Vacation Bible School at First Lutheran

What a great week the girls had with their friends at Vacation Bible School! The camp counselors were fun and energetic and the activities were engaging and fun. The girls especially liked tie-dying their shirts and being able to wear them during their worship service on Wednesday night. Every year is an adventure at Bible Camp!!

Morgan found two loves over the weekend!

Morgan fell in love with Aunt Dawn's dog, Shadow. She carried the dog around like a baby all day Friday night after rehearsal. She was back to love up the dog before we headed for home on Saturday night! Shadow is a very protective, picky dog but she warmed right up to Morgan. Shadow will "talk" to you by growling low and whining....it is cuter than it sounds. Her desire is to be a veterinarian....
I was so happy that she held baby Josephine at the church so I could get a picture of her loving up a human as much as she loved up that dog! Morgan has always loved playing with dolls...still does....and she loved having a human "doll" to play with.

Kari and Jason Eastgate

We had a great time at my niece's wedding on July 19, 2008. She and Jason Eastgate said their vows in a beautiful church ceremony and then, at the end of the ceremony but before the blessing, they baptized their absolutely gorgeous baby girl, Josephine. I was the proud aunt that had the honor of holding Josephine throughout the wedding ceremony and she was just perfect. She is a beautiful baby! They are a terrific couple and Jason is a wonderful man to my niece. He is kind, caring, thoughtful, and there for her when she needs him....what more could we ask for? The weather was gorgeous and we have about 80 pictures, but these are my two favorite!

St. James Pool

After berry picking we went to the pool and we felt very safe because we had Cory, the lifeguard, as our protector! I am sure he hated me taking a picture of him, but it is his first job and I had to have proof....you know me! Anyway, the children all had fun, especially on the diving board. They were all being so silly and I got a few good "air" pictures. The girls and I have been at the pool 4-5 times a week all summer. I enjoy getting a tan and the girls enjoy playing with the friends that they find there.

Uncle Mike, Aunt Shelly, Kody and Bailey came for a visit on July 11-13. We went out to our "secret" spot and picked a bucket full of blackberries which will be made into jam. We then went for a hike and Cory got us a little lost in the woods....Aunt Shelly used her "I love to go for walks and get lost" skills and got us back to civilization all in one piece. It was a great day to be outside and a fun walk! Can't wait to make up a batch of that jam!

Fourth of July in Sioux Falls

We drove to Sioux Falls in our brand new van...it was a very quiet ride! It was wonderful to spend the weekend with brother David and family and my dad and mom. We did fireworks, went to a really wonderful waterpark!, and enjoyed the days outside. They have a very nice home with a great view out the back...David has put in many hours of hard work putting together a very beautiful landscaped backyard. It was really relaxing!

A New Van!!!

The last week of June we went for a drive and came upon several vans that Jeff was interested in. After test driving three of them, we decided to purchase this bright red Grand Caravan. Morgan's selling point was the dvd player with the tv overhead. Our other van we put in a tv/vcr combo but you had to lean in between the seats to watch it and it was a strain on their necks. We took the van for our first trip out to South Dakota for a fourth of July celebration and it was just such a peaceful ride! I am really happy that we now have more room to travel in as we are going to a wedding three hours away, then going camping the next weekend 4 hours away! It will sure make the traveling a lot easier! Thank you, Jeff!!!