Sister Dating and Re-purposing

Yesterday was a great day! Aubrey and I took our 5 kiddos to see the buffalo and prairie dogs at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Unfortunately, they were doing some construction in the park, so we had to wait a while to get in and out of the park. But, we rode in my sister's van, and the kids were occupied with a movie. The kids enjoyed seeing the animals, playing at a playground in Medora and eating a picnic lunch. Aubrey and I had a good time too, but we especially liked that all of the kids took a nap when we got back to my house at 2:30. We also ended up snoozing on the couches until the late afternoon, and our kiddos started waking up.

Around 5:00, Aubrey and I got ready for our sister date. We've never done anything like this before, but sometimes it's nice to trade in your husband for some time with your sister. (Not that it wouldn't have also been great to go with Mr. Dave, but sometimes girl time is what every girl needs.) So, we put on sun dresses because it was such a nice, warm day in Dickinson, left the kiddos with Dave and headed to dinner. We froze in the restaurant's a/c while eating a tasty and high-caloric dinner, and then headed to a coffee shop to grab some coffee. Unfortunately, all the coffee shops in our little town are closed by 7:00p.m. So, we opted for some DQ desserts and shopping time instead. We giggled and chatted and had a great time! We were home early and in bed at around 10:30. (Which is early for me and late for Aubrey.)

While we were gone, Dave sent us some pictures, and this video:

These little outbursts are part of what happens with kids, and is also what wears us old parents out! I think it's hilarious! (I'm also glad that it wasn't one of the outbursts that Aubrey and I had to deal with.) All of the drama was due to Dave's request that all the kids come in from playing outside and get ready for bed.You can tell in the video that they aren't tired at all.

Right now, all 5 kids are contentedly watching Mickey shows on Netflix. So, even though it's raining and we can't go outside, life is good!

Aubrey's and my next mission will be getting ready for Lydia's birthday party on Saturday. I need to figure out what kind of cake to make, and get some decorations gathered up. I'm praying that the birthday/summer surprise that we ordered my girls comes on time! Don't tell my daughters, but the trampoline that is being shipped here will be used for re-purposing tons of pent up kids energy! Hallelujah and Amen.

Blessings, Amber

Dryer Lint Re-purposing.

When my hubby was growing up, he was in Boy Scouts for a few years. Nearly every time we set off on a family adventure (i.e. camping, hiking, exploring, fishing, going to Cabela's), he shares a recollection with me or my girls about an experience he had in Boy Scouts. The stories are usually interesting, and sometimes provide me with good re-purposing ideas.

Several years ago, when Dave and I still lived in Oklahoma, I remember him telling me about how dryer lint is good for starting fires. I found this information silly because there are lots of good fire starters readily available...newspaper works, dry leaves work... But, just in case, I started saving dryer lint anyway. It was sort of a "I'm listening" sort of a gesture. I saved the lint, and when he barbequed or burned leaves in the backyard, he would use the lint to start fires, and that was that.

However, if you read my blog, you may have seen that we have gone camping and been outside starting fires quite a lot in our short two months in North Dakota. Because I knew camping would be happening frequently with our family, I started saving our lint again in our new house. And, on our last camping trip, I brought some lint along.

Dave was so pleased. (I think I won some points.)

Shoe box full of dryer lint

The good stuff

The cool part is, though, that as we built the multiple fires on that chilly evening, I realized why lint works better than the newspaper I also brought along and the dried leaves we put on the fire. While those items burn quickly and disintegrate, dryer lint burns slowly and is more likely to catch the sticks and logs on fire before it burns up.

So, I'm thankful I tried something from Dave's childhood, and that I won some points doing it. I am also thankful to be able to find a new item to re-purpose. Because, I don't throw things away much around here. :)

I'd love to hear your camping tips or tricks! Tootles, Amber