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100th day of school (back in January)

We always celebrate the 100th day of school. We like to dress if crazy clothes and count things by the hundred and even do some goofy hair dos. This was the day that Tristen started to feel yucky (little did we know it was the beginning of mono).


We found, counted and lined up 100 cars. Tally and Tyce grouped them into groups of ten. Even Tate had fun and participated. Poor Tristen was able to get up for the pictures and then...she was back in bed for almost 5 weeks of sickness. January and February were really long months for our family.

Go SCIENCE !!!!!!!!

We have been using a different science curriculum for school this winter and have really enjoyed it. I bought this book years ago and it has sat on our shelf since then. I like that I can read a lesson to the girls in about a half an hour while they take notes. Then we go over the questions and gather our supplies for any hands on activity. They are not really "experiments" but more like activities. Here Tally is making a FLOOD in a jar. Learning about what might have happened after Noah's flood.



This activity was learning about glaciers and ice. Good thing we had some snow to help out with this experiment. So far, we have only had one experiment not work out well. We tried to grow crystals and it just didn't work.

Most recently we have been studying earthquakes and volcanoes and tectonic plates. How timely that the huge earthquake in Japan is part of our current events so we have an example to talk about.

Praying for JAPAN

With all the news these days I am sure you are praying for the situation in JAPAN with the massive earthquake last week. Please continue to pray for the situation, and also for the people of JAPAN. I am praying that this event will soften the hearts of the people there and allow them to respond to God. Also, please pray for my sister and her family. They are church planters there in Tokyo. Although their family is safe, it is a difficult situation and there is much need for prayer.

...because...

...I couldn't have the discussion ONE MORE TIME of WHO would sit WHERE for meals. It is official assigned seating and it has helped with the bickering between the siblings.

someone's learning math

He LOVES numbers...LOVES to write...LOVES the blocks...LOVES the video lesson...just not sure about listening to Mom as the teacher.

***sorry about the fuzzy photos...still learning my new camera***

***S*N*O*W***D*A*Y ***

We got some S*N*O*W !!!! This is our second "big" snow for this area. We even had a dusting on Christmas day this year. As you can imagine...we are LOVING it. I hunted for some snow pants for the boys (um...yes, that is Tate in bright PINK pants). We got boots and sleds and we were ready for the snow.

The school system here has been closed for 2 days and the kids had a BLAST playing out in the snow. Aside from a few fainting spells from Tissy (note to self...too much bundling makes you really hot and fainty), the past few days have been great.

We are soaking up the change of seasons here and trying to enjoy everything that it has to offer. The kids made snowmen, had hot cocoa, played out doors for hours, and conked out at night. We even skipped school and took advantage of the play time.

Thanksgiving Day...2010

November 25, 2010...a BIG day for our family. Tyson's 5th birthday...his first birthday that was celebrated...our family all together for the first time with both sets of grandparents...a year ago we saw our boy's picture for the first time...our world was changed forever...

It turned out to be a nice time...but a HARD time too. November was a hard month for our family. Lots of processing. Lots of healing. Lots of firsts (overnight guests, trip out of town, changing rooms...). As I look back at these pictures just a mere 6 weeks later, I am grateful for the time together, but thankful we are doing better now than we were a few months ago.


None of it is easy, but God's grace is sufficient. And we are always leaning on Him in EVERY way.

a visit from the HOFF family

We had our very dear and special friends come and visit back in November. We have know Carl and Shaleen before any of us had kids. I just love these people as if they were born into our family. We have served with them at church, raised our kids together, laughed together and now...we live thousands of miles apart. But that hasn't stopped us from getting together. They have now visited us in 2 different states. And now...our kids are growing up and still have a great time together.We visited a local plantation home and got a great private tour. Our guide filled us all in on local history and the teacher in me loved it all. This beautiful old home is right here in our town.


And then...on the back side of the property is an old cemetery and log homes. Such extremes to the history. Don't you just love the late afternoon sun? Beautiful.



A big thank you to the Hoff family for coming all this way to reconnect and meet our new boys. We love you and wish we lived close enough to see you each week at church.