Summer Quarter Update, part 3

Last part of our summer quarter update...

I think I totally missed half of August. It seems like it was gone in two weeks. I guess that's what happens when you have good weather! More help from family on the barn..is it done yet already?! Sorry, but the answer to that is nope.

We made it to the Iowa State Fair mid August and ate lots of greasy foods which I've been mysteriously craving. They had a fantastic learning center where you could watch different farm animals give birth. Being the Animal Science major, I at least saw the beauty in it! They also had a Hands on Farm for the kiddos where you rode tractors, collected eggs from the chicken coop, milked a cow, planted a garden and a bunch of other stuff related to farm work. A bit skewed from reality on the farm but close enough for the kids to get it!

We did our extended Lins family vacation this month in Door County, Wisconsin. I recommend this area to anyone looking for a relaxing vacation. Tracy, Ryan's sister, found a great house on the bay of Lake Michigan for us to stay. I think Ryan's siblings all got a taste of what it's like having an "active" toddler around. Josiah loved the water, especially riding on the raft with Opa and Oma. Katie got attacked by a crawfish attempting to catch it to show Josiah. We also checked out a winery up there (can you believe we had the guts to bring a toddler with?) and listened to a band. Josiah thoroughly enjoyed dancing to the music.

Stay tuned, we'll have a September update (perhaps completed in December) but there will be some more news for you all!

Summer Quarter Update, part 2

Then July came along....
I can pretty much say almost all our weekends were consumed by building the horse barn! But we had some great help from family. Thank God for family! Katie's parents, her sister and her family, Katie's Aunt Paulette and Uncle Lewain and cousin Shanon and her girls all came down for a long weekend over the fourth of July. Amidst all the hard work, we managed to have fun too. Okay, so mostly the girls had some fun but we're so grateful for all the time and effort they so generously gave. Shanon even taught Josiah how to eat ice cream from a cone (I know, hard to believe I hadn't yet served him up ice cream that way). Paulette and Lewain have made it down with my parents to help out several times since then. We are so thankful for all your help you guys!

Ryan's parents made it out to help many times as well. As much as Duane has said he's no carpenter, he really was an asset!

The whole extended family McKenzie clan had a vacation together in Wisconsin Dells also in July. We stayed at Chula Vista Resort in a 3 bedroom condo. It worked out wonderfully as it had it's very own indoor outdoor waterpark with lots to do for kids of all ages. We celebrated the parent's 35th Anniversary Carribean style at Marleys while we were there. We got some tickets to the Tommy Bartlett Water, Air and Stage show - minus the water since Lake Delton is gone. Josiah discovered snow cones there, another messy fun time. Speaking of new discoveries for Josiah, one of his noteworthy accomplishments is peeing off a balcony 6 stories up. Ryan couldn't have been any more proud.