First day of School 2016-2017

I'm having a hard time believing Chandler is in Middle School.
So Crazy!  No more elementary school for us.  Chandler is so excited to be going to school with Brooklyn.
It was fun the first day of school both Jeremy and I were able to attend school with the kids.  We were able to eat lunch with them as well.  We got to attend all their classes with them and meet their teachers.  Feeling blessed with the teachers the kids got.  It's going to be a fabulous year. 

Chandler may be in middle school.  However, he is still our Super Fun Guy!
I will miss spending the day with him.

Beautiful, smart, amazing Brooklyn is in 8th Grade.
She is ruling Middle School.  She is taking German II and Avid.  She is excited to have some of her friends in her class.
She is super excited to be in Avid.  I think she too is going to have an awesome year. 

Our Sassy, Sassy Girl!

Kayden is a Junior in High School.
He is going to be super busy this year as he has started the 2 year Nursing Program.
He is also talking Anatomy and Physiology, and a Movie appreciation class.   

But have no fear, he will still have FUN!

Here are the Back 2 School treats for the Teachers.
We love our Teachers. <3 a="" be="" going="" great="" nbsp="" s="" t="" td="" to="" year="">

Kayden's Mini Mission to Saarbrucken Germany

Kayden had the opportunity to serve a mini mission
Aug 20-27 2016

Elder Lechner took one of his old name badges and made this badge for Kayden. 

We dropped Kayden, The Elders, and the Sisters off at the train stations.
Elder Winder and Sister Shelly were brand new missionaries.
They just finished up 2 months in the MTC. They have only been in Germany for 1
This was Kayden's first ride on the train in Europe.  He rode the train for about an hour to get to Saarbrucken.

Bye, Bye boys.  Have fun Stormin the Castle.

Elder Lescher, Elder Winder, and Brother Bastian  sitting in the back of the train.
On the hour train ride Kayden got to know the Elders a little better. 

Elder Lescher, Elder Winder, Brother Bastian walking in the poop tunnel.
It's called the poop tunnel because it smelled like poop.
They just finished going to church and are headed back to their apt.

Elder Lescher, Elder Winder, Brother Bastian and Sisters Harmon, Sister Shelly
They are at the Branch Leaders House.
They are having are reporting what they did last week and the plan for the coming week.

Sister Harmon, Sister Shelly, Elder Winder and Brother Bastian
It was the Sister's turn to tell about their week.
We were also talking about how the ward mission leader was in the Dog House.

Brother Bastian, earned the rank of Jedi Knight.  Some of the tasks he had to do to receive this honor was
study his scriptures for an hour under the desk.  Had to learn a phrase in German, I had to hand out a Book of Mormon, he actually handed out two Book of Mormons.  Way to go Bro. Bastian

Brother Bastian, Benadik, and Elder Lescher.
We are waiting for the rest of the missionaries to come so we can eat.

The new missionaries had to try Doner Kabab.

Bro. Bastian on P-day.
Right outside the church Kayden caught a lizard.
The lizard wouldn't stop biting Kayden,

Bro. Bastian, Being a stand up Missionary.
It's good to keep our spirits up.

Elder Lescher, Elder Winder, Brother Bastian,
Were asked to help a member move.  She was 9 months pregnant and had a little boy.
They loaded up all the heavy furniture and some boxes. 

Headed home to clean up for the Ward BBQ. 

Elder Winder, Brother Bastian, Elder Lescher.Kayden said, "He absoluty loved this week with the elders."
The first night they were together they stayed up until 2am playing games and talking.
(Don't worry mission president, it was P-day the next day.)  

The Mighty Three
Elder Winder, Brother Bastian, Elder Lescher.
  They never fought, they never complained.
Kayden even had a couple nasty blisters on his feet
from having to wear his church shoes all day every day.  

Brother Bastian, Benadik
He was Kayden's first appointment on his mini mission.
He is a member, and had a couple friends investigating the church.

This was one of the investigators the Sister Missionaries brought to the Ward BBQ.
He is a Refugee from Seria. 

Peter the Ward mission leader and Brother Bastian.
He is a really cool guy! 

Adrian and Brother Bastian.
Adrian, is a homeless man who just got baptized.
 Adrian is romanian and has the best stories.
He told us of his Crime Monkey and how the monkey helped in the war effort.
Adrian could speak italian so Jeremy and he talked for a couple hours.  What a neat guy.

Look at all that German meat.

I thought this was the coolest BBQ.
It's Called a Schwenker.  It's a swinging Grill
That is exactly how the cook the meat they swing it back and forth like a swing.
It's pretty awesome. 

Our family was invited to the ward BBQ.  It was also the last night of Kayden's
Mini Mission.  This was the coolest experience.  This was a German speaking ward.
Still a couple people could speak english and the missionaries helped us talk to some of the members.
We met a lady that was 93 years old and she had some awesome stories.  I wish I could have just listened to her all day every day.  Chandler, had a lot of fun playing with the german kids in the water.  They had a  water fight and lots of other fun games.

After dinner a ping pong tournament was started.  These guys from Siria  (investigators) were amazing.
The missionaries tried to take them on and were able to hold their own for sure.

Kayden was definitely loving life.  That smile never left his face.

Elder Lescher, Brother Bastian, Chandler, Elder Winder
Playing around the world.

I love this sweet boy of mine.  I miss him like crazy when he is gone.
But I truly am very grateful for this amazing opportunity he had.  For the awesome Missionaires that love God and
have such amazing storng testimonies.  I'm grateful they were willing to have Kayden serve with them for the week and for the memories and expereinces they have given Kayden.  I'm also glad he was only gone 1 week.  I'm not looking forward to  saying good bye for 2 years.  

Jer's comments here.

BarfuBpfad aka Barefoot Park

I have heard about these BarfuBpfad.  I couldn't wait to try one.
I kept it a secret picked up one of Brooklyn's Friends Abby because she was moving and it was the last day the two of them could spend some alone time together so I thought going tot the Barfubpfad would be a perfect activity. 

Here is the Map of the park.  Look fun right?  

Tina, is ready to take on the Barefoot Park

Chandler, is ready to tackle the Barefoot Park

Kayden, is going to crush the obstacle course. 

Brooklyn, is ready to take the plunge into the park. 

Abby, is going to endure the park.  She had already been with her family and it wasn't her favorite activity.
OOOPPPSSSS  guess I didn't pick such a great going away activity.  Sorry Abby.  She was a trooper though.

Jeremy, is going to dominate the Park! 

Off to the Mud Pit.  

This mud pit was so cold. 

The kids loved it!!!  Look how high up that mud is.

Jer and I had so much fun in the mud.  But you had to be careful because on the bottom of the mud pit were lots of little rocks.  If you stepped on one of those it was oweee.  But it was lots and lots of fun!

The kids wanted us to walk with the mud.  We were not allowed to clean off any mud or dirt from the park.

There were all kinds of obstacle courses.  I got stuck on this one.
You basically had to run across the balance beam or it would just wiggle until it kicked you off.
It took me a couple tries, but I killed it.

Just when your feet warmed up from the mud bath you had to walk into freezing cold water.
I made us do this obstacle a couple times.  Hoping some of the mud would come off.  Ha!  That wasn't breaking the rules because we didn't stop at a wash station.  SMART MOM!

So my plan didn't exactly work.  I think this mud is permanently stuck on us.
But Man we are having so much fun.  We have now walked on Wood Chips, Mud Pit, Rocks, Water, More wood chips, mulch, and lots of wood obstacles.  

Chandler was a rock star on this obstacle.  

He is a pro now!

Ooops Chandler fell off.  Kayden is about to fall of.

My super cute family.  They are my whole world.  Love them!!!

Jeremy has got some serious skills. 

Chandler is the King of the Wood Obstacle. 

Abby and Brooklyn

This was a difficult obstacle.  I actually didn't do this one.  That was one of the cool parts about the park is you didn't have to do the Obstacle.  It was okay to step aside and walk.  I just didn't want to fall or hurt my ankle.  So I thought it was smarter to sit this one out. 

You are never too old to play at the park on the Teeter Totter

Chandler and I had a lot of fun playing on the equipment. 

Kayden and Brooklyn wanted to come and play as well.
I love playing with my kids. 

This bridge was just like the Suspension bridge in Austria only this one was all ropes and instead of a highway underneath it was water.  It still swayed and moved. Jeremy was behind all of us and would shake the whole thing anytime someone wasn't looking. What a toad! 

We stopped and ate our picnic lunch and we found a family of squirrels.  These squirrels were so cute.
It was a mom and her 5 babies. 

These babies came so close and right up to us.

Aweeee, so adorable.

This baby squirrel wanted some of our food.  

Here they are all climbing up the tree.
 Mom is in the lead with all 5 of her babies following.