coffee cake. It’s delightful. Not like fruitcake. Recipe from an acquaintance. I’ve made it so many times and it’s just so good.
3. My kids’ delight in what I am knitting for them. My 6 year old son is so excited that his tube socks are almost done and my 3 year old daughter can hardly wait for her rainbow hat. My 9 year old asks for things then lets them sit on her floor, so no projects in the works for her (but her doll might get something for Christmas).
4. Sales tax holiday in Ohio this weekend on clothes and school supplies. We got shoes, socks, underwear and what the kids needed that we didn’t already have. The sales tax holiday saved us about $20 (we have 7.5% sales tax).
5. I ordered and received some great indie dyed yarn from two of my favorite dyers 🙂 (more socks coming!!)
Oh! A knit and crochet along sounds so cool!
I was just wondering, how are you watching the Olympics without a cable subscription? Where do you watch, online, apps? Are they free?
NBC has a LOT of coverage. You can also find free livestreams online.