fall pics

You can go to Julie's blog for some fall pics.

balloons

St. Louis has it own Albuquerque! Balloons were going up by the tens. Amazing to see!!
It was unexpectedly beautiful. We were so close!
I think the family favorite was the Pepsi balloon. Can you see the flame going up from the basket? I spent my time there exlaiming over the balloons and counting them. I think I got to 40 something...but I can't remember. So much for counting.
They went right up over our heads!
Mait and Debbie were visiting from a road trip across the country and mom was there too. She had come with us to Washington DC and then babysat while we went away for the weekend. It was so nice to have a weekend away from responsibilities!'
It was even nicer to have all of them here to see us. We went around like tourists to various places and this was the best part, the Balloons in Forest Park.

Before the balloons went up, they had a time when we could go into the ascension area and watch them inflate the balloons. Look at that fire!
I only wish the visits could have been longer. We miss you already.

Summer Fun

One of the things we'd forgotten about in So Cal is the prevalance of Palm trees. J found herself gawking at them, as if they were new things. Living in So Cal, we'd become so used to the palms that we'd hardly noticed them anymore. How quickly we'd forgotten.
The Fair was fun, and the cousins all enjoyed it together, although the New Jersey cousins weren't there yet. It has become a tradition and a pleasure. We had fair food and saw the animals and the cool arts and science buildings. Photography and woodworking, too. We even got to see "Huey Lewis and the News" It was a riot! The kids loved laughing at seeing all the 50 yr-olds dancing around us. Who knew he had so many hits?! I had only remembered two or three, but there were many. We also found a place or two in the shade to sit for a bit and hang out.
S got to go to the lake with her friend Katie. We almost didn't get to see her very much, so we worked hard to get them together. It was worth it!
Carole got together a bunch of our friends from the area for a park day. We were glad to get the chance to talk to them. J talked to them about our plans and how it has gone:
Carole fir in this gathering in the midst of packing up and moving from one house to another, meeting with her new mission board, and speaking at her church. It was one super-sized week! Thanks Carole!!!!

The girls at the park day posed for a picture.
J's mom had routine foot surgery a few days after Mount Hermon so we got to spend some extra time with her while the kids spent almost every day and night visiting with special friends. We all had a great time.

The New Jersey cousins came out and we allwent to Knott's Berry Farm, and had a great time on the roller coasters!!! Thanks Dottie!! I even saw Jaimi, my college friend I haven't seen since...well....years!

We'll wrap up the summer stuff soon. Fall is here, and it even feels like winter is on the way!!!

Mount Hermon

Mount Hermon is a Christian camp in the hills above Santa Cruz...and it is gorgeous. We love the Redwood Forest with the ferns and creeks. We love the fun and relaxation of being there. It has been a family tradition of ours each summer for six years. Moving last year left us no time to go, but this year we were able to go! Thanks mom!

Our computer is in the middle of a looong back-up and re-download due to a virus and I can't show you any pictures, but they are good!

John was working hard at home in Illinois while we went. We missed him there!

Julie spent some time reading a book called, "Third Culture Kids" about transitions between cultures and the effects of certain strategies in the past. We're hoping it will give us more knowledge before we leap into a new culture. Thank you Janay for giving it to me. I devoured the book, and will refer to it often!

Our first few days in CA

Off and running! As soon as we landed in LAX and got a few hours sleep, we were on the way to the SF Bay area to visit. Nana was with us and we had a great drive. It brings back memories of many family trips to make that drive.

Within the first day, traffic was stopped for a wildfire. Illinois is so very green, but we talk about the wildfires back in CA...and there was one to greet us. It was another reminder that we were home.
During a wonderful visit with family, we went to the zoo. The Oakland Zoo is fun and the family was a joy to be with. Here we are watching the elephants:The zoo had a program: we got to enter the elephant's cage and hide fruit for them to find when they were let back in. It was interesting to see from the elephant's view out to the public. See?
That little cutie was holding #4's hand and she loved to walk along holding #1 and #2's hands. Her mom and dad are such good parents, too! I wish they go back in time and give us tips!!!! ;-)
Another shot of the cutie. She's loving her mom's shoes. (They are pretty cool). Yes, it is gratuitous for me to add another photo of her...but I had to.You see that van? It is our own special rental for the trip to Northern CA. We loved it. It was so comfy, we easily fit two families in it and still had room for luggage. Thank you CCTO!!!!! And Mait.....it is not a bus!!!! It is instead a luxury cruising vehicle.

Next we visited a wonderful family we met a year or two ago at Mount Hermon. The picture is of #4 and her friend, Kie-Kie. They became fast friends at camp, and we later found out that Kie-Kie's family is a very special and lovely family. They came to visit us in Illinois even! Our next stop was to Mount Hermon again this year, after a year's absence...will post soon.

Travel days

This is the tribe part of the family, minus the headman. We're off to the airport to fly to CA.
Here we are in Milwaukee. When we flew over Lake Michigan, I heard someone say that, "it was an ocean...not a LAKE!" It was indeed big! We were waiting for our connection to LAX. On the other hand...this airport shot just might be St Louis...they all seem to look the same.
We had fun playing in the airport. It was a loong day, and the first flights that any of the kids remember taking.

J didn't join us for a few weeks, and we missed him, but he was busy as a flight instructor.

We plan to post more pics of the time in CA in the next few days.

#2 had a Birthday, and Grandma came to town

There were Friends.............



and Grandma came to visit.


We went everywhere in St. Louis we could fit into an afternoon after VBS. It was fun.





And the years go by fast...