SD Friends

One might not think there are many ties between SD and WI but we keep proving that thought wrong. Yesterday we had the joy of hosting dear friends from SD for the day. After a quick sandwich and veggie lunch we spent the afternoon at the Menoninee Park Zoo, Little Oshkosh Playground, and in the waters at the beach on Lake Winnebago. Along the way we laughed, talked, and caught up with some of our favorite people. We ended the day by grilling for supper and having some ice cream treats at Andy & Ed's drive-in. The day went quickly but will be remembered for much longer. Friends like you warm the heart. Thanks for stopping!

1. Evan, Alyssa, Lydia, Ryan, Lauren, Hans, and Ethan with the lion at the entrance to the zoo.

2. The kids at Andy & Ed's.

3. The kids and three grown-ups at Andy & Ed's.

Shipping Pigs

**This post is out of order. The pictures are from when we were at Smiths two weeks ago. I can't believe I forgot it.**

My in-laws have a small hog operation that does custom finishing of pigs. When I explain this to my kids I tell them Grandma and Grandpa have a pig farm that gets 'kid' pigs from one farm, feeds them and takes care of them till they're big enough, and then sends them to the butcher to turn them into meat.

When we were visiting it was shipping day so the kids and I got to watch the pig come out of the barn and head into a chute leading them up into the livestock trailer. Since the pigs aren't thrilled to do this there are a few rump slaps and lots of squeals, grunts, and snorts. After a few pig passed by the kids even got brave enough to give a a few slaps and shout 'get up pig' like a seasoned farmer. For three kids who happen to live in the city but love everything country the entire event is exciting.

1: Waiting on the barrel that Grandpa set up so they could see in the chute.

2: Looking down the chute and waiting for pigs.

3: PIGS!

4: One last look back.

Jo

From Saturday until Tuesday we had the pleasure of hosting Joanna, Nathan's youngest sister, for a visit. She was just here to spend time with us, relax, and make some memories. In about a month she will be all grown up and start her own call teaching K-4. In the mean time we enjoyed her company. 1. R&R&R (rest & relaxation & reading) interrupted by Lydia who made herself quite comfortable.

2. We missed getting to celebrate Jo's birthday with her by one day but we did sing and have her blow out a candle on top of a cake pop. It may look like the world's smallest birthday cake but it was given with great, great love! :o)

Evan

Because he's my son, he's cute, he has personality, he makes me laugh, he is such a combination of his parents it's uncanny, because I love him, here's a glimpse of Evan.

Six On Saturday

Evan turned six this past Saturday. To celebrate we spent the day as Evan requested: as a family playing at a playground, finding some cheese curds, having a pizza picnic in the park, visiting the Menominee Park Zoo, and roasting marshmallows for s'mores in the backyard. Both Aunt Joanna and Uncle Michael happened to be in town so they were able to share the day with us. The cake happened in the middle of the day too (see previous post). All in all it was a happy day to celebrate a happy little boy. We have been blessed with a curious, creative, caring son whom we treasure. We love you and happy birthday Evan!

1. Pizza Picnic

2. Smores!

3. Evan showing off a new Martin Luther Eagles sweatshirt from G&G Davis.

The Headless Horse

For the last several years I've let the kids choose what kind of birthday cake they want. I've made a snake, turtle, alligator, Mater, penguin, crayon, airplane... you get the idea. This year Evan wanted a horse that stands up. I googled horse cakes and found exactly one that met this criteria. When Evan saw it he thought it didn't look real enough. I made a few modifications, tried a few things I thought might work, and we had a horse that stood up for about five minutes. I used toothpicks, skewers, and card board to help it stand but there was a bad structural break at the neck. We took a few quick pictures and then the head fell off. You can watch the progression in the pictures.

1. Evan holding the head so it doesn't fall.

2. Getting to lick off the chocolate frosting.

3. We caught the head in a bowl while the "skeleton" sticks out.

4. Happy Birthday being sung with candles on the headless horse cake.

Wedding Season 2009: #1

This past Friday afternoon we headed to the Green Bay area for our first wedding of the season. We hope that Adam and Apryle live happily ever after. :o)

1: Weddings are a great place for BlackBerry lessons. The kids all had a turn taking pictures with Grandpa's phone. Hans took a picture of the cake (It had a fountain inside which made it the cooooolest cake ever!), Evan took one of the bride and groom, and Lydia held the phone backwards and upside down but still managed to snap a shot of her forehead.

2. Some cuteness.

3. The bride and groom being toasted by the groom's older brother Eric.

Gone Home

After leaving Kristi and Matthew's we headed south to Nathan's parents. We love visiting them but this trip was bittersweet since we were going for Nathan's Grandpa Zemke's funeral. Following a few weeks hospital stay for an infection God saw fit to bring Grandpa home. A packed funeral in a simple country church not only let us say farewell to Grandpa but also let us glorify the Savior who secured his eternity. Praise God from whom all blessing flow.

Smith Cousins

Back last fall when we shared with our kids the news that Uncle Matthew and Aunt Kristi were going to have a baby they were immediately very excited. We had a great chat about babies and waiting for them to arrive. One of their first questions was about being either a girl baby or a boy baby. I explained that we'd have to wait till it was born to find out. Evan mused that it's be really neat if Mom's had a see-through tummy so we could watch the baby grow. I agreed that would be interesting but since we don't we'd just have to wait. Hans pointed out that even if we have to wait God doesn't, God already knew Aunt Kristi and Uncle Matthew's baby. How true!

Jump ahead to now and the kids are thrilled to have another cousin to love. On the Davis side they have three dear cousins with another on the way this fall. Naomi is the first of the Smith cousins. It took Lydia more than a few attempts to turn Nay-moni into Naomi but now that she's got that figured out she has all sorts of things she wants to do with her cousin. That girls going to be well loved to say the least!

1. Proud cousins on baptism affirmation day.

2. Safe in Evan's arms with Hans happy to help.

3. Hans takes a turn.

4. Lydia with Naomi and Kristi's mom, Pam, making sure there's not too much "loving."

Naomi

Just over a month ago my dear friend Kristi and my brother-in-law Matthew had their first child. Naomi entered the world and our family on Mother's Day. She's a beautiful little girl who we look forward to knowing and loving from now on. Kristi and Matthew chose to have her baptized the day after her birth and we joined them to affirm her baptism the beginning of June. My kids and I along with my sister-in-law Joanna went up a few days early to spend extra time with the newest member of the family. She's one lovable little girl!

1. Naomi bright-eyed in Mama's arms.

2. My turn to hold, rock, cuddle, admire, and love my niece and god daughter.

3. Parents and god parents with the affirmed child of God.

4. One of my favorites, check out the Dad's happy gaze.

Tossing in a line with Grandma and Grandpa

**Actual date: May 29**

My parents made the trip over to visit us for Evan's graduation service. The following day Evan had a half day for the last day of school. After a quick lunch we filled the afternoon with fishing. Each of the kids caught at least one bait-stealing size fish which made the day a grand success. No more school, fishing, and grandparents, ahh, this is the life.

Evan's Kindergarten Graduation

**Actual Date: May 28**

On the last Thursday of May Evan graduated from Kindergarten. There are so many things he can do now that he couldn't before school. He can read, he can write, he knows his address and phone number, he can tie his shoes, he can add and subtract, he can spout facts about animals, people, and even the solar system and on and on, but the thing I've been most impressed with is that with a few words of prompting he can recite over 70 Bible passages. These precious truths have been imprinted on his heart. What a blessing to watch our dear son grow in both wisdom and in faith.

1. Evan and Mrs. Fred(erickson) on Graduation night.

2. Receiving his diploma from Mr. Hennig

3. As part of the graduation program the kids presented some of what they've learned over the year. Each student read a page in a story.

4. They also played Yankee Doodle on Boom Wackers as part of the presentation.

Nice job Evan!