~VBS~

Lucas and Hannah both attended vacation bible school this summer.  

No surprise, they loved it.  

The program. 

Checking to make sure we were still watching :-) 

Blurry, but I love the expression on his face.  We were given a CD of the music from that week.  We all love to sing along (still, three months later!) 

The boys helped carry in this cross that they built while the group sang "Amazing Grace."  I don't know why, but this struck something in my heart that day.  I got all sorts of teary eyed watching the boys heft this big cross to the alter.  

Arts and crafts are a love for her.  

A fun week to be reminded of God's love for us.  

pig practice

Lucas enjoyed his first year of 4-H Clover Kids last year.  As the summer drew closer, it was time to think about the county fair.  We took advantage of the opportunity to participate in the Adopt a Pig program.  A very kind local pork producing family offers kids the chance to "adopt" a pig from them and show it at the fair.  We went to their farm several times from when school was out to the fair for, what we called, pig class.  Lucas learned about the parts of a pig, what pigs eat, what foods and products come from pigs, breeds of pigs and careers in the pork industry.  We fed, practiced walking, washed his pig and he learned showmanship skills.  

Meet Hilton Magic, Lucas' pig.  

It's a girl.  A gilt, to be precise.   

Wonder how she'll ever get clean?  Me, too!  

Scrub a dub.  

It was so much fun to participate in this (for him and me).  We made new friends and refreshed old friendships.  It was a great part of our summer.  

on the big screen

We watched Frozen on the big screen at Jack Trice Stadium in May.  

It was a beautiful night.  

Playing Hang Man with Bryan… passing time before the movie started.  

"LET IT GO! LET IT GO!"  

The whole place was singing.  

Campbell and Hannah, friends forever.  :-) 

Who doesn't love Olaf?!?! 

Little Cyclone Football Camp

Lucas attended the Iowa State Little Cyclone football camp in June.  

It was fun to spend the morning at camp with his good buddy, Cade.  

Opening speech from Coach Rhoads.  

This was our first experience with a sports camp, let alone one hosted by an NCAA level program.  But to say we were impressed by it is an understatement.  Brent and I figured Coach Rhoads would say a few words at the beginning and maybe come back at the end for pictures.  We thought a handful of coaches would be around to run the camp.  We were wrong.  Coach Rhoads was at the camp the entire time, talking to and encouraging the kids.  The kids were broken into teams and rotated through multiple stations - being coached by the ISU coaches at each station.  Every single ISU football coach was there.  

Can you see the look on his face?  Fierce.  

This station was cool.  

Each child got the chance to run for a touchdown and another child was to attempt to touch them.  Lucas turned on the wheels.  Touchdown! 

The girls mostly played on phones, climbed on football equipment that they probably should not have been crawling on… but we all survived.  

Ryan was impressed… 

Camp t-shirt autograph with Coach Rhoads.  

As we were walking out of the Bergstrom training and practice facility, Coach Day called Lucas by name and asked him how his camp experience was.  I was dumbfounded.  There were around 75 kids at this camp and none of them had name tags.  It was impressive that these coaches took the time to make an impression on the kids.  Way to groom your fans and future players, ISU!

Hickory Park!!!!

Ellie, Lucas, Ryan, Cade, Hannah and Maci.  

The ride home. :-)

pool days

As a kid, I was a pool rat.  Even though we lived in the country, my parents somehow always got me to and from the pool in the afternoon.  I'd be there for hours.  And I loved it.

Now, I get the privilege of accompany my three pool rats to the pool.  They love it, but there is no way I'd spend as much time there if I didn't love it, too.  :-)

The {chilly} day Gramma Connie came to the pool with us was FUN!  

Relay for Life - June 2014

Lucas' classmate, Aaliyah, had been in remission for cancer the entire school year.  Just a few weeks before school was out the cancer was back.  Some of the kids wanted to walk at the local Relay for Life in her honor.  

Mea, Kiersten, Mya, Ava, Gracie, Bo and Lucas. 

{I totally just guessed on Mea and Mya, no clue}

Our luminary for Aunt Ann.  

The kids huddled up while the names of all luminaries were read.  

This part gets me every time.  

Sad.  

Remembrance. 

Cancer sucks.  

I miss my sister.  

But I had a great track walking partner all night long.