Family Photos - July 2013

While we were in Colorado, in July, we had our family pictures done by Courtney again!  They turned out great, and we loved the location she picked for us as well.  It was a hot day, everyone was tired from all the travel we had been doing, and Indy had a headache, but we pushed through and I think she got some wonderful shots.

So, here is the interactive part of this blog post....which family shot would you pick for our updated card for our next assignment?  Send me a note, comment on the blog post, or let me know on Facebook.  I'm hoping to order them in the next week or so!

Golf and Dinosaurs in Branson, MO

We went and did some mini golf today...a bunch of adults and kids...it was crazy fun!

Gwangi was so excited that we went to mini golf AND that it was DINO themed..."I love you, Mommy, this is the best day ever!"

All the future cousins, waiting by the dinosaur bones

Kenzie and Sissi, matching colored shirts and pink golf balls

Roman, putting his ball in the hole

I'm not quite sure she's got the whole "golf grip" thing down...

Where we went, in Branson, MO

One of the dinos, chasing a "guy" up the volcano

My sister, Kate

Gwangi LOVES dinosaurs!!!

Another dino

Part of the family up on the T-Rex course

A view of the volcano

Jake, really taking his golf game seriously

Stephen, keeping score and keeping us honest

Megan, taking a shot

Kenzie, she was up for some posing and getting her picture taken

About every 15 minutes the volcano would explode and "fire" would go up in the sky

Another picture of Jake

Megan and Stephen

My dad

Austin

Indy

Austin and Kate

"This was the best day ever!"

Another shot of the exploding volcano

Look at this swell family, nice family picture!

Cows and Rock Climbing

I'm trying to get caught up on a few more pictures that I took while we were in Indiana with Indy's family.  I was so hit or miss with taking pictures the past two weeks and I feel like I missed a bunch of opportunities...I've got to get that camera out more often!!!!  Remind me, ok?!!?

All of these pictures are from our day trip to Fair Oaks Farms, where we saw cows, learned about the milking process, and did some rock climbing.  Oh yes, that is what I said, rock climbing at a cow farm!

A cute shot of Sissi at Fair Oaks Farm

The climbing wall

The bounce ball

Watching the cows during the milking process

We got to see a live calf birth while we were there

Krypto conquered his fear of heights and did the climbing wall

Coming down the wall

Gwangi is our climber and he did the wall numerous times

Cousin Alex, ringing the bell when he reached the top

Sissi climbed the wall as well, she did the intermediate side as well.  She's earned her nickname, Monkey!

Rappelling down the wall

Even Penny gave it a go and had some fun

I thought this was a super cute shot of her at the bottom

Here goes Ruth, all the way to the top

Another free faller

Blueberries, ice cream, coughs, and the U.S.

I'm feeling a bit run down today.  I think the level of activity that we've been keeping and the cough that the kids had has finally caught up with me.  I'm trying to lay down and take it easy today, but as another coughing spell hits me, and I feel the need to sit up, I started wondering what I could do to distract myself from the wracking pain in my throat, chest, and ears....yuck!

So, I'm going to clear off the rest of the pictures on my camera and let you see what we did yesterday...as I napped in the car between activities...

I did miss taking ANY pictures on the 4th of July, as I was so tired after the overnight drive from Ontario to Indiana.  We had a wonderful time on Lake Michigan, enjoying the Indiana Dunes, seeing some of Maria's family and friends, setting off a few fireworks, and having a bonfire.

I've got to tell you, as I thought about my feelings on the 4th of July and what I feel about being an American, I had so many different thoughts...the usual thoughts of our many freedoms and those that fought for it were there first, but, then there were the things that I missed while we were in Tanzania.  Things like the easy drives to see family and friends and do all of the kinds of outings that we've been doing...things like seeing old historic forts, playing at local parks, taking hikes to find letterboxes, going blueberry picking.  I also missed the quick "run to the store" to pick up the few items you forgot for the meal.  I missed being able to drive down paved and named streets with accurate directions to get somewhere and on the way be able to see really beautiful and original homes because they aren't surrounded by an 8 ft. high wall with electric fencing across the top.  After only three weeks I hope I'm not already taking for granted the fact that the electricity doesn't go out, or that I won't be able to find what I need when I go to the store, or that I'll have water come out of my faucet when I turn it on.  I no longer think to look for the water heater switch so I can have hot water in my shower...have I so quickly adjusted back to my "conveniences"...ouch!

There are so many different things to think about and to take into account after living overseas, in another culture.  Maybe I can think about it some more once the pace of life slows down a bit. For the next month though, the roller coaster is going to continue, I'm just trying to hold on for the ride and enjoy the memories as much as I can....trying to stay thankful in all circumstances for the many blessings that the Lord has provided for us!

Sissi pumping water at the blueberry farm

Indy, picking blueberries in Michigan City, Indiana

Gwangi, trying to figure out if the blueberry was ripe enough to pick

Just the beginning of his pickings.  I think by the end we had 11 lbs of blueberries.

Lara, picking the berries

Sissi, don't you love the leftover red and blue hair color from the 4th of July?

Maria

After blueberry picking we went over to New Buffalo, Michigan and got some ice cream at a really great shop.  We also drove along the lake shore and looked at all the lake houses.

Indy wanted his picture taken with the Delorean at Oinks...a historian's dream car!