Words to live by.....

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give" -Winston Churchill

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

"Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right" -Grateful Dead

Sunday, January 11, 2009













Hunter playing in Shaba river












The entire gang and camp staff at our camp in Shaba, Kenya.
                                              Mike and I just loved Africa!












                                                                                            Chillin' in the river

   
















                                                                                                             The four oldest kids rock climbing
                                                 Ruby in the Shaba River












Ciara and Sophie outside the girls tent
                                                Mike and I in the river in Shaba












                                                                                               Our group on the Masai Mara












Our budding photographer Hunter











          
                                                                                           Sean joins in the Masai jumping competition!












Sophie and our wonderful guide Maria
                                                Camper Kai!
                                                 Mike and I just after sunrise on the Landrover
                                                  Ruby and Granny "O"












                                                                        
                                                                                                Ciara in camp












Children at the Masai Village
                                                   Granny "O" with the Masai women in 
                                                   the wonderful Masai village we visited
                                                   Beautiful Lionesses












                                                                                              Hunter, Sophie, and Ciara on top of the                                                                                                     Landrover












Lauren, Holly, and Catherine on top of the
Landrover
                                                     Sunrise on the Masai Mara












Holly and her Masai Warrior friend decorate
our camp Christmas Tree
                                                     Lauren and our 'spotter' Mwai











                                                                                                                                                                                    The older kids sporting their safari gear  the                                                                                             morning we flew out to 'the bush'!
                                                   The kids at the aquarium in Cape Town











                                                                                         
                                                                                             Jetlag!












Kai invents a new use for shrimp heads!
                                                   The kids in Cape Town, South Africa

Saturday, November 01, 2008

I can't believe its already November! Time has seemed to fly by since we moved to Sandpoint at the end of August. I guess time really does fly when you're having fun because we LOVE Sandpoint! The kids are all loving school and have quickly made friends here. They love being outdoors and are enjoying all the freedom that living in the country brings. The horses seem to love it here too. Sandpoint even has a mellowing effect on them! The barn and indoor are progressing rapidly. The barn will be finished next week (yay!!!), and the indoor in about 3 weeks. Luckily the weather has been fabulous so we are able to work the horses in the outdoor ring so they haven't skipped a beat. Fingers crossed the weather holds out another few weeks! Mike and I really feel like we have found home here in Sandpoint. The people are wonderful and we have made some great new friends. It is perhaps the most beautiful place I have ever seen and due to that every day driving is a pleasure. I don't think we'll ever stop being in awe of the beauty here. Life in a small town is much more suitable for our family, and the sense of community here is wonderful. This particular small town is so special as it has multiple terrific restaurants, great skiing, a very good arts, music and theatre environment, and wonderful people! We have a guest room so please come visit anytime :-)
Warmly,
Jennifer and Mike
                              Our new home
We were so happy when the horses arrived! The builders finished 1/2 the barn first so that we could bring out first load of horses over, the rest had to wait a bit, but they are all here now!
                    The barn amidst the construction chaos :-)
         The very early stages of the indoor arena (taken 10/1) which should be done by mid November, yay!!!
                                     The outdoor arena
             Dad and the gang in the barn construction zone!
                                             The barn about 70% finished
                                                                 Our new dog Timba
 Mike, Jennifer, and the kids with the Sea Dragon!
                                    A wonderful visit with G-PA!
                                               Snuggles on the boat with Mom
                                         Lovin' Lake Pend Oreille!
Ruby gets bucked off the tube!
                                                                Beautiful smiles!
                                                            Tubing is the BEST!!!!!!
                                                          Our best boat driver!
                                        Holly gives boating a Thumbs Up!
Ruby and Sophie were our picture un-packers, and a great job they did!
                                                              The Boys unpacking 
Our Beautiful Huckleberry Girl Catherine!