On Monday, Samantha and I loaded up the kids and ventured out to the MOA. Being a holiday, we thought it might be really crowded but it wasn't and the kids all had a great time. 
Samantha even managed a little shopping and we got a Starbucks ( a big treat for me since there isn't one near our home town.)
The kids all listened so well and behaved so patient and kind. We were proud of them all and it made it fun for everyone. We were so glad we decided to go.
We stayed for a long time and Samantha and I had lots of time to just sit and talk.... of course that was in between pushing swings and keeping little ones out of the river but we enjoyed the sun and the laughter and spurring one another on towards love and good deeds.
Of course we went to Cabela's... the kids enjoyed the animal display and the shooting gallery.
Samantha used to live down stairs from us when David and I were first married... We have been friends for 10 years but hardly see each other so this has been a real treat for us.
Imagine my surprise when my husband announces that he needs to go get some Plaster of Paris and some clay to do a project with the kids. Yes!!! Daddies can do craft projects. They got all their supplies and proceeded to make Dinosaur Fossils. Here is a picture of the finished product.
As you can see, they have a great time together. Daddy gets really into it and the kids love the time with him. They get out their Bibles and read together..... The other day I over heard the kids talking to each other. They were talking about when they grow up. They decided that they were going to be "really into God, Just like Daddy." 
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We love you Moms!!!
Below is a picture of David by the African Safari display. That mountain in the background is Mt. Kilimanjaro.
We had a great time in the shooting gallery. They have quite a fun set up there. We got lunch in their cafeteria and then headed home. It was a great day.
We enjoyed an evening walk in the woods together and the kids are having such a great time with them. Nathan (uncle spiderman, as my kids like to call him) and Fawna are great with them and they are really connecting.
....and isn't she BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
The kids had a great time making it. They have been wanting to go outside and play house every day now. They pretend that they are lost and have to live in the woods until they are found. Or they pretend to be animals in their den. It has been a great prop for all kinds of imaginations
We love to go out in the evening after dinner as it doesn't get dark
We got sticks and poked them into the ground and collected pine cones and leaves to but on the branches. It was fun and they turned out rather pretty. I think Jonah enjoyed it the most.
Josiah and Siri ran up and down the hill and played chase.
I know that this isn't a great picture but you should be able to
I got to spend time with all my brothers and sisters-in-law. We stayed up till 2am playing Taboo. (The girls won!!!) The next day we all worked together cleaning and cooking and setting up for the party. It was a lot of fun.
My Uncle Jose flew in and I had a great time visiting with him and my Dad. There was a live band with dancing and great music. My brother Matthew and his wife Eva played and sang and Fernando was on the Drums along with Uncle Jose on the Congas. 
I am so excited for my brother Nathan and his wife. They are setting out on a road trip for their honeymoon and will be stopping here in Minnesota in a few weeks. We can't wait to spend more time with them.
I bandaged it all up and he took a 3 hour nap. It looked very painful!! A big gash under his nail and his whole nail bed is black and blue. 
Then he stayed up till 1 am last night crying! He was up at 8 this morning and seems to be back to himself other than a slight limp and a big ball of gauze on his foot. Mommy is not quite back to normal yet.... oh the trauma of a sleepless night.
Even the dogs got to come....
We neared home just as the first fat raindrops of a thunder storm began to fall.
Then, just as they started to pull the top open....
They were so surprised and so excited. Mark flew in for the weekend to spend time with his family and us. We are so glad to have the whole family here.
Later, this evening when Bethany saw Marks luggage in the guest room, she said to Becky, "Mommy, did daddy have his suitcases in the box too."? I think she really though he came all the way to Minnesota in that Box
But for the occasion, it did warm up to about 50 degrees and a beautiful mist rolled in.
It was as if we went to sleep in Minnesota 
They rode lots of rides and got a few fun treats....
The were brave and daring and got to experience the thrill of being just a little bit 
...lots of kiddie rides too.
The Mommies and Daddy are quite exhausted though and hoping for an early bed time.
It was a fun new adventure for everyone.
The fun was cut short by the cold breeze across the frozen lake. The kids trickled in to the house with cold feet and frozen noses, But it was a fun adventure none the less.
Thanks, Tanner for a great afternoon.
