August 14'

Back to School!
The kids both started at Emblem Academy this year. We were worried about how that might go over but they both did great! They had a wonderful first few weeks and are starting to make new friends even though they miss North Park and their friends there.
Ethan started the 5th grade! Can't believe he's going to be 10! He really likes his teacher, Mr. Desmond and thinks he's pretty funny.
Jadyn started the 1st grade and has Mrs. Ackley. She's usually pretty shy at first but she's making some friends and comes home happy as a clam :)

First Baskin-Robbins ice cream cones. We walked home from school that day:)

Almost Good
We stayed true to out team name and ALMOST won in the championship game (for the lowest division). The game went 9 innings but, we couldn't quite hang on. Great game none-the-less and a fun season.

Erik in AFRICA (saved the best for last:)
Erik had the INCREDIBLE opportunity to go to Zambia with a volunteer group and install a school computer lab thanks to the owners of his company. He was joined by Scott (one of the Ignisis owners) and 5 other volunteers from the LifeSong for Orphans volunteer group. He was gone 8 days (more than 2 of that was flying). They spent 3 days at the school just outside Kitwe, Zamia but also got to visit Victoria Falls and do a safari while they were there. There are hundreds of great pictures but we narrowed it down to these... :)

Kory and Erik checking-in to the hotel in Livingstone

He couldn't decide which stuffed animal to get at the hotel gift shop :)

Zebra, giraffe, impala, monkeys and baboons roam the hotel grounds

Victoria Falls in Livingstone

Scott, Dennis, Niamh, Erik, Julie, Robert and Kory

Sunset cruise

Giraffe on the Jeep portion of the safari

Sable

Putting on sunscreen :)

So many cool bird pictures, this is just one. Yellow-billed stork

Crocodile

Lunch at Chobe Safari Lodge during the safari day

Church in Kitwe. They got there a little late so they only attended 1 hour of the 4 hour service :)

Scott and Erik in the back of a pick-up heading to the school

Neighborhood near the school in Kitwe

Secondary (high school) where the computer lab was installed

Boarding house being built to house some of the high school students

Strawberry farm in Kitwe. They are teaching locals to grow and sell strawberries

Dinner on the last night.
Back: Robert, Erik, Caleb, Luke, Luke's wife, Erik's wife, Erik, Shane, Dennis, Niamh
Front: Kory, Julie, Shiela, Scott and Erik's sister