Here she is with her table runner without the binding on.
The finished product! This picture is with her sewing teacher. She is a wonderful, Godly woman who has blessed us so much by these lessons.
On our end of summer trip home, we spent as much time as possible with my dad. My dad is living in a nursing home, which is very painful for me to even type. At first he went there just to get stronger to go home, but he will probably never make it back to his home. It is rather difficult to visit someone in a nursing home for any length of time when you have small children along. We wanted to do things that would be a change for my dad and let the kids have some time with him. He does not like the food there, so we brought him meals when we could also.
This day we brought him lunch and had a picnic with him outside in the patio area in some shade.
Yoda always wanted to help push Papa. He couldn't do it without help, but he always wanted to be the pusher.
The church that I grew up in and that my dad attended until his recent health problems built a new building and moved in to it after my dad got sick. He had never been there, so he and I took a bus to he could get a tour of the new facility. I took a picture of him on the bus, but forgot to take any pictures once we were there! He was so pleased to get to see the building that he had prayed for and supported for so long. He wasn't so thrilled with my taking his picture on the bus, though!
There is a room at the nursing home that has some couches, a table and a bird display. We spent a lot of time of our visit there. The little kids loved the birds and there was the table where they could color. Here is a picture with all the kids and Papa before we had to return to our home.
Of course there has to be a silly picture, and my dad is always happy to oblige with making faces.
It is very hard to see my dad so weak and living in a nursing home, but I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with him and for my kids to have more time with him as well.
This little guy is Padme's buddy. They were playing with blocks in his yard. He is the 5th child in their family, just like Padme is in ours. 
More playing with blocks
Yoda liked those blocks.
Next time I need to do a better job of taking pictures. I didn't get any with Luke and his friends and the oldest two boys mostly worked, so I didn't get any pictures of them either. 
Luke gave it a try, but my picture of him didn't turn out so well. The older boys didn't want to try the milking, but they sure loved the milk. My friend told me that goats are like "Odd dogs." We are still laughing at that description!
Luke trying out the fire truck.
Padme loved it all.
Padme and her buddy with the fireman in all his gear.
This was the fourth or fifth time we have been to a fire station and I am always so impressed at the firemen's kindness and patience with the children. Truly public servants we are blessed to have protecting us. We will have to go back again when Yoda is a bit older and Leia can come along, too. 
Yoda liked the bunnies, but was very concerned the entire time. He didn't want them to get away, and he wanted someone to help him. He did not want the bunnies to be taken away, just to have help with them.
Leia really loves animals and will love on anything. She is very sweet and motherly with animals.
Padme ready to play in the water!
Leia also had a blast!
Maybe next summer Yoda will be ready to play with them. 
We love the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. When you first go in you are met by these wonderful giraffes. Earlier in the summer Yoda was terrified of them, but this time he thought they were the best. I didn't get a good picture of him with the giraffes, but this one is of my friend's kids with Padme in the front.
The giraffe's tongues are amazing!
These two got snakes painted on their forearms.
These two played in the dirt.
These two are zebras.
And these two have dragonflies on their cheeks.
The zoo was lots of fun. Our friends made it even more fun!
We went to Focus on the Family. We love the Chronicles of Narnia, so of course we had to take pictures with the kids and Aslan.
Yoda by the Narnia wall.
Watching a Last Chance Detectives in their little theater.
We had lots of fun and were sad when it was over. One of the things the kids liked the most is going to yard sales one day. How simple is that? I spent a few dollars on books and everyone was happy! I need to do more little kid things even when the oldest two are home and don't want to join in. My little kids are growing up fast and I need to enjoy them more. 
Her little friends all dressed up in dress up clothes. The boy is Indiana Jones!
And the water party was after the presents and cake and homemade ice cream. Here Padme is arming herself with water balloons.
The water slide was a hit as well.
She had a great time and was looking forward to her brothers coming home after being gone on a mission trip and the family party that night. 
