August Summer Moments

Amelia being a "lady" at Alan and Holly Zeug's wedding! It was a PERFECT day!

Typical Saturday morning breakfast table at our house. Blueberry pancakes topped with whipped cream and homemade maple or chokecherry syrup! We had cousin Nat and his friend Luke visiting, as well as Masa for extra guests.

Bet you can't tell it's morning! HA!

Reuben is such a great brother to all his little sisters. He does like to tease them sometimes, but Erina is his special little buddy!

More Wilder Museum

The old wood cookstove.

One room schoolhouse.

Lovely old antique furniture.

Mural of the Plum Creek dugout.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

In August we had the opportunity to host an exchange student through AFS for a few weeks until his permanent host family could have him move in. His name is Masakazu Ishihara and he is from Japan. He was a brave soul to come to a house where he had nine instant siblings when he was used to being an only child, but he was a great sport! We all became attached to him right away! We thought he could see a little local history at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum! Becca and Amelia showing their cooking skills in the hands on kitchen!

Here is Simeon being a little farmer with Masa in the background.

Erina and Charisma found some outfits perfect for playing the pump organ!

Katrina found Daniel Boone!

Berge 30's Bash

Here we all are at Reptile Gardens. It proved to be another gorgeous day to take in all the reptiles, birds and snakes! We also enjoyed the flowers and museum!

Everyone is all smiles except Simeon who couldn't wait for the show to start! Notice that David and Melanie are all smiles, enjoying their child free summer.....but not for long!

Reuben, Thomas and Simeon enthralled by the swooping birds!

Here we all are, posing for our family picture. For only having 4 children, the clan sure has multiplied! Go Grandma and Grandpa! All 25 of us stayed in a lovely cabin together and shared meals and great times together! What a memory filled vacation!

Mount Rushmore in July!

In July we took a trip out to the Black Hills with the Berge Family. We were celebrating the fact that all of us (sibling children of Ken and Becky Berge) were in our 30's at the same time! We took in so many sights!

Simeon attempting to look presidential!

We had a gorgeous day for visiting this amazing monument. It was the first time most of our kids had seen it!

Here are the 4 cousins enjoying each other's company every chance they could!

Successful Kite Flying!

Go Amelia!

Go Becca!

We all enjoyed the fresh air and exercise. Annika and I enjoying ourselves.

Sam climbed up into the top of the shed and peeked out the roof! The kids thought that was great!

Kite Flying!

After church we came home, ate a yummy lunch and then decided the day was a perfect kite flying day! So we pulled out the kites and gave them a whirl!

Reuben had a smaller version that proved to be a diver, but we still had fun with it. However, by the end of the day it was spent!

"Mom....help!" I even got in on the action of getting the "airplane" kite to go up, up and away!

Simeon enjoyed the knee high clover!