Our first "run" (we walked a 5K)!

Today I conquered an item on my "bucket list" for during our furlough...Dad and I complete our first 5K. It was fun to "train" for it (we walked almost every night this past month or so) and just to complete it. The weather was perfect and hey...we did something active and fun together:) We are planning to do another one, a longer one around Thanksgiving. Both of us are needing to lose a few pounds (yes, our doctors told us!) so this is good motivation. Here are some fun pictures of our time this morning:

Visiting with the Trimm family

We had the pleasure of spending several days with the Trimm family. The kids had so much fun (the adults too!) that I needed a whole blog post of the pictures of their fun together. And indeed, they had lots of fun.

Thank you again for your hospitality and friendship Trimm family! We miss you!

Back home and starting homeschooling!

We're back from our  cross-country roadtrip! I have more photos etc. than I can reasonably catch up on at the moment since my last post, so I'll start where we're at...back in WA state and homeschooling!

Here is the three "pupils" doing their first "science" experiment. Last week was our first week of K (for Olivia) and 1st (for Marianna). We are doing My Father's world 1st grade, with some K mixed in and a french lesson each day. I have other workbooks that we are doing for a little supplement and just for fun because the kids like workbooks. Louis joins in when he can but he has a "busy box" with puzzles, toys, playdough, books and workbooks for each day of the week.

So far it is working pretty well for all of us. The science experiment above was really fun for the kids...we mixed soil with water in a bottle and let it sit to see the layers form. This kind of thing is a bit of a stretch for me, but the kids loved it so much I think I will too. To get through everything with everyone seems to take no more than 3 hours, but usually closer to 2 1/2.

We are doing phonics, Bible, basic math, handwriting, science and french...I think that is about it  (which is plenty for me/us!)

Back at JAARS

Here's the car completely FULL of boxes and tubs (17 to be exact!) that we had packed intending to ship them to Cameroon. Great idea...except we went to Senegal, not Cameroon! :)

Daniel had a big helper for unloading.  This suburban is our sweet ride (a rental that Wycliffe helped pay for) for our road trip.

The disaster that ensued after starting to unpack the 17 tubs.  The kids thought it was fun at least:)

The JAARS pool has been our favorite destination as always!

Catching up with our friend Sarah, whom we've now spent time with in Orlando FL, Senegal W. Africa and at JAARS!  She made us a yummy lasagne!  Thanks Sarah!

Marianna spent 3 days at "Safari" for elementary aged MKs.  She had fun!

Catching up with friends from France (our french studies overlapped with theirs and we lived in nearby apartments) the Hays.  Fun to see them and their new addition to the family!

Our friends the Sanders had us over for great food and conversation.  They have been a huge blessing to us as we've made our journey overseas and back. 

Louis and Liv at the MK station.

Marianna and Louis went up in Henry's airplane today!

Henry with the kiddos.  They are ready with their lovies/doo doos to snuggle during the flight.

Too much snuggling of their "doo doos" resulted in this during the flight:

Don't mind the drool...yes they had fun!

We love staying at JAARS and will be sad to leave, but our next adventure in Florida is a debrief conference at the Wycliffe headquarters which we are looking forward to. 

VBS fun in Indianapolis at Grace!

We were blessed with good timing while we were in Indianapolis in that one of our supporting churches was running VBS! The theme was Jonah and this was our kids' first experience with VBS. Not only did the kids get to participate but I got to lead a little group of cuties. I had Louis, Olivia and three other kids ranging from 6-9 years old. I (we) loved it! Walking through the belly of the whale!

Whale Crafts!

A quick pic of our cute little group:)

We had fun and thanks to Grace Evangelical Church for letting us join in the fun!

Back in Washington (fun in Cashmere)

Mowing with Daddy

Swimming Lessons!

Grandma looking awesome in a Senegalese outfit we brought back!

Cuties with their new goggles for swim lessons, courtesy of grandma and grandpa gregory

b

We are BUSY, but in a good way.  Really enjoying our time back in the states and reconnecting with everyone!