Our Trip to Houston

For our staff party this summer, rather than staying at camp, we all took a trip to Houston. It was so fun to get away, to enjoy being together, and just to have lots of fun!


Here we are at the Houston Astros game. I love this stadium...it was indoor and cool!

We took a quick trip over to Galveston to ride the ferry and to play in the ocean for a while.

We went to the Houston Galleria and they have this beautiful water wall.

A cute picture spot to make it look like the kids are in the dugout.

On the ferry ride

Malachi and his favorite summer staff member, Karis Lundvall

Malachi and I had to go get some popcorn!

Our family at the water wall.

Daddy spoiled the girls with cotton candy!

What a fun weekend. We will never forget the great memories we made with our staff!

Malachi's first broken bone!

In August, Mom and Dad Herbster came down to Southland to stay with the kids for five days while Mike and I went away. Mom, Dad, and the kids dropped us off at the airport...only for us to find out that our flight had been cancelled, so we had to cancel our getaway! Boohoo!! It was so sad! But....

The next day, while Mike and I were in town, trying to have a date, Dad Herbster called to tell us that Malachi had broken his arm at the pool. So we met them at the ER and Malachi had to have his wrist reset. It was so sad. I was thankful that I was not out of town at that point!

So, I went from going on a getaway with my husband to caring for a little boy with a broken arm! He was so tough and brave through it all. And the two of us made some precious memories together!

Playing Rook with Nana and Papa

The day after the Break. Nana and Papa took the other kids away for the day, so Malachi and I stayed home all day playing games and watching movies. We had a fun bonding day!

This is what happened every time the pain meds wore off. It was so sad!

After a couple days, he was feeling much better. And I was so thankful that the meds didn't make him tired or groggy.

Summer '09

Well, summer is our favorite time of year! We love being at camp during the summers. No school, lots of fun! This was our 7th summer being in Louisiana at Southland!

Here are the girls all painted up, ready to go to final scoring!

Karis, Malachi, and Jill...oh how much fun these three had together!

Michala making her t-shirt

McKenna having fun with glue and sparkles

The girls loved sitting on the Program cart with all their friends during the games

Sharing an Italian Creme Soda together

Michala sitting with Mr. Dave at the game

The boys in Orientation...they had a blast singing Lumberjack Days!

Right before their first performance! :)

Micah's First Week of Camp

This last summer was Micah's first time to be a camper at Southland. He had so much fun. Ben Farrell was the speaker and the kids from Tri-City came down so he was able to room with Andrew Ahrens. It was hard to let him go to camp...a quarter of a mile away! :) I can't imagine sending him on a bus hours and hours away. I am so thankful that he was close by!

Here he is practicing with the camper choir to sing in the Friday night service.

Playing Timber Tug

Getting his food at the picnic lunch after Lake Games

Malachi, Andrew, and Micah at Lake Games.

Eating down at camp

Team meetings after a game

Micah and his counselor, Andrew Bailes

Good buddies, good times!

Malachi's 8th Birthday

It seems that Malachi's birthday lands on family vacation almost every year! He loves it! He loves vacation, he loves being off of school, and he loves being with his cousins and family. I think we figured out that this was his third Disney Vacation birthday...and he's only 8!


Here he is with all his gifts...plus he got money from Papa and Nana, and a Dick's Sporting Goods gift card from Grammy!

Getting ready to open all the gifts!

This year he asked for a Kansas Jayhawk birthday party. It was so fun to shop around for all the decorations!

Eating pizza right before eating birthday cake. Oh well, what are vacations and parties for!?!

The week before his birthday, we were at a church in Tampa, Florida, and I found a Walmart Bakery nearby. I took Malachi's visor in to the lady and asked her if she could make him the jayhawk in a cupcake cake. I was blown away when I picked this up...she did an amazing job!!!

Happy birthday, Malachi!!!

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Herbster Family Vacation February 2009

Here is my first post, my first attempt at getting back in the groove of blogging after a whole year off. How pathetic! Hope you enjoy!

So, last February, we all met up in Florida and had our vacation together in Orlando. We love going to Disney! It is so much fun to watch all the kids having so much fun together. I am so thankful for the memories they are able to make together. Sweet memories!

Waiting to eat lunch with Pooh Bear and his friends...so we had to take a picture in front of Cinderella's castle!

The Herbsters pretty much take up all the room on the rides!

Getting ready for a fun day out. Thanks to Nana and Papa for matching outfits to spot them easily!

The next Herbster Trio recording photo. :) (This was taken at the gift shop at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, thus all the locks!)

Nana and Papa's treasures!

Right before entering the Magic Kingdom

We LOVE cousins!!!

At the country of America at Epcot, they were doing this march and they asked all our kids to be a part of it!

All the Herbster boys...Jonathan, Malachi, Nathan, and Micah. They stick together in the sea of Herbster girls!

Thanks to Uncle Matt and Aunt Julie for these great shirts from the Wilds!

Micah, Malachi, and Nathan

Girl fun

Enjoying time with my hubby!

Our day at Epcot

Have you ever tried to line up 11 kids on a rail like this before? :)

Thanks, Nana and Papa, for an incredible vacation! We love you!