2008 Gingerbread House

Presenting the Friesen's 2008 Gingerbread House.
We had fun this week creating our house and eating the extra candy!
Phil constructed the split rail fence with pretzels and the boys built gumdrop people and trees.

John Turns 11

It's been a long time since posting. Our camera died and so there haven't been many
pictures taken of family things. Abby keeps her camera going most days and sometime
I will post some of her lovely self-portraits. September 18 John celebrated his 11th birthday and then on the 19th he had his party with his best friend Joab who turned 11 on the 23rd. This years party theme was volleyball. We went to local park and the crew played ball and ate hot dogs and birthday cake.

More Dahlonega pics

Our camera is breaking! The pictures are turning out strange.

Dahlonega Trip with Chinese Friends

Last Saturday (August 2) our family took 19 Chinese students to our old stomping
grounds of Dahlonega, Ga. The students are here working on their Masters at Kennesaw
State University for four semesters. We went to Amicalola Falls State Park, Dahlonega for
gold panning and a mine tour, shopping on the square in Dahlonega and then ending with
a visit to the outlet mall before returning them to their apartments. Some other
American friends joined the group to help drive and build friendships. It was a FANTASTIC day.
Our kids were great troupers and we love these new friends. Phil and I are very
happy and tired today.
We aren't as young as we were before when we would do these full day trips:)
There are going to be many more opportunities with students this year that we are looking forward to and we are praying for helpers to join with us and our team
to have the same joy of building international friendships!

phil and sons construction

Last month Phil rebuilt my parents' deck. John and David worked with him for a couple of days.
Earlier this summer they redid their back fence. The boys love earning some extra money
and we love them learning some carpentry skills and putting in a day of work or at least
a half day! David thinks working with Dad will a common thing with home schooling. It doesn't work
out that way too much because Phil isn't always working for family who understand David's work schedule or
his need for breaks and soda.:) He has already set aside some work boots
to wear when it is colder and he wears work jeans.

More Pictures from the Cookout

Internationals at the GREGORY'S!

Phil and Carol got to help plan a cookout for a group from China.

We played games and ate and visited and boated on the lake.

The event involved about 25 Chinese and 25 Americans. It was
a hot afternoon in Atlanta but so much fun.
In another couple of weeks we will take a different group to Dahlonega, Ga.