The Van Lohs

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Katie's 4th Birthday

Katie received two goldfish for her birthday which, unfortunately, only lasted 3 days. We're thinking of a pet with a bit more resiliance.

Kid Friends With Poisonous Snake

Kid Rides Giant Python

Friday, July 3, 2009

Two hours after returning home from 10 days on the road, Natasha and I took Katie to a concert at our church for her favorite musical group, Go Fish. She was really into it at first, but started to wind down within two songs after intermission.

The Go Fish Guys.

Going....

.....going......

........gone.

Tennessee: Swimming

No vacation is complete without swimming at a hotel swimming pool. Here we are at Pigeon Forge, TN.

Tennessee: Katie

When travelling over 2,500 miles, through 7 states and over 30 hours in the van, it's not hard to find some candid moments with out attention rich 3 year old, Katie. Natasha captured these pictures.

Katie with the penguins at the Chattanooga Aquarium.

Self entertainment at the Grand Ole Opry.

Katie and another penguin.

Katie nursing a fever at Aunt Wendy's. Thank God for portable DVD players.

Always needing to know what everyone else is doing.

All smiles, the day before her fever.

A brief stint as a surgeon at the Nashville Science Museum.

Drinking with her feet...like the monkey she is.

Cleaning her toe nails, like the monkey she is...

Tennessee: "Not all those who wander are lost." --J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

So we were not exactly lost, but we didn't really know where we were either. In what was my most enjoyable day of vacation, my uncle Laurel and I took a 2 hour hike through the hills behind their house. I'm not sure how long or how far Laurel intended on hiking, but we easily covered over 3 miles 800 feet down and then back up the hills. I can't tell you how many times I heard Laurel say, "There is a road down here." And there was, but we were farther and farther away from where we started.

Our hike started on man-made, groomed trails like this through his neighbors' property.

The early part of our hike took us through a washed out railroad bridge. Much of the trail is on the old rail road grade.

This small bridge was one of the last signs of civilization we saw for over an hour.

You never know what you might come accross when hiking through the hills of Tennessee and trespassing on others property. As it turns out, the owner of this Tennessee gem guards his property with a shotgun...likely still guarding his moonshine still. I thought the ruggedness of this lot had a unique beauty.

After an hour or so of hiking, we emerged out of the woods and into a beutiful clearing.

What goes down the hill must go up.

Trust me, we kept a close eye on the bull in the back ground.

Another pasture to cross.

Back home.

Tennessee: Kenzie and Jake

Kenzie's smile makes me smile.

Katie with an uncharacteristic scowl. I think this is what 12 hours in a van does to a 3 year old.

Tennessee: Caving with Uncle Laurel

We visited my uncle Laurel and Aunt Wendy in Tennessee for vacation where they just moved from Chicago last year. Their home is nestled among the hills of Tennessee souteast of Nashville. One of the highlights of our visit was exploring two of the caves on their property.

Laurel and Wendy's "Backyard."

Cave Guide Laurel

Jacob swinging from the vines.

Cave Explorers: Jake and Kenzie.

Laurel by the stone wall of caves.

Dry Waterfall

Kenzie, Jake, Gretchen and Laurel

The Caves.

Katie's Roseville Nursery Group Program

God Loves Us

Sunday, May 31, 2009

May Fun

AIRBORNE KIDS

Neighbor Zack

STREET HOCKEY

Neighbor Zack

Double Rainbow over Neighbor's House

PLAYGROUND VISIT

Katie is very good about stopping at stop signs.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Camp Lebanon--Dads-n-Lads 2009

This was the 4th year Jake and I attended the Dads-n-Lads weekend at Camp Lebanon in Upsala, Minnesota. We didn't miss the snow we had last year. Here are some images of Camp Lebanon and Cedar Lake.

Loon Swimming.

Bay on Cedar Lake

Morning Quiet Time

Bobber Bill's "Active" Scripture Memory Methods: 2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."