Flamin' On

I wrote awhile back about a little game we play in our family called "Saw the Water Tower First" (read here to get caught up on what I am talking about) Well, yesterday Isaac saw the water tower first and decided to make dinner. I thought he would forget all about it but when dinner rolled around he excitedly asked Gabe what he wanted for dinner. Gabe answered with "Fillet Mignon" Isaac heard it as "Flamin' On". He immediately set to work in the kitchen gathering all his special ingredients for his one of a kind "Flamin' On" recipe. Here is a picture of what he came up with.....
Mmmmmmmm, yum!! He mixed different kinds of dried fruit with peanut butter then warmed it in the microwave. Isaac wanted to add crackers to it but Gabe helped change his mind. It may not have looked all that appetizing, but it actually tasted pretty good. Kudos to Chef Isaac!

Pictures from our Utah Vacation

Are you tired of vacation pictures yet?! If you are family and have checked Gabe, Jake, and Tarah's blog you have probably already seen a ton of pictures from Utah. But I can't be stopped...... here are more!

We're Home!!

Just a quick post to let you all know that we made it safely home late last night. We will be heading out in about 30 min. to pick up Isaac and Julia - YIPPEE!! I miss my kids so much my heart aches for them. I will post more later with "real" digital pictures from our trip.

Vacation Update

My Mom and the kids have been checking this blog everyday in search of new pictures from our trip. We have been quite busy the last couple of days. So Isaac and Julia.... this is for you!!

Tuesday Gabe and I hiked up a mountain, about a 4 hour hike up and back. It was windy and cold, but I have never had more fun hiking. Gabe and I really enjoy the outdoors and to be able to get to the top of a mountain (smallish mountain of course - but still quite an accomplishment) was wonderfully fun.

Then Tuesday night Gabe and I went out on a date together. We went ice skating and then dinner out on Main Street. Ice skating was so much fun with Gabe. We laughed non-stop at each other. Hiking and Ice skating in one day really did a number on our bodies. The soreness started to set in that night.

Yesterday, we got up REALLY early and drove 5 hours South to Moab and the Arches National Park. We hiked up to the very famous arch called the Delicate Arch. I am sure most of you have seen pictures of this Arch. (Let me just insert this..... NOTHING can stop Tarah, not even a broken foot. She,with the help of Jake, hiked the entire trail which was pretty strenuous at times. Pretty impressive!!) Words cannot describe the beauty that we saw yesterday. Our cameras couldn't even come close the capturing that beauty. We saw most of the wonders at Arches National Park and ended our day watching the sun set from the Double Arch, gorgeous. We didn't even leave Moab until 9pm and rolled in here completely exhausted at 1:30 am. We are a wee bit tired today.

But alas, there is more to see and do. This morning we went back to Olympic Park to see the ski jumpers practice, then we intended to walk up to the top of the bobsled run just to have a peak and found out they were actually running a training camp. We saw a number of athletes run the skeleton and the bobsleds. WOW! We were able to be right up next to the track, so close that we could feel the wind off them as they flew by. They were going around 75 mph. Just watching gave us an adrenaline rush. Gabe and I hiked it all the way up to the top to see the start and even got to chat with some of the athletes. There were teams there from around the world. It would be neat to see them in the Olympics in a few years. It was such a neat opportunity.

Tonight we are heading to Salt Lake City to catch a Utah Jazz game. Fun, Fun!! Again, I apologize for the low quality pictures. These are from Gabe's phone. Go to Jake's blog for better pictures. Enjoy!!

Tarah and I sitting in a bobsled in the Alf Engen Museum


Gabe and I hiking - see the pretty mountains?!


View from the top (this pic was taken from the mountains behind the place we are staying)


Historic Main Street, Park City

Silly Moose

Ice Skating

Delicate Arch

Double Arch

Isaac and Julia: I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I THOUGHT OF YOU BOTH LAST NIGHT AS I LOOKED OUT AT A SKY FULL OF STARS. YOU ARE BOTH SO PRECIOUS TO ME AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BOTH IN A FEW DAYS!!

We're Here!

Vacation has officially begun!!! Once we arrived in Salt Lake City yesterday and met up with Jake and Tarah we spent some time piddling around SLC. We went to see the Mormon Temple and even took a guided tour. Let's just say that was "interesting". Gabe got into some discussions with the tour guide about Jesus and contradictions of their faith. Interesting!

We are now in Park City enjoying a beautiful two story, three bedroom, four bath, two living room condo at The Miner's Club. The weather is georgeous. Cool, crisp, fall breezes. Something we often don't have in Texas. We are heading to the Olympic Park today. Ziplines here we come!!

Here are some pictures from our trip so far. They are not the best quality because they are taken with Gabe's phone. Our camera is having technical difficulties.Waiting at the Airport

Starbucks on the Airplane!


View from the Airplane


Meeting up with Jake and Tarah


Mormon Temple


Relaxing at the condo

Overflow

I was going to let the "Me tah" post be the last one before we headed off on our trip. I don't really have time to be sitting here blogging right now, but I couldn't let this one slip by.

Lately, Isaac and Julia have been joining me for quiet time on my bed when they wake up. We all read our own Bibles quietly together in the calm moments at the beginning of the day. I can't say that I tend to get much reading done with all the wiggling and fidgeting, but I try. When I am finished reading, I will read a story from one of their Bibles to them. Then we pray together. All done in an unmade bed with PJs on before breakfast has even been made.

This morning we ended our time together talking about ways to praise & worship God. We talked about praying, obeying, reading the Bible, and singing. I asked if they knew of any songs we could sing. Blank stares. (little early in the morning for remembering lyrics to songs - even I came up with little) So we enlisted Praise Baby to help us.

By this time we had moved to the living room to listen to the songs. I got so caught up in the words, I closed my eyes to sing to my Lord. When I opened them, I saw Isaac sitting with his hands raised, his sweet four year old voice singing out praises to God. There was not even a hint of "see what I am doing Mommy". In fact he wasn't even paying any attention to me. He was completely caught up in praise and worship of our Father.

Tears filled my eyes. I was so blessed to be an audience of such an honest and pure worship of our Creator.

I purchased The Jesus Storybook Bible today. We (the kds and I) usually flip flop through the Bible and read different stories here and there. I decided to read this Bible to Isaac and Julia from start to finish. The stories are written so well for little ears and full of such passion and truth. It is unlike any other children's Bible I have ever read.

As an adult, I have read through the Bible so much that I have become too comfortable and familiar with the beautiful story God has woven for us - the story of His Love. I was completely choked up before I was able to get through the first few stories. Amazing how a Bible written for children could wake me up to the enormity of God's love for little ol' me.

Isaac turned when my voice choked with emotion as I read. He grinned and said, "Silly Momma, why are you crying?"

"My sweet son, I am crying because God loves me so much that he didn't end the story there. (Adam and Eve in the garden) He could have, but He didn't because He loves me too much to be away from me forever. I am crying because God's love makes me so full of joy it just overflows."

Me tah

We have been busy this week packing and planning for our upcoming vacation. (Isaac and Julia will have their very own vacation at my parents' house!!) Julia asked why I was packing the other day. I told her that I was getting things ready for my trip to Utah. She responded with.... "Me tah (translation: tall) like my big Momma" Pretty precious. As much as I am looking forward to this nice little get away (haven't had a real vacation since our honeymoon in 2001 - which got ruined and cut short.... another story for another day!!), I am already missing my kids so much. Every mother needs a break, but I am with my loves all the time, day in and day out. I just feel out of balance when they are not with me. We will be away from them for 10 days total, longest Julia has ever been away from us. Thankfully Isaac will be there with her (and Oliver of course!!) So, I best be getting back to packing for two kids, a dog, my hubby, and myself. Check back in next week for pictures of the trip. We plan to update the blog while we are there so Isaac and Julia can see their Mommy and Papa while we are away.

Coal Mining

Oh man, I am such a Mom. It seems all my posts are about my kids. You would think there is nothing else to me except being a Mom. Not so, but alas here is yet another post about Isaac and Julia.

This week we have been reading The Rag Coat for school. The little girl's father in the story was a coal miner. So today we created our own coal mine and went digging. With a pile of blankets, a table and some chairs we had a great little tunnel and cave. I taped flashlights to the top of their hats and sent them on their way. Isaac LOVED it. He played in our "coal mine" for a long time. Julia, like her Momma, wasn't too sure about the dark, confined spaces. She opted to stay on the outside and gather up all the "coal" Isaac found and brought out. (Oh by the way, the "coal"was wadded up black paper!!)Have I mentioned that I am so enjoying teaching my kids! What a blessing!

REAL Pumpkin Pies!!!

Last year Isaac and I made a pumpkin pie from a real pumpkin. It was hard work, but very delicious. Gabe, the kids, and I decided to give it another try Monday morning. We cooked the pumpkin a little differently and it was much simpler, but don't get me wrong..... still lots of work!! Both Isaac and Julia were wonderful help. Gabe too, except for the pumpkin splatter all over the kitchen!! (love you babe!!) As you can see Isaac was shoveling it in as fast as he could, definitely Isaac approved!!

Love Creek Orchards

This is our fourth annual trip to Love Creek Orchards in Medina for the Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch. So fun!! We started going when Isaac was 1 1/2 yrs old. There is everything from hay mazes, to hay rides, pumpkin patches, to pumpkin painting. ( and basically everything in between) Our fall schedule is packed this year but we still made time to make it out to Medina. Here are some pictures from our day at Love Creek Orchards.

Here are some pictures from last year's trip to Medina.

Lil' Lentil

Isaac decided to put on a performance this morning..... in the bathtub!! Why?...... because of a book we recently read for home school, Lentil. The story is about a little boy that could not sing or whistle so he learns to play the harmonica. At one point in the story, Lentil practices his harmonica in the bathtub because, "the tone is improved one-hundred percent". I love to see Isaac take things from books and make them "come to life". And I must say, he put on quite an impressive performance. See for yourself!!

Little sister decided to join in on this tub stomping, harmonica playing fun. She's always gotta try what big brother is up to. Most of the time that is a great thing. Sometimes though, not so much!! Little boys are always thinking of ways to go higher, faster, or louder.



Thank you Grammy and Granddaddy for the harmonica!!