TIMBER!

Well, we started out thinking about making a new chicken house...but we ended up doing some Much needed "trimming-up" around the yard.  There has been this big old tree in the back yard...and after 4 years of hoping...it never has come back to life...bummer. So Tom was home for the weekend and we got busy.

There was a lot of ladder time for Tom - which also included using the chainsaw up high in the trees.

It had one huge branch he couldn't quite get to ....so he tied a rope on and sawed most of it...then after taking the picture (of course) Kolby and I yanked it down!!  Whooo Hoo!! ;)

Kolby checking out the woodpecker hole...He informed us there was nothing in there ;)

The big branch we yanked down..left a bit of yard damage...but it's o.k

After trying and trying from the driveway to pull the stump out using the tractor...the only other option was to get the tractor in the yard and try a different angle...or atleast push it over....well we've had a VERY wet spring and finally the yard is not squishy wet by this tree...but evidently still soft down deep...cause as Tom was pulling the stump with the tractor I was saying..."your tires are sinking!!"

He said - "ok this isn't working...cause I thought the stump was moving "  

The stump was just too rotted and it just kept crumbling apart.

"The Stump" that wouldn't give...not even to being pushed over by the tractor!!

So along comes "Plan C"....we've always talked of having a fire pit in the backyard...and well this is the start of it :)

The kids think it's great!! and we've already roasted a bunch of marshmellows and hot dogs ;P

Chamberlin Happenings

 We had a visitor to the hummingbird feeder!!  an American Goldfinch...the kids spotted it ;)

 Clara decided to decorate the dog...silly girl...stickers go on paper!!

 Derrick helped make no- bake cookies!  Yum...we ate them up fast ;)

 I was weeding the front flowers...and this startled me!!!  I hollered for Kolby and he came out...and explained why the bandaid was on the poor snake!!  A week or so ago, they had friends over and they found this snake...well the friend thought it had a cut...so being the cub scouts they are...they bandaged the snake....Now who knows about the cut..but with Kolby's help we were able to peel off the bandaid...along with some scales.  The snake I'm sure is thankful to be let back into the tall grass!!



Beautiful sunset from church after VBS program

Fun times with some "old"friends that came down from Liberty Lake for VBS

Leah, Ellie, Kassidy

Another neat sunset...this picture doesn't show the true beauty of God's "Handy Work"

Happy Father's Day.....coming off of a week of VBS - there was no Father's Day lunch happen' at church..instead sweet Priscilla (wonderful older lady at church) had the idea of finding out the favorite pie of all the Dads.....so they made the list, divided it up, and we suprised them on Sunday after the service with all the kids handing out pies to all the dads, grandpas in the church....very sweet!!!

All while "Lead Me" from Sanctus Real was playing...teary...but a nice special day! Love you Tom

Southwick Bible Church VBS

Welcome to the "Gold Rush" Where we discovered the "gold nuggets" the truths of Jesus ;)

I taught the pre-K/K class....so that is what most all my pictures are from...Kolby and Kassidy had lots of fun also in their classes!! 

Craft Time (Derrick)

Game Time (Horse racing)

Bible Time- we talked of how mean people were to Jesus and how He even had to carry his own cross...this is Derrick trying that ;)

Panning for gold...a fun "filler activity"

Game Time- Derrick in the Grass Maze...oh they had fun with that!!  The grass was so tall that you couldn't see my class as they ran through it ;)  Fun Fun!

"Dakota" would come at Bible time and help tell our lesson!

Got a picture of Kolby with "Mr. Cow" in his classroom!

Last week was a busy, busy but very fun week and a great outreach to the community!!

Due to kid/camera issues...I sadly don't have any pictures of the program...but All the kids did a great job!!!

Random

Uh Oh! Clara was caught getting into the playdough!

Love how the horsechesnut trees bloom upright...so neat :)

Double rainbow a few weeks ago

tea party!! or restaurant? I'm not sure which :)

I told the kids to get ready to go to a yard sale...and Kassidy did Clara's hair to match hers and found her a purse also....fun...fun !

My Mowing helper!

Kids

 Watch Out!!

Kolby my mowing helper

Clara figured out how to ride the swing like this....silly girl

Girl Scout Ceremony

Kassidy's group did a puppet show about Pinocchio....Kassidy was the Blue Fairy...see her puppet peeking over ;)

Kassidy got to "bridge over" now she is a Brownie Girl Scout!  She's so excited....we are too...except now we need to buy the brown uniform ;)



Memorial Weekend

We had a little family gathering to spread my Great Uncle Quentin's ashes.

So the kids got to play with their 2nd cousins? my youngest cousins....we just call them cousins ;)

Many lego creations were made!

Game of Horse

Wagon riding

Playing fetch with Smokey

 Kite Flying

Wheel races down the driveway ;)

Locust Blossom Festival

For VBS this year we are on a Gold Rush finding the "nuggets" of truth about Jesus

here are the kids with the float.

 Kassidy and Derrick got to ride a pony :)  They do this every year for free....so fun!