been a long time...

I have not posted to this blog in so long!!
Here are some pictures to catch you up on our crazy busy life :)

Of course, I have a TON more pictures, but I can only post so much on here...as it is, it will greatly surprise me if anyone even looks at this blog anymore!

So - these will have to do...I might post more if I can tell that people even still look at this. :)

ice skating this spring - sooo much fun!

Easter! (it was c-c-cold!)

the kids after a long day of hiking...waiting for our dinner at a yummy restaurant

the kids waiting patiently for a beautiful wedding to start - this was in a neat, old church

the girls wishing this was a real horse they were sitting on

my sweet hubby with his awesome dad on Father's Day

and me with my awesome dad on Father's Day

Ms. K & I on the 4th of July

a weekend in the mountains always makes the kids a little crazy

swimming in our pool - which we are loving!

even Charlie likes it!

zap truck

Wonder how long until we all have one of these??

flying is not about wings...

For some reason this song really touched me today. I feel confident in saying that this has got to be one of the best songs I've heard in a while. It's a simple song with simple lyrics...but wow!! At present, "Not About Wings" is the very last song on my playlist (at the bottom of my blog page). Click to choose to play this song, and follow along the lyrics I've copied below. I get goosebumps - don't you!?!? It's amazing to think of all the different meanings this song can have for you and/or your family. What you've been through, decisions you've made, your personal weaknesses, your shortcomings, your imperfections, just where God has taken you on this journey called LIFE. Please listen and think about what it means to you...

Not About Wings - Downhere

Wake dove, stretch your feathers,

Worry not love, how far you could fall.

Fly now, darling find how;

A broken wing can be the best to soar on.

It's not the perch you've climbed to reach,
But the broken wing that's made you meek;
that's when He lifts you high.

Chorus:
Believing is not about seeing,
Faith is not about reaching,
and on this journey I keep learning,
Flying is not
Flying is not
Flying is not about wings.

Sparrow trapped by a window,
every resource spent for just one goal.

It's not by work you find your escape,
but in your defeat when you seek his face;
that's when He lifts you high.

winter garden snacks

We have been wondering what our dog, Charlie has been up to when outside - because whenever we call him back inside - he comes racing around from our sideyard, sometimes with very dirty/muddy paws and beard (he's half schnauzer). Well the other day, when we called him inside, he came running into the house with a big CARROT in his mouth!! AH-HA! Figured it out...he's been eating leftover carrots from last year's garden crop...I guess he may as well eat them!! Someone may as well benefit from our garden! Not sure if I would eat any leftover carrots at this point...??? Are you supposed to eat garden foods that have been in below freezing dirt for the past couple months?! Not sure...but I'm probably not going to find out, either. So - more power to you, Charles! Enjoy it now, because this spring, we're putting up a fence to keep you out! :(

Super Bowl fun

My kids were so excited to watch the 3D movie clip during the Super Bowl game...we got our free glasses at the store before the game (along with some candy treats!) and they wore those silly 3D glasses (much longer than necessary).
***The only way the glasses would stay on the girls' faces was by wearing a hat...without the hat to tuck the bands under, the glasses kept falling off and this did not make for happy 3D campers.***

Ms. K is ready with sweet hubby's hat on...

Since Ms. K was wearing SH's hat...Ms. P had to wear MY hat!!!

tub time (??)

At the request of some of my friends, I will start posting more day-to-day stuff here on my blog. I took a break...but they really want me to start posting again - so here goes. :)

For the past couple of months, my girls have been playing in the bathtub. But - NOT when there is water in it! They bring blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, etc...The last time they were playing for over an hour! It gets really warm in this particular bathroom - and in the winter months - I think they enjoy a warm place with blankets to play (we keep our thermostat set pretty low).

(sorry - I cannot figure out how to get this picture turned the right way!!)

Reality TV...

I have to admit - I really enjoy 2 specific shows each year. One I'm not ashamed to admit that I like - and as for the other, I'm sure some of you would gasp at the thought of watching! (I'll let you decide which is which!).

The 2 shows are: The Biggest Loser and The Bachelor

(or Bachelorette - it alternates each season)

I am recording the season premiere of The Biggest Loser and just caught a small glimpse of the beginning of the show...I'll watch the rest later...and oh my! It's going to be a great season (like all of them are)! It is such a motivating show - and shows you that no matter how little or how much weight is needed to be lost - it CAN be done. These people are living proof! Their stories are sad, inspiring, and REAL...

If you don't currently watch The Biggest Loser - I highly recommend it - you will be inspired!

As for The Bachelor...well - that's up to you! But - let me just say that the bachelor this season is an incredible single dad...but still probably not a show some people agree with.

That's my 2 cents on these 2 reality TV shows! :)