2010 Heritage Days

Yesterday was the 1st time ever participating in the Heritage Days celebration.

My Dad's church wanted to promote their church in the parade and asked if we could help pass out candy and flyer's in the parade.

Their church had a FULL day. After morning church, lunch, then their 1st baptismal service, they then went to the parade, followed by fireworks!! I'm tired just thinking about it!! ;)



The kids were super excited to be in a parade.



Can't you see the excitement on Joy's face?!?! :)



Right after this picture was taken, 2 boys came up to Elisa and started talking to her. Joy and I looked at each other, we both thought this was the 1st time she got hit on. AND SHE'S ONLY 8!!! Well technically 9 on Monday. ;)



While we waited to meet up with the float, the kids enjoyed the parade and all the CaNdY and PoPsIcLeS!!!




The 2 plumbers!!




I like this picture!!



Finally we saw them!!

My mom and a guy from their church who owns the car.




Dad. :)


I think he was thrilled to ride in this car!


He really enjoys antiques.




The kids were READY to throw out candy!




We found Jessica and her kids.





Some of the kids got antsy riding in the wagon, and wanted to get out and walk.




At the end of the parade, Dean's passed out the rest of their Popsicles. I think Eli might have had 4!!




He always tells me how funny he is!!


Notice Micah in the back of the window?? I didn't see him until I downloaded the pictures to my computer!!



So cute!!




We missed Janelle who was at home. She has been working as a nurse at a sport's camp for a couple weeks this summer.

And of course it's never the same without Jon and Mel.

After the parade, we went.....you guessed it!! Culvers. It's not a family dinner if we aren't at Culvers!! ;)



Good times. Good times.



After dinner, we went to watch the fireworks.



Since we had an hour and a half to kill, we took the kids to the park.



It sprinkled for about 2 min. Just enough to be a little annoying. Can you see the big storm cloud over Brother?



Joy's friend Luke met us there.



Their were people across the river letting off fireworks. The boys sat down and were watching them for a long time.



When the real fireworks started, the only 1 who didn't like it was Dada. I think I only saw her attempting to watch them once. I remember when she was a baby, she LOVED them!! She would just sit on my lap and gaze in awe at the fireworks. But for the past couple years, she has cowered in fear at them. I guess everyone has to be afraid of something.... right?!?!



We had a lovely time. I can't wait to do it again next year!!

What a week of camp will do to an 8 year old........



Since Daddy and Brother were at a Brewers game today, when Dada got home, we packed up our stuff and hit the pool.

We went with Joanna, Elisa and Eli. We were only there a couple hours b/c that's all the girls could take. By 3, you could tell they both were starting to fall apart.

We came home, and Dada fell right to sleep. I just woke her up so she could get some dinner in her. She looks like she's been through the wringer.

Thankfully this gave me time to get started on the camp laundry!! Ei Yi Yi the laundry!!

The 1st thing she asked me when she woke up was whether the boys were home, which they weren't. I think she can't wait to see the boys. Especially her Daddy. :)

While Dada has been gone, we have stayed busy. During the day, I am helping my Dad paint the living room, dining room and hallway. He has the next 2 weeks off and thought that it would be a good time to do it. I think it will look nice when it's all said and done. It makes me want to paint something in my house!! Watch out Hunny!! ;)

The other night, Melissa, Heather and I went berry picking at Melissa's moms house. They have MANY berry patches around their property.

I'm sorry I cut your face off Melissa!!



It was nice to catch up with these ladies. I think sometimes life just gets in the way of spending time with each other.



But I enjoyed talking with you girls.



Heather and I brought our kids. There is a creek running through the farm, and the kids of course made a bee line for the creek. I'm sure it felt good in all the heat and humidity.



We finished in the nick of time! We had a pretty intense thunderstorm with HUGE lightning about 4 min after we left!

I haven't seen lightning like that in a LONG time. It was pretty amazing to watch.

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Brother has been staying busy this week as well. He stayed the night with Ethan Tues. night, and is with Grandma last night and today. He LOVES his time with Grandma and Grandpa S.

I personally LOVE the quiet right now. ;)

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We have had a pretty intense answer to prayer. It wasn't exactly how we thought it would happen, but I am still amazed at how God provides for his own. Sometimes its a little humbling, but he always takes care of us.

At camp yesterday during chapel, the Pastor was talking to the kids about Abraham and Isaac. And how Abraham knew that God would keep his promise to him that through Isaac his seed would be like the stars in the sky.

And because of that promise, that is how he was able to fully obey God when God told him to sacrifice Isaac.

And in the last second, how God provided a ram in place of Isaac. And how Abraham called the place Jehovah Jireh ~ The Lord will provide.

I think that little lesson has been played out in our home these last couple of weeks. It is amazing to see how God in his mercy and love takes care.

God is my Jehovah Jireh. Is he yours?

Yesterday, Joy and I went to camp to change Dada's site. (It has to be changed every 2-3 days.)
I have actually been looking forward to going up there to "spy" on Dada and see how she was doing.

I without a doubt think I am having a harder time with her being gone then she is being gone!



I think she was only slightly embarrassed that I was there. ;)



When she saw me, she whispered to me....do I have to go home with you? I said, no, you get to stay till Sat! She said...YES!! And ran off.

She told me all about her day yesterday, how they went horse back riding, her horses name was Harry. And she soooo loved riding the horse, and wants to do it again.

She said that they played a game (which I didn't quite understand) but they had to catch chickens and somewhere mixed into all that were pigs also! She seemed like she loved it, all the girls at the table were talking all at once about it.

She told me about cabin inspections and how here team has been winning them.

Her and Elisa both didn't pass the swim test. But that was ok, they liked playing in the shallow end.

She told me that they switched bunks and that she likes this bunk better.

Elisa also switched bunks, and now they can see each other.

I love to hear her excitement!

Although, in this picture she wouldn't smile for the life of me!!

Kayla had forgotten her chapel clothes at home so it's a good thing we made the trek up there! She now has chapel clothes!!

She showed us her bunk but then told me at free time her and another girl were going to switch bunks just for the fun of it!!



The girls at lunch time.

I am glad they have this time together. I think it's stuff like this that keep them close.



After lunch they had a water game.

I'm glad that it wasn't me in there playing that! I really don't like games like this. I like to watch these better then playing in them.

But the kids seemed to have fun.


And yes, the girls smelled like fishy lake water at this moment!! :)



I got a great report from the nurse. Her sugars had been almost perfect. She had 1 number in the 200's and her lowest has been 65.

Praise the Lord!

I fully trust this nurse. And after talking with her more yesterday, I stood in awe at my God. He so orchestrated this whole week for my little girl, his precious child. Right down to who the nurse would be.

I guess different nurses come at different weeks. And this nurse in only there this week. Her children are at camp this week as well. (Her daughter is actually in Dada's cabin.) The nurse told me how amazed she was with Dada and how much she actually KNEW about diabetes. She thought that was wonderful.

This nurse is specialized in diabetic education. She is a master at carb counting and figuring out how many carbs are in each meal! I wondered how they would do that with camp food.

The director of the camp has also taken special interest in Dada as his child was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He looks in on Dada often.

The director and I had a great conversation. He told me how special he thinks Dada is. And he was amazed at how "easy" the transition in going to camp has been for us. He thought we as parents were pretty amazing and that is how she is so special.

What kind words.

It still stand amazed at my God, and how he just takes care of his children.

I came home and told Daddy all about her day. Later on, he asked me when she was coming home. I think just MAYBE he might miss her a lot to. ;)

The sleepover of the century!!

Last weekend, some of my friends and I had....what THEY refer to the slumber party of the century!!!

We did have a blast!

We stayed up way to late.

Ate way to much junk food.

Some on us, even rode the short bus.

(But not to Wal-mart to get hair dye.)

We played board games till our rear ends couldn't take the hard bench anymore.

And laughed till our insides hurt.

What could be better then that??

Well....besides Bananagrams of course!

All I have to say about that retarded game is.....I told you so.




Some of us may or may not have colored our hair.



The girls could hardly contain themselves.



They didn't fall asleep until after 1. With only a LITTLE "motivation" from the Mommy's





We just had an all around great time.

And Aaron should be happy, he didn't have to bail Lorrie out of jail!!



I can't wait to do it again next year!!

Summer Camp, Summer Camp.......

Today, I sent my baby girl off to camp.

For a whole week.

Without me.

I thought that I would be ok with it. But as I was helping the girls set up their beds, I was fighting back tears.

I was very happy, that their were no tears on the girls behalf.



Their were definitely not tears, just pure excitement for Dada, and only a little worry for Elisa.
Elisa was hiding it well though.



I think she felt better after her bed was made up, and her things put away.

Her mom left little notes hidden all in her suitcase, and I think that Elisa really liked that. She found one, but thought that she would read it later.



After their things were settled, they went on a tour of the camp. I think they like the lake the best.



They were resting after walking around trying to find Kayla.



Brother had to get a little snack from the snack shop.

He says that he can't wait to go to camp!



Kayla was going to be in their cabin, but ended up being with her church group. They are even on opposite teams!!



As Brother and I were leaving, the girls were already having a team meeting.



Keep Dada (and Mommy) in your prayers this week. I am worried about her diabetes. I have talked to the doctor and the nurse on staff and feel comfortable leaving her in their care. It's just hard to not be their and see with my own 2 eyes that she is REALLY doing ok. :)

Dada has her night all planned out.