Going back in Time

I was going in some kind of chronological order when I started blogging about Flat Coco.  Then I got distracted by all of my travels and visiting with friends.  It's not that I have forgotten about Flat Coco, I have hundreds of pictures with her.  I have just not taken the time to blog!
Flat Cocoについてブロッグを始まった時、順番でポストにしようと思った。でも、沢山の移動、沢山の友達や親戚に会うことがあって、できなかった。Flat Cocoについて忘れることをしなかったよ！ココちゃんと沢山の写真を写ったけど、まだブロッグを書かなかった。

So, today, I thought we'd have a Flashback Friday and check out some of what happened at the beginning of the summer.
今日夏の始まりのことについて書こうと思った。

Over Memorial Day weekend I went back to Colorado for a Girls' Weekend with friends I met here.  We had such a great time reconnecting and exploring.
５月の終わり、ペルーに行った時の友達に会うために行きました。すごく楽しかった！

We started the weekend at Compassion International's office where they have all of these amazing bronze statues everywhere.  I loved them!

Then we headed to Garden of the Gods where I got to climb onto and into the rocks!

We were quite hungry after all of that climbing and hiking, but we stopped for a picture before leaving the park.  Then we headed downtown Colorado Springs for some delicious pizza!

The next day found us forming a new band in Manitou Springs before heading up Pike's Peak!

Brenda, Coco, and I were ready for the ride!

We topped off the evening with dinner at Brenda's and origami fun!

We also spent some time at some waterfalls hiking and climbing lots of stairs!

After we dropped Heather and Kelly at the airport, Robyn and I spent some time in downtown Denver where Coco and I played piano on the street!

Flat Coco Sees South Dakota

This week Coco, the real one, is in New York City!  Flat Shan is getting to see the sights and participate in gospel music ministry.  Flat Coco continues to enjoy adventures in South Dakota.
今週、本物のココちゃんがニューヨークにいます。Flat Shanが一緒に楽しんでいるみたい。いいね！Flat Cocoがまだ、SDのアドベンチャーを楽しんでいます。

The first week of August my friend and her family came to visit South Dakota from Japan.  We saw lots of sights!
８月の初めに日本の友達とご家族がSDに来てくださった。沢山の観光スポットを見に行きました。

Origami Fun!

Inside the grain bin-this was full of corn last week!

Farm Machinery Orientation

Lessons in corn growing

Look what South Dakotans do with corn!

Al's Oasis burger

And, in the middle of the prairie... !

Wildflowers

Look, there is no ocean out there!

Flat Coco meets Flat Stanley at Devil's Tower, Wyoming!

"That ribbon of highway..."  (This Land is Your Land)

Mount Rushmore!

Preparing for the cold of Wind Cave-a very amazing place!

The Bike Rally was starting!

Enjoying a buffalo burger in Custer

Flat Coco helping me drive

South Dakota sunset

A new game, ladder ball

Sioux Falls

The whole gang

Connect Four was a favorite

Spending some time singing praises

Coco Goes To Camp

I have gotten way behind, so I decided to just start back up with wherever iPhoto opened up... which was mid-July.

My friend, Kelly, asked me to be part of intermediate camp at Crystal Springs Baptist Camp as the camp missionary.  Anytime I get to talk to kids about missions, I jump at the opportunity.  And, the fact that I got to hang out with Kelly at one of my favorite places-middle of nowhere North Dakota-made the deal even sweeter.

Three boys from my home church wanted to go, too, so I had the privilege of driving them up to ND followed by a week of fun and games, songs and learning, food and sun, origami, sunsets and a mud pit.  Here is a week in pictures...

Fargo Mall-where you cannot buy a hamburger in the food court!

Looking across the field to the new men's dorm

Origami!

My bright-haired friends!

My evening spot

Singing praises

Awesome worship leaders

Kelly

Another evening...

Camp Cheer Contest

Pre-mudpit

Post-mudpit

Sunset

And moonrise!

Crystal Springs!