Wish I had a video of the bull thing challenge this year! They always have this thing where they take 4 stupid volunteers at half time and do some bull thing to them. The winner gets $500 (not worth it). This year we knew two of the stupid individuals and they drew a circle in the dirt and let a bull loose into the arena. (they were all wearing vests but still!) If they stepped out of the circle they were out. It was a smaller bull but a viscous one! At one point I was scared for one kids life as the bull was mulling him but our other friend intervened and the bull turned on him long enough that the other guy could get up. It sounds scary and it was a little but mostly it was the funniest thing I've seen!

Fair Time

This weekend was the County Fair. This year the kids put about 20 things each into the JR fair and 6 each into the County Fair. And they did very well. Mostly blue and red ribbons. We usually do more but we were just to busy this year. I was bummed because They could have put their flowers from the garden in and the tomato's they planted for dad but we didn;'t think of that until it was too late. Oh well, There is next year. Here they are in the parade for children's church. The group got two special awards. Then we spend the rest of the time hanging out at the fair grounds. Scott, I and dad all went to the Bull Thing again this year. Mom stayed home with the kids. It is like a rodeo but all bull rides and nothing else. They say in one night you see 80 some bull rides. It is a lot of fun and we even had the brother of our youth kids to cheer for this year. He did well too!

Heights

This week Scott put up fascia. I had to help hold it in place. It is a lot of up and down ladders and on the roof. Of course I don't like heights and Scott was getting a little frustrated with me as I would take such a long time climbing up or down. we got a lot done though as you can see this side of the house! Thank goodness the one side left to be done is the highest and I will be gone this week for Wyoming to a family reunion.

Kids and the well

The kids find lots to do at the house of late. As you can see here they are practicing their hammering and painting skills. The well was put in this weekend. It is a sad story with a kind of happy ending, at least enough to soften the blow. He drilled for two days and the kids spend a lot of time sitting on the porch watching him although zeph was upset that we were letting all that mud go to waste and no one could play in it! He had to go very deep and way, way over what we budgeted for (so no master bath for us right now!) but we had a goal of 10 gallons a minute and he hit 30 and it is very clear and pure!

Fun at the lake

while Scott finished up the roof on Saturday the kids and I went over to some friends to play on the lake and eat dinner. Scott caught up with us latter.

getting the roof on.

It was a big push last week the get the roof sheeted ready for the roofers to come this next week. Scott was determined and he got it done.

scotts birthday

The week leading up to Scott's birthday is always a big celebration. We have our anniversary which we celebrate and the kids celebrate with us this year they made dinner for us (lasagna, bread, salad and pie) and had all the candles in the house going. Then we take lunch out for Scott's work crew as you can see some of the family in the first photo. then we have a family party. The kids made Dad a cake and crown and each game him rugby shorts from NZ. Next year the big 30!

Who is that poser? Ben again making us giggle. We did a bunch of short skits on how NOT to evangelize. So he and another guy put nylons on their heads, hid behind bushes and jumped out at an unsuspecting passerby and duck taped and tied him up and gaged him then started preaching to him. Very funny!

relaxing by the lake, practicing a skit, laughing at those practicing the skit, and another challenge. A relay race where you have to pass a water balloon with your knees and take it down to the next person.

One morning we were all waiting in the sun for Avalanche Ranch to start. When it finaly did start we were transported back in time via a time machine. But the time machine malfunctioned and we were all turned into space cowboys so Don made up a funny song about it. Finaly we fixed the time machine and went back to the time of Jesus. The craft groups got to make two teddy bears this day one for them and one to send to a child in africa. Then we all prayed over the Teddy bears.

When the sun goes down the goofiness comes out! Lights out was suppose to be at 11. The first night I waited till 11:30 before I yelled at the kids to be quiet and go to sleep. The second night I was too tired to care but in the morning they said "ray, why didn't you make us to go bed earlier? I'm so tired!"

At the Bible Adventure station we were re-enacting the crossing of the Jordan River when God stopped the river and it walled up to let them pass. We were talking about what it would have been like and wondering if the fishes had there heads poked through and watching them walk past? Like this!

One tribal Challenge was to play water balloon volleyball but we blindfolded half the team! Then there is pastor and a couple other big kids using a water balloon slingshot to revenge the teens out on the dock!

the last photo is of Pastor and all those who were baptised at camp.

Ben, one of the youth kids sure gave us a lot to laugh about. There is one in every bunch I guess! -Just kidding Benadad (a bible name we gave him when he was doing skits) we do love you! Sheradia and her dear friend Veronica playing on the stage. Myself and the youth girls in the mess hall for breakfast.

Family camp

We survived! We just got back from family camp and it was so much fun! I am having a hard time choosing photos to share as between myself and one of the youth girls there are over a 100 photos and two hysterical videos I will try to email to you. If you want me to email one to you and I haven't please let me know. The girls and I stayed out there (Dickey Lake Bible Camp 20 min drive from us and where we hang out at the lake sometimes) While Scott would come after work for dinner and service. Don and I put on Avalanche Ranch program for the little kids. Each morning and night we would have worship, skits and then break into groups that would rotate stations for Bible adventure, crafts, A wild west theater, and games. The teens did an amazing job of running these stations and realy got into the idea of it! Then during the day between practicing for skits and human videos with the youth group to put on for the adults at night I set up a Camp Survivor for the teens. We had two tribes the Whatchamacallits and the Thingamajigs and each day when we would randomly blow a fog horn the kids would have to come find us for challenges. We had 4 challenges a day. Everyone got a $5 certificate for the local corner hang out but the winning tribe got $15. They had a blast doing it and I had fun laughing at them. Most of the time I was laughing so much I couldn't see what team was making points! Anyway I will endeavor in the next few posts to put some of my favorite photos of the week. Love to all.