Funny Kids

The other day Luke was helping me download pictures and I was also charging my ipod.  It wouldn't sync so I called to Brad that my ipod wasn't syncing and could he help me.  Luke sat thinking for a minute and then said "Mommy I will hold your black phone so that it will not sink!"

A few days ago we were trying to get out of the house on time and Luke was giving me a hard time with everything!  I asked him if he could please stop being a stinker.  Well this made him very upset and in the car kept saying "I am not a stinker!"  I told him yes I was sorry I should not have told him he was a stinker, but that he was not obeying me.  Jack pipes in and says, "it's okay Luke, we all fall short of the glory of God!" (Romans 3:23)

Today I was having them pick up the basement so I could vacuum and Luke really did not want to help because he wanted it to stay a mess.  (we have had to pick up far too much lately) Jack was doing his part and trying to get Luke to join in and says "Luke if you don't work, you don't eat!" (2 Thessalonians 3:10)  Clearly he is remembering his bible verses we are learning, at least when it is his brother that it relates too!

Spring Day

It has been so nice this weekend to be outside in the nice weather and also not to have to worry about leaving our house! Hallelujah we sold our house! We are very thankful about not only selling our house but also for a June closing date so we don't have to leave Daddy behind, or him leave us!

Luke is very excited to be out riding his bike again.

And playing golf!

Selah watching the boys play ball.

We are going to miss this cul-de-sac so much! How great that we have our own ballfield in the front yard.

Selah is getting very good on her bike already.

The reason I got my camera out in the first place was Jack's outfit. I love the winter hat, ski goggles, and multi layer shirts! I love even more that he dresses for comfort and could care less what anyone else thinks. Other kids are in shorts, and Jack is all about still staying warm!

I got him going around third!

Will Daddy get him? No, home run!

Luke was sick on Friday, poor buddy! He wanted to just rest in his fort and ended up falling asleep. He was much better yesterday as you can see from the pictures before this one.

Trip to Utah

It has been so crazy since we have been home with basketball, house showings, and unpacking that I have not had any time to upload any pictures but finally here are some of the favorite pictures (I took almost 200!). Luke and Daddy coming down the tubing hill, on the way there Luke did not want to go saying "I hate tubing!" Guess who went down the most times with a smile permanently on his face?

They had a carousel there that pulled the little ones around and around. Selah actually fell asleep on this thing, she was deprived of a nap on this day and so tired!

Brad and I on our way snowshoeing up to the Yurt where we ate a five course meal where the chef cooked with no electricity! We took a sleigh behind a snow cat 1000 feet up the mountain to get to this point, it reminded me a little bit of The Shining! Such a fun night though.

Brad ready to ski down this hill, we did have a snowstorm Wed night so he got to ski on some great powder! He did great, but I have become a wuss in my old age! I only did a few blues and wouldn't try anything harder after taking a few tumbles!

Our view from the deck of our room, we could watch the skiers come down the mountain, pretty cool.

At least once every day we were at this outdoor pool, even with snow on the ground! It was so much fun in the warm water to be outside, until you had to make a run for it when we were done!

We also took a sleigh ride behind some horses to a lodge to have dinner one night. There was a cozy fire, live music that Selah danced with some other girls to, and some great cowboy food!

This was one of the sleighs we rode up to the lodge in, the horses were really beautiful, ours were Jack and Deb, and Selah even got to sit on Deb once we got there!

My Mom was so sweet to go with us and help out, it was great to be able to go skiing with just me and Brad, and to be able to go out to a nice dinner too! Thank you Mom! She did not ski but did agree to go snowshoeing with me and Jack, it was really a lot of fun, I think our new favorite winter sport!

Our little snow bunny ready for her ski lesson!

Jack on the slopes, I can tell already he will surpass me soon!

While our teacher Miss Heather was taking Jack down a bigger hill Daddy practiced a little more down the bunny hill with Selah.

He took Luke too who did so good at his lesson, if he wants to do it he does a great job! I know he liked his teacher because he told her a Thomas story.

Brad and Jack went out for an afternoon skiing alone too. I know it is a lot of pictures but I had a hard time narrowing it down, we had a great time and I didn't make a bed or clean a bathroom all week! Now back to selling this house!

Please Pray

It is official! Please pray that this whole process goes well, for a smooth transition for the kids and us, as well as God's perfect timing. Also that I am kind to my children while trying to keep a clean house, especially if there is a one hour notice coming!

Ice Fishing

Today Jack and Grandpa Ken entered an ice fishing contest after Jack's game. There were a whole lot of people on Foster Arends!

They were all set up and cozy ready for a few hours of fishing!

What do you see Gramps?

Jack did have one on his line that got away.

Jack lasted until about 12:30 when I brought Grandpa his boots, his feet were cold! But Grandpa lasted another hour although never caught anything. Next time!

My Cousin Tara's wedding

Last weekend we went to my cousin Tara's wedding and at the reception and dance I had some help from Layken and Levi taking pictures. It was a really beautiful Christ centered wedding and the reception was a fun time too, considering we were sitting with our 7 children! The girls on the dancefloor!

Levi took this one of Leah, nice one Le...

This one is in honor of Mom and Dad's anniversary that was on the 5th. They said the night they got married was a lot like this one, cold but good weather, then they drove 3 days to California where Dad had to report to duty and left Mom for a week by herself in an apartment with no utilites turned on. What we do for love!

The Macarena (is that how you spell that?)

Levi busting a move on the dancefloor, he can breakdance!

Our family picture that Layken took for us!

Luke was reciting Thomas stories for anyone who would listen, if you looked away he would take your face and turn it towards him to finish the story, this is Levi sweetly sitting through one of Luke's stories! Luke is saying to Levi "Levi, Levi, look at my face!"

Baby Jude was out like a light by 9:00 so I got a turn to snuggle him!

Jack was the cool guy sitting by the dancefloor watching but not dancing.

Selah wanted to do the dollar dance but with Tara, not Kevin. She loved her pretty dress and Tara is such a sweet girl, kids really love her.

Ainsly also wanted to dance with the bride. My favorite part of the whole weekend was when I was telling Ainsley at the wedding who everyone was and she kept asking about my cousin Bruce and then says "Like Bruce the shark in Nemo?" You have to hear her say it in her Boston accent!

Jude loves Ainsly so much! He saw her and wanted down to go to her and get some loving!

The girls waiting to get onto the dancefloor!

Luke is clearly not crazy about wedding receptions, he hid under the coats for quite a bit of the night!

While we waited for dinner Jack and Levi were playing some guessing game I didn't quite figure out.

Lots of pictures I know but we had a big night. We then went back to a hotel where Selah had set off the fire alarm by turning on a heater that started smoking (luckily we were one of two parties in the whole place), the tv in our room needed to be fixed and we came back to cords on the bed, and then Leah opened the drapes on the window and they fell down! Good times! Don't you love the memories you get going to family gatherings?

Jackson's Basketball

As a tribute to Jack's basketball game he is going to miss on Saturday I thought I would post a few pictures I have taken this year of him playing and a video of one of his shots!  This year he is in Champion basketball and LOVES it!  We count down the days to each practice and game.He is sad to miss a practice and game this week but we are taking off tomorrow for a wedding and some family visits so there is good reason to miss.