tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78950822037829723892024-03-06T19:43:29.536-08:00Veldstra Family AdventuresSteve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-32379686054125794922012-05-29T01:21:00.001-07:002012-05-29T01:21:32.215-07:00Hiking trip...written by Tyler<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In April Dad, Ethan, and I, along with some missionary
friends, hiked to a mountain called Batulao. The first part of our trip was
packing our backpacks. We did not know what to bring so we brought lots of odds
and ends that we ended up not needing. The extra odds and ends made our
backpacks a lot heavier. Next time I will not bring so much stuff. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Early Saturday morning we ate breakfast and finished
packing our bags, Mr. Root and his son Noah picked us up at 7:00 o’clock. It
took a little more than an hour to get to the place where we started hiking. We
paid a local guy to take care of the car and then we started hiking. About 1/3
of the hiking trip was on a one lane dirt road; the rest of the trip was on a
small one foot wide trail. Along the trail there were many little shacks which
sold Mountain Dew and buko juice( juice from coconut). It took about two hours
to get to the main campsite. When we got
to the main campsite we took off our backpacks and had a little snack before we
started hiking up the mountain. Once we drank lots of water we started hiking
up the mountain. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The main camp was about 1,200 ft above sea level and
the mountain was about 2,500 ft above sea level so the part we climbed about
1,300 ft. In the Philippines the middle morning heat is very hot and exhausting
to climb 1,300 ft. The first part was a moderate climb where there were camp
sites every 100 to 200 ft which were level. After about 700 ft then came the
steep part where it was pretty much straight up; it was very hot because there
were no trees or bushes, but the steady breeze kept the heat down.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDxJhaCc6jZpCMGRWQx1EGCZRGwzJKYIPVIbuadUhRBnPkHZjzTAukBiVkogL-VPS790U2W4pe14iGnTeuezQVDdUYbE6La02Xog6LW9OkX8jrsuK_4ZaSkeB21cJIIvkxjfD_BJWMDK-/s1600/IMG_7192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDxJhaCc6jZpCMGRWQx1EGCZRGwzJKYIPVIbuadUhRBnPkHZjzTAukBiVkogL-VPS790U2W4pe14iGnTeuezQVDdUYbE6La02Xog6LW9OkX8jrsuK_4ZaSkeB21cJIIvkxjfD_BJWMDK-/s200/IMG_7192.jpg" width="150" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> When we got
to the top we drank more water took a few pictures and then went down part way
on the other side of the summit. On that trail there were many places where it
was 30 ft down on one side and 100 ft on the other and the trail was about 1 ft
wide. After we explored that side of the mountain we went back on top of the
summit. There we rested for a few minutes and then headed back down the
mountain. When we got back to the main campsite we drank more water then
started hiking to the camp site where we would stay the night. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There were many campsites that the people maintained,
but those had very few trees and bushes which made them very hot. When Mr. Root
went there before he found a camp site that was more in the jungle which made
it cooler. It was a little farther down the trail we had just hiked.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr3LbM09dxZLXgE6kAXSptoWOWZeHQKMIyrMwF7TvoXXLA9uroBJuFVnelLAj0z9gyhaxfs0JtOzlfuXHVXXqZwfnGyiW4_Js1lh4a_IP9kzVca4N5IOf1t_zQZnstaIahPAz961NyfEc/s1600/IMG_7219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr3LbM09dxZLXgE6kAXSptoWOWZeHQKMIyrMwF7TvoXXLA9uroBJuFVnelLAj0z9gyhaxfs0JtOzlfuXHVXXqZwfnGyiW4_Js1lh4a_IP9kzVca4N5IOf1t_zQZnstaIahPAz961NyfEc/s200/IMG_7219.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Once we
got there Mr. Root, Noah, and Ethan went down to a partially dried up river bed
that had a spring that came straight out of the mountain. There they filled our
water bottles and got some water for washing. Dad and I cleared a space to put
our tent and set up the tent. We also started a fire to roast hot dogs for
lunch for Dad, Ethan and I. Noah and his
dad already had eaten lunch. After we got everything set up and Noah and his
dad got their tent set up, then we took a siesta for an hour. Later after we
took our nap we all went down to the stream to explore the river bed and get
some water. Down at the river we found that there were actually two small
streams that met and made a little bit bigger stream. After we got back to camp we each went down
to the spring by ourselves to take a bucket shower. We were very sweaty and a
cold shower felt good. When we were all done with showers, Mr. Root started the
dinner which was ramen noodles and corn beef mixed in. It was really good because
we were very hungry. We talked for a little while after we cleaned up and
washed the dishes. We were all very
tired so we went to bed at around 8:30 P.M. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The next morning we got up at 5:00 A.M. Mr. Root had already been up for a few minutes
and started to make breakfast which was oat meal, hardboiled eggs, and hot
chocolate. That was nice because it was
pretty cool in the morning at the high elevation. When we had finished eating
and cleaning up from breakfast we took down our tents and packed our bags. We
wanted to get an early start so it would not get too hot, we started about at
8:30 A.M. The hike back was a little hotter than when we came because we
started a little later and there was not as much wind. The hike took about two
hours to get back to the car. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was a fun experience because I had never gone
backpack camping before and I always wanted to and we had never been camping in
the Philippines before.</span><br />
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</div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-69899568335111273572012-05-04T01:42:00.000-07:002012-05-04T01:42:08.277-07:00Alyssum is 10!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pink cupcakes and root beer floats were what Alyssum ordered for her birthday! She couldn't wait to join the ranks of double-digit. Can't believe she is 10! They grow up so quickly. Happy Birthday to our sweet Alyssum! <br /><br />Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-65617369467594653022012-05-04T01:27:00.000-07:002012-05-04T01:27:00.552-07:00Happy Birthday Ann MarieAnn Marie is 20! <br />
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We celebrated Ann Marie's birthday with family and friends in Manila. We took the bus to Manila and stayed with the Weissers for the weekend. A fun trip to Eastwood Mall, a choir concert at Faith Academy, and a party by the pool at the Haunschild's house. It was a fun weekend for all! Happy Birthday to our oldest daughter...so excited to see how God will direct your life in the years to come!Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-27804741678368079202012-05-04T01:11:00.000-07:002012-05-04T01:11:29.844-07:00New place and the garden grows!In February we moved from Palawan to Luzon. We are located in Dasmarinas, Cavite, just outside of Manila. Until August we are helping Home of Joy Orphanage with their agriculture projects. We are living on Jabez Christian Center grounds which not only has Home of Joy, but also Jabez Christian School, and Jabez Camp. It is a busy place with 100 students in the school, almost 30 small children at the Home of Joy, and the comings and goings of groups at the camp.<br />
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Steve's job is to keep the garden growing and pass along what he has learned about sustainable agriculture and ways to improve the soil to make healthier plants and vegetables. Within a week of our arrival over 200 volunteers planted the garden. This plan was already set in motion before we ever arrived so Steve just sat back and watched as the garden took shape! <br />
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Now the work began...hours and hours of watering to keep the garden growing...and it is the beginning of summer...the hot and dry season! There are a couple guys who also help in the garden so the work is shared among them all.<br />
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Under Steve's care the garden has really taken off! So wonderful to see so many vegetables growing for the Home of Joy to use to feed their children. Anything extra is sold and at this point, the profit goes back into the garden. <br />
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Our kids have also been very helpful in the garden...weeding, watering, putting mulch on the rows, and just helping in whatever way is needed. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieRL_QTNGIhIjEYamsog-BEHfRtSq2bDLZ8grrQWW4pQOeEBn2LX8L8LwIfIuPzRVE9HFQ770r62ySpGLjXd79CimN3MjPH4YODYCYnT7BorE3dEB5MCfgQ70p9qvZO6mEAKEQyHGU149/s1600/IMG_6324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieRL_QTNGIhIjEYamsog-BEHfRtSq2bDLZ8grrQWW4pQOeEBn2LX8L8LwIfIuPzRVE9HFQ770r62ySpGLjXd79CimN3MjPH4YODYCYnT7BorE3dEB5MCfgQ70p9qvZO6mEAKEQyHGU149/s320/IMG_6324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-37224623590930817172012-04-03T05:32:00.000-07:002012-04-03T05:32:48.399-07:00Last visit...<div class="MsoNormal">...to our beloved island home and neighbors(in January). And what a week it was! We were all tired and sunburned, but great we it was a great week although plenty of mixed feelings too...both happy and sad. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVD9ZFklf8ynlkOtVa8TfQ-yKgFr_ThMW6BSXK7CUVvcwcrTSXEc0MVsGj18zitTL3V_V5DhBLH2IHniEnCZsrVvleOoVxJ2StFajMIQpEK3uyLqhSI0TqboxAwkzyJ4NWuVoCmVnmInu/s1600/IMG_4700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVD9ZFklf8ynlkOtVa8TfQ-yKgFr_ThMW6BSXK7CUVvcwcrTSXEc0MVsGj18zitTL3V_V5DhBLH2IHniEnCZsrVvleOoVxJ2StFajMIQpEK3uyLqhSI0TqboxAwkzyJ4NWuVoCmVnmInu/s320/IMG_4700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We attempted to go to the island on January 5, but over half of us came down with a nasty flu bug and so we postponed our trip for 5 days. Tuesday, January 10 we took a jeepney to Rio Tuba to get on the pomboat to take us to Balabac. After a two hour jeepney ride and waiting for several hours on the dock, we were told the boat would not be going that day! The weather was changing and the captain didn’t want to risk getting caught in it. So…now what? What does a family of eight do when stuck in a small mining town in the Philippines? A couple weeks before Jeanie also had to spend the night in Rio Tuba so we took her recommendation for a nice pension house and set out to find it. JJas Pension House turned out to be a nice “hotel” for the night! It had a bathroom in each room, running water, electricity, fans, and it was very clean…what more could we ask? So we spent the afternoon wandering the street of Rio Tuba! Not much to do!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnTxG-lac8ASiW8Cun207tHKrj18j0_xAEyvgf4j0L-6X0QoVstLYAbQ_19bYiSVSpl7NdAxtu3xQS7Ph66wNSOAG9SDV8HRRQaMbl0cQgtxbaDKlIjMvCZML04Q2L8QF1o3q2SSzozXu/s1600/IMG_4634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnTxG-lac8ASiW8Cun207tHKrj18j0_xAEyvgf4j0L-6X0QoVstLYAbQ_19bYiSVSpl7NdAxtu3xQS7Ph66wNSOAG9SDV8HRRQaMbl0cQgtxbaDKlIjMvCZML04Q2L8QF1o3q2SSzozXu/s200/IMG_4634.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">The next morning we arrived at the dock and boarded the boat by 7am, expecting to leave by 8 or 9. The boat finally left the dock at 11am! We were a little weary of the boat by then and the ride hadn’t even begun. It was not glassy calm, but not too wavy either. We ran into the worst weather nearer to Balabac. Dennis was waiting with his motorcycle along with five Molbog men and their bikes to take us to our house. Welcome to Balabac…the muddy motorcycle ride! It was a fun ride though and someone always has a funny story to tell when the ride is over. This time Ann Marie got dumped off the bike she was riding, right into the mud! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So fun to return after almost a year! Jeanie had dinner waiting for us, and we were sure hungry! Then we went to our house. Jeanie had hired a couple young girls to help her clean our house and get the beds ready for us. So nice to have it all ready for us! But once again our water was not working! So we all took bucket “showers” before laying our heads on our pillows. The next morning Steve, Ethan, Tyler, and Adams hiked up to our water source and fixed our hose…yeah, we had water once again! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PspcpbqG_pnSIoxHF6Igbyzr5a22mIQ3fLchaU1tQ1AjZXKrfCz-cBuqFBnEGE84ojSoTPLYmO1Y76KIfwDU5H6b79N6VflCqVFr5UhIjLcrEfTRfEZ48R9MEeGbG_TLAlfp-L-gdgar/s1600/IMG_4633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PspcpbqG_pnSIoxHF6Igbyzr5a22mIQ3fLchaU1tQ1AjZXKrfCz-cBuqFBnEGE84ojSoTPLYmO1Y76KIfwDU5H6b79N6VflCqVFr5UhIjLcrEfTRfEZ48R9MEeGbG_TLAlfp-L-gdgar/s320/IMG_4633.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03A7sKWv7_fPyxUxDYxD3YzbG7TLs5tr9Vy4ZJMjwilTaEhrpnmN9gStV6_4CKojJD-_hzopKBQYSVXeqLDvrwSgB-81v9sPaR_7Qj9Ou8iZnCMPV9jME1ERWObcNI6tiXPs5RqGd_Hka/s1600/IMG_4665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03A7sKWv7_fPyxUxDYxD3YzbG7TLs5tr9Vy4ZJMjwilTaEhrpnmN9gStV6_4CKojJD-_hzopKBQYSVXeqLDvrwSgB-81v9sPaR_7Qj9Ou8iZnCMPV9jME1ERWObcNI6tiXPs5RqGd_Hka/s320/IMG_4665.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On Thursday we spent a good part of the day sorting the remaining things in our house, deciding what we were going to keep and what items we were going to sell. Jeanie made lunch for us each day, which was so nice! We also got to use our oven! I made bread, cookies, brownies, and pizza for Friday night! So nice to use!! One of the many things that makes us sad that we cannot be there to use. Friday was more of the same and Steve and the boys started each day with a trek up the river to fix our water! The kids could hardly wait for the weekend so the Molbog kids would be home from school to play and play!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8PwZVnHfwWjnYTTCtuZf3otLqS-joblbYCMAjjWy0hrwkV25M0T3KddCToZQhozZJ6zAuTCCG7Lng6m8DqGScx3Q6gJfko4wyzIJSikb7L0IQC1a3pgvW9RaxjaftPKZVSuGsIbaYjNY/s1600/IMG_4677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8PwZVnHfwWjnYTTCtuZf3otLqS-joblbYCMAjjWy0hrwkV25M0T3KddCToZQhozZJ6zAuTCCG7Lng6m8DqGScx3Q6gJfko4wyzIJSikb7L0IQC1a3pgvW9RaxjaftPKZVSuGsIbaYjNY/s320/IMG_4677.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodybx6PxuHq3FeH3JycusM_i6tdXP8uS_JRYUUVHdegjU_j9FZQ400sPjw8Je6Q4cKErMHuwT-IpBLFrhd5q9-DgUuSWcMcsbgHwyth-6OrGOh8a6CsX0kMLI3qEcftdiApl8FfbLyBAP/s1600/IMG_4679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodybx6PxuHq3FeH3JycusM_i6tdXP8uS_JRYUUVHdegjU_j9FZQ400sPjw8Je6Q4cKErMHuwT-IpBLFrhd5q9-DgUuSWcMcsbgHwyth-6OrGOh8a6CsX0kMLI3qEcftdiApl8FfbLyBAP/s320/IMG_4679.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">human-body-tug-of-war</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb62GrdCJgbE85G84icmGFOLVGVVYhU4896FBQDDj7_gEqIMx2nyJ5m7QCAm-tE7VajWPru6K5169qOZI1ETq4MX-CqmCRMdluofqGE7_qIl1UHva0hpUga1bRmuMESCoj-Lq9x7vj_NIZ/s1600/IMG_4793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb62GrdCJgbE85G84icmGFOLVGVVYhU4896FBQDDj7_gEqIMx2nyJ5m7QCAm-tE7VajWPru6K5169qOZI1ETq4MX-CqmCRMdluofqGE7_qIl1UHva0hpUga1bRmuMESCoj-Lq9x7vj_NIZ/s320/IMG_4793.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you find our three daughters?</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Saturday was the planned day for the “lami-lami”. It is a gathering of everyone in the village to eat a meal together for a specific purpose. This time the purpose was us being there and spending time with all the people we have come to know. Jeanie and I provided the food and about six Molbog ladies cooked the meal of pancit and rice, and buko salad for dessert. I had fun being with the ladies as they chopped vegetables and cooked in the big pots over the fires. For some reason food always tastes better when cooked over an open fire! While the ladies were cooking our kids played games with the 60 or more kids that came with their parents! After the meal we had a short Bible lesson and singing songs with the kids on the airstrip. We brought gifts for all the kids so we handed out over 60 small wrapped gifts to all the kids! Then Ethan and Tyler put on a short fireworks display. Too bad it couldn’t be done in the dark, but still fun as most of the people hadn’t seen or heard fireworks before! We also handed out lightstick bracelets to all the kids. I’m sure there wasn’t much sleep in many homes as the kids were admiring their “lights”! It sure was a fun, full day with our friends and neighbors!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUm6KnmwBLbQ-DKulPjJgeUEUbqRE9nEQNd55C9gBJzysEigUvzmnCvWEVvR4QYM0y-AdCdOrZCMf-ociJ5NFyR4i8YPffxYA4WiL5Ub2w4QQ-hgpbvonrydWK7455QHH5sapNj9URQzq/s1600/IMG_4795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUm6KnmwBLbQ-DKulPjJgeUEUbqRE9nEQNd55C9gBJzysEigUvzmnCvWEVvR4QYM0y-AdCdOrZCMf-ociJ5NFyR4i8YPffxYA4WiL5Ub2w4QQ-hgpbvonrydWK7455QHH5sapNj9URQzq/s320/IMG_4795.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So intently listening to Aunt Jeanie</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2zQ51xawDwN9Iz44ek0R2edg4OIXuqq5unJbLyP_mb0g047fklEFeRN9cQ1WBy79S9j3iCpywImljKKcnH-kN9teSE2-rwGftfJxTTqCcbw322qKFUfEW5MS3cD5fBnfry_SieTrI5lo/s1600/IMG_4822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2zQ51xawDwN9Iz44ek0R2edg4OIXuqq5unJbLyP_mb0g047fklEFeRN9cQ1WBy79S9j3iCpywImljKKcnH-kN9teSE2-rwGftfJxTTqCcbw322qKFUfEW5MS3cD5fBnfry_SieTrI5lo/s320/IMG_4822.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVx10KAiAtdQmxdk6X5qPj28rgvxDpy7_yy-E9U0p4jhwur1ZotF_mRzjdqfi-fyuZ37zbLe-FXwdKCYibK-QWah1VGKrpgm45qHiffNS3IvPQV2UN-EcWyx0PBHXnQxIdhd1jGGMo_J2C/s1600/IMG_4826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVx10KAiAtdQmxdk6X5qPj28rgvxDpy7_yy-E9U0p4jhwur1ZotF_mRzjdqfi-fyuZ37zbLe-FXwdKCYibK-QWah1VGKrpgm45qHiffNS3IvPQV2UN-EcWyx0PBHXnQxIdhd1jGGMo_J2C/s320/IMG_4826.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Dennis with his computer is so popular!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">For Sunday at 9am we scheduled a “dental clinic” for the kids on our porch! Our language teacher, Awab, agreed to teach the kids about brushing teeth and using floss. A little before 9 we got word that Awab could not come because of an unplanned meeting he had to attend. So Jeanie had to be the teacher! She did a great job telling the kids about brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing everyday. We then demonstrated flossing and handed out floss to each child to try for themselves! Then we let the 60 kids choose a toothbrush and we assembled small bags of floss and toothpaste for each child. Thanks to Jenny Weisser, Marissa, and Alesha for bringing the dental items for the Molbog children. We are so grateful that we had the opportunity to share these things with the families there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTXU8J9D4q5rfU7aFhTMtPSVF6mOlN_b5h-mgvRF8kIVgWL_Kyz6aNwQbJzNmsjOXvTlDkZKmUSd4biCwOA2wVrpj04ozGPE8eSM2bH6z6OYNW9T8uZ68nUes67yjvJzkXmeLHlQF-v4X/s1600/IMG_4851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTXU8J9D4q5rfU7aFhTMtPSVF6mOlN_b5h-mgvRF8kIVgWL_Kyz6aNwQbJzNmsjOXvTlDkZKmUSd4biCwOA2wVrpj04ozGPE8eSM2bH6z6OYNW9T8uZ68nUes67yjvJzkXmeLHlQF-v4X/s320/IMG_4851.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGPvjiosKLw-ZTpMowEBR5mnyHerGprX7ecvDzQggkLfhtCESSXoVIv-pIEKyJ8_O73BnPOC7Yqy40T-vWwAg2xrB4ymBmf_B6TBO2E1Wv5q5RFnQhmA7HeyJchdvZ77SWu54qBTZJsr7/s1600/IMG_4854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGPvjiosKLw-ZTpMowEBR5mnyHerGprX7ecvDzQggkLfhtCESSXoVIv-pIEKyJ8_O73BnPOC7Yqy40T-vWwAg2xrB4ymBmf_B6TBO2E1Wv5q5RFnQhmA7HeyJchdvZ77SWu54qBTZJsr7/s320/IMG_4854.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then in the afternoon we went over to Dennis and Jeanies for lunch and our kids spent the afternoon playing games with the kids on the airstrip. So much fun and no one really wanted to leave. We really enjoyed the time to just relax and be with the people on both Saturday and Sunday. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJEIMJTdmRhcW_qQDJbT9C7XfK-ZitCBol9D3OjY5C0v8O509QPUXKPGwbGPxGCLB6ay9Kqrj7H2Ivn_chZT5x2Vthrqei3MAp_MrqvVNND5iFbkOU7dzsT2V2mOO9wthOJOEwe7xlJ7M/s1600/IMG_4863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJEIMJTdmRhcW_qQDJbT9C7XfK-ZitCBol9D3OjY5C0v8O509QPUXKPGwbGPxGCLB6ay9Kqrj7H2Ivn_chZT5x2Vthrqei3MAp_MrqvVNND5iFbkOU7dzsT2V2mOO9wthOJOEwe7xlJ7M/s320/IMG_4863.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbyNhbmr3RzQJJiJ3N45EqOxdzeAEnf6NyGla1gF00D7y8jpHhCnbAR_cmd24xwGDbje69zPsLghZ7qVEGbDwOEVRH6E_JqqSluexmThl_vgGkiLojv49IFuxCLooxN-Hnap6k5mT6LZE/s1600/IMG_4881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbyNhbmr3RzQJJiJ3N45EqOxdzeAEnf6NyGla1gF00D7y8jpHhCnbAR_cmd24xwGDbje69zPsLghZ7qVEGbDwOEVRH6E_JqqSluexmThl_vgGkiLojv49IFuxCLooxN-Hnap6k5mT6LZE/s320/IMG_4881.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaGKPgEreBd58GfI6HBCnBBDedproRFbHA-nrP9l-3xeqIfFWCvfSgFm11MXC3wiOxYoMfZ1hb97Jw8870Cf6TLcWl2S69hk15kZ5O4GRTIIzkYfcMeBCzicF6aKrH7bMzdFt-ISUjxRX/s1600/IMG_4885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaGKPgEreBd58GfI6HBCnBBDedproRFbHA-nrP9l-3xeqIfFWCvfSgFm11MXC3wiOxYoMfZ1hb97Jw8870Cf6TLcWl2S69hk15kZ5O4GRTIIzkYfcMeBCzicF6aKrH7bMzdFt-ISUjxRX/s200/IMG_4885.jpg" width="200" /></a>Monday was “yard sale” day. We scheduled the sale for 1pm, but our first customer showed up at 11am and they were from town. Not bad except we had priced everything low for our Molbog neighbors! We allowed them to buy the electronic items, but told them they had to come back at 1pm to shop with everyone else. They were not too happy, but they did come back and spent the most money! All our neighbors were waiting at the house below…so at 1pm Jeanie called out that they could come on up! The house was instantly FULL of people and continued to be full for about 1 ½ hours. And just about everything was bought! We certainly didn’t make a lot of money, but our friends and neighbors were able to get some new items for themselves and that made the day worth it all. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_weYY4UV2I-BrFFYSl6wJNl6PQQAbun5QusEadNag6jTwQsmuxCuD7VMc70Jx3ysObr6uutwXfXaeCREKEuRFpwKBHPCoy-PyXwW081X7UQuEr9M6N0dyIvOCB9DxItERVJ06iIHflXA/s1600/IMG_4894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_weYY4UV2I-BrFFYSl6wJNl6PQQAbun5QusEadNag6jTwQsmuxCuD7VMc70Jx3ysObr6uutwXfXaeCREKEuRFpwKBHPCoy-PyXwW081X7UQuEr9M6N0dyIvOCB9DxItERVJ06iIHflXA/s320/IMG_4894.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">We spent the remaining part of the day packing our belongings and getting ready to leave early the next morning.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our alarms rang at 3:30am and we dragged ourselves out of bed. It was rather cold in the early morning air, but we were soon warm enough as we hiked to the beach with our boxes and backpacks. The moon was shining bright although not a full moon. We waited on the beach for the two boats to arrive, one for our boxes and bags and the other for all of us. It was a beautiful, calm morning and perfect for the one hour boat ride to get to town. We watched falling stars in the brightening sky as we puttered along on the sea. Dennis was waiting for us in town as he went ahead to put our names on the list for the boat. Good thing he did as it was one of the smallest boats with only enough room for 21 passengers! It was a an absolutely perfect day for a boat ride and the kids enjoyed the cool breezes of the ocean air as we sailed along. It was an uneventful return trip by boat and jeepney. We were all exhausted and ready for a shower and a long good nights rest!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are so thankful for the time we had on Balabac. It was not easy to return and have to say good-bye especially since we all love being there. So many things we don’t completely understand and maybe we never will. Please pray for our Molbog friends and neighbors as they too are saddened by our move off the island. </div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-63655545836759066682012-03-25T07:04:00.000-07:002012-03-25T07:04:19.797-07:00Kailee's 11th Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDJveAp9bHM0Jw_w0ZvvCTeIlDwyXlpiRLVOP85y7Ev_P-9WzSnYnfE1fiMJdLYWaKmEFpzK-XP92VGxVjGXzTI-u08VWESUSybc7pN6O0UjsnAqbTV2I6aryajc_lZnuzQ5Tlbh-fqxW/s1600/IMG_4508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDJveAp9bHM0Jw_w0ZvvCTeIlDwyXlpiRLVOP85y7Ev_P-9WzSnYnfE1fiMJdLYWaKmEFpzK-XP92VGxVjGXzTI-u08VWESUSybc7pN6O0UjsnAqbTV2I6aryajc_lZnuzQ5Tlbh-fqxW/s320/IMG_4508.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Birthday balloons, presents from family and friends back home, a delicious favorite dinner of chicken soup and a chocolate/peanut butter cake, and family to share it with...what a birthday celebration! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJuTLjiXty7MzCFF4kFbYcpF6HdoQe6kfDf7jftMPky3hdsaG9rQQLjjwNKf0vA4EFqJSdsuULDWMuCO68Kj9EMcbmXfXg_BsH18cU4PytdvpR91TF2g4TE9Cfk-okr5b324WudD5Au41/s1600/IMG_4515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJuTLjiXty7MzCFF4kFbYcpF6HdoQe6kfDf7jftMPky3hdsaG9rQQLjjwNKf0vA4EFqJSdsuULDWMuCO68Kj9EMcbmXfXg_BsH18cU4PytdvpR91TF2g4TE9Cfk-okr5b324WudD5Au41/s320/IMG_4515.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD22Q2cV7wMxIGO_AV938yYRyz2Ix7ImMaBxtSPDLsmF1rGBC_TpIMtTCAWon7Y7KnpC2M2msCe9EzVQGNzZSzNJD5ABhbrdWDp2zgQuWvCErPfD9DHMzSQetSpaNOw_6fC7lAEhbsbUL_/s1600/IMG_4533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD22Q2cV7wMxIGO_AV938yYRyz2Ix7ImMaBxtSPDLsmF1rGBC_TpIMtTCAWon7Y7KnpC2M2msCe9EzVQGNzZSzNJD5ABhbrdWDp2zgQuWvCErPfD9DHMzSQetSpaNOw_6fC7lAEhbsbUL_/s320/IMG_4533.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-68202713831349849482012-03-16T06:19:00.000-07:002012-03-16T06:19:12.410-07:00Christmas in Lada......complete with all the trimmings!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzH-5Y6s5aCmFEXVRYNNBAYznMpIgUxYnF0yq-_gw8cXpHp5j9FDLnWsHd-u1QibtN11YQkhi-B1L-0RsVfrd1NeWZz71uA9FW8WdK53r-7nZN6eaFr-rftols5befcR_wFJMVZvojvlw/s1600/IMG_4083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzH-5Y6s5aCmFEXVRYNNBAYznMpIgUxYnF0yq-_gw8cXpHp5j9FDLnWsHd-u1QibtN11YQkhi-B1L-0RsVfrd1NeWZz71uA9FW8WdK53r-7nZN6eaFr-rftols5befcR_wFJMVZvojvlw/s320/IMG_4083.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1Wr43ItR0OyAon2j83iJjdjt8fcvR61OX3a7KRmlncDfldYUHb-Z8s3w1GhDViebZlw39zJqRE5-R8ajC7Of0p_AeREn6wZ1BX5nEG71KeVbZR66sSfYoOb-XsWQvucoAsSiX84cDoUA/s1600/IMG_4143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1Wr43ItR0OyAon2j83iJjdjt8fcvR61OX3a7KRmlncDfldYUHb-Z8s3w1GhDViebZlw39zJqRE5-R8ajC7Of0p_AeREn6wZ1BX5nEG71KeVbZR66sSfYoOb-XsWQvucoAsSiX84cDoUA/s200/IMG_4143.jpg" width="195" /></a>In such contrast to our last Christmas at our island home surrounded by people that do not celebrate Christ's birth. We enjoyed the sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday...small white lights on the tree, stockings hung by the tree, candles burning, Christmas music playing, and yummy treats to taste! <br />
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Dennis and Jeanie stopped by for a couple days on their way back to the island. So fun to play games, enjoy meals together, and make divinity. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfEuUyr3godTV0VsHezNxdU7aIYbGTfr8IfmHIZVnyb9E2II94leSPaqPDk9FsRErY2OjBaT8ZdJfQQh1gL4zfAmpYsNRh7a47aYu7EWYuWuVIuzPNZzfLRejH8TYel-6KrBCXcRi8GSN/s1600/IMG_4155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfEuUyr3godTV0VsHezNxdU7aIYbGTfr8IfmHIZVnyb9E2II94leSPaqPDk9FsRErY2OjBaT8ZdJfQQh1gL4zfAmpYsNRh7a47aYu7EWYuWuVIuzPNZzfLRejH8TYel-6KrBCXcRi8GSN/s320/IMG_4155.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Our care team back home in Alaska and Steve's parents blessed us with a Christmas box! Special treats from home make being so far away from family and friends for the holidays much more bearable. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfh6mrN58aoPcXpy1RgIP8NLbws7KJ8GDCPFLw7aBt3H9L8SCEAOhRQB8hXCKdhka6XWjAsN7dxewiWi19MGeSdzI9e8SZN5FPR8IYMRcq8TZFq8-mZjGqoR5zfdQdwBgPyaavv9ehp5o/s1600/IMG_4407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfh6mrN58aoPcXpy1RgIP8NLbws7KJ8GDCPFLw7aBt3H9L8SCEAOhRQB8hXCKdhka6XWjAsN7dxewiWi19MGeSdzI9e8SZN5FPR8IYMRcq8TZFq8-mZjGqoR5zfdQdwBgPyaavv9ehp5o/s320/IMG_4407.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Hmm, wonder where we will be for Christmas next year?Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-75777669197277673812012-02-19T05:51:00.000-08:002012-02-19T05:51:16.626-08:00Sabang-Underground RiverOkay, so I took a LONG break from blogging and it is long past time to start up again! Sorry to my regular readers for my long absence, but now we have faster internet so I should be able to do a better job of keeping my blog updated. So back to where I left off...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTGqJslzc_Liye9goMbY5GZjctmgw9JcMSD0vCtjD0RHhRoQ57QhtRAUWi2klwG7E-0HBzpnTlcALli9rmZddsCvbXc6Kik1Bikt4qJeaoAY4gT4cBHLGwE2TSiTa7u-5N3j89yUdJDSy/s1600/DSC01465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTGqJslzc_Liye9goMbY5GZjctmgw9JcMSD0vCtjD0RHhRoQ57QhtRAUWi2klwG7E-0HBzpnTlcALli9rmZddsCvbXc6Kik1Bikt4qJeaoAY4gT4cBHLGwE2TSiTa7u-5N3j89yUdJDSy/s200/DSC01465.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>For the last part of my parents visit to Palawan we took them on a two hour van ride to Sabang and the Underground River. We took Steve's parents to Sabang earlier in the year and were not thrilled with the place we stayed, so thought we would see if we could find something a little better. But we found that the accommodations in Sabang are either high price for a very nice room, or low price which matches the room...nothing in between! Oh well, we can make do for one night.<br />
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Despite the accommodations, the beach is beautiful and the Underground River is an amazing experience!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHM69tVcJVTsMyhc_nNKHpOZj4rVSA3B4mb1nyd_GDjFLm_F_3a_T8ipcHAO81LkXYil_h1jP7iBhAl1ixzDGks4Sgs4oNYj8Y153HEj-RqpLvsoR7BhK6oLVbFcrCkAPoPQdXX7bBz3q/s1600/DSC01483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHM69tVcJVTsMyhc_nNKHpOZj4rVSA3B4mb1nyd_GDjFLm_F_3a_T8ipcHAO81LkXYil_h1jP7iBhAl1ixzDGks4Sgs4oNYj8Y153HEj-RqpLvsoR7BhK6oLVbFcrCkAPoPQdXX7bBz3q/s320/DSC01483.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL8kq4VmGYCGkgzQaStVgIy9jVrpC9kGSy-bfJO9aoY3LvgJxxHBmEH_UlDw5BqffTu9ODDky1YbW_Om50QZsuoRecAsDWx2hNqVtJckM94EkJHsRVUcYrIKmckSVBZEXFX702C5a4zeT/s1600/DSC01500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL8kq4VmGYCGkgzQaStVgIy9jVrpC9kGSy-bfJO9aoY3LvgJxxHBmEH_UlDw5BqffTu9ODDky1YbW_Om50QZsuoRecAsDWx2hNqVtJckM94EkJHsRVUcYrIKmckSVBZEXFX702C5a4zeT/s320/DSC01500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> To get to the Underground River from Sabang we travel by pomboat for about 20 minutes to get across the bay to the entrance to the river/cave.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpFqTYW_wwe3Rvjc6RhVt34TGj7uPMjBw-fv3KUuWGYFlnSeRxApvaMP0_aSLvQT7RWiFs0D-OKARpGR0ei-dt6UjGI4Y4pMlfAEjxURHwfw8MPpXWWH_OkrUqnrJSEgr0LcVVTVvQ-cJ/s1600/DSC01501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpFqTYW_wwe3Rvjc6RhVt34TGj7uPMjBw-fv3KUuWGYFlnSeRxApvaMP0_aSLvQT7RWiFs0D-OKARpGR0ei-dt6UjGI4Y4pMlfAEjxURHwfw8MPpXWWH_OkrUqnrJSEgr0LcVVTVvQ-cJ/s320/DSC01501.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqd70RTkRQ3BlB7meebF8AU6D0qdFceNbkALjgkGhRK35-VhJ83YXLEg5AQyKVBMSQKR38khcsGLDMoJxVHRAhmlDT1vYDlWPk0FSg91dVBFsqrn79fXaCiQhoU6Jjwm0RbUVXorh_kZBT/s1600/DSC01502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqd70RTkRQ3BlB7meebF8AU6D0qdFceNbkALjgkGhRK35-VhJ83YXLEg5AQyKVBMSQKR38khcsGLDMoJxVHRAhmlDT1vYDlWPk0FSg91dVBFsqrn79fXaCiQhoU6Jjwm0RbUVXorh_kZBT/s320/DSC01502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> We gingerly pile in a 12 person canoe with a guide to take us into the Underground River. The river goes for many kilometers inside the cave, but we only travel for 1.5 kilometers into the cave. The cave is full of bats flying over head...thank goodness for the hard hats!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHRU9LZULtvN1dEocTk2upeLX7g2CBYnn3LG5bdY8o0p2DCs2tFmvO8elVBZiLjPmBhu5DWoRaJS8fK37QIT3x3jD8MVc7txS7EFpa3759q9Y6wUT-C9OhYUWfhmpb5hZX6uVShkGx4Mk/s1600/DSC01520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHRU9LZULtvN1dEocTk2upeLX7g2CBYnn3LG5bdY8o0p2DCs2tFmvO8elVBZiLjPmBhu5DWoRaJS8fK37QIT3x3jD8MVc7txS7EFpa3759q9Y6wUT-C9OhYUWfhmpb5hZX6uVShkGx4Mk/s320/DSC01520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> What a fun experience and a beautiful place!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u6yViMX50BX3UNx0J1ZOw28bUHSx0VskQxrqnCE2j15vU5rrfJLzybdfy1MVv5QjVjLlGES3FK3RgqjpuiVJbOKD07s8g3Jn_4A27t8auneWFSIBv2BVbN0EngTsHJiNgOsf0sciF6hv/s1600/DSC01525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u6yViMX50BX3UNx0J1ZOw28bUHSx0VskQxrqnCE2j15vU5rrfJLzybdfy1MVv5QjVjLlGES3FK3RgqjpuiVJbOKD07s8g3Jn_4A27t8auneWFSIBv2BVbN0EngTsHJiNgOsf0sciF6hv/s320/DSC01525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-89165258770677958972011-11-13T23:47:00.000-08:002011-11-13T23:47:00.555-08:00In Puerto PrincesaAfter the week at our house in Lada we all got on a van for the four hour van ride to Puerto Princesa. Five of us were supposed to enjoy a flight to Puerto, but bad weather forced us all to take the van. Those that didn't get a ride in the plane were a little disappointed!<br />
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While in Puerto we stayed at the New Tribes guest house...our favorite place to stay when in town. The kids had fun showing Grandpa and Grandma around to some of their favorite places to eat and see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOZ1uN0_G48lCkETg_O0Zmpf43Y-qneRk9PyFAAF6xZrP1kNpJFe-XA0wqFYfNz189d0kiFv6-7df6r7i4LmWyf4DB9bD1bJraD3rdbNTSZux-zbrWtP3-IHLZrp0Gk_pgGKjPAQEMlac/s1600/DSC01409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOZ1uN0_G48lCkETg_O0Zmpf43Y-qneRk9PyFAAF6xZrP1kNpJFe-XA0wqFYfNz189d0kiFv6-7df6r7i4LmWyf4DB9bD1bJraD3rdbNTSZux-zbrWtP3-IHLZrp0Gk_pgGKjPAQEMlac/s320/DSC01409.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Shopping at NCCC is always a must when in town! Adams, Alyssum, and Kailee bought new hats! One of our favorite places to eat is at Chicken Inato's where we enjoy bbq chicken on a bamboo skewer and mango shakes. Mmm, they are the best!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbEMuVY1awRsdC8rc3RKW9cJk2urY5-j0ShVHzbqyy_Gx8op2wp5jH5772pIHIfwT19JpBNlWhFX9yDgSMYoTsS4TNUMYuFnqJ8fsSW-sSRNsJ4s1sVGb_KsVkyiVcKramdhsPixAepr0/s1600/DSC01412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbEMuVY1awRsdC8rc3RKW9cJk2urY5-j0ShVHzbqyy_Gx8op2wp5jH5772pIHIfwT19JpBNlWhFX9yDgSMYoTsS4TNUMYuFnqJ8fsSW-sSRNsJ4s1sVGb_KsVkyiVcKramdhsPixAepr0/s320/DSC01412.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One day we hired a driver with a jeepney to take us around Puerto. It was great to have our own wheels for the day! We started by visiting a park/war memorial in the middle of town. The park had recently been given a new look and we were pleasantly surprised at the pleasantness of the new park. Turned out to be a great photo spot!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgFLUt8qKr1-XClAUNm90SOv3c4490OYIFNEYMPedH0zvsCx8_ArYiPfZ415J9h_hk8_xi3H6d6LkGThGGYVbOJbyGaBZ0wS-IWl7mCpQQaId2SI5a9Orabl931UhIxD9fk4N7u9pAMix/s1600/DSC01420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgFLUt8qKr1-XClAUNm90SOv3c4490OYIFNEYMPedH0zvsCx8_ArYiPfZ415J9h_hk8_xi3H6d6LkGThGGYVbOJbyGaBZ0wS-IWl7mCpQQaId2SI5a9Orabl931UhIxD9fk4N7u9pAMix/s320/DSC01420.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZnddQDWF6MRxk1IBTu1dEFBNG0c5u6Zffw9_D3YIIwXLcTIrUBCPvjw3zPZK_cmMvUg85kYionXDhPH-QYbWqmZqHb2q1IN09z3yrkTBdnOTOMkffsyBUaw4Mv1L5Eg40fJfXjFSuwue/s1600/IMG_3593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZnddQDWF6MRxk1IBTu1dEFBNG0c5u6Zffw9_D3YIIwXLcTIrUBCPvjw3zPZK_cmMvUg85kYionXDhPH-QYbWqmZqHb2q1IN09z3yrkTBdnOTOMkffsyBUaw4Mv1L5Eg40fJfXjFSuwue/s320/IMG_3593.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The next stop of the day was the Butterfly Garden. It is a very small zoo/garden with butterflies and greenery in abundance! They also feature a variety of insects and reptiles found throughout Palawan. Some of the kids could spend hours at the Butterfly Garden as they are mesmerized by the beautiful fluttering butterflies<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JDoja51lq3zW92kDkjZ-XMcSSD1JRfuCWxoO2ivDt-x656WsVtNWODeuZk8IBiMvBUP1qPbVqWoYcdbo1gX3ZEqyJS6YU0cpTVoM0sNphVUE_FDD20OtTEDRwLf0a7fTIL-4xRa6LMn6/s1600/DSC01445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JDoja51lq3zW92kDkjZ-XMcSSD1JRfuCWxoO2ivDt-x656WsVtNWODeuZk8IBiMvBUP1qPbVqWoYcdbo1gX3ZEqyJS6YU0cpTVoM0sNphVUE_FDD20OtTEDRwLf0a7fTIL-4xRa6LMn6/s320/DSC01445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For lunch we visited another favorite spot, Baker's Hill. It is also a beautiful garden/zoo with a playground for younger kids. They have a nice restaurant and bakery.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnID5eqHejMn5Sfa424ZGlNVFMHquO7LhPUDt7IO9JuZPkoy7haQFL3MneWqRHtvDiSvHf6S4S48_39f_PfYo6wdETRKZ8Huu1_y4UXTpI76TxrXzbk0kDM_Q2pZ60WZtELWclkQb62tZ9/s1600/DSC01460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnID5eqHejMn5Sfa424ZGlNVFMHquO7LhPUDt7IO9JuZPkoy7haQFL3MneWqRHtvDiSvHf6S4S48_39f_PfYo6wdETRKZ8Huu1_y4UXTpI76TxrXzbk0kDM_Q2pZ60WZtELWclkQb62tZ9/s320/DSC01460.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> We didn't give our food much time to settle as we traveled just a few kilometers down the road to Royal Oberoi Hotel for the kids to swim in their wonderful pool. The adults enjoyed watching the kids play games in the pool!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F2eLYb2idgjHvayUMXD6mRu0lzMHxqBEl1ILehAwhWoGJXLhLjBi07TUntkpbXLW7bCVADaKCp6eP0K4kOxiZHS5-JrNvTTR2PQ61jNLsdUrpQVBD6RCbS9rmpuXfXNnFnTtvdeGoW_3/s1600/DSC01461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F2eLYb2idgjHvayUMXD6mRu0lzMHxqBEl1ILehAwhWoGJXLhLjBi07TUntkpbXLW7bCVADaKCp6eP0K4kOxiZHS5-JrNvTTR2PQ61jNLsdUrpQVBD6RCbS9rmpuXfXNnFnTtvdeGoW_3/s320/DSC01461.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4i4nw2RJ_6pNOdyzNJ-YU4uMWUEKcAmNtcLJFQt07jrMeXYg2tqYvTsgDpJ7kMFUJDwjWwFyUZJ2pO8mTYeWTJmb3hcrFajRVpvj6WecajCPs53GiP2oWfUyg74TxPavRMEVlkj7OAtz/s1600/DSC01462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4i4nw2RJ_6pNOdyzNJ-YU4uMWUEKcAmNtcLJFQt07jrMeXYg2tqYvTsgDpJ7kMFUJDwjWwFyUZJ2pO8mTYeWTJmb3hcrFajRVpvj6WecajCPs53GiP2oWfUyg74TxPavRMEVlkj7OAtz/s320/DSC01462.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>What a fun day touring around Puerto Princesa!Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-47851456830009249552011-11-13T23:05:00.000-08:002011-11-13T23:05:00.070-08:00Dad and Mom visit!<div class="MsoNormal">So wonderful to have my parents visit for a couple weeks! We were anticipating this visit for quite some time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_nDgUArBbjCpyiOJDZhX0Q1_EUAMXveZIXhnsvT_i9gmOzBW4c4fj6g3MHMtb_4vKvsQSDuXTBWeDSbuuEr218KqmCTmYAfMetRYkYuOtzOcmceBFUBYpqwcfNlr89jxZU4x-FMu0Wuw/s1600/IMG_3432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_nDgUArBbjCpyiOJDZhX0Q1_EUAMXveZIXhnsvT_i9gmOzBW4c4fj6g3MHMtb_4vKvsQSDuXTBWeDSbuuEr218KqmCTmYAfMetRYkYuOtzOcmceBFUBYpqwcfNlr89jxZU4x-FMu0Wuw/s320/IMG_3432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyUohkLdRHn5QGaM2cZQAFGu5Tk2QoWrAXbODU8z2yKG6qQJM8LKF0XgFabAjzNOi61yGvas1gmAf7bOB5Rk8cIaHDCom_tGATa9oc-1ZdgbBHaerlnYobLzkMn3CwXZPsx0wPxuBkCPl/s1600/IMG_0750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyUohkLdRHn5QGaM2cZQAFGu5Tk2QoWrAXbODU8z2yKG6qQJM8LKF0XgFabAjzNOi61yGvas1gmAf7bOB5Rk8cIaHDCom_tGATa9oc-1ZdgbBHaerlnYobLzkMn3CwXZPsx0wPxuBkCPl/s200/IMG_0750.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Steve, Ann Marie, Ethan, and Tyler met them in Puerto Princesa at the airport. All except for Steve got to fly down to Lada, right up to our front door, on a New Tribes airplane. Since we live on the New Tribes airstrip, Ethan and Tyler have been dreaming of the day they would get to fly with Josh in his plane.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK3odEM20QRidKSj8mZXzPlDF511Tkfg2pvuK0km6AG9D7CG38r_qmF8daXrTLolnOkCu8tWMDHYRCRmfjBYqWkqV2ycvh9atCd2ajGL8GTkWuccEZ9LnlSEh65LYJHIqqrdZvFlzZyeN/s1600/IMG_0747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK3odEM20QRidKSj8mZXzPlDF511Tkfg2pvuK0km6AG9D7CG38r_qmF8daXrTLolnOkCu8tWMDHYRCRmfjBYqWkqV2ycvh9atCd2ajGL8GTkWuccEZ9LnlSEh65LYJHIqqrdZvFlzZyeN/s200/IMG_0747.jpg" width="200" /></a> Grandpa and Grandma decided they wanted to fly down rather than take the four hour bumpy van ride, so the three older kids got to join them. It was a short sweet flight of only 45 min! They loved seeing Palawan from the air. The road looked so smooth, from the air! Nice neat farms with small houses and trails from the main road. It is amazing from the air how clean and well laid out everything looks...such a different view than on the ground!<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We spent the week here at our house in Lada and around Brooke’s Point. We took them on a “city” tour showing them some of the sights of this small town at the southern end of Palawan.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooke's Lighthouse named after Sir James Brooke</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the top of the lighthouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pom boats at the pier</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn5JaT1D1TS3yxpZ42cD7hn9rad_uBDYLAYTHNVntNBEmGX2sw-PLvpBK4YayJ498sfOn6xTwZEbMwLua_EczylPHGQbj-yp1ZVA-zuAkKkZiyyQD4aKI9voSdhvtIY7UNcpqvfvFKils/s1600/IMG_3455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn5JaT1D1TS3yxpZ42cD7hn9rad_uBDYLAYTHNVntNBEmGX2sw-PLvpBK4YayJ498sfOn6xTwZEbMwLua_EczylPHGQbj-yp1ZVA-zuAkKkZiyyQD4aKI9voSdhvtIY7UNcpqvfvFKils/s320/IMG_3455.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas in September!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nGz3pmOYuonsoMwYu9sn5P4y6T6Gyp8FhRUTrYjX83zv6xa5al5y3rQibjl6KG7HD2iFoXa3Y-usyqTfr1r-ON0Uz5pprxNPvQwdbvdqoZrlmSqB4iEKDstpYrJ3SGHmUeRnzfU7nqs1/s1600/DSC01398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nGz3pmOYuonsoMwYu9sn5P4y6T6Gyp8FhRUTrYjX83zv6xa5al5y3rQibjl6KG7HD2iFoXa3Y-usyqTfr1r-ON0Uz5pprxNPvQwdbvdqoZrlmSqB4iEKDstpYrJ3SGHmUeRnzfU7nqs1/s320/DSC01398.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas dinner!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Christmas is just so much more fun with Grandparents so we decided to celebrate Christmas in September! Steve made a wonderful breakfast on “Christmas” morning and we had hot chocolate and apple cider for this “chilly” rainy morning. We decorated a small tree with lights brought from Alaska. Christmas music made the morning complete! We read Isaiah 53 together, and then opened presents. Mom had to get quite creative with the gifts she brought since she was trying to not bring too much luggage. Their suitcases were maxed out for weight, but they managed to fit it all in! Even a 10lb box of screws and nails for Tyler!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJKd1Jyzzm23F5OgO6FeZQBAGigYF43IrfkhuGHDEEz5gf-pzghrLL30iAD74M94tBEXJJvOi1UkO_tVa23GMCju4QP_qnL-arMskPvlycDBU7ng6Lge-4JpbvXyKltnQJuJfeOAOhOjJ/s1600/IMG_3462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJKd1Jyzzm23F5OgO6FeZQBAGigYF43IrfkhuGHDEEz5gf-pzghrLL30iAD74M94tBEXJJvOi1UkO_tVa23GMCju4QP_qnL-arMskPvlycDBU7ng6Lge-4JpbvXyKltnQJuJfeOAOhOjJ/s320/IMG_3462.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUBLyL2CQGyRVUoPuYVEjAIGXJq-5oqzLJo97HjsJbvNdADrzvASduyBnBoXm_cDItBji3Isj7sOFrA5LloqhkcqdfeUhgoc4A5ALqjXv2-NB0LgU9NzDKRXL9wBGMMsohs6zwMXlndlj/s1600/IMG_3463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUBLyL2CQGyRVUoPuYVEjAIGXJq-5oqzLJo97HjsJbvNdADrzvASduyBnBoXm_cDItBji3Isj7sOFrA5LloqhkcqdfeUhgoc4A5ALqjXv2-NB0LgU9NzDKRXL9wBGMMsohs6zwMXlndlj/s320/IMG_3463.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxaqNg_dQ_RR5QinNM8Qz29xEVK4CYahk_G7GDwpSBwY_DyFaTN4nWqcTyZN7r0sgE8rt2zs7j7VCSDJW4MlwqTdp8NBssRuIQju152M059YuJAc7_lAB1kruA7EPjyJHJMbJV4AXJosc/s1600/IMG_3476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxaqNg_dQ_RR5QinNM8Qz29xEVK4CYahk_G7GDwpSBwY_DyFaTN4nWqcTyZN7r0sgE8rt2zs7j7VCSDJW4MlwqTdp8NBssRuIQju152M059YuJAc7_lAB1kruA7EPjyJHJMbJV4AXJosc/s320/IMG_3476.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh8yF96vZtP-OGJoS-GljVTah2aBNfbGoNeC9R3POu5ybgOqxmWWOUmUHxTiOmNEynjjNkMYSazWGNnz8JQY-IIUXZwzCQ7EDod9IC9GKUgRcCymc4_szSh-XFe4TXDICylTBKGgt3MOV/s1600/IMG_3472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh8yF96vZtP-OGJoS-GljVTah2aBNfbGoNeC9R3POu5ybgOqxmWWOUmUHxTiOmNEynjjNkMYSazWGNnz8JQY-IIUXZwzCQ7EDod9IC9GKUgRcCymc4_szSh-XFe4TXDICylTBKGgt3MOV/s320/IMG_3472.jpg" width="256" /></a></div></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-9695900373883235332011-10-06T06:46:00.000-07:002011-10-06T06:46:10.322-07:00Birthday Boys!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIG_uIcsDooUy7DG3z8oLkExRszX9oypBpk_DQ-zVPpArMVzI0lt-lZqSQ6YGXcyyDB7mfRY35WfJV9DZ6h1LM8LRlodjCvqTD2bijNVCjc408ipoUEtzKMqspK3lO7zfn7wL5MUjK49H/s1600/IMG_3437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIG_uIcsDooUy7DG3z8oLkExRszX9oypBpk_DQ-zVPpArMVzI0lt-lZqSQ6YGXcyyDB7mfRY35WfJV9DZ6h1LM8LRlodjCvqTD2bijNVCjc408ipoUEtzKMqspK3lO7zfn7wL5MUjK49H/s320/IMG_3437.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ethan's birthday was October 2, Adams' birthday is on October 18, and Tyler's birthday was September 4...so we had a birthday party for all of them after Grandpa and Grandma arrived. <br />
<br />
Tyler turned 13...we now have three teenagers in the house! Ethan turned 16 and can't wait to drive! Adams will be 9...he hopes one day he will "catch up" to his brothers and sisters!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOke1euJG2cRhs9s7P7LHGilaKAur4QvEmfAnESTJ_-Z8BZ8IwoNj132gZ2UELz_9x1Y55THAZosYGz14cmyvhdYxfITWrGD9m-y0Def42jvtAtAfTS6Kk21mgcTDt4KPdw9eBrtQCtJbT/s1600/IMG_3435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOke1euJG2cRhs9s7P7LHGilaKAur4QvEmfAnESTJ_-Z8BZ8IwoNj132gZ2UELz_9x1Y55THAZosYGz14cmyvhdYxfITWrGD9m-y0Def42jvtAtAfTS6Kk21mgcTDt4KPdw9eBrtQCtJbT/s320/IMG_3435.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to all our boys!</div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-8116320166010848262011-09-18T19:26:00.000-07:002011-09-18T19:26:13.033-07:00New School year<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-PH</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal">Finally school year 2010-2011 let out for this family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a year of so many changes and then interruption after interruption in our school year, it just felt great to be done! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we left the island in February unexpectedly we had to leave behind all of our school books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then spent time in Puerto Princesa with family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Took a two week trip to Manila to finish up our visas and spend more time with family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then back to Puerto and a move to a new house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We loved the vacation away from school and of course, we loved spending time with everyone...wouldn’t trade that for all the school time in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But amazingly it was two months before the kids were reunited with their long lost books!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it was mid-April and we were only halfway through our school year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sure had a lot of ground to cover.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lada provided us the perfect place to accomplish that task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No interruptions and plenty of time to complete assignments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So from mid-April until the end of August the kids worked hard on completing their school year...and now we can say with much excitement, “We have finished the task set before us and have done well!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a good feeling!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1RP2z58ncZ_cgtCHdLxUidCtcGDLFFpXeWFVrwlSrAcREZmGSo0Ol0_sB5FLvq0kkTYBQwC0wpt8VljeX9JU46q9AsmMStVayZ1PJSiCYDZiEDC4Gz6y1-5lgr3prMcWU3hTZajxpg_p/s1600/IMG_3362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1RP2z58ncZ_cgtCHdLxUidCtcGDLFFpXeWFVrwlSrAcREZmGSo0Ol0_sB5FLvq0kkTYBQwC0wpt8VljeX9JU46q9AsmMStVayZ1PJSiCYDZiEDC4Gz6y1-5lgr3prMcWU3hTZajxpg_p/s320/IMG_3362.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Needless to say though, that didn’t give us much of a break before the next school year had to begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In May I spent many hours on-line ordering curriculum for the coming school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had it all sent to my mom in Alaska who packed it all up for us in three large boxes to be sent by slow boat to the Philippines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes two months for these boxes to reach us, but for a set price the rather large boxes can be as heavy as you can manage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they get full of school books and various other treasures from family and friends at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom sent the boxes in June and sure enough by the end of August they arrived!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much excitement for boxes full of school books!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ann Marie and I sorted books and organized binders to get ready for the next school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then we were off and running!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>School year 2011-2012 has officially begun for the Veldstra family...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUkIS5E0h2TWrdM2EvnFPiIZRP3gfoO5hzrMcSvkrd5hcPnXYDHkqvpoWwUQ-hPV85I-rMCHQsYM7DmkdoTxvJMiLQydECQjOBo-Dp5u-qhgPQ1t1VWvqrcrsRAP9wy4yjst5hZz6H2Zk/s1600/kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUkIS5E0h2TWrdM2EvnFPiIZRP3gfoO5hzrMcSvkrd5hcPnXYDHkqvpoWwUQ-hPV85I-rMCHQsYM7DmkdoTxvJMiLQydECQjOBo-Dp5u-qhgPQ1t1VWvqrcrsRAP9wy4yjst5hZz6H2Zk/s320/kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Ann Marie</b> is a Senior this year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sense of accomplishment is such a great feeling!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me that in Sierra Leone she never dreamed she would ever have the opportunity to graduate from high school!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Ethan</b> is in 10<sup>th</sup> grade and realizing the challenges of High school!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much school work and not near enough free time, but he works hard to get it all done.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Tyler</b> is now a teenager and in Junior High!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pre-Algebra and a Drafting class are among his favorites! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Kailee</b> is in 5<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a voracious reader and loves to try out new words all the time!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Alyssum</b> is in 4<sup>th</sup> grade and loves her new Language Arts book this year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Adams</b> is in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade and has become quite the good reader and story writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has such a great imagination!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our house is always so busy with plenty of learning through books and life experiences! </div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-80875921320109113242011-09-12T15:34:00.000-07:002011-09-12T15:34:29.474-07:00A Visit from HomeHard to believe it has been over a month ago since Pastor Jonathan came to visit us. He surprised Steve one day with a text asking if we had plans for the following week and then asked if he could come on over for a short visit. Steve at first said, "Sure, we would love to have you!", and then, "Are you serious?" Knowing Jonathan we knew he was serious! So we excitedly made plans to meet him in Puerto Princesa and spend our time there with him.<br />
<br />
We met him at the airport Wednesday afternoon and spent a few relaxing days at a hotel. The hotel has a wonderful pool which the kids spent many hours enjoying!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxedabcIF27E-iS6SENjsgnvf4O1znFM6tSUQqKpE9yFhD9MQatMVznkp4tkb8Pu2qTNUjXUZcGZcRGVgeDUGfnY0OJiV1rq7_bKSUMrvxtw-pBRqXuzNJw-coRs6Q6brfG1LNJGdy0LX_/s1600/IMG_3258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxedabcIF27E-iS6SENjsgnvf4O1znFM6tSUQqKpE9yFhD9MQatMVznkp4tkb8Pu2qTNUjXUZcGZcRGVgeDUGfnY0OJiV1rq7_bKSUMrvxtw-pBRqXuzNJw-coRs6Q6brfG1LNJGdy0LX_/s320/IMG_3258.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OrUcUeuzW6tRPAIP9EBy-exc4OIWKZMeKwVT60QuvYi9xktaLqrXx473t-D7UEFwki8GwVaFDd0smEa5KPIkFnHMguP52HlRMtZW9h_eVfM6R7vn9O7R6WkS9G8oy0rbvWJrH8oGax9A/s1600/IMG_3272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OrUcUeuzW6tRPAIP9EBy-exc4OIWKZMeKwVT60QuvYi9xktaLqrXx473t-D7UEFwki8GwVaFDd0smEa5KPIkFnHMguP52HlRMtZW9h_eVfM6R7vn9O7R6WkS9G8oy0rbvWJrH8oGax9A/s320/IMG_3272.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">We really enjoyed Jonathan’s visit...so good to talk and laugh with someone from home. Being able to talk face to face is so valuable. We have been so discouraged the last few months and lonely that we had kind of lost the right perspective. It was time to find it again!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We stayed at a nice hotel in Puerto Princesa and felt really spoiled! What a treat! It was certainly a great place to relax and be refreshed! Also, someone paid for all of us to get a few new clothes, so we spent a morning shopping for everyone. The kids had so much fun picking out new things! Ethan and Tyler had a great time with Jonathan and getting his opinion! </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCBO-QM3QUrE72Lh-IIGJOkqY9jV2ADVxqGXhnpRj2ViLWQ-Fl5oY9xj6XoeqcLDwXXYRmMz0nTpcPlWEnnKeBFgKizNU9xnjrFSE4vKyHo1n-D42Z6w5dwiLe2av4RHesozLqHnwdIcf/s1600/IMG_3278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCBO-QM3QUrE72Lh-IIGJOkqY9jV2ADVxqGXhnpRj2ViLWQ-Fl5oY9xj6XoeqcLDwXXYRmMz0nTpcPlWEnnKeBFgKizNU9xnjrFSE4vKyHo1n-D42Z6w5dwiLe2av4RHesozLqHnwdIcf/s320/IMG_3278.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJr5_7vqKFztop0tPQw9WDcc8Tbz3wpEmgcLeH484yxm3PryJkO9DRbunTv50DQxD-NTQeRIVgNqVVNH5wqFxIh1S0KN0VOTyVg5kGfwZWrhCnJMDGnQqnt3s47Gqeh4lybqiD5mtL3sG/s1600/IMG_3283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJr5_7vqKFztop0tPQw9WDcc8Tbz3wpEmgcLeH484yxm3PryJkO9DRbunTv50DQxD-NTQeRIVgNqVVNH5wqFxIh1S0KN0VOTyVg5kGfwZWrhCnJMDGnQqnt3s47Gqeh4lybqiD5mtL3sG/s320/IMG_3283.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7PGW3ajXmxjSo8qnCRo0-JIRXe8UtEUrBlHd3k4KJP6KtSmwWAsMS6VZ7GhFq2VZRm1JAbjNyd5_lRN5nT6FiF1tHOj9O-I5pALg5TSYY70oHogJR7yFQz4anF8K9aj1XdO9Ns1SJblk/s1600/IMG_3285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7PGW3ajXmxjSo8qnCRo0-JIRXe8UtEUrBlHd3k4KJP6KtSmwWAsMS6VZ7GhFq2VZRm1JAbjNyd5_lRN5nT6FiF1tHOj9O-I5pALg5TSYY70oHogJR7yFQz4anF8K9aj1XdO9Ns1SJblk/s320/IMG_3285.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvWDqdMdJD5ixZsnU6JXs5iSKnv10agpYnSCn6bsw806T_YiCUl5dCXz-cUbD6huQwe54hjTIz6GdTG1TlpEa9hNPD320skrKjsSfQ5nR2WrE3R6i69jFITJLY7kKRW3Vyj8k6okhsCGC/s1600/IMG_3291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvWDqdMdJD5ixZsnU6JXs5iSKnv10agpYnSCn6bsw806T_YiCUl5dCXz-cUbD6huQwe54hjTIz6GdTG1TlpEa9hNPD320skrKjsSfQ5nR2WrE3R6i69jFITJLY7kKRW3Vyj8k6okhsCGC/s320/IMG_3291.jpg" width="320" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are so thankful for the time he spent with all of us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuSnRwQmf4V24mV0dvbsaAnKejfrAyYvTpN4xEy3oOmPJMtwQWwBGKKQBrW84z8BcD_3RPuRyc-0pJlx1BjaZ3AfsSWy1hXHWGZoHkqiiBT0iQ_KlKQw2Le17T57rywzWKa0Yi7po66VR/s1600/IMG_3303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuSnRwQmf4V24mV0dvbsaAnKejfrAyYvTpN4xEy3oOmPJMtwQWwBGKKQBrW84z8BcD_3RPuRyc-0pJlx1BjaZ3AfsSWy1hXHWGZoHkqiiBT0iQ_KlKQw2Le17T57rywzWKa0Yi7po66VR/s320/IMG_3303.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"></span></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-24838204796890824022011-08-12T20:13:00.000-07:002011-08-12T20:13:23.445-07:00Braid LocsAnn Marie decided to have braid locs put in her hair again. We did these quite a few years ago when she first came to us from Sierra Leone. At that time I was unfamiliar with braiding African hair and took too big of sections for each braid so the locs got too big. We eventually took them out....that was a lot of work! Since then we have done extensions, straightened her hair, and various other hairstyles. They all look great, but are difficult to do on your own. So with leaving home in the very near future Ann Marie decided she needed a hairstyle she could manage herself since she will no longer be living with her hairdresser! Braid locs need maintenance, but most of the time is a fairly simple style. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1bF4jYXLczvQ8_z8z8327e8i6_IDBwDbJgRT-OfbIVAXGRjDVkdd5tHLkVyC7RRMtL2IwZvpnlmSkbpIOR9TyOKCBXx1JJmUhrl0tnq5qbgAoP9ZYE1gYZBKGCnU6JnbhJ2k4ZdW_rK-/s1600/IMG_3218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1bF4jYXLczvQ8_z8z8327e8i6_IDBwDbJgRT-OfbIVAXGRjDVkdd5tHLkVyC7RRMtL2IwZvpnlmSkbpIOR9TyOKCBXx1JJmUhrl0tnq5qbgAoP9ZYE1gYZBKGCnU6JnbhJ2k4ZdW_rK-/s320/IMG_3218.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So I braided, braided, and braided some more! Over two weeks, 28 hours, and 557 braids later...we were done!! The braids are so tiny this time! Each braid is about the size of a piece of thin yarn. Because of the small size of the braid each individual braid does a ringlet at the end. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7xNP0070OjMeigLayjLqY1MWOdoZMSY2boWl94V2sEnQ3Bt2cXz5mjec6RRFL620lW-X497WywZOG5oPBmgQWaBYlwYfYxnuBgjsCEecLWgZltQuETa2ecsHCZWENhjIA79JZ2pC682z/s1600/IMG_3217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7xNP0070OjMeigLayjLqY1MWOdoZMSY2boWl94V2sEnQ3Bt2cXz5mjec6RRFL620lW-X497WywZOG5oPBmgQWaBYlwYfYxnuBgjsCEecLWgZltQuETa2ecsHCZWENhjIA79JZ2pC682z/s320/IMG_3217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
As her hair grows every couple months we use a latch hook to loop the braid through the new growth to extend the braid. So this should make the hair keep growing longer and longer. We are hoping this is something she will be able to do herself or easily have anyone help her with. The style looks great on her! Ann Marie you are so beautiful!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqcTVZE1l_q1qJDYhImngpBWt50m5GyQQdwGGoPj7ILXj79f-pmRzGHJsvdBQY1fAIaRxehGmz4LJewF5YdY51MdDWBskt7d5LChYeCmEoap06OnGJfWkJV0T4Ebi4K3e3xLA0pXiRZvk/s1600/IMG_3225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqcTVZE1l_q1qJDYhImngpBWt50m5GyQQdwGGoPj7ILXj79f-pmRzGHJsvdBQY1fAIaRxehGmz4LJewF5YdY51MdDWBskt7d5LChYeCmEoap06OnGJfWkJV0T4Ebi4K3e3xLA0pXiRZvk/s320/IMG_3225.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-54878646169338515492011-08-06T08:25:00.000-07:002011-08-06T08:25:40.982-07:00Mainit Falls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcrYukGV0JaQ7_vODQRaatLdp38mch7kI3HiXArcr9ZuLQ81qiJdfAdYT3P3VdzW4byI6UTXCDgL574MF4znrRstl0SEyjWRcXlCmWj2R-L79RjcCN18cGbeGgm6mjJJR5_GP-DP5bdt2/s1600/IMG_1339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcrYukGV0JaQ7_vODQRaatLdp38mch7kI3HiXArcr9ZuLQ81qiJdfAdYT3P3VdzW4byI6UTXCDgL574MF4znrRstl0SEyjWRcXlCmWj2R-L79RjcCN18cGbeGgm6mjJJR5_GP-DP5bdt2/s320/IMG_1339.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steve and Ethan, Tyler, Kailee, Alyssum, and Adams enjoyed half a day at the Mainit Falls and Hot Springs. It is only a few kilometers from our house, down a dusty dirt road. But a very beautiful place hidden away!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMj-bW7jj06vTvt7j8bD8T_2GyI51ienRHGpYeUYx8HoID0UEO7iv45sH_rZ4lqcXqFY0XoPkVgWqM1Aj3jmZOdXF-HTcbmgKlZ_U4-HsNZI7f5Be2nUDz4xMFog4f_Ov6PZM_tMbjFxKq/s1600/IMG_1361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMj-bW7jj06vTvt7j8bD8T_2GyI51ienRHGpYeUYx8HoID0UEO7iv45sH_rZ4lqcXqFY0XoPkVgWqM1Aj3jmZOdXF-HTcbmgKlZ_U4-HsNZI7f5Be2nUDz4xMFog4f_Ov6PZM_tMbjFxKq/s320/IMG_1361.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The kids would go from hot spring pools to the waterfall to cool off. The hot springs have a sulfur smell...the kids said it smelled like hard-boiled eggs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd68FkHWNaF-Em_Po_NOegqT7R0u8irVTcVqMAH5rrE3Ox7UqkkMGoW5iTmoPEWY03Eyu6BufsI9SV0YS48X7rWT3hdXNizKW0tHzkCGfZkOBdlyaygqagaxIiWFmYDrDdRmKHYP3iGsZE/s1600/IMG_1345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd68FkHWNaF-Em_Po_NOegqT7R0u8irVTcVqMAH5rrE3Ox7UqkkMGoW5iTmoPEWY03Eyu6BufsI9SV0YS48X7rWT3hdXNizKW0tHzkCGfZkOBdlyaygqagaxIiWFmYDrDdRmKHYP3iGsZE/s320/IMG_1345.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>They enjoyed these hot pools, but definitely had the most fun in the waterfall! Hopefully we will get to do this outing again while we are still staying here at Lada.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38NooYUmSQtH8cSOmEzkITyGD3h9P_MCaRNA3_gvMkVCjdKKNxZAINGZToPRxnVDHkBS7CPFYtezUeIaLcPTcwZ7md1DyN900dzER4T_wqsV34BS5O2jeHx4c_e-EBuSJveYpcmKNjEq_/s1600/IMG_1362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38NooYUmSQtH8cSOmEzkITyGD3h9P_MCaRNA3_gvMkVCjdKKNxZAINGZToPRxnVDHkBS7CPFYtezUeIaLcPTcwZ7md1DyN900dzER4T_wqsV34BS5O2jeHx4c_e-EBuSJveYpcmKNjEq_/s320/IMG_1362.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-69524167910947822502011-08-06T05:38:00.000-07:002011-08-06T05:38:56.065-07:00Creepy Crawlies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6SvFVHSomdWL0NVD859cvJvL7YCfu0hN2JcxBzLj20arX9AKFeSeGtNJgIcKh8jCHv-O5T4f_DLGvbIIlzFB_BaBMYDCNs5nEPt2BroZt7w6i9iclUf2LnLQtZZQ5SXa0cbDbWeX2RXy/s1600/IMG_3179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6SvFVHSomdWL0NVD859cvJvL7YCfu0hN2JcxBzLj20arX9AKFeSeGtNJgIcKh8jCHv-O5T4f_DLGvbIIlzFB_BaBMYDCNs5nEPt2BroZt7w6i9iclUf2LnLQtZZQ5SXa0cbDbWeX2RXy/s320/IMG_3179.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This gecko among others has found our house to be his home. This one plus two buddies of his hide behind the refrigerator during the day and come out at night to hunt insects. They certainly keep the cockroaches under control. Check out this link on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokay_gecko">gecko</a> of the Philippines. (click on word gecko)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrugRozA104B-NUwKEZYvGiKG398LUbXQiHRNe7D43q2-CsFsEYhk7okpt1LIbD50bp-49VyoUNjML8IqaX0YgwEj4-0jvzh9FUkhyqyWxKwvLNPgCjb3nkGlOwkaZassM0BQZnQZvKu4/s1600/IMG_1330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrugRozA104B-NUwKEZYvGiKG398LUbXQiHRNe7D43q2-CsFsEYhk7okpt1LIbD50bp-49VyoUNjML8IqaX0YgwEj4-0jvzh9FUkhyqyWxKwvLNPgCjb3nkGlOwkaZassM0BQZnQZvKu4/s320/IMG_1330.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Interesting "pulsating caterpillar". We don't have any idea what it is called, but it sure is one of God's unique creatures!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy42gEPyI4DaATMQKk2SOjq7AUSC1vFkTa6meS0kOohjLFJ0XG2pEXvP5s7MmqaX_WMtTL971onelUhJ-bJvN-om3pWa0du744BGJIgicRMXmTgmsfPnhgiJiP1myEi0CeyHF3IIBystn/s1600/IMG_3212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy42gEPyI4DaATMQKk2SOjq7AUSC1vFkTa6meS0kOohjLFJ0XG2pEXvP5s7MmqaX_WMtTL971onelUhJ-bJvN-om3pWa0du744BGJIgicRMXmTgmsfPnhgiJiP1myEi0CeyHF3IIBystn/s320/IMG_3212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This HUGE spider was found right outside our house. I don't have any idea what kind of spider this is. It was so big that we could easily see its mandibles working on lunch!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSC3RUyRJ5st5EoyirRq-lAzHt5PDkb-v3un8d4pPZnWEvgJaSsQLxSfpnHW4TnR2HHEObN8vr3a35bl9JWhbVAGA8fRek6UrxdbNHIYzQBfx1eTwd_naLqhbTiILKSf9AHWRsQt8SumgE/s1600/IMG_3206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSC3RUyRJ5st5EoyirRq-lAzHt5PDkb-v3un8d4pPZnWEvgJaSsQLxSfpnHW4TnR2HHEObN8vr3a35bl9JWhbVAGA8fRek6UrxdbNHIYzQBfx1eTwd_naLqhbTiILKSf9AHWRsQt8SumgE/s320/IMG_3206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And only one person was brave enough to put their hand close enough so we could have a reference of how big this spider really is!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPcqddiRQoBJgaB42j_WWOxBbk2iB6vazkFXXXVszGoB2mTi8hJ-pOeKzcgL5ZPFAgflIhHwU_oIBvuK7nokiJ323mG90G6FeA-xwvEI6J75ugpZsNSc_tiS9p0JyaQSvbxCs2phzbxCv/s1600/IMG_3205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPcqddiRQoBJgaB42j_WWOxBbk2iB6vazkFXXXVszGoB2mTi8hJ-pOeKzcgL5ZPFAgflIhHwU_oIBvuK7nokiJ323mG90G6FeA-xwvEI6J75ugpZsNSc_tiS9p0JyaQSvbxCs2phzbxCv/s320/IMG_3205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Brave Ann Marie!<br />
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The tropics certainly has its fair share of creepy crawlies! That takes some getting used to for this Alaskan family! Just today we found a snake skin in the bathroom. Now that's a first for us! We've seen several snakes, but always outside. We are hoping that snake only stayed long enough to shed its skin and then left because we make too much noise.Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-48358408109045911362011-08-05T23:04:00.000-07:002011-08-05T23:04:50.185-07:00Fruits and Veggies!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6Oy-mQ9fCeQijMlPHUsdJbKjZbhanTiiKsnC5jUPyF9fm4GWBuRnb21nkhzP2P4cy9POWC2NawGSHZTs3hMqUTfmhEBblYhJCrThfFCLzwHlqFKLoPuJuNVYvUOu0ykCrXeES07gG8lE/s1600/IMG_3170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6Oy-mQ9fCeQijMlPHUsdJbKjZbhanTiiKsnC5jUPyF9fm4GWBuRnb21nkhzP2P4cy9POWC2NawGSHZTs3hMqUTfmhEBblYhJCrThfFCLzwHlqFKLoPuJuNVYvUOu0ykCrXeES07gG8lE/s320/IMG_3170.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One of the wonderful things about staying here at Lada is the great market in town every Monday! It is kind of a fair like atmosphere each Monday morning with so many stalls of people selling fresh produce, fresh meat, cooked food, clothes, shoes, and whatever else one might need. We have to get there early in the morning in order to get enough meat...the best cuts are bought first! <br />
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Then we fill Steve's back pack several times with fruit and vegetables!! A variety of bananas, mangoes, pineapple, and local fruit. The pineapple was in season for a couple months and so inexpensive! We made so many things with pineapple! Pineapple upside down cake, pancakes with pineapple, and of course lots of fruit salad with all the fruit!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2LMG8ATUQlHre9jbsIcxzxx0dL0vlR5Q7ictZ9Zgq1JMY3IDYlZM2o7V7_XGlJbBXpF8PxBH__zxxOLXoN1wInqSpUlzs62KgyElfkW1C8lNTilwCQZ_7sJsd_I1hoFChzHD1NqQKqv_/s1600/IMG_3191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2LMG8ATUQlHre9jbsIcxzxx0dL0vlR5Q7ictZ9Zgq1JMY3IDYlZM2o7V7_XGlJbBXpF8PxBH__zxxOLXoN1wInqSpUlzs62KgyElfkW1C8lNTilwCQZ_7sJsd_I1hoFChzHD1NqQKqv_/s320/IMG_3191.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pineapple upside-down cake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0k5tyTpFihZ1jjEhUF9qzNHsGl0JeeEN9rdqHw8049hemdGy5cJbBkKJ-WLVH2EniaCyg2boCwU8zmWjZwZIttVTkm9yfrxaC0BUJLMeU_HfDdR9BxuiG1ES7hIVdf8QFV2B71pvzO3Q/s1600/IMG_3193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0k5tyTpFihZ1jjEhUF9qzNHsGl0JeeEN9rdqHw8049hemdGy5cJbBkKJ-WLVH2EniaCyg2boCwU8zmWjZwZIttVTkm9yfrxaC0BUJLMeU_HfDdR9BxuiG1ES7hIVdf8QFV2B71pvzO3Q/s320/IMG_3193.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm so delicious, homemade mango jam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Vegetables are plentiful as well! Tomatoes, a variety of peppers, squash, eggplant, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and avocados. We enjoy seeing the variety of produce that comes and goes with the seasons. Avocados are now in season and are so inexpensive. We love homemade guacamole. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsyGjCQiI-pL-xURzJAtsE6yBlj6uY9IaFcPH2NsCLzvA-a5kGhLQnao0a_hbN4um0LNL3xSmxbf2V4FMod_SzuYjF7dUQiQ2sIjZRsLwfSk5H0OdvcyGUEh6zDwGWVQAZVxIWSohPs-I/s1600/IMG_3174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsyGjCQiI-pL-xURzJAtsE6yBlj6uY9IaFcPH2NsCLzvA-a5kGhLQnao0a_hbN4um0LNL3xSmxbf2V4FMod_SzuYjF7dUQiQ2sIjZRsLwfSk5H0OdvcyGUEh6zDwGWVQAZVxIWSohPs-I/s320/IMG_3174.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJejgEa63p1tOnDtOI5mB8-p6yGwfYGXRiTr7Qd9i5bH-IDOrsuOx_WtRpwrl2atDPp0BNc8JWTe2KpjQyzYgTBdsp8Owtlf5HfLiGoC2CrcmiXHkMqZNWblI5hmj72dDNFW31rx-Sow8/s1600/IMG_3190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJejgEa63p1tOnDtOI5mB8-p6yGwfYGXRiTr7Qd9i5bH-IDOrsuOx_WtRpwrl2atDPp0BNc8JWTe2KpjQyzYgTBdsp8Owtlf5HfLiGoC2CrcmiXHkMqZNWblI5hmj72dDNFW31rx-Sow8/s320/IMG_3190.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade tortillas</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq6kT_B4tIffVqNYTUeNprHFUsinwH26g3WZ-k5Tj1Hq-JyZKaUzuWOjDv2Wb0ajqCAeKSn3xwpN2yJAYzF1f6oEr38woH0lNc7THKvnIgNWCOLU00DHEp2mixaS5m_ALnPFmiQzDe2pH/s1600/IMG_3194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq6kT_B4tIffVqNYTUeNprHFUsinwH26g3WZ-k5Tj1Hq-JyZKaUzuWOjDv2Wb0ajqCAeKSn3xwpN2yJAYzF1f6oEr38woH0lNc7THKvnIgNWCOLU00DHEp2mixaS5m_ALnPFmiQzDe2pH/s320/IMG_3194.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann Marie's specialty...English muffins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So many of the foods we enjoyed at home we have to make by hand here. A little time consuming, but we enjoy them even more that way!Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-2383154606379024542011-07-19T01:16:00.000-07:002011-07-19T01:16:09.899-07:00Science......and crazy Scientists!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PcJAuqCPJrFdOYCBqw72-IT3tLeq37YhKiuQatWzITEPyrn-nL2vPcz4jxpkNDgZw6WRY6-sC0tqaSpXRUe_ZJAstiurf-M_03GIQjgNX0-4qx35cA7XYxRA0SfoQsCpECGymhhe-33F/s1600/IMG_3100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PcJAuqCPJrFdOYCBqw72-IT3tLeq37YhKiuQatWzITEPyrn-nL2vPcz4jxpkNDgZw6WRY6-sC0tqaSpXRUe_ZJAstiurf-M_03GIQjgNX0-4qx35cA7XYxRA0SfoQsCpECGymhhe-33F/s320/IMG_3100.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Ethan has been studying Biology this year which, of course, involves those wonderful dissections of the earthworm, crayfish, frog, and fish. We love Apologia curriculum and its thoroughness!! The kids have all learned so much. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOLBZFU0irX2m-l7og4BztB8Zw8xc_qdrvrFx5f5zP1cpxdJ710KCR7FaWkMT3Vx7aqp5X3fGHAEtIBI6Suyct1NWlSJZ1y-NtPCkpIZQDHrmbL1xq2DlABKvHo2Qzk65ipl1srscCTqn/s1600/IMG_3188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOLBZFU0irX2m-l7og4BztB8Zw8xc_qdrvrFx5f5zP1cpxdJ710KCR7FaWkMT3Vx7aqp5X3fGHAEtIBI6Suyct1NWlSJZ1y-NtPCkpIZQDHrmbL1xq2DlABKvHo2Qzk65ipl1srscCTqn/s320/IMG_3188.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Ann Marie has been studying Chemistry with Apologia as well. Her experiments include test tubes, alcohol burner, and lots of household cleaning products!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5klxoHc2BJsOOsb_wA5vN3umvZFwaWJWJuhKFglpIS8-N9ruIIKPa8dHbZnyQpjiDhnzNWR_Q09M3230cuGH8cPlybe-ZQGMj3kreO193YnWb0zDvkJ5wcxGowTwxc-rXw8c8sToLPwj-/s1600/IMG_3099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5klxoHc2BJsOOsb_wA5vN3umvZFwaWJWJuhKFglpIS8-N9ruIIKPa8dHbZnyQpjiDhnzNWR_Q09M3230cuGH8cPlybe-ZQGMj3kreO193YnWb0zDvkJ5wcxGowTwxc-rXw8c8sToLPwj-/s320/IMG_3099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-9186663363328954042011-07-16T01:14:00.000-07:002011-07-16T01:14:07.076-07:00More kids' creations!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9zsRNz7D4Gq6keqrWfVDF2ww7NeHXDOOob-DJuxiB_MKILEnMelFbyCbychb43YV8Zt5Sp21V_BjcNKkuUQCWUmcrRq8kqL70IXgrFDDiorBRbDlk7KRkH6s4QL5cUo6S01W5XlK7jUE/s1600/IMG_3150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9zsRNz7D4Gq6keqrWfVDF2ww7NeHXDOOob-DJuxiB_MKILEnMelFbyCbychb43YV8Zt5Sp21V_BjcNKkuUQCWUmcrRq8kqL70IXgrFDDiorBRbDlk7KRkH6s4QL5cUo6S01W5XlK7jUE/s320/IMG_3150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Nothing goes to waste around here! The kids seem to believe the saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP1vV40_ZLkn5sJKbnVzOr0J8tgX4kYYSE6zjgtPTp_h31RbNXefTVzeqP_XvhJmwPQm2gqWB_1wB1WF8IocENr92cCT7vuPn_zdr9r3n0m4FhZe-y45ABP_huqgFJ7PLh9y-yvqIy5xH/s1600/IMG_3152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSP1vV40_ZLkn5sJKbnVzOr0J8tgX4kYYSE6zjgtPTp_h31RbNXefTVzeqP_XvhJmwPQm2gqWB_1wB1WF8IocENr92cCT7vuPn_zdr9r3n0m4FhZe-y45ABP_huqgFJ7PLh9y-yvqIy5xH/s320/IMG_3152.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ethan and Tyler made a "fling sock" out of an old t-shirt. They sewed a pocket for a bag of sand and then cut the tail into three pieces to be braided. They fling it up into the air and it sails far with the weight at one end...it works great! Kailee and Alyssum liked the idea so they came up with their own except they called it "Flower Flyer"!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMBLfZeH1_Li7QwDUzCz96YkGio0G1oZcHs6X17OEhS2wZcCDCBHqjslG53Yb5IKLxBZQVSbnElYPHR2lWQJ7_85VzFFHeagD0uFo3c4p-ocG3F6lYRFcWl49Yo4aiCs0BVRg4z3FCbj_/s1600/IMG_3155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMBLfZeH1_Li7QwDUzCz96YkGio0G1oZcHs6X17OEhS2wZcCDCBHqjslG53Yb5IKLxBZQVSbnElYPHR2lWQJ7_85VzFFHeagD0uFo3c4p-ocG3F6lYRFcWl49Yo4aiCs0BVRg4z3FCbj_/s320/IMG_3155.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp5aC9Xxzw_T76FjZ41RND3XNo539Ql55_qajjD2JWEKoJyfCvUqbGKVYqkrxpIB8-heaHZO1C62esmaZ7nEj6tWObyw5UJqp0HtKCmsFQJkTe708j0rO1h4WqFACCrZ1y_SOxumnirVT/s1600/IMG_3103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp5aC9Xxzw_T76FjZ41RND3XNo539Ql55_qajjD2JWEKoJyfCvUqbGKVYqkrxpIB8-heaHZO1C62esmaZ7nEj6tWObyw5UJqp0HtKCmsFQJkTe708j0rO1h4WqFACCrZ1y_SOxumnirVT/s320/IMG_3103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And of course, houses out of cardboard boxes...this is Adams and Alyssum's castle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFV5IVuGIjQJHtlXrP7u2Cq0nmTvdmLD79JxCWORl5tRQpYisfoChxIjtU9RitSOdQ4YNiKKGilgWFPs2sXEgYrNVJ2fbddWkvMsOb2yhIbXN18VNgFBRwuZh7R1SrfwFg9VgfutrLslI2/s1600/IMG_3102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFV5IVuGIjQJHtlXrP7u2Cq0nmTvdmLD79JxCWORl5tRQpYisfoChxIjtU9RitSOdQ4YNiKKGilgWFPs2sXEgYrNVJ2fbddWkvMsOb2yhIbXN18VNgFBRwuZh7R1SrfwFg9VgfutrLslI2/s320/IMG_3102.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Alyssum got an idea one day to make sandals! So she traced her foot on a piece of cardboard and made a pair of strappy sandals...then she made some for Kailee and Adams. What will they think of next?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmcyrEEs2GuuXaU_Ra7n6tN_plas7jBP7eOo_zUHqa6HWO2su2MyhR8ZVSV21G6ct1IiPMlo1qYEsWTbP_Pq6deEe8Lf-WyjFKzrZ_KVxTv_3bAoAb6GwxvdlVb6G4iurDh-LZl0KgXKa/s1600/IMG_3107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmcyrEEs2GuuXaU_Ra7n6tN_plas7jBP7eOo_zUHqa6HWO2su2MyhR8ZVSV21G6ct1IiPMlo1qYEsWTbP_Pq6deEe8Lf-WyjFKzrZ_KVxTv_3bAoAb6GwxvdlVb6G4iurDh-LZl0KgXKa/s320/IMG_3107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kailee loves to paint and she decided her painting needed an easel...so she made one!Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-30924223054326584782011-07-15T23:16:00.000-07:002011-07-15T23:16:07.811-07:00Braces!Tyler, almost 13, is now in braces! It is hard to tell now, but his teeth were quite crooked. He has only had the braces on for 1 1/2 months, but his teeth have already straightened a lot! His top four front teeth were in front of each other and now they are almost completely straight. When he first got his braces on, his teeth were quite sore and then when he got them tightened 4 weeks later they were also sore, but other than that it hasn't been too bad. We are so thankful for the opportunity of getting braces here at a much cheaper cost!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8libdDLTg22CjqRM9pj7GpGnYXsKdyyGsHYBAt59uEeVUYS6wll2Zulgro1C4Ah9oFQ_LDNLgMXxDa-D8KI-Twdv8N-yXMtPaZWlPufQsWF9Q3qqkWRlNNAamzIsENbGLf4BNnCyFOk7/s1600/IMG_3176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8libdDLTg22CjqRM9pj7GpGnYXsKdyyGsHYBAt59uEeVUYS6wll2Zulgro1C4Ah9oFQ_LDNLgMXxDa-D8KI-Twdv8N-yXMtPaZWlPufQsWF9Q3qqkWRlNNAamzIsENbGLf4BNnCyFOk7/s320/IMG_3176.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-35286402699187721062011-07-15T20:54:00.000-07:002011-07-15T20:54:02.651-07:00Tropical RainOh, a tropical downpour can be so much fun! Tyler, Kailee, Alyssum, and Adams had so much fun on this rainy day...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeEpPglBMsV47l7TxW5Ck1qYxQPK-GIr-48OYmAw8GqE5rFZJYGXEbPQhGhCUw7Sk-fnwcl3yu4gg4lFtNTYvCzvve7wgNYqGH9lYyIEVfDOEk3l329Myd-PiQUI5sYzLSEsIz1YKnnQi/s1600/IMG_3118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeEpPglBMsV47l7TxW5Ck1qYxQPK-GIr-48OYmAw8GqE5rFZJYGXEbPQhGhCUw7Sk-fnwcl3yu4gg4lFtNTYvCzvve7wgNYqGH9lYyIEVfDOEk3l329Myd-PiQUI5sYzLSEsIz1YKnnQi/s320/IMG_3118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>First they started out by running in the rain and jumping the big puddle that was forming...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlTunj9xjwuSUVLr7olTf_W519itHQCksCf2OBwzSvDEVkWxAyxJv0wa1yaS0S_y16q4ktHvLGNP0O5g3wdLtmjbCPksd0Be0Te5STblsZ3L0YqvjP2_eVseTEkhPPscRxeq3aJriDhrN/s1600/IMG_3122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlTunj9xjwuSUVLr7olTf_W519itHQCksCf2OBwzSvDEVkWxAyxJv0wa1yaS0S_y16q4ktHvLGNP0O5g3wdLtmjbCPksd0Be0Te5STblsZ3L0YqvjP2_eVseTEkhPPscRxeq3aJriDhrN/s320/IMG_3122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Then running through the puddles...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65XKypH68PUDK2gQoZKdJ8znRiJgYgClSs0WLERiXZUfgUM99TTnsAfoTn_C_b5or07HzAAv-bR7vHIO1BoX2jhX7451NNvpz9ht__b_rvGp0QKnGMtGYGcmI6UwRtT86WBswfo6do5qr/s1600/IMG_3137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65XKypH68PUDK2gQoZKdJ8znRiJgYgClSs0WLERiXZUfgUM99TTnsAfoTn_C_b5or07HzAAv-bR7vHIO1BoX2jhX7451NNvpz9ht__b_rvGp0QKnGMtGYGcmI6UwRtT86WBswfo6do5qr/s320/IMG_3137.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But they can't stop there! "Now we are wet and muddy, let's just jump in!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfahXkni2FW9qwTsoYhvZBMrSPNUAMnDwKm9g6zZmB8HGwZSUpcGj63DgDZv7_ATmeXlinjCcBSCXeoeM0bhLdjaXxoV8tr2FNsScRNBxklKctz_nq534qVktX1lGRhqhk85bfnuFLCAgk/s1600/IMG_3133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfahXkni2FW9qwTsoYhvZBMrSPNUAMnDwKm9g6zZmB8HGwZSUpcGj63DgDZv7_ATmeXlinjCcBSCXeoeM0bhLdjaXxoV8tr2FNsScRNBxklKctz_nq534qVktX1lGRhqhk85bfnuFLCAgk/s320/IMG_3133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GP4KkKKot-_SOHsH8UqXlIg5toyizH2T3KuiSaeICVjn7wvyRN5TkWgIeW7O4x-eU1VKa-MBSPRffCvF2cLamVcWjXZzlZYza2A1cx0aBKyMsTzr0agX1Tcy7i1shfAoQsHB4_Me0Ckv/s1600/IMG_3140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GP4KkKKot-_SOHsH8UqXlIg5toyizH2T3KuiSaeICVjn7wvyRN5TkWgIeW7O4x-eU1VKa-MBSPRffCvF2cLamVcWjXZzlZYza2A1cx0aBKyMsTzr0agX1Tcy7i1shfAoQsHB4_Me0Ckv/s320/IMG_3140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>...slide in...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip582AiVIql9yPTLUfBTQ-864PbSchdBtblQ7vW17dyIDAReNpZf-5tszit5hLH1zuVKteCOW4xao57INSRwdmhqSmJRR_aUzv0rjZ_5fGphgKjcGVsMx9enYggeDBVegYS9UpcOSS_0lb/s1600/IMG_3139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip582AiVIql9yPTLUfBTQ-864PbSchdBtblQ7vW17dyIDAReNpZf-5tszit5hLH1zuVKteCOW4xao57INSRwdmhqSmJRR_aUzv0rjZ_5fGphgKjcGVsMx9enYggeDBVegYS9UpcOSS_0lb/s320/IMG_3139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Or just sit in the mud hole!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihetORSmrcxQdYxqpTUw868TICrKHnCRCTGaciURb6nph87lqMqAx0FQX3i39Vgwug0t6WFkIJx1GEZ4JTqKv-mFW-rrH7t1JemB2qU9ABPO0lAm37JnVsFXGINOPHI71zHG31Vm2EDYQA/s1600/IMG_3126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihetORSmrcxQdYxqpTUw868TICrKHnCRCTGaciURb6nph87lqMqAx0FQX3i39Vgwug0t6WFkIJx1GEZ4JTqKv-mFW-rrH7t1JemB2qU9ABPO0lAm37JnVsFXGINOPHI71zHG31Vm2EDYQA/s320/IMG_3126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Showers OUTSIDE are a must before coming in the house...but of course, that is all part of the FUN!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6lbdG2qNIjYQHF6PVms2W7fgKogHN8OLeZCWpQmcOtCSeX2EeR6bbm74hiUn43CtGS6plwdPysZ1ISm9DZY67dzV3Sv_XVkmrOdrDRyD4IrqSPtf8MjQfRW78iCFm-8pKwSL-JjIkTTM/s1600/IMG_3147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6lbdG2qNIjYQHF6PVms2W7fgKogHN8OLeZCWpQmcOtCSeX2EeR6bbm74hiUn43CtGS6plwdPysZ1ISm9DZY67dzV3Sv_XVkmrOdrDRyD4IrqSPtf8MjQfRW78iCFm-8pKwSL-JjIkTTM/s320/IMG_3147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-56939015953202013392011-06-18T05:36:00.000-07:002011-06-18T05:41:02.943-07:00Kids creations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oRFdMqx8fKpFRrYjheB8VcHgXkCOY8yz4Z3DTTVeagNAv4UeKasoUhAHJeL-Jbr6yb8iwqjeFU_1FjYPzU_UFtw542rEIh_CXX-8AnedEGG6VJSVWmQQBEKGhja0y37lKICd8xF55KEn/s1600/IMG_3081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oRFdMqx8fKpFRrYjheB8VcHgXkCOY8yz4Z3DTTVeagNAv4UeKasoUhAHJeL-Jbr6yb8iwqjeFU_1FjYPzU_UFtw542rEIh_CXX-8AnedEGG6VJSVWmQQBEKGhja0y37lKICd8xF55KEn/s320/IMG_3081.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>Our kids have always been creative, but they seem to be even more so now. Homeschool tends to draw out the creative side in kids since they have more time to spend creating. Our time in the Philippines has given the kids even more time for creative ideas since they don't have any other activities to go to. So let the creativity begin...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68w1J2QOqoEik3IhscxqZf56W-Nbn-ul72zFZhno3axdAQIqs4VQrL2LZ79mKfNGJTlFQ7CUVKjgHChm2QRBW9_4nenwywKavZNtcfTFU2dMeBm3BRKaWFS0w4gBo1eelqvc4nzl2ogXg/s1600/IMG_3078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68w1J2QOqoEik3IhscxqZf56W-Nbn-ul72zFZhno3axdAQIqs4VQrL2LZ79mKfNGJTlFQ7CUVKjgHChm2QRBW9_4nenwywKavZNtcfTFU2dMeBm3BRKaWFS0w4gBo1eelqvc4nzl2ogXg/s320/IMG_3078.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>Cardboard, plastic, tape, and string are their supplies of choice. Cardboard and plastic bags are free, and the tape and string are very cheap. Amazing how such treasures can provide hours of enjoyment!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1sb7ddU_IvZNSYMpzExq0OM7VVWk9d0Pyl_CIz7W_Xu7LVun0KyXJQH_DtPuwGHmbPR7RFY5HhMHPqTSxtLWXkA9vEJzH84xNNVNepM1Pv8SBD395nDa0kZrRQ2KNLv_V10wHAvsmUCF/s1600/IMG_3083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1sb7ddU_IvZNSYMpzExq0OM7VVWk9d0Pyl_CIz7W_Xu7LVun0KyXJQH_DtPuwGHmbPR7RFY5HhMHPqTSxtLWXkA9vEJzH84xNNVNepM1Pv8SBD395nDa0kZrRQ2KNLv_V10wHAvsmUCF/s320/IMG_3083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Kailee made a hot air balloon and made it fly with a fan underneath. Ethan and Tyler made an airplane, hoping it would be able to fly...it didn't, but looks great hanging from the rafters in their room! Alyssum and Adams each made airplanes as well as small boxes that they decorated. Ethan and Tyler also made a balloon/parachute. They throw the parachute high, it unfolds, and gently floats back to the ground.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTNRyFJAni2iEqowJ9Y-NrgNd0hV4kTM0TTLV_ieURRo9P3KTwygzh_hWIKn9loG49hrF1qFlqFzPnIIorA6L47HM2IQjoHoXgoUt-iIchcwVIDgz29a_f7r955BU3sciUCyTBgiMk0Hi/s1600/IMG_3085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTNRyFJAni2iEqowJ9Y-NrgNd0hV4kTM0TTLV_ieURRo9P3KTwygzh_hWIKn9loG49hrF1qFlqFzPnIIorA6L47HM2IQjoHoXgoUt-iIchcwVIDgz29a_f7r955BU3sciUCyTBgiMk0Hi/s320/IMG_3085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM5B8eRyFSoL2ycBi3tq-MY72nbFt1pJ-vVGfnz-_VC_4YtRByC09rNdv7MGQ3x8MzWxpngOS8nUCi24YpehZGOyCQNCgEPt3TL0ZU5ZmwQbbXEI6DRke4LilLOnWN_fGQ_EHBhi3nFLP/s1600/IMG_3087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJM5B8eRyFSoL2ycBi3tq-MY72nbFt1pJ-vVGfnz-_VC_4YtRByC09rNdv7MGQ3x8MzWxpngOS8nUCi24YpehZGOyCQNCgEPt3TL0ZU5ZmwQbbXEI6DRke4LilLOnWN_fGQ_EHBhi3nFLP/s320/IMG_3087.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-47814879448921250402011-06-18T05:10:00.000-07:002011-06-18T05:10:31.933-07:00Boys and the Motorcycle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQChB0AirC-6LqkT1Rpa_1pCrkCfM-M5usrc1hlF8cah5Ft3oVXb6q_9l3GyqZIplitnkGqmpDyZVFSk3NqBy_69DfdFcsBj_nr4s5WPbowuWI1si_OX10yU8Swlid_1kIzyXrIbgQUB7/s1600/IMG_2982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQChB0AirC-6LqkT1Rpa_1pCrkCfM-M5usrc1hlF8cah5Ft3oVXb6q_9l3GyqZIplitnkGqmpDyZVFSk3NqBy_69DfdFcsBj_nr4s5WPbowuWI1si_OX10yU8Swlid_1kIzyXrIbgQUB7/s400/IMG_2982.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>Ethan and Tyler talked their Dad into letting them learn how to ride the motorcycle on the airstrip. The airstrip is a 1/2 mile long of beautifully mowed grass. Perfect for learning to ride with few obstacles and a soft landing if need be. So far they have managed to keep the bike upright except for once. Then it was only a slow tip-over when the tires slipped into a ditch...no harm done to boy or bike! Ethan is now wishing for a more difficult place to drive, but still enjoys getting on the bike for a cruise on the airstrip. Tyler is just barely tall enough, but manages to keep the bike upright. He loves being in control of the bike! Boys and their big boy toys!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rw5mT-ljFJVFn05LuWGe8bYgpWDUWOrMPNpythYTs2X2e9nx4T_Ux1oTs9oVu2C7tKE1Ur6bUlWEEY7UbcgsWDR7ZtOrFRQP8GKNEtUphymM8GugepG_ETKjXHl3O8RpwEz5Bso8Ozzu/s1600/IMG_3024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rw5mT-ljFJVFn05LuWGe8bYgpWDUWOrMPNpythYTs2X2e9nx4T_Ux1oTs9oVu2C7tKE1Ur6bUlWEEY7UbcgsWDR7ZtOrFRQP8GKNEtUphymM8GugepG_ETKjXHl3O8RpwEz5Bso8Ozzu/s320/IMG_3024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-23423565485129622202011-05-28T02:53:00.000-07:002011-05-28T02:53:21.745-07:00EasterFor Easter we were invited to a Good Friday service. The service was the joint effort of about six different churches in Brooke's Point. Each church took a small part of the service...it was a very long service!! But so good to worship with believers here and see how they are all involved in reaching out to their community.<br />
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On Easter Sunday we were invited to join the same group of people for a potluck/day at the beach. It was a beautiful day! Steve and I visited, Ann Marie and Ethan hung out and chatted with the teens, and Tyler, Kailee, Alyssum, and Adams swam and played in the water all day! Certainly a different sort of warm Easter for this Alaskan family who is used to cold Easter celebrations in the north!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rIWbCf8gssfUlZLJ7XIkSxVBP59HF5SL-tEzTwPJdPCSUZMdI8FKSIJ8Mv49spFPJhb0V9oVov-GKJsNJQKyhcrZT0MUdkPb82ZXNWlWXR9lYwAi-NmgzHGJ4dW7-rRiXrEKlo5UJOqJ/s1600/IMG_1133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rIWbCf8gssfUlZLJ7XIkSxVBP59HF5SL-tEzTwPJdPCSUZMdI8FKSIJ8Mv49spFPJhb0V9oVov-GKJsNJQKyhcrZT0MUdkPb82ZXNWlWXR9lYwAi-NmgzHGJ4dW7-rRiXrEKlo5UJOqJ/s320/IMG_1133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In one of the boxes brought to us with our Alaskan visitors we received several egg dying kits. The kids and I enjoyed making colorful egg creations!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76POHv79KpOl2n1T31lP2ZBWb4RZhMHwo8Qw813n7WtnOfkzVOzij8eingCijI_5LtIJGs5rAOeuIXQwt0OYuHLAoLlRkHaDz3uVAUmS3tsIVwOViCXKOnsIfUlRlL8c77TA4_zj-3XxU/s1600/IMG_3022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76POHv79KpOl2n1T31lP2ZBWb4RZhMHwo8Qw813n7WtnOfkzVOzij8eingCijI_5LtIJGs5rAOeuIXQwt0OYuHLAoLlRkHaDz3uVAUmS3tsIVwOViCXKOnsIfUlRlL8c77TA4_zj-3XxU/s320/IMG_3022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_IJF0OeNeXg4SCxCPkd-XpGGynEjqMpaeFwk6Uy5mlcqXrnOws0ibB44uYHGlbgfYGpLngOBnDrUwrgIrZEp_kdOzcxT-dIwHxAZgW99naFBJhXV3rgYrFDdXbWmTpN32QF9hK5TJA-5/s1600/IMG_3021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_IJF0OeNeXg4SCxCPkd-XpGGynEjqMpaeFwk6Uy5mlcqXrnOws0ibB44uYHGlbgfYGpLngOBnDrUwrgIrZEp_kdOzcxT-dIwHxAZgW99naFBJhXV3rgYrFDdXbWmTpN32QF9hK5TJA-5/s320/IMG_3021.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b3ggM4L2Oo5ufUel_yGcA80etoy8e8AlFdVbR46kzdEHf5jpSYtI7C5NshaA4tHr4b9ctlhkyQMH7g1CukmsoDXn8ESoML9_O_YfE06Ss5gNa3UyYx6UE3zr_xRdgTD3P-KiLeHRPcvq/s1600/IMG_3019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b3ggM4L2Oo5ufUel_yGcA80etoy8e8AlFdVbR46kzdEHf5jpSYtI7C5NshaA4tHr4b9ctlhkyQMH7g1CukmsoDXn8ESoML9_O_YfE06Ss5gNa3UyYx6UE3zr_xRdgTD3P-KiLeHRPcvq/s320/IMG_3019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nno0tsK0IJLadVNbu6CEuoUcCf6h9vGR1aRG_dBv0K9Ia7pdT6K32uiO8N-8h6_yqvDQqzHGwI2NwbeHCAqX3dy-vlEJmZczVFnZQeJinbCW8m2Sy-ZadHD0lva_EKyPvu4Mqdchyphenhyphenbhc/s1600/IMG_3029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nno0tsK0IJLadVNbu6CEuoUcCf6h9vGR1aRG_dBv0K9Ia7pdT6K32uiO8N-8h6_yqvDQqzHGwI2NwbeHCAqX3dy-vlEJmZczVFnZQeJinbCW8m2Sy-ZadHD0lva_EKyPvu4Mqdchyphenhyphenbhc/s320/IMG_3029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895082203782972389.post-7326539716603532912011-05-28T02:20:00.000-07:002011-05-28T02:20:37.017-07:00Tyler's ovenTyler, our engineer and survivalist, designed a small metal oven towards the end of last year. He drew up his plans on paper and sent the design to Grandpa, the welder. Grandpa told Tyler that he could easily make his oven and would send it in the next box coming our way! The oven wasn't a necessity, but just something fun that Tyler created to do his own baking and fire building! The box with the oven arrived just as we had to leave the island.<br />
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When we moved to Lada the house did not have a stove or an oven. We purchased a two burner stove top, but didn't want to spend the money on a complete stove and oven. So now Tyler's fun creation became a necessity! Ethan and Tyler made a small house for his oven and straddled the oven across two bricks so that a fire could be built underneath.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlXY3DkGjkrsjpli6ZmZRFlKaaS4gXB6kKTuNEUdFI2DRSqotny3kHOuOXagStsUHbtMkZJpVoK4nQzUKKZMAIE1kR2JGPY1BH8gCjNmso7aORMlBXsJyTYO2rih7LL0_Qkm5enHEjItJ/s1600/IMG_3015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlXY3DkGjkrsjpli6ZmZRFlKaaS4gXB6kKTuNEUdFI2DRSqotny3kHOuOXagStsUHbtMkZJpVoK4nQzUKKZMAIE1kR2JGPY1BH8gCjNmso7aORMlBXsJyTYO2rih7LL0_Qkm5enHEjItJ/s320/IMG_3015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now we just needed some firewood or something to burn to raise the temperature in the oven high enough to be able to bake. Steve found a small family store across the street from our house that sold bags of charcoal. At only 10pesos(25cents) a bag it is very cheap to use! With the charcoal the boys are able to get the temperature high enough and stays somewhat consistent for several hours as we do our baking.<br />
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We've had to be creative with our baking as a 9x9 pan is as big as it gets in this little oven! So we make round loaves of bread, six small pizzas for our entire family, pans and pans of cookies, a small cake, or many pans of granola. It is not difficult to do, but just takes a long time to get the job done!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6iLotarcxL4OYGkSG52zkV_31fm2cUaEaVul6vpunim7Wl9mlEx7UmreM8K9DH5H9VEJD51Hgsgp_JqhHljmkoq2Bhlx1V_nQhnrz9EfRgwD1fdByV3zwKUSbeCmqNzCgfHOss6b4FH9/s1600/IMG_2984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6iLotarcxL4OYGkSG52zkV_31fm2cUaEaVul6vpunim7Wl9mlEx7UmreM8K9DH5H9VEJD51Hgsgp_JqhHljmkoq2Bhlx1V_nQhnrz9EfRgwD1fdByV3zwKUSbeCmqNzCgfHOss6b4FH9/s320/IMG_2984.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br />
Friday nights we make pizza and everyone REALLY appreciates the effort put into making these pizzas! Ann Marie is making the dough for our pizza crust. And then Ethan and Tyler take turns keeping track of the pizza in the oven...we don't want it burnt! It sure tastes great when it is finished!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRDa-1igJ4J75LWS5Euhyphenhyphen_4ZsbRvURMeSU2DAuOwZ7ysoycJsDG0oJpb_pVXyWG8ZeIPdmS-xIP_8nlbj863gSmRFZX8jZH31Y2ktcVSCi_FiKcxaZaebYEeCQ-pAmUrF68SGi-Yyr2ll/s1600/IMG_2995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheRDa-1igJ4J75LWS5Euhyphenhyphen_4ZsbRvURMeSU2DAuOwZ7ysoycJsDG0oJpb_pVXyWG8ZeIPdmS-xIP_8nlbj863gSmRFZX8jZH31Y2ktcVSCi_FiKcxaZaebYEeCQ-pAmUrF68SGi-Yyr2ll/s320/IMG_2995.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Steve and Stacey Veldstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13631119608350315884noreply@blogger.com0