Fun With Our New Friends!

 Last weekend at the home school picnic,

one of the awesome families invited us to a dance they were hosting at their house.

Even though it was about a two hour drive for us,

we thought it would be a great opportunity to spend some more time with our new friends,

and get to meet even more new friends!  : -)

We left the house at 10:30am,

and returned home at 11:00pm!

But it was well worth the long day!!  

We had SO MUCH FUN!!!

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

This is a picture we snapped of the nervous novice dancers

just before leaving home.

 

 When we first arrived and while things were getting ready for the dance,

we tried our hand at another fairly-new-to-us activity . . . volleyball! 

 

Well, most of us that is! : -)

 

 A little while later,

it was time to do a little practicing before the official start of the dance.

This just had such a wonderful, old-fashioned feel,

with the young gentleman playing the fiddle in the middle! : -)

We loved it!

(The following dance pictures really don't do justice to the amazing ambiance of the evening. 

So, after looking at the pictures here, hop over to Kyle's blog for a little video,

so you can get the full effect with sound and all!)

A few of the dances have you changing partners throughout the dance,

which is pretty cool!

 

 

I know the following picture looks a little disorganized,

almost as if they don't know what they are doing

but I'm sure this is just a part of this particular dance! : -)

 

Then, it was time to practice the Virginia Reel.

Unfortunately, as Caroline was finishing up the "peel the banana"

part of the dance,

she twisted her ankle real good,

which caused quite a bad sprain.

Poor dear, had to sit out with her foot propped up for the rest of the evening.

The following picture was snapped just a split second before she went down. : -(

Everyone was so kind and caring.

Someone grabbed a chair,

someone went and got some frozen peas,

and another mom had some special pain relieving cream and some ibuprofen to give her.

Here, Daddy and Kyle carried her off the "dance floor" . . .   

to a place where she had a front row seat to enjoy watching the rest of the dancing!  : -)

Timmy and  Joe had a lot of fun playing in the nearby creek with the other young boys!

 

And Benjamin enjoyed doing this most of the evening . . .

 

Here, Mommy is doing the Virginia Reel with Joe!

 

 Can't remember what this one is called.

Valerie thinks it was a waltz of sorts. : -)

 This is the Posties Jig!

 This one is called "Marie's Wedding."

 And this one is the "Irish Washerwoman."

Kyle and Valerie started around the mid-line.

There are many other pictures,

but this is probably enough for now! : -)
And to get the REAL feel of what it was like,
(the pictures REALLY don't do the dances justice!)
please check out Kyle's blog for a VIDEO of the Posties Jig!!! 

Sure was a FUN time!!! 

 



Fun with Sisters!

On Thursday night we had a wonderful time with Aunt Kelley!

She treated us to a delicious stew dinner and brownies a la mode for dessert! Yum! 

Thanks Aunt Kelley!

 

 

The twins! :-)

 The guys discussing important matters . . .

 And Benjamin was glad he had a place to go to show off his new hat

Valerie purchased for him earlier that day.

Then, on Friday,

us girls had a "girls day out" to the fair to watch Caroline and Victoria show their goats!

We had so much fun! 

 

All the following goat show pictures are from day two of the show.

When we got there,

Paintball had already been shown and won her age class and then won Jr. Reserve Champion.

Next up was Dazzle . . .

 

Dazzle won 2nd place in her class of 11!!!

Then it was Liberty and Dandi's turn.

Liberty, the red one Caroline is showing won 4th place,

and Dandi won 3rd place out of a class of 11!

 

 

 

 

 

First day of show results:

Paint Ball: 1st Place

Dazzle: 3rd Place

Liberty: 8th Place

Dandi: 2nd Place

Our Week So Far

Daddy can't help but call her the
"Sugar Plump Fairy"
in this dress! : -)

Our week got off to a good start early Monday morning with our first trek north to the children's hospital to start monitoring Brielle's condition.

I woke her up at 3:30am to feed her, as she was not to have anything to eat or drink for four hours before the test.  Then, Valerie, Brielle and I left at 5:30 to get her to Tacoma by 7:45. 

Everything went very smoothly!  Thank you to all who were praying!   Her next appointment will be at the Seattle Children's Hospital on October 30th.

Yesterday, we had our monthly visit from her social worker, and talked at length with her about her case.   Much prayer is needed to help expedite her adoption process!! 

Valerie loves Steven Curtis Chapman,
both for his amazing God-given talent/gift of music,
and also for his huge orphan-loving heart and ministry!

This morning, Valerie is at an orthodontist appointment, hoping to hear that her braces will be coming off SOON!  She has been wearing them for 5 years now, and she has decided that that should be long enough!!!!  Tuesday was Valerie's last rental house cleaning for now.  She has mixed emotions about that, as it has been an awesome summer job, but also takes her away from her already busy life here with her Pure Joy Labrador business and everything else she has going on!  Valerie was especially excited to get the tickets ordered for her special birthday celebration coming up . . .  a Steven Curtis Chapman concert on October 5th!  She also got his new CD "The Glorious Unfolding" ordered, and it will be delivered here on the day of its release . . .Sept. 30th!  Woo hoo!    We've been listening to the single "Love Take Me Over" from this CD a lot lately!!! : -) It is energizing and inspiring! : -)

 

On Wednesday morning,
Victoria and Caroline left at 3:30am with their goats for
showing them at the State Fair!
Can't wait to go and watch them on Friday! 

The rest of the day yesterday, we hunkered down in the house as the temperature soared into the mid-90's.  And we were super blessed to have Lydia come by for a visit, as it was too hot for her to do her normal farm chores! So that made our day much more enjoyable!

Our day ended with getting out into the coolness of the evening with a rip-roaring game of duck-duck-goose on the front lawn and some ice-cream : -)

The Blessing of New Friends!

Saturday afternoon, we attended our first, Christian Heritage "Homeschool Kick-off Picnic!"

This is an annual event, held in 6 different locations throughout Washington State.

We were so glad we were able to make it this year,

as we had such a great time meeting so many new friends.

What a fun and blessed time! 

Before the potluck,

the kids enjoyed playing many different games.

 

I took the most pictures of the frisbee football game.

There were 2 very large teams,  

and I was so fascinated with how they could keep track of who was on whose team!

 

I think everyone had a great time!

Then, just before the potluck,

we had a very encouraging and inspiring talk given by one of the founders of Christian Heritage.

It was so wonderful to spend time with such dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

We are soooo grateful for the coordinators of this event,

and to the Lord, for such sweet fellowship with special friends!