Pine Cove and Mimi Camp for the kids

While the big kids were at Pine Cove overnight camp, Matthew was met at our house by Donna. Then Donna took Matthew to Mimi's house for "Mimi Camp" for the week. Pine Cove is only a week long and it is located in Columbus, Texas between Austin and Houston. It is not the prettiest camp but the kids sure have fun. I am so glad the cabins have A/C because it is sweltering when they are there. 

I sure love this lady - Donna is the BEST. I don't know what I would do without her!

Dropping the big girls off at Outback Pine Cove - I'm so glad they have each other

Their counselor for the week - Pinky

So glad Alivia had Caroline there with her for the week

This was John's first time at Silverado Pine Cove. Will was there to show him the ropes - I am not sure who was more relieved to have who there with him. :-)

One of the few letter we got from John - they do these cool electronic letters so you get them quickly

Will's letters are always hard to read - he gets so homesick. He does NOT like camp

Alivia loves camp! 

Character boomerang for Alivia - Joyful, Kind, Intentional

For Will - Enduring, Respectful, Trustworthy

For John - Adventurous, Amiable, Tactful

So glad these cute kids are back home!

Trip to Maine!

While the kids were at camp, Matt and I had a getaway to Maine. Matt had always wanted to go there so we took the opportunity to GO! Southwest flies there now so I could fly for free alongside Matt with the Companion Pass. 

The first day we landed in Portland, ME and drove to Camden - stopping at Bowdoin College and Red's Eats in Wiscasset along the way. 

The next day we got up early and drove to Acadia National Park. I almost did not include this on our trip because I was worried about the crowds but I am so glad we went! Next time we go I want to spend more time there and rent some bikes and bike along the old carriage trails.

Day #3 was spent driving to Kennebunkport and stopping at a beautiful lighthouse along the way. And one more pass through Red's Eats for a lobster roll!

Day #4 explored Kennebunkport. We were supposed to take a schooner trip but the wind was too high so they cancelled it. We had a lovely dinner at Ocean Restaurant and were able to bike along the coast seeing the beautiful homes in Kennebunkport including the Bush Compound. 

Day #5 explored Kennebunkport in the morning and then headed to the airport where we found our flight was cancelled and paid $800 to get on another airline! 

I guess that is my one complaint about Maine - it is so hard to get to. It took us most of the day to get there and back. I think the mountains of Colorado are just as beautiful and easier (for Texans) to get to. I would like to take the kids some day, but I have other priorities so it may be awhile!

We stopped at Bowdoin College on the way to Camden, Maine - it seems like a very musically-oriented school

Our first several nights were in Camden at the Inn at Sunrise Point - such a beautiful place - but it was so foggy we couldn't see any view! That was a bummer because supposed the ocean is beautiful there.

We stopped at Red's Eats TWICE in Wiscasset for the MOST AMAZING lobster rolls. 

Hiking along the Dorr Mountain Trail

It was still really foggy in portions of the hike

Matt "re proposed" to me and gave me a beautiful ring along our hike. I was so surprised!

Popovers and jam at the Jordon Pond House Restaurant - they were so yummy! I am so glad we did this. The guidebook made it sound like it was a tourist trap but I thought it was lovely. A must do!

Young's Lobster Pound in Belfast was a disappointment - after Red's Eats it is hard to eat lobster or seafood anywhere else!

Lighthouse at Pemaquid Point - it was a really cool lighthouse that we got to go inside. But the FOG really ruined the view. Bummer! And the warnings about getting swept away by the waves were crazy.

We stayed at the Captain Fairfield Inn in Kennebunkport and to be honest it wasn't that great but we rented bikes and had a blast riding along the seawall and seeing the beautiful houses

Dinner at Ocean Restaurant was a treat

Beautiful location and beautiful food!

Second stop at Red's Eats did not disappoint! I would have stopped a third time if we could have!

I'm still dreaming about those lobster rolls

4th of July

Fourth of July in our neighborhood is always really fun because it marks the end of swim team and we have a fun parade! 

Champs was rainy! But the kids did great! 

End of the year awards for swim team

Alivia made the most amazing cake!

Look at those layers!

Go John!

Love this picture of the kids - I got this put on a magnet

I love seeing these girls swim together

We rode our golf cart in the parade - it was really fun

Mission Trip to HAITI

Matt and I have been praying about going on a mission trip with the kids for awhile. We learned about a new opportunity through our church to go to Haiti so we jumped at the chance and decided to lead the team. It was supposed to be a "family mission trip" but we turned out to be the only ones with kids. I was a little worried about that at first but it turned out to be just fine. If I could have changed one thing it would be to stay together as a family unit. It was hard being separated into girls and boys. We tried to process well every night but I know it would have been better to stay in one place together.

Ready for church service in Haiti

Typical meal in Haiti - the red stuff is "goat sauce" - it was actually quite tasty! The kids really just rolled with it and were really good. They knew this was all that was gonna be offered. Plus, we brought snacks. :-)

Eating with the team was always a highlight - this is at the main campus and they had ice cream!

Construction site - everything done with manual labor

John worked SO HARD. He didn't like all the touching and talking with the Haitians but man he served them faithfully

You would never see this in America!

Typical home construction - cinder blocks

Jonathan was fun to have on the team - the team painted one day while I worked in a medical clinic

The kids would flock to us when we arrived - especially around my children

Eating breakfast at the Bercy campus

Matt got to spend some time on a Haitian construction site and to see the new MOH campus up in the mountains which I know was fascinating for him. Getting to meet the COO was also an incredible experience and driving through the Haiti ghetto in his Land Cruiser was unforgettable for him.

This trip impacted the kids profoundly. It made them more thankful for what they have here in the US. I am glad we got to expose them to another culture while they are still young. We want to go again - maybe in 2 years? I wish I spoke Creole. . .or maybe we would go to a Spanish-speaking nation next?

The team! We were the only ones with small kids but the team embraced them! Here we are in the airport on our way there. This is right about the time we were trying to figure out how to get Donna's suitcase delivered to her in Haiti because she had forgotten it!

The Haitians LOVED Bootsie (aka Kara) - they called her a "Princess"

I was able to work in a clinic in one of the villages - very interesting experience

Kelsey was a hoot - she was 18 and was very outgoing. Here she is with one of our guides

We delivered a bunch of toothbrushes to Mission of Hope

At the village clinic

Flying out of Haiti

The coastline of Haiti

Ready to go work at the village clinic

the TEAM! Justin Bean (the leader on the right was a football player at A&M)

We went to a beach resort the last day and took a rickety boat to go snorkeling

Donna was an amazing addition to the team - she helped make our kids comfortable

Kara with village kids

The beautiful single girls on the trip - Meghan, Bianca, Jordyn and Shandi

Justin with some village kids

Sleeping quarters! We shared the room with a group from South Carolina. We were separated by sex so I didn't get to sleep with Matt and the boys which was a bummer. We are hoping that will be different on future trips. . . .

There was a crazy rain storm one afternoon and John ran around in it - so funny

We would ride in school buses to get around to different places

In a nearby village

working in the medical clinic

Strategic village time where you walk around and share the gospel and meet with villagers - they are always very warm and welcoming and loved seeing my children

medical clinic work

at the beach resort the last day

Haitian faces

Walking around a village

clinic work

Matthew loved the interaction with the kids there. He was really outgoing and fun to have on the trip

That's a tarantula on my hat!

sleeping quarters - not sure how I got the top bunk!

Riding in the buses to various places in MOH

My friend Erin Fonner works for MOH and was there with her kids seeing the mission in action

Matthew loved our bus driver

driving in Haiti is a crazy experience - the "tap taps" are crowded beyond belief and people simply hop on and off 

Strategic village time - we lead this woman to Christ (we think!) through a translator