As promised... Cirque Du Hafen

This was our family's contribution to the Hafen Retreat movie night. Enjoy. I certainly did.

And, did I mention how much I love my husband! This video is just proof of why.

Summer Catch-up Part 2: Cousins, Fish, and Horses

Here's my attempt to catch up on all the different activities from the last month or two:

One of the great things about belonging to a big family is that it's almost a guarantee to have cousins (or 2nd cousins) the same age. We, the parents, always try to get them in a picture together.

Kimball, Logan, and Jensyn were all born w/in a month of each other.
Some of my favorite 3 year olds!

And Tod, and his cousin McCade are 10 days apart. So fun to see these kids grow up together.


Anyone that knows me, knows that I'm a bit of a home body, and get a little hesitant about taking all of my kids out of the house by myself, but I have some awesome sister-in-laws who invited me and the kiddos to the aquarium, offered to help me if I came. So, I took them up on their offer and we had a great time. Thanks to good older cousins who are willing to help me keep an eye on Kimball.

Looking at the camera isn't half as fun as looking at the crabs and stingrays in the touch pool.

"Please don't fall in, please don't fall in, please don't fall in" (what I'm thinking as I am grabbing my kids).

Kimball was a little obsessed this this alligator, she thought it was pretty cool, and wasn't afraid at all. Natalie may have a different feeling, because the alligator jump at the glass as she was looking at him.

Jack having a great time trying to touch the fish.


Really, this picture was taken to prove that Tod was there too. We was more entertained by his toy, and was just happy to be out of the house.

And, another proof picture that 4 moms and 15 kids (Jack, Tod and Liz and Erica were stuck in strollers) can make it to the aquarium, and more to the point, make it home without forgetting anyone. Woo hoo!

So, when I'm not brave enough to get out of the house, here are some of the random moments caught on camera.

Okay, before someone calls CPS on me, I caught the kids in the dryer, got the camera, snapped a shot, and then they got huge warnings not to do it again. Sending the wrong message? Probably, but the kids can discuss that in their therapy sessions in 15 years.

Tod has discovered the joy of his bouncer. His mom has discovered the joy of having him in the bouncer.

And, this is our recent endorsement deal for DQ. Who wouldn't pay to have these cute kids endorsing their product? Maybe I'll send an email.

For Labor day, we headed north to my parents house for Swiss Days. Well, the kids and I actually ditched Jason for a couple of days, and made the trip up without him the week before. My parents kept the kids and I very entertained and arranged for us to go horseback riding.
I have to admit that I didn't feel as comfortable up on the horse I as was hoping. All of a sudden I seemed very high up, and concerned about the phrase "the bigger they are, the harder they fall."
Jack hopped on the horse with me, and we went for a ride around the corral. Jack didn't understand what was supposed to be so cool about this.


Kimball had no fear of the horse. She climbed right on, but she did start to cry because of the flies. The nice guy that was leading her around said it was pretty funny, because most kids are afraid to be on the big horse, but not Kimball, she was afraid of the flies. My little city girl.

And this is the one picture we took while we were at Swiss Days. The whole family enjoyed some delicious cotton candy.

Getting Caught-up Part 1: The Hafen Retreat

In August, all of Jason's family (minus Brandon and Cara who live in Idaho) got together for our reunion. Someone (I can't remember who) said we can't call it a reunion, because we all see each other way too often for that title, so now it's been rebranded as the Hafen Retreat. It was a great weekend getting hang out with everyone.

The adults planned little activity camps for the kids on the first morning there. Danette and I tag-teamed the "Little Squirts" camp with toddler. They got to finger paint and then splash around in a little pool.

Here's Kimball enjoying her paints.

Jack also enjoyed his paints. We can't really figure out how they got on his face.


But I do know how the paints got on his back. I couldn't help but play in the paints, and I figured what better canvas, than Jacks back.


The painting only lasted so long, so Kimball and Jack ditched their artwork for the buckets filled with water, squirt bottles and sponges.


The next day we had lunch at an awesome park that had a little pool/pond for the kids (and some of the adults too) to play around in.

Kimball and Jack decided that collecting all the sponges was more fun then the cold water.


Tod, Jason, and his mom, Susan getting out of the sun.

Before the retreat Carmen (the organizer for this year) told each family to prepare a video to be shown on movie night. I'll try to post the new video once we get more memory installed on our computer... but here are some pictures of the prep time. Our video was Cirque Du Hafen.
This is Kimball getting in character.

And Jack, ready to show off all of his tricks.

I don't have just a picture of Jason in "character" but it was classic. He was in spandex pants and a sweater vest. He's such a great sport, and always very willing to go the extra mile (or should I say extra sock) for a laugh.

We had a great time with the good food, a great family testimony meeting, getting to watch Kimball and Jack play with their cousins, and late night laughs with the adults. Thanks everyone!!