Big Ticket Festival and on to Orlando

So as soon as Crystal got home for Reno the traveling began again. First of all, as a family we all headed "up north" to Gaylord, MI to the Big Ticket Music Festival. This is an outdoor Christian Concert Festival with 60 bands in 3 days. We really only cared about 4. But we had a blast. We also spent a day and a night at the Otsego Lake state park (yes Crystal was camping, at least some variety thereof) and that was an experience in and of itself. We stayed in a camp site with four other families from our church and we had a blast. There was an intense soccer match between Andrew and about 6 guys under the age of 12. And that same morning, after Jonas got out of the water, he was sitting with Crystal by the fire. All of a sudden he held up his foot and was kind of groaning, "ehh". Turns out he had a leech between his toes. Crystal was a bit squemish as one of our friends helped out...all I could think of was the scene in Stand By Me. 

After we got home from the Big Ticket Festival, we settled in for a bit and then I (Andrew) headed down to Orlando for a day or so to present at the General Sunday School Ministry Convention for the 2009 General Assembly. I got to 

present on Preteens and had about 75 people at my presentation including some internationals. It went well and there should be a lot of networking opportunities to come. 

But we are finally back home and settled in for a bit...at least until camp:)

Check out the pics from Big Ticket Below! And maybe a video of our fearless son braving the big boys slide.

Bachelor Week

So I am sure everyone is wanting to see how daddy and Jonas are doing while mommy is enjoying a vacation to Reno....Well let me begin with three simple words: schedule, schedule, schedule. Although I thought I was going to be able to put in office time or even perhaps go to a coffee shop for a meeting, I was sadly mistaken. A two-year-old dictates your schedule and as long as you can roll with that flow, you will be all right. For instance, injected into my daily work schedule, we now have designated swing time (side bar story: Recently Jonas was the proud recipient of a slightly used, but new to him swing set from one of the most awesome families in the world: The Owens/Hohn clan. It has become the highlight of most days), run around the yard time, cuddle time, bath time, read story time, and make meals time. The best time to get work done has become nap time (which I must admit would be a lot more fun if it was participatory). But all in all, the week hasn't been too bad. Jonas is a joy bringer. So even though he may test one's patience from time to time, He is the joy of mine and Crystal's life. I just wish she were here to help me experience the joy;)Besides a couple of pics of the first day with the swing set, there is also a pic with no caption needed.