Omaha Zoo Day

Just before school started we made a trip to Omaha to see the Henry Doorly Zoo.
It’s been a few years since we’ve been there, and it was lots of fun!

Luke, Kara, Evan & Jenna checking out the desert

 

One of our favorite exhibits by far is the Budgie Encounter.
There are hundreds of beautiful parakeets flying freely around you,
and you are given a popsicle stick with birdseed on it to feed them.
Brings back memories of the parakeets we had growing up! : )

  

  

 

Luke & Evan petting a friendly goat

 

Ryan hiding in a cave

 

Luke having a good time on the carousel : )

 

Evan rode a wild-looking dragon!

 

Kara on her pony

 

It took some serious convincing to get Ryan to ride on anything,
but by the end he was having fun!

 

Train ride

 

Luke, Paul, & Kara on the Skyfari

 

There go Jenna & Evan!

 

Finding Nemo : )

 

In the jungle

 

Acting like monkeys

 

Another great expression from Luke ; )

 

The jungle is beautiful!

 

Ryan trying to figure out what makes the world go ‘round : )

School Kick-off Camping

We camped at Newton Hills a couple weeks ago,
as we do every August just before the new school year starts.
It was a little wet out there this year, but we still had a great time! : )

Matthew & Luke riding around on the fun cycles

 

Michael, Jacob, Evan, Kara Jenna, & Kyle
taking a spin on the surrey

 

Kara tried one, too

 

Ryan & Tyler in their favorite spot… smack dab in the middle of a big puddle!

 

More fun on the bikes
Levi, Jenna M, Jacob & Luke

 

Levi & Luke

 

There they go… Levi, Luke, Jacob, & Jenna M

 

Double trouble
Ryan & Tyler ready to go for a ride down “Thrill Hill”

 

Everybody else was ready, too!
We are thankful that Cand. Engelsma recently accepted the call to be Doon’s pastor…
looks like he fits right in with this crew! ; )

 

Fellowship around the campfire

 

Brent, Joel, Ken, Paul & Evan
figuring out their Kubb strategy

 

Luke, Levi, Kara, Evan & Jenna
at the top of the lookout tower

 

Ryan made it to the top, too. He insisted on climbing all the way up all by himself!

~

What fun memories, and what a blessing to share them with our school friends & family!

First Day of School

Yes, you read that right… school started for us today!
Everyone was all smiles this morning : )

 

Jenna played the prelude at convocation, and it sounded beautiful!

 

Evan getting things put away in his desk

 

Luke & Ryan having cookies
(Luke’s face is not dirty here… he took a rough tumble off his bike in loose gravel about a week ago. He’s actually looking much better now than he did at first!)

 

Kara checking out the fun stuff in her classroom, and her locker

 

And that’s that… a new school year is underway.
Ryan & I are going to miss having this crew around every day!

~

“He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul:
he that keepeth understanding shall find good.”
Proverbs 19:8

VE Family Time

We recently had the whole VE family together for the first time in quite a while.
When we’re all at my parents’ house, their yard looks like a used car lot.
There are people having a good time all over the place! : )

Grandma has the best dress-ups around!
These dresses from left-to-right are: one of Perry & Char’s bridesmaids,
one Grandma VDT sewed for Erin as a young girl,
one I can’t remember or identify (maybe one of my sisters remembers?)
and one of Paul & Erin’s bridesmaids. What fun! : )

 

Lots of cousins to play with!

 

This was part of a wedding ceremony that included Grandpa as the groom...
what a good sport! ; )

 

Grandpa, Marie, & Kara

 

All of the cousins, including little Calvin who was less than a week old here!
Back row: Kara, Levi, Luke, Willem, & Marie
Middle: Ryan, Evan, Jenna, Calvin, Leah, Sean, & Tyler
Front: Nathan, Kate, Moriah, Jesse, & Eli

 

The whole crew… what a blessing to be part of this family!
We love you all so much!