Ice Skating

You have to be creative when you live in a land which is always winter and never Christmas. Two Saturdays ago, we drove 2 hours to a big city with a mall which has a skating rink AND a Christmas tree!

Our cute group by the Christmas tree in the mall!

I love this picture! Josiah is the one in the orange in back of Elijah! He's super limber so I'm curious if he actually fell or if he's just doing a trick :)

Fun times!

Elizabeth taking a break at the side. The skating was a bit chaotic with no one in charge, so you need a breather every now and then.

Ice cream after the skating! Yum!

This boy is a chocolate lover like his mom! We both got chocolate and raspberry. Nice!

Rainy days

It's been a rainy few weeks. Though I'm glad the sun has peeked through between the rain sessions. In fact, one day when we were walking the boys to school, H didn't even want to wear a coat it was so sunny. Thankfully she did because it downpoured on us within minutes after we dropped the boys off. We giggled and walked quickly home. Here are some other happenings on these rainy days...

A happy birthday party for Poppy and a happy un-birthday party for all of us.

B began a wonderful online class through Veritas Press. She had been doing the work on her own last semester, but this semester it's fun to have some discussions with classmates and a godly teacher. We are proud of her.

Building forts with pillows

Saxon math continues regardless of weather!

(His cool shirt choice is due to the fact that his others were dirty or still hanging up wet.

Yep, lots of rain!!)

Summer Snapshots

Cowboy J--I love the boots!

I love silhouettes. Especially of my kids.

JP had a pet grasshopper tied on a string. I love boys and their tricks.


And I love twirling princesses.


God's beautiful handiwork (observed by 2 tired but determined hikers!)

We have had a wonderful and busy time this summer visiting family and friends throughout the continental U.S. Remember that song, "From the Atlantic to Pacific, gee the traffic is terrific"--I almost feel qualified to attest that that statement is mostly true. We went from Cleveland to Oklahoma to Arizona, back to Oklahoma and now currently in Chicago. We thank the Lord for the people we have seen and hugged and eaten with and laughed together and gleaned from... I think that we know some of the greatest people in the whole world.

Bikes!!

This is the first time J has been on a bike and he's doing great!! Hopefully he'll learn how to brake soon...

Uncle Brian invited us to go on a bike outing with his middle school youth group. We had a really enjoyable time.

Ready to be pulled by Patrick the great.

We have been blessed by many families from Brian and Sara's church who have lent us bikes and also a mini-van to drive this month. Wow. Thank you!

Pictures of the last few days

A picture from our travels: Arriving at 6am in Paris, Patrick, our leader, found us some beach chairs! When I woke up I realized how many people passed within feet of this display and smiled at the sleeping children (and parents)! This rest prepared us for our over the ocean flight (which went fine).

Isn't Auntie Sara so cute?! She has been a wonderful hostess.

A fun day at the zoo with Grandpa. The kids especially enjoyed touching a sting ray and a shark! In my childhood, we fed baby goats and petted bunnies. Times are a changin'!

Packing and Goodbyes

So far she has packed 10 books, 2 pairs of socks, and a blankie!

I will dearly miss my sweet friend and househelper. Sniff.

Packing boxes double as mountains where dinosaurs and army men (!) roam