First Day of School 2013-2014

All ready for the first day

 Annual sidewalk creation

 Our teachers for 6th and 3rd grade

Kate and Ben both woke this morning very excited for their day....6th grade and 3rd grade..I cannot believe it! This is the last year that they will ever be in the same building (kind of a strange milestone )-; and a bit sad for this Mom too! )  As we were praying for their school, their friends, teachers, the upcoming year, etc.,. last night, we could not stop reflecting on how FAST Summer went by and how much fun that we have had.   

Good luck with school this year kiddo's ~~ Dad and I are very proud of you both and know that you will do great!!!

A day at the Fair

 the biggest bull -- weighing in at over 3,000 lbs!!! "Squirt"

 90,000+ of our friends at the fair with us that day

Kate and I enjoying our eggs on a stick and mini apple doughnuts -- yummy!!

     Just the Cairney girls ventured out to the Iowa State Fair this year. It was a beautiful day and Miss Kate and I had a blast!  Our 7+ hours there were filled with exploring many of the amazing barns/buildings filled with photography, balloon art, huge veggies, the butter cow, various animals (of all ages), quilts, horse shows, art displays, etc.,.   If  you can imagine it, it is most definitely at the Iowa State Fair. The weather was picture perfect and I was with my favorite girl...what more could a Mom ask for??? 

We did decide that our new favorite treat this year was the deep fried reese's candy bar on a stick....can't wait for next year & thanks for being my Fair buddy Kate!  I loved spending the day with you.....

Kate -- church camp

Kate with her best camp buddy Allison and their counselors for the week

closing ceremony songs for the families

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

The ladies of Creator Cabin

 

     Another year of camp in the memory books for Miss Kate and she absolutely LOVED it once again!!!  She was gone for a week up at Riverside, met some new friends, grew deeper into friendships that she already had (a.k.a Allison and Lindsey), learned to love God and his son Jesus in more exciting ways, and truly experience him being our "REMEDY". We miss her so much while she is gone, but know that God is working in her heart and soul at camp and love to see her abounding in his joy when we bring her home!   

Baseball tournament weekend

Ben was able to play in the "All Stars Tournament" this weekend and had a great time! This was the first time that he had done something like this and it allowed him to meet other boys in the Des Moines metro area and surrounding communities. What a fun afternoon of competitive ball! Great job Ben & we are proud of you buddy!

Nice job pitching

Rounding 3rd, ready to steal home, one of your favorite things to do!

Your team for the day

Moonlight Classic Bike Ride

 

Doug and I had a great time with some friends Saturday night for the Moonlight Classic Bike Ride.  It was a ten mile bike route around the midtown & downtown areas. It was a gorgeous night for a ride!  We even decorated our bikes with some glow sticks and adorned a bit of "glowing jewelry" for the occasion (-;

Zimmerman Reunion

 Grandpa Frank and Grandma Celia Zimmerman

 (Celie's parents)

Starting top left:  Uncles - Don, Jerry, Br. Mike, Joe,

Aunts -  Marge, Marie, Celie and Terese

 

We were able to attend the Zimmerman reunion in Westphalia on Saturday afternoon. It is always fun to get to see everyone (extended cousins, Aunts, Uncles, etc.,. ) that we have missed in years past and this weekend was a great time. Doug had family members there from Texas, Minnesota, Nebraska and North Dakota that he had not seen in years so that was great.  We played family trivia games, looked thru family/event timelines, photos, played baseball with the kids, enjoyed delicious food, and did as much "catching up" that 5 hours on a Saturday afternoon will allow.  I enjoy these gatherings also so that I can try and put names with faces to all of the stories that I have heard over the years. I remember when I met Doug and he was telling me how large his parents families were....we did a "grandchild count" over the weekend for Frank and Celia's family and if I got my numbers right, Doug has 48 first cousins. -- WOW!!! Family is such a blessing...

Father's Day

On Sunday we were able to spend the day with Papa and Grandma Cairney. We enjoyed a wonderful meal together on the back deck, watched some baseball and golf, and caught up on the latest "family happenings (-; "  We treated Doug to a new bike rack and some of his favorite "oatmeal raisin cookies". We had planned to take the kids up to the bike trail/high trestle bridge, but all of this rainy weather put a damper on those plans.  Happy Father's Day to you Doug!!! Thanks for being the amazing Dad that you are  (-; We LOVE you!!!