Oh the places you'll go Hike IV

Crazy thing called the HIKE - just for fun going on a 20 mile hike with 80+ friends, it really IS fun! 

After a brief shower the sun came out.

  It was fun seeing all the red in the front yard as they started at our house this year!

Kept telling myself  "If John can do it I can do it!"  Way to go!!!

Yes even Little One tagged along, she made it 8 miles!! (with LOTS of great helpers - THANKS!)

Oh the places they went... up and down and all around!

They even took pet turtles along for part of the hike - amazing.

they just keep coming... (or going!)

Looks like the cadets are out of formation... General wasn't there until the afternoon!

For you out of towners these are HUGE hills!  The kids were amazing.  My friend, who I think was one of only 2 adults to do the whole thing, totally amazes me!!! Way to go Allison :)  someday maybe I'll be able to keep up with you!

She doesn't look very happy here... but she did great!  Even willingly shared her ride with a few other little people for bits of it (until we got to a hill and it got too heavy!) 

Prayer stops along the way were a blessing!  One of them we prayed for our Little One ~ her case was once again in court ~ we are honored to be her pre-adoptive home and trust God's plan will bring permanency for all of us soon!

Long way for little legs!  He made it 8 miles in the morning with mom and then about 4 more later in the day with dad!

In case you were wondering about our route... just follow the shirt :) its the white line on there!

Yes, that is the Cat in the Hat leading the way!

Flower power?  He made it 8 miles in the morning then decided to rest and play with friends!

She was  the ONLY one who needed to stretch her legs!  and Chuck,  he made it all 20 miles!!! way to go!

The girls made it about 16, still pretty amazing to me!  We are all feeling it today :)  guess we should work up our stamina more before next year!

Friends are fun!

Its pretty neat that you can have friends in different states that you have never met in person, yet feel you really know them!  Well that is the story of two great friends of ours.... by following each others blogs (links below if you want to "meet" them) they have gotten to know one another!  Now the could all meet each other in PERSON! It was fun for all!

Some friends from MI  came down to visit, and the Riefers came over to meet them.
We played outside for about an hour, we played signs, motions, ninja, and looked at the chicks.

the younger boys enjoyed playing too!

The Girls - these are the blogger girls - in age order

Hiking the appalachian trail

While on our mission trip we were able to take a little side trip to visit some old friends who we used to live down the street from, they now live in Virginia. It was about the end of the fall colors we were so awed to see the beauty God has decorated this earth with! We we so blessed to catch up with them as well as get a hike in on the Appalachian trail.

Deb and I talking and walking

Steve with the baby snug as a bug!

Kids lead the way

signing into the log book

the whole crew yes its a full dozen with only 2 families!!!
THANKS Maynards for blessing us with wonderful fellowship, comfy beds (even welcoming late arrivals!) and yummy food! We are so thankful for good friends and look forward to someday worshiping the Lord together!!!

Half way around the world....

...2 children may not even know that there is a family working very hard to bring them HOME into their forever family! Our dear friends are nearing the end of the 16 month journey to adopt 2 children from Russia.
You can see more at this link http://www.qadoption.myevent.com/

Your prayers for them are much appreciated!

Happy Birthday Burnie!!!!

We had a birthday party for Burnie!!
The theme was U.S. military,
they got to do a treasure hunt --
had to follow directions they did well for the most part!

because it was his 10th birthday he got to have 10 friends over

we had a cook out around the fire it was just a little bit cold

This is last years picture but its so cute!

and he needs a hair cut REALLY bad now so I like this one better :)

happy birthday bro
~ Ria

Felt like just yesterday....

Both Steve and I grew up at a campground called Sandy Pines. We were blessed to be able to spend Memorial Day weekend there with family and friends! So good to spend time with old friends and just relax for a while! The kids enjoyed the water and Steve took the little boys out in the row boat which they enjoyed. Jumping off the dock is hours of fun :) especially when the water is so warm.And always fun playing games with Grandma! Chuck had spent most the week there working with both Grandpas, getting his golf cart license and hanging out with friends! WOW is he getting old! Its been a long time since the water has been this warm on Memorial day weekend -- really felt like the middle of summer instead of just the beginning! What fun to have a few days to really relax, we enjoyed a few really nice sunny warm days (which we made good use of the beach and water park!) and a few rainy days which made for good game and movie days :)

All the K cousins what a crew! looking forward to another on in the mix next month when my brother and his wife have their first! YEAH! That means another trip to MI to meet him or her soon! Tutu with a piggy back (Sydney) and piggy front (Molly) Eugene and Grey enjoy playing BOY stuff!

Ria is the bottom of the sandwich with Raleigh, Brinley and Sadie on top! Even though the weather wasn't great we did get to the water park with cousins for a bit, some of them did a round of mini golf then we hung out in the trailer (all 20 of us!) COZY! Thank goodness Grandma keeps good snacks and lots of games! and sports on tv keep all the big boys (and dads) happy!!!

We were glad the Cuthbertsons and Snoeyinks could join us for an afternoon Tuesday which turned out to be a GREAT beach day and that meant a stop at the ice cream shop. Sad I forgot my camera :( sorry no pictures of the yummy delicious ice cream! (Karen if you got any send them over!)
A stop at the Regans before we left was a real treat for all of us! The boys enjoyed a grass fight exploring the barn and just being with friends, the rest enjoyed being with friends, the smell in the barn (just kidding!) helping with chores... well they were willing anyway! And we enjoyed some adult fellowship!

So that was our side trip we squeezed in before heading to Chicago area convention, a few more hours in the car -- they all blend together!

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Cor 13:14

Life on the road...

After 2 weeks on the road ....the van is pretty messy and kids are pretty tired!

Going from MI to WI via the U.P. where we were blessed to visit old friends, Cuthbertsons - THANKS for a fun night and a MUCH nicer "hotel"! A neat but fast trip.Our hotel in WI was very nice and clearly also a MESS! -- I guess I should say lived in :)
As we were trying to figure out where 2 cots and a portacrib were going to fit Tutu toured the porch and said "how about out here?" It worked great... well until it rained .... they only got a LITTLE wet! It was very nice to have the hotel attached to the convention center so the baby could get some good naps!

After our two weeks out we returned home for 5 days. On the way back from WI we had met Gr and Gr K who picked up Chuck for a week with of fun and work! It was different not having him around for the week!
More on our adventures to come!
Grateful to have the opportunity to travel and visit new places and meet new friends!

G.R.A.C.E. Co-op last day

We have been so blessed to be a part of a new co-op this year. Co-op and good friends just go together from our experience! Today we had a party to celebrate the end of a great year.
We met on Fridays and had 2 class hours; mainly science class and language art class (writing/speech/book study). Then there was an optional art (drawing) class for all ages that many children enjoyed. Here are a few pictures of some of the classes:

Here is the FINANCE class -- learning how to spend $ on food :) with Mrs QThe SPEECH class was always a favorite :) But the kids learned alot THANKS to the only dad, Mr Hall, courageous enough to teach!
The amazing animals boxes the children created in SWIMMING CREATURES class was only surpassed by the incredible information the kids learned thanks to Mrs B!
Ria's ocean box with all the animals she learned about this year.
The young set had classes too -- today's class was the Easter story such a fun age so eager to learn and Mrs B. such a great teacher!
And our ever diligent nursery helper ~ THANKS Ms Georgie for playing with the young ones!
None of this is possible with out amazing teachers! THANKS to all of you for the time effort and talents you shared with us this year! You and your children are a blessing to us!!!

Tina, Georgie, Debbie H, Dawn, Kim, Stacy, Kelly, Amy(ME), Debbie B
and (Judy, Jan and Nikki who couldn't be there!)

What fun getting to know new families, teaching different students and for the children having some new teachers! I know my children learned so much and were very blessed to have time to see friends each week :)

Todays verses (which we read in the car on our way to co-op thanks to Ria!)
Jeremiah 20:10-13
John 1:31-42
MAY GOD'S WORD RICHLY BLESS YOU TODAY!
The Quak flock

traveling around a continent...

While our old friends were visiting, we played in the woods
we called it our "continent" We all had a "country" with a friend, which we made signs and houses and lots of stuff in.
We began a few wars but ended up living in peace with one another :)

There were four different country's which were called: Northwood was Chuck, J, Tutu and M's

We put hay as walls in our houses which required some work to gather it in Wheaten country!

Nature's Wood was Ria and E's home and garden they sold plants to all of us!

Wheaten was Bernies, and R's they had a tree fort in the field

Eugene had Burnville by the fire pit he made lots of money selling logs

here Bernie, R, and Eugene are visiting the "town" aka home!

The littles didn't get to leave "town" :) but they sure had fun eating and sleeping!
So precious! Amazing they are 4 months apart but pretty much tied for size! Here is the whole crew, what a wonderful bunch of friends!
So great to connect and enjoy the fellowship with each other yet again!

THANKS Alvaros for making the huge trip to visit us! We used to live just down the street from them and would play wonderful games and enjoyed "recess" together many days in fact our first year we "traveled" (schooled) around the world together!!!
We are so thankful for you wonderful friendships and of course all the chocolate is great too :) We'll travel with you anytime!!! See you in May!

Love ya!
The Quaks