Sands Down the Best Dune Fun on any Coast

Pistol River, Oregon - USA

Maggie Sees a Seal

Seeing the Pacific Ocean at Patrick's Point

Family Farewell to America

When you're away from your homeland, you want to see some of the places that make it great.

Thank God we got to see the Redwood Forest.

AWEsome Tree Pillars

Got to see the world's tallest trees on our way down the west coast, which was the first leg of our journey back to a prairie nation pretty short on trees.

Fallout from Froze Out Herds

Here's a good article on Mongolia's recent extreme winter and the resulting poverty cycle.

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/61446

Johanna turns five years old

We spent the 4th of July celebrating Johanna's birthday along with America's before leaving for Mongolia.

Deadly Mongol Winter

Millions of Livestock have died, leaving their shepherds likely refugees come spring.

Here's a picture of one herdsman with his flock in deep snows that starve them.

mongoliax-large.jpg

Read the full article from USA Today.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/winter/2010-02-24-mongolian-winter_N.htm

You can give to relief efforts at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Website:

https://www.cmalliance.org/give/online-giving?page=contactinfo

Christmas Vacation

The kids all got homemade hats for Christmas. Lydia lost 3 teeth while out of school for two weeks.

American Christmas Eve

Santa House Call

The girls were suprised on Christmas eve when Saint Nick showed up before they were in bed. They were scared they stayed up to late. It was 6:15 p.m.

Ohio Amish Country

And that means Cheese!

Front Porch in Pajamas

Jaydyn is 3 and Karys is 2 (front left)

Halloween at Grandmas

Settling into Ohio

It's been almost 2 months since we moved into our house in Akron, Ohio.  We live near a nice park named Firestone, after the man who founded the rubber company here.

The girls love to walk or ride bikes to the park to play.  Maggie learned to ride a bike a few weeks after we got here.  She like to ride around the block on sidewalks whenever she can.  Lydia and Maggie had soccer camp in the park for a week.  They loved it!  

Maybe that will be a good experience to get them ready for 1st and 2nd grade in September.  It will be their first time in American school.  Firestone Elementary School is adjoins the park.

We just returned from summer vacation at Lake Erie.  Renee and family have spent a week in a white cabin overlooking the lake for the last 31 years.  The girls enjoyed 6 nights of splashing in the lake and spending time with their cousins.  Six girls under 7 years old was an adventure. 

Add to both sets of parent grandma and grandpa to even the score at six adults for six kids.  A great time was had by all.

Soon we'll travel out to Washington state for more summer fun with the grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles out there.