More From the Fair

Saturday at the Fair

Enjoying a francophone delicacy - poutine. Mmmmm so good!

Dancing aka dizzying to the music.

David playing drums for a local blues/rock band.

Caramel Popcorn

He got a hole in one on this, uh, par one hole.

Oops

Since I haven't posted for a while, and have no new pics to post I'll post these pictures I forgot to post when Joshua and Ethan learned to ride their bikes sans training wheels. And yes, that is a princess helmet. E couldn't find his helmet, and borrowed Averies. He was bound and determined to ride that bike. He wouldn't give up, and he caught on quickly.

And a picture of Carly just because she's cute.

The Lake

Just a few pictures from our afternoon. The water was so cold it hurt, but I've definitely been in colder. The boys found a log and enjoyed playing around on it. They had a great time, but Ben thought it was too cold and didn't want to go in the water at all. Ava didn't want to go in too deep either. I don't blame them, but I sure had fun swimming and floating in the water once I caught my breath.
I can't believe we live here :) This really is the 'best place on earth'.

Benjamin Thinks....

If you are only eating your food, you are really missing out on all food has to offer.



Extra bonus - you get to have a bath:)
(While your brothers and sister play outside.)

Some Photos from Today

Recent Trip to the Windy City

Last Night

This is what we watched from our window last night. I knew I wouldn't to be able to gt any phenomenal shots due to the streetlight right outside the house, and the lack of a tripod, but good enough to get the idea anyway. It lasted pretty long and they had some really neat ones. We live so close to where they were held, we did not even have to go there to get a good show, it was sooo loud, and we could sure smell them.

Randomly Recent

The Fraser at Mission, Carly loving riding in the truck, and the kids at a local lake we went to a year end homeschool picnic at on Monday.

A is 3

A was so excited about her Bday today. She got to wear dresses today, one in the mrning, but it got spilled on so she put on another. We went to Build a Bear Workshop were she got to build a bear. She picked the Hello Kitty stuffed toy. It was really cute to watch her help build the bear. We had a hard time picking out its clothes, the boys had their own idea of what is should wear, finally she decided on PJ's since it will be Hello Kitties main job to cuddle her at bed time. As we walked through the mall she was on top of the world - telling people it was her birthday. Here are a few pics from today.

Somebody's One

Took B out to take some shots of him this morning. Going for the Urban Acid look in these...He didn't want to look at me, but a got a few. So in these he is one year old. I can't believe how fast this year has gone. He has grown so fast. I can't believe it was a year ago that I was holding him as a sweet little new born.

Hey Everybody

The photography community at one my favorite websites has been going on about photos being stolen from blogs and galleries and posted by creeps, sold on ebay and other stuff. Not that anybody would want to steal photos from here and sell them! But I have been thinking of this for a while now. Too many strange people out there, so, I am going to be chaniging this blog and I think you will need a password to view. I love being able to share stuff from our lives with you all, so email me and I'll let you know the details.

Lately

Our recent trip to White Rock with our good friends the McNabbs.


I KNOW someone is missing from this picture. Benjamin was already buckled into his car seat, and we didn't want to disturb him while the others finished their ice cream cones.

I Have Pictures

But I am unable to post any right now, blogger just isn't working or something. I'll try to post them later, but I had the same problem earlier today too. But I really do have stuff to post so check back soon.

I'm going to try

to post this adorable you tube vid. Not a you tube fan but I am a sucker for cutesy little otters.

One More Thing

Found this activity on a message board the other day, and think we'll do it this year (maybe not the beating the pecans part, my kids don't need any violent ideas!) So thought I'd share.

EASTER COOKIES

To be made the evening before Easter Sunday

You need:

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. Vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch salt
1 cup sugar
Zipper baggie
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don't wait until you're
half done with the recipe)!

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden
spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested.
He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar.
Put 1 tsp. Vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar
to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar.
Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.
Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers,
and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very tastey.
Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because
He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks
are formed.
Explain that the color white Represents --in God's eyes -- the purity of
those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts.
Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was
laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven
overnight.
Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.
Notice the cracked surface and take a Bite.
The cookies are hollow!

On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open
and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9

Random Tid Bits

David and i have been switching computers so much lately that I don't have any pictures to post, but thought I'd just write about some random tid bits. Benjamin is currently sick with the flu. But, he has been doing so good with walking and would rather attempt to walk between two points in the room, then crawl. Sometimes he makes it - sometimes he doesn't. So he is walking like crazy. Ethan is reading words now. He likes to do things is his own time, and he has know letter sounds for quite some time, but now he puts them together. Averie is recognizing letters (not all of them yet), and putting two and two together with letter sounds ie; "Beppe starts with bottle" haha "pillow starts with Pake" How funny she is. Joshua is a crazy reader. Sometimes he'll read things, and I'm thinking "how can a little guy like you read that?" He races through books. He just started Robin Hood from classic starts two days ago and is on chapter 12. If only he was as excited about his writing. David is still sick, and is taking antibiotics. He had a fantasic time in Seattle handing out food to the homeless people with his students and helping out at the UGM, and Salvation Army. God has been doing some awesome things with the Union Gospel Mission down there - lives are being changed. How awesome. I'll post a link to his seattle blog when he gets it up. I'm in the middle of a few projects that are a bit stressful to me, but I'm trying to focus on what's important in life. I am stoked about Easter! Thankful for God's love. And since some people may be wondering why celebrate the resurection of Christ since his "bone box" has supposedly been found? I might like to comment on that briefly too. Well, hmmm. If he did not rise from the dead, I am left to wonder who may have taken his body? The pharisees? The romans, or the chrisitans? If the pharisees took his body, all they needed to do to stop the "christian movement" would have been to produce the body. So, if the Roman's took his body...well...same as above. If his followers took his body, (which would have to be the case if his bone box was burried with his family), well then why would they have allowed themselves to be tied to stakes douced with oil and burned as latterns and the victims of countless other less than pretty procedings. if they knew Jesus hadn't risen and wasn't God they surely never would have given their lives up for that cause. People will die for what they believe to be true, but they don't die for what they know to be a lie. So think about it. Who took his body then?
Hey, I said this was random tid bits!