Grand Canyon - better really late then never!

Okay so this post is about 5 months late but I didn't forget. I think I might try and catch up on some of the bigger highlights I have forgotten. Probably the BIGGEST is the much anticipated Grand Canyon Trip - and by much anticipated I mean Kyle has been on a waiting list for about 16 years for the family to get to do this again. And before I show how wonderful the trip was you all need to know the story behind me NOT being there.

About 11 years ago while we were engaged Kyle took me to dinner and told me he needed me to promise him something. He wouldn't tell me what, he just said there is something very important he wants to do with me and he needs me to promise I will do it before he tells me what it is. After much persuasion I gave in and promised. He then told me his family is on a waiting list to go on the Grand Canyon again (Kyle did this with his family when he was young) and he so badly wants to have that experience with me. After 10 years of marriage and 4 more kids when the time came for the trip he never mentioned me going. One day I said "Maybe I should go too just to see Adia have this experience"... I was quickly told "No. You wouldn't like it and not only would you ruin it for me you would probably ruin it for everyone." So I was uninvited and Adia took my place - WHATEVER!

But I was still SO HAPPY for them to have this opportunity and here are some pictures of the fun they had.

Getting read to go... hair station. Notice there are 2 people working on Adia. :)

Adia and Kyle ready to go!

Finally after years and years of waiting they are ON THE WATER! and they don't get to get off of it for 14 days!!!

The group was Kyle, Adia, his parents, 3 of his sisters (2 brought spouses), 2 brothers and their wives, 1 cousin, 1 nephew and 1 really old guy that is a long time rafting buddy of the family... he has done this trip I think like 30ish times.

Here are the guides - each responsible for one of the boats.

Group shot - when Adia got home she mentioned several times how lucky she is to have such a fun family...

but mostly she mentioned her love of UNCLE TY &

UNCLE BEN who kept her more entertained than the river.

And here she is with her wonderful Grandpa who pulled the whole thing together for everyone for a second time. Our family has so many amazing memories due to this man and his love of travel and water and nature and family!

The fun group again.

Here is what it looks like to set up a kitchen in a canyon.

Even chopping tomatoes is fun in there.

And what would they have done without all the card games???

Shaving is a mandate in our family... I was so proud of her for this picture. Kyle don't me that she probably wouldn't shave the whole time but I knew my girl would and I love that she did!

There is so much I could tell you about the trip and all the cool hikes they went on, the beautiful things they saw, the crazy rapids, the entertaining fights (yep, they are a real family) and more but I will just end with a bunch of adorable father daughter shots. If you can look past my two cuties than you will notice that yes indeed God is a marvelous Creator and his artwork in that canyon is truly awe inspiring. I'm so grateful Kyle and Adia had this opportunity!

The End!

He's AMAZING!

Father's Day was super simple this year but I still wanted it documented on here.

Kyle had asked me to put the camera away for Father's Day but this was one of the few shots I got and I thought it captured some of the joy we all felt celebrating the fact that we have such an amazing dad in this house! The kids all put so much effort into their cards for him and it's getting to the point that no matter how good my ideas are, they seem to have the "perfect" plans already in store for him.

Every Sunday at our church, between services, they put out a table of food and everyone stands around, eating, snacking and chatting. For Father's Day I decided to make a "Donuts for Dad" table and it was a hit! I thought it would be a fun tradition to start and I think the kids agreed. I was busy keeping it stocked so Avery took this picture for me.

Well, that was it. But the simplicity of this post and these pictures do NOT reflect in anyway the feeling we all feel toward Kyle. He truly is an amazing father and I feel beyond blessed to be his partner in raising up our children to know, love and make known our Father in heaven. It's a big and overwhelming job at times but it takes a huge weight off my shoulders to know Kyle and I are in this together. :)

Happy Father's Day!

Although Kyle was in Brazil over Father's Day we couldn't just skip it all together... He is way to good of a dad not to get a bit of attention for it! Here are just a few highlights from our late Father's Day celebration.

When daddy got home he was handed 8 tickets. Each ticket had one of the following words/phrases on it: family movie, movie with mom, dinner, dessert , devotions, tuck in time, bath time and presentation for you! He was told to put them in the order he would like the evening to go in, sit on the couch and be prepared to do nothing.

Here are some pictures of the fun...

He picked bath time first, followed by a family movie.

Next was dinner.

Presentation:

(which was Adison singing You belong with me and the big 3 doing a little Father's Day rap)

Dessert:

They are capable of being so much cuter but I feel like a bad mom if I don't let the kids help.

Adia made this plate for him about 5 years ago and we still put it to good use.

Next was devotions, tuck in time and then we fell asleep nice and cozy on the couch during the redemption of his movie with mom ticket.

It was a fun night for an awesome dad who our family is beyond blessed to be led by!

For discussion box that night the question was tell us your top 3 things you love about your dad... to end this I think I will list as many of them as I can remember.

Adia - He takes good care of us, He taught me to snow board and he is a very kind person.

Avery - He works hard, he loves me and he plays with me.

Kenyon - He fights me, he is funny and he loves me.

Adison - I am a princess, daddy is a prince and I love daddy!

Kaden - Daddy's truck

Mom - He is truly a good person and such a great example to our children.

He loves Jesus and follows him well.

He is very patient which serves the children and I well!

He's Back!

5 very excited children waiting to find daddy!!!

Stupid mom was waiting at the wrong escalator and so daddy found us instead... but Adia was the first to see him so she won the first hug. Mom on the other hand stayed busy taking pictures to help keep the flow of tears under control!!!

I love how Kyle parents (most of the time).

You will notice in both the above and below picture he has a flat/gentle hand on his girls

and a tight squeeze on the boys!

wait in line Avery... he's a very popular guy!

I know it's blurry but you have to love the facial hair.

It's already gone and he looks like a clean CA boy again!

I love my big family!

And I really LOVE when we are ALL together!

More to come on the trip later...

for now our reunion is enough!

My Hero...

Have I ever told you that Kyle is truly my HERO!

He has the hugest heart and I love that about him! Right now he is leading a group from our church down to Sao Paulo, Brazil where they will meet up with our church families ministry partners, Restoration Ministries, and take a large group of kids from the slums out to a rural area for a weekend getaway (and do a mini vbs program), then during the week they are going to teach some great lessons to kids in different neighborhoods, visit peoples homes who need prayer and to end they are taking the ministry leaders (who are much overworked) to a beach retreat and do some leadership building as well as teachings on spiritual disciplines and things of that nature.

This year the trip has been especially hard for us timing wise and Kyle really didn't want to go. He didn't feel like it would be good for his newly moved business or our family. But after much prayer and discusion he/we (and Stpeh) knew God would handle the details and he had to go (or the trip wouldn't happen). It's been cute to hear him keep asking me to please show Kaden his picture while he's gone (as if he might forget him). He seemed a bit stressed leading up to it and has encountered a few difficulties on the way (including his wife injuring her back badly and his baby boy injuring his face - just what he needed was trip to the ER the night before he leaves - next post will update you on that) but he never wavers and I love that. I know this team is going to be a HUGE blessing to the ministry and I am so proud of Kyle and all of them for doing this. This is the first year he isn't the only guy on the trip and actually there are moy boys than girls. Kyle seemed to feel it was a very strong goup and they each bring something really huge to offer the children and staff.

Here is a video from his last trip... skip about a minute or two and you will see more of what they do. The begining is a church service and there is a lot of them singing and then it's a game they played where they had to eat a cracker and the first to whistle wins!

And I thought I would share a few pictures of our first missions trip - to Honduras. This was such an awesome trip and where God really opened our eyes for the first time to the reality of the world we live in. I'm so grateful for opportunities like this and I can't wait to see what else God brings our way! Although I can get a bit scared. :) And even though I have only been on one of these with Kyle I feel like I learn so much just by processing with him each time he returns.

Where is little Adia?

Please keep Kyle and the whole team in your prayers.

Also me and the kids... we won't be seeing him for another 15 days!

Miracles Really Happen!

This past weekend Kyle and I got away (yet again) to go to our good friend Brad Barttels (Kyle's best man at our wedding) wedding. Somehow he met this beautiful girl named Lindsey got her to fall in love and even marry him - it's truly a miracle. Here are a lot of pictures from our trip... we know there are a few of you that would loved to have been there. So now you can experience the whole weekend with us - kind of.

Kyle met up with all the guys on Thursday night for the bachelor party - pizza and root beer at Brad's house. Oh these boys are wild! Then together we met up at TK Burgers for lunch on Friday. I can not tell you how good it was to see them again. So many good memories!

Dave, Brad, Kyle and Andrew!
Here we are following Brad, Andrew and Beth to Brads house to hang out until the rehearsal dinner.

They had an awesome dinner with family and close friends the night before the wedding.

The Bride and Groom to be!
Here is Brad and his mom cutting the cake!Brad's brothers Trevor, Chad, Tyler and Tyler's girlfriend. They got old huh?

Here is Linda wearing the teeth Brad sported at my wedding.

Kyle and I ready for another night out!

Brad and Kyle... so cute!

Brad's parents with the beautiful couple!

Pretty Carrot Cake.

Go Lindsey!

They seriously looked so in love and SO HAPPY together.

We are THRILLED for them!

And of course Andrew pulled out the video camera and got some great film.

And I can't mention my weekend and not add that I got to stay with one of my bestest friends - Kristen and her beautiful baby Taylor (oh and Mike too). Thank you so much Kristen and Mike for letting us crash at your pad... we had so much fun with you.

Are her eyes for real???

She sure loved my camera!