An Unforgetable 4th of July

A PINK barn????

This 4th of July is one we are not likely to forget. I don't ever remember a day so full of surprises as this one. After taking off out of Waconia, MN, we headed west to South Dakota. I was shocked to see some REALLY PINK buildings at a farm along the way. We stopped at this farm and visited with the owners who informed us that the entire farm has been painted pink since 1904!

The ex-pats at the Watertown 4th of July parade.

In Watertown, SD we caught up with friends who have lived in Australia for the last two years and were visiting relatives in the US. It was fun to catch up and find out what their life is like living "down under".

The color guard and the National Anthem brought everyone to their feet and tears to my eyes. This is still the greatest nation on earth.

This poor clown couldn't put a smile on his face even with these funny kids posing beside him.

Ken (from Brazil) riding along with Keith (from Australia), who drives his Camero in the parade every year...entry number 100!

About Gorillas and Blow Dryers

Checking out the flood waters in Iowa City with my sister Rebekah who studies at the University of Iowa...much of which suffered greatly in (what many are calling) the 500 year flood.


How much interesting stuff can you pack into a road trip? That all depends on where you go and who you see on the way. This is what we were able to scare up on our 12 hour trip (with stops) last Friday.


Bridge waiting to be torn down and rebuilt because the structural integrity was compromised.

Road still underwater...tree down.


Road closed to through traffic, but open to vehicles in the clean up effort.


A giant BLOW DRYER is working non-stop to diminish the humidity in this building.

Anabel found a friend in one of the U of I buildings housing the Museum of Natural History. She named him (or her!) Anabel.

Thanks for the tour, Rebekah...we had a great time!

"Chain Saw" Dads

How do you entertain a couple of men and their kids? Have 'em cut down a tree! This wee project kept the guys busy for the lion's share of the morning. (Lest you think that the tree was a perfectly good, oxygen producing specimen, this one was half dead and threatening to take a nose dive onto the house.)

Adjusting the chain saw.

Cut'n up firewood for winter. Watch those woodchips fly!!!

Jason, my brother-in-law, with the mean machine.

Balancing Acts and More Fun Stuff

The girls have been having a ball with friends here in the US. Anabel and Alicia worked out balancing on the teeter-totter with Kara and Erin Korthals. Look, Mom, no feet!

We visited a dairy farm in Hull, IA to let the girls in on the "secret" about where milk REALLY comes from! They weren't really impressed with the actual milking process, but enjoyed bottle-feeding the calves.

Hey, there is LOTS of milk in here!

The cousins bakin'cookies...mmmmmm!

Mess'n Around

Ken mixing up a bit of cement

Just to keep up on those construction skills, Ken took on the challenge to cement around the tank for the sump pump at the Korthals' house in Bondurant, Iowa.



Hey, I think he still remembers. :)

Ride 'em Cowgirl!!!

Anabel and her "horse" driver's license

The day after we hit the States (only 10 days ago), Anabel hit the trail with "horse camp". She and her new-found friend, Gabby, attended a week of camp to learn how to care for and ride the horses. Anabel was more than thrilled. Here are some of the highlights.

Anabel and Gabby with one of the horses

Guiding the horse through some obstacles

Learning how to ride around the barrels

Flying High

USA here we come!!! Alicia and Anabel were thrilled to get to see the cockpit of a "big" airplane.

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It has been quite the initiation to the US this past week. Our kids are amazed with everything, which makes for some really interesting comments...

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At Community Bible Church in Omaha two days after we had been in their multi-purpose room for Sunday School...

Anabel: Quick, Mommy, you gotta come see what they did to the room!

Mommy: Sure, honey, let's go check it out.

Anabel: See, they "parted" it!

(A divider had been pulled down the middle of the room to make two smaller ones.)

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After a visit to the Henry Dorley Zoo...

Mommy: So, tell me about your trip to the zoo.

Alicia: Oh, I was really impressed.

Mommy: Why

Alicia: It was soooo realistic!

?????? Ok, so I am not quite sure what it was she was expecting... :)