Summer 2010- Almost done catching up!

Steppingstone Museum had Medieval Days this year which we were finally able to attend. It was so fun! Jake loved the armor.

Quite a helmet!

We got to watch a REAL duel!

Er, um...yes, my hubby got a tatoo. Airbrushed, though. Crazy man!

Spring 2010 Catch up

Cait and Daddy went out with her girlfriends and their daddies for a nice dinner and a browse through the bookstore. They are all getting so grown up. I pray that she sees her daddy's example when she looks for a Godly husband one day.

Being silly!

Caitlin learned how to make the famous Mexican dessert- Tres Leche Cake. Mmmm deliciouso!

We had fun fishing in the neighbor pond and catching frogs and other critters!

There is a dilapidated old farmhouse with barns and outbuildings on the same property. We had fun going exploring in the buildings and traipsing through the fields around the farm.

Presentation Night display

A trip to the Washington Zoo was full of fun!

The Panda bear entertained us for quite a while- up close!

Passover

This year we decided to celebrate Passover as a way of finding symbols of Christ in the celebration. It was a wonderful learning experience for all of us. We found a Christian version of the Haggadah to follow which helped us to see how each element of the meal pointed to the coming Christ. We really loved this and can't wait to do it again.

Winter of 2010 Sampling

Brent taught a lesson on land navigation skills when we were studying Columbus.

They all understood it, but I was completely lost!

They all found all their plotted points! Even in the dark!

We had SO MUCH SNOW this winter!

Look at those walls of snow!

Studying volcanos was fun!

Our volcano before being painted....

Grant and Jake both found half frozen birds at different times this winter. We brought them in, warmed them up, fed them, identified them and sent them on their way.

The kids love it when we shop at grocery stores where they pack stuff in boxes. The boxes are always good for some crafts!

Some divers at the aquarium were feeding the rays and let Jake and Quinn help. Poor Quinn almost threw up looking at the clams! Jake wasn't too fond of them either.

We love to bring our nature journals to the aquarium. Quinn had a good seat!

A trip with the co-op to learn about early American history was tons of fun!

What a paradox! Everlasting snow on the ground but hot enough to be in shorts and tshirt!

Welcoming 2010- still catching up

For the past several years we've had Dave and Melanie's family over to spend the night for New Years' Eve. We always have tons of food (junk food only), lots of noise, great deep conversation and lots of KIDS!

Still Catching Up- Christmas 2009

Our annual trip to chop down our Christmas tree.

We had a great time going to Hamton to see the streets full of lights!

I Love this shot of my guys!

Cait got a chest full of sewing material and supplies!

Jake was so excited to get climbing with a real grappling hook and climbing shoes and gloves! Right up his alley!

Grant wanted this foldable shovel to add to his important gear bag!

Quinn was so excited to have a Despereaux lunchbox. He loves that movie!

Cait was SUPER surprised to get.....

A Wii!  We had told the kids that there was NO WAY we were getting one, but boy did they get surprised!

Christmas morning was spent differently this year. We really felt God calling us to celebrate with greater purpose. So before we opened gifts, we packed up a couple food bags, jumped in the car and drove around until God told us to stop. He stopped us at a stranger's home where we delivered the food and visited with her and prayed with her. It was an amazing time and impacted the children and us greatly. In fact, they didn't want to go home so soon, so they begged us to go to the local nursing home and find someone who wouldn't have family to visit with on Christmas. We weren't sure if they would let the kids in since swine flu was circling through hospitals, but they did! We talked and sang and prayed with a very sick elderly man who hadn't had family visit in 10 years. We are so glad we obeyed God's prompting to spend this Christmas differently!

Family Mexico Mission Trip

There is SO much to tell about this wonderful trip to Mexico that our family took in September '09. We felt that God put a burden on our hearts to serve Him as a whole family. It was a life-changing trip in so many ways. Each of us grew and were convicted in new areas that God, in His mercy, revealed to us. We traveled with our precious friends, the Bynions, and had a fantastic time. Here are just a FEW pics of this trip....

Getting our visas!

The LONG ride to Chihuahua

Divisidero Hotel built into the edge of the canyon in the Copper Canyon

Grant brought a bike repair kit and flashlight for Luis, his penpal.

Jake and Isaia making Taco Serpientes out of play doh. These two became best buddies!

Ceci, Cait's penpal, spent a while trying to learn words in each other's languages.

Playing Uno with the kids at the orphanage. This was an incredible time for all of us. Life-changing.

Our sponsor daughter, Valentina (in front of me holding the doll) with just a few of her family members. This is in the doorway of their house. We were very blessed to be in a Tarahumaran home. They don't often let others come in.

Rogelio witnessing to a local Tarahumaran boy in the Sierra (mountains). He is such a natural with children. He and his wife Claudia have a special place in our hearts.

Ivan is our sponsor son. His mom had just had a baby so Brent and I took him (with Hector and Gloria) to see her in the hospital. Unfortunately, the baby did not survive and the mom has been so sad ever since. We are so thankful that we were able to minister to her and her son during this sad time. Ivan is a sweetie-pie!

Hector is a phenomenal minister of the gospel. We were so blessed to be at Lightshine the week that the gospel story was told! 

 We have TONS more photos, and MANY more memories of this incredible trip. Each one of us has gone through periodic "Chihuahua withdrawl" since we've come home. God was so good to allow us to serve Him in Mexico.