Days With the Duerksens

We've had summer visitors, summer campers, why not summer projects?  Chelan assembled materials and plans and got to work with Caiden on a new picnic table for our deck.  Cambry even got in on the action by helping Chelan stain it.  It only took them 5-6 hours to complete (over two days), but I think it's beautiful! Bathroom remodeling has begun!  Last Saturday was, as Chip Gaines calls it, "Demolition Day!"  Chelan and Caiden spent the afternoon and evening tearing out sheetrock and cabinets, which, by the way, had been lovingly built by Duane so many years ago.  It's a little bittersweet when I think about all the hard work that went into building them, but hopefully, they will still come in handy somewhere!  Where a wall and cabinet once stood. remnants. . . I am so thankful for their teamwork on such projects and the learning that is taking place through them!

Summertime means time at Camp Mennoscah - at least for two of our kids!  My mom and I dropped off Delaney on July 12 for First Camp.  This is just a small taste of camp for first-timers - one full day and 2 nights.  She had been looking forward to it for weeks and almost couldn't wait for me to leave so she could get her camping experience started!  She had a great time and is ready to go back for a longer week next year.  She even slept through most of the 5" of rain the camp received on her last night there! Bunking with her good friend, Britton Delaney with one of her counselors, Valerie The day after picking Delaney up, I hauled Caiden back out there for a full week of camp.  He, too, had a great week, although quite hot and sticky.  As a bonus, he got to stay in the new cabin, "Sandbar," with Jacob Schrag.  There were plenty of other familiar faces there as well.   Dustyn, Caiden, Jacob   "Really?  I s...

Our California family arrived for a visit in mid-June.  A friend's wedding brought them out here and they were able to stay for a few days before driving back home. They got in on the last little bit of wheat harvest - a first for Chayce, Finn, and Boden I believe.  We also enjoyed a large family gathering, swimming, playing with kittens, eating (of course), celebrating Finn's birthday, squeezed in a family photo shoot, enjoyed various activities outside, and yes, the kids even had plenty of screen time inside (sigh).  The road between the house and the farm became a dusty, well-worn 4-wheeler/Mule/bike path, and we were thankful for the time we could spend with everyone together again. I didn't do a very good job with taking pictures, but here are some images I caught from their days with us. Within 30 min. of arrival - this happened!  Minecraft on the Kindle. . . Finished harvest together! "Tips" - a basketball game A race organized...