First Glimpse of #4!

Yesterday was my first baby appointment, and since my doctor couldn't pick up the heartbeat with the doppler, I was able to receive my first glimpse of our 4th child. Notice the personal message my doctor typed in for our very excited daughter.

"For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knows right well. My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. " Psalm 139:13-16

We love you, little one! Keep up the great task of growing and developing. We look forward to holding you in our arms and teaching you God's rich truths!

The Thrill of Camping!

Last week we finally went camping! The kids have been waiting all summer. We spent the first night with just our family, and the second night was spent with friends from church.
We arrived in the rain, set up in the rain, cooked dinner in the rain and fell asleep in the rain. But it was fun (and not a heavy or stormy rain). Below is a picture of Duane reading (by flashlight) a Bible story to the kids after dinner...
And here we are learning about wolves, bobcats and foxes at the preserve in the campground. Notice we only have 2 kids in the pictures? Grandma was very kind to take our littlest guy for the 2 nights. Thanks, Grandma!
Nature walk...

Jordan roasting his lunch... (by the way, if you're not gifted in starting & maintaining forest fires, take some boy scouts along!!)
Relaxing in the grand outdoors...
Grandma & Isaiah came along for the day, and boy was this little guy thrilled! He could get dirty, and poke at rocks and sticks and critters to his heart's content!
Paddle boats!
The big boy boat...

Bumper boats?
Is it a race? Poor Duane's boat looks lop-sided...
Time to run into the water and make the biggest splash!
Friends first, cousins second...
"Here, Judah, this is how you're 'sposed to eat it." (wild grapes)

Anyone want to join their team?
Heavy concentration...

Nice form!?
Getting dark- time for glow-in-the dark bracelets! (Tia's excited)

Very, very proud big girl to hold her littlest cousin...
Scouts to the rescue to build the fire for...
...roasting marshmallows!
So this is what s'mores do to you?!
After another great night of sleeping, they're ready for breakfast!

And here's the happiest little camper of them all- Asher (who drank in so much outdoor air that he slept 10 hours in a row)!

How many men does it take to fold up a tarp?

Thanks to all who joined us. We had such a great time that we want to start a tradition of camping with church families every summer. Who's joining us next year?

And even though we were camping in bear country (which is basically the whole state at this point!), we didn't sight any scary creatures in the night; BUT...

...when we got home, guess who was calmly & politely walking down our sidewalk???

(At least he is civilized.)

County Fair Fun

Daddy had the itch to visit the county fair this summer, and last minute, Grandma, Aunt Wendy, Jacob & Helena joined us this past Monday...

Jacob was by far the bravest at touching the goats...
In one large 'barn' there were several activities for the kids to practice farming... from apple picking...
...to potato digging...
...to egg collecting...
...to corn husking...
...and even cow milking...

Aren't those the cutest sheep you ever did see!!! I think I'm going to make this shot into our new desktop image...
There was even kid-sized shopping carts and food to shop...
Don't forget to pay for your groceries!
The other farm activities seemed relatively easy, and the kids were on their way to becoming full-fledged farmers soon, but the tractor driving truly showed their limitations...
Dad, I can't even reach the floor- so how can I reach the pedals!!!

But horse trotting through a hay maze... Selah mastered the art right away!

Later we watched a puppet show, or 2 or 3...
Horses!!
I guess the people watching the draft horse pull were more deserving of my camera than the horses... sorry, horses! But we were amazed at the strength God gave to horses- it took a big tractor to move the weights that only 2 horses could pull!


Baby chicks hold their attention...
He's biting my fingers!
Pure fascination! Maybe we'll have a farmer in our family after all...
We ended our trip with a carousal ride...

...and a funnel cake. Yumm!

Now we're all 'faired out' until next year!