Catching Up

Wellll it's been awhile, but I can say that we've been busy!
So to make up for the lack of posts on my part, here's a big one looking back at a few highlights of the last few months in the Fountain Home.
 

We hosted a baby shower for a sweet friend in... July? who had her 10th child just a few days ago. We got to hold the baby 3 hours after she was born. =)

Putting the finishing touches on the fruit torte.

Her friends and family. =)

Outline, outline, outline, paint, paint, cut, cut, snip, cut, cut, cut.

Daddy turned 46! We had some friends over and had a great day. Happy Birthday, again, Daddy!

One of my mom's aunts was visiting from California, and my mom's brother and his family were in town from Tulsa as well. We had everyone over and celebrated Aunt Esther's birthday.

Gift Baskets..

Last Friday and Saturday our church put on an "Economics Conference." About 170 families (800 people) came from about 25 states and as far as England and Canada to be encouraged and see things from a Biblical point of view.

Our family was commisioned to put together some gift baskets for the speakers. I think we made 10 small and 2 large. It was a nice project to have. I think they turned out pretty well!
This is a small:

First Walk

These are the promised photos of the first walk in our new house.

That is not a giant multicolored turtle on the far left. It's Avery with one of their cardboard shields strapped to his back.

Andrew T. and Abigail baptized!

Two Sundays ago..

Abigail's friend, Katrina, was baptized the same day!

Anna's 5; Allen's a deck builder

I realized I skipped a birthday!

Twelve days ago, Anna Banana turned 5.

We celebrated in the usual way: having cake and icecream with Grandma and Grandpa (this time at their house), and singing about 6 birthday songs while the candles melt and the wax starts to drip onto the cake.

July and August Happenings: Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

So. These aren't really in chronological order, or any order for that matter. But, here we go!

First thing's first (obviously):

Birthdays!

We had Grandma and Grandpa over on Saturday to celebrate 3 birthdays:

Grandpa's- August 15th- He turned 79!

Allison's- August 16th- Her 14th! (That hasn't quite sunk in for me yet..)

Andrew T.'s - August 9th- He reached double digits; 10!

Grandma made her famous "Shrimp, Noodles, and Broccoli." It is a Fountain favorite.

The Birthday Trio

Allen and Grandpa
Aidan Boy

Grandpa appreciating Anna's drawing, complete with a note written in her cute, wobbly script.



Anna Banana

Laughing about the 10 lb fishing pole... or something. =]
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Okay, this wasn't in July or August, but it still needed to be put up.

Annina hosted a book tea at their house (with one of the most beautiful views ever... I think that view is what made me appreciate the prairie and want to move there as opposed to the forrest.)

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The Fourth of July in Thornton.

They've never had these guys drop down at night before! It was really cool.

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Hanging out with the Kaisers

Andrea in her element.

This made me realize just how long her hair is. Beautiful!

Ethan terrorizing me with a chicken...

One of Daniel's cute puppies.

Sam making puppy smile (Ethan in the background getting into the barn with the puppies through the only entrance, unless you can figure out a broken combination lock.)

Allison thinking about walking off with him.

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Nathan Clark George Concert at the Fine's

It happened to be on Daddy's birthday and also Mr. Martinez's birthday.

Beautiful property!

They were so generous to host this.

Very talented! One of Andrea's favorite artists (second only to Josh Groban).

Some of the boys.

Avery, Peter, Trent, Brice, Luke

Seth Cohen!

I got to hog the baby for a bit.

Pretty Andrea!!

Sammy (I think?) Fine

caught with a messy face. =]

Wary of those who wanted his cake.

Haha I love this!

holding his fork, but not using it

sunset

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Days at the Park
A few times after church some families have gotten together and played softball and volleyball, and sometimes basketball and ultimate frisbee. It's a very fun time of fellowship.

I still don't know what Jared's plan was here...

If you click on the picture you can see it enlarged.

Becky Martin

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The Fawn

One day while most of us were playing volleyball, some of the boys were in the nearby field of waist-high weeds playing with their airsoft guns. Out of the weeds came running this little fawn. I have never seen some of those boys run so fast. Pretty soon, Isaac Nabeta brought it down with a graceful diving grab. Apparently, "it's just like catching a goat!"

I can't believe we got to pet a baby deer!

At first, we thought it might die of fright, but it calmed down soon enough and we kept him long enough for each of us to pet him. What an experience!

Bradley.

He chased the fawn down, and Isaac is behind him.

Fun times!
We got mostly everyone in on this one.

Good thing Timmy has Anna's stuffed cat wrapped up in a blanket! =]

We let him go and later saw him walking with his mother and sibling.

We've gotten rained on a couple times (some times worse than others...) but the weather afterwards is always well worth it. I don't know how well this will show up, but there's a rainbow in this picture.

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Mr. Chapa's Retirement Ceremony

At the US Air Force Academy

Mr. Chapa happened to actually fly that very plane sitting there years ago.

We were fortunate enough to end up in Mr. Chapa's group for the tour. It was so fun getting to hear his experiences and getting know him in that way. He has such a neat story. It was also was also great hearing someone we knew explain everything.

And I love the picture above. I took it thinking it would come out looking cool because Mr. Chapa, a great leader, is in the foreground and the next generation of men is behind him... or something like that.

It looks pretty good at first glance, but then you look again and it's hilarious because every single one of the boys is doing something strange... haha =]

Awww...

Oh, Andrea and I got a new pocket sized Canon camera because a) I really wanted something to take some videos with, b)Andrea wanted a camera, and c) I didn't want to always have to carry around my camera bag full of lens and everything when I just want a simple picture. Anyway, it obviously doesn't zoom as well as my Rebel does, which is why I even thought of mentioning this in the first place.

"Aw," again.
Bradley and Anna.
She loves being held.

20 years, and he accomplished more than most men will in a lifetime in that occupation!

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Wow, I don't know if I'll ever do a blog with this many pictures again...

Guess I'll just have to keep up! =]

CHEC pictures

These are the pics Amy said she would put up.

Here's Allen, Showing off his booth.

It's really funny because Allen had like five people everyday coming
to his booth and just fighting with the swords.
Those are the people who are in the background.




Here's Andrea and me at her booth.
(Look at how pretty it is!)

Allen and his booth are ready for customers!
(Didn't Amy do a good job on that poster?!)

We're ready for customers too!

There's Allen and Kevin.

If you squint you can read what the signs say. :)