Quote of the Week

“Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats; it only prevents them from hiding.”

Our Sweet Bible Study Group

Sleeping Beauty

Cheese Face

Why is this all I get now when I take a picture?

Suzanne teaching the kids how to throw popcorn into the air and catch it in their mouths. =)

Back to the Snow!

This weekend, we went back up to Jerry and Julie's house in Kernville to play in the snow! We had the Woodwards with us which made it extra fun. We actually planned to go tubing at Alta Sierra on Saturday, but found that it was closed when we got there... so to improvise, got out and played in the snow for a little bit with the kiddos. It was hilarious, the Dad's were trying to make it fun by making little tracks for them to slide down, but weren't having much luck as the snow was a little bit soft. Hudson and Aubrey weren't so sure about it, they had a couple of fun moments, but mostly wondered why in the world we would put them through such a thing. I think the big kids enjoyed it though. Since that didn't work out so well, we went back to the house, gave the kids a nap and watched Amazing Grace. It was very relaxing and a nice change of pace. We headed up to Kern River Brewing Company for a late lunch and had a great time. They had awesome food and it was very laid back, the kids did great. Friday night was fun too, it was just nice to spend some time with our friends and enjoy the mountains and the clean air! It was a gorgeous drive, the Kern River is always breathtaking. Thanks Again Jerry and Julie for letting us stay in your house. We had a great time!

Quote of the Week

Parents, when you give in to anger, resentment or self-pity at your children’s bad behavior, you make yourself the center of the problem. You are loving yourself first and most. You must love your kids enough to show them the danger of their behavior. They need to see that their first problem is with God, and only secondarily with you. … You must be more concerned for them than for yourself, and you must be concerned most of all for God. By modeling patience, love, self-control—and all the fruit of the Spirit—you teach your children how extraordinary God is.

I don't need a nap!

Lately, Baylee hasn't been taking naps at her normal time... just a few hours later on the chair. Here are a few photos of the past week or so of her passing out late afternoonish. She is so tired, but will not go to sleep at naptime. Around 4 or 5 she finally conks out and wakes up very crabby. When Jaden transitioned out of naps at age 2, everyone told me it was a freak thing. Now it's happening again! My mom likes to rub in how my brother and I came home everyday from kindergarten and took 3 hour naps. Not my kids! They apparently, don't need sleep, other than the occasional cat nap.

Here are the lyrics to a song Steven Curtis Chapman wrote for President Bush back in November. As we uphold our new President Barack Obama in prayer, let us also remember to give thanks for President George W. Bush and his service to our country these past eight years.

Good-bye Mr. President,I guess the time has come for you to,Pack up all your things and turn the page,So I was thinking as you left,I’d try to write a song to tell you,What so many of us want to say.
For all those sleepless nights,I am sure you must have had,For all the prayers I’m sure you prayed,For how you tried to lead us when the way was so unclear,I am sure it wasn’t always evident,But thank you Mr. President!
Good-bye Mr. President,You will not be forgotten,All the courage and the hope you helped us find,I can’t imagine how it felt,To stand where you were standing,And to try to make the calls you thought were right.
So for those sleepless nights,I am sure you must have had,That put those lines around your eyes,For how you carried the weight,Even when the lights went out,I am sure you’ll never know how much it meant,I thank you Mr. President.
So for those days ahead,When they write about the past,And everybody has their say,From all of us who know,You gave us everything you could,We hope you will remember this,Thank you Mr. President!Good-bye Mr. President.
- by Steven Curtis Chapman

She's Here!

Meet Suzanne! She is our exchange student from Cameroon. We welcomed her on Friday and had a fun weekend getting to know her. She speaks French, very little English. However, somehow we communicate very well. The kids love her. Here, they are playing in her room right after she gave them the gifts she and her husband got them. Jaden and Aubrey got musical instruments from Africa, and Baylee got a bracelet. (So did I!) She is very sweet and we are enjoying having her.

Our Snow Adventure

We took Jaden and Baylee to Shirley Meadows last Saturday and had so much fun! I never expected that Jaden would be able to snowboard, much less be pretty darn good at it. It completely shocked me because unlike my very coordinated child, I was nicknamed "Bambi" in school for obvious, snow related reasons. Baylee, I think, took after me. Anyway, Jaden absolutely loved it! Here he is after his lesson feeling very cool for making it all the way down the hill, and having been "up in the sky" yelling at all of the little people down below. He was with the snowboarding instructor for an hour and it was one of the funnest "parent" moments for us yet. He just amazed us and had so much fun. Baylee on the other hand, went down a very small hill in a tube one time, screamed the entire way down and refused to do it again. She got off of it before she had made it all the way to the bottom and started running back up the hill (as best she could as bundled as she was) screaming, "Mommy! Mommy! No!" It was so sad, but awfully funny. If I hadn't been so embarrassed, it would have been hysterical. Someone nearby grabbed her and started running with her the other way so she didn't get plowed by the next person coming down, which made her more upset. Needless to say, it wasn't her best day. When we talk about it she always says the same thing, "That no was cold!" no = snow. =) Anyway, we had a great time, but next time we will just take J! Tony has banned Baylee from the "no" until she is 5. :)

Gorgeous Day!