Don't Forget

to tell someone you love them today.

Summer Recap Two: Salt Museum

If you happen to be claustrophobic, the Kansas Salt Museum is definitely not for you! We were privileged to be introduced to it after a concert this summer and were given a tour of the museum, which is located 650 feet under Hutchinson, Kansas. The experience started with going down a primitive shaft elevator where it is so dark you can't see an inch in front of your face. The air gets very cold the further you go down and then it opens into a dizzying maze of an underground world made of nothing but salt.

Bristol, Havilah and Sterling all geared up and ready to go underground.



Riding the tram through the underground...I had to ignore the thought that millions of tons of salt was lingering above our heads held up by "salt pillars"--areas of salt left unmined to support the ceiling!



Layers of salt are marked by changing colors much like the earth's layers. Large salt mining equipment is taken down in pieces and re-built underground, and when it is retired or not needed anymore it's permanently left below ground as its considered not worth the time it takes to bring it topside again. Nothing will ever decay underground, due to the lack of moisture in the air and the consistent ideal temperature.



When we kids asked Dad & Mom if they would've liked to have their wedding reception in the reception hall at the bottom of the mine, both of them quickly answered "no." They said they preferred sunlight to salt!



We each got to pick a fist-size piece of salt to take home as a souvenir. Havilah and I couldn't decide what was "fist size"-- our fists or the 6' man across the room?!



We knew it was time to leave when the salty air started getting to the boys' heads!

Frienship isn't a big thing...

it's

a

million

little things.

(Avery & Havilah pictured with Samantha, Dana, Olivia and Amanda Siegmann)

Summer Recap One: Mount Rushmore

This summer has been the busiest one I can remember in many years! I have dozens of pictures I've been meaning to share but finding a spare moment has proved almost impossible. So here's the first post in my "summer recap" series.

Although my family has traveled to 49 states and 2 countries, we had somehow missed ever seeing Mt. Rushmore! On our way through South Dakota this summer we decided to stop and see the popular monument. I was surprised at how much detail was carved into the rock, including glasses on Teddy Roosevelt!

Babysitters or Playmates?

Elk in Grand Lake, Colorado.

Project: Painting the Bedroom

This week I was able to spend with Lacey and Brandon up in Mullen, tackling some sewing and painting projects. Lacey and I didn't think we'd get the painting done but the last night I was there we decided to just paint the ceiling at 9pm, and we finished the entire bedroom at 11:15!

:: Before ::

:: After ::



The painters

I decided to paint Lacey....



...and then I painted the baby, whom I'm sure was smiling as big as this after getting to hang out with the girls.

Rodeo Bible Camp 2009

One of the highlights of our year is Rodeo Bible Camp in Stapleton, Nebraska. Sterling, Havilah, Bristol and I attend the camp every year. Bristol is a camper, Sterling and Havilah are counselors and I keep busy babysitting "pre-campers" (0-7), helping teach Bible classes and helping in any other ways that are needed.

All packed up and ready to go!

A pickup load full of boys hauling hay.
L-R: Bristol, Sterling, Trey, Jacob and Cade.



Bristol waits his turn to enter the arena.



Lots of activity!



Bristol finishing his pole bending run.




Hanging out in the sunshine, watching the rodeo.





Smiles from the baby were the best part of the day!

Bristol won first place in the scripture memory event. He memorized 109 scriptures from Thursday-Saturday! We're really proud of you, Bristol!




"Oh, say does that star-spangeled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"