While Josh was in New York... (scroll down to see NY pics!)

...we kept ourselves busy!
Josh recorded himself reading a story to the kids for each day he was gone. That was SO helpful. We also had quite a few visitors... GG, Gampy, Uncle Phil, Auntie Nat, Gretta & Sam... What a week!

If (actually "when") Hadassah is fussy, all we have to do is find some water to stick her in!

Caedmon's new favorite hobby: dress up! I wonder how many costumes Cade wore throughout September. Here's #1: Flipper Man

Gampy & GG You'd think this was there honeymoon! (Well, except for their 3 kids and 5 grand kids running around!)

This was Lily's request to Gampy when he asked her what she wanted him to bring. "A sucker!"

Quite a hit

Hadassah will stick with... a cone??

Phil & my dad catching a fish

My mom was here for her birthday (and dad's was close) so we celebrated with yummy Mocha Cappucino Cake & a homemade gift!

We also enjoyed a fun picnic up on the Bluffs.

This is supposed to be a picture for dad of an Aaron Rodgers fan (#12)...

Dass still fits in the sink at 14 months

This is exactly what I would have picked out at "Claire's" if someone gave me money to spend when I was little: rainbow colored headbands, stickon earings, and a beaded necklace.

Mom thought I looked like a Mother duck with ducklings to follow. I think I look more like a momma bear :o)

My mom and I were chatting away while the kids listened to one of their new Bible Songs CD's. When we turned around to check on the kids they were really enjoying the music.

Here's the Power Ranger (one of the best rummage sale finds ever)

The ladies on a walk.

Here's Lily's preschool! She LOVES it.

And is happy to see mom at the end of a long 3 hour class.

Lily & Caedmon surprised me with a yummy supper they made all by themselves (almost)!
(Meat loaf in mugs, mashed potatoes & pudding in cones for dessert)

Preparation for a cool swim on a hot day

This was surprisingly relaxing... with two adults and 4 kids!

And of course... a bath afterward

All the cousins had a blast together... and sepparately.

Who's who?

Gretta the Princess

Cade the LION/ blue Power Ranger

I love this LION hat from the back.

A CROSS in the sky

One last picture with GG!

So, Josh made it back and we are currently spending a week+ in Monroe with his family. Over two days the girls and I took a trip back to Appleton for an Aunt's and cousins's get together for my Aunt Mo's 50th B-day. What fun!

Lil & Dass spent the night with Gampy at Golden Basket and Walmart. Lily was still beaming when we returned after 10p.m.

Meeting half way... on the way back to Monroe

And to conclude we have the last few days of dress up on film...

"T-T-F-N, Ta Ta For Now!"

Josh's NYC Trip

I was invited to stay with my friends Keith & Patty Schuman and share about our work with their church. It was a fun and eventful trip. Here's some pics I wanted to share with everyone.

I flew into NYC on September 11th, 2009, 8 years to the day since the terrorist attacks.

This is the youth group that I talked to a couple hours after arriving.

At around 11pm, Keith took me into Manhattan and we made our way to the World Trade Center memorial lights. This is a picture with the New York Stock Exchange in the forefront.

Here are some photos from ground zero in memory of all the firefighters who lost their lives. Quite a sobering thing to see.

Famous Ray's Pizza at 2am. Definitely a treat!

As we approached Times Square, I turned to Keith and said, "This is the excess of America on steroids!"

But it is great to see that the Lord's people are there letting their light's shine!

Here's Kyle, Niko and Sekora, my 3 little buddies. That's the sign they made for me when they picked me up at the airport.

Here's me sharing at Calvary Full Gospel Fellowship in Floral Park, NY.

My friends Keith and Patty to my right, the pastor and her son and daughter-in-law to my left.

Here's Keith at his school. He teaches 3rd graders at a Catholic school. He's a great teacher!

I was able to talk about our work and explain the meaning of my Chinese name.

The United Nations building.

My neighbors Evan & Maggie who live 2 doors down in La Crosse were also in NYC at the same time. Their daughter Sarah works for a fashing designer and they were in town for "fashion week". These pictures are taken from Central Park.

A group of guys were breakdancing and it was pretty awesome!

Though quite old, Evan thought he could bust a move too :)

As an Apple fan, I was quite excited to check out the Apple Store right next to Central Park.

Here is a reenactment of my friend Andy getting scared to death when I waited for him in his living room and jumped up saying, "Welcome home pastor Kilps!!" I then picked him up and jumped around. He didn't realize it was me because of my buzzed head and the dark room. His wife Karen and I had been scheming for weeks. It was so great to reconnect with my good buddy!

Pastor Andy showing me how to preach in the pulpit of Palmyra Moravian Church, Cinnaminson, NJ.

Palmyra Moravian's bell. Not quite as famous as the next bell you will see.

Look carefully at this tombstone. This guy was born in Green Bay, WI. What a surprise!

Since Andy lives right across the bridge from Philadelphia in New Jersey, we thought we would go check out Philly one afternoon. We went to the two most famous steakhouses (Philly Cheese Steak, that is) in all of Philly. They are right across the street from each other. Pay attention to how you order!

Can anybody name this former boyband member? (white hat on the left)

Now the famous bell...yup, the one with the big crack!

Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. Here is a statue of our first president in the front of the hall.

...and here is the chair he sat on in the back center.

In front of the Constitution Center.

What a great homecoming!!

Thank you Lord for my wonderful family!