Bubbles and more

Ok, I'm a little behind with some updates so I thought I would try and catch up. 

These are pictures taken a month ago when my parents returned from their winter vacation in Arizona. They brought the kids these bubble blowers and as you can see they were a big hit. I haven't gone through so much bubble fluid before in my life. I've resorted to buying it by the gallon at Meijer (it's cheaper anyways!). Each kid got their own bubble "gun" and do they ever shoot out a lot of bubbles!! Just look at how much fun Karlie is having even if she's not making the bubbles herself.

So, I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend.  Ours was fairly busy, but then Steve ended up taking Tuesday off as well to try and actually get a day of rest.  It was very nice and we were able to go grocery shopping and run a few errands that didn't take place over the weekend.  We went up and visited my parents on Sunday.  They were at a great campground by Big Rapids right on a river.  Very nice place and the kids loved it.  My parents were gracious enough to watch the kids for us while Steve and I snuck off to play golf at Tullymore.  Apparently, it's one of the best courses in the state and we got to play it for free - wahoo!  It's great to know people who know people (thanks Dad P!).  It was my first official golf round for the year and I'm not too disappointed.  I'm hoping to be able to golf more this year since the kids are older.

Let's see what else... oh yeah we got trees in the yard now!  Yeah!  I'm so excited because our yard just seemed to be wide open with no trees just a little landscaping in the front.  Our house in Oxford had some beautiful maple trees in the back yard that just have thrived so well - that's what we wanted to recreate here... so Steve and a couple of our neighbors planted 8 trees on Memorial Day.  They look so good ... here's some pictures.

New Maple in front.  The little one was there and then we have another new maple on the other side of the driveway.

View of the blossoming ??can't remember & maple right next to the deck stairs

View of the maple & 3 new evergreen trees from our deck - 

yes we do get quite the gathering of kids in the back yard/valley!  

Speaking of pictures, I'm so excited to be able to say I actually understand my camera better.  I had no idea that my camera was trying to help me know when the exposure level was set right.  Yes, I do have automatic settings on my camera, but as I was telling Steve you can get much better pictures if you keep the flash off and control the camera yourself.  I get it now and very excited to keep taking more pictures and figuring out where, what, how this new photography passion can be used.  How fun!  But with that said... I'm still FAR from professional so don't nit-pick my pictures too much.  It's an art that can be learned to a certain extent....

As for updates.... No, we still have not sold our house in Oxford.  What we thought was a 2nd showing a couple of weeks ago was actually just a rescheduled 1st showing.  The couple liked the house but wanted to find something with more acreage.  So, we're back to square one.  Please keep praying for us - we know the new owners are out there somewhere!  As for our friend Ryan Sweeney, he's hanging in there but really needs to get his new lungs.  He's been reactivated on the transplant list for the last week but still has not received word that lungs are available.  Here's the link again to Kristin's blog so you can keep up with their prayer requests.  Please keep praying of him.  

On a new note, my good friend Kim and her husband are currently in NE Africa on a missions trip.  They left last weekend and are due back sometime next week.  I know Jason has updated his blog in Amsterdam, but that's all I've heard from them.  She said she would email if she could, but she's overseas and doesn't exactly have means to stay electronically connected.  Please pray for them as they are helping others understand how much Jesus loves them.  Pray that they have a safe trip and God's name is glorified through all they say and do.  Click on "Kim's bog" in my links and that will take you to her husband Jason's blog for more updates.

WOW - this is probably my longest blog to date, so I will close for now.  I hope everyone reading this is doing well.  Have a great day!

Love,

Nikki