Garner 2011

rocks

scenery

hawks

deer

trees

fresh air

smooth pebbles

trickling streams

soaring birds

scurrying rabbits

sticks

rock jumping

wet jeans

slippery rocks

climbing

fire

marsh mellows

early rising

card games

french toast

dessert

hard beds

bathrooms and spiders

cactus

river bed

hill country

flashlights

Nerf war

family time

tag

park rangers

chasing

night drive

raccoons

water shoes

bathing suits

goggles

towels

rapids

tubes

picture taking

dirty kids

laughing

playing

minnow catching

scooters

scraped knees

teasing

park 20 mph speed limit

Old Baldy

hiking

kayak

swim suits

back packs

t-shirts

packing and unpacking

rope

wet towels

dirty feet

chasing

screaming

Monopoly

coffee and creamer

Dominoes

crock pots

knitting

crafting

Wi-Fi

gas fill ups

sleeping bags

crazy kids running around

flip flops

sliding rocks

lightening bugs

crickets

chili

 low cell phone coverage

knife

whittling

Lego playing

craft time

30 minute drive to town

sunset

sunrise

screens on windows

cool night air

hoodies

card playing

wind in your hair

band aids

insect stings

bike riding

long walks

water bottles

puzzles

jokes

teasing

ants

 

Kaitlin and the EWOK-- Molly

quick 1600 mile drive this weekend...

We made an unplanned/ quick trip to Missouri this past weekend.  We left Friday night at 7:30 drove till 3:30 and slept in Little Rock... headed out the next morning and got to Union, Missouri around 5:00.

We had a wonderful time visiting with Sarah, Robbie and the kids- although Robbie had to work most of the time....

This is the Emily Jean GIRL---- 4 years old.

This is the Ethan Drake BOY--- just turned two!

It was just Dave and myself for the trip so we had HOURS in the car to ourselves... it was nice.

We haven't been away for that many days in a really, really long time and we enjoyed it.... even as spontaneous as it was...


Dave and I stayed at their place and Emily Jean had to sleep with her GANDMA.... good times.

Sarah and I cut Ethan's hair (see the first pics and then later pics), it wasn't the best job as he was screaming and wiggling ALOT but hey it got cut!

Emily and GANDPA worked on getting us REDBOX and ice cream and had to go shopping for batteries for her computer-- THAT is what GANDPA's are for, right!

Sarah and I went to the grocery store on Sunday night and bought up supplies and got her 8 freezer meals ready.... in  record time.  So she has at least 8 easy meals plus their leftovers for the next couple of weeks! 



We left Missouri Monday at 1:30 and ended up driving straight through and getting home at 4:30 on Tuesday morning--- we were exhausted!

Now to pack and ready stuff for four days of camping at Garner....

Whewww... I am gonna need some vacation from my vacations!  :0)

St. Francis Sanctuary for wolves

Kaitlin and mom went to a wolf sanctuary on Saturday-- it is located in Montgomery County.  They had an annual open house type event and Kaitlin got to pet a wolf!  Very exciting for the girl!

Pinterest... my first attempt at something I found on Pinterest. #1

I love Pinterest.  I mean love.  However I dont want it to JUST be a digital binder full of ideas I love but NEVER do!  So I am trying to actually DO the wonderful, neat, amazing, ingenius things I PIN!

So try number one.... with many, many more on the way.

Through the Years Thursday... Garner 2008

Wordless Wednesday...

Radically Saved...

Saturday night we went to see Carman at a church in Pasadena... if you are unaware of Who Carman is... YOUTUBE is your friend.  We are huge fans of Carman--and have seen him a few times in concert, own all his Cd's and grew up singing Radically Saved and The Champion.

Here is Matt standing with the other MEN of God who stood up, unashamed and proclaimed they loved Jesus.... LOVE IT!  Matt who rarely ever sings at church and is a quiet worshiper--- got completely into the whole concert and I LOVED. EVERY. MINUTE. OF. IT.

I don't believe that all Christianity is based on feelings and I don't believe that it needs to be all hype-- but I will tell you I DO believe in our Sons and Daughters getting excited about the God we worship.

I do believe in our Sons and Daughters seeing us raise our hands to Jesus and praise His Holy Name.... however I do that at church, up alone in the balcony, at home and in my car (one handed).... I can praise His name anytime--- not just in a hyped up concert, but it was exciting to see the kids excited about Jesus.

We had a wonderful time and so enjoyed his message and his music.... here is a taste of a quiet worship song of Carmans






and also one of my favorites The Champion---





 if you go listen to YouTube make sure and listen to Lazarus.... also a favorite



 oh and Sunday's On the Way-- another favorite... NEVER mind just listen to them all!

School room unpacked and ready...

Okay, I have zero excuses tomorrow! The school room is 100% ready to use for learnin'...

For those who don't know or cannot visualize-- this is the large "game" room upstairs.

We don't have all the bookshelves we need and about 40% of the books are still packed but all my "schooling" books and stuff are out.

We will get two more cheap bookshelves after the 15th and then wait for the rest until after Jan.

The keyboard is just set on Emily's desk right now... it is not always out.

Also the "entertainment area" will change in Jan-- all the white bookcases will go to Kate's room and we will have a black 8 square shelf (like the one under the window) there in their place.

I don't have everything exactly where I want but mostly things are good.

In Jan all the pets will be in Kaitlin's room also...

So there is the new school room--- Look for a Weekly Wrap Up on Friday of all the learnin that took place! 

Marbles and Matter and Molecules....

We went to the Children's Museum on Friday for a little while---- we headed to the other side of the museum where we never end up because the kids get sucked in to Metropolis.   It was fun-- we worked together to build a Marvelous, Majestic, Marble Masterpiece.....

Next we went to make up molecules in the lab....