About The River

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Hey! It is the Hodgepodge!!

Glacier National Park
 making memories






 It is Wednesday! And that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.
Joyce asks the questions.
We answer the questions.


 1. When was the last time you chatted with a neighbor? About what? (sharing that last bit is optional)

Monday, we stopped over to visit our neighbors who are heading out for a camp trip. We will be taking care of the home, pets, mail and any packages that are delivered. 
We visited about our To Do List for while they are away, about what they plan to do and storm damage, yep, we are still talking about the tornado that went thru our area May, 16th.

 2. River, lake, ocean, or waterfall...which one are you most like and why?

I am like a river, ever changing...yet the same. 

My boys are growing up so fast, I hardly feel I can keep up. Our oldest is a senior in High School this year.  Working, saving for a Jeep, college applications and taking on more responsibility.
When I look at photos like the one above, I am in shock at how fast and yet wonderful it all has been.
I have been blessed to be a mom to my boys.
As my life is changing, my nest is starting to see one fly, I will always be MOM! 
I am so blessed for that!!


3. July 13 is National Delaware Day. Ever been to Delaware? Delaware is called 'the first state' because it was the first to declare independence from the British. What's your state's nickname and does that moniker make sense to you? If you were in charge, what nickname would you give your home state?

No, I have not been to Delaware.

As far as Wisconsin goes, well we like nicknames in this state.



Whereas there is only one Wisconsin motto, there exist a number of state nicknames for Wisconsin:

"The Badger State"
Back in the 1830s the Wisconsin lead miners who worked in mines in Illinois were called badgers.
These miners lived in temporary caves cut into the mountain and these housings were called badger dens.
The Wisconsin miners eventually brought this nickname back with them.

"The Copper State"
This Wisconsin state nickname is a reference to the northern copper mines of the state.

"The Dairy State", "Americas Dairyland", and "The Cheese State" Wisconsin is a great producer of cheese and butter, hence all these Wisconsin state nicknames.


I will pick the ... 
"The Dairy State"
My parents are proud Wisconsin Dairy Farmers.
I say "YES, Wisconsin cheese makers make the best cheese in the U.S.of A."

4. What dish did you contribute to the last pot luck meal you attended? Do you have a go-to recipe for pot luck suppers? 

We attended a 4th of July party. 
I brought appetizers for the party.
I dipped pretzel rods in white chocolate and sprinkled them with Red and Blue Jimmies.

I like to bring my Homesteader Bean Dish, it is easy to transport and well liked by all who have tasted it.

 5. What is your number one tip for a brand new parent?

ENJOY
Life is fast enough with all our social media, fast food, hurry to do this or that.
Just enjoy. 

My number one tip. Limit how many activities your kids are in. 
THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE IN EVERY SPORT OR CLUB! 

My heart hurts when I see these frazzled mom's running to this and that. Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball, Football.
 Good Grief, I ask them how and when do you do family time.

"We do not, there is not time"
One mom even shared with me that they have not gone on a family vacation in years because of sports practice that starts in the summer. If your child misses more than two practices, they can not start on the team.

So we took a different path. We set a limit on how many sports and extras would be added to our family life and our own life.  

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

 My Li'l Toot
look at those shoes



25 comments:

  1. Your answers are all very good especially the tips to restrict how many sports for kids. Family time is the most important time and enjoying the kids as they grow up too. I so loved being a mom. I could not have been a working outside the home mom.
    Have a great day.
    Hugs, Julia

    Have a great day Carla. You sound like a very good mom.
    Hugs, Julia

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  2. Look how tiny!! Great hodgepodge! Tomorrow is my hubby's birthday as well as Nat. French Fry day or so he tells me! :)

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  3. Oh my yes! They grow up so fast. Today counts forever. Love your advice to new parents.

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  4. The photos of your boys are just adorable. They are real cuties, I bet even now. I totally agree. Some parents either think their kids should do everything, so they become "well rounded" or let themselves be bullied into joining everything on the planet. But that comes at a high price. Funny you mentioned The Copper State while I am watching The Copper Chef on QVC! Of course I would have known your love of rivers!! The bringers of peace.

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  5. I knew Wisconsin was known for dairy but didn't know about the other 2 nicknames. Interesting. I agree with your advice to new parents. My head spins thinking about all the activities some kids are in. I think it is too much and kids need time to just be kids. I know we would get along great and I bet our kids would too :)

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  6. I will have a senior this year, too. My baby. And wow did it go by so fast. When she passed her road test last week and came home at the end of the day, by herself, keys in hand, I was astonished. Where did the years go? Off to have cheese with my lunch, now you make me want to check the package to see where it's from!!
    Hoping your dad is doing well...

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  7. The time goes by too quickly. Yum on the pretzels sticks and I love white chocolate. I agree, I just read an interesting article on having your children in too many activities. It is causing them too much stress.

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  8. The photos of your children are beautiful. They will remember these great times. I am glad now that my kids had a quieter childhood than many today, and that I was able to be home with the four of them for most of twenty years.

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  9. Great answers; loved your photos and your tips for parenting!

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  10. All your pictures are soon good and your answers, too. My goodness, you do have a few nicknames. The pic in Glacier Park is especially good. There is a lot of wisdom in not being so involved with sports and I am so glad our son and his wife decided to limit the kids to one activity each. I hope that continues. What are red and blue jimmies?

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  11. Hi, Very special to look back at these sweet pictures. I hope you guys are enjoying the summer.

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  12. I very much like the different path you took. And enjoy that senior year with him, times they are achanging.

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  13. Being greeted by those two smiling faces just made my day! I can tell they're having a blast! I can't stand seeing all these parents on their phones and ignoring their kiddos. Drives me nuts. I'm not sure how they can enjoy their children if they never interact with them. The years go by so quickly.

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  14. Great answers and yes make the most of your boys now - they do grow up fast! But then if you're lucky like me they fly the nest and then add to it with wives and then grandbabies. Good advice on the clubs front too! If kids are always entertained they find it hard to amuse themselves.

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  15. It was hard for me to keep up with my boys when they were growing up...way back when. I can't imagine how much harder it is now. I remember my kids could only watch one hour of tv a day...they usually watched something when they got home. Fun photos for this post! Hugs!

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  16. I always enjoy these posts!

    I agree about limiting activities. I don't understand these over scheduled families. We were big on family time and quiet time. I only let my kids participate in one activity outside of church and school.

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  17. We have never joined our kids into all the afterschool activities available, I found I got too stressed just coping with the homework and couple of activities they had. Harder now I'm working too. They do grow up so quickly, mine are both taller than me now, and at 5'8" I'm not short.

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  18. Carla, I absolutely love how you write about your boys, how your thoughts flow about your feelings on being a mother and how much you cherish your family. It's a gift and i completely relate to what you're saying! 💕

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  19. Visiting from the HodgePodge -- I've never been to Wisconsin but a friend brought cheese curds home and shared - oh my goodness! I don't even know if you can buy those in Alabama. I loved them! I also agree with your parenting thought -- our twins are 30 years old now and we had limits on the number of things they could participate in. Church activities were a given and then they could pick one or two other activities. The rest of the time they were to just be kids!

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  20. Such a great mom Carla. Your boys are so sweet you are giving them a great start to carving out lives for themselves. They do grow up way too fast. The nice part about them becoming adults in this world is you can see the fruits of your parenting in the wonderful peeps they become as adults. Some day too they will give you the gift of grand babies too :)
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  21. Who are those boys on the beach? Surely they can't be the young men I have met!
    Thanks for sharing the history about how we became the badger state. I had no idea the history behind that.

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  22. Love your answers, Carla. Even though I am not a native Wisconsinite I love the state. Growing up on a dairy farm in PA I feel a kinship with the people of this state. You are a good mom and have made some wise choices. xo Diana

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  23. Love all the pictures! I agree kids today are so overscheduled and less family time. We stay low key in the summer so we can enjoy what we want when we want with no schedules. School work is a big enough load so we limit activities during the school year too. Enjoy your weekend!

    Blessings,
    Jill

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  24. Precious pictures of your boys Carla! Love those green shoes, the cutest Lil Toot for sure! It is true, life passes by oh so very fast! Our kids are now in college, and yet, it seems like just yesterday they were like your Lil Toot! Oh yes, family time is far more important than any game, and we allowed our kids to do one sport a season, and that was enough. Too much that goes on is just a thief of family time, just as you said. So sad! How special of you to take care of your neighbor's yard and mail while they are gone. It is wonderful to have good neighbors isn't it!

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  25. I loved seeing your boys so handsome and happy, Carla.
    Amalia
    xo

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High Fives from Wisconsin!