Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Yep, July has come and GONE...........!!!

July has been filled with...................NO SCHOOL !!!  We've taken this extra available time to play as a family, do more sports ministry, and schedule playdates with Polish contacts.
 
 Here's Al and Stephen getting ready for a Czestachowa Saints game...........Al coaches and Stephen plays.....
This game was played in Czestachowa which is about 1.5 hours away from Krakow.  They had a nice stadium, lots of city support, and fun stuff for the kids too !!!  We won, and it was a great day !!!
 


  


 
 local American cheering section....
 
 not focused, but a good pic anyway !!!




 

We've had several playdates this summer...............trying to connect with Polish families.  It's amazing to see our kids joke and laugh and solve problems all in Polish...............the whole day.


 


 Family bike ride on a beautiful summer day !!!
 
At the end of the month, we got to attend AGM (annual general meeting) where we get spiritual encouragement in our heart language, worship corporately with colleagues, hear tons of God-sized stories, and get VBS in English !!!  This year it was in Oberwiesenthal, Germany.........the highest peak of Germany !! Beautiful countryside...........with tons of peaceful views !!





 One afternoon was reserved for a family day.  We spend the afternoon enjoying a picnic lunch on a mountain, rode a gondola, hiked some trails, played mini golf, went swimming, and rode a fun toboggan ride down the mountain.  It was a fun afternoon/evening !!!!
 

 























  

 
 

  

 fancy lunches with friends
 
Kids' VBS program 

 


Completing our semester in language school !!!

Our university program has an official graduation ceremony each spring.  We decided to go and participate, (even though we are nowhere close to being finished studying this language), and it was SO OFFICIAL !!!  Cap and gowns, and all !!!  It was very impressive.....................and a great time of celebration with all of our classmates !!  So glad we went...........

 

 Arin was there to cheer us on.............Kaleb was at a friend's b-day party.


 Our kids deserved this recognition just as much as us................they put up with some crazy scheduling to make this semester work !!! 
 
 
  
 Albert receiving his diploma......
  
 Kirstin receiving her diploma.......

 Kirstin's class 
Al's class

Kids' Birthdays '13

 The end of May brought Kaleb's 10th birthday..................double digits !!!  I can't believe it !!
We did family celebrations on his day, then had a boys' sleepover the following weekend.



 
Ordered pizza
 
Played beyblades

worm dirt cake............by request of the birthday boy !!!


 
Legos and Wii













late night movies
 
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 10 days later, our princess turned 8!!!  She chose to celebrate with her favorite buddy, Pola.............a day at the water park and sleepover !!  Lots of crafting going on with these two!!!!



 








 
 
We are thankful for the lives of these two treasures............................and we celebrate them!!  We celebrate BIG, cuz life is just worth celebrating !!!