Friday Favorites

OK, so I know this is a couple of days late but here it is anyway. . .

I love summer days and new school books.

Keilbasa

The Keilbasa has died! The other day Nicholas informed Mas that "The Keilbasa in our fish tank died." What?!? Then it dawned on me--our plecostomus had died! (a plecostomus is an algie-eater) I just had to laugh! He can come up with some good ones.

Something Fun

. . . for lunch! Octopus and Seaweed! The kids loved them! Warren bought me a Taste of Home book of kid friendly receipes. The seaweed is ramon noodles with the broth drained off and colored with green food coloring. The octopus is a hot dog cut into 8 strips (stopping 2 inches from the end). Mustard makes the eyes and mouth.

Bits and Pieces

Countdown to school. . . .5 more days! I finished my sewing project this afternoon. Now to get them mailed! :-) I still need to organize the kids' book cases. Other than that my non-school "before-school-starts" projects are done. Yeah! I have to finish organizing the school supplies and review lessons. That is the fun part though!

Ashley had an eye doctor's appointment today. She will have her glasses until around age 6 or so. Once she is older and able to communicate how well she can see that time line may change. Right now her glasses are keeping her eyes straight until her brain (vision part) learns to see properly (without crossing).

After the doctor's appointment we went to Grandmas house for the afternoon. The kids had fun and it was nice visiting with Mom.

We are enjoying a few more nice days of summer weather although it's a little cooler now. Fall is sneaking in the back door as Summer runs out the front door.

Well, that's our life lately. It going to get a bit crazier starting Monday--school, then scouts and we will have 2 dens this year since Clayton gets to start Tiger Cubs.

Friday Favorites

I just love clean sheets and baby's feet!

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Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Countdown to School

12 days! We have only 12 days of summer vacation left. The boys are excited about school and can hardly wait to start! They are happy to be home schooling but watching the kids show up at school across the street make them feel a little left out. Wow! I am actually getting all of my projects done that I wanted to before school starts. Now that's truly amazing! :-)

P.S. A note on the Fireweed--the blooms are at the top! The trees are beginning to change color. August rains have arrived. Good-bye Summer. Hello Fall.

I'm a Big Girl!

Ashley had her first table food last week and loved it! Chicken and mashed potatoes. Oh, she's had bites here and there and baby food but not a whole meal of regular food. Last week I decided that I'd dragged my feet long enough and it was time. I have a food grinder that grinds up most any table food perfect for little mouths. I thought it might take her a while to get used to it but she took to it like a duck in water. When she was done Cameron wanted to clean her up. He is getting to be such a big help.

Hidden Spring Camp Services

The morning services at camp are geared to the kids although everyone attends and then we have preaching in the evening service. This year's Children's theme was "Happy Trials". We talked about pioneering for Jesus and walking on life's happy trial (i.e. the Narrow way). "The Two Ways" (from Betty Lukens) was our Bible lessons. Everyone had bandanas and cowboy hats to wear for the service. The kids got special buttons sewed on their bandanas for being in the service, saying their memory verse and for showing team work (like the pioneers) around the camp.

Our Worship Center

Cameron & Clayton taking the offering using mini Dutch Ovens

Bro. Durr, our pastor, in back

Cameron demonstrating the "call to worship".

The older kids all had cow horns. Cameron and Clayton got to blow theirs before each service.

Camp Cooking

Well, finally these pictures uploaded to the blog. For some reason I kept getting an error message. Oh well! Here is the camp cook and his daughter. . .

one of many delicious deserts following terrific meals

the cook's choice of cookware

Warren is a great Dutch Oven cook! The people love his cooking as well. This year he came up with a new desert. I told him that he can cook that strawberry desert for my birthday this year.

Hidden Spring Camp 2009

We had a good camp this year. (July 31-Aug. 2) We moved the kitchen. It is now to the left of the old site and into the trees a little. This also puts it away from the center of camp. Warren really likes the new location. But as typical of him, he is already planning ways to make it better. :-) He does such a great job as cook! I didn't get a really good picture of the kitchen so this one will have to do. The other picture is our "home sweet home" for the weekend. I will try to post more camp pictures if it will cooperate.

9 Months Old

Ashley is 9 months old already (has been for 2 weeks now:-)! She is learning and doing more every day. It is so much fun to watch her! I love this first picture of her.

Mas and Ashley at Hidden Spring Camp

9 months old and driving!

I thought we had a few years to go on this one :-)

her first time to play in the pots and pans

she did this all by herself

Moses

Nicholas and Amy spent the night at Mas' house last night. Mom called and said that Nick had just come out into the living room wearing one of her shirts and promptly proclaimed, "I'm Moses!" Now where did he get that!? She said this morning that he later changed it to Noah. The little guys definitely keep life interesting!

In a Nutshell

W0w! It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted. Life has been a bit crazy around here--a flooded bathroom, a backed up sewer, preparing for Camp, going to Camp, more flooding, getting ready for school. All this in 2 weeks! I will post pictures later but here is one of the stuff that was in the "clean out" pipe in our yard (the first time). Hence the bathroom flood and subsequent trip to the laundry mat. Hidden Spring Camp (Wesleyan Nazarene) was great! We really enjoyed being there--the services, the fellowship and, yes, even the cooking. :-) The school boxes had arrived while we were gone so when we got home I went through them. I think I am more excited than the kids. For those of you who don't know, we are home schooling again this year. We are looking forward to it but I know that life is going to become a bit crazier than it already is. Well, that's our last 2 weeks in a nutshell.