We were at the cabin this past weekend with some friends and our kids learned a valuable life lesson. It was a dreary, rainy and cold weekend so we spent a lot of time inside. The girls spent a lot of time in the loft with their friends. On Saturday afternoon we started to smelling something, it smelled like burnt marshmallows. We searched the cabin with our noses trying to find out where the smell was coming from. Finally, we heard an "it's up here" from the loft. There was a lamp that was on the bed and covered by a blanket. The lamp had burned a whole through the blanket, bedspread, sheets and there was a hole in the mattress already. We feel very blessed that it wasn't worse and that God's hand of protection was over us. I think it would have been a matter of minutes and we would of had a full blown fire on our hands. We found out the kids had been playing doctor with the light and had
layed it down. We had a very real teachable
moment on our hands. So lesson #1 for the kids was don't put a lamp on a bed or blankets. It was a good eye opener for the moms and dads how quick something can happen with a hot light or bulb. So if you have lamps in your children's room talk to them about the danger of playing with them or putting blankets on them. It was quite
traumatic for our little Emma since her blanket she's had since she was a baby was what burned. She did feel better when
grammy said she'd get her a new one just like it. She still nightly talks about the fire so
helpful there was a lesson learned through all of it. In the midst of it I totally missed getting some pictures. I guess when your in the midst of a crisis grabbing the camera is the last thing on your mind.
Here are some pictures of the kids enjoying the sand even though it was a little wet and chilly.
Life Lesson #2 .... if you are trying to help a turtle across the road so it doesn't get hit by a car be carful ..... it may be a snapping turtle!
It was a big day for the McDonald girls today. They 
This weekend we took pictures at the lake with papa, grammy and cousins. You never know how pictures are going to turn out with 6 little munchkins 5 and under. I have to say they are pretty cute ... I may be a little biased though! The kids love the lake and we are sad to see the season come to an end. What fun memories we made there this summer, fire and all!
We just spent four very fun days at Kalahari in the Wisconsin Dells. It is hotel with an outdoor water park and has the largest indoor water park in the United States. We went with Eric's family and the kids turned into fish over night. They had fun with cousins, aunts, uncles and grammy. They had fun in the wave pool, on BIG and little slides, sitting in the hot tub, riding on tubes and just splashing in the water. Even Shane loved the big slides. He would cry to go on the big slides if we even tried to head to the little kid areas. You'll see from some of the pictures that Eric and I had just as much fun. We even hit the slides while the kids had nap time. Eric tried out the surfing station too! It was a huge hit with everyone so I'm sure we'll be heading back again sometime. If you live within driving distance to the Dells this is a great vacation destination. If you go with a couple families check out the Village Suites. You get 3 regular hotel rooms that a-join to a full kitchen, dining and living area. If you book early enough you can get it for a steel when you figure in the free water park entertainment!
The girls had more fun with cousins at Wild Water West!! I have to say my favorite pictures are of Emma and Tyra with their goggles. I think I see some Olympic swimming potential in the two of them!
This weekend we went to the spray park for a picnic and to get wet! The kids had fun getting wet and cooling off with daddy. I hung out on the sidelines trying to get some pictures. I'm sad these warm weekends will soon come to an end so we are trying to enjoy them as much as we can.
