A Rock Star in Our Midst....

Someone sure has a good imagination and loves to sing and pretend. 

Miss Rock Star!  *LOL*

Sunday Fun ....

Jorden had fun with the other kids this morning at Sunday School as they learned a little about being filled with God's Spirit, and played some games to reinforce today's Gospel lesson...John 6:63-69 "It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’  Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’"

One game used balloons, which, without air blown into them, they are pretty lifeless, and don't do what they were intended to do by the creator.  Much like ourselves, we need to be filled with God's Spirit, to have the kind of life God wants for us, and for us to do the things God, the Creator, made us to do and to be.

We also played a bubble game outside to "catch the Spirit".

Jorden and Fr. Bill.

After Church Jorden went over to Fr. Bill and said, "Fr. Bill, my other Gramma has "clothes" like you have on too!" ..*L*   Her other gramma is an Episcopal priest too, so her vestments would be similar... funny the things kids notice huh?

The Birthday Weekend Continues....

Great Nana and Jorden
Happy Birthday Mom!!

Jorden and Lady (my dog sister) *L*



It's been a pretty eventful weekend ... with celebrating birthdays, a family reunion, to Mom's health scare (and rescue squad call yesterday afternoon - she's fine now), Kaine and Jorden coming home last night for the weekend, and more.  This afternoon, we went over to see how Mom and Dad were doing, and deliver birthday hugs, kisses and gifts.

Trying out the skyflier!

Of course a trip to Papa and Nana's isn't complete until you ride the skyflier in the back yard!


Daddy Kaine and Jorden
playing Papa's drum.





Skyflier fun!

And of course hugs and kisses for all!

Papa & Jorden - hugs goodbye



Afterward, we headed to the Waterfront for an early dinner birthday for Kasey.

These two are trouble! *lol*



Daddy Kaine and Jorden



Fun, Fun, Fun!

This is a collage of photos that Kasey took...  

Sorry that the other birthday boy, John-John and Janel, Jake, Josh and Jeff couldn't be here ...but I heard Jake was doing some serious goal scoring and defending at the hockey tournament upnorth!





Playing Dress Up - Miss Fashion-ista!

Jorden loves to dress up ... and make believe she is one of many of the princesses from some of the movies she loves.  I have several cute "princess" dresses, and others for her to wear.  She had fun trying on some of my hats with the latest addition to her wardrobe of dress up clothes.

And she especially LOVED the tutu that my friend Maggie made for her and sent to us!  Thanks Maggie!!  She loves to dance and twirl in it!

Funniest quote from Jorden this weekend, so far... "I am a beautiful dream come true!!"

(She IS! *lol*)

And earlier, she was busy being an artist!

She has a bit of a Picasso style to her painting of her Grandpa John here...*G*

Happy Birthday to our "twins" born 9 years apart!

Today, August 24th, is the birthdays of our oldest son, John (lovingly referred to as John-John), and daughter, Kasey (often called Kasey-bug).  One born in 1974, one in 1983 ... twinsies! *L*  It was a LOOOONG pregnancy, eh?

John and family are upnorth this weekend at a Hockey Tournament, Kasey is home and we enjoyed a birthday dinner of crab claws, fish fry, summer salad and berry angel food birthday cake!

We'll celebrate with son, John, later when they are all available too... until then.... Loving them, remembering each birthday with them, and the blessings they have been to us. 
Thank you Lord for our children,  John and Kasey, bless them this day of their birth, now and always, in all ways!

Mitchell Family Reunion

Noah, Amanda, Aaron, Chase, Jesse & Matt

Great fun tonite getting together with the Mitchell side of the family at my Dad and Mom's. Always nice to see them!

Dad, Owen, Joyce, Paul, Aunt Char & Lona.



Harriett, Mom and John



We even got to talk to and see Uncle Bob,
 in Florida via Lona's phone!





Lisa, Paige, Chellie and Melissa

We also celebrated Mom's birthday and others in August and September.

Basketball is always happening
when there is a family gathering.

Patti, Lona, Harriett, John and Bill.

Chellie never likes to just smile nice!





Relatives from Florida, Janesville, Beloit, Delavan, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva and surrounding areas came, unfortunately about 30-40 members of the family couldn't attend.

Paul, Lona, Dad, Aunt Char and Mom

Mom overestimated how much corn on the cob we'd all eat... there must have been at LEAST 4 doz ears left.. so some of us went to work cutting it off the cobs.

Children of the Corn!!








The leftovers!  Good work family!

Junk in Your Trunk - Looking for Sellers!

 Calling all Sellers (and Bargain Hunters).  Check out this opportunity!  Great for those who have some stuff to sell, but not enough for their own rummage sale.  For a donation of $15 to Christ Church (proceeds go to Youth Ministry Events for the community), you can have a parking space and sell from your trunk.  All your sales go to YOU.  Check out the flyer for more info!

Donut Seeds

More fun things for fund raisers, stocking stuffers, gifts or whatever.   Feel free to copy these for your own use! 

Our Youth Group had fun making these, and sharing a Christian message with them.

Check out the Cow Seeds we also made (see a previous post from today).

I do have a pdf formatted picture of the labels I can share with you, contact me and let me know.

Genuine Wisconsin Cow Seeds

Over the years our Youth Groups have made these to use as gifts, at Christmas they sold well as stocking stuffers, we've used them for Fund Raisers, in visitor gift bags at Church, and more.

Feel free to copy this idea and use it too!

Genuine Wisconsin Cow Seeds! 

This is what is printed on the back:

Directions:
1. Plant seeds at least six feet apart - cows grow BIG!
2. Plant seeds right side up or cows will grow upside down.
3. Cow Seeds are self-fertilizing.
4. Be patient - cows need time to grow.
5. For best results, moo softly while watering.
6. Don't let the secular world "milk ya" - in Jesus Christ there is fullness of joy!  He is the way, the truth, and the life!
May His Joy be in you, and may your joy be complete!

Zoo Trip with Christ Church

Christ Church sponsored a FREE Zoo Trip for parents and kids in our community today.  We rented a bus and headed to the Madison Henry Vilas Zoo.  It was a fun outing, with perfect weather!

Most of our group before we headed out ....




 

Who has a balloon?!

We had an icebreaker, fun game, as we traveled there ... balloons are always a hit with kids (and adults!)...


The Madison Zoo is a great free zoo with lots of interactive things for kids to see and try out, as well as the zoo animals.

Giraffe getting fresh leaves.

A somewhat deranged ostrich

Some of the zoo animals were funny, some a bit edgy..*L*

Josh and Jeff



Gramma MADE me stand here
for this photo!  *lol*









Lots of photo places for us to play in!

fun, fun, fun!

And if you think it was easy
getting into this... it wasn't!

I think the bear wanted to eat us!*L*

looking for a tender morsel to devour!

A fun day!  Thanks Christ Church!