Back In The States

We are back and glad to be. I had a wonderfully eye opening experience while I was in Peru. We met some of the most missionally minded people and we loved being with them every minute. They taught me so much about making the most of every minute that God has given me. Will I take it to heart and put into practice what I have learned? I hope so. We are so distracted by all of our stuff that if we truly stepped back to see what was important our lives would change dramatically. I have had only a couple of days to reflect on everything we saw and did while we were down there and God is teaching me through the reflection. I know he has more that he wants me to learn and can't wait to think back and understand more of the lessons that he has for me.
We started out our time with family camp at La Roca. We were able to put on little volleyball, basketball, and soccer clinics throughout the day and participate in the break out sessions they had for the families. Later in the week we took sports to the streets. We went door to door to gather kids to play with us. What a great time we had!

I know, I know! You didn't know has good I was.

You probably didn't know how fast I was either, did you?(sorry the picture is blurred, lightning fast speed you know)

The winning girls soccer team!!

We had the privilege of staying with Anebelle the first few nights in Peru.

Row, Row, Row, your boat.

Brandon, Jeff, and Kris worked the boys and everyone had fun!

My crazy husband leaped in the ocean. It was way tooo cold for me.

We got to visit the Incan ruins.

Old Town Lima

Just 100 years ago, born again Christians were hung where this fountain now stands.

It's not every day that you get to stand next to a tank with an armed gunman on top. Thank Goodness!!

What a great trip it was. I hope to show you more pics later. I hope you enjoyed these.

Heading South

Brandon and I will be heading south on Thursday and I mean wwwaaaayyyy south. We will be heading to Lima, Peru on a mission trip with SportReach. Talk about being nervous. I have never flown (that I was old enough to remember) and I have never been out of the neighboring states of Nebraska. This is a huge leap for me. I have been pretty sheltered. We will be gone for 9 days putting on family and sport camps. I can't wait to be able to share the many wonderful stories we will have after our return home. Keep us in your prayers. You can check out what we are up to on the SportReach web site.

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Oh Yeah! I almost forgot to tell you I HAVE BEEN TAGGED. WooHoo!!! I have never been tagged before but I am now a Rockin' Girl Blogger. Aimee tagged me now I guess I have to tag other Rockin' Girls but all my girls haven't been blogging lately (and you know who you are) so I am going to give them 9 days to update their blogs so I can nominate them or I will have to find someone else. What an honor!

What's Grosser Than Gross?

I have never done a contest before but Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing is have one and she is giving away a Kone. Being a mother of 3 I do have some gross stories to tell and I could use a Kone. Which one should I pick. Oh yeah!

When Sidney, my middle daughter, was just a baby her great grandmother crocheted her the cutest pink blanket. Sidney loved that blanket and would hug it and chew on it. I didn't think anything about the chewing until she started chewing clear through it and big holes were appearing. Not wanting to take her blanket away I would fix the holes the best I could and give it back to her.

One day I went to change her diaper. All was well, stinky, but well. I began to clean up her bottom and noticed, what I thought was, a worm. I began to panic ready to run her to the emergency room. My husband wasn't home and he is never home when it comes to emergencies with the kids. I was going to have to take care of this on my own. Still trying to clean her up I went to pull out the worm and trying not to vomit put it some where so that I could take it to the doctor for evidence. Upon doing this I realize that this was not a worm but a piece of pink yarn from the blanket that Sidney loved to chew on.

Well that was the end of the blanket for Sidney. It went in the trash after a rush of relief came over me. I am just glad that I didn't rush to the doctor claiming to have worms.

Aren't you glad I didn't have pictures to go along with this one?

How Does Your Garden Grow?

This frog can't believe how great of a gardener my dad is. My dad has always been quite the gardener. He can make a tree from a twig. That twig can have it leaves stripped off by kids several times and still a big beautiful tree will come from it. I don't ever remember a time that we didn't have a garden. Some times it was bigger than others but we always had one. I should have paid more attention growing up and picked up a few pointers but I didn't. Now they just have to put up with my stupid questions.

We didn't get to have a garden this year or last year and we miss it. Our yard isn't very big at all but next year we will make sure to have a small raised bed to grow some veges of our own.

My dad posing for me at the entrance to his garden.

So many wonderful veges and flowers growing and growing and growing.

My aunt Kathy also has a cute little garden space called Kathy's Acres. Her yard is also guarded by this mean cannon that sits out front. I think it is so whimsical. Her husband Jeff made it and it cracks me up.

Kathy's Acres is the place to be. Farm living is the life for me. Land spreading out so far and wide. Keep Manhattan just giving that country style.

Great Post

I came across this funny post while I was blog surfing. It is kind of long but very funny for all those women who can relate(and I know there are a bunch of you). The web site is called June Cleaver After A Six Pack and the post is called my shower drain coughed up a hair ball.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

Zach had his first t-ball game on Friday. He was excited from the moment he woke up that morning. They had team pictures before the game. They are the cutest bunch of kids and so fun to watch. Their coach is a college kid and he does a wonderful job with them.

This is a picture of Zach batting after he stopped the whole game because he wouldn't use the pink bat they had out. He literally sat down on home plate until they found a bat that wasn't pink. I would have taken a picture of that but I was sitting in the crowd mortified. Everyone was wondering what was going on.

Zach is ready for some action. His glove is even on and on the right hand I might add.

Funny Friday

...Even if the steeples are pointing in the wrong direction!
www.oatmealstudios.com

My Crazy Parents

My parents came out this weekend and we had fun. I know they rushed home in anticipation of seeing themselves on my blog so here they are in all of their glory riding a cow at Sandstone park in Longmont. It was a very fun park. Good times were had by all. Maybe more good times were had by them than by others but still good times.

Even Brandon joined in on the fun as he went for a wild ride on the park fish.

All Ages Admitted

OK, I just wanted to see what my blog was rated to make sure that I wasn't being to risque. I am proud to see that I am G-rated. I have to be because my kids read it all the time. I think that more things should be rated G.

A Public Declaration

Brooklyn and Sidney made the decision to be baptized. A public declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ. Sunday evening Emmaus Road church gathered to celebrate this time at Boulder Creek at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. It was a beautiful evening for the event.

Brandon had the wonderful opportunity to be the one to perform the baptism. It was a special time for father and daughters.

I was so proud of the girls and look forward to watching them grow up to be great women.

Brook and Sid weren't alone in their baptism, Jonatha took the plunge as well. All declaring in front of a ton of people (some there for the baptism and others there to cool off and enjoy the park) their faith. Three wonderfully wet and cold girls. I am proud of all of you.

Lucky Zach 07/07/07

My boy turned 5 today. I can't believe how big he is getting. He started t-ball this year, will go to preschool in the fall, doesn't like to give me kisses, and can be a real smarty pants some times. What happened to my little guy? I keep threatening to put a brick on his head so he can't grow but he assures me that he can still grow with a brick on his head. He is growing up to be a cutie though.

Grandma, Grandpa, Clayton, and Colton came up to help us celebrate the day. They had fun playing with his new toys, going to the park, and running through the sprinkler.

Happy Birthday Zach!

He wanted a Transformer cake(not my best work of art but he liked it.)

Hopefully he can have a little meat on his bones by his next birthday!

The Best Pizza in the Best Little City Out West

Last week I told you that I was taking a trip to the best little city out west and I didn't lie. The sign says it all. We had fun visiting family and especially eating pizza at the Rocket Inn. My aunt Carol owns the restaurant and I love to make a stop in on my trips to Indianola.

If you ever go this fine establishment it is on main street. You can't miss it right off of the highway.
The pizza is so yummy! I love mine with sauerkraut. Some people also like to put hot sauce on theirs. I would give you the secret ingredient to the sauce but Carol told me not to. She is in the process of trying to get it sold in stores so hopefully you won't have to travel all the way to Indianola, Ne to enjoy this yummy stuff.

Fireworks and Fun

Happy belated 4th of July!! We woke up bright and early to be in a bike parade in Erie. Zach opted to just watch but the girls were decked out in red, white, and blue. We missed most of the parade and jumped in the middle. It was still fun for the kids.

Zach got to light real firecrackers at my sisters house in McCook earlier in the week. I bot him snaps but he thought he was too big for those.

Sidney also enjoyed playing with fire.

My little pyromaniac!
We all ooohed and awwwed at the artillery shells.

Summer Camp

Brooklyn got to spend a week at Maranatha Bible Camp with one of her best friends, Kia. Camp is an experience I think that every kid should have. Brooklyn had fun rock climbing, swimming, playing soccer, learning compass navigation, and worshiping and learning more about Jesus. What Fun!!

This was the first year that she got to go the whole week. It was definitely harder on me than it was on her. I have been away from her for that long but I was always able to call her. The camp recommends that you don't call the camper all week since that can cause homesickness. I know they know better than me so I didn't call and that made me one nervous mama. She is home safe and sound now and more independent than ever.