~Boys and Trucks~

With Jordan just turning 16, there has been a lot of talk about a vehicle for him.   He wants a truck... cummins, diesel, and dually are the words I keep hearing.

The boys do well at searching the net for vehicles... so good that they have found several all over the USA!  In their searching they found Jared's dream truck.

It was a deal that Gregg just couldn't pass up.

I love how it looks!

Can't find a sturdier bumper!

It is a five speed and both Jordan and Jared can drive it.  They love how the engine sounds.  I am looking forward to it being street legal... I can't wait to drive it!  I think it will make a great photo prop too!

Imagine the parking lot we will have in a few years!

~Kiersten's 5th Birthday~

Kiersten has been really looking forward to her birthday.  She even told several people at church to be sure and make her a card. 

Nathan and Eric helped me with the shopping and wrapping.  They thought she would really like the pink camo bow.

She really wanted an American Girl type doll but I thought we would try this one for now.  For a girl, she isn't that attached to dolls.  She wanted a bride, but she has such a fascination with getting married that I stuck with the princess.

She always loves clothes!

I found this shirt at Target a while ago... I really loved it!  She is for sure my one in a minion☺

She wanted dad to fix turkey for her birthday dinner... but things just didn't work out that way.  I couldn't fit a turkey in the fridge or freezer... I told her I would buy one soon for dad to cook.  FYI-dad makes turkey cleaning fun.  I made her second best meal... Crab Alfredo and honey iced tea.  Yes, she is licking the plate.

She wanted to pick out her cake.  The boys were disappointed because there is no cake like mom's cake, but it was her birthday!

Now she can't wait until she is 8... she is really looking forward to not being in a car seat.

~Summer Archery League~

Jared signed up for Summer Archery League at the archery shop across the road from us.  He went once a week (normally with a sibling or two) to shoot.  There are special tips on the arrows that hit a special screen.  It tells you if your hit was good or bad.  

I went the last week to watch him and really enjoyed it.  He shot six shots and five rounds each week.

Everyone that participated was able to put their name in for door prizes.  Jared got 3rd place!!! He can use the money to buy some arrows (the shop let him borrow some for the Summer League since he didn't have enough)

He wants to do some hunting this fall and is looking forward to joining the Winter Archery League too!

~Knoebels - Part Two~

We splurged and took the kids to Knoebels in June.  I thought that was it for the summer but we were invited by friends to go again the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.  I thought it would be way to crowded and Gregg already made plans to go to a race.

Well, I ended up taking the kids with the understanding they had to help pay for the tickets.  It was crowded but wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

I spent a few hours riding with Kiersten (she is a few inches too short for the big rides) but a few rides I couldn't do... like the spinning ones.  Jordan road this one with her☺

We had about a dozen riders and filled the whole Skloosh boat.  The rest of the group road it several times and got soaked.  I only road once but I was still damp the rest of the day.  

I didn't ride very many things and was very content to watch everyone else.

We packed a picnic lunch and bought some pizzas for supper.  It was so crowded that even at 8pm there were few seats available. Twelve of us tried to fit at a table for 8... haha!  Two of us moved and the kids squished.

Our last ride before the 2+ hour drive home.  Arrived home a little after 1 am... long day for this mama!  I am thankful Gregg normally does the driving.

~Sweet Sixteen~

Wow, time flies!  My young man turned sixteen last week!!!!

Jordan didn't want anything specific for his birthday.  Gregg and I decided it would be fun to take him and some friends to some sort of race track for some fun.  The plans are still in the works.  Jordan thought that was a good idea... he really didn't want a party☺

Jordan just started 11th grade and

we are working on his permit!  

He would really like a pickup truck in the near future... we will see.

~Mexico Missions Trip - The End~

Friday was rough... you say goodbye at the mission, you say goodbye at the airport and you travel All. Day. Long.  Seriously.  I think we left the mission around 5 am and didn't get back to the church until 9:30 pm.  That was a long day.  

We did have a lovely sunrise :-)

We had good flights and all our baggage made it through.  The three hours back to church was about to push us over the edge.  Thankfully, we stopped for some cold drinks... that helped.

The challenge at the beginning of the week was "NOW." God has you here on this trip now for a reason.  Monday's message was along the same lines.  "This is the day the Lord has made." If God made this day and I am here on this day, He has a plan for me... am I doing it!?!?  I was delighted to find this at our local Farmer's Market after my trip...

Isn't that just perfect!  What a great reminder!

Here are the treasures I brought home for my family...

Jared and Aaron got pocket knives... stilettos

Eric and Nathan got whips... ouch!

Kiersten got some cool clay dishes

Of course, Jordan and I picked up a few t-shirts from our journey.