Quick update

We arrived home safely last night and Chad is off today to help us get everything back in order.

My brother in law has been staying with us for awhile and he blessed me with a CLEAN house (including washed and folded laundry) when we got home!!!!  Wow!  Thanks Cam!

When we got home Jesse went to check on the puppies and they chased him when he left the shed; so we have come back to a new stage of puppy time – the funnest part!  Also the hardest part – probably going to get some chewed up things that get left out!  Also probably means that they will soon be ready for a new home!  4 boys and 2 girls.  Will have the children post pictures some time.

I am thankful for Windows Live Writer, I was able to prepare several posts on our trip and publish them when we got home!  I still need to blog the remainder of our trip and hopefully I can get that done in the next couple days.

Stay tuned….

DeSoto State Park 2011 Part 2

While Chad was gone to the rock climbing training with the older children, the younger children and I stayed at the camper and read books; then  Jonas and Johanna took a nap with me while Jubilee got to look at family photo albums on my computer and play a game.

After our nap we played with chalk and rode bikes.  After awhile Jubilee thought it was time to get wet, so I let her put her swim clothes on and play with the exterior shower on our camper.

It didn’t take long for Jonas and Johanna to join her.

 

Johanna watched from a distance.  She got wet but was more amused by Jubilee and Jonas getting wet than being sprayed.

Wednesday found us taking a hike in the local area.  The following pictures are courtesy of the Plattner children!  I was carrying an almost 2 year old, my camera stayed at home for a rest.

Johanna was just too heavy for me to carry in that pack, next time I’ll use my sling.  Chad took Johanna and I handed off my pack to someone else so I could give Jonas a piggy back ride.  We tried to get Jonas to walk for awhile but it was just TOO HARD – until we got to within sight of the camper that is, then his energy seemed to be renewed ~ Imagine That!

Javan was already carrying a backpack filled with water bottles. Somehow he ended up carrying my pack too.

Ummm – Name that child?

 

 

 

When we got back to the camper we ate lunch and packed up to go on another adventure.  We started off driving to the Little River National Preserve (visitor center / educational building).  I stayed in the van with a sleeping little boy and blogged.  The others watched a video presentation of the area we were visiting.

From there we went for a drive on Lookout Mountain.  I didn’t take many pictures worth sharing so I’ll spare you. 

Next we took a drive through the Back Country.  This was a one lane dirt road through the National Preserve.  Reminded us of Haiti, so if you’ve been there you can relive for a moment the bumping and jolting of the vehicle (minus the honking and swerving). 

Our destination in the Back Country was High Rock.  A swimming hole on the Little River that has a “High Rock” overlooking the river.  There is about a 20’ drop from the top of the rock to the water, we didn’t jump ~ from there anyway.  Chad and Javan were bold enough to jump at a little lower spot, estimated at about 15’.  Then they did it again.  I considered jumping to prove myself (you know, this age thing I was talking about), but hey I’m o.k. with myself, no need to prove anything!

This is the lower side of High Rock.  They jumped from about the farthest spot you can see in this picture.

DeSoto State Park 2011 Part 1

We arrived at the DeSoto State Park on Monday afternoon.  After setting up camp we went for a family bike ride around the campground.  The first part of the ride was all uphill, it didn’t seem like much, but you (maybe I should say I) could sure feel it.  The children assured me the rest would be all downhill and it would be lots of fun.  Sure enough, we got to the downward slope and the children took off at break neck speed with me yelling “BE CAREFUL!!!!” 

Next thing I knew, Jolene got going too fast, panicked, slammed her breaks which caused her to skid, which caused her to lose control.  Her handle bars were wobbling uncontrollably and I was scared to death fearing the worst.  She hit the ditch, which was lined with rocks, got thrown from the bike and somersaulted.  She sat up right away and we were quickly assured that there was no serious damage.  She had a pretty scraped up arm, a sore on her hand, and a few bruises; nothing compared to what could have happened.

Tuesday Chad took Jesse, Javan, and Jared for a lesson in rock climbing.  Jolene went along to watch and of course, Chad got a free lesson but not the experience of climbing the rock.  Chad purchased (and borrowed) equipment before our trip so we all hope to go Thursday, now that they know how to use the safety equipment.

A word to Mom from Jesse (paraphrased)!  Mom, the man said it is usually easier for women to climb than men, but I think you will be the exception to the rule!  ~ Thanks for your confidence Jesse!  We’ll see what Thursday brings.

 

Jesse

Javan

Jared – the ride down!

Goofin’ around

Jesse

Holdin’ the safety rope.

Javan

Jared – at the top!

 

One of the boys said he didn’t think he would be afraid of heights till he was up the wall some, then he got a little nervous.  I told him I didn’t think I would be afraid either (for me); it might be a different story watching my children.  Although, I must admit that age has changed how I manage adventure.  I do recall feeling a little queasy looking out over a high ridge we were hiking and I can’t swing on a playground without getting motion sickness.  In fact, I can’t handle being in the camper without the stabilizer jacks down without feeling sick.  Boy, I am getting old.  Maybe I should stay back at the camper and take a nap instead of trying to climb a rock wall!  Stay tuned…

Tennessee Fellowship Weekend 2011

We started our May 2011 trip the same as 2010, by Boon-docking in the WalMart parking lot. 

We drove about half way and finished the trip the following morning.

Our first destination was the Apostolic Christian Fellowship Center in Southern Tennessee for the annual Tennessee Fellowship Weekend.

We arrived Saturday afternoon and spent the weekend in Christian fellowship and singing praises to our God.

We set up camp on site, they make it convenient with hook ups available.  Most of the group went to hotels to sleep.

The children enjoyed the lake and some new friends.

Roger and Becky Roberts (Goodfield, IL) and their children just recently became the care takers of the Fellowship Center.  Their children are close in age to ours with similar interests.

The little ones donned their life jackets so they could get a ride on the boat.

 

Jared, Reuben, and Russell

Rhoda, Jolene, and Rachel.

So that makes Roger, Rebecca (Becky), Rhoda, Reuben, Russell, and Rachel Roberts!

Next stop – DeSoto State Park, Ft Payne, AL

Dad and Mom Plattners 40th Anniversary Celebrations

Better late than never!  I’ve been without a laptop for awhile but I’m up and going on my new computer and my files are all transferred, so I will TRY to blog family happenings more often!

Dad and Mom Plattner will have been married 40 years in August.  Since Kirk and Keri are home from Jamaica we decided we should celebrate while they are home.

We went to a beach house (The Hola Bird) on Lake Michigan, Michigan.  We kept as much as we could a secret from Mom till she got there.  The boys (her sons) kept her on her toes trying to figure out where we were going.

The Hola Bird, view from the beach.

Kirk and Mom

Jolene with Grandpa

Grandma and Daisha

Mr Serious!  I couldn’t get a smile so I tried teasing him like I do my children.  I kept saying “don’t smile, don’t smile!”  My children usually can’t help giggling when I say that but not Truitt, he simply said “I’m not!!!!”

The Love of my life!

Miss Patience!  Abrey never complained of my constant shooting.  She was so diligent at her task that it was fun to practice shooting with her because she was relatively still.  I never got her eyes but at least I got a couple without her hair covering her face!

The brothers visiting a few hundred feet away laughed at me for laying on the sand to get on the children’s level! 

Drew climbing the dune.

Laptops and I-pads, we are a family of techy’s; well, maybe I should say “they!”  Just because you own a laptop doesn’t mean you are a techy – my sister got that gene!!!!

Daisha – I thought this picture turned out cute.

The children enjoyed the jacuzzi.  After so many children jumpin’ around it needed more water!

Jubilee, Jolene, and Chelby

Children playing tag (I think) on the beach.  I was too lazy to go down and get some better pictures!

We brought along a janitor and maid so we could kick back! 

We celebrated Chelby’s birthday while we were together.

Mom was surprised by the Candy Bar Story Board put together for her by Clint.  She loves to do them for others and so it was a special treat to receive one personally crafted just for her.

Enjoying fellowship after breakfast.

Jubilee’s hair about blends in with the dried grass.

Sitting still wasn’t a problem, keeping his smile directed at me was quite challenging.  What a cutie!

Grandpa’s treat

You can just about taste it can’t you! 

Clint’s family

Tyler, Chelby, Abrey

Clint, Bethany, Emily

Back – Jesse, Jared, Javan

Chad & I

Front - Johanna, Jonas, Jubilee, and Jolene

Clint & Bethany

Two “Sweet Peas” in a pod.

They could be sisters couldn’t they!

Chelby and Bethany

Jolene and I

The brothers blessed their Mom by singing for her.

There are few people that make Chad laugh so hard he cries (I’m not one of them). 

I had a couple moments over the weekend that I laughed harder watching him laugh with his family than I was actually laughing at the humor among them.  (There’s something special about “belonging” and a lot of our humor comes from moments that connect our shared past with our shared present).

The Jim Plattner family May 2011. 

Forgive the shadowed features ~ explanation in short.

Photographer has great eye but no experience with SLR settings.

Owner of SLR’s eye is inferior and therefore she was timid but should have checked the settings.

Photographer tried flash but it washed out (do to wrong white balance).

Although we won’t have the same beautiful background, we will hopefully have opportunity to get a better family portrait this summer including the newest member of our family Danae Grace (Kirk and Keri’s).

 

Jim and Marlene Plattner

Your children rise up and call you blessed.