Silver Stars in Paris

My mother (and a friend) were in charge of organizing and decorating the Awards Banquet again for our school. The theme was Silver Stars in Paris and pictured above is my sister and her "date" (as friends!)

My father made an incredible back drop see above (don't have pictures of the whole thing - wish I did!) I guess the picture below shows you what happens in our family when my father has pushed himself way too far and is lacking a large amount of sleep....!

It's moments like this when it truly is a magnificent thing to change your last name to your husbands...people aren't as quick to connect you to your um...truly...um...unique parents....
Em, get hitched quick! j/k ..love you both! (goofy or sane!)

Next Stage

We've said a sorrowful
GOODBYE
to this....

And an excited
HELLO
to this....

(Pardon the couch on the porch. It has since found someone to let it inside!)

Here lies the next stage (or chapter, if you prefer) in our lives. The trailer gave a good start - all 6 1/2 yrs. We have yet to see how many memories we can make at this new house we now call home.

...the good, the true, the tender -- these form the wealth of home.
Sarah J. Hale

Silly Snake & Sniffer Scrunching

Mr. Curious and Mr. Helper

Shawn and I sat amused while listening to Ethan ask question after question. Finally Shawn told him, "Ethan, I don't want you to ask any more questions right now." To which Ethan replied, "Why not?"

A friend was over in the office with Shawn one evening and I had made cookies for the occasion. Landon was an excited deliverer of the cookies. He hurriedly put on his shoes and grabbed the cookie plate and headed out. Once over at the office, Shawn greeted a finger-lickin' Landon. Shawn figured he ate one on the way over. Upon looking at the cookies, Shawn discovered not only chocolate chips in the cookies but rocks were also there! Thirty seconds later there was a knock on the door. Landon quickly exclaimed: "Hewere's ano-ver cookie phor yuuu. It was in the rocks!"

4.12.09

Morgan in the hat my mom made for her(we added the accessories)...

"Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed."
When you have two older brothers, you end up using things for something totally different than what it was intended for...take this for example: Morgan's purse (normally used for holding things) became a twirling baton. Crazy girl!

"Live for today and not tomorrow,

Live for the now and what is here,
Stop living for what may be or what may never come,
Live for the day already here"

A Little Bit of Heaven on Earth

Shawn was wanting to make a trip to visit his grandparents (Earl & Betty Newton). After finding out that "now" would be the best time to go, we had less than a week to get ready and then we were off! It really was a terrific time...the boys enjoyed fishing, camping, four-wheeling and having countless Bible stories read to them by their great-grandparents. Morgan enjoyed the monkey that would make noise while kicking it legs, the very realistic snake (Eww!), and receiving extra attention. I enjoyed the sun, reading, Morgan's really long naps(!) and yummy food prepared by Shawn's grandmother and his Uncle David & Aunt Sharon. Shawn's Uncle Jeff stopped by for a visit, too. Also, Shawn watched the kiddos while Sharon and I went on a shopping spree for one day! Fun! Shawn and I were able to join the Newton's Youth Group when they were going ice skating. That was so relaxing! So, there you have it. Here is a taste (in photos) of what went down...the first couple photos are of the baskets filled with new goodies for the kiddos from my mom - complete with photo "name" tags...

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown
(Couldn't resist this quote...how fitting for the picture above! We love you, David!)

You don't choose your family.
They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.
~Desmond Tutu