The new boat....

On Cale's birthday we got our new boat. Well actually 1/2 of a boat, the other 1/2 belongs to Brad & Sheila. I don't know too much about it other than the fact that my husband is giddy as a school girl in love with this thing. Oh sure not as much as he loves me but hey who could?

Of course this was one of those screaming deals, that just could not be passed by. I do know that it is currently occupying ALL of our garage. It is too big to fit in normal ways so it must sit diagonally, thus making it hard to even walk around the thing.

We went out last Monday and cruised around Saylorville, just to test it out. Then this past Saturday we went fishing-me, Shawn, Colby and Cale. The boys loved it and did awesome. We were out a good six hours without one complaint from either of them, except for Colby complaining that Cale had all the fish on his side of the boat.....:) Cale was the big winner for the day with 4 fish. I think this boat is going to be OK, we will have a lot of fun with it. Now if it would only get off my side of the garage.

My baby is 4....

The dreaded CAREBEAR cake....
The brothers having fun at Chuck E. Cheese
Chuck E. Cheeses where a Dad can be a Kid.
Cale and Daddy at Adventureland, his first driving lesson.
Where does the time go?

I'm so behind in the blogosphere....trying to get caught up.

On July 20, Cale turned 4. I can't believe it. You know when they turn 4 there is absolutely no baby left in them, they are all little boy. He will tell anyone who will ask or even if you don't ask, that he is this many....4

The Friday before his birthday we hung out with Sheila Brad Haley Addy Grandma Linda Grandpa Gary Papa and Barbara. Haley and Addy also celebrated birthdays in July so we just had one big celebration. Cale got to pick whatever cake he wanted and much to the disappointment of his father it was a CAREBEAR cake. It turned out adorable, and I don't think at 4 a CAREBEAR cake is going to ruin our little boy.

Saturday night we headed to Chuck E. Cheeses, because Nana thought he for sure needed to go there to celebrate his birthday.

Then on Sunday, his actual birthday, we headed to Adventureland for the day. We got there right at opening (10 a.m.) and stayed until 6 that night. It was a full day of rides, food, and hot sweaty fun. Why is every time we go there it seems like its 400 degrees. We invited Ashlin and my mom to go along, and my mom even rode some rides. We had a great time, we were all exhausted but it was alot of fun.

Cale Jeffrey, I can't believe your 4 already. You have provided us with so much joy in your short life, and can't wait to see what this year brings us. We love you so much!

Cale is swimming!

Earlier this month we enrolled Cale in swimming lessons. For two weeks in the evenings he swam at Holiday Pool here in West Des Moines. The first night I thought it was going to be a long 2 weeks. He was about mid-chest in the water, when he exited(quickly). "I'm too nervous, its way too deep" This boy of ours has always been very timid in the water, about mid calf is good for him. Colby on the other hand, I'm pretty sure is part clown fish, the other part of him being just clown, but that's a whole other blog.

We went to Holiday that first week a couple times during the day just so he could get comfortable in the water where he was doing his lessons. He did so good. These pictures are of the 2nd to last night. We finally got to go out to the pool area, they keep the parents fenced into the concession area. Good idea, probably so they can't run to their mommies for help.

The first picture is of Cale and Miss Megan doing a front float, and the second picture is of Cale and some classmates waiting in line to go off the diving board. Now that is some serious progress.

Yesterday when we went to the pool, he was jumping in, completely underwater, swimming, without even plugging his nose. Yeah Cale!

Baptism

Sunday July 13 was Baptism at church. That night we gathered at Raccoon River Park for a BBQ and then Baptism. There were about 15 of us baptized. What an amazing feeling. Before the Baptism we each did a video testimony, which I am totally dreading having to watch. I tried to convey about how great our lives have become since we joined the church. All of my life I have tried without luck to fill my life with whatever it was I was missing, not ever having gone to church before I had no idea that the thing missing was God. Since I have God in my life of course my life is not perfect, but man what a change has come over this family, and me. The pictures above are of Shawn and I before being Baptized and of Ashlin.

Thank you God for the comfort I have found in you. Now I know you are the only one that could make me feel complete.

More VBS!

Sonya is in absolute amazement at how well the preschoolers are behaving....
Mandy taking a picture of me taking a picture of her.
The kids cooling off with a Popsicle.
Mandy leading the kids in morning worship time.

Wanted to share some more pictures of the fun we had at Vacation Bible School!

Outrigger Island Vacation Bible School

Miss Lori Starkey & Miss Meg Wetzel with the K, 1, 2 graders
Miss Mindy Abendroth & Miss Sonya Brown with the 3 to Pre-K
Miss Mandy Cecil with 3, 4, 5 graders
Miss Rebecca Baird helping with crafts
Miss Marcie Smith helping with crafts

Okay so I'm finally getting caught up....July 7-11 was Vacation Bible School. Not only did it happen in our backyard, I was the director. Oh what fun, it was an awesome time! Two different mornings I was literally outside on my deck, arms reached out to the sky, praying like no ones business for those pesky rain clouds to goooo away. He answered my prayers, it rained at night or after we were finished, but never more than a few quick sprinkles on our days.

Our theme, Outrigger Island, taught kids the ABC's of becoming a Christian. We had right around 35 kids, which I was thrilled with. We even had a visit from the Des Moines Register, she wrote a story and took pictures of the kids. The kids were great, and I think everyone had a good time. Am I crazy to say this....I can't wait until next year!

I can not even begin to thank the people who gave their time and energy to make it happen. Thanks to everyone for their donations, prayers and helping hands to help out "our kids!"

Back from Vacation

We had a great time on vacation. It has been a total whirlwind since we returned. But then whats new.

We had a great time in Branson. We went to White Water for 2 of the days. It is an awesome water park. We had so much fun there. Colby loved the 7.5 story water slide, although he was hard pressed to find anyone willing to go on it with him. Shawn and Ashlin both went once but said it hurt so bad speeding down at 45mph, getting knocked all over creation. Cale had a ball playing in the Little Squirts Waterworks, he has never been a huge fan of water, totally unlike his brother, but he really loved this. They provide lifejackets for you to use here, so it may have made him feel a little more comfortable, but by the end of the 2nd day he didn't even want to wear it. He went on a few water slides even. The wave pool was great, Ashlin giggled like a small girl the whole time. Although I would have to say her favorite part was the cute life guards.

We did a lot there, saw some shows, ate some food, did some shopping, got some sun. All in all it was a great vacation.

We had a lot of fun, but its always nice to get back home. I missed my baby girl. Thanks a bunch to my wonderful neighbor, Michele, for taking her in.