Things Kids Say

John had to repair a pipe outside the house today. The kids were all pretty impressed when he fired up the blow torch, getting ready to solder the pipes together.

Johnny: Dad, have you done this before?
John: yes, lots of times.
Johnny: Oh good, then you're qualified.

: )

Birthdays and what matters

So this last week I celebrated a birthday. Some people would call it a "milestone" since it was marking another decade. DECADE--yikes. Sounds serious. I was thinking about turning THAT NUMBER, and it was really depressing me. After all, THAT NUMBER seemed to signify the beginning of middle age, and words like "frumpy", "out of touch", and maybe even "old" came to mind.

I have to say that my birthday was lovely. My family and friends helped me feel very special and appreciated. Not one word about being old or frumpy or even out of touch!

Today I spent most of the day surrounded by other Moms, and the Lord brought to mind that many of these ladies are my age, or even *gasp* OLDER than I! What a thought!! And these ladies are some of the most beautiful, sweet women I know. Words like frumpy or out of touch don't even cross my mind when I think of them. I kind of felt like the grinch when he realizes that Christmas doesn't come with all the decorations, trappings and food. . . . maybe it is somewhere inside. Maybe someone's age doesn't define them, what is on the inside does.

Maybe turning THAT NUMBER isn't so bad.

Dinos, Rocks and Minerals --oh my!

Yesterday we got to go out to the foothills and learn about "rocks and stuff". Perfect timing, since we just finished a unit on Rocks, Minerals and land formations last week.

Things we liked best:
Jesse: "Rawr!"

Johnny: "the gift shop"

Hannah: "looking for fossils"

Rebekah: "those glow in the dark rocks"

Emily: "that I got to hang with my friends"

Hmmm, doesn't sound as educational as I had hoped! There was a little museum, an instructional time, and then each child was given an egg carton. They were to put one rock/mineral/gemstone/fossil/cool thing into each compartment. A big area of rocks/gravel/treasures was available, and we all dug in. Too bad Jesse doesn't get counting. I think he had 10 things in each compartment!

At least there was lots of info presented on Rocks, Minerals, their uses in every day life; dinosaurs, fossils, gemstones. . . . and I enjoyed digging in the dirt looking for stones and fossils too!

More birthday

Since Rebekah was gone for the weekend, of course birthday celebrations had to continue through the week. She ended the week long celebration with more friends at our house.

first there were costumes. . .
then some crafts. . . .

and then apple bobbing!!

Jesse got way more into the games than some others. . .

and apparently, the gifts were just what she wanted!

What a party : )

The best weekend of my life

Well, it wasn't the best weekend of MY life, but it was for Rebekah. She had been looking forward to the Father Daughter retreat since it was announced at church over the summer. It happened to fall over the weekend of her birthday, which made it even more special. Even getting lost on the way up the mountain didn't dampen her spirits, and it turned out to really be a special time for her.

Horseback riding, time with Dad, time with friends, time with God, a weekend in the mountains, not to mention dinner out on the way there AND the way back. Truly, the best weekend of anyone's life!

Then presents when she got home. Even if she was bone tired!!

FAIR!

Sho doesn't love the fair?! Every year we have a good time, and this year was no exception.

We visited the animals

Made rounds on the tractor. . . .

and even roped a few animals!

The kids all wrote book reports to earn free rides, and enjoyed that too. . .

Some discovered new strengths. . .

but for some it was a bit exhausting too. . .

What a great day we had.