Memories of Michigan

We are so thankful to Dawn for sharing the pictures she took while we were visiting their family last month. We spent just a couple days in Lake Leelanau with them, but we packed in lots and lots of fun, good food, laughter, and memory-making! Dawn captured some truly special moments with her camera. We are separated by many miles right now, but Jake and Ruby, Dawn and Josh are still part of our everyday lives as we talk about them, pray for them, and remember them with pictures and memories. We can't wait to see them again!

Homemade play-doh!

Travis started shaking hands with everyone in the room, saying "nice to meet you!" over and over and over again! It was so funny, it had us all in stitches!

  

Two buddies, walking the trail together. It's funny to think that Ruby and Cassidy are about the same age difference as Dawn and I are. 

Four Musketeers

  

One of my all-time favorite pictures of Cassidy. Pure joy on that face!

Travis, explaining the ins and outs of wheels, to Josh.

Shaking hands again, this time with Josh.

   

Napping Trav. I went in to check on him and found that he had somehow gotten hold of a box of kleenex and, of course, removed every single one!

We stuffed 'em all back in. We owe you a new box of kleenex, Dawn!

The big kids and the little kids. This picture makes me happy and sad at the same time. Those big kids are still little kids to me, but next to my babies, I realize how "big" they really are! 

This past week Kurt's folks, Far Far and Far Mor to the kids, visited! We had lots of fun in one week! Here are some of our highlights:

Jim and Nona brought along the kid-sized rocking chair that Kurt's Grandpa Heetland made for him when Kurt was a  little boy. What a special thing for us to have in our new home! See the engraving: "God loves Kurt." Travis and Cassidy love their new chair!

Cassidy and Far Mor spent so much time together playing games, reading books, rocking and singing,  doing  "ice-ises" (exercises), and much more. They have a special bond that is such a delight to see.

We were glad to celebrate Far Far's birthday with him on July 2nd. Our special treat to him on his birthday was a train ride on the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad. The trip was about 16 miles round trip and lasted approximately two hours. It was a very hot day but we stayed comfortable in the train with the windows open. The kids loved the ride and so did we! Such a neat thing to have in our "backyard."

Here, the train is about to go over the high bridge over the scenic valley.

  

Cassidy loved her paper fan!

The train on the bridge going over the Des Moines River. 

See her yellow ticket? She had that in her little hand almost the whole ride. She was so proud of it! And I think she's watched The Polar Express enough to know that you have to hold on to your train ticket!

  

  

  

   

In the middle of the week, we all drove together up to Worthington, Minnesota to visit Kurt's grandparents. It was the first time our kids spent with their great-grandparents! Cassidy walked right up to her great-grandpa and said, "Hi! My name is Cassidy Jensen!" and gave him lots of hugs. 

Enjoying ice cream in the dining hall.

The fish tank in the lobby of great-grandparents' apartment home was a highlight!

Travis just loved playing with great-grandpa's airplane.

Cassidy loved her special 4th of July outfit and was especially proud of her flag hair bow.

   

  

The kids played for a looooooooong time with the vertical blinds in the apartment. They entertained us with their smiles and peek-a-boo game.

  

Travis, our future politician, shaking hands with great-grandpa.