"When my mouth chews hard things, it's like a marching band in my mouth." ~Kj (3 1/2)

The Frog Poem

Two frogs fell into a can of cream, Or so I've heard it told. The sides of the can were shiny and steep, The cream was deep and cold. "Oh, what's the use?" croaked number one. "Tis fate, no help's around. Good-bye, my friend! Good-bye, sad world!" And weeping still, he drowned. But number two, of sterner stuff, Dog-paddled in surprise. The while he wiped his creamy face, And dried his creamy eyes. "I'll swim awhile at least," he said, Or so I've heard he said; "It really wouldn't help the world, If one more frog were dead." An hour or two he kicked and swam, Not once he stopped to mutter, But kicked and kicked and swam and kicked, Then hopped out, via butter!

New Bikes!

July 9 2011
Here is a picture of our new bikes that we are getting used to riding around Madison; and Sioux Falls!
And one more of L; Grandma Sandy Claus (Ferber) has surely been good to the girls as she cleans out Caymen's outgrown "stuff"!

July 4 2011

I am surely not good at blogging! Look how long since I put anything on! I don't think that my life is that boring that NOTHING happens. Stuff happens! Then the day is over and I don't take time to write it down.
For instance, we were trying to think what we did July 4th 2010. Don't remember. Perhaps if I look at the pictures I can figure it out. I don't think the pics are from the 4th, but they were "Summer 2010"!
Let's see; Leslie was pregnant, they came to visit. Ian was doing good. L was a few months old. Abby was married 1/2 year.

So this year I am going to post something so I can remember next year!
We had a great time with K/A and girls; took our new bikes to SF and rode downtown to the parade! It was quite a distance for these 2 old folks, but KA took it in stride, he even pulled the kiddies. The parade was so-so but the company was delightful!

K smelling the roses at McKennan Park.

One more, for L is growing up too:

Have you Ever?
This is going around and thought it would be a easy blog post.
You BOLD the ones you HAVE done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang/played a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea -Not at sea by on a Fourth of July, the most spectacular display I have ever seen.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child--
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (but I was the nurse!)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating--
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Made a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Now if you do this let me know so I can visit yours, I have copied this from Brandize Nelson's website

If you look at the world, you'll be distressed.
If you look within, you'll be depressed.
If you look at God you'll be at rest.
— Corrie Ten Boom

Consider this ministry for your church. EFCA Statement of Faith, Article 8. We believe that God's justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.

The Blessed Life

Streams in the Desert: "This is the blessed life - not anxious to see far in front, nor careful about the next step, not eager to choose the path, nor weighted with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following behind the Shepherd, one step at a time." Please pray this for me.

011411
Kj is trying to teach L "Wa-bec-ca." And she says, "I am saying Wa-bec-ca, and L is saying silly things to me." I think Kj is going to have some talking competition. :) aj

Secret Riches

Isaiah 45:3
And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness-secret riches.
I will do this so that you may know that I am the LORD.
The God of Israel.
The one who calls you by name.

"We can mine great things from the dark times in our lives--things that may not be discovered any other way. Things like irrepressible hope, unsurpassable peace, inexplicable joy, unfailing comfort, divine endurance, and amazing grace. In Isaiah, God calls these secret riches. How will we discover these treasures lying hidden in the darkness of our trials if we're always ....trying desperately to avoid any testing, suffering, or pain?"
(from It's No Secret by Rachel Olson)