CAMP WEEK!!!

You all know how much I love camp. Well, this summer was no different. (Except we didn't get to host counselors because the time commitment overlapped with our hosting the Iraqi students - bummer!) This year Owen and Rebecca got to go to Pine Cove Camp in the City.

She was soooo excited!  (And Owen was too but he was playing it cool - "I went last summer" - aka, I got this.)

Getting ready to carpool with Oliver - Nathan, R and O.

And Maggie got to do Champions/WAYA camp (she did so well being a big girl and going without a sib)!

Some funny stories about Rebecca from the week. I heard from my friend Katie that Emmy (her daughter in Rebecca's "cabin") that Rebecca got lost one day at camp. Apparently she couldn't remember which counselor was hers and she wondered off following a different group - it totally did NOT phase her. To give a fuller picture - I asked her all week what her counselor's name was and she never quite new - kept saying "something ABCD or something." (Remember, at Pine Cove counselors have wacky story-type names and at the end of the week they tell their kids their real name.) Rebecca's counselor was "Noki" (short for No Queso something or other). Her real name was Hannah (which Rebecca still refuses to remember). Rebecca is a self-diagnosed forgetster. We're working on it...

Owen's counselor (in the super blurry photo) was "Tearin" (short for "Tearin' Up My Heart") but in real life goes by Charlie. Sweet guy was actually staying with the Other Mezgers who hosted 4 guy counselors this year - so fun!

Goes without saying that the kids had a wonderful, fun, exhausting week. They also got loved on by some great counselors who love kids and love Jesus. I just love gospel-driven nature of Pine Cove - reminds me of Buckner (tear!). 

One of the coolest things they do at the end of the week is get a character quality card that talks about a positive character trait the counselor noticed in each kiddo. They nailed our kids.

Can't wait for camp next summer. Ooooooooooooweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

July Visitors

We have had a few houseguests recently - and they've each come from FAR away!

First we hosted Zahraa and Koraw through the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (we did this back in 2013 as well). Zahraa was from Baghdad and Koraw was from a city in northern Iraq/Kurdistan. They were in Austin for about a month through their program with UT and stayed with us about 24 hours one weekend.

The first time we hosted students we didn't plan enough activity, so this time we changed things up. Shortly after we picked them up on Saturday we headed to Mt. Bonnell - it was hot, but the view of the city is worth it. And they're from Iraq so the heat is something they're used to! (We took some great group selfies but somehow I didn't end up with any of them.) After that we went to the big Whole Foods (telling them over and over that most US grocery stores aren't quite this impressive.) They were overwhelmed with the choices but enjoyed it (I think). Then we went home and got the kids somewhat occupied while we (and our friends Bo and Sally) talked and taught them how to play Settlers of Catan - the universal language of board game love - while our combined 5 kids ran around crazy in the background (next time - sitter!). 

Post-breakfast time w/ R2D2 on Sunday

They were interested in checking out an American church so we went to our St. John's campus the next morning (and ran into several people they knew already - small world) - they really enjoyed the music and filmed almost all of the worship/message on their phones. Then we went to eat sushi (new to them!) and of course our van battery died so that was a little adventure. 

Me and the kids and Z and K inside eating while Kyle dealt with the car.

 Then we went on a Duck Boat Tour of Austin - so fun! O & R had done it before with Bee, but the rest of us hadn't. After a great little tour on land of downtown Austin our bus drove into the lake and we got a little lake tour as well! 

There was an issue with not enough seats so Kyle sat up in the almost-Captain's chair. :)

The girls took SO many pictures!

Quaaaack! (Oh, we're in a parking garage waiting for Kyle to jump our van for the 2nd time today - yes, issues.)

After that it was back to campus for them and back to real life for us. Just like when we did the program in 2013 - we were so blessed by getting to know these gals. They live in an increasingly hard part of the world, where you can't take any freedoms (personal, religious, safety, education, etc.) for granted. They are so bright and kind and we wish them all the best. 

By this time you all know Carlos. He's from all over, and even occasionally Austin. Well this visit he brought his girlfriend - Bronwyn, who hails from South Africa (and has the awesome accent to prove it). They were just in town for couple of nights - towards the end of a whilwind tour of the western US (before heading to NYC). And they did it all (mostly) from this awesome tent on TOP of Carlos' truck! (I didn't get a good shot of the set up - but its essentially a box that sits on the top of his truck and just pops up/open, ladder comes down). The kids had a great time playing in it while Carlos cleaned it out.

They had their bikes with them so we (all 7 of us) road to Kerbey Lane for breakfast. And of course he had to take a spin on our littlest ride just for fun.

Group selfie with all of us! 

So fun to meet Bronwyn! Until next time Uncle C...

Happy Birfday 'Merica

Oh the neighborhood Fourth of July parade - how we look forward to you each year and wonder if we'll make through you without tears. This year - the answer was YES! All three kids rode their bikes and neither Kyle nor I ended up carrying a kid or a bike (or both)! It was awesome!

Popsycles afterwards to celebrate

Maggie

Owen & Nathan (I think Rebecca was such a mover that we didn't get a pic of her.)

After a fun cookout at the Murrays with neighbors we (meaning Kyle and I) took a monster nap while the kids watched a movie - we were all zonked after being outside in the (not too hot yet by Austin summer standards) heat. 

We toyed with going to see actual fireworks but just didn't feel up to it and the kids were more excited about shooting off "their own" fireworks (thanks to a kit from Pam). So we started off in a nearby parking lot and then realized it wasn't really that loud so we went home.

Throwing poppers!

Sparklers!

Happy Birthday America!!!

Maggie - Ms. Stacy's Class 2014-2015

(Next three posts - pics and school/art work from the 2014-2015 school year by kiddo.)

Looking at Maggie now I seriously can't believe this was her at the beginning of the year.

Since our preschool is a co-op, parents are in the classroom one class (for each kid) about every 4-6 weeks so we get to observe/participate. Even so, some of the picks (that Ms. Stacy took) sort of surprise me!

Like her loving the quiet box -  funny since she's so loud.

LOVE this one - reading the "Maggie" book we made about our family at the beginning of the year. What do you think she's so surprised see???

Remember when Owen did everything lying on his side?

Honestly, much of Maggie's art ends up in special long-term storage called the trash because she's not at an age (or interest-level) where she's doing anything that, well, special. I think that sounds awful to actually say but art just isn't her thing at least at this point, so I file a couple of swirly, splotchy masterpieces like this and a few more sticker collages and that pretty much covers what she does when given the chance to make art. And that's okay!

Oh, our hands for her class.

Does not look happy about library stuff-animal sleepover time or whatever this was. Incidentally - we can't find BABY again...either one of them. So, if you know where she is...

More swirls.

More stickers.

Oh, and dots.

I think this may have already made the blog but I love the answers so much, better safe than sorry.

Oh Maggie. :)