Is it ever going to go away????

After a week and a half of sick kiddos and a sick husband I can honestly say my greatest desire is for one vomit free day! So far, today we have made it, but the night is still young and seems to be the worst. They are all three sleeping peacefully at the moment, but that is what we have thought for several nights now!
I have taken them to their pediatrician twice, and to the E.R. once. Tomorrow I have to take stool samples to St. Lukes just to make sure it isn't something more than a stomach bug. Now that rates up there on my list of grossest tasks. I have to admit that Douglas had to help me, as I thought I was going to throw up. Oh please let this just go away! My twins have both lost about 2 pounds each, and they can't afford to lose anymore! Hopefully everyone else had a better Labor Day Weekend than us! All of our plans were cancelled!

The First Day of School

Well, we all made it through the first day of school! I can hardly believe my babies are in Kindergarten, and my Trev is a big THIRD GRADER! I had to head to school early to prepare for my 22 Kindergartners, and Doug brought the 3 kiddos. He had to sit through Kindergarten Orientation with the twins. Before leaving this morning I reminded Trev that his lunch money, and all of his signed forms were in his backpack. Needless to say everything is still in his backpack, and lunch was payed for with left over money from last year. I guess it runs in the family because I told Doug that all of Cassi and Christopher's signed forms were in there backpacks, but he forgot and filled out a whole new set for both of them. So much for listening to MOM! My fellow staff must think I am really on the ball!
WE hit the pool for the 4th day in a row! It was a great way to end the first day of school!

Romania Mission Trip

Well, we have been back from Romania for 2 weeks now, and I finally have time to write about it! It has been a little chaotic around here since our return. Doug's family left last Sunday, I have spent many hours setting up my Kindergarten classroom, and we made a trip to McCall.

Back to the trip- Doug and I had a great time in Romania. It was really neat to see and be a part of the work that is going on in there. We were able to help out with a spiritual growth camp for teenagers ages 14-20. There were over 400 campers in attendance the week that we were there. They traveled from all over the country, some even had a 24 hour train ride!

Doug was able to help out with the music, and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen helping prepare food for all of those hungry campers. I do not think American kids would of gone for the food that was served. Liver pate for breakfast anyone? Almost every meal other than breakfast was soup and bread. I don't think I want a piece of bread for a long time!

Trip Hi lights:

Most exciting moment: Seeing many teenagers make decisions for Christ

Scariest moment: riding on slick, curvey Romanian roads at high speeds (this is where a lot of prayer came in as the camp was four hours from the airport)

Most distgusting moment: The Romanian BBQ- They brought a live pig to the camp in a horse drawn cart. The pig was then stabbed to death and cut up in about 1 hour. We walked down to the kitchen during the process and there was blood and parts everywhere. The pigs head was sitting in the sink where all of the dishes were washed. About an hour later we were told that the BBQed pork was ready. After what I saw in the kitchen I had absolutely zero appetite. Even Doug with the cast iron stomach had trouble choking it down, although he did and enjoyed it.

Most relaxing moment: Taking my first hot shower in a week! On our way back we had to spend the night in Bucharest at a very nice Crowne Plaza. The first thing I did was take a steaming hot 45 minute shower!

Most eye opening moment: Traveling through the towns and villages of Romania and seeing how the people live. Most of them live in communist appartments, or very tiny rustic houses. We are so blessed to live in America!

Most tiring moment:

TRAVELING!!! Our trip itenerary- 5 hour flight, 6 hour lay over, 8 hour flight, 6 hour lay over, 5 hour flight, 4 hour lay over, 1 hour flight, and then the scariest 4 hour drive of our lives!

Thank you so much for remembering us in your prayers while we were away. We are so thankful that God allowed us to take this trip. We learned a lot and our hearts were truly burdened for missions in a new and exciting way.

River Trip # 2 and off to Romania

I am happy to report to you that our family floated the river today injury free! I have to admit that I was a little nervous after the last time when Doug and I both came home with black eyes. Trevar said this was the most fun we have had floating the river, and I would have to agree.
Doug had a BBQ for all of the people involved in his ministry, and then several of us floated together. The river was pretty crowded, but it turned out to be a great float!
Now we are off to our next adventure! We will be taking the kiddos to Baker, OR on Wednesday to my parent's home. They will be staying with them while Doug and I head to Romania on our missions trip. We are very excited, nervous, and me sad to leave my babies. We will be gone from Aug. 2-12. We are going to be helping one of our missionaries with a camp for teenagers. Doug will be speaking and leading music. Please pray that we can be a blessing to the missionaries, and also that many decisions would be made at camp.

Tag

I've been tagged by Kimberly



4 Jobs I've Had:

Family Farm Employee

Hotel Reservationist

Insurance

Teacher



4 Places I've Lived:

Baker City, OR

Springfield, MO

Houston, TX

Galion, OH



4 TV Shows I Like:

Designed to Sell

The Real Deal

30 Minute Meals

The Apprentice



4 Favorite Foods:

Watermelon

Grapes

Popcorn

Tootsie Rolls



4 Websites I Frequent:

ebay

LPM

The Learning Page

Proverbs 31



4 Places I'd rather be right now:

Hawaii

Lake Powell

Mexico

Hell's Canyon



4 Movies I Love:

Deja Vu

The Ultimate Gift

Cars (It's one of my kiddos favorites)

Surfs Up (It's the only other movie I can remember seeing recently besides Transformers-not a favorite, but okay!)

People I Tag:

Chrisanna

Stephanie Smith

Lori


Beth

Summer Fun!!!

The past two weeks have been packed full of fun! We finally had a free afternoon to float the Boise River, and had an absolute blast! I can say that now that my black eye is almost gone! The first half of the river was great, and then came the fun part! We went over one of those little dips in the river and I went flying from the front of the boat to the back and landed on Doug and the twins. Somehow our noggins collided and we both ended up with black eyes. My eye instantly turned black, blue, and swollen. Doug's was just a nice bruise. I spent the rest of the trip rowing and holding a frozen Capri Sun on my eye-Good times! Even with our injuries we had a wonderful time and are looking forward to floating again at the end of the month.





The good part about Doug and I having matching black eyes was that we were headed to Colorado to a ministry conference. I wonder why everyone thought we should go to the marriage session?! We traveled to the conference with the Harrington family in one of the church vans. The trickiest part of the trip was buckling six kids into boosters every time we reloaded. It was seriously a five to ten minute process each time! The kiddos did AWESOME on the trip, however it did help that we had two DVD players, Leapsters, coloring utensils, many snacks, and numerous other toys. We had a wonderful time seeing the sights in Colorado, hanging out with our friends, and being spiritually recharged. The not so fun part of the trip was cleaning out the van when we got back to Boise!

TWINS DITCH TRAINING WHEELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am happy to report that we went on our first family bike ride with out training wheels last night! The boy twin has been riding with out them since his first attempt about two weeks ago. He is now riding like a pro. The girl twin is another story! We have been practicing sending her back and forth between Doug and I on the street in front of our house. Our neighbors must think we are absolutely crazy!
Up until yesterday she was not very determined. I wonder if that was because earlier in the day we took a ride on the Green belt (the boys rode their bikes) and Cassi rode in the "baby trailer!?" I told Doug it was more like the princess in her carriage! She was sure ready to try again when we got home, and after a few laps between Doug and I on the street she was ready for a "real bike ride." Now we just have to get the starting and stopping down as she still needs help each time!
She must have had fun because the first thing she asked to do this morning was take a bike ride! Pictures will be posted soon, or as soon as the photographer has time to post them! In the mean time, "Happy Bike Trails To You and Yours!"