OUR ADVENTURES Archives - Arrow Hill Cottage

Life at the Cottage | Winter 2020/21

Welcome back to the cottage everyone! In this new year, I want to make a bit of a change on my post line-up. More specifically, I am looking to update the way our family life is shared here on the blog.

Previously, I had been dedicating one post per month to our family life and adventures. This series was titled ‘Around Here.’ And, although these were quick updates that were easy to write, some months I felt that they were put together just for the sake of getting them done.

Now, I have decided that going forward the family update posts will be published quarterly. One update per season. Winter (December, January, February), Spring ( March, April, May) Summer (June, July, August), and Fall (September, October, November). I am hoping that these posts will be more substantial, and will give a good insight into what our family has been up to.

For the first installation of this new series, ‘Life At The Cottage’, I want to recap our Winter 2020/21 season.

WINTER 2020/21

Though we had moved into the cottage by winter of 2019, winter of 20/21 was the first year we were able to actually enjoy our house as a home. No longer were we surrounded by a never ending assortment of unfinished projects. We were able to actually take the winter season and fully appreciate what we had labored over for the entire previous year.

Christmas was a joyous time, and we thoroughly enjoyed decorating our cottage for the season for the very first time.

We focused mainly on the interior spaces this year, but have plans to expand the decor outdoors by the time Christmas comes around again.

With the house in order, we were also able to enjoy the outdoors more this winter. The kids thoroughly enjoyed ice skating on our pond during the first part of winter, before much snow had fallen. They were even able to invite a few friends over for a skating party, complete with hot chocolate by a fire pit.

We are hopeful that next year we will be able to purchase a small snowblower, which would really help out a lot when it comes to keeping the ice clear and skate-able.

For the most part, the weather of winter 20/21 was quite mild. After a large amount of snowfall in the fall, we only had a few days that included any snow during the months of January and February. That is simply unheard of in the Midwest. Chances are, we are in for some spring storms. For now though, we are appreciating the fact that we were able to get outdoors nearly every day.

We had plenty of indoor activities to keep us busy throughout the winter as well. Our favorite indoor winter pastime was, again this year, putting together puzzles. Collectively, our family successfully completed a record ten puzzles. Most were 1,000 pieces or more!

Near the end of winter, Angela went antique shopping and found a perfectly sized puzzle table. We anticipate many more hours spent around this table as a family.

It has been such a blessing to our family that the small private Lutheran school our children attend has been able to remain ‘in person’ for the entire school year so far. The kids have been able to keep a slice of normalcy during this crazy pandemic time, which we are thankful for.

We are proud of all of the kids for working hard at their schooling, tackling any subjects that may be more difficult for them with a good attitude.

The boys are all on the same basketball team this year, which has been really fun. There has been a limited number of game opportunities, but we are so grateful for the times they have been able to play against other teams. They have each improved in their basketball skills and confidence on the court.

It is especially sweet this year to have them all together, knowing that is likely one of the only times they will ever all be on the same team again. Our oldest son, {D}, will be heading to senior high next year at a brand new school.

A couple of milestones were reached for him this winter. He got braces on his teeth AND he started his very first job!

He is working at the same office where Craig is employed, doing some entry level data organizing. It is a perfect fit, especially since the two of them will be able to ride to and from work together during the summer months. For now, during the school year, he just gets in a few hours here and there.

Angela has been busy decluttering and getting things organized around the house. In fact, during the month of January, she took on a challenge with her mom – and was able to donate, sell, or toss over five hundred items.

It’s amazing how great it feels to simplify our belongings! At times, people who visit our home mention that it looks a bit bare. Simplified / minimalistic living isn’t for everyone, but it is something our family has come to love. A clean home allows us all to have more clear minds, and focus on the important things in life rather than the managing of stuff.

Craig has kept busy with a few projects this winter. He has been working on refinishing an antique oak desk, which is turning into a very beautiful piece. We are excited to get it into his office.

Additionally, he also finished the metal beds for the girl’s bedroom. They look so wonderful, and the girls absolutely love them!

There is never a shortage of projects here at the cottage. Stay tuned to see what we tackle next.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into our lives here at the cottage. Be sure to check back at the end of the spring season for more updates on our family!

Until then, you can always like a closer look by visiting our family YouTube channel , Arrow Hill Family, to watch our weekly photo vlogs. Be well everyone!

AROUND HERE: NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

Around here we have been…

RECOVERING from the dreaded Covid. We aren’t sure which family member brought it home first – but it spread quickly and out of the seven of us, 4 were tested. All who were tested ended up being positive for Covid. We had a huge range of symptoms, ranging from headaches, tiredness, and even red eyes.

Craig definitely got hit the worst. He spent close to a week in bed, sleeping away most hours of the day. His fever would go down for a few hours, and then spike back up. He also lost quite a bit of weight. Not having smell and taste meant he didn’t have much of an appetite.

Because we were in quarantine, the kids had to switch back to distance learning. They weren’t fans of not seeing their friends every day, but were troopers about staying up to date on their assignments.

We spent Thanksgiving at home, just our little crew. Craig’s mom was kind enough to make a porch drop off of a delicious home cooked meal, including both pumpkin and apple pie! Finally, near the end of November, we were released from our home quarantine and allowed to rejoin the general public. It felt great to finally be back into a routine!

FLYING to Austin, Texas. At the beginning of December – and shortly after we were cleared from quarantine – Craig, his dad, and {D} took a trip to Texas. {D} had been invited, back in June, to the Kicking World National Showcase. It was an exciting trip, and learning experience for him, as he competed with top high school kicking specialists from around the country!

He was able to set personal records at the competition, and won a recognition award for his showing as the youngest kicker to ever be invited to the event.

If interested, feel free to watch the highlight video of his camp experience. We are truly proud of all of his hard work and dedication to this sport that he loves.

WITNESSING the change of seasons. As much as I love the Fall, I do enjoy that in Minnesota we have all four seasons. Winter might be my least favorite, but it sure is beautiful!

The kids are loving all the new activities that the colder temperatures provide – especially ice skating on our backyard pond and sledding down nearby hills with friends. We don’t yet have any ‘sticky’ snow to make snowmen or igloos, but I’m sure that will be coming in the months ahead.

ENJOYING Christmas together. This was the first year that we were able to truly decorate our home for Christmas, and I was extra excited! The cottage absolutely transformed with the festive decor, and has a super cozy atmosphere. (video)

We got all dressed up for our family Christmas at home. The kids gave me the gift of a nice family picture. It’s the thing I ask for three times every year: Christmas, my birthday, and Mother’s Day. I love all the special memories and moments that have been caught on camera through the years!

The gift giving was kept pretty simple, but enjoyed all the same. We like to take turns opening one gift at a time. This helps us to slow down and appreciate each gift.

We spent Christmas Day with the Strasser side of the family, at my younger sister’s home. It was so wonderful to see everyone, if even for a short time. Being able to visit face to face with family we haven’t seen in over a year was an absolute blessing!

This is just a glimpse at what our family has been up to. If you’d like a closer look, be sure to check out our weekly ‘mini vlogs’ on our family YouTube channel ARROW HILL FAMILY. Be well everyone!

AROUND HERE: OCTOBER 2020

Around here we have been…

FINISHING up football season. Both {L} and {D} finished their fall football programs. Though the game play looked a lot different this year, both boys had fun and were happy to at least be able to participate in the limited capacity that they did.

For {D}’s last game, the parents played the kids. It was a fun way to cap off the season. Now he is focusing on fine tuning his kicking skills in preparation for the national kicking showcase in Texas in December.

ENJOYING the beautiful Fall weather. The bright colors of the changing leaves make us so happy.

It is fun to see our finished house surrounded by color. This time last year we still had quite a bit of exterior work that wasn’t finished.

Angela brought a little of nature’s beauty inside with some Fall decorating.

SURPRISED by an early October snow storm. Over the course of a week, our area had received over a foot of snow. It was a heavy, sticking snow, which meant we spent quite a few hours shoveling the driveway (and one of us even got the van stuck! That person shall remain nameless. ha!) The kids went sledding at a nearby hill with their friends.

We were sure that we had been ushered into an early winter season, but the temperature rose to the high 60’s and low 70’s for a few days and every last bit of snow has now melted!

DOING normal things. With the strangeness of the pandemic, it felt really great to be able to do something ‘normal’ as a family. Trick or Treating in our new neighborhood was a lot of fun. Many houses had interesting social distancing strategies, such as leaving candy in buckets at the end of the driveway and handing the kids candy bags via fishing poles/line.

This year we didn’t have a family theme, since the kids really wanted to pick their own costumes. We had a firefighter, unicorn princess, and ‘creepy blue guy’.

{D} opted out of the actual treat getting this year and instead stayed home to pass out goodies. We only had a handful of visitors though! Later in the evening he went to a local outdoor haunted house/maze with a friend and had a lot of fun.

AH: AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Around here we have been…

FINISHING up the last of the outside projects before the cold weather hits. This summer we were super productive with yard work. Looking back it is hard to believe how much our property has changed in such a short period of time!

Our front yard grass grew well from the start. The backyard though, was a whole other story. We needed to purchase an extra load of black dirt, and do a ton of grading work in order to prep the site correctly. Heavy rain caused problems over the course of August, but eventually in September we were able to have some success with grass on this hill! Eventually we will have a deck and patio back here.. all in due time!

We also had pretty good luck with the very basic bit of planting we did – including flowers and plants given to us by grandma S. It was fun to bring some of the brightness inside, with cut flower arrangements.

There is still so much to do outside. For now though, we are turning our sights to inside projects. The next phase of yard work can wait until next Spring/summer!

HARVESTING the fruits of our summer labor. Our small garden has been a huge blessing for our family. It has given us a reason to be outside enjoying nature, taught us lessons we can use for next year’s garden, and it has yielded plenty of delicious results!

It has been so fun to check the garden every couple of days to see which items were ready for harvest. The girls are especially fond of helping out with garden chores. Recently we cleared out the last tomatoes and peppers off the plants, as we anticipate the first frost to be here soon.

RESUMING a somewhat ‘normal’ routine. School is back in session and Fall sports have begun in a limited capacity. It feels great to have a bit of order to our days; but we are shocked at how quickly the days pass!

Both {D} and {I} are in football programs again this year. They aren’t having traditional games with other towns, at least as of this moment. They enjoy practicing with their teammates and having local scrimmages.

A lot of things don’t look the same right now, but we are trying our best to remain positive and have a flexible mindset as things change.

CHERISHING our sweet girls who BOTH had birthdays! They were so excited for their special days, and they love being the center of attention. Unfortunately, with all of virus concerns, we weren’t able to have friend parties for them as we had originally planned.

They were happy, though, for the little afternoon date they went on, to pick out new My Little Pony toys. They also received some fun gifts from the grandparents and friends, which they enjoyed opening.

We love these little ladies so much. They are blessings to our family!

AROUND HERE: JULY 2020

Around here we have been…

CELEBRATING a big milestone birthday for Craig. He’s 40! Not one to like surprises or large gatherings, we promised to keep his day simple. And, instead of him being surprised, we gave the girls a little surprise.

Craig put powder in his hair and beard and channeled his inner acting skills, telling the girls that overnight he had become ‘old’. They were both skeptical, but eventually {K} had a sweet spirit and promised to help him with whatever he needed. {M} was not happy, and even seemed a bit scared of the sudden change in appearance.

We didn’t let the trick go on for too long, and once Craig was back to normal all was right in her world again. It was a relaxing and fun day spent at home, just the way he preferred to usher in a new decade.

ENTERTAINING guests. We haven’t had many guests since we moved into the house. This was partially because our accommodations weren’t ready, and partly because of the coronavirus. In July though, we were able to have Craig’s parents over for dinner and games. We had a great visit.

Angela’s parents also stayed over for two nights. Because they live further away, we don’t see them very often. We always have so much fun together when they come; and they are willing to take the kids on special adventures which they love.

EATING the fruits of our labor. The garden is growing! So far we have only been able to harvest a few cherry tomatoes and one small jalapeno pepper. All were delicious, and we are very much looking forward to larger harvests in the near future.

For this being our very first garden ever, we are quite pleased with the success we have had. Of course, we have also learned a ton to implement next year!

Angela has been thinking about what types of recipes she can make with an abundance of tomatoes and peppers. It seems that salsa may be in the works soon.

SWEATING it up outside. We know that the winter season is just around the corner. Because of this, we are enjoying, and taking full advantage of all that summer has to offer.

There is still plenty of landscaping work to be done, and the grass is coming in nicely. Angela’s mom helped out with flowers when they were visiting. They look great as well!

The kids are finding all sorts of fun things to do outside. The girls are especially fond of the porch space – where they can play without getting too dirty. They like to fill bins with water and ice and pretend to ‘cook’.

The boys take a more athletic approach to summer and have been busy with all types of sports. Running, baseball, and, of course, kicking.

They even took to task the clearing of a nearby baseball field, bringing rakes and shovels over and pulling up weeds. We are realizing more and more how thankful we are to have boys that are close in age- especially during this time when they can’t be with friends as much.

They go everywhere together and have so much fun.

AROUND HERE: JUNE 2020

Around here we have been…

DECORATING our home. We are slowly bringing in some new pieces here and there. Of course, we continue to be very mindful of which items are added -as not to overfill the space.

Angela had the opportunity to work with a company called Mapiful. They create art pieces based off of map coordinates. We were able to choose our towns’ coordinates and have them made into a map. Craig created a beautiful frame to display it in, and the entire piece currently resides on the fireplace mantle.

CLEANING up the yard. The main efforts of this summer involve landscaping. We are figuring out which areas we want to be seeded with grass, where we want flowers/plants, and even the best location for our very first garden. It has been a fun process, but also quite exhausting!

We ordered a truckload full of black dirt, which we have been moving around to spots around the yard that need a little fill. The boys have been big helpers in this endeavor.

The neighbor’s cat has been helping keep outdoor pests at bay, and is continually catching mice and even an occasional baby bunny – which we discourage.

SPENDING quality time for Father’s Day. Each year Craig takes on the task of trying to carry all of the kids at one time. As each child has been added to the family, and certainly as they have grown, this challenge has become more difficult.

He had success again this year, but we are thinking next year our oldest son might need to help lighten the load.

The boys had a lot of fun playing a friendly game of two hand touch football on Father’s Day as well. Maybe that will become a new tradition?

TRAVELING for the one trip we have planned this entire summer – Kicking Camp. {D} had the opportunity to attend a camp in Minneapolis, among about 25 other boys ages 13-18. The girls stayed at grandpa and grandma’s J’s house, while {L} and {I} came along to watch the camp.

Going into the eighth grade, {D} was one of the youngest at the camp. He absolutely rose to the occasion, learning some new techniques and tips, and ultimately earning an invitation to the National Showcase that will take place in Texas in December!

He was only one of three boys invited from the camp and is over the moon excited for the opportunity! We are so proud of his drive and determination and know it will bring him far in the future.

AROUND HERE: MAY 2020

Around here we have been…

CONTINUING our time together. Though Coronavirus restrictions have lifted somewhat, there is still a lot in our state that is cancelled or closed. Mother’s Day was spent at home, but Craig and the kids made it really special.

Memorial Day was spent at home as well. We visited the cemetary as a family, and also started tackling the last big space that needed attention- the garage. Craig built some really sturdy storage shelves, and Angela got busy with cleaning and organizing.

FINISHING up home school. Two full months of distance learning have passed. It is definitely not the way we wanted to end the school year, but we survived.

The kids were able to go into the school on the last day to clean up their desks and say goodbye to their teachers.

We are excited to start up summer in full swing! We are anticipating a lot of family time around the fire!

BUYING a few fun items to get us through this different summer.

The boys have been riding around in super small hand me down bikes for quite some time. One of the promises we made to them a while ago was that we would buy them new bikes once we closed on our mortgage.

They are SO proud of their new bikes, and have been taking care of them so well. The extra independence they have gained from these new bikes has been fun to see. They are having a lot of fun riding around together and exploring new places.

Craig also got one of the big items from his wish list – a ping pong table. He has always wanted one, but we have never had the space. It is great to have a dedicated room where it can sit out, but it is also easy enough to fold it up and roll it off to the side. This table will be perfect for rainy days, and also in the winter months when we spend more time indoors.

LANDSCAPING at the house. Now that the building form is finished, we are turning our attention toward the property. We are cutting trails through the woods, grading the ground, throwing out grass seed and even planting flowers.

Angela is also testing out her skills as a vegetable gardener. This is actually the first time she has ever tried to plant vegetables, and truly anything could happen. Our property includes a lot of wildlife – deer, squirrels, rabbits, etc. We set up a fishing line fence for protection and hope it does the job of keeping the critters out!

The tomato cages were also a DIY project for Angela. The kids found some straight sticks from around the property and she put them together. They look really pretty and will also hopefully be functional!

AROUND HERE: MARCH/APRIL 2020

Around here we have been…

TRYING to prepare for the appraisal and closing of our home.

In fact, that is the sole reason why I missed a dedicated Around Here post for March. We were in 100% ‘go mode’ getting the house ready. So many things were finished in the last few weeks.

The bathrooms got a couple finishing touches. Craig built a custom vanity, complete with a working drawer that holds all of our toiletries. I got my hands dirty with tiling and grouting the shower walls. Both projects turned out beautifully.

Our fireplace is probably one of our absolute favorite additions to the entire house. It took a team effort to pull it together, and it was worth every second! We look forward to gathering around the fireplace for many years to come. First, though, we need to get some furniture for our living room!

STAYING at home.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic we have been staying home, pretty much all the time. We aren’t a super social family to begin with, but it does feel strange to not have anywhere at all to go. The only time any of us have been out of the house is when we shop for groceries or other necessities.

Thankfully, the Spring weather has been pretty gorgeous. Spending time at home, outdoors, has been a lot of fun actually. Craig takes pride in cleaning up the woods and chopping logs for fire wood, while I am learning the art of landscaping. We will slowly shape our property into exactly the way we want. It’s just going to take some time.

The kids have also enjoyed all that the property has to offer, including all of the wildlife. These baby squirrels were left by their mother. The kids found them in a partially hollow tree nest. We looked up information on how best to help them, and over the course of five days, they gained enough strength and agility to go their own way. We hope they stick together and make it in the wild!

TEACHING through distance learning.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined being a pseudo ‘homeschool’ mom. Though it is definitely out of my comfort zone, it has gone fairly well so far.

The teachers at our school have done a really good job of getting lesson plans together and offering themselves for whenever questions arise. The older two boys basically take care of their lessons each day, while I make sure the younger three stay on task.

In some ways, it has been a nice change of pace to not have all the extra end of school year activities happening. I feel like we do have a lot more time, especially since the kids are generally finished with their work by noon – freeing up the afternoons.

PRAYING for the end of the pandemic.

All that to say, that even though we have been managing this strange time, we are wishing that life could get back to some form of normal soon. One thing that has been really strange for us is not going to church, in the church building. Easter service was spent at home this year.

Sure, we have recorded services and our pastors are offering devotions, but it just does not compare to gathering as a group with fellow believers. We are praying for everyone who has been impacted by this virus, especially those who have lost loved ones. And we know that God has a plan and a purpose for every moment in time, even this one.

AROUND HERE: FEBRUARY 2020

Around here, we have been…

FINISHING the house. We have until April 8th to get this house project finished up. We feel like we are so close, yet so far away. Still a lot of effort needs to be put in, both from our builder and by ourselves.

Each week though, more is being checked off of the house to-do list. And we are now able to eat at our table, with the top finished. Still need to make the base for it – but that will be after the construction loan is closed out!

CELEBRATING our middle son. {I} had his golden birthday this month, and he requested to invite a few friends over to the house for some fun and pizza.

He is such a sweet boy, with a thirst for knowledge. Always coming up with a new contraption or invention. Always willing to help out with siblings or a task that needs to be done. We all love him so much!

PARTICIPATING in winter activities. Both at home, and through school, we have been very busy this month. The older two boys finished up their basketball season. Both have improved so much!

The girls were able to cheer with a group at one of the games, and had an absolute ball!

{D} had a wonderful orchestra concert at the middle school. It is so fun to see them all play as a group to make beautiful music.

At home, the kids have been having fun both indoors and out. We are really starting to love our home the more we spend time here and realize how well it works for our family.

SADDENED. An early morning fire in our historic downtown area devastated the area, causing multiple businesses to be displaced and many other buildings to suffer smoke damage. It was a huge loss for our community.

This photo provided by Douglas County (Minn.) Emergency Management in Alexandria, Minn., shows firefighters fighting a fire Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 that destroyed several buildings in downtown Alexandria. (Julie Anderson/Douglas County Emergency Management via AP)

Thankfully there were no casualties, and all of the fire personnel were kept safe. Knowing first hand the risks that these people walk into when battling a blaze, we thankful, at least, for that happy ending.

AROUND HERE: JANUARY 2020

Around here, we have been…

LABORING. On, you guessed it…the house! The completion of one project seems to lead into another, in a seemingly never-ending cycle.

We are narrowing down to a firm final construction date, when we need to close our loan. With that date in mind, we are realizing that staying on task is going to be very important if we are going to get everything done in time!

SHOVELING a lot of snow. It just keeps coming down, and we are running out of places to put it.

At least the temperatures haven’t been super cold. And, having an attached garage has been amazing. So we aren’t complaining too much!

ENJOYING school activities. The boys are continuing their basketball season. Their teams play well together and both boys are both improving so much!

The kids are also coming home with a bunch of really cute art projects.

CELEBRATING the Lunar New Year. We kept things really low key this year, during all the hustle and bustle. Taking the family out to eat at the local Chinese Buffet was the perfect fit.

Of course, {M} knew exactly what she wanted to dig into first. The girl loves her noodles!