Ice Cream, Ice Cream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!

 

 

This summer has been filled with fun and lots of ice cream.  Here Carson is enjoying his scoop of cookies and cream as we talk to neighbors passing by. 

 

 

Man, we are going to miss Daddy being home for the summer!



Summertime

While we were in Nicaragua, Carson spent the week with Grandy, Granna, and KK.  Here are some pictures from their fun adventures!

Picnic after church

Carson's first time to go fishing!  Worms, yuck!

Here comes the first catch!

Carson chasing Deputy Dog, aka Lucy!

Carson playing ball with Nannie!

Carson at the farm...

Whose in the tent???

It's Grandy!

Smore time!  Yum!!!

That was good!  Love ya'll!

Nicaragua 2013

This past week, Brandon and I spent our time serving the people of Nicaragua.  We joined together with 38 others from our church and several others from a church in Virginia.  For the past 8 years, we have heard our missionaries talk and seen pictures from friends, but until we actually experienced it for ourselves, it was difficult to comprehend the needs that are so prevalent in this third world country.  I wish I had the words to describe the needs that are present and the way that God is responding to those needs.  I wish the pictures could tell their story...

The Schools

Griselda and her 2nd grade class



Children sweeping and mopping their classroom floor.

Lunch Time: Each student brought a bowl and cup.  The teacher would fill them up with rice and beans that one of the parents prepared the night before. 

One of our teachers taught the kids how to play "Duck..Duck...Goose".  Here they are playing it for the first time.  It started to rain, but that didn't stop the kids from having fun!

Los Pepitos

These were some sweet, sweet kids at Los Pepitos. 

This little girl had a hearing impairment.  She was so excited when she realized that I could sign a little.

Casa Materna

These girls were in their 9 month of pregnancy and staying at Casa Materna.  Here they are sewing a new pillow for their new arrival.  Eleven girls were there for the night, and the facilities had 4 twin beds.  They were going to sleep two girls per bed, and three girls would sleep on the floor. 

This little boy became my friend at Casa Materna.  He was one of the employees' children.

The Town

Some of the girls walking to the mission after getting a cold Coke.

Chelsea, Randi, and Jeana

The Water

Here we are completing step 1 of the process to make a water filter to install in one of the homes of  a local family.

As we were making filters, a truck filled with cabbage drove by.  As the truck hit a bump in the road, two heads of cabbage fell out.  We watched as two local boys jumped over a barbed wire fence to take the cabbage back to their family.

Here Brandon is washing the sand so that it can go in the filter.

Randi, Kari, and Jeana

The Mountains

The beautiful mountains of Jinotega.

After a thousand-step hike up the mountain, we made it to the cross.  What a beautiful view!

The Friends

Brandon and his friend, Harvey

Happy Birthday, Bran!

This has been a week of celebration!  On Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day and yesterday, Brandon turned the big 32!  We have had so many desserts that I am almost ashamed to list them all, and I know that the list will only get longer as we are preparing to go see my parents!  Oh, well!  Anyway, Brandon, I am so thankful that God has allowed us to be together for over half our life.  I love the way that you love us and how you show that on a daily basis.  I love the way that you love others, and most of all, how you love God.  I hope that you had an amazing birthday (even though, you didn't get a card:))!  We love you!

Who needs cake when you can have pie?  Yum Yum!

C's face doesn't show it, but he was so excited to buy this $.98 loaf of bread and feed the ducks.

C watching his friend throw it long!

I just love C's priceless face in this picture.  He always tells me, "Mama, close your eyes!"

My brave little man "letting go"!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Well, that is all of the pictures that I have for now!  There will be many more over the next few weeks as we have many new adventures headed our way!

Choo...Choo...Let's Get on the Potty Train!!

 

Memorial Weekend was set aside for nothing other than POTTY TRAINING!  I have to admit that I was not looking forward to it, but our little man handled it like a pro.  I know that I am spoiled, but after one night in a Pull-Up, he decided that he must wear his underwear.  He has slept in them ever since and hasn't had one wet night:)  These next pictures were just too cute not to share.  I know that someday, little man is not going to be too happy with me but for today, he is proud of those yellow Crocs and those Lightning McQueen Undies!

 Carson helping Daddy level the fort!