A Trip Complete

12 States + 8 Stops + Family and Friends = Awesome Trek to the East

The Last Leg

We just got home - back to Mitchell - 2 hours ago - Sunday, June 28. We said "so long beach" on Friday, June 26 and started our trek back to the midwest. We were sad to say goodbye to the beach life. We molded right into the beach bum lifestyle. The rest of our time looked a little like this:

Walks on the beach

Cousin Play Time

Sand Castles

Boogie Boards



St. Louis Arch

And finally...our final destination - back to the land of the World's Only Corn Palace

Now, it's back to reality. Can't be beach bums forever...

Little Mermaid

We have our very own mermaid. She was made for the water!

The Beach The Beach The Beach

We're here, and we're lovin it up. Let's see....what have we done so far:

1. A little pool time

2. A little beach time

3. Eat

4. Sleep

5. A little more pool time

6. A little more beach time

7. etc. etc. etc.

It's a rough life, but, well...what do ya do?

Asheville and Raleigh/Durham

Yesterday was another memory-making day. We enjoyed the day together just as our little family - exploring and having fun together. Our day looked like this:

Asheville, NC - Hotel
A Family Project, mapping out our travels and who we have stopped to visit. Yeah for Walgreens 1 hour photo. I electronically sent the pictures over to the Walgreens in Asheville, and we picked them up after we were done with dinner.

Asheville, NC - North Carolina Arboretum

We hiked 2.5 miles of mountain trails together, exploring, picking up walking sticks, finding treasures in God's creation. These trails link up with the Apalachian Trail...they were awesome. I think the kids are ready for the Boundary Waters... :)

Durham, NC - Duke University

What a campus! We think we have Tyler convinced to work hard enough to come here! HA HA! The definite highlight of the campus visit - was that all the athletic facilities were open, so we were able to go inside the basketball arena, football stadium, tennis facilities, etc. Pretty exciting!!!
And Aaron even got to shoot some baskets on the Duke's home court - close to the ultimate of excitments (the ultimate would be on the Hawkeye court)

Today, we meet up with the rest of the Kahl/Knobloch crew, and it's off to the beach. We're looking forward to another week of memory-making.

Indianapolis

The journey east continues. Stop #3, Indianapolis, IN for a rip-roaring time spent with my Aunt Robin and Lauri. They hosted spectacularly - as always. We ate scrumptious food, and spent fun time together hanging out.

We toured the Lucas Oil Field - home of the Indianapolis Colts

Kenna "drove" the Lucas Oil machine thingy

Lauri helped the kids wash their hands before we prepared the food, since they spent the evening crawling in and out of the doggy door

Robin helped the kids each make their own individual pizzas

Thanks to my Aunt Robin and Lauri for hosting us! We loved our time with you!

And We're Off

Packed in and ready to roll - we're off on a cross country adventure....

The kids are ready and anxious - let's get this vehicle rollin'

Chicago - visiting my Grandma! SO fun to spend time with her!

We're having too much fun, and we're not even to the beach yet!!!! Keep the adventure rolling...

Party Pinkaliciously

Have you ever partied Pinkaliciously? Do you even know HOW to party Pinkaliciously??? We didn't either...until.......yesterday! After experiencing our first Pinkalicious Party extravanganza, we have developed a list of 6 key components to enjoying an extra fun, super pink, Pinkaliciously exciting party:

1. A 3 Year Old Girl's Favorite Book - Pinkalicious

2. A Pinkalicious 3 Year Old Birthday Girl

3. Pinkalicious Decorating

4. The Reason for Pinkalicious - The Pinkalicious Cupcakes


5. Pinkalicious Birthday Singing and Candle Blowing


6. And Most Importantly....An Awesome Group of Pinkalicious Party Guests

***Below are a few Guests of Note***

The Knoblochs were "Best Dressed"...All Sporting "Adorable" Pink Attire

These 3 Guys - Their Pink Attire Helped Them to Feel the Pinkalicious "Love"

Psalm 46:10

Be Still and Know that I am God...

How often do we actually take time to "be still", slow down, and rest in God's goodness? I know for us it is - rarely - especially with young kids. Life seems to constantly go go go, and we tend to go with it.

Then there was an opportunity presented to us to spend some time "being still" at the Moreau River Sanctuary, near Isabelle, SD. Amazing! We were blessed! We shared in an amazing weekend of "stillness" together with: four families, eight young kids, lots of hunting guns and fishing poles, too much food, one BEAUTIFUL Sanctuary, and one Amazing God.

There is something about being in the beauty of God's creation that brings renewal and reflection to my soul. And fellowship....oooo....love fellowship!

There are a lot of pictures below, but it will give you a peek into what the Sanctuary was all about:

The Sanctuary

Catching Toads

Poor Toad Got Held by Almost All the Kids

Playing Games

Playing with Rocks

Hangin' With Friends

Fishing

Playing Baseball

All While Enjoying This View of God's Creation

60 Years of Life's Adventure!!!

May 26, 2009 marked 60 years of life's adventure for my mom! Happy Birthday, Mama!!! We were excited to celebrate together as a family, here in Mitchell. We celebrated mom-style: together as a family, low key, with a few fun activities.

Our activities included a family portrait session. It was a lot of fun, and we are really hoping to come away with some great family pics. We can't wait to see the result in a couple weeks.

Additionally, we went the Butterfly House, went to a Dam and looked around, grilled out, and played a little backyard baseball.

Thanks for sharing your 60th birthday weekend with us, Mom!