1st Camping Trip

We ventured to the hot and windy state of Nebraska for our first family camping trip! Derrick and I have been debating for 3 years now if we should attempt to camp with pack 'n plays and baby food. I'm glad we decided to wait.

These outdoor excursions are called "adventures" for a reason, and this trip was no different.

We arrived literally with about 15 minutes to pop our tent up and throw everything we'd need for the night in it before IT POURED RAIN, BLEW CRAZY WIND and HAILED.

 It put a little damper on the mood after arrival, yet the kids were excited to get their sleeping bags situated. It also left ample time before bed for jumping from air mattress to air mattress in the tent and time for silly pictures (to pass the time).

Our brand new tent passed the test, however only with a little help. Derrick literally stood for 10 or 20 minutes during the worst part of the storm holding the tent poles sturdy so they wouldn't snap. Thankfully it worked for us, but our friends and their 4 kids in the neighboring tent were forced to pile in their car quickly when their tent collapsed in the pouring rain just before midnight :( Positive spirits that they are, they were back the next morning! 

Tent pics during the storm.

Birthday Boy! Eli turned 2 the day we arrived for our 1st camping trip! I brought little glow-in-the-dark straws and Rice Krispie Treats with candles for a little celebration, but the rain ruined that plan! 

Kai's picture of us.

 We camped at Lake Mconaughey. It was a scorcher (>100 degrees) the entire trip after our initial thunderstorm, so the lake felt awesome! Thanks to the Clark family wagon, we drove down beside the water; 9 kids, 6 adults, a million sand toys, towels and campchairs. Did I mention the suburban also got stuck taking us to the beach shore??? It took several hours of digging, 4 tries by beefy 4-wheel drive trucks and a call to a local tractor to get it out! No worries, this is the stuff men live for.....we drove out there to the same spot the next day! That is adventure.

The kids were highly entertained by the water. Mainly they dug in the sand, transferred water onto their sand creations, and laid in the muddy water that resulted. It was messy and oh so much fun!

Addie-girl diggin'!

Addie, Kai and Reesie laying in their "hot tub."

So thankful we had great reason to lug our little boat (given to us from Derrick's grandpa, Thanks Louie!) from South Dakota to Colorado and then back to Nebraska!! It's a little fishing boat with 2 chairs, oars or a tiny motor if you please. They kids LOVED it (actually so did the dads)! The guys gave the kids rides around the shallow waters. Rev (Matt) took the big boys out fishing a time or two as well. But honestly, the kids enjoyed it in the water as much as they did out of the water :)

Rev and Derrick giving ride to Kai, Eli and Hallie

Ahoy all matees----entertainment during dinner prep

Me and my hunny

Eli taking a snack break under the shade canopy (which was a life saver on this trip).

You can thank me later babe!!! Derrick sunning his WHITE feet.

Just trying to ignore the ridiculous wind on our last night!

As we were tired and crisp on our last night of camping, we weren't able to enjoy the over-the-fire dessert creation Sarah planned for us because of hurricane-like winds. So we just enjoyed it together without fire. I can't say the trip was necessarily relaxing, but definitely fun. I enjoyed seeing my kids experience the whole camping adventure.

Addie just glad to be coloring in the air-conditioned car on the way home.

Call it blessed

So I'm forcing myself to call it "blessed" that we have had a schedule filled-to-the-brim this month of June. To be brutally honest, it goes against my nature to see it that way. I get tired, cranky, and overwhelmed. I guess in my head, June is a restful month with cool temperatures. But that just isn't how it went down this month. All the jam packed STUFF that we've filled our month with has also been filling in other ways as well. It IS blessings and we will call it just that. 

We've had 2 vacations (with the kids is it ever really vacation?), more family time together, more quality time with skaters and encouragement with Process Skateboard Ministry, extra work which = extra money, a WILD week helping and attending VBS with 350 kids, a visit from our favorite NE cousins, a new website for Process (skateprocess.com), Eli turned 2, we have an awesome 20 yr. old guy named Rich living with us for the summer, we ventured on our 1st family camping trip (more to come on that), BBQs and fresh fruits and veggies, popsicles and iced tea, and summer fellowship with friends and extended family! Now that I list it all out, it sounds pretty darn good!

Kai geared up for his 1st day of Gold Metal Camp VBS!

The 7 cousins! Issac 4, Kai 4, Drew 7, Eli 2, Addie 3, Ella 3, and little Tessa 10 mos in front.

Three precious girls with their smiles!

These girls are 6 days apart. Each visit they play and bond more and more. So cool! They both happen to love the camera this night............

The boyz representing! Not so into the camera :)

Maybe capturing a few personalities here??

MooMoo (grandma) had gotten all the kids bubble guns. Some of the guns weren't working quite right but they compensated as bubble stackers, leaving one very wet and soapy carpet on the deck!

June Jumbalaya!

The name of this post is strictly how we are feeling with >100 degrees every day around here, nothing to do with the acutual content.....just spicy!

We got to visit Grandma and Grandpa earlier this month for a family wedding. It was busy with wedding events, but we squeezed a few other outings in as well, including Dinosaur Park, a dip in the lake, a short hike and some bike riding practice.

Eli, Kai, and Addie riding the Brontasauras tail at Dinosaur Park.

Eli perched on a Stegasauras.

We attended my Uncle Jon and new Aunt Pam's wedding, which was all held in beautiful Custer State Park. It was fun to drive through and spend time in the Black Hills each day for the different events. Another bonus: we got added time with Uncle Reid, soon-to-be Aunt Kelly, and Uncle Kyle and other family as well. After the pre-wedding BBQ died down, we took a dip in the Center Lake.

Eli and Kelly in the lake

Warming up with Uncle Reid

My mom's sister, Bonnie stayed with us in town one of the days......my kids all LOVE her!

Bon and Addie painting toes

The wedding ceremony was a beautiful little shady spot along the creek and the reception was in a pavilion at the Custer State Game Lodge.

Daddy and Addalyn in her "garden fairy dress."

The whole Hansen crew

This little guy was the life of the party....sneaking cake and dancing up a storm!!

A little Catch-UP

I'm playing catch up as usual.....story of my life. Derrick took the kids to a park in north CO Springs to watch the Air Force Graduation Thunderbirds show! They waited patiently with playground, open grass field and Fun Dip. :) I remember doing the same in the heat at Ellsworth AF Base in SD as a kid. Very exciting when air transport is still a very foreign concept.

Addie happy to watch the AF graduation Thunderbirds!

Fun with Fun Dip waiting for the Thunderbirds to start!

 So far this summer season countless hours have been spent in sand and dirt. It is not uncommon to undress for baths and have 1/4 cup of dirt fall out of undies/diapers. I used to huff and puff at the extra work in sweeping it up every time, but now it like part of the routine. :) I encourage myself with the thought, ONE upside to not having grass.

The boys transferring dirt around the yard using a handkerchief and saucer sled. 

Daddy Day= Sprayground (play area of water fountains for those of you kidless readers). I'm starting to catch on why Daddy Day is so much more fun than Mommy Days........1. they are fewer of them. 2. no groceries, bank, or other errands 3. bottom line, there's just something special about our daddy. :)

Eli warming himself on the pavement.

Addie obviously having a blast!

She actually got super soaked!

An awkward stretch/flex to show the forearm tatoos!

Introducing Rich, our new roommate! Rich is 20 and staying with us for the majority of the summer while he attends the Ministry Apprentice Program (MAP) at one of our local churches. He's exploring a future in youth-focused ministry. He's great to have around, as you can see. He reads the kids books, plays hide-and-seek, does dishes, dog sits, mows the lawn.......HE'S GREAT! More importantly, he's a super genuine guy that loves the Lord and is committed to pursuing Him and loving people! We are psyched to have him!