Hoopla Champs 2007

Hoopla Champs 2007 2, originally uploaded by shareski.

Sam's basketball team celebrates winning the provincial championship.

Weird Snow

Here's a one minute clip of a snowfall. Enormous flakes and the most unique texture of snow I've ever seen.

Settlers of Catan

Our family has gone a bit crazy with this game. Paula bought the game at Christmas and 2 months later we haven't slowed down much. We play almost daily. Even Martha is getting quite proficient even though the game calls for ages 11 and up. We've spend more time together as a family than we have for a while. Still fighting and still having fun.

More from Shea

Here's another update this time from Daycee (our children's pastor).

Just wanted to let you know that Shea is doing very well so far. I'm been impressed with her attitude and willingness to try things (especially the food!). She has worked hard and played hard and kept us laughing! She is picking up Spanish very quickly...today in service when the team introduced themselves, she said in spanish "my name is Shea, I'm 15 years old (ask her to explain the age thing), I'm very white, alone (she meant single) and very funny because I am so cute!" I told her if she could figure out how to say it, she could say it! (the congregation enjoyed the laugh).

We split Shea and Jaydene up for the first time today when we were all sent off after service with different families for lunch. Greg and I had agreed to each take one of them in hopes they would get to know some locals better....they begged and pleaded and told me they HAD to be together...finally I told them the only choice they had in the matter was what kind of attitude they were going to have about it.

Shea and I went for lunch with the youth pastor and his wife and mother-in-law and they took us to the old city of Antigua site-seeing (Paula you and Darlene would love to go furniture shopping there!). Shea really enjoyed it and we had lots of fun together. I have been surprised how much she talks to me when we're alone. she told me Jaydene is anxious to get back to see her friends, but Shea says she wants to stay longer. I told her we could extend her ticket and she could stay here for holidays with me!

(just kidding) in short, she's doing well. So far her appliance is the only concern, one piece keeps popping out and she fixes it with some of my hair rubber bands. We're glad to have her with us.

Shea's Guatemala Trip

Shea is currently in Guatemala helping to put a room on a local church. She is there with 12 other members of our church. This is a bit of a stretch for her but so far, so good. Here's an excerpt from an email she sent us:

It is REALLY HOT here. Like 30 degrees or more it feels like, but don't worry i am slapping on the sunscreen. This week is all working but it's not to bad, me, hannah, and jaydene are painting rooms, so its kind of fun ahah. The food is actually good here. There was one thing i didn't like though, it was like mashed up beans, it looked like poop. but everything tastes good. Just to let you know, we haven;t got a lot of stares cause we are white, because we have been at the church the whole time and almost everyone is white. But the Ladys that are cooking and stuff are guatemalan and they call me and jaydene the barbie dolls haha, thats what daycee said anyways. One of the lady's came up to me and all she said was "Barbie" really funny. But i heard it was really cold in Moose Jaw, sucks to be you i guess!

San Francisco Video

Here's a 9 minute video of my day in San Francisco.

Back from San Fran

Had a great time in San Francisco and left my heart there. What a city! Here's a link to the almost 100 photos I took.

He shoots he Scores!

Sam in the Times Herald
Originally uploaded by shareski.

Sam is featured on the frontpage of the Times Herald.

The Christmas Home Tour

Here's six minute clip of our home.

American Thanksgiving

The Plosz' had us over for a nice Thanksgiving dinner and some games. Does anyone know what a fartlek is?

Flash Slideshow

Martha loves her present

That's what friends are for

Allan hangs a new light fixture in our bathroom. One of the benefits of a small group. This light fixture features a 25 watt bulb which adds as much light to the room as a birthday candle. I've long ago lost trying to figure out women.

Milestones

The kids reached a few milestones over the past month. Sam passed his 6 six conservatory exam which he practiced for all summer. He also got his driver's license this month.

Martha passed her swimming lessons.



The furry of fall activities has begun. Sam is involved in volleyball and piano lessons, Shea is in the school musical, taking voice and viola lessons and Martha is in another swimming class, taking piano lessons and just joined basketball.

Looks like a busy fall.

My flickr map

Flickr recently added geotagging to their service. Everyone can now add location information to their photos.


See mine.

My grapes

No, not those kind. Picked these on Saturday.

The vacation winds down

As the vacation winds down, we're now in Billings, Montana to spend the weekend. Our time in Cody, Wyoming was very fun as we went whitewater rafting and some went to the rodeo. Today the drive through the Beartooth highway certainly was an amazing drive. The kids were quite thrilled to throw a snowball in August and enjoy more breathtaking views.

After a couple of days of shopping, we'll be ready to head home. Shea may have an extended stay with Lebere's as they plan to spend the week in Red Lodge, Montana.

You may be wondering about the jumping photos. I'm implementing this tip and so far it think it's working.

Mountain Fun

Wednesday was a fantastic day. We spent much of the morning on Lone Peak Mountain, hiking and simply enjoying a wonderful view from nearly 10,000 feet. We left Big Sky and headed for Cody, Wyoming. Along the way we spent time in Yellowstone enjoying some of the most spectacular views of God's creation. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Yellowstone lake, bison everywhere and the incredible drive between Yellowstone and Cody.

Here's a video clip of our morning on Lone Peak. It's just video from my digital camera so quality is lacking. The DVD of the entire trip will be available later....for those interested and you know who you are!




As usual, all photos are housed on flickr.

Fun in Yellowstone

Holiday fun continued today as we spent it in Yellowstone. Monday we had a nice morning but rain put an end to most of our plans. Today's nice weather allowed us to get in a full day. Highlights over the past couple of days include:

• Sam and Tegan earning $50 for stripping down to their underwear and swimming to the Ousell Falls in near freezing water
• Having the hotel guy tell us the coffee shop isn't open at 3pm.
• Old Faithful
• Swimming and riding the currents in the Firehole River
  
• Martha and Emmy in the bear cage

More pictures on flickr.

Montana Fun...the beginning

Our holiday is starting off very well. Highlights include:

• A stop in Miles City
  
• Paula breaking stuff in a store
• Me dominating in a go-kart race
• Some sweet deals in the mail
• Sam ordering an expensive meal he couldn't finish
• Emmy's crush on the waiter at the Olive Garden
  
• Penny freaking out as she thought she lost Emmy
• Tegan searching for wireless hotspots
• A mountain walk

Martha is also blogging her version
Pictures on Flickr

Penny gives Meredith the Pink bike

Penny gives Meredith the Pink bike
Originally uploaded by shareski.

One last parting gift and Kurt and Meredith prepare to head for T.O. on Wednesday. Like my editing on the photo?