Cousin Power Party

19 cousins in their tie dye shirts

In order from cousin 1 to cousin 19

Andrew on the hay ride

Olivia riding with Karissa

Caleb and Jack on top of Castle Rock

The three princess'

Well, the kids had a blast at the cousin power party. All three kids agreed that the most fun activity was go-carting. Caleb was thrilled to be able to drive this year. Olivia, along with her cousin Kimmie, were the only riders so they got lots of turns. The week was packed with two trains rides, camping, tie dyeing their camp shirts, go-carting, hay ride at the farm along with 4-wheeling, climbing Castle Rock and carving their names in the sand at Secret Sands. There was also a trip to the Dairy Queen, visiting Great Grandma and doing a puppet show at the nursing home, going to the museum, a fireworks show and night games(Olivia loved being a robber in Cops and Robbers). It was a long 28 hours from the time we left Grandma Katie's house until we arrived home. Can you believe Gerald's first words to us were "You stink!" I am sure that we did.

We seem to have come home to summer and we are loving it. The garden and the flowers are growing and look very beautiful. I am enjoying them very much.

Gerald is still being cautious since his surgery but feeling good. I am thankful that he is cautious since I don't see the need to have the surgery once again. It was a long 10 days for him while we were gone. Thank you to those of you who had him in for a meal and called to check up on him.

We are gearing up for a very busy first two weeks of July. The EMC Convention will keep Gerald hopping. I am helping with registration for the children's program as well as our family doing a missions spotlight for the children one evening. On the heels of that is VBS at our church and Gerald and I are doing the food for that. We have everything organized and ready to go.

On top of that I received a letter today from the Citizenship Office to inform me that the date of my exam is July 23. While I have been looking over the book I haven't been too serious about studying. I have to admit it was an anxious feeling knowing that the time is short and I need to be diligent in the next few weeks. That has to take priority over the house - good excuse to take it easy for the next few weeks :)

This is the short version of the last few weeks. I took over three hundred pictures while we were gone - aren't you glad I didn't post them all?

Enjoy your weekend.
Sandy