Time flies when you are having fun!

VBS 'Boom a rang Express'
'It all comes back to Jesus!'

Tyler doing the Bible pledge

Sarah and Kelly teaching the music

The kids singing and dancing

MIDLAND!!!

Lala and Papa H with Tyler at Rosa's (we always go here)

Drew waiting for the private chef dinner to arrive, so that we could surprise Lala and Papa H

Drew & Uncle Jeb

Jebo with Tyler

Happy 40th!!

My grandad lives in Midland...we stopped by to wish him happy father's day!

Sarah and I had an awesome time teaching VBS music to the little ones last week. It was so fun to watch little seeds of Truth develop and grow in these kids! Can't wait to do it again!

So Friday after VBS, the boys and I hopped into the car to pick up BJ in the galleria area for a busy father's day weekend. Midland was the destination (a 9 and a half hour drive, just over 500 km, one way)! But, BJ and his brother had planned a 'surprise' 40th anniversary dinner on Saturday evening. So sweet! The boys enjoyed their time in Midland though it flew by...

All good things come to an end...

Tyler with Kate on the 4 wheeler!

There he goes...hold on tight!

Drew...he looks so little

Oh Drew...keep your helmet on!

Uncle Phil playing with all the kids on the trampoline

Running off for Uncle Phil to catch them

Brooke & Drew just wanted to play checkers

Last night was the sleepover at the farm. Aunt Becky (my older sister) pulled down 4 twin mattresses and lined them up side by side in a room. She left one on the bed that Drew and I slept on. So I stayed with our 4 for the 'sleepless' sleepover...Brooke cried for the first 45 minutes, Tyler woke up screaming twice, and Drew fell off the bed 3 times landing on Aunt Becky's head. After about 2 hours of good sleep, Erin woke me at 5:30 ready to eat...

So by 9 am this morning, we had gone strawberry picking, taken a visit to the local renown taxidermist, and decided we needed early morning naps to make it through the day.

This evening we had a birthday party for all the summer birthdays...we have 6. It was a great way to end our awesome PA trip! That and a PA haircut.

And to answer a few questions about the farm...yes, my sister and her husband own the dairy farm (it's a family business he took over from his father). It's the largest in PA and in the top 5% producing/size in the country! A pretty awesome feat and so amazing to see.

Life on a dairy farm!

All American Farmhouse!

This is how you keep the manuer from getting in your carpet!

How you wash clothes on a farm with 6 kids!

The cousins care for these for chores

Resting cows

Baby calves

This is how they get the milk you drink!!

Last year Drew fell into a walkway just like this...he was covered front and back in mud and manure. It was so gross! Maybe that's why he was the only one not holding his nose!

Just got done milking

We went over to the Kulp farm this morning. Since it was rainy, we hopped in their church sized van and toured the property. The boys enjoyed touching the cows and seeing the huge tractors driving around...what a smell, but what an eye opening experience. It's the reason I don't mind paying high dollar prices for milk, when I see how hard these people work!

Can't get enough...of PA

Horseshoe Curve

Train literally curves around the mountain bend right next to you.
We waited 40 minutes at the top and as we climbed down the mountain we saw the train coming...Tyler was bummed, but it was still the 'coolest thing.'

Mimi & Papa with the Houston clan

Waiting for the train...

Even though the other edge is on a cliff...this edge is just 3 or 4 feet down...Drew yelling 'echo!!'

This is how you play with cousins!

Sarah found a new talent of Drew's...literally walking on his toes!

Curls them under, as opposed to Brooke's foot beside him

Since I can't crop anything on this computer, look closely...an Amish horse and buggy.

Today was another fun filled day...I asked Tyler this evening as he was going to bed what his favorite thing was about today...he thought and said...'me.' They spent most the afternoon chasing and jumping with the cousins. They are planning a water/roller coaster day tomorrow and a day of 4 wheeling and a slumber party at the farm. It's like one big unending playgroup up here.

Fun in PA!

Old enough to push their own baggage through security!

Loved watching the planes!

Everywhere he goes Drew finds the gloves! He was so excited to find bags of them up here!

Meanwhile, Tyler is showing off his skills

Bouncing his trucks!

This is how you feed them in PA!

And how you sleep 10 grandkids...the eldest missing...

They were so excited!

Races!

How they love it here. Drew woke up the first morning, stretched his arms, and said 'I love Pennsylvania!' He had not even opened his eyes. For weeks they have been super excited to see the cousins and reunite with Mimi and Papa. It's definitely lived up to the expectations. They have played hard and slept hard. These shots are SOTC, but still give you a glimpse of life in the slow lane!

Little J

He's one of my dear friend's little ones, and he is just as precious as she is! Little J was all smiles, showing off his bouncing personality and big blue eyes! Enjoy...

Now that's a VACATION!

The pad (a big thanks to B!!)

The view (only pic I had with the view without someone else in it...I won't torture them!)

The crew...on a dinner cruise

What an awesome vacation! 7 of us hopped a plane and spent 3 nights in Cabo laying by the pool, talking it up, surfing pool mats, running on the beach, sleeping in, laying out, eating, a bloody finger that probably could have used a stitch, and taking little to no pictures! The above are 4 out of 9 pictures I took with my point and shoot camera! It really was a vacation!

Sad to miss the other 2 (Sarah one of them) on this trip. But a shout out to the most amazing hostess who knew how to let you relax or how to bring the fun! Thanks for the memories, there are many.

Sarah and I are off to PA for a week...traveling on the plane with all 5 little ones by ourselves!