Road Trip part 2 continued

more Topeka

Our second day in Topeka started out stormy, but it cleared up in time for us to go out to Dan and Becky's farm (2nd cousins???... never can figure all that out). The kids LOVED it there...fishing, riding ATV's and other special treats!

At the fish pond. Kaitlyn caught a big one right away!

Aunt Shirley

We got to ride the ATV all around the 40 acre property

Kaitlyn had a blast on the little electric motorcycle. She just zipped all over the yard!

The highlight of Nathan's day was getting to ride the motorcycle with Dan. He didn't want to stop. (This is my son who, at age 2, told me "Me get big, me ride motorcycle. Go fast fast!")

Feeding the fish at the pond

Kyle and Kaitlyn

The kids also loved getting to "play" with Trooper Dan's patrol car. He showed them all around it, and let them turn on the lights and sirens and use the loudspeaker.

Our final day in Topeka was Sunday. We got to go to our 2nd supporting church in Topeka and share during the morning service. It was the first time we got to be there and to meet anyone in that church (aside from our relatives). Afterwards they had a nice potluck lunch for us.

Road Trip part 2

Topeka, Kansas

After leaving St. Louis, we headed to Topeka. We have two supporting churches in Topeka, and family (Matt's great-aunt and uncle). We spent 3 days there and had a lot of fun. Going to Shirley and Jerry's house is always like visiting grandparents for me (which I especially appreciate as all my grandparents have passed away.)

Our first day we went to a local water park. It was a great combination of pools, slides and fun for all ages.

I think the lazy river was a favorite for the kids. Even aunt Shirley joined in the fun!

Nathan was the only kid who was brave enough to try a bigger slide. But Matt and I had fun on the curvy yellow slide!

After a day at the water park we got together with the missions team from Northland for a bbq dinner. It was a great time of reconnecting and catching up with those neat people.

Road Trip part 1

Texas to Missouri

When we left Texas on June 7 we headed to Missouri. We got to visit with friends in PNG who we went thru POC with back in 2003. Then it was on to St. Louis to see a good friend from high school and her family. We stayed two nights and had a blast playing and hanging out and eating some really yummy bbq!


The kids had a blast playing in the fountains in downtown St. Louis.

On the road again........

These last 2-ish weeks have been a whirlwind. We've been driving, visiting friends, driving, doing fun stuff, driving, driving, driving. We've gotten to spend time with dear friends and family. The kids have been spoiled with fun adventures. And Matt and I never want to see a McDonald's again! But it's going to be great to be out of the car for a while... 18 whole days in California before beginning the long trek back to PNG.

As soon as we're settled in CA I have a million stories and pictures I want to get up. But for now, some of the highlights are:

*fun day at the farm in Topeka
*playing Puerto Rico with dear friends whom we haven't seen in 8 years
*tornado sirens in Iowa
*the pool house in Iowa
*hotel with an indoor waterslide
*hanging with good friends in St. Louis
*Waterpark in Topeka
*reconnecting with friends whom we haven't seen in years... oh, it's so hard to have to say goodbye to them again for who-knows-how-many years. =(

Random side note: For years, I thought it would be hard to live away from the ocean. I love the beach, and water. But now I could easily live in Iowa, or even better, Colorado. They are just beautiful places. I wish we had more time on furlough. I would love to stay and camp for a week here in the Rockies. Sigh. Next furlough we've got to get some serious camping in. Yellowstone for sure! =)