My Girl

Downtown

The other day, the kids and I were downtown and had some fun running around and taking pictures. They were running around and I was taking pictures. :-)

Happy Easter!

Jesus is risen, just as He said! Alleluia!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Birthday Boy

Grant recently celebrated his eleventh birthday! It is hard to believe that he is already eleven! He is now a "tween"! Grant chose a family birthday celebration at a water park over having a party with friends. We were happy to celebrate with him! :-)

Happy Birthday, Grant!!!

My Favorite With My New Camera So Far

Having fun taking pictures...

Birthday Gifts

Today is my birthday and it is kind of a big number. But, my husband and children really loved on me today and reminded me of how blessed I am, so I think I am okay with the big number now. :-)
Another reason I am over the big number is that I am so excited because... I got a new camera!!!
This is a camera I have been wanting for quite sometime now. Well, I don't actually have it yet, but I just ordered it online and should get it this week! I can hardly believe it! Happy birthday to me! :-)

Talent Show

Our co-op held a talent show tonight that both Grant and Kate participated in. Grant sang a song and Kate played a piano piece. Both of them were a bit nervous beforehand, but they both did well. Here they are with some friends before the show started.

And, here they are during their performances. :-)

It was a good experience for each of them. I'm glad they had the opportunity to prepare and practice something and then present it in front of a group.

Staff Retreat

We were able to get away for a few days with our staff team to relax, hang out together and enjoy the frozen beauty of the north shore of Lake Superior. Dave took the kids snowshoeing one day while I spent time with some of the other women. We all had a great time. :-)

Great Speech by a Seventh Grader

More From Art Class

My art class made these adorable cats last week. Aren't they cute?! I think the kids did a great job! This lesson is from the wonderful blog I mentioned before, Art Projects for Kids.

Pool Party!

Yesterday, Kate and some friends celebrated her birthday at a water park. She had a wonderful time floating on inner tubes, and going down huge water slides, with her friends. Afterward she said, "This is the best party I've ever had!" We're glad she had such a fun birthday celebration!

Here are some pictures from Kate's fun day~

The Birthday Girl

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATIE!

Today is Katie's birthday, so we are in celebration mode around here! She will open presents from family today and have her favorite meal (steak and salad!) for dinner. Then we will sing to her and eat cake. She requested chocolate cherry cake again this year, which makes the whole family happy, because we all love it! :-)

On Saturday she is having a birthday party at a local water park. She has always wanted a pool party, but since her birthday is in the dead of winter, we never really gave it much consideration. But, when she asked for a pool party again this year, we looked around for a way to make it happen. She is SO excited! Her dad and I are excited that this party involves no preparation or clean up afterward! :-)

It is hard to believe that our baby is NINE years old, already! Wow, the years have sure flown by. She is getting so tall, too. Kate is such a hard-working, helpful girl. She like to do things well. She loves music and art, playing with friends, her stuffed animals (she has named every one and talks to them as if they were her children) her American Girl dolls, playing soccer, cooking and hanging out with her family to play games or watch a movie. She is thoughtful, kind and loyal. She is smart and funny and fun to be with. Kate is an incredible blessing to her daddy and me and to her big brother. Dave and I love her so much and are so glad that God gave us this delightful little daughter!

Happy birthday, Katie!!!

(Here's a look back at Kate at ages 4 weeks, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 years.)

I, Too, Sing America

I found this poem written by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967) on the Desiring God blog today in honor of the poet's birthday.

I, Too

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

I too am America

Art Class

I am teaching an art class for 2nd and 3rd graders at our home school co-op. I have not studied art, but I have found the most wonderful blog to help me come up with great ideas and lessons for this class!

Art Projects for Kids is the blog of REAL art teacher, Kathy Barbro. She shares lesson after lesson, with instructions and pictures. I wish I had more classes to teach during the year so I could try out more of her ideas! I will definitely have to do some of these at home with my own kids. If you need some inspiration for teaching art to elementary school age kids, check out Art Projects for Kids!

Yesterday, my class made these great Abstract Winter Trees from Kathy's blog. Aren't they beautiful?! :-)

Princess in the Kitchen

Saturdays are "Pancake Day" at our house. I get the kids up and we make pancakes together on Saturday mornings while Dave sleeps in. (On most other mornings, he gets the kids up and makes breakfast. I know, I am spoiled!) Anyway, this morning a princess made the pancakes and boy, did they taste great! :-) Here she is, whipping up our delicious breakfast.

Baby, it's cold outside!

These pictures were taken yesterday when the temperatures were not quite as frigid! We are looking for a HIGH of FIVE BELOW today! BRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! We are staying inside!!

This morning, Kate helped me make some cranberry bread, which has filled the house with a delicious fragrance. We have soup cooking in the crockpot and right before dinner, we'll have breadsticks in the oven. Good smells, warm food, cold day. That sums it up! :-)

January 2009

Christmas flew by this year and then off we went to the conference we go to every year a day or two after Christmas. This year, around 1500 college students attended. On the day of outreach, they went into neighborhoods on behalf of local urban churches to deliver boxes of food and share the gospel. Grant and Kate got to go with a group of kids to Feed My Starving Children. They filled bags of food to be sent to Africa. The kids like living at a hotel for a few days, hanging out with other staff kids and playing in the pool.

When we got home we had some time to relax and the kids enjoyed playing with the new things they got for Christmas. Kate was excited to try out her new Easy Bake oven!

Dave and I celebrated our 16th anniversary on January 2nd with a low-key night out. We usually keep it pretty simple since we are kind of tired from being at the conference

This week we started school and are now trying to get back into a normal routine. It has been cold outside, which makes it especially nice to snuggle on the couch while we read together. Happy New Year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wrestling

This is Grant's first year in wrestling and today he participated in his first wrestling tournament! He did really well for his first time and had fun, too!

Dave has been taking Grant to practices twice a week up at the high school. Today he helped out at the tournament. There were around 400 people who came from all over to wrestle in this tournament!

Our friend, Josh, and his little boy, Ethan, came to the tournament. Josh used to wrestle at this school and when Grant was younger, Josh taught him some wrestling moves, so it was really special to have Josh come to see Grant wrestle today!