Road Trippin'

This is the fourth summer in a row that we've made the drive from midwest to southeast.  While there are definitely moments that I can't wait to get out of the car, we kinda have our groove down for these long road trips.  Here is a much shorter version of our 33 hour 2,104 mile drive ...

First of all, I recommend taking someone you like (a LOT) along with you :o)

Kate's "Georgia" was never far from her side

Technology can be the sweetest blessing after you've already answered the question "Are we there yet?" 267 times ...

Ditto

Read a little

Sleep a little ... and I do mean A LITTLE!!!

Sing a LOT!

Crossing the M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I

Spend a lot of time watching the world go by

What would a road trip be without visiting Ronald?

I'll bet you didn't know that one of John's super powers is finding the best radio stations even in the middle of nowhere Mississippi

Back to the land of the trees ... aahhh!!!

Just for comparison ... Oklahoma = not too many trees

No big deal, right!?!

No matter what, just keep smiling!

Give a little shout out when you reach your destination!

Or a loud shout out! :o)

You should definitely take your mama home with you!

Kanakuk

Sometimes I get so far behind on things I really want to document here, that it's hard to know if I should go back to where I left off or just jump right in where life is happening now.  The past 4 weeks have been filled with blog worthy events (and more importantly, PHOTOS!!!), so I'm going to do my best to give a good recap ...


Since we moved to Kansas, I've been hearing people talk about Kanakuk.  I'd never heard of it before, but apparently it was definitely something I should know about!  When we found out that Kanakuk was coming to our church, I was thrilled and could not wait for Will to experience it. **If you haven't heard of it, google it and check it out!**  Right away I volunteered to host some of the counselors.  My parents used to always host kids that were coming through town on choir tour or mission projects and I loved it!  John wasn't so sure.  In fact, I think he thought he'd just give it a few weeks and I'd forget about it.  Well, camp week arrived, and I didn't forget!  Our guys arrived on a Sunday night and spent the week with us.  After working with kids all day, they would come home and invest in our kids - it was amazing and such a blessing.  And John stayed up with them every night laughing and talking - he totally loved it!  Will had a blast from sun up to sun down and couldn't wait to go back every day.  He's already making plans for next summer ... and guess what!?!  We hope to host again (yes, even Johnny!)  Here are a few pics from the week:

I had to catch a few pics of Will's high flying fun!

Will was excited to master the back flip

More high flying fun

Will had the biggest grin on his face through the whole ride!

Will didn't want to leave and he's already trying to convince us to send him "off" to camp next year

Our boys for the week - Mark from Liberty University, John, Will from UT Chattanooga (sp?), Hunter from Oklahoma State, and our Will up front

Will's counselors for the week - Brian from Auburn and Justin from a school in FL that I can't remember!

Will and his "kamp" mates

I know this is blurry, but it's the best I got - Will helping to lead worship for the final time of the week

All of the counselors poured themselves into the lives of the kids around them - they were the hands and feet of Jesus, and they had lots of fun.  We feel so blessed to have been able to experience Kanakuk Kampout!

***I've tried to share this post for 3 days and every time I put my pics up, it puts the un-edited version up - ugh!  So, I'm just sending it the way it is.  As always, you can click on the pics to make them larger! :o)

Our Trip To The Zoo

  

This summer we went to the Zoo! We had a blast!

Look at this huge frog! (I wonder what it eats probably flies eeeeh!)

Awesome! This snake is so cool.(Mom probably thinks it is gross)(Moms are crazy!)

This was my first time seeing a giraffe close up.  He was pretty cool!

We got to go to the zoo with the people daddy works with at Airbus.

I like tigers.  Especially Clemson tigers.

I took this picture of a jaguar.

A mama peacock and her babies.  Can you find all 3?

 I love learning about animals.  This was a fun trip.

Putt-Putt ... also known as What was Mom Thinking?

Each year as Father's Day is drawing near, I have the same dilemma.  Should we celebrate our super Dad by doing something fun as a family - you know with the two that made him a Dad - or should we send Dad off to do something relaxing.  'Cause, let's face it ... spending time with these two wild ones is lots of fun but would not be considered relaxing!

John rarely chooses to spend his free time away from the kiddos and me. In fact, I tried my best to encourage him to play golf with some friends, but unless I set up the tee time myself, I just don't think it's going to happen!  So, I had this great idea, that we could go golfing as a family - as in Putt Putt.  This would be Kate's first time ever on a course, but I was confident she would love it.  She loved it alright.  The rest of us did not so much love playing with her.  I think we quit keeping score after the 3rd hole.  We tried our best to keep up with all four putters and balls until about the 5th hole.  And by hole number 8, we were just trying to make it out alive.  Thankfully, everyone maintained their sense of humor and no one (not even passersby!) was hurt during the course of our journey.  I'm pretty sure Will and Dad decided that Kate will not be invited back to play Putt Putt for a very long (yet to be determined amount of) time.  The only redeeming factor may be that I got some really cute pictures ... I hope you enjoy them!

Will - ever the professional

Looking good so far

 

 

I love this one

I think I'm getting the hang of this!

Looking good!

Mom even had some pretty good "putts"

Here is where things start to get interesting.  Kate decided that the best way to win this game is to start by placing your ball about 2 inches from the hole and then easily knock it in.  Clearly her favorite part of golfing was the "celebration" ...

Perfect placement for a hole in one every time!

Line yourself up just right and open your mouth just so ...

And celebrate!

REALLY proud of herself!

Ok, now you're just making your opponents feel bad! :o)

Kate advises Dad on his shot

And now a little instruction on the celebrating part

Pretty good, but I think we better keep working on it, Dad!

John has a very special term for his girls (yes, me too!) when we act this way ... if you ever hear him call us "precious" it's not because he really thinks we are ;o)

Will kept his cool throughout the afternoon!

 

 

Kate trying to offer her advice, but Will was not having it!

WT was the only one among us who managed not one but TWO real holes in one!

Kate may or may not have gotten in trouble right before this pic, hence the very happy Father's Day smile on her face :o)

I am crazy for this fella and I could not imagine this wild parenting ride without him!!!

 

Even a Princess ...

... has to take a nap sometimes!

In their own words

On Father's Day, we always like to wake daddy up by singing the Father's Day song ... you know the one that goes to the tune of Happy Birthday?  Then it's time for cards and gifts.  This year, instead of buying cards, I had the kids answer questions about John.  Here is what they had to say:


What does Dad always say to you? 
(W) Good job!  (K) Hmm ... I love you.

What makes Dad happy? 
(W) When I am very happy (K) When I'm happy

What makes Dad sad? 
(W) When I am hurt (K) When I'm very grumpy

How does Dad make you laugh?
(W) He tickles me (K) When he "laugheses"

What was Dad like as a child?
(W) A miniature Papa (K) Will

How old is Dad?
(W) 34 (K) 6

How tall is Dad?
(W) 10-20 feet (K) This tall - hands over her head

What is Dad's favorite thing to do?
(W) golf  (K) draw

What does Dad do when you're not around?
(W) Secretly plays Chaos - a game on the ipad  (K) He has to look for me.

What is Dad really good at?
(W) sports (K) painting

What is Dad really bad at?
(W) not really anything (K) catching snakes

What does Dad do for his job?
(W) Help build airplanes and figure out the directions for them (K)He works at his friend's works.

What is Dad's favorite food?
(W) pizza  (K) spaghetti

If Dad was a cartoon character, who would he be?
(W) Iron Man (K) a chipmunk

How are you and Dad the same?
(W) We both like sports (K) We like painting

How are you and Dad different?
(W) He wears glasses, I don't (K) umm...doing good at drawing

Where is Dad's favorite place to go?
(W) the lake or bowling with me (K) Chick-fil-a

How do you know your Dad loves you?
(W) He just does (K) Because when he paints he loves me