VBS and Ministry Trip

 This post is long overdue, but as you'll see, I really haven't had a chance, so even though it's a month ago - Here's our VBS! We used a "route 55" theme - road trips, USA...Above is craft time -

 Between trying to help Aaron, play piano, tell a missionary story, watch Anna and Esther, I "bit off more than I could chew", so Esther hung out with the preschool class some and had a great time following them around. "VBB" was as close as she could say VBS :)

 Aaron did the Bible time - Several children were saved during the week and some were baptized in the weeks following, so we were so grateful for the Lord's working. It was one of the best VBS's ever!

 Game time -

 Snack and verse memory time -

 Rally time - Aaron does a great job at making things fun and exciting :)

 We wanted to say thank you to all the people who worked so hard to make everything happen, so we made a cake for the closing evening.

 A week after VBS was over, we went with a few other people from church to help out a church in Badger, MN with some construction. Above is Esther at Culvers - one of the highlights of driving through WI :) !

 Driving through Duluth, MN

 More Duluth -

 Aaron and Johnny putting up insulation - they insulated, wired, and sheetrocked a couple rooms that had water damage.

 Aaron :)

 They had a potluck in Badger with the church people. We knew some of them from VBS last summer, so it was fun to catch up.

 I thought I'd end with a few pictures of the girls, I meant to turn it, but I must have forgotten to save the change...

 Esther can't read, but she likes pictures :)

 Anna in a hand-me-down -

 Anna is getting so big!

 We love to hear her laugh!

4th of July pictures will have to wait...

Home, Museum, Reunion

 Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well...and ready for summer :) I had all these pictures in order, but then I added a couple more and they ended up at the beginning, so I guess the family reunion is first on the list! We attended a reunion for Aaron's mother's family in eastern KY. I think about 75 people were there, including Aaron's aunt and sister and some of their families from PA. It was about 95 degrees that day and I thought it was a little extreme to have a picnic outdoors, but it really wasn't too bad with the shade and the breeze and everything went well.

 There were a few other kids about 6-years-oldish and Esther thought she was one of them. She had so much fun just chasing them around - we had to keep a close eye on her :) Here her and another girl are playing in the water/ice/cans of soda bucket.

 Esther loves to climb on our bed while I'll making it. I know the blanket doesn't match the pillows, but in the summer I change out our comforter for a lighter quilt.

 Esther is learning to be our helper :) Aaron dug up a row of potatos and she put them in the bucket.

 The garden is doing ok - We've pulled up the onions already and ate a few peas as well. I've never harvested garden in May before!

 Anna has such a big smile :) Her newest accomplishment is learning to roll over and she's much bigger than Esther was at her age!

 Aaron and Esther both reading -

 Aaron and Anna on Mother's Day - we spent the afternoon with his family.

 Esther making her "sniff, sniff" bunny sound -

 Anna and Esther ready for a trip :)

 Esther and Anna like to smile at each other.

 We met my family on their way home from the ISC at the Creation Museum. Aaron had never been there before and I'd never seen the gardens - we had a great time and enjoyed seeing the family too!

 Aaron and Esther by one of the ponds - the double stroller was a real blessing!

 Esther was scared of the camel, but she enjoyed seeing the chicken like birds and the wallabies.

 Aaron took this picture of some of the beautiful flowers.

 Me by a "waterfall" -

 Aaron on the swinging bridge -

 Aaron and Esther by one of the dinosaurs - "dinosaur" is one of Esther's newest words, along with "tomorrow", and "please"...

 The reunion was in the mountains - thankfully the main roads we were on weren't too steep!

The last reunion picture - Esther was taking a break to cool down and get some water!

We're also having VBS next week, so please keep us in your prayers. Have a wonderful day!

Pirates, Soldiers, Old Timers, Babies

Blogger has a new format and so my pictures are a little out of order, but it'll work. The above picture is of Esther  - a little over a year ago.

This is Anna - taken this morning. She found those wonderful fingers!

Anna all dressed up in her "sunshine outfit" and ready for church.

Does any one have any sympathy? Maybe Esther takes after me!

 Pirates - Esther had a little run-in with the coffee table. Hence her new vocabulary word for the week - pirate, along with onion :) (she's actually learning new words everyday) It's healing up just fine though and because of her eyebrow it's hardly noticable now.

 We took a 24 hour trip to GA to see Benjamin graduate from basic training - It was so nice to get a chance to see family! I looked at the faces of the people marching by and couldn't find him...

 We realized after it was over that Benjamin was in a demonstration that we just missed...You can see more picture on the M. family blog.

 Esther wasn't scared of him at all :)

They had all of the state flags on the base - we found MN.

 Uncle Bruce and Anna -

 My 25th Birthday -

 One of our neighbors loves to garden and gave us these pink roses.

 Esther now likes to watch me wash dishes and see the bubbles. She also helps me carry laundry around the house and helps her dad water the garden :)

Everyday life...Some people graciously gave us money when Anna was born and we used some of it to get this stroller that can hold two. Something we didn't realize we needed until we were out and about with two babies.

Anna likes to look at lights and ceiling fans.

 She has a big smile!

 The stroller all assembled. I think it's going to work well.

 In our town, they have a community celebration called "Old Timers Day" that includes a parade. Our church had a float this year and handed out invitations to a Revival and VBS.

They did a great job with it and I think everyone had a good time.

 Getting in the theme with an old sewing machine and butter churn -

Some weekends Aaron goes out to his parent's property and helps them with the garden and yard.

Old and new - we're having special meetings at church this week with former Pastor Roger Freeman (great preaching and great music) and so there was a potluck on Sunday. I made Strawberry Glaze Fruit Salad, one of the very first things I ever made (age ten or so) and tried a new recipe for Raspberry Truffle Brownies - they taste great, but got all crumbly. If I make them again, we'll try a different recipe for the brownies themselves, put a little less chocolate or milk chocolate in the filling and wait overnight to cut them.