In the waiting area at dance tonight, I sat listening to all the moms talking about the summer vacations they had planned, what beach condo they would be lounging at, the timeshare that the in-laws had.  Destin, Hilton Head, The Outer Banks.  They would fly their families of 5, of course.  Who could imagine driving all that way?  I love the beach, and I was surprised that the conversation didn't leave me yearning for that first glimpse of the ocean between the beach houses on my dear Garden City Beach.

Instead, as I sat listening to their plans, I was happy.  I'm happy that it is not financially feasible to fly our family and rent a van for our travels.  I'm thankful that we cannot spend the money to vacation in 5 star resorts.  If we could, we might.  And if we did, we'd miss out on something worth so much more than saved travel time.  

To me, the family vacation is a travel altogether different.  For my family, vacations mean oil changes, alignment checks, and rotating tires.  They mean packing a cooler full of lunch and a crate full of snacks.  Family vacations are movies in the car, random roadside attractions, and about two dozen bathroom breaks.  It's about broadening horizons and getting to know God's world a tiny bit better. Family vacations are about the feeling of adventure as you pull out of the driveway, wonder at changing topography, and contentment as you pull back into town, exhausted but happy.  

Our family travels have never been glamourous.  We've explored the Oregon coast in an afternoon road trip before a business conference in Portland, tent camped in Rocky Mountain National Park, shared a home on the sandy beaches with five other families, and experienced the charm of Wisconsin's thumb.  

This summer, while my fellow dance moms are boarding their planes, I'll be wearing giant sunglasses, riding shotgun through the Amber Waves of Grain.  As they check into their hotels, I'll be pitching our ten person tent at the foot of sand dunes in Colorado.  I'll spend days sledding down sandy hills (who knew you could do that?!?) and nights making dinner on a camp stove.  We'll drive south to New Mexico, Land of Enchantment, and visit Native American Pueblos, Spanish Missions, and historic churches.  We'll hike.  If we feel like it, we'll pack up camp and trek through the Lone Star State and visit the Alamo, the San Antonio Riverwalk, and the Fort Worth Stock Yards.  It may not be swanky, and we surely won't be pampered along the way, but we will be sure to find adventure together, and for us, that is what family vacations are all about.

Bundle of JOY

In a few short weeks, I'll be embarking on a new adventure. A tiny bundle of joy will arrive to cure my baby fever, and I will be an AUNT! I can't explain how excited I've been about this little gal and for my sister and brother-in-law. I just know they'll be such Godly parents, and I'm already so proud of them. Amos and I have both been awaiting our first niece and getting very excited to cuddle her and spoil her just like they have done with our kids.

A few weekends ago, we packed our younger kids into our tiny rice burner car and made the four hour drive to KC. I thought we were just going to photo document my sister's baby belly, but it turns out that we were also going to receive a huge surprise invitation.

We were asked to be godparents!

It may seem logical that an aunt and uncle would be chosen for such a role, but my sister and brother-in-law are blessed with an amazing network of Catholic friends. We really hadn't thought for a second that we'd be asked, so when we pulled this out--

--it was as much a surprise as their pregnancy announcement! Amos was a teary eyed mess, and I could only wonder what in the world we would have to offer our niece that she wouldn't already get from her parents. My little sister is an amazing Catholic youth minister with a degree in theology. She is my go-to source for my religious questions and one of the most intentional Catholics I know.

Already, I'm finding this role to be strengthening my faith and providing an avenue to grow closer to Christ. As with all our adventures, we'll be praying for wisdom to walk His path on this journey and to faithfully reinforce our sweet niece and goddaughter's own Catholic faith.

Bright Eyed Owl Birthday Cake

A few months ago, I was asked to make an owl cake and smash cake for a first birthday party. There are SO many ideas out there, so I had plenty of inspiration! I ultimately decided to make a round, two tiered cake and use fondant to make whirly pops, owls, and trim, inspired by this one.

My lollipops were made a few days ahead of time to allow time for drying. I experimented with several methods and found it best to roll two ropes individually, then roll them together, and then roll the rope into a spiral. I inserted Wilton lollipop sticks up through the center of the spirals and later cut them to the lengths I needed.

I found an owl illustration online to use as a template for my large owl. I blew up the image on my screen, traced it, and made patter pieces. I used a paring knife (I'm sure not the most efficient tool!) to cut each piece from 1/8 inch thick fondant. While the pieces were still soft, I layered them. The old (young?) bird needed two long dowels between her back and front layers that would be inserted through the 3-D feet when I assembled the cake. The entire owl needed to lay flat for 24 hours to dry.

The smash cake owl was really just a repeat of playing with play-do as a kid. I used chocolate fondant (Wilton's brand) for the body, cut pink circles with an icing tip for the feathers, and flew my the seat of my pants for the rest!