Young Life Big Ride

Last minute Ron was asked to help fill a slot in the Young Life Big Ride trip. This was perfect timing-a bit busy but how can you resist the opportunity to get out to the east coast.  The group was headed to Ogunquit, ME.  The group landed in Boston and had plenty time to sight see.  Ron has a lot of fun getting out and enjoying the coast line.  The guys did ride and Ron managed around 65 before needed a little ride back to the hotel.  Good thing we have been down a vehicle and he had been doing just a little biking to and from work.  The weather was beautiful-a perfect break from the busyness of life and work which is now switching over to Jericho, his new employer!  Yes!!  almost 1.5 years of ups and downs Jericho hired both Ron and Shane.  The Lord definitely has his own plans and timing for our family and seems to enjoy stretching us to our limit and throwing just about anything at us-in so many areas of life.  But life goes on and we are thankful, and have learned that really we just have no control and to give everyday and its problems over to him.

Okay...a memory from years ago!!  Yes, Ron and I met out along this same coast.

Brayden had his first youth retreat that same weekend.  He headed out to New Life Ranch with friends and a bunch of other 7th and 8th graders for a weekend of fun and worship.  I think he focused mostly on the fun, praying some of the worship soaked in as well.  His life lesson was dealing with life after fun and needing to play baseball which he committed to after coming back from multiple post midnight nights.  He managed to push his way through...would you know God decided to send a random huge downpour in the middle of the second game just to make things more unpleasant.  He finished and we promptly all overslept that next Monday morning!!

The girls have been waiting to make bath bombs since this summer so with Brayden gone we decided that was the weekend.  Our first batch flopped...or rather exploded but we made progress and ended up with some that Becca loves.  This picture is when Brayden returned-I have to say the house was a bit quieter with him gone.  This picture shows what he brings to our family.  I love it but it was nice having a break from a teenager-classic Middle School mentality...and if you don't know what I mean BE THANKFUL because some days its exhausting!

James did a day with Apples-tally's, a lot of comparing and predicting.  We had a lot of fun and ended with some apple bobbing.  This was silly as a bunch of the kids didn't have their front teeth.  Also kind of fun as all these kids know me as the nurse so they love to tell me all their hurts and pains,  I need an endless bit of compassion some days.

Last friday, before the church youth retreat School had their annual tribes day for Middle School.  The kids are all grouped into tribes which meet once a week and then once a year they all go to a local camp and play games and just have fun.  I couldn't find any pictures of Brayden but did find Becca in this one...not sure what they are playing.

Last but not least we have been down a vehicle for two weeks.  Having it cost us a bundle to fix, figuring out who to get to fix it and trying to figure out how to get through our days with one vehicle was once again a pain.  Thankfully a friend loaned us this truck and with Ron's bike and the help of friends no kid was left at practice or school.  On a side note we did realize this would be a great vehicle for Brayden.  Small, a stick and only two seats....meaning no friends and no free hands to talk on a phone.  Ron used it this day to finally tear down the old play-set.

Labor Day

A Trip to Silver Dollar City.  As Becca describes it-an old fashioned Disney World, but with lots of old people. I have to say it stretched me a bit...I am not a roller coaster person and Brayden was all about everyone doing anything possible. Becca was all about walking into every craft shop. And everone was about the icy's and frozen lemonades. I had many headaches and weak legs much of the day.  James was crazy and did all the roller coasters except one which he ended up in tears over not being 52 inches.  Andrea braved two roller coasters but after the last one neither her or I were up for much more.  We did a lot of water rides-yes I hate getting wet but these were Andrea's favorite. We ended out trip with a round of Mini-Golf.  Fun but somehow the golf courses are quite as fun as I remember as a kid-good thing my kids know notice a difference.  Next time the kids are requested go carts-some of the race tracks looks really fun!

We did spent a little time at the water park as well.  Long lines and I think we were all a bit worn out from Silver Dollar city left us leaving a bit early but it gave us time to get in a round of mini-golf.  I do have to say the new water rides that you get in tube and the floor falls out dropping you into the steep ride are just terrifying!

 At one point all six of us did the log ride...all in one log!

They never tire of this...a bag of dirt with rock/mineral to look for.  I think they would buy endless bags if we let them.

This was Powder Keg-The only one Becca and I missed.  We waited forever only to have them shut it down as we were about to get on.  I took that as a sign this one was not for us.  This is the boys waving before they are blasted out over the hill as some crazy speeds.

This was our favorite...or Becca and I's favorite-wild fire.

Only some of us could handle the spinner rides