Kick-Off Games

Try yer hand with a lasso!: Arm wrestle ("If you ain't met your match yet, you ain't tried very hard."):

Tin Can Shoot ("Straight shooters never miss a meal."):

Bobbing for Apples:
House o' Cards ("Life ain't fair and neither is cards!"):

Kick-Off Characters

Here are a few of the faces from our kickoff!

Bessie Broadbottom (isn't she a great sport!):
Our Indian friends after bobbing for apples:

The murderer and the lawyer:

Youth Group Leaders Brian & Candace Bosma:

Hosts Chad and Linda Werkhoven:

Leaders Bob & Hester Groenenweg:

Leaders Pastor Lloyd & Heidi Wicker (I picked Lloyd's character - Father Joseph O'Hara! He lost his collar pretty quickly in the heat.)

Kick-Off Fun

If you are wondering why there haven't been any post recently, then maybe this entry will explain some of it. I've been incredibly busy planning for the Youth Group Kick-off. It was last Sat night. I had a blast - I just hope all the students did! We did a Western themed murder mystery party. The students (and leaders) came dressed in character. First, we had a "down-home" town carnival - tin can shoot ("Straight shooters never miss a meal"), horseshoes, bobbing for apples, house of cards building, lassoing, and arm wrestling ("If you ain't met your match yet, you ain't tried very hard"), etc. Then we had dinner and the mystery. I spent hours with my fellow female youth leaders decorating (and talking!). We are so excited about the final outcome that we want to try and use it again.



I was Suzette (a can-can girl)! I helped run the "mystery" part of the night which is why I'm front and center here.The food: chili mac/taco soup, corn muffins, corn on the cob, salsa/chips, and pie a la mode for dessert. (The posters were copies of real wanted poster of the time period.Werkhoven's barn was the setting for our evening.

Playground Fun

Maybe teenagers and toddlers shouldn't be allowed to play together???

Our friends, Paul & Nathan and Michael popped over to play on the "treehouse". Their idea of "fun" is a level that Mommy can't reach. They used Anika's rope to pull her up to the top of her playset; they encouraged Scout to join them up at the top; and they generally spoiled my kids with their attention.

Can-can Girl

Our youth group kick-off was a Western theme party. Anika found my costume and had some fun!

Fishing

Anika got a new fishing pole from Daddy. She has been wanting one for ages. (I have no idea why except that a cashier was talking to her one day and asked if she ever went fishing - he planted a seed. . .)

No water in sight but. . .

The cast:

Reeling it in:

"This takes too long, I'm outta here!"

The catch:

My turn:-)

Naughty or Nice

Dana snapped a few pictures of me and threatened me if she didn't see them on the blog so . . .

Playground Fun

The kids enjoyed a new set of swings, a new larger slide, and a merry-go-round. (Mom wasn't too fond of the spinning but I attempted the slide with them!)

Dana's Return

Auntie Dana spent about a month back East visiting with her family so we are excited to have her around again. We spent part of the morning playing on "her" playground - right across the street.

Silly Grandpa

Grandpa wore Anika's "hula bula" on his head. She really got a kick out of that . . .

Sisters

My Sisters!!!
From a generation of girls comes - - boys! (All of us have at least one boy.)

Family Pictures

The Whole Clan: The McIlraths: Jeff, Heather, Karissa, Ian, Alethea & Elijah
The Wickers: Lloyd, Heidi, Anika & Trouble - ahem, Andrew
The McDearmons: Jason, Hilary & Isaiah

Andrew - the Human tornado

Andrew is pure energy so the only pictures I was able to get of him are random shots or action shots. (Family pictures were a nightmare!)


Kissin' Cousins - Andrew & Eli

Best Buddies

Anika and Ali got along so well this week. Last year Anika wasn't such a great pal but this year she played much better. They played games, house, doctor, blocks, etc. Karissa and Ian were amazing big cousins as well.