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.

Still a favorite toy

What is it about the mixer bowl? It makes the perfect helmet. We play "robots" often!

My sweet guy

Just a lazy morning, still in jammies, relaxing and playing with Jovi. My happy Trav!

Day Camp!

Last week Riverside brought day camp to Immanuel for four days and we enrolled Cassidy in the preschool class. She's never really been away from me like that before, not even for Sunday School yet, so we wondered how she'd do. The first day she cried a lot when she realized I had left, but each day after that she did better and better and by the last day was a seasoned day camp pro! She had so much fun everyday learning fun new songs, doing crafts and learning Bible verses, playing outside with friends. She and Kurt walked to church every morning and it was just so cute to see them hand in hand down the sidewalk. Then they'd come home at lunch and she'd excitedly tell me about her morning and show me what she had crafted that day. The best part was hearing the songs she learned. Her two favorites are I Will Make You Fishers of Men and Stomp on the Devil! She sings herself to sleep with both of these songs each night. It was such a great time for her, we'll be looking forward to day camp next June all year! 

Jovi

Meet our new kitty! Her name is Jovi and she's 14 weeks old. We adopted her from the Animal Rescue League this week. She is doing so well in her new home with us! The kids are crazy about her (and honestly, so are we)! She couldn't be sweeter or more purrrrrr-y. :) Here she is!

Memorial Day

It was great to be in Port Huron for Memorial Day with our Faust family. The kids had so much fun with their cousins Kayla and Khloe. Memorial Day was a beautiful, sunny day which the kids spent most of in their bathing suits, on the slip-n-slide and in the baby pool. In the afternoon they all enjoyed the swingset, climbing and going down the slide again and again. Thanks to Grandpa for sharing these pictures of the kids!

  

 A Faust Family "Christmas" picture, taken in May. Better late than never!

  

 Another highlight: a purple ice cream cone with Kayla!