I wonder...

The history teacher in me loves reflecting about the founding of our country during this fabulous summer holiday...the American Revolution was my favorite time period of American history to teach.  While most teachers would spend about 3-4 days on it, I usually spent a good week-8 days.  I mean, what other time period of our country's history was a blank slate, decisions, and opportunities in front of our framer's?  The history teacher in me also likes to remind any students out there of another very important happening on July 4th...except this happened 50 years after the signing of our Independence from Great Britain.

Two great men, John Adams & Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4th, 1826.  Both men had political careers at the same time and actually had very different ideas of how government should be created and run.  Yet when their last breathe was breathed, both had reconciled and had a deep respect for each other. 

I wonder...

what both of these early leader's think of our country today?

what would they be proud of?

ashamed of?

what would they think of what being a "politician" means today?

Most of all, I wonder if their ideology of separation of powers is what they pictured it be in the 1770's?  Is this the country the dreamed of?

Happy Fourth of July!



 

summer evening

This past Saturday evening we hosted some friends for summer evening get-together.  While the weather here has been exhaustively hot & humid, Saturday evening was a bit cloudy and actually not too bad to sit outside, kid-less and enjoy great appetizers, good friends & many laughs!

Thanks again for coming friends...we were honored by your presence & blessed by your friendship!

 the beautiful flowers are complimentary of my mother-in-law's gardens!

Friday's Funny ~ the 4 door-new-weirds!!

Last weekend we got to spend some time with my Mom's family as her sister's flew in from Phoenix.  These are the two sisters that ALWAYS keep things lively & we love them dearly...click here for a trip down memory lane with these two!  We not only celebrated a reunion but also celebrated my Mom & Uncle Butch's birthdays as 63 years ago, Grandma Doorneweerd gave birth to the twins, Linda & Lynn.

I'll let you see what similarities you can find in the below pictures!

 Aunt Lavonne

Aunt Lois

 Uncle Butch (given name Lynn)

 his twin sister & my Mom, Linda

the four!

Wulf Reunion 2012

Last weekend took us to Iowa for a Wulf Reunion.  My maternal grandmother was one of 10 ten Wulfs and we had about 150 people attend~3 originals are still living + 33 first cousins + the rest of us :)

Enjoy the slide show...

date night with Daddy

A few days ago, Arlan took Haven on a date night...ideally, Arlan would like to do these once a month but realistically, it turns out to be about once every other...the destination was DP Dough & the Children's Discovery Museum in Uptown Normal for some father/daughter one-on-one time.  I had signed Haven up for a toddler class about Backyard Friends so I knew her & her Dad would have a great time. They made a bug catcher, colored frog & flower stencils, made a frog puppet & read stories.

 

we're going to the zoo-zoo-zoo

A few weekends ago, we took Haven up to Brookfield Zoo near Chicago to enjoy the animals...she had a great time and was a super fun age to experience all the exhibits with...every creature elicited a "OH BOY!" from our princess.  To save you the pain of looking at all the animals we took photos of, I'll just add the ones with Haven or us in them...her favorite part?  "the dolphin show" and the "tiger"

do you like the plumber crack?!

checking to see how she measures up to a polar bear :)

 underwater viewing of dolphins

 

watching the dolphin show

and Haven's other favorite part of the weekend..."staying in a motel!"

Friday's Funny ~ quite the braid

"mom, my hair is getting sooo long"...uhm, yep-it sure is!