tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60308705858480905172024-03-15T20:09:47.052-05:00Life on CenterA Bosscher Family BlogNate Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01234460666060705733noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-80538205555468700932022-04-04T22:51:00.002-05:002022-04-04T22:51:46.567-05:00Bentonville, Arkansas<p>Last week we spent the kids' spring break in Bentonville, Arkansas. Seems random, but once you've visited, you'll understand! I think if you work at Trek and have kids and mountain bikes, this place is kind of a must-visit. </p><p>We, I mean Nate, loaded up the car as the late-March snow fell in Madison. It was a five hour drive to St. Louis, where we spent two nights and saw some great sites. We stop at the <a href="https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/50144">three-state spot</a> to say we stepped foot in Oklahoma and Kansas despite not doing anything in these states. Upon checking into our AirBnB in Bentonville, we were all immediately impressed. Cider and the kids had a fenced in back yard with a rope swing, Nate and I had a fully-equipped kitchen and washer & dryer (mud would fly off our tires!), and it was 2 blocks from a lively yet quaint downtown square and great biking trails.</p><p>The weather could have been better, but thankfully Bentonville has some great museums for rainy days: the <a href="https://www.amazeum.org">Amazeum</a> and <a href="https://crystalbridges.org">Crystal Bridges</a>. And the rain/snow made the sunny and warm days that much more appreciated by all. On the way home we stopped in Chicago to see Georgia, Pat, and Walter and to see some LEGO art and other exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry. As you'll see, we ended a great trip with a live podcast show, Wow in the World. Words can only share so much, so today I spent too much time putting together <a href="https://youtu.be/CynA9xBUiZ8">a video</a> to remember our trip. I learned a few years ago that we all should do something everyday that can't be undone, so that was my something for today :)</p><p><br /></p>Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-43252297884315384812021-10-27T12:49:00.002-05:002021-10-27T12:57:15.228-05:00Test? Test? Is this thing on?<p>Well hello! So much has happened since August 2020, when I last posted about our wonderful summer vacation around Wisconsin. Unfortunately none of those memories landed here on our blog - there are plenty of obvious reasons why - but I decided against using that as a reason not to restart things here at <i>Life on Center</i>.</p><p>For my birthday this year I got some fun and useful kitchen tools: pie weights, two crust shields, and <a href="http://www.erinjeannemcdowell.com/the-book-on-pie">The Book on Pie</a>. Thank you, Marcia, for your research into just how many pie weights are needed and for the complete pie package! Around the same time I began my final 365 days in my thirties, the school year was really kicked into gear and we were all getting used to a new season - Nate mostly back at work in-person, all three kids at Lowell for FULL DAYS of school, and a weekly family routine with a lot more normalcy than our summer camp smorgasbord schedule had. I noticed that while I felt busy, there was some "choice time" in my weeks - time that wasn't already spoken for but could easily be wasted if I wasn't thoughtful about how to use it. I decided to combine these two opportunities (?!) into a hobby that could potentially double as a way to relax and keep things in perspective. </p><p>So I'm ready to publicly (ha!) commit to a new but small goal: to bake a pie each week. I'm not going to put other conditions on it - mostly they will be dessert pies, but savory are also allowed. And if I feel like doing something else to relax during pie time, that's cool. It just seems like an unnecessary thing that I want to make time for, to pull myself away from checklists that constantly tell me of their importance. I'm smarter now and can talk back to my compulsion to get things done when in reality they can wait. </p><p>So far I've made five pies (three are below) and it's been really enjoyable, especially when I plan ahead and don't try to make the crust and the filling all in one afternoon. My favorite to eat was the chocolate covered raspberry pie. My best looking crust was Monday's golden cheese crust for a green veggie quiche. Not pictured, because we're having it tonight and it's still awaiting it's whipped cream topping: butterscotch apple with a pecan crust. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmwtGnNRK_Y/YXmNRMCCA-I/AAAAAAAAHIU/BsUDbE8vTvsAbkd1NeLijLdJP953OsexgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1279.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1966" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmwtGnNRK_Y/YXmNRMCCA-I/AAAAAAAAHIU/BsUDbE8vTvsAbkd1NeLijLdJP953OsexgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h384/IMG_1279.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet corn pie with blueberry whipped cream</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAIitQH3FQ4/YXmNRVAht4I/AAAAAAAAHIY/pM760edC4boExoWdfRNgyOxZGXzS_DXSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1288.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAIitQH3FQ4/YXmNRVAht4I/AAAAAAAAHIY/pM760edC4boExoWdfRNgyOxZGXzS_DXSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_1288.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate sugar pie in the making</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-anorQ_LHE/YXmNRVg6dHI/AAAAAAAAHIc/Jjz6Esy_3VwS6yptUrmIsqhvnBZPCnajwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1290.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2042" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-anorQ_LHE/YXmNRVg6dHI/AAAAAAAAHIc/Jjz6Esy_3VwS6yptUrmIsqhvnBZPCnajwCLcBGAsYHQ/w399-h400/IMG_1290.jpeg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turning a chocolate sugar pie into a pumpkin pie at the kids' request</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Pqq7NGPgJA/YXmNRuR_m9I/AAAAAAAAHIg/WVRZI64W0pwvsZfcae5HjUvnyTcQuhrsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1316.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1934" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Pqq7NGPgJA/YXmNRuR_m9I/AAAAAAAAHIg/WVRZI64W0pwvsZfcae5HjUvnyTcQuhrsQCLcBGAsYHQ/w378-h400/IMG_1316.jpeg" width="378" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My fav so far: chocolate covered raspberry pie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wrkBMaEmdx0/YXmNRyjIKTI/AAAAAAAAHIk/4EuH-4u3zpgRJr-zvpcIYk-67OVtUNzgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1317.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1985" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wrkBMaEmdx0/YXmNRyjIKTI/AAAAAAAAHIk/4EuH-4u3zpgRJr-zvpcIYk-67OVtUNzgwCLcBGAsYHQ/w388-h400/IMG_1317.jpeg" width="388" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me trying, unsuccessfully, to hide my messy chocolate all-butter crust work</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This first month or so has been pretty great and almost life-giving, within the limits of how much life baking can give. I don't know that all of the pies that I make will find their way to our blog like my friend <a href="http://onethousandpies.blogspot.com">Sarah Goupell's blog</a> and I certainly don't need to make to to any certain number of pies. Maybe this is a fall goal and after the new year I'll switch to a different life-balance test. For now, I'm having fun and feeling a bit more care-free than is typical for me. More of that!<br /><p><br /></p>Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-37253149522285321742020-08-09T22:14:00.002-05:002020-08-09T22:14:45.093-05:00The Great Wisconsin Adventure - Part 3<p>Day 9: The final full day of our trip was reserved for kayaking the Kickapoo River. It started off a bit chilly, but eventually the sun came out and as we realized that our lunch stop had put us behind schedule, we started paddling with more vigor, which warmed me right up. At one point early on in the five hour trip, we were wishing we had rented two kids kayaks so both girls could be on their own. But again, after we acknowledged the time crunch, neither Louisa nor Cora wanted to be in charge of fueling their own boat all the way to bridge 7. The tether that we thought we wouldn't use all the sudden came in very handy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2y3d0flZRUQ/XzC5eN1iOAI/AAAAAAAAGrY/bTeRyMWuwoggsiIAljzcvkcFU82t6yTgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6806.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2y3d0flZRUQ/XzC5eN1iOAI/AAAAAAAAGrY/bTeRyMWuwoggsiIAljzcvkcFU82t6yTgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6806.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yahLWMm_c60/XzC5e8AyjXI/AAAAAAAAGrg/zGb-rrkQ2F4PyLbqZQcfY5bHXDmVfycOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6845.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yahLWMm_c60/XzC5e8AyjXI/AAAAAAAAGrg/zGb-rrkQ2F4PyLbqZQcfY5bHXDmVfycOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6845.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxWLRYgIly8/XzC5eQnwWmI/AAAAAAAAGrc/GW2m4_0C6AYoyM9GrsplfzHo4ClURoJHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6850.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxWLRYgIly8/XzC5eQnwWmI/AAAAAAAAGrc/GW2m4_0C6AYoyM9GrsplfzHo4ClURoJHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6850.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrWYN5wecNI/XzC7XvQ8RgI/AAAAAAAAGsU/ZDff4kqtiywciY_hCcbyujTruznJB0PVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6833.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrWYN5wecNI/XzC7XvQ8RgI/AAAAAAAAGsU/ZDff4kqtiywciY_hCcbyujTruznJB0PVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6833.jpeg" width="640" /></a><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpZmRECnSts/XzC5g8hR4yI/AAAAAAAAGrk/Lp40jztC5JkaJFTrI68uCpeRbT9Ya_ZFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6898.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpZmRECnSts/XzC5g8hR4yI/AAAAAAAAGrk/Lp40jztC5JkaJFTrI68uCpeRbT9Ya_ZFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6898.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HBFQYzXwFY/XzC5gwT8jxI/AAAAAAAAGro/cRCSw6Y_1Fg91_kplHw4zZeXMHDTRXZeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6928.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8HBFQYzXwFY/XzC5gwT8jxI/AAAAAAAAGro/cRCSw6Y_1Fg91_kplHw4zZeXMHDTRXZeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6928.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4xng-ELd3A/XzC5hK7aDQI/AAAAAAAAGrs/jpDIGitKGAMPy91nn2jSiF0ethNHtYYvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6938.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4xng-ELd3A/XzC5hK7aDQI/AAAAAAAAGrs/jpDIGitKGAMPy91nn2jSiF0ethNHtYYvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6938.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuUZG_bU-Cg/XzC5iKR6JOI/AAAAAAAAGrw/p5R_DyD-xbwOu6E7utgTO7Yn_BEUfL-TgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6962.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuUZG_bU-Cg/XzC5iKR6JOI/AAAAAAAAGrw/p5R_DyD-xbwOu6E7utgTO7Yn_BEUfL-TgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6962.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Our final night was spent at Wyalusing State Park, which is on the Mississippi River. We took a mountain bike ride through a very hilly and root-filled trail and mostly missed the sunset, but riding back in the dark (on a park road, thankfully) was a nice bonding experience as we cheered the kids up the hills and listened to the cicadas. And we managed to get a nice family photo to cap off a wonderful trip!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBnOxa2JfF4/XzC6rEC70rI/AAAAAAAAGsI/E1v_WCYRRUAHm-t3M1cRp900XPy6DWq9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6972.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBnOxa2JfF4/XzC6rEC70rI/AAAAAAAAGsI/E1v_WCYRRUAHm-t3M1cRp900XPy6DWq9gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/NPB_6972.jpeg" title="Backdrop ready" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZPj9bqV6Qo/XzC6rC4HvKI/AAAAAAAAGsM/Td3dxaWaCFMC2SQ7J2OPWtaepqtfEHLFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6994.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZPj9bqV6Qo/XzC6rC4HvKI/AAAAAAAAGsM/Td3dxaWaCFMC2SQ7J2OPWtaepqtfEHLFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6994.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-51530375888239223202020-08-09T21:53:00.001-05:002020-08-09T22:20:31.535-05:00The Great Wisconsin Adventure - Part 2<p>We left off after our sailing trip in Wisconsin's only National Seashore. We have a National Parks passport book that the kids like to collect stamps in; unfortunately, the visitor center in Bayfield was closed due to COVID. We settled for a store-bought sticker instead. </p><p>[the rest of] Day 5: As if we hadn't already had enough highlights for the day, Amnicon Falls State Park was a favorite of the entire trip. The water is brown from the iron, but the kids didn't care and could have spent hours in the water if it wasn't for the sunset. We decided we'd all like to camp there again sometime for 2-3 nights instead of just one, while also hitting Pattison Falls State Park which is nearby but we ran out of time for on this trip.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xvw2Z413dtI/XzCrTZksV8I/AAAAAAAAGmA/6qUs_ZWHvyk_0mXYSdCkCbWOb_jNoyPpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s3218/0689F0B5-E5DD-43C6-82AF-32908B629D90.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="3218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xvw2Z413dtI/XzCrTZksV8I/AAAAAAAAGmA/6qUs_ZWHvyk_0mXYSdCkCbWOb_jNoyPpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/0689F0B5-E5DD-43C6-82AF-32908B629D90.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aoL7zIk9YIM/XzCrUdH9RUI/AAAAAAAAGmE/zS9EqE2wr-8xUosFJJtdSKqR4lxiuQkYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6735.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aoL7zIk9YIM/XzCrUdH9RUI/AAAAAAAAGmE/zS9EqE2wr-8xUosFJJtdSKqR4lxiuQkYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6735.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYUqFVi6j3A/XzCrUsQSP0I/AAAAAAAAGmI/Ltg7mGVH_Nop6Rhaaw1hmWw2wChYVPCRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6749.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYUqFVi6j3A/XzCrUsQSP0I/AAAAAAAAGmI/Ltg7mGVH_Nop6Rhaaw1hmWw2wChYVPCRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6749.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WmAArnovhvs/XzCrWeRwOOI/AAAAAAAAGmM/02lcW-YmPwoRWOUg4YqgvOJKG0KHabyHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6763.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WmAArnovhvs/XzCrWeRwOOI/AAAAAAAAGmM/02lcW-YmPwoRWOUg4YqgvOJKG0KHabyHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6763.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFs4ki-eRSI/XzCrXfOzV1I/AAAAAAAAGmQ/6KJ3dwlaS8cwzMILH8KOvnJCEnix9bV2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6766.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFs4ki-eRSI/XzCrXfOzV1I/AAAAAAAAGmQ/6KJ3dwlaS8cwzMILH8KOvnJCEnix9bV2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6766.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ogVvQtbmDnw/XzCrX56LXNI/AAAAAAAAGmU/-igCAjYBzIcMfbVuPvEs6-ukhwov7e_QACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6772.jpeg" style="display: block; 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padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNey6xJtHUw/XzCra6TzSbI/AAAAAAAAGmg/64yHRwoV6mYNborCrMvM1OULSL5DNW9uQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6819.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhBJf_pNTI0/XzCrculSAZI/AAAAAAAAGmo/ccpuc4znnpISqcyEMAHD57Zk0cb4FP4uQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6820.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhBJf_pNTI0/XzCrculSAZI/AAAAAAAAGmo/ccpuc4znnpISqcyEMAHD57Zk0cb4FP4uQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6820.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdBScCzRZWg/XzCrcqDRvhI/AAAAAAAAGmk/dH8Us9Lz2iI5-j53Q_YsFwCpc163xDtLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6825.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdBScCzRZWg/XzCrcqDRvhI/AAAAAAAAGmk/dH8Us9Lz2iI5-j53Q_YsFwCpc163xDtLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6825.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5SiioZvgsjc/XzCrc9rrsNI/AAAAAAAAGms/cxc4i9o3vHU5LrNQTsyW4bl2v7r-3CKjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6834.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5SiioZvgsjc/XzCrc9rrsNI/AAAAAAAAGms/cxc4i9o3vHU5LrNQTsyW4bl2v7r-3CKjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6834.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Day 6: On Friday morning, we packed up and drove to Duluth for a laundry stop and some sure-thing cell phone service, so I could attend a virtual nutrition conference. We didn't see much of the city, but from what we did see, it seems like a cool place - edgy, with people who choose to live that far north and off the beaten path and are proud of it. It was the perfect place for our family that day. The kids swam while I learned. Nate did a challenging mountain bike loop before joining the kids in the river and giving them the courage to jump from a rock. That evening, we drove to Lake Wissota State Park.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btUPWa1klSU/XzCvCOWuRPI/AAAAAAAAGng/z2PAMYdLAoogA15EMvUgD7fXJSkKmfb-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6715.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btUPWa1klSU/XzCvCOWuRPI/AAAAAAAAGng/z2PAMYdLAoogA15EMvUgD7fXJSkKmfb-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6715.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwp6n0RxxqHFJvEvYsA9AMnVS1_Kfocx8m0-BC8tD2WBH3-ZAbxICr49bFa5DlMvg90Fk-LWiK9lldm_d6FYA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6XCZoyytXZB20q6ezvaWkyFVsfQmEF3R3PKlDG36LLN-1j0ZKnoo7-Ec3C2YER0D4p-rA6b9mP6us7_wPGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx2ax5SboduPOgDPdWFSMJDF_0shb4ipUaOKBwKqtNSde1zxyMTCRoQVR7Cu0r6UKwBMVdyaqPt5NEK-dOI8Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o6cwIoqyruY/XzCvO99e1rI/AAAAAAAAGoI/lu5_1et70bMB9Gfz4IiPBrqfGfq-0pCRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6711.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o6cwIoqyruY/XzCvO99e1rI/AAAAAAAAGoI/lu5_1et70bMB9Gfz4IiPBrqfGfq-0pCRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6711.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUip4kAmPWw/XzCvUpPDafI/AAAAAAAAGok/kkf5QMyeZVUZcBmpT5nZ1a6TCrmH8UNxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6720.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUip4kAmPWw/XzCvUpPDafI/AAAAAAAAGok/kkf5QMyeZVUZcBmpT5nZ1a6TCrmH8UNxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6720.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Day 7: The single day without a planned adventure. We woke in Wissota State Park and apparently there wasn't much to photograph, because we have zero pictures. From Wissota we drove through the particularly beautiful driftless region to Perrot State Park. We were buying firewood for the night in the campground when we noticed a flyer for <a href="https://elmarovineyard.com">Elmaro Vineyard</a>, so decided to check it out. It was really lovely!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-u7EJhrnz4/XzCyLgJR2vI/AAAAAAAAGpE/_dLIgK7zTmQxyBteX0wo3gXFpFtFFkA8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6732.jpeg" style="display: inline !important; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-u7EJhrnz4/XzCyLgJR2vI/AAAAAAAAGpE/_dLIgK7zTmQxyBteX0wo3gXFpFtFFkA8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6732.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5lo9kwDiH8/XzCyLiYfzXI/AAAAAAAAGpI/T8vT9rDta8EbyodZa8AISt5zOF4GcpvdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6739.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5lo9kwDiH8/XzCyLiYfzXI/AAAAAAAAGpI/T8vT9rDta8EbyodZa8AISt5zOF4GcpvdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6739.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ge-OpWvi4Es/XzCyL9UYqYI/AAAAAAAAGpM/D4C8R42JGogT4Y4am27QToNNsSz8SrKhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6747.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ge-OpWvi4Es/XzCyL9UYqYI/AAAAAAAAGpM/D4C8R42JGogT4Y4am27QToNNsSz8SrKhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6747.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GIBZpGdEmKQ/XzCyMSHimCI/AAAAAAAAGpQ/8mPtr5rkDsgl2Qh5WnjlyhvUyR_wFBfsACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6764.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GIBZpGdEmKQ/XzCyMSHimCI/AAAAAAAAGpQ/8mPtr5rkDsgl2Qh5WnjlyhvUyR_wFBfsACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6764.jpeg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Day 8: Biking [part of] the Elroy-Sparta trail. We realized at some point that Cora is always the kid who asks how much longer we have to go on car trips and bike rides, so we decided to empower her with information by attaching a GPS to her handle bars. She knew we'd be riding 20 miles that day and WOW, did the GPS help. Instead of asking every five minutes, she was leading hip-hip-hoorays every mile and telling us all how much longer we had to go before we ate Hot Tamales or Sour Patch Kids again. WIN! We rode out 10 miles through two tunnels, ate lunch, and then turned around and biked back to the RV. The alternative was to bike 17 miles then have the kids and I sit and wait for Nate to bike back and bring the RV to us. The out and back option was way better, since we were wet and cold by mile five.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mEISRHqTRfE/XzC0-Htn3fI/AAAAAAAAGqQ/tDQY_lcvr2MUbHEnr5CqmV9RfTCl6qJbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6851.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mEISRHqTRfE/XzC0-Htn3fI/AAAAAAAAGqQ/tDQY_lcvr2MUbHEnr5CqmV9RfTCl6qJbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6851.jpeg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhxnkca7frk/XzC0-oFjWII/AAAAAAAAGqY/DFGMha7BtYQuQmFJM4QATAVHjXeon1_MACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6856.jpeg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhxnkca7frk/XzC0-oFjWII/AAAAAAAAGqY/DFGMha7BtYQuQmFJM4QATAVHjXeon1_MACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6856.jpeg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mEISRHqTRfE/XzC0-Htn3fI/AAAAAAAAGqQ/tDQY_lcvr2MUbHEnr5CqmV9RfTCl6qJbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6851.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coMFQcpM9BE/XzC07r0-3jI/AAAAAAAAGqI/OYEtDyR8ox4CXTmVHPAUldCc4SROU7baACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6779.jpeg" style="display: inline !important; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coMFQcpM9BE/XzC07r0-3jI/AAAAAAAAGqI/OYEtDyR8ox4CXTmVHPAUldCc4SROU7baACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6779.jpeg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coMFQcpM9BE/XzC07r0-3jI/AAAAAAAAGqI/OYEtDyR8ox4CXTmVHPAUldCc4SROU7baACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6779.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wBz5k3kytT8/XzC07vIQBwI/AAAAAAAAGqE/xymBO1b8ZM4O6Sc_gc8WtdiaT-fD3eW3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6781.jpeg" style="display: inline !important; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wBz5k3kytT8/XzC07vIQBwI/AAAAAAAAGqE/xymBO1b8ZM4O6Sc_gc8WtdiaT-fD3eW3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6781.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wBz5k3kytT8/XzC07vIQBwI/AAAAAAAAGqE/xymBO1b8ZM4O6Sc_gc8WtdiaT-fD3eW3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6781.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VHOocnino2w/XzC06_CRwoI/AAAAAAAAGqA/BOPy30gk8WAXRTDYmNLZ7xTRkErlh-JiACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/F6EBF201-B18D-4636-95EF-8AD87DB562D5.jpeg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VHOocnino2w/XzC06_CRwoI/AAAAAAAAGqA/BOPy30gk8WAXRTDYmNLZ7xTRkErlh-JiACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/F6EBF201-B18D-4636-95EF-8AD87DB562D5.jpeg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02Uwa75n6OM/XzC2IpkuEJI/AAAAAAAAGq4/klXBuN2UgIsCMaoijBer8tOpYcPB-I4BwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2E1E59E2-53DF-4F65-A42D-B5BF14648D1A.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02Uwa75n6OM/XzC2IpkuEJI/AAAAAAAAGq4/klXBuN2UgIsCMaoijBer8tOpYcPB-I4BwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/2E1E59E2-53DF-4F65-A42D-B5BF14648D1A.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKO2tKeJKEI/XzC2JZ9eToI/AAAAAAAAGq8/8J1b7hdN0L8gPBcPzQ5XV1fz05fjEXJzACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6795.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKO2tKeJKEI/XzC2JZ9eToI/AAAAAAAAGq8/8J1b7hdN0L8gPBcPzQ5XV1fz05fjEXJzACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6795.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_75SRYre9xM/XzC2JQMVkkI/AAAAAAAAGrA/nb1fvGu3XE0lOM22Qa3uBslbBY7iiS7QACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6877.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_75SRYre9xM/XzC2JQMVkkI/AAAAAAAAGrA/nb1fvGu3XE0lOM22Qa3uBslbBY7iiS7QACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6877.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wBz5k3kytT8/XzC07vIQBwI/AAAAAAAAGqE/xymBO1b8ZM4O6Sc_gc8WtdiaT-fD3eW3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6781.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W6sZcrwzf0/XzC08Fk0zeI/AAAAAAAAGqM/SIY3fnZvt0QijqB0xKPVsj1GiCntAhDcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6797.jpeg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W6sZcrwzf0/XzC08Fk0zeI/AAAAAAAAGqM/SIY3fnZvt0QijqB0xKPVsj1GiCntAhDcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6797.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wBz5k3kytT8/XzC07vIQBwI/AAAAAAAAGqE/xymBO1b8ZM4O6Sc_gc8WtdiaT-fD3eW3gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6781.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUbhzvF3K3w/XzC0-CGOuAI/AAAAAAAAGqU/XbNsfP8cus078UxJKkhi46HAF_kRnsDygCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6867.jpeg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUbhzvF3K3w/XzC0-CGOuAI/AAAAAAAAGqU/XbNsfP8cus078UxJKkhi46HAF_kRnsDygCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6867.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-73765569849077598762020-08-08T21:52:00.005-05:002020-08-09T22:22:59.234-05:00The Great Wisconsin Adventure - Part 1<p>As I'm sure is the case for SO many people in the time of COVID, our summer travels plans changed a few times before we finally embarked on a family trip: a 10-day tour of Wisconsin. The stats: five people, a 35-foot RV, a list of 8-9 state parks to visit, and a <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rNMoW5vxA6qo1d45yUF0vXWQ-uEh0fjY2TbLbB7O5Cc/edit?usp=sharing">lovely spreadsheet</a> of activities created by my super-trip-planning husband. I had more cell phone coverage than I expected on the trip, so did a highlight reel on Facebook each day, but I also wanted to capture some memories here. So here goes!</p><p>Day 1: Peninsula State Park - we arrived around 4 p.m. and the kids have very fond memories of exploring on their own and their discovery of a small rock beach that they insisted on taking us to after dinner. The first night in the RV was fine. Nate and I had our own room with a queen bed and the kids rotated between a double fold-out couch and a single table/bed with their sleeping bags.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sB3OADzxVZ4/Xy9VJYvnMYI/AAAAAAAAGiQ/lGKidTQ8pzw9LYYtpoUiO_QcsFIl79b1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6527.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sB3OADzxVZ4/Xy9VJYvnMYI/AAAAAAAAGiQ/lGKidTQ8pzw9LYYtpoUiO_QcsFIl79b1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6527.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Day 2: We drove the RV about 20 minutes north to Newport State Park a biked some beautiful trails that were more "mountainy" than the gravel path we were expecting. The trail we took ended at two tiny little beaches that the kids could've played at for hours. However, we had to get back because our dear friends Seth & Laura and their kids (William, Joy, Finn and James) were driving up from Green Bay for a social distanced hello. I'm kicking myself for not getting any pictures of the seven kids together, but it was wonderful to be with them for a couple of hours. That evening after dinner, we walked over to the same rock beach from the night before and got a pretty great picture of the three kids.</p><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4SHrI4eyDE/Xy9Xp3bGHOI/AAAAAAAAGik/LeFL4PR9dUQgk9-CHFnysfAUWl1ehGE_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6583.jpeg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4SHrI4eyDE/Xy9Xp3bGHOI/AAAAAAAAGik/LeFL4PR9dUQgk9-CHFnysfAUWl1ehGE_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6583.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CP5VB47zWTc/Xy9XrbTFiAI/AAAAAAAAGio/MY2qDaYvDLYc5Oeb8sMQZkJ_Jee0QEObACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6587.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hmMBxpat25k/Xy9XpykoDZI/AAAAAAAAGig/PkXy5qYOMaE0prTCdpm5ausEPNlW0WXLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/A0A7A6D4-DCAF-41FE-8DCD-351C982F74CB.jpeg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CP5VB47zWTc/Xy9XrbTFiAI/AAAAAAAAGio/MY2qDaYvDLYc5Oeb8sMQZkJ_Jee0QEObACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6587.jpeg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CP5VB47zWTc/Xy9XrbTFiAI/AAAAAAAAGio/MY2qDaYvDLYc5Oeb8sMQZkJ_Jee0QEObACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6587.jpeg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k9sk1HDedCk/Xy9YYExxEkI/AAAAAAAAGi4/L-ufnmhaONYMiLcuxMGAHM4Huzss7H5QwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6579.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k9sk1HDedCk/Xy9YYExxEkI/AAAAAAAAGi4/L-ufnmhaONYMiLcuxMGAHM4Huzss7H5QwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6579.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Day 3: Before leaving Peninsula State Park, the only park we would stay two nights, we hiked Eagle Trail. It was beautiful and not nearly as difficult as the sign at the trailhead warned. After our hike, we biked back to the camp sight and [in the RV] headed back down the peninsula, headed for Jake Lake. When Nate called to reserve a camp sight the week before, the women told him not to worry, they would definitely have sites available on a Tuesday night. When we arrived, they didn't and our cell coverage was spotty as we looked for other options nearby. I walked back into the park office to use their phone to call another county park and came back a hero - telling the kids that they <i>did</i> have a site for us after hearing that we only planned to stay for one night. That night, the kids watched Shrek 2 in the RV while Nate and I did a quick mountain bike loop nearby. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-taEevslL3hM/Xy9brnXaThI/AAAAAAAAGjQ/MOf2RqpTDk4Oc5eXU1AHDuH9rtwhagrXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6628.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-taEevslL3hM/Xy9brnXaThI/AAAAAAAAGjQ/MOf2RqpTDk4Oc5eXU1AHDuH9rtwhagrXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6628.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ucKpySqf84/Xy9brNU40dI/AAAAAAAAGjM/rhRi9IBbmxoofoLaOdthwkY5IxMosj-FgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6600.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ucKpySqf84/Xy9brNU40dI/AAAAAAAAGjM/rhRi9IBbmxoofoLaOdthwkY5IxMosj-FgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6600.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3uupiImyy4g/Xy9bqdCnmyI/AAAAAAAAGjI/aXSNiTGwx94hAPx2cR_KDpH-okSUufW2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6602.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3uupiImyy4g/Xy9bqdCnmyI/AAAAAAAAGjI/aXSNiTGwx94hAPx2cR_KDpH-okSUufW2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6602.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MEJ5Zd17shQ/Xy9bqOB2WTI/AAAAAAAAGjE/VG7EGmUd5r8vTciC1FUm2n00gdiGqGRegCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6600.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MEJ5Zd17shQ/Xy9bqOB2WTI/AAAAAAAAGjE/VG7EGmUd5r8vTciC1FUm2n00gdiGqGRegCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6600.jpeg" /></a><br />Day 4: We had a slow start Wednesday morning, complete with pancakes and a father-daughter mountain bike ride for Nate and Louisa while Peter and Cora biked around the camp site, begging us to stay longer. We had plans to get to Copper Falls State Park though, so got on the road. At one point during the drive, I saw a sign that we were 15 mile from Rhinelander, so I texted my Aunt Jeanne who has an amazing cabin on Lumen Lake. We stopped for watermelon, indigo dying, kombucha and a tour. The cabin that they built together maybe 20 years ago, is full of finished art (most of it their own) and ongoing art projects, and surrounded by flowers and vegetable gardens. It's a special place to me because one summer in college I lived there while doing a public health internship. Nate and the kids had never seen it though. After we said our farewells, the only major glitch in the trip occurred. We were detoured through The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and got too close to the side of the dirt road, slipping into the soft soil ditch. The tires were definitely stuck and we definitely didn't have cell service. By some miracle, Nate got service about a mile down the road, so he spent at least 3 hours in that spot while the rest of us hung out in and out of the RV. Five hours after the incident, a tow truck pulled us out and we made our way to the parking lot of Walmart in Ashland for a night of urban-camping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-opZ_M9Qnn60/Xy9hT9H3bLI/AAAAAAAAGjw/49x3xzo5Eko0q1nF4atoepqFfCxCIsTFACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6633.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-opZ_M9Qnn60/Xy9hT9H3bLI/AAAAAAAAGjw/49x3xzo5Eko0q1nF4atoepqFfCxCIsTFACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6633.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-opZ_M9Qnn60/Xy9hT9H3bLI/AAAAAAAAGjw/49x3xzo5Eko0q1nF4atoepqFfCxCIsTFACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6633.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bXa2-XhnMGI/Xy9hTmnCZgI/AAAAAAAAGjs/W0DKGD-Kxe0y79c_FSCTSyjClPd6xyStwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6639.jpeg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-opZ_M9Qnn60/Xy9hT9H3bLI/AAAAAAAAGjw/49x3xzo5Eko0q1nF4atoepqFfCxCIsTFACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6633.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--RCZ8Q6mt8M/Xy9hNjJhnzI/AAAAAAAAGjo/ZeQ5i9LKCuoylegrxHRhTucPsSIvNZzjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6655.jpeg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-opZ_M9Qnn60/Xy9hT9H3bLI/AAAAAAAAGjw/49x3xzo5Eko0q1nF4atoepqFfCxCIsTFACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6633.jpeg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mk0NoZ0E3bQ/Xy9hL9X1NDI/AAAAAAAAGjk/bV9_WbW5Z8s0Q70lmKXmXlIXM-b7CrLnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6653.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Day 5: From Ashland, we headed north again to catch our sailboat ride in the Apostle Islands. The weather was gorgeous, although the wind could have been better, but no dramamine was consumed throughout the 6 hour sailboat tour (or the entire trip for that matter)! It was just our family plus our captain, a 25 year-old sailing instructor and substitute teacher who did an amazing job engaging the kids. He taught them knots and let them help sail as much as they wanted. The water of Lake Superior is never warmer than 70, and usually much colder, but thanks to recent rain, the water temperature was tolerable (70 degrees) and everyone but me went swimming in a cave.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fZQxwGd35Kk/Xy9kG51V3PI/AAAAAAAAGkE/T-b9LgNzDOkIIbuzejqR5WDwX7OdWUkCACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6658.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fZQxwGd35Kk/Xy9kG51V3PI/AAAAAAAAGkE/T-b9LgNzDOkIIbuzejqR5WDwX7OdWUkCACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6658.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WegYQllAwr8/Xy9kGrGzNdI/AAAAAAAAGkA/ygVarBAd4RIm90LhVpJNobtmJ1APyiVTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6660.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WegYQllAwr8/Xy9kGrGzNdI/AAAAAAAAGkA/ygVarBAd4RIm90LhVpJNobtmJ1APyiVTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6660.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfMYzq228rg/Xy9kG1O2LPI/AAAAAAAAGkI/DUD8cO5sSmQbAj2Go4YxdK5UBV7kLdr7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6671.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfMYzq228rg/Xy9kG1O2LPI/AAAAAAAAGkI/DUD8cO5sSmQbAj2Go4YxdK5UBV7kLdr7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6671.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zWAIearTYs/Xy9kJzKJHNI/AAAAAAAAGkM/xnpjnbpg87QjNZ-B5W2HWx6mlXK6W2xxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6665.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9zWAIearTYs/Xy9kJzKJHNI/AAAAAAAAGkM/xnpjnbpg87QjNZ-B5W2HWx6mlXK6W2xxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6665.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZJz7gUCEP0/Xy9kKJIiLbI/AAAAAAAAGkQ/4KUqled2rtYiFNQJMuaswkNwBen0Ey4NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6674.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZJz7gUCEP0/Xy9kKJIiLbI/AAAAAAAAGkQ/4KUqled2rtYiFNQJMuaswkNwBen0Ey4NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6674.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MGwVnrUmRQg/Xy9kKTWSMzI/AAAAAAAAGkU/YBS8xz2oPMoEKYu3wzCriYQEzR4eV3F1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6676.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MGwVnrUmRQg/Xy9kKTWSMzI/AAAAAAAAGkU/YBS8xz2oPMoEKYu3wzCriYQEzR4eV3F1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6676.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3Rrat6l3N4/Xy9kMlMaFwI/AAAAAAAAGkc/7rEgtrj9xgwxDnyJV2iAVx24xY5Bzs_EgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6677.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3Rrat6l3N4/Xy9kMlMaFwI/AAAAAAAAGkc/7rEgtrj9xgwxDnyJV2iAVx24xY5Bzs_EgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6677.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRZM4nVZNXI/Xy9kMfqWv5I/AAAAAAAAGkY/nFhAru8GOP0QyQDgSRcYG1erHPXW7RdXACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NPB_6685.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRZM4nVZNXI/Xy9kMfqWv5I/AAAAAAAAGkY/nFhAru8GOP0QyQDgSRcYG1erHPXW7RdXACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_6685.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Whew. The trip didn't feel too long, but my plan to put all 10 days in one blog post sounds like too much for me <i>and</i> you, so let's make this a two-parter, shall we? Part two coming soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div></div></div>Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-18883995121976403722020-03-29T22:02:00.000-05:002020-03-30T14:11:17.189-05:00Doing Just FineThe kids are thriving at home. Nate and me? It depends on the hour. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling these forty foot waves of emotion. I think because we're healthy and don't [yet] know anyone who is sick with Covid-19, it's easy to go about our days, occasionally forgetting why the world is on lock down. Then I remember and feel totally out of the loop, so I check Instagram or Twitter for some breaking news. Instead of becoming better informed, I get swept up in threads like this:<br />
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You can probably imagine the "conversation" that follows - thousands of people completely agreeing and thousands feeling offended because they actually do have a lot of time on their hands because they have lost their job, don't have kids, etcetera, etcetera. All sides are completely valid, but I tend to get worked up just reading this sort of thing because I begin to take it all personally [even though I didn't write it!!]</div>
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Thankfully I follow Tiffany Roe, a therapist in Utah, who reminds me that people's reactions are not personal. Today she wrote, "WOW social media is a baptism by fire sometimes y'all....How is it possible that in communication, one instance can trigger such vast responses (reactions) in people? Because we each have a unique lens that creates our world. We are not responsible for other people's feelings. Nor can we control them."</div>
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I also started following David Brooks and Andy Crouch on Twitter after watching a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RP4BKCKGwI&feature=youtu.be">great panel discussion</a> by The Veritas Forum last week. It's long, but worth it if you're in the mood for attempting to pull meaning out of this crazy time. But the reason I bring up David Brooks here is that I read <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/opinion/coronavirus-meaning.html">an opinion piece</a> he wrote about finding meaning in the pandemic. I cringed as I read many of the comments, again, partly because I know how personally I would take comments written about something that I wrote. I hope that anyone with a massive social media following has thicker skin than me or a good therapist.</div>
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To try and stay informed and emotionally healthy, I'm trying to limit my time on social media and instead listen to two podcasts each day - <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510318/up-first">Up First</a> by NPR and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily">The Daily</a> by the NYTimes. Since I can't walk with friends, these podcasts have become a nice companion.</div>
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The kids are thriving because they love staying home, planned activities, and extra iPad time. We're SUPER thankful that for the most part, they play well together. I'm thankful that Nate likes to cook and that he shares a belief that the kids MUST get outside at least once each day. Two or three times is even better. </div>
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Yesterday we biked to a frisbee golf course where the baskets hadn't been reinstalled yet, but we still had fun. Today we biked to Olbrich Park and Nate taught us all how to fly stunt kites.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this shot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They all got pretty good at keeping the kite up in the air</td></tr>
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Oh, and one more thing before I let you go. Back in November, I bought some cute card-making/scrapbooking supplies that I was planning to give the girls for Christmas. I ended up saving them and pulled them out for "art" class the other day. This sheet of stickers was obviously from back in the day when we all longed for the days when we could choose to stay home and bake cookies or read a book!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, let's stay home!</td></tr>
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Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-23168564803925367252020-03-22T12:23:00.002-05:002020-03-22T12:23:20.800-05:00A poem by Kristin FlyntzThis was powerful, so I wanted to remember it here.<br />
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STOP! (An Imagined Letter from Covid-19 to Humans) </blockquote>
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Stop. Just stop.<br />It is no longer a request. It is a mandate.<br />We will help you.<br />We will bring the supersonic, high speed merry-go-round to a halt<br />We will stop<br />the planes<br />the trains<br />the schools<br />the malls<br />the meetings<br />the frenetic, furied rush of illusions and “obligations” that keep you from hearing our single and shared beating heart,<br />the way we breathe together, in unison.<br />Our obligation is to each other,<br />As it has always been, even if, even though, you have forgotten.<br />We will interrupt this broadcast, the endless cacophonous broadcast of divisions and distractions, to bring you this long-breaking news:<br />We are not well.<br />None of us; all of us are suffering.<br />Last year, the firestorms that scorched the lungs of the earth did not give you pause.<br />Nor the typhoons in Africa, China, Japan.<br />Nor the fevered climates in Japan and India.<br />You have not been listening.<br />It is hard to listen when you are so busy all the time, hustling to uphold the comforts and conveniences that scaffold your lives.<br />But the foundation is giving way, buckling under the weight of your needs and desires.<br />We will help you.<br />We will bring the firestorms to your body<br />We will bring the fever to your body<br />We will bring the burning, searing, and flooding to your lungs that you might hear:<br />We are not well.<br />Despite what you might think or feel, we are not the enemy.<br />We are Messenger. We are Ally. We are a balancing force.<br />We are asking you:<br />To stop, to be still, to listen;<br />To move beyond your individual concerns and consider the concerns of all;<br />To be with your ignorance, to find your humility, to relinquish your thinking minds and travel deep into the mind of the heart;<br />To look up into the sky, streaked with fewer planes, and see it, to notice its condition: clear, smoky, smoggy, rainy? How much do you need it to be healthy so that you may also be healthy?<br />To look at a tree, and see it, to notice its condition: how does its health contribute to the health of the sky, to the air you need to be healthy?<br />To visit a river, and see it, to notice its condition: clear, clean, murky, polluted? How much do you need it to be healthy so that you may also be healthy? How does its health contribute to the health of the tree, who contributes to the health of the sky, so that you may also be healthy?<br />Many are afraid now.<br />Do not demonize your fear, and also, do not let it rule you. Instead, let it speak to you—in your stillness, listen for its wisdom.<br />What might it be telling you about what is at work, at issue, at risk, beyond the threats of personal inconvenience and illness?<br />As the health of a tree, a river, the sky tells you about quality of your own health, what might the quality of your health tell you about the health of the rivers, the trees, the sky, and all of us who share this planet with you?<br />Stop.<br />Notice if you are resisting.<br />Notice what you are resisting.<br />Ask why.<br />Stop. Just stop.<br />Be still.<br />Listen.<br />Ask us what we might teach you about illness and healing, about what might be required so that all may be well.<br />We will help you, if you listen.<br /><br />-Kristin Flyntz</blockquote>
Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-6556901086983560502020-03-17T22:45:00.001-05:002020-03-17T22:45:26.021-05:00Me? Homeschool? If you would have asked me a month ago if I'd be open to homeschooling my kids, I would have grieved at the thought of losing my days at home alone. I love them - productive, but slow and calm. Very free of clutter. But I suppose something has to change psychologically about your willingness to try something when it's not a choice.<br />
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At school pick-up at 2:47 on Friday, a mom-friend of mine read a headline from Madison.com - <i>Madison schools to move spring break up one week, add staff-only days</i>. All the parents were frustrated that the district didn't send us an email announcing this. Looking back, I should have been slower to accuse poor communication in a time such as this. I can't imagine the stress of being a decision maker before closing public places and cancelling events was the thing to do.<br />
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I went into the weekend thinking that I had Monday and Tuesday to prepare for having the kids home for a couple of weeks. But by Sunday afternoon, an email from the district went out announcing that schools were closed effective immediately. We were standing in a gorgeous park with some friends [6 feet apart!] when Joel read the news. I'm pretty sure I did a toddler jump/stomp because I was so annoyed. But from that moment on, something shifted in me and I was actually kind of excited to lay out our plan.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Farm County Park - lovely trails for adult walking with a mini-forest for kids to explore!</td></tr>
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That evening, I scanned some online articles about how to be at home with your kids during a pandemic and was reminded of how much kids like routine. <i>I like routine too</i>, I thought. So I borrowed Cora's white board from a teacher kit that she got for Christmas, and started sketching it out. Here's the first version.<br />
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Overall, day one was a good day. Around 8:50, after math, Cora said, <i>I like homeschool so far! </i>Reading time was too short, mostly because everyone wants to have a turn with an online game or reading app in addition to independent reading <i>and</i> reading/writing worksheets. Art was also too short because that is hands down all three kids' favorite subject (well, second to recess). Recess was too short. This was obvious after I observed how perfectly content they are outside without my supervision while I can get stuff done in. So Monday night, I made some changes to our school schedule. This was our schedule for day two:</div>
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<b>7 a.m.</b> - Wake, get dressed, and eat breakfast</div>
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<b>7:45</b> - Bible time</div>
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<b>8 a.m.</b> - Foreign language</div>
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<b>8:20</b> - Math</div>
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<b>9 a.m.</b> - Free choice</div>
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<b>9:45</b> - Clean up (from free choice) + snack</div>
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<b>10:15</b> - Chores + recess</div>
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<b>11 a.m.</b> - Reading/letters/sounds</div>
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<b>11:45</b> - Music/piano practice</div>
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<b>12:15</b> - Lunch</div>
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<b>12:45</b> - Science</div>
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<b>1:15</b> - Art</div>
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<b>2 p.m.</b> - Recess</div>
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<b>2:30</b> - Snack + adventure/outing</div>
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Nate found a couple of apps for our iPads and I subscribed to <a href="http://education.com./">education.com</a>, which has proven super helpful. Thank goodness for free art classes like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYdTRbX1u8W1KGneitBB0xA">this</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5XMF3Inoi8R9nSI8ChOsdQ">this</a>! For foreign language learning, we've been using <a href="https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/resources/eresources/mango-languages">Mango Languages</a>, which is free to access through our public library. </div>
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I'm sure I could come up with some cool science demos to do with the kids, but our school pointed us to <a href="http://brainpop.com/">Brainpop.com</a> as a good resource for teaching kids about the new coronavirus, so we used it again today to learn about making observations. It's a bit tricky finding a good balance between Louisa's 3rd grade level of learning and Peter's pre-K one, but I'm pretty much operating on a <i>something is better than nothing</i> and <i>routine is key to keep myself sane</i> level.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to draw a leprechaun...all together...without arguing</td></tr>
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Ugh. I'm all of the sudden feeling guilty about my intense privilege that allows me to be home to do <i>anything </i>with my kids,<i> </i>let alone a pretty sweet schedule of good learning, play and outdoor time. <b>Dear Jesus, help me to do something good with this realization of my privilege, not be bogged down in guilt by it.</b></div>
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As my neighbor said today [from her car, 6 feet away!], <i>getting outside is the only saving grace.</i> We plan to embrace that saving grace by doing an afternoon adventure/outing every afternoon. Yesterday we went back to Lake Farm County Park and found some new paths and a boardwalk. Today we road our bikes to some nearby parks, crossing two pedestrian overpasses that the kids were pretty excited about. Immediately when we got home, they all jumped right back into drawing classes from KidsArtHub - choosing a dragon and a cartoon s'more. Not sure where the art gene slipped in, but I'll take it!</div>
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At night, when I sing Peter his goodnight songs, he always asks what we're going to do the next day and 95% of the time wants his last song to highlight that. Tonight it veered a bit. Instead of asking me to sing about another day of homeschool, he asked me to sing about the pizza that we plan to have for dinner tomorrow. Shoot, his mom-teacher didn't quite make his top one list. Oh well, I have a few more days to work towards that goal.</div>
<br />Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-32006770411489260062020-01-07T12:40:00.002-06:002020-01-07T12:40:49.210-06:00Winter(ish) BikingBiking along on the tag-along bike, Peter says, "the problem with biking is that it's cold, but the problem with cars is that they warm the earth." I just love this kid. The funny thing is that considering the weather lately, his comment fits. When we were biking this morning, it was about 35 and gorgeously sunny. I wouldn't call 35 warm, especially with the brisk breeze created by my speedy e-bike, BUT, it has definitely felt like a "warming planet" winter so far.<br />
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On our way home (we were meeting some friends for a before school pastry stop), he made me laugh again. "Peter," I said, "help me up this hill!" "I am," he said. Pause. "Am I? Am I going the right way?" He <i>has</i> been known to pedal backwards on the tag along.<br />
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As much as I am looking forward to next year when the kids are all in full-time school at Lowell, I will miss these sweet one-on-one moments. Before taking the selfie below, he protested, saying "we can just tell Louisa, Cora and Dad about this." I convinced him, explaining that I wanted to have a picture to remember this by (and to post on our blog)!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New shades that Mary gave Peter for Christmas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tag-along set up</td></tr>
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Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-49223664524112045612019-08-29T11:12:00.000-05:002019-12-02T11:42:32.601-06:00Alaska - Part 4: Kids' highlight reelOur trip to Alaska was really delightful for all, but there were obvious times of extreme joy for the kids. Those times mostly involved rivers, stones, sticks, cousins, hot drinks, ice cream, junior ranger activities, and close encounters with wildlife...basically everything but long car rides and mountain summit hikes. But they did a decent job humoring me and Nate, who live for mountain summits. Here are a few of those moments of joy.<br />
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<br />Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-57607671895345759032019-08-27T10:32:00.000-05:002019-11-30T10:36:48.834-06:00Alaska - Part 3: Kenai Fiords National ParkAlthough blogging about our time in Alaska three months after the trip was challenging, it has also been really nice to re-live the trip. Looking back through our pictures and picking the favorites to share here has helped me to fall back into vacation/exploration mode. In contrast to our trip to Disney World in October, I'm also reminded of my favorite types of trips. While I may complain about camping and being cold, these are the types of memories I want my kids to carry with them.<br />
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As we headed south again for our wildlife cruise out of Seward, we could see more smoke creeping from the north - this time from fires around Denali, which is crazy because during the first few days of our trip, we were hearing about tourists stranded by mudslides in there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick! It's coming! Drive faster!</td></tr>
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What an amazing blessing! During our cruise, we saw minimal signs of forest fires and plenty of amazing wildlife. We chose the 7.5-hour cruise, which took us out to the Gulf of Alaska and up into Aialik Bay. The crew was plenty forthcoming about the extent of sea sickness people commonly experience. There were plenty of naps had during the ride - likely because of the preventative dramamine that was taken by many. Louisa was the only one from our group to throw up, and as often happens, it helped her feel much better and allowed her to enjoy the rest of the cruise. </div>
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It was really hard to not overload this post with photos, so bear with me...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea otter pelt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j6qxr_ZzcGE/XeKU8tb0WPI/AAAAAAAAGCw/nDDttG2-aXAybVJyK9zNitFFCEXlIJqdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/NPB_5351.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j6qxr_ZzcGE/XeKU8tb0WPI/AAAAAAAAGCw/nDDttG2-aXAybVJyK9zNitFFCEXlIJqdACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_5351.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thankful for Nate's eye that captures quintessential images, not just people</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steller sea lions basking in the sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make yourself heard! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby sea lion on the left, hanging with a sea gull</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy climber mountain goat. Instead of food, it's finding safety from predators </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Majestic orcas were everywhere that day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Something so magical about them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JkeGrlmlyok/XeKVEr4GZ1I/AAAAAAAAGDU/5kqOJmFb9Rky_0pzG3W9Lyy3n087YYv3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/NPB_5479.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JkeGrlmlyok/XeKVEr4GZ1I/AAAAAAAAGDU/5kqOJmFb9Rky_0pzG3W9Lyy3n087YYv3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_5479.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffins chillin' on the rocks... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qC4c7olmDso/XeKVEjBhP7I/AAAAAAAAGDY/NpDkIcQec7MrcqRW-b7dLPm30kO17F56gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/NPB_5488.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qC4c7olmDso/XeKVEjBhP7I/AAAAAAAAGDY/NpDkIcQec7MrcqRW-b7dLPm30kO17F56gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_5488.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...gliding overhead...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCt87YjCqU4/XeKVFEUdWdI/AAAAAAAAGDc/qu02k2vJhcAShsn6Kfsv8f58_CkJyRECQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/NPB_5511.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCt87YjCqU4/XeKVFEUdWdI/AAAAAAAAGDc/qu02k2vJhcAShsn6Kfsv8f58_CkJyRECQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_5511.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or swimming in the calm waters</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A black bear and some kayakers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrqGYTnOsGU/XeKVHIppFLI/AAAAAAAAGDo/HzRUeyTgRPYeo6BwBweUw5QOSnP9K2mEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/NPB_5547.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrqGYTnOsGU/XeKVHIppFLI/AAAAAAAAGDo/HzRUeyTgRPYeo6BwBweUw5QOSnP9K2mEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_5547.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just crazy beautiful</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsqDKvDcR5Y/XeKVG5HlAQI/AAAAAAAAGDk/LdlLW3FmEp8FURXwjsBhsLrU5wXwKpa0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/NPB_5560.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1600" height="590" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsqDKvDcR5Y/XeKVG5HlAQI/AAAAAAAAGDk/LdlLW3FmEp8FURXwjsBhsLrU5wXwKpa0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/NPB_5560.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Should have pulled out the moose trick to get Peter to smile</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adorable sea otters</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alialik glacier is actively calving</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice brought on board to make/sell margaritas. Also offered for ginger ale drinkers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice was calving every few seconds while we lingered at the glacier</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sucking on an ice berg</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising back to Seward </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sisters staying warm</td></tr>
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Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-62600794888204119402019-08-25T21:00:00.000-05:002020-01-08T22:38:33.472-06:00Alaska - Part 2: A tiny, beautiful part of Alaska south of Anchorage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After five fun days in Anchorage with Jack, Marian, Wren, Anne and Andrew, we took off for the wild-ness (as Peter called it). It's crazy how now, when I look at the map of Alaska, I feel like we missed so much. Yet when we were there, it felt vast and gorgeous and like whatever we were seeing in that moment must be the best part of Alaska. Even Whittier has it's charm, despite the saying Andrew taught us: "Whittier rhymes with..." </div>
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The tiny black oval below covers our tracks for this 10-day trip. Hopefully sometime we can go back and add another oval to our map. What a beautiful part of the United States!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_C65DtTvynw/XeFpuqel-AI/AAAAAAAAF_A/imHW0YlkIKYn9N7-YZFgRt3hkJqqefmuACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Map%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1152" height="540" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_C65DtTvynw/XeFpuqel-AI/AAAAAAAAF_A/imHW0YlkIKYn9N7-YZFgRt3hkJqqefmuACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Map%2B1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The second map shows our tracks -- or at least where we spent our nights. On Saturday morning we drove from Alaska to Seward, receiving text updates from Anne (back in Anchorage), warning us of low-visibility at our destination. Seward was apparently filling up with smoke from forest fires in Homer. We thought we were so prepared because we bought rain pants for the girls before leaving for Alaska! Normally August is super-rainy; fortunately/unfortunately, there was NO serious rain during our entire trip. Of course that's a recipe for dry forests. Add in high winds and you get forest fires and smoke blowing around a peninsula. Thankfully, Nate is a nimble vacationer and was able to reroute us to a campground with clear skies. We liked Williwaw so much that we decided to stay parked for two nights. Campfires were allowed, so we kept warm there too! Actually, to be fair, the temperatures were warmer than usual for August in Alaska, but it still was in the low 40's when we woke up each morning.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0XjBHh-5IIQ/XeHaMxzzPLI/AAAAAAAAF_Q/lBmIl-3HcwQy1dFbIDPkVq9sXl1uAkUSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B8.53.16%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="580" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0XjBHh-5IIQ/XeHaMxzzPLI/AAAAAAAAF_Q/lBmIl-3HcwQy1dFbIDPkVq9sXl1uAkUSACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-29%2Bat%2B8.53.16%2BPM.png" width="336" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Normally when you look across, you see snow capped peaks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"City" camping in Seward</td></tr>
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Before landing at Williwaw for two nights, we hiked to Portage Glacier, which was spectacular! The hike up wasn't too long (despite some kids' complaints) and the views at the top rewarded us for making our kids persist. I think that was the day we promised an ice cream re-fuel in the afternoon, after the hike. Whittier was a lovely place for such a stop, and the we enjoyed watching people pull their boats and jet-skis out of the water for the season while eating our ice cream.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say "glacier!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hills are alive</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter was in a non-smiling mood most of the trip, unless we told him to make himself a moose</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 12th anniversary photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cream stop! See, Whittier isn't so shi**y</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: , serif;">On Monday we had hoped to hike Exit Glacier, but the smoke had beat us there, so we pivoted to Girdwood instead. This sweet town offered a fun playground for the kids, a decent grocery store, and a great hike down to a waterfall. Nate had read that there was a hand tram along the hike, which got the kids excited. Unfortunately, the trailhead posted a sign that said it was closed until further notice. That is just the kind of news that tired children feel deep in their hearts. Cora was so so so very upset that we wouldn't be able to ride the hand tram that she and Nate had to sit back and cool off before catching up with the rest of us. We later read that it was closed because recently two hikers had died (in two separate incidents) falling to the rocks below. This was sobering news for the kids helped Cora stop her griping about the injustices of out-of-order hand trams. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A posed picture to help us remember our disappointment (before we heard about the tragedies)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chair tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another chair tree that helped distract Cora from her sadness. I think you can still see a tear in her eye</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The activity center at the bottom of the hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More kids' activities </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sibling love</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In this last picture, Cora is helping Peter up the trail, holding his hand so sweetly. I think helping others in their distress helps you get past your own worries, right? Looking back, I think this was Cora's way of consoling herself with the whole hand tram disappointment. Down at the waterfall, Peter found some rocks that he really wanted to keep. He was also tired and wanting to be carried. We told him that if he wanted a ride, he needed to ditch the rocks. He decided that was too high of a cost for a ride, so he loaded them in his sweatshirt pocket and carried them all the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had already booked a non-refundable wildlife cruise in Kenai Fiords National Park, so all we could do was pray that by Tuesday, the wind would die down so we could get out and see some of the amazing wildlife Alaska has to offer. There will be a part 3 for this last hurrah of our trip!</span><br />
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Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-30619772211494971352019-08-23T20:29:00.000-05:002019-11-08T21:08:15.757-06:00Alaska - Part 1: Anchorage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a foolish mistake to not blog about our marvelous trip to Alaska until months after it ended! It was such a great family trip, in big part thanks to all the planning Nate did and the amazing hospitality Anne & Andrew offered. </div>
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As you can see from the first picture, things started off right with the iPad junkies sitting together on one side of the plane while Nate and I chilled across the aisle. It's hard to say what the kids are watching, but I'm going to bet on Stinky & Dirty for Peter and Harry Potter for the girls. We flew out of Chicago at 8 am and our direct flight landed us in Anchorage by around 1:30. Unusually warm weather welcomed us almost as warmly as Jack welcomed Cora. Even though Cora and Wren are the same age, it was striking how Louisa and Wren adored playing with each other. Peter and Marian were also pretty into each other's 4-year-oldness, so it was quite ideal that Cora was drawn to Jack (and vise versa). But all six of Oma's sweet grand-kiddos were thrilled to be together again!</div>
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Anchorage has a lovely downtown. Anne explained that they put a ton of resources into the gardens in the city center, despite the short growing season. It was lush and beautiful! One day while Nate and Andrew worked on cabinet trim, Anne and I took the kids to the Anchorage Museum, which had so much to offer. History of native people, a Molly of Denali exhibit, steel wedges in the courtyard for kids to jump off of and take slow-mo videos... <br />
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Anne, Wren and Marian took us to the setting of the classic story Blueberries for Sal and the kids had a fantastic time picking tiny, wild blueberries while learning the difference between a blueberry and a crowberry. Despite the sweet partially lidded bucket that Anne made for collecting, all but the ones we ate directly from the bush eventually returned to the ground when the bucket tumbled down the hillside. It's probably for the best, since the kids were planning to make natural dye from the leftover berries.<br />
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A hike up Flat Top came highly recommended, so we accepted the challenge. Man were the kids troopers! We layered up and packed plenty of bribe-snacks, which proved to be genius because at the bottom it was dusty, dry and hot whereas the summit was windy and brisk. Although looking at the girls attire in the summit photo below would not have you believe that it was actually chilly!<br />
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It's impossible to capture all the fun moments we had in and around Anchorage, but this was an attempt to get a few memories down on paper. After going through our photos, I decided it was a mistake to try to fit the entire trip in one post, so be on the lookout for another post on our road trip south of Anchorage sometime soon!<br />
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<br />Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-70009171469269864142019-04-29T21:58:00.000-05:002019-11-08T20:28:27.866-06:00Louisa Jane, Age 8Happy 8th birthday, Louisa! You have such a lovely heart. The confidence that was evident in you at an early age continues to carry you through life. This year, Dad and I have enjoyed watching you catch the reading bug. If you didn't have younger siblings that need more sleep than you, it would be hard to tell you to turn your light out at night. As someone who has a hard time getting sucked into a book, I really admire the way you can, and do. I think you get that admirable trait from your dad, who got it from his mom, your Oma!<br />
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This year on your birthday, we signed up for a mini-photoshoot with a photographer in Madison who asked Briar Loft to make flower crowns for mother/daughter mini-sessions. What a fun thing to do together (as the snow came down outside) the day before your birthday! Despite your love of all things silly, I was surprised to see that, in front of a stranger-photographer, you were a bit reserved. I'm afraid you get that from me!<br />
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You and Belle Mere make wonderful birthday twins. The sweet grey romper you're wearing in the photo below was part of your birthday gift from Belle and Papa. The other part was a white board, which you immediately used to draw a calendar. As I type, (a few month late, I'll admit) your white board says <i>Notes to Self: 1) Write script 2) Practice piano. </i>I adore how much you love calendars, lists and drawing/writing and I can't wait to see how these interests show up in your future career.<br />
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The gift with pink and gold paper near your cake is your first digital camera from Dad and me. Oh the joy it brought you! It's pretty clear that while you like toys, you really love grown up gifts. Speaking of grown up gifts, I don't know many 8-year olds that want a loom for their birthday. Oma has taught you all sorts of textile art skills and it's very cool to see you curled up in the brown chair in our living room either knitting or reading.<br />
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You're a gem, Lou Bear! I'm not totally sure how we got so lucky to have you as our firstborn. We're proud of you and we love you. Keep up your silliness and love of art, acting, music, reading, family, and friends.Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0Madison, WI, USA43.0730517 -89.40123019999998642.8875022 -89.723953699999981 43.2586012 -89.078506699999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-15691734374605605212019-04-11T21:06:00.000-05:002019-04-30T10:13:41.049-05:00She's Six!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Cora. Cora Bean. Bean Bean. Happy birthday, dear girl! It's hard to believe you just turned six. Your imagination is incredible, and paired with your creativity, you could play in any art studio forever. This year for your birthday, we didn't buy you any toys and I was a little bit nervous that you'd feel disappointed. You weren't! Instead, you were excited about a handlebar bag for your green Trek, a new turquoise spring jacket, purple shoes and a winter hat. You confidently got your ears pierced without a flinch and, without your reminders, I would forget to clean your new piercings altogether. </div>
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One of my favorite things about you this year is how affectionate yet not clingy you are when I come to help in your classroom on Tuesdays. At first it was hard for you to let me leave, but as we near the end of kindergarten, you sweetly hug me and send me on my way, before heading to the playground for recess. </div>
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Given the choice between hot lunch once per week or chocolate milk to accompany the lunch Dad packs for you, you choose the milk. This morning you didn't want to go to school because your good friend Hollis is in Egypt for "a really long time" so you don't have anyone to sit next to. I gently reminded you that you have lots of other good friends in your class and helped you pick your clothes, and you were set.</div>
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This year, you chose Lucky Charms for your birthday cereal and chocolate cake with green frosting (for the animals to graze in) for your birthday dessert. Two days later, you got to blow out candles a second time, with Aunt Georgia, whose birthday is only two days after yours!</div>
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<br />Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-10230354331863866502019-03-26T21:08:00.000-05:002019-04-27T11:36:51.103-05:00Spring Break 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The week before the kids' spring break this year, Nate was in San Diego running some test rides for a new e-bike that he was working on. The night before he was due to come home, we were both thinking of a mini-adventure with the kids once he returned. I love it when we're in sync like this!<br />
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Not that we doubted, but our kids are at the perfect age for Chicago's great museums. On Monday we explored the Shedd Aquarium, which was my personal favorite. It reminded me of my passion for dolphins when I was younger. I always thought I'd become a marine biologist, until sometime in my teens when I realized that I actually am afraid of fish. Irrational, I know, just like my fear of worms, but it is what it is.<br />
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On day two, we went to the the Field Museum in the morning, where the kids were able to indulge their fascination with mummies. So many questions, especially from Peter! We'll have to return someday when they all can read for themselves. A highlight from the Field Museum was meeting <a href="http://www.fieldmuseum.org/blog/sue-t-rex">Sue the T. Rex</a>. She is the largest t-rex skeleton found and also the most complete (90%). She was discovered by a woman named Sue Hendrickson in 1990 in South Dakota. Nate also learned about the origin of the name of one of his favorite beers.<br />
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In the afternoon, we explored the Planetarium, which was equally engaging for all three kids. It was pretty cool to learn that our Madison Children's Museum membership hooks us up with free admission to the Field Museum and the Planetarium. The temporary exhibits, movies and planetarium shows are extra, but it's still a pretty cool perk that I just recently learned about.<br />
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The craziest thing I learned during our museum visits is how quickly species are becoming extinct. Apparently the normal rate of extinction is <i>one species every four years</i>, but today, species are going extinct at a rate of <i>30,000 per year</i>, which is 82 species every day. Learning this mostly overwhelms me and makes me sigh and think this problem is beyond me. My prayer is that I won't just avoid confronting this knowledge as an inconvenient truth, but instead try to educate myself and my kids about what we can do. Do you have ideas? I'm all ears!Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-89092110756356405552019-02-12T21:03:00.000-06:002019-04-26T22:15:37.661-05:00Peter, You're Four! As you may have noticed, I've been less inclined to blog lately. One main reason why is that my work has transitioned from a nine-to-five job to a couple of whenever-you-can jobs. I don't mind this transition, but it does leave me less interested in spending time at the computer in the evenings, when I would typically feel inspired to blog. But as someone once said, a blog is a great record of memories, especially for my kids to read someday. So that simple reminder is my new inspiration - to at least get a short post published for the big events that we don't want to forget.<br />
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With that, a back-post to say HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY Peter! I would have capitalized your name too, except you really don't like that. "Not my capital name!" you say. I love how attentive you are to small details like this. I love that you like to order things (pumpkins, cans of paint) just so. It's been a long time since you threw a fit about bedtime songs or how we sliced a banana. Perhaps it's because we have quite a routine at bedtime. First, ABCs, with you singing the P, E, T and R while I sing the rest. Next comes twinkle twinkle little star, and finally, a made up song - a request you come up with on the spot after I pray - usually about something that made you happy that day. Today it was about Musicville - the musical you performed with the other students at Eastside Lutheran tonight. We loved hearing you sing and do jazz hands to <i>Getting Ready for the Festival Tonight.</i><br />
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We adore how much you like to listen to classical music and books about trucks, animals or composers that "died a long time ago." Your love for classical music is no doubt influenced by Mary Shin, a violin graduate student who has been living with us since August. She tells people that you are her best friend in Madison. Your love for Mary is beyond sweet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice writing, bud!</td></tr>
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As you near the end of your school year at Eastside Lutheran, we're glad that you've tired of fighting going to school. I'm thinking that's because you actually enjoy it, but taking after your parents, it can be hard to get up and going in the morning. I don't blame you for preferring to stay in your pajamas. If all goes as planned, you'll have one more year of this luxury, since you were placed in the afternoon 4K class at the girls' school.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You love Mary in part because she lets you go to Olbrich Gardens in your pajamas!</td></tr>
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Thanks for being such a fun-loving guy. You may be stubborn at times, but we're confident that this will come in handy someday, helping you to stand up for things you believe in.<br />
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<br />Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-31148879814795375502019-01-28T18:19:00.001-06:002019-01-28T18:28:29.735-06:00Kitchen Magic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nate and I have a running joke (that I've probably mentioned before) that when we finally finish a house project, we stop appreciating the finished product pretty quickly, because it looks how it should have looked all along. Regardless, I'm THRILLED to have cabinet doors and drawer fronts in place. Seeing these pictures from January 19, I'm pretty proud of myself for not going bonkers living without doors for 2.5 years. They look so good, Nate. Way to pull off <a href="http://www.travelingbosschers.com/search?q=charcoal+grey">the vision</a> we searched Pinterest for in 2015.<br />
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Here are the 'bonkers inducing' before photos, to help you appreciate the transition:<br />
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And now, drumroll please...the after photos that bring me lots of warm fuzzies and peace:<br />
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We ordered glass for the open cabinet doors, so that should be in soon, but otherwise, the kitchen is DONE. Now the only project left is the fireplace mantel and built-in bookshelves on either side of the fireplace. You're earning your keep around here, Nate Bosscher! SWAK.<br />
<br />Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-41240012572170885292018-11-05T21:13:00.001-06:002018-11-05T21:34:44.123-06:00Beautiful Blessings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since my last post in September, we've settled into a routine that feels good. Peter and I are home together on Mondays and Wednesdays, while I keep the household running (somewhat) smoothly and work to coordinate communications for Geneva Campus Church. Peter loves his new school, Eastside Lutheran, where he goes Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. While hearing about St. Bernard's closure two weeks before school was starting was stressful, I'm thankful that we were forced to find a different childcare solution. Looking back to February, when I first felt like I needed a change from my job at UW Health, I can see so many ways that God answered prayer:<br />
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<li>I felt called to take the communication coordinator job at Geneva, but knew that 20-25 hours per week would be too much for our family; God helped the church staff re-write the position to be 10 hours per week instead. </li>
<li>I was worried about leaving the field of nutrition completely; God sent Marcy, a co-worker from 2010, to ask me if I wanted to take 8-20 hours/wk of her job at <a href="https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/">University Health Services.</a> </li>
<li>I was tempted to take on 18 hours in order to get health insurance for our family even though I knew that might be too much; God arranged a "Graduate-Program/temporary appointment" that makes me eligible for benefits at 10 hours per week...for the next two years!</li>
<li>I wondered if it was good to have Peter in preschool full-time at St. B's, but it was only $30 more per month to enroll him in full time care instead of the three days I'd be working; God led us to Eastside Lutheran and even answered my prayers about using our dependent care FSA that I had set aside for St. Bernard's tuition.</li>
<li>My faith was feeling stale and disconnected from the reason for it all, Jesus; God called me into prayer, even if it was for seemingly insignificant life logistics, gave me monthly time with a mentor, Mary Beth, who encouraged me to check out two books: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Craving-Grace-Experience-Richness-Gospel/dp/080241124X">Craving Grace</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Morning-Mercies-Gospel-Devotional/dp/1433541386/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1541471072&sr=1-1&keywords=new+morning+mercies+by+paul+david+tripp">New Morning Mercies</a>.</li>
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Reflecting on answered prayer has reminded me (yet again), how easy it is to ask God for help when I'm desperate - my job is unfulfilling, our daycare is closing, I have interesting new job opportunities but feel completely unsure about the "right" choice or combination. I've come to realize that while God would never intentionally mess things up in my life in order to remind me to seek him, he is always walking next to me, eagerly waiting for me to turn my face towards him and ask for help. </div>
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My top two ongoing prayers now are 1) that I literally crave His grace and mercy, which daily calls me to read God's word and pray earnestly even when things seem to be going well, and 2) that Nate and I are able to understand and provide for Cora's needs, especially on school mornings, when she generally takes longer than Peter and Louisa to "hatch."</div>
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I was thinking that I didn't have any related pictures for this post, because I haven't been photographing these answers to prayer, but then I realized that throughout this time of change, beautiful things have been happening, proving to me that I don't have to even know what to ask for, but God will bless, in big and small ways.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNImtqDtKys/W-D--kSCJtI/AAAAAAAAFhw/bAgLglSTCjAdEMgxyZTpVWdM3xYqnSdMgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNImtqDtKys/W-D--kSCJtI/AAAAAAAAFhw/bAgLglSTCjAdEMgxyZTpVWdM3xYqnSdMgCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2210.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This earns a "beautiful things" tag because Peter picked it out, without prompting, and after adding it to his kid cart, asked, "is that cereal called Fruit Loops?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7fb1U8HX2Jc/W-D--hiMsZI/AAAAAAAAFhk/Kw38bhX_x_wQcoGsh-qhLCThzSoMGZtggCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7fb1U8HX2Jc/W-D--hiMsZI/AAAAAAAAFhk/Kw38bhX_x_wQcoGsh-qhLCThzSoMGZtggCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2228.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cora is spending her kindergarten days perfecting her monkey sketches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-whdTmYNadJE/W-D--fYnFqI/AAAAAAAAFhs/7vWTc4JdaPQyW9v49NbS0Lj8D8QJOKEywCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-whdTmYNadJE/W-D--fYnFqI/AAAAAAAAFhs/7vWTc4JdaPQyW9v49NbS0Lj8D8QJOKEywCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2229.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art class is a favorite of Louisa's too</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVoKYx7eKCw/W-D_BLvV5RI/AAAAAAAAFho/A-zHVMe5S8gZ62BbjnNOArAo7Gcq7Ud8QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVoKYx7eKCw/W-D_BLvV5RI/AAAAAAAAFho/A-zHVMe5S8gZ62BbjnNOArAo7Gcq7Ud8QCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2281.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying on glasses with Peter was surprisingly fun. He's wearing the winning pair in this photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oH6juTBPAsM/W-D_BRJIRII/AAAAAAAAFhk/I60iOsJHl-Qkxf7W6iZjlcpIlnutc9K6QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oH6juTBPAsM/W-D_BRJIRII/AAAAAAAAFhk/I60iOsJHl-Qkxf7W6iZjlcpIlnutc9K6QCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2284.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter ice boating at the Children's Museum. We sent this photo to Papa, to share our love.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn5940WEk6I/W-D-_GM06-I/AAAAAAAAFhg/C58khQcAbVo1tOfYaw2PjYIr4G7BBLmeACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="798" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn5940WEk6I/W-D-_GM06-I/AAAAAAAAFhg/C58khQcAbVo1tOfYaw2PjYIr4G7BBLmeACEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2237.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaking of Papa...10 miles? No problem!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZVwpWel8nc/W-D_ApIjC_I/AAAAAAAAFhs/XFBugnz2R8IYR8rFMdHSgcx3kzY8E1-rwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZVwpWel8nc/W-D_ApIjC_I/AAAAAAAAFhs/XFBugnz2R8IYR8rFMdHSgcx3kzY8E1-rwCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2259.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the hip, new Wharf in southeast D.C. after the Army 10-miler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QM72Om4LJrA/W-D_Ddo1cyI/AAAAAAAAFhw/QS_2hTPmwnQW7yqeK4WNfDZNWnBCBABoQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QM72Om4LJrA/W-D_Ddo1cyI/AAAAAAAAFhw/QS_2hTPmwnQW7yqeK4WNfDZNWnBCBABoQCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2302.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radishes from our CSA. I learned from Hello Fresh how to quick-pickle. Even the kids ate them!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKLlf8ENElo/W-D_Di0pKhI/AAAAAAAAFhs/CXZYxYCpRasb57sisCIUO8NRPcpZf2NawCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKLlf8ENElo/W-D_Di0pKhI/AAAAAAAAFhs/CXZYxYCpRasb57sisCIUO8NRPcpZf2NawCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2287.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The leaves felt especially vibrant and long-lasting this year. And yes, we let Cora wear her pajamas all day whenever she wants to - it helps with faster hatching.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our troopers on the 3-mile hike to the 8-bunk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOPwSPMCIeA/W-D_G6OuLlI/AAAAAAAAFhw/v2QcUP-XIAUOeWWwWd7puit6QLah7-2XQCEwYBhgL/s1600/NPB_4070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOPwSPMCIeA/W-D_G6OuLlI/AAAAAAAAFhw/v2QcUP-XIAUOeWWwWd7puit6QLah7-2XQCEwYBhgL/s640/NPB_4070.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic memories made in the Porcupine Mountains</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ooo la la. Je t'aims our new built-in book shelf!</td></tr>
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Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-90228609126094621922018-09-05T17:42:00.002-05:002018-09-05T17:42:41.638-05:00Hooray for School!Well, there went the summer! School started yesterday and we're all relieved for the routine that school days bring. I left my job at UW Health back in June, and a couple of days later started working for our church as the Communications Coordinator - about 10 hours per week, from home. During the summer, there were many nice things about this new job. For one, we didn't need much childcare for the kids. I also enjoy the work since it's mostly about getting things organized (volunteers, directory, visitors). The one down side was that I forgot how challenging it is for me to have a "to-do" list and not be able to check things off ASAP. So that meant I was constantly trying to "be present" with my kids, but also feeling this strong pull to take care of my work tasks. If summer was eternal, I would have had to figure out a better solution. But thankfully by the time I was at my wits ends (or staying up until 11:30 pm working), I realized that things were about to change. Enter full-day kindergarten & 2nd grade, 3 days of preschool, and Mary! Hallelujah!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mary had to be in our first day of school picture since she started her grad classes this week</span></span></td></tr>
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Mary moved to Madison after graduating from Calvin College for grad school. She is going to be a music ministry intern at Geneva Campus Church and was looking for a low-cost place to live. Mary moved in with us three weeks ago and so far it's been WONDERFUL. She is a very easy house guest - quiet, tidy and eager to help with the kids, dishes and cleaning. She also makes our dinner conversations more interesting and fun, since she doesn't just tell bad knock-knock jokes. Welcome. Mary!Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-76398479224500293922018-07-11T16:02:00.002-05:002018-07-11T16:07:51.282-05:00That's Enough SingingAs a non-singer, meaning, as someone who doesn't sing in a choir or for an audience, I'm really beginning to feel the importance of the silly little kids songs I sing on a daily basis, or the times when a good song comes on in the car (Part of Your World or Eye of the Tiger, for example). Singing out loud just feels good. This afternoon, as Peter struggled to give in to the tiredness overtaking him, I sang three songs, while watching his eyelids intently, praying they would close. The first was Hush Little Baby, which he has always loved. Next, Three Little Birds. And finally, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc2ygv4dWRw&frags=pl%2Cwn">Night Mantra</a>. I repeated this sweet, short song about five times, before Peter (with eyes still open), said, "That's enough singing. I didn't want you to sing that song over and over and over again." I replied, "Okay, will you close your eyes then?" He did. And as I type, they are still closed. Whew.<br />
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Rewind to yesterday. I'm trying to get Peter down for his nap before Allison came to babysit. I'm singing his three song requests and after, trying to leave. He wants me to stay. "I have to go get my haircut, Peter. If you go to sleep now, you'll have more time to play with Allison." He looks at my hair and touches my hairline. "Why do you need to take a haircut, Mama? Because it's doing this?" [as he feels my frizzy curls near my temple]. I tell him it's because it's been a while since I had a haircut. He says, "but I want it to keep doing this." Oh, my dear, sweet boy. I hope you always are so sweet to your mama.<br />
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Not that we need photos for this memory to live on, but...<br />
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I do hear some movement upstairs. I'm sure it's Cora, who is in that gray area of needing a nap. She is so much more level headed and pleasant if she naps 3-4 times per week. The upside to no naps? Falling asleep easily at night. As she prepares for full days of kindergarten this fall, part of me wants to cut the nap cord sooner rather than later. But at the very same time, as a working-from-home-mom, I really don't want to do that. For now we're in a every other day napping situation and it's getting us through.<br />
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Cora has been showing her preferred way of receiving love lately: through gifts. If only I was a less frugal mom, it would be so fun to buy her new things all the time! Her and Louisa rejected my idea of watching shows in exchange for chores because they decided it would be more fun to earn prizes. What kind of prizes, you ask? Not my favorite kind. Cheap toys from Target that take them too long to pick. For now, they are earning a stamp on a chart and each stamp will be redeemed for money. Perhaps only 25 cents each, although I'm afraid they may give up on the whole chore thing if they accumulate their allowance too slowly. Cora has her eye on a $15 <a href="https://www.target.com/p/fingerlings-interactive-monkey-light-purple-kiki/-/A-53033647?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Toys+Shopping_Brand&adgroup=SC_Toys&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9018949&gclid=CjwKCAjw1ZbaBRBUEiwA4VQCIYFSxNWjRLkl2C6riVgS8VY5F10NZhmkh2J_UqBC0XF9lau2qGFLaBoCpB0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">finger monkey</a>, which would require 60 days of chores. No chores on Sundays, so that's 10 weeks of chores. Probably a bit of a stretch for a 5 year old with less than stellar patience, huh?<br />
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She may not be patient or do chores out of duty, but she can be really sweet, offering to share things with Peter to avert a 3-year-old tantrum.<br />
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Then there is Louisa, who stopped napping sometime during her 4th year of life. Lou's cheery soul probably didn't need a nap recharge since around age two, but I needed it for another two years. Now she is regularly stretching and flexing her independence muscles - asking to go to the corner grocery store by herself and riding her bike 0.75 miles to her 3 hour play practices. She asked for a digital watch, carries her own library card (in her own purse) and is loving her ultimate frisbee class and tennis lessons.<br />
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<br />Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-1900490753547128572018-05-29T16:20:00.003-05:002018-06-22T22:12:58.328-05:00France - 9ième JournéeOur last day in Paris! Must have been the perfect length because I feel happy to be going home tomorrow. But it was a wonderful time away, spent with my mom, sister, aunt and cousin.<br />
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When we woke up this morning, it was rainy and 65 degrees. My mom and I headed out for some last minute shopping. I felt as though it might rain all day, so I didn't bring my camera. That's why the street art photo below is actually from Friday. Turns out there were a couple of hours of sun from 3-8 in the afternoon, so I could have tricked you with that photo, except that you can see Sarah standing there, reading a map.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDM8CkOu4gs/Ww3CCM297vI/AAAAAAAAFYc/y_PSYT3JNyAAiCuo1cchqiEXkOirTdPQwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1223" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDM8CkOu4gs/Ww3CCM297vI/AAAAAAAAFYc/y_PSYT3JNyAAiCuo1cchqiEXkOirTdPQwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1377.jpg" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo shoot for some lip stick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McjrUIyPo-g/Ww2-zh0XHUI/AAAAAAAAFYU/8u9Fadc50qEco_dT0qz8dPWw4ZBY929FACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McjrUIyPo-g/Ww2-zh0XHUI/AAAAAAAAFYU/8u9Fadc50qEco_dT0qz8dPWw4ZBY929FACK4BGAYYCw/s640/IMG_1278.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love how her right hand looks like it's holding the street sign. Unintentional photographic genius!</td></tr>
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Saint Chapelle and it's stained glass windows were breathtaking. Afterwards we meandered back to our airbnb to start packing for our flights tomorrow. My mom and aunt leave for Italy around 8 am, Molly leaves for California at 10 am, and I'll be en route to Madison (via Chicago) before noon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uFBePgyeT5s/Ww3CCt56R5I/AAAAAAAAFYg/hPP8Le_bWLEXu9EFOcdyUXFtFudR316ZACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1172" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uFBePgyeT5s/Ww3CCt56R5I/AAAAAAAAFYg/hPP8Le_bWLEXu9EFOcdyUXFtFudR316ZACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1384.jpg" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saint Chapelle's beauty</td></tr>
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Now - at 11 pm - it's pouring rain! We were having a perfectly-French dinner at Chez Rene when the sky to the north started to darken. Thunder and lightning was a perfect backdrop for my last mousse au chocolat in Paris. Au revior! It's been lovely!Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-19904544345058501992018-05-28T15:41:00.000-05:002018-05-29T15:44:28.270-05:00France - 8ième Journée<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F_0ROehkONg/WwxmwoQaE6I/AAAAAAAAFXg/yUbxTwrWyl4e4PBw0VKjcWbCGnpKoFZIACLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F_0ROehkONg/WwxmwoQaE6I/AAAAAAAAFXg/yUbxTwrWyl4e4PBw0VKjcWbCGnpKoFZIACLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3183.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On our eighth day, we said farewell to our wonderful tour guide, Sarah, who unfortunately had to get back to her family and job in Côte d'Ivoire. We saw her off on the train near Notre Dame, then walked to the Musée D'Orlangerie, where Claude Monet's Water Lilies is hung. Very lovely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FlpHdkWN4-U/WwxmxMnUdwI/AAAAAAAAFXk/kG0a2O1WgUsRFg2f6sGMDV5cM2hw7JG0gCLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FlpHdkWN4-U/WwxmxMnUdwI/AAAAAAAAFXk/kG0a2O1WgUsRFg2f6sGMDV5cM2hw7JG0gCLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3186.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful trees along the Seine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbxT2iKGB88/WwxmvyJzHNI/AAAAAAAAFXc/rpRxrQxHevYBaAKRgQMBIXPy9ZPfZZ4PACLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1230" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbxT2iKGB88/WwxmvyJzHNI/AAAAAAAAFXc/rpRxrQxHevYBaAKRgQMBIXPy9ZPfZZ4PACLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3187.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allium in the Tuillerie Gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1AmICFVQQ28/Wwxmx7P9miI/AAAAAAAAFXo/P_KiGvI75sIomUOL5yP32u3khtQXgANDQCLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1AmICFVQQ28/Wwxmx7P9miI/AAAAAAAAFXo/P_KiGvI75sIomUOL5yP32u3khtQXgANDQCLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3188.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Lilies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FwullgsFpQs/WwxmzBYrhwI/AAAAAAAAFXs/t4Odrf7CqNIoxaUrcEidXnpKT3zlKIOQQCLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FwullgsFpQs/WwxmzBYrhwI/AAAAAAAAFXs/t4Odrf7CqNIoxaUrcEidXnpKT3zlKIOQQCLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3190.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor teacher, trying to get 3rd graders to appreciate Monet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0myRdVhNqf0/WwxmzIQMvtI/AAAAAAAAFXw/atrmDucpZDQ7Ddie4I70AQRNwRosGQr3QCLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1528" data-original-width="1600" height="610" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0myRdVhNqf0/WwxmzIQMvtI/AAAAAAAAFXw/atrmDucpZDQ7Ddie4I70AQRNwRosGQr3QCLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3200.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It rests my brain to paint flowers" -Renoir </td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-58937526680581063662018-05-27T11:39:00.001-05:002018-05-28T15:28:36.007-05:00France - 7ième Journée<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today we did a food tour of Paris, which helped us explore areas where we had not already spent much time. We didn't taste any surprising foods, but no matter! It was great. We started with croissants and pain au chocolate (aka chocolate croissant). Then we walked up the street to a stretch of shops where Matthew (our French attorney and tour guide) collected duck liver pâté, pâté en croûte (pate with a pastry crust), saussison (dry pork sausage), goat cheese, cow cheese, blue cheese (roquefort, a creamy blue that was fabulous) and brie. We walked to a little table with this haul and Matthew bought some rosé wine. We had plenty of baguettes from the boulangerie/pattiserie.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8MltVkqlog/WwrYhaFoabI/AAAAAAAAFWo/0x5T5aoQd78_aMrTepVWxo2L2aXfBadYACLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8MltVkqlog/WwrYhaFoabI/AAAAAAAAFWo/0x5T5aoQd78_aMrTepVWxo2L2aXfBadYACLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3147.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boulangerie/pattiserie where we bought the croissants, pain au chocolat and baguettes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IoO33jWm37A/WwrYjkjRfyI/AAAAAAAAFW0/SUuh4fwbUj8dCAeFFk2J9ssuQKVjCd51gCLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1115" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IoO33jWm37A/WwrYjkjRfyI/AAAAAAAAFW0/SUuh4fwbUj8dCAeFFk2J9ssuQKVjCd51gCLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3156.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sidewalk picnic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7eElir_Zbic/WwrYhguoFkI/AAAAAAAAFWw/89kGwMuwB5gkBextkWXQMDiolAeP_zWlACLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7eElir_Zbic/WwrYhguoFkI/AAAAAAAAFWw/89kGwMuwB5gkBextkWXQMDiolAeP_zWlACLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3149.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We bought some apricots for our picnic at the Eiffel Tower last night. Yum!</td></tr>
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After this main course we walked to eat some crepes, filled with butter and sugar. After a short walk near the Pantheon and past Earnest Hemingway's apartment, we ended near Notre Dame, where we tasted some French cookies - like mini cream puffs. I was happy they choose something a little bit less common than a macaroon, and the store front was oh-so-cute.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumbo, white asparagus, which we tried in a starter at Le Bon Georges</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJQjeHDziL8/WwrYjyjihII/AAAAAAAAFW8/nnpKiYyMb0wxW_zCbDcZaUZkJjMN4_yxQCLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJQjeHDziL8/WwrYjyjihII/AAAAAAAAFW8/nnpKiYyMb0wxW_zCbDcZaUZkJjMN4_yxQCLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3172.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike-art-plant </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jZAqEjV30r0/WwrYkA2imLI/AAAAAAAAFW4/uGFMBQBWPFI3IcPCAg-4OgskxUz7Y_zxwCLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1053" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jZAqEjV30r0/WwrYkA2imLI/AAAAAAAAFW4/uGFMBQBWPFI3IcPCAg-4OgskxUz7Y_zxwCLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3173.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cream puff cafe, Odette, named after the grandmother of the owner, whose recipe he uses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RM6oVDAk8PE/WwrYlL-yNbI/AAAAAAAAFXA/GK3MrCGrfeEZAxLi52ulu3Jg3UJZ10C4wCLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="438" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RM6oVDAk8PE/WwrYlL-yNbI/AAAAAAAAFXA/GK3MrCGrfeEZAxLi52ulu3Jg3UJZ10C4wCLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3175.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little French berets help identify the type of cream you'll find inside. I got chocolate!<br />
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Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6030870585848090517.post-15255984613842678382018-05-26T17:07:00.000-05:002018-05-27T11:39:38.363-05:00France - 6ième JournéeToday's pictures can speak a thousand words! Oh, but I should say that I took a picture of the bride and groom only because Louisa and Cora love to see wedding dresses. Good night!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another flower market :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nuZ2CU1AEqs/WwnY4dUhP8I/AAAAAAAAFV0/WuiUpqTrOQQHary2VbaAUU2vx6S3mos0ACLcBGAs/s1600/NPB_3048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1118" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nuZ2CU1AEqs/WwnY4dUhP8I/AAAAAAAAFV0/WuiUpqTrOQQHary2VbaAUU2vx6S3mos0ACLcBGAs/s640/NPB_3048.jpg" width="446" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notre Dame </td></tr>
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<br />Alicia Bosscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08208749143688744900noreply@blogger.com113