GOD"S country!!

We hiked at SUndance up to the waterfalls.  It could not be more beautiful!  Tess was so excited because this was her first time seeing a waterfall and this one was amazing.  Nothing like a day in nature to really appreciate God's great work!!

footall buzzcut...

We had to say goodbye to Cameron's gorgeous head of hair for his football buzzcut.  We had a goodbye hair ceremony and then...
this is the first time ever that Cameron has cut his hair short since he was born!!
BEFORE............
AFTER..................
What a cutie pie!!!!

mother-daughter day!!

Everyone went in different directions today so Tess and I had the day together.  We started with going to the harbor and renting a kayak.  How great that we live in such a beautiful place!!  We had so much fun kayaking and then going out to lunch!  It was her first time but she caught on quickly...of course!

Our dear friends...Aunt Harriet and Uncle Bernie

It was Uncle Bernie's birthday...Tess and Cams helped blow out the candles.

Tess and her new best friend ...Aunt Harriet.  They love to chat on the phone!  My mom and I were laughing because they are perfect for each other...on our hikes, Tess and Aunt Harriet talked the whole way up the mountain...we told them if they talked a little less, maybe they could walk a little faster!!
Bennett still remembers making jello molds with Aunt Harriet!!

The handsome boys...

Beach fun- summer 2009

summer camps...

Last week Tess went to VBS (vacation bible school) and just loved it.  It was her first camp experience and she had a great time.
This week she is in camp at the Ocean Institute at the harbor.  Today the kids went out on an the SEA EXPLORER.  She told me not to tell anyone that it's only her 2nd time on a boat (the first being her grandma Ann's memorial at sea).  She seemed a bit nervous but I know she'll have a great time!!  


At Ocean Adventure camp waiting for the boat...

loving ranch life!!!

The boys fishing in the back yard...everyone caught a fish!!
Hiking up on Deer Valley Mountain with VOVO and VOVO (grandma and grandpa)
Jake our dog came on the hike too!!

Tess doesn't love hiking but she is a trooper!!
the JONAS gang and cousin Jacob at the lake...

The boys going for a jog!!

Acacia Village update...

I just got the newsletter that updates us on the progress of Acacia Village.  It's so exciting to see the new buildings go up.  Jeff, Christine, Tess and I stood on the raw land last summer in Addis Ababa.  This new project will house 250 orphans with a medical center, school, care-giver housing...It is amazing!  We are always fundraising for it including asking everyone to bring a donation for acacia village in lieu of a gift at Tess's christening.  Also, I have sent hundreds of dollars in coffee sales to the project as well.  It really makes us feel so blessed to be able to help the children that are still waiting for families.  I love that we are part of such an amazing humanitarian project.  We are planning to go to the children's home when it is done to do mission work there... Tess can't wait!!

zippity do da...

Jeff on the zipline...

Bennett and Jacob on their ride down the mountain...

Liz and Christine zippin along!!
Liz and Christine zippin' down the ride...
Cameron, Jeff and Tess at the end of their ride...
Tess on the zipline
Cameron on the zip line
Jeff, Cameron and Tess coming down the mountain 

Park City has one of the countries longest zip lines at the olympic park.  We took the gang for a fun morning of ziplining!!  It was really fun and we all got a great ride.  Tess loved it and wanted to go again and again!!