Happy Birthday, Kristyn!!

It's so hard to believe that eleven years ago, our sweet, little black-haired baby was born!  Kristyn has been such a huge blessing to our family!!

Out of all our children, she has struggled most with moving to Guatemala, but over time, she has allowed God to really use her in different ways and in turn she has blossomed SO much!  We are so thankful for the ways that we see her allowing God to guide her steps.  She told us the other day that she wants to be a missionary teacher when she grows up.....a FAR cry from a few months ago, when all she wanted to do was "go home" with nightly buckets of tears.

Her birthday was on Sunday and I think she smiled the whole day long.  She said it was her best day ever.  I asked her what her favorite thing was in the last year and she said, "Youth Camp". Then I asked what she thought would be her favorite thing this coming year and she said "Helping in the school"

All the kids wanted to get her a gift, so she had a nice little stash.

"Aunt Mikah" (the missionary young lady here with us) gave her a water bottle.

Owen made her a card and gave her socks.....he was very proud of his card. ;)

Megan and Ashlyn made her a card and gave her a "free foot massage ticket"

She also got a box of pens, note pad, and sticky notes.  She was VERY happy with this gift.

She also got a pillow that she wanted.

This is how she spent the afternoon with her new pillow. :)

She wanted pudding with oreos instead of a cake.

We are so thankful for our girl and so happy she's part of our family!!

Thank you for helping us celebrate!!  :)

Pet Show, Special Birthday & Valentine's Day!

Yesterday, our sweet boy turned 8 years old!!  He has been such a wonderful part of our family.  Always offering a helping hand and a ready smile - or funny face, when you need it. :)

Owen and Daddy got up long before the sun did and went out for breakfast. :)  Owen said it was the best morning ever!!

As always, our dear neighbor, Mr. Carl spoiled Owen rotten. He brought down his cake, along with THREE gallons of ice cream, plates, napkins, plastic ware and a singing card....and cake pops.

Owen loved his cake!

Our little snow babies - notice they all have chapped lips from playing outside. :)

Silly, willy, Owen!!

This week has been spirit week at school. Owen wasn't too excited about not wearing his uniform (he doesn't like change - LOL) BUT then came camo day and he was all over that in a flash!

They also had a Pet Show at school.  Kristyn took a teachers hampster, Megan took a fish in a tupperware bowl and Owen took Patch. :D

And today is Valentine's Day!!  Mr. Carl had a dozen roses delivered for his "Three Princesses".  Of course, the girls were thrilled and they are truly BEAUTIFUL roses!! They are all different colors, because Megan likes rainbow, so he didn't want them all the same color - oy! Can you say spoiled rotten!?! LOL!!!

 Keith surprised me with roses.....I love them!!!

Hope your day is filled with HIS love!

Thanks for dropping in to check on us.

Ashlyn turns THREE!!!

Our sweet caboose turned the BIG 3 last Monday!  She is growing beautifully and too fast. :)   Our dear neighbor was so excited when he brought her down her birthday cake, flowers, card and gift.  He LOVES giving things to our children.

Ashlyn was beyond excited when we started singing to her - she was clapping and smiling and saying, "Happy Birthday to ME!"

 

A birthday isn't complete until a finger goes into the cake - then of course, licking the icing off the candle. 

Holding THREE fingers up is a hard thing to learn!

She loved every card and gift she got...she was one happy "Fwee" year old!

 

We love you, Sweet Baby!!!

A full, FUN week!

Last week was a delightful week, packed with fun and lots of love and smiles.

To start it off, Grandma and Papa came for a visit - always a treat - and brought along two cousins - double treat!  We all had gobs of fun - Thank you for coming, Momma and Pops!!! Come again soon!

Then we went to Misty's for the weekend and got to go on a field trip with their homeschool group.  The kids loved it!! 

Our Megan Joy turned 6 on Thursday and Mr. Carl ordered her 6 roses and a balloon to be delivered.

He also brought her a cake (which we took to Misty's to celebrate with the cousins) and of course it was a rainbow cake because Megan's favorite color is rainbow - LOL!!!!

Misty, my mom and I got a real treat and went to a ladies conference while the daddys watched over the kids.  Pictures of that coming very soon. :)

What a great week we had....one that won't soon be forgotten.   How was your week?

Birthday~Chick Day~Snow Day

We have had a fun week.  First of all, Grandma came and brought Megan back home. :)

She also brought Owen's birthday present - he wanted Lincoln Logs and she found a good Craigslist deal.

She also brought the kids Valentine cookies that she makes for them each year - and mom and dad, too.  They are SO tasty - Thanks, Mom! (Ignore Megan's hair - she had traveled all day - ha)

Then they had two days of school and we got......

Patch wanted out and quickly got covered in snow....

Two beautiful snow days!

It finally stopped today enough to shovel a path without it getting immediately covered again.

Today was also CHICK DAY at our house!!! These lovelies arrived at the post office this afternoon and we have enjoyed watching them.  We have 27 butchering chickens (we raised some last spring and it was a big help to our freezer, so we're doing it again) and we have 14 laying hens - I think there are a couple of roosters in there somewhere, too.

This evening it's been construction of Lincoln Log Village.

(In case you're wondering about Kristyn's hair - Wednesday was crazy hair day at school, so she wanted her hair crazy, BUT she also had a dentist appointment that day, so I didn't want to get any strange glares, so I did her hair in corn rows....the best part of that is, I don't have to comb it again all week. :)

How was your week?