We all agree, it's the best one yet!

Sunshine is streaming through my kitchen door as I sit here writing this blog. It reminds me of the sunshine we just came from in SoCal. Sunshine can be deceiving though, because once you step outside you feel the temperature and realize it's still winter here in Central Illinois. Oh well. It will be over soon enough and we will be able to tell our grandchildren about the winter of 2013/14 and the record breaking amounts of snow. 

A week in Southern California does in fact, make you question your sanity when choosing a corner of the country to live it. It was a glorious week out West. The combination of a week with my husband and kids, gorgeous weather, Disneyland and reconnecting with old friends made for what we've all agreed on, the best family vacation we've had. 

This post is not a discussion of the weather though, there's been plenty of that the past few months. It is a post about the importance of family vacations. 

Family vacations revive you. They're fun. They help you center your life back on the ones you love the most. They create life long memories, and they give you common ground with each other.

I have this feeling that most people think you have to spend a lot of money to take great family vacations. They think you have to pay top dollar for lodging, food and transportation in order for it to be the "best one yet". 

I, however, disagree wholeheartedly with this thought. Growing up in a family of nine my parents did not have extra money to take extravagant vacations, and yet we took family trips every year. Some of my best childhood memories came from these trips.

We'd pack ourselves into the 15 passenger van and drive 20+ hours down south to Florida. I often hear parents say, "I just can't drive that far with my kids". Yes you can! Just do it! 
The smell in the van at the end of that trip....well, we wont go there. 

Coolers packed with sandwiches and each person with their own drink container wedged in somewhere, we'd cheer as we entered each new state. 

Maybe the single greatest memory of these family vacations was the first time we saw the ocean. We had driven for two days to get there and arrived at our hotel before check in time. Dad and Mom said, "Go see the ocean, but don't get wet". Well, that's like telling Pooh Bear not to dip his paws in the honey pot. 

We, at first just stripped off our shoes and socks and got our toes wet, but we soon discovered that wading in waves is not conducive to staying dry. Within minutes, one of us, I won't name names, was wet up to his chin. At this point my parents said something I won't ever forgot, "Go ahead, get wet".  We all got drenched from head to toe, playing in the ocean in our clothes". Great parents! Best vacay memory ever!

This yearly tradition of taking a family vacation carried on even through the early years of some of us kids getting married and our spouses joining in. I am sure there was a bit of cultural shock for the "new family members" as they realized how truly crazy and large our family was.  Now, although we would all still love to make this happen, it's a bit harder as there are 20 of us and we each have our own family trips to take. 

When we Toews, my little family of four, travel now, we save throughout the year to be able to take a fun family vacation. It's a priority for us, so we plan it into our budget. We use great online sites to book nice hotels and rental cars at a fraction of the cost. (My husband happens to be a genius in the area of travel deals! Shout out to his awesomeness.) We live within our means, even though we're on vacation. But we go! and we have a blast! and the memories our kids have from our family vacations will last their lifetime. Scratch that, the memories we all have from our trips, whether weekend trips to our favorite city, Chicago, or week long vacations to the other side of our great country, live on in our hearts and minds and very often you will hear one of us reliving a memory from one of them. We even have a hash tag #toewstrips to keep track of our fun family getaways. 

So, make a budget, save your pennies and plan a family vacation for your gang. Trust me, it's bound to be something you won't soon forget. 

Buried with his buddy, Jenna.

These lovelies became fast friends. Smiles on their faces even though the line to meet Queen Elsa was three hours long and we decided not to waste our day waiting. 

Disneyland with my boy was pure joy. His excitement was contagious. 

Beautiful Loma Point in San Diego

A week with him and no one else demanding his time was priceless.

La Jolla, California

Benny Photo Bomb

My little beauty at a sea side cafe

No words needed

Riding the waves at Balboa Pier with our friends, the Tierces. It was an amazing blessing to reconnect with them and meet their precious girls. 

For My Siblings!

Growing up my seven siblings and I were closer than any other brothers and sisters I knew. People all the time would say, "I wish I had what you guys have".  Most of that we attribute to our parents teaching us that we could be each others best friends, that and the fact that since we were home schooled we were with each other 24/7.  


Moving on a few years, five of the seven are adults with spouses who have joined "the seven" and become one of us, and the years haven't pushed us apart like so often happens when you grow up and move on. Instead, we were integrated into one another's lives, a little too much at times for particular members of "the seven...now eleven", four of us living in a two mile triangle, watching babies be born, experiencing adulthood and the challenges that come with that season of life. 


We had big family dinners at Dad and Mom's, attended countless soccer and baseball games of the youngest "two of the now eleven", helped each other move and paint, shared spring yard clean up, supported each other's interests, stood up in four weddings, laughed a lot, cried heart breaking tears over the loss of three babies, laughed some more, had "Girl's Nights", football Sunday's at Mom and Dad's (until we all got better TV's than they had), fantasy drafts, coffee mornings and "BKR Day (Bennett Kid Reunion...the only day we could see Ike because of his work schedule so we'd all meet at Mom's on Tuesdays for lunch together). 


I could go on and on, but what I'm really trying to say is that for many years life with the Bennett Kids was as it should be, all of us, except one who left a long time ago to pursue his dreams, living close by and being in each other's daily lives. 


All of that changed this week. One of "the seven" felt a tug in his heart to go pursue a dream. Instead of staying safe, living in what was comfortable and known, he took a risk, he stepped out in faith.  We packed up the moving truck and he and his sweet wife pulled out of town. The tears have been many, the heart pains very real. Life as "the Bennett Kids" as we've known it is past. The chapter in this part of our lives closed. Are we sad? Yes, it's always hard to close a door especially one that has been open for so long. Are we thankful? Completely thankful for the time we have had together, living so close and seeing each other sometimes daily. Are we proud? Beyond proud to see another one of "ours" pursing a calling and dream for his life. Will we still be as close? No doubt about it. 


A long time ago there was a song that held a place in our lives. 
We will make this promise
On the memories we've made
A friendship born in heaven
Will last though all our days

A part of me goes with you
Even if you journey far
You'll never be forgotten
No matter where you are

Across the miles, please remember
When I can't be there
I will send my heart to you
Upon the wings of prayer

Across the miles, may God keep you
Through the tears and smiles
For His love will reach across the miles


The "Seven..now Eleven" are about to become even more spread out as others leave for college. I know though, that through the memories we've made, the bond we have will never be broken. Miles can't take away a lifelong friendship and love that seven siblings have for each other. It's one of kind, not often found, and something to be cherished and protected. Nathanael, Brooke, Heidi, Kipp, Matthew, Jenna, Isaac, Holly and Stevan, I love you all. I'm proud of you and I'm so thankful for all the memories we made. Those memories keep me smiling until the next time we are together making more memories and laughing and celebrating life together. 

Our First Home...for SALE!

We are selling our first home. What a blessing it's been to us. We have loved all of the memories that have been made here. We welcomed Bennett and Juliette into our family in this home. It's more than a house to us, it's been a sanctuary from the world outside. It's warm and cozy, inviting and loving. It's our home. 

The time has come though, as our family has grown. More space awaits, and time to think about school for our kids, so with that ahead of us, we are moving to Morton. First things first, someone else needs our home. We know it's perfect for someone, just not sure yet who that is.

It's a great starter home. Lots of updates. New roof, newer two car garage, new exterior paint in 2010, updated bathroom (ceramic tiled floor, new vanity and sink), updated kitchen (ceramic tiled floor, tiled back splash, black/stainless appliances, painted cabinets with new hardware), bedroom upstairs re-modeled as kid's room (could be used as office), ADT security system installed, fenced in back yard. 

 

If you would like more details, please email heather.toews@gmail.com.

Our Boy!

This photo just shouts "Bennett", the look on his face, the way he's holding his soccer ball, the way his hair falls around his face.  Might be one of my favorites of him ever. A special thanks to my friend, Hannah Polley. She got this great shot of Benny at our Elevate Baptism/Picnic. 

Our Summer trip to Calgary and Papa and Granma T's.

Our big summer trip was to visit our family in Canada. We anticipated it for months, talking about the plane ride and all the fun we would have with Papa and Granma T. Uncle Tim and Bennett prepared to see each other with yelling matches on the phone. 

The trip up there was interesting but fun. We had a ten hour lay over in Minneapolis so we took the train to the Mall of America. The boys rode rides. A favorite of Chris' was the Ferris Wheel and Bennett's favorite was Swiper's Sweeper. Momma and Juliette shopped. After the mall we took a shuttle to a nearby hotel where the girls took naps and the boys swam. After a few scary moments when the tornado sirens went off as we were leaving the hotel, we made it back to the airport and finally arrived in Calgary at 1AM. Looong day but lots of fun memories made and oh so worth the effort. 

Papa and Gramma's is amazing. Mornings mean the little ones spend quality time with Papa and Gramma while we get a little extra sleep. Breakfasts are my favorite. Dad T stays at the stove turning out the most delicious fried eggs you can imagine, we refill coffee cups over and over and soak up wonderful time with ones we love. I am especially partial to the majestic view of the Rocky Mountains out the picture window where we sit and have breakfast. I can't get enough of that view.

There are so many things I could say, but I'll let the pictures do the talking. This is only a very small sample of all the memories made. There are oh so many more, I could go on for hours.

This picture needs only one caption - PRECIOUS!

A true Toews - hockey stick in hand.

A camp fire with Papa. It's about 10PM here. Can't get over the light that goes
on forever way up north.

Oh yes, my dear one, you are lovely.

This little girl just lights up our life - Juliette 6 1/2 months

Granma and her sweetie.

The Toews family is growing.

Our lives are full. We have each other and two beautiful children. Thank you, Jesus.

She's his princess!

LOVE!

Three Toews girls!

This took my breath away. So amazingly beautiful. A natural hot springs pool up in the mountains. The water was about 103 degrees. 

Bennett had a complete blast with his cousins, Aleah and Ethan.

4 Generations!

My trip to Calgary wouldn't be complete without a trip to Linden to see Grandma Toews and a slice, or the entire pie, of Country Cousins Peanut Butter Pie.

Uh oh! Uncle Tim is in trouble. Bennett is a die hard Flames fan. What's up with the Oilers jersey?

Snapshots of our Summer!

Summer is...wonderful, full of happy moments and adventures that are molded forever in my mind. Hot days beside the pool. Airplane rides to fun places. Long evenings where a last minute decision to go get ice cream ends up in laughter and sticky smiles with people we love. Baseball and Soccer. A boy who looks like a true California surfer with his sun blond hair and brown bear tan. A sweet bug that has a sparkle in her eye. Saturdays with family. Summer just brings on a whole lot of fun and enjoyment. We soak it all up and enjoy every moment we have knowing it doesn't last forever. 

Jules in the pool on our trip to Florida in April. 

A walk on the Peoria Riverfront and
Bennett's first time on roller skates.

Juliette loves her very own pool at Papa and Gramma's.

Swimming at Papa and Gramma Bennett's. 

He's 3 1/2. Such a big boy.

Bennett's first movie - Toy Story 3. He got Coke and Skittles and LOVED
the movie. I've never seen him as hyper as he was later that night.

Best Buds!

LOVE loves his Auntie Heidi.

These beauties just make me happy.

And here's our California Surfer.