where do I begin?

Well,  I missed blogging so many little events that I wanted to share, that it becomes overwhelming and I don't know where to begin so.... I finally just picked a spot and decided to share a few photos to try and catch up!

Rain storm in June--yes rain is normal here, but not warm rain that makes you want to play in it!

The girls had a blast getting purposely wet.

Taylor telling me to wait :)  a favorite word around our home :(

Hannah and Natalie getting ready to perform a trampoline number that they had practiced all afternoon 

The teacher

dont they look excited!  They were wonderfully behaved at Taylors play

T. dressed as the man in this scene.  She was support in about 4 different costumes.

She is the one sitting-- her mother needed help with the camera and took some awful shots-this was one of the only ones.

cousins and friends show their support after the performance

Mom and Dad proud of their performer!

Katelyn's cousin birthday celebration with yummy chocolate cake.

Nothing like sugaring-up the kids before bed!

Bailey helping Katelyn open her gift.

Katelyn and friends at the "Friend birthday party"

before going swimming--Mom forgot to take camera to the pool!

The girls frosted their own cakes before we left for swimming.

Beyond the mark???

OK, so now it's my turn to give this a go . . . Tricia gave me permission!

Over the past few months I've been building up my collection of leather & furs for my work as a leatherwork merit badge counselor.  With the scouts I've had a blast making coonskin caps - yes, Daniel Boon style, the real deal.  Over 20 different leather traders, craftsman & taxidermists have donated samples.  My collection now includes over 50 different items like fox, buffalo, elephant, kangaroo, skark, rattlesnake, etc.  (see  www.coonskincap.blogspot.com)  

Katelyn's teacher invited me to her class to learn about animals along the Oregon Trail & I brought a bunch of furs & skins.  We've showed the cousins & neighbor kids.  One nephew slept with the grizzly bear skin one night when he visited.  Another night our friend's son slept with the super wild & fuzzy musk ox hide.  And Natalie loves to play with the wolf tail!

However, on Sunday I wondered if my little collection had gone beyond the mark!  I taught Katelyn's class on Sunday and we discussed the 10 lepers.  Katelyn explained the story in her own words;
"Well, Jesus went to a village and there were 10 leopards.  Now, these were NOT the leopards with fur, but they were the leopards with yucky skin because they were really really sick.  And Jesus healed them and only one came back to say thanks."

Darren