garden of flowersgirl

2009-12-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

Madeline was a bit timid at first to try the sled run. But she finally warmed up to the excitement and went on 3 or 4 runs on the smaller snow hill.

This is her best friend at school, Eden, with whom she spends every recess and lunch pretending to be jaguars. I'm glad she has such a sweet friend.

Madeline is truly Mason's best friend. He just loves being around her. But he didn't really care about all the snow; he liked climbing on the big kids' play structure and throwing balls. He did get a run in, though.
Jay came to help shovel snow and at the end of the day he asked Mason if he'd like to sled. Mason agreed (ignorantly) and Jay took him to the top of the taller sled run. They started down and Mason was slipping all over the sled in between Jay's legs. But he loved it!

Mason's smile says it all at the end of the run. When Jay asked him how he liked it, Mason replied, "It was so fun!"

2009-12-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

Today was Madeline's Christmas party and Snow day (see pictures in next blog). Basically the Kindergarten's schedule was to have breakfast, play, decorate cookies and then teachers, play, have a visit from Santa, eat lunch, play and then go out to the snow. The kids had a blast!
This was a picture I took of the 3 of us at the party. Mason did a wonderful job of playing along with the kids or just reading books while the kids were busy doing something else. He was also my photographer; he took lots of pictures of the kids, their feet, the floor and the hanging decorations. We need to take a photography class.
This was Madeline's first time to ever sit on Santa's lap (that I can remember). She wasn't scared.
I have yet to ask her what she told Santa she wanted for Christmas, but my guess is that she asked for a doll whose eyes open and close. I wonder if she'll get it! :)
Well, the party is done and we're headed out to the snow. Who's excited?

Christmas performance

2009-12-18T19:32:00.000-08:00

Although this picture is quite dark you can still make out our main attraction. Madeline had two lines to say: "Please save your applause until the end. We hope you enjoy our show." She did super!
This is Mrs. McNeil, Madeline's teacher, introducing the play, "The Night Before Christmas," her class will perform.

This picture is of both Kindergarten classes singing. There are about 46 Kindergarteners at Legacy.

This is Legacy's principal, Matt Jackson. He is about my age (30 something)and does a stellar job at running the school. He is committed to seeing the children love Christ most of all, so he's #1 in our book.
I think this picture is darling. Brother and Sister really do love each other!

Kindergarten starts

2009-12-18T19:05:00.000-08:00

One of those snapshots of your life: your first child's first day of Kindergarten. Wow. It was fun, it was scary, it was all new but exactly what we expected. Madeline loves school and her wonderful teacher Mrs. McNeil.
Mason kept asking if he could get his backpack and go to school, too. Mom's not quite ready to have him leave the house yet, though.
One of the best days of school was when Gramma went with Madeline and helped in her classroom.
This is Gramma hard at work tracing and cutting those fabulous art projects the kids will work on. Thanks, Gramma.
Before school Madeline likes to play in the sand outside her classroom. I sure wish I could still squat down like that.

Grit, Grit, Grit

2009-07-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

Jay thought it would be a good idea to take the family to the beach in Oxnard. The kids had never been to the beach here, and the weather was beautiful. So, we loaded up the car and took off. The kids were so excited, and although the water was pretty chilly, they ended up wet all over.

What a great picture of Jay and the kids. Mason is so fair he looks like the cream between 2 vanilla cookies.

Most of the time, Jay would throw the football into the waves and the kids would wait for it to return and then retrieve it for him to throw again. They found this much more interesting than digging in the sand or building sandcastles.

Here's Mason trying to run from a wave.

And Madeline ran and ran and ran up and down the beach. She just loved trying to beat the waves to the shoreline.
Where's Mom? Well someone has to lay on the blanket and take the pictures!

Mason's Big-Boy Bed

2009-07-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

After nearly 3 months of waiting, Mason's bed finally arrived. It's beautiful and well made. We bought him a full-sized bed with a trundle because we anticipate that he will be very tall and need the space to stretch out. The bed will also be great for visitors (come on over!) and sleepovers for the kids.

This was one of the two guys who installed the bed. Here he is laying out the slat roll. They installed it in about 30 min; they knew exactly what they were doing.

The kids loved laying down all over the bed to see how comfy it was. They look so small on the bed now; I know that will change.

I wondered if Madeline was happier than Mason about the bed; she kept hugging him and kissing him.

Here's the happy boy; what a smiler.

My Mother, My Friend

2009-05-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

"There's nothing new under the sun." There's great encouragement in that truth, especially for young moms. As I look back over these pictures of my own dear mother doing for me what I'm attempting to do for my children, I see that, really, nothing has changed (except those diapers, of course). There is no invention, no super-duper deluxe machine that can replace or outdo what the touch of a mother's hand can do. And I am the wonder-filled child of a Mom who was excellent in all she did for me. What beautiful (high-heeled) shoes to fill! I thank the Lord for you, Mom. And I love you very much.

This was taken this past Christmas (2008). We're still the same Mom and Daughter...with a few more gray hairs. And we're knit together at heart.

There are so many things about Mom in this picture that haven't changed a bit over the years. She's still gorgeous, paints her nails, loves plants, and has stunning taste in furniture and decor (notice the number of textures in this room alone).

And we still love to have a hot cup of coffee together! Notice the candles; Mom still has her house filled with yummy-smelling candles.

I don't know how long it took to set this tea party up or how long it took to clean it up. But you'd never know it was ever an issue with this smile on her face. I wonder what was in that tea!

Mom, Steph and Chelle about 1976. I don't know if I was yawning or talking. Probably talking.

Chelle and I will debate about whose birthday it is, but since this is my blog, I will say it was my 2nd birthday. Of course, my mother made beautiful cakes...and made every celebration beautiful. She's beautiful, isn't she?

Of course, Mother's Day wouldn't be commemorated accurately if we didn't show the behind-the-scene work. Your labor wasn't in vain!

Something else that my mother has always done with excellence: food. I wish I'd inherited that gene. Every day, 3 times a day, she would prepare and feed me...and clean up my messes. That's TRUE love.

It's hard to tell which one screams louder: the baby or the couch. I actually love that ol' couch.

This was Mom at my baby shower. I had actually already been born, so I got to attend with her and get passed around to all the ladies. I think I still have some of the gifts that were given to us that day.

Neighborhood Egg Hunt '09

2009-04-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

This our third-annual neighborhood Easter egg hunt. There were about 40 kids ranging in ages from 6 months to 13 years. There were homemade treats, juice, fruit and snacks as well as activities like egg dying, races, and a friendly Dad's competition. The kids had a superb time and we came home ready for a nap! These were just a few of Madeline's eggs; she ended up with a full basket. Mason had great time picking up each egg, opening it, taking out the candy and throwing the empty egg back on the grass. Next year he'll understand better what the concept of an "egg hunt" is. The kids had 4 different buckets of color to choose from to dye their eggs. We put differing widths of rubber bands around our eggs before dipping them to create designs. To be honest, I was hoping Mason wouldn't remember how fun it is to throw eggs! I was in charge of handling them for this event. These were some of the kids. If you'll notice the poster hanging in the background, you will see how the hunt was regulated. We have so many little ones that it was important to allow them to find their own eggs without being trampled by the bigger kids. So, Mason found pink eggs, mostly scattered on the grass and path while Madeline found orange and green eggs hidden in and under the bushes. We have always had success with this method. And the older kids get to climb on structures and scale walls to get their eggs. What fun.

If you were to ask Madeline what the true meaning of Easter is she would readily tell you that it is NOT about eggs and bunnies. She would tell you that it is the day we celebrate Jesus' rising from the dead and that He died on the cross for our sins. Jay and I are amazed how the Lord can open the eyes of her understanding, even when she is so young. We continually pray that He will bless her and Mason with the faith that leads to salvation.

Ballerina Day

2009-04-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

These are most of the girls in Madeline's Faith Kids class. They received a 30 minute lesson from a young ballerina, Natasha.
Madeline's favorite part of the lesson was, of course, twirling.
The first thing the girls learned was how to have the proper stance. This includes keeping your heels together while spreading your feet into a V and your hands are held together but your arms are out as if you were holding a globe. It's a lot to remember.
Another part of the lesson from Natasha was learning how to balance on one foot. Ballerinas start developing this skill by holding on to a chair and then slowly letting go while balancing on that one foot or on their toes. It is actually quite difficult but the girls did well considering that all they really wanted to do was twirl.
This picture of Madeline sums up her opinion of "Ballerina Day". Could she be any more elated?

Fire Station Field Trip

2009-03-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

This was taken just outside the fire station here in Stevenson Ranch.

We all gathered around to hear some of the important things firemen do to help us. Madeline was reminded to call 911 for help if Mommy bumps her head and can't get up. Fireman Ryan says that one of the calls they get most are for people who have had an accident while using their cell phones. The new law hasn't affected people's ability to drive and talk...or text...at the same time.

Mason couldn't take his eyes off the trucks and firemen. His interest and attention span was better than some of our 4 year olds!

Fireman Ryan gave us an excellent tour through the paramedic truck, showing the kids all kinds of tools and bandages, gear and protective garments.

Included in the tools inside the paramedic truck were the jaws of life. Madeline kept her hands over her ears thinking Fireman Ryan was going to turn it on somehow.

This is the back of the paramedic truck 124.

Although Mason didn't get to do some of the activities that the class enjoyed, he did hang onto the side of the big firetruck.

Madeline learned that the driver of the firetruck is called the engineer.

What a precious pair!

All of the children had the chance to spray water with the fire hose and Madeline loved it!

This is our Faith Kids preschool class with a few siblings mixed in.

Power Tower presentation

2009-03-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

This is a video I shot a couple of days ago when the workers were working out on the power tower near our house. The helicopter had dropped off 5 guys and they were then receiving different tools, cables, walkways, etc. from subsequent helicopter deliveries. The kids were ecstatic and watched for almost an hour. I kept thinking that I was going to witness (and be filming) a major accident and make millions off my video! Oh well. They're all safe and sound.

To bed, my boy!

2009-03-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

This is Mason's new bed, still in its original bed clothes. In just a few days he will graduate from the comfort (and convenience) of his precious crib to that wide-open mattress, which may prove to be his own playground. We hope it will not eject him!

"We are so fond of one another, because our ailments are the same." Dean Swift

2009-03-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

Is this singular to Madeline or has she a model?

"Stop and let me tell you..." She's either of an executive disposition or will be an excellent traffic officer.

"Rancho Huevos" (thanks Kerry)

2009-01-20T22:09:00.001-08:00

I came downstairs this afternoon and found some unwelcomed surprises. First, Mason had emptied a full box of Kleenex onto the family room floor, throwing them up in the air like confetti. (Madeline had shown him how to do this just yesterday when she emptied a box of Kleenex herself.) Then he proceeded, down his path of destruction, to the kitchen where he found a full carton of eggs in the refrigerator. (Where was his mother when all this was happening??) He decided at some point to toss the eggs onto the tile floor, happily watching them splatter and ooze. You'll have to click on each picture to get the full affect of the scene. You can imagine my shock, amazement, disgust when I rounded the corner to see it all. I ended up having to call my friend, Kerry, to come and help me; I couldn't handle both bathing the children and scraping egg scramble off the floor and carpet.
Mason has no clue what he's done! He's just happily soaking in his egg whites. He wasn't happy for long...
It's a good thing we weren't having eggs for dinner.
Madeline was dancing blissfully among the yolks and shells. With her pants held up she reminded me of the I Love Lucy episode where Lucy does the grape crushing with her feet. I wish I could say I was laughing at this home episode. Where's my clean-up crew? Oh, yes..."Mrs. Fickett!" I'm having a nervous breakdown.

"Same Old World...But New"

2009-01-20T21:44:00.000-08:00

Last week, we had an appointment with Mason's optometrist and opthamologist. They both concurred that Mason needs glasses to hopefully correct some weakness in his eye muscles. He's slightly far sighted and he'll probably wear corrective lenses through childhood. They don't seem to affect his ability to play...or make messes...although he does ask to take them off when we snuggle or wrestle. All in all, it's been a good addition.
Mason calls his specs "sunglasses", which is accurate because, when he goes outside, the lenses transition into sunglasses.
Madeline thinks her brother looks handsome in his new glasses.

Mason's 2nd Birthday

2009-01-20T21:04:00.001-08:00

Charles Dickens once wrote: "O glorious to be a human boy!...
O running stream of sparkling joy
To be a soaring human boy!"

Well, the boy is growing up. Mason turned 2 on January 11th, and he hasn't stopped running. He's such a happy, affectionate boy, and every day he learns a new word or skill. Madeline teaches him so many things and is so encouraging ("Good job, Buddy Boy!"). We're so blessed.
As is our tradition, we woke Mason up singing "Happy Birthday" and then brought him downstairs to see his table of gifts. This year, his birthday landed on Sunday, which made it an early (and dark) morning, so he didn't open any gifts until after his nap that afternoon.
Our friends, the Ficketts, brought birthday treats and gifts. Mason would have gladly eaten every lollipop if I hadn't put them up. He calls them "Lolliops". Anyway, we've limited him to one per day.
Every year, UB (Uncle Bob) and Aunt Ava (Grandpa's sister and brother-in-law) send a card to Madeline and Mason on their birthday. They are so wonderful. We wish we lived closer to them and could spend time together. We love you!
Daddy helped Mason open his box from Grandpa and Gramma. I think Mason was hoping the knife was part of the gift! (He doesn't remember, but Daddy got him his first Buck knife last year.) He loved all the Hot Wheels and accessories.

Christmas 2008- Gramma and Grandpa's

2009-01-20T20:24:00.000-08:00

On December 26th, we boarded planes and flew from Houston into San Diego where we hopped in our car and drove 1 1/2 hrs. to El Centro, Jay's stomping grounds. Another Flowers' Family Reunion was scheduled to take place on December 30th, so we made sure to be there in plenty of time and hang out with Jay's extended family.
One of my favorite people in the world is my sister-in-law, Vicki. She's a breath of fresh air for me. And we just laughed and shopped and hung out the whole time. The more time I spend with her the more time I want to spend with her! Hey, Vic, when are you guys moving to California?
On the day of the reunion, everyone sat under the car port and jammed. There were guitars, ukuleles, egg shakers, and more. Of course, there had to be a conductor. Madeline debuted. It was a fabulous afternoon of singing old favorites, country tunes and gospel hymns.
Gramma was busy the whole visit. From cooking to cleaning, changing diapers to Mason's first pee-pee on the potty, rocking babies to teaching Mason how to ride his tricycle, cooking to cooking, to cooking, to cooking. Whew! I'm exhausted just remembering all the work she did! Way to go, Gramma! We'll be back down when Madeline has to pull her first tooth.
There's only one place we all crave for authentic Mexican food in El Centro: Celia's. There's nothing like a special quesadilla, fresh guacamole, and hand-rolled tacos. YUM!
Not all of the Flowers family is pictured here, but this is a great number of them. We're all kind of mixed up, not standing with our spouses or kids. But we know who belongs to whom. At least, most of the time, anyway. Great reunion and Christmas celebration, Grandpa and Gramma!

Christmas 2008- Poppy and Mimi's

2009-01-20T19:46:00.000-08:00

After our winter weekend in Somerville, we headed down to Houston for a few days of Christmas with Poppy and Mimi.
Christmas morning was a wonderful blend of gifts and food, hugs and pictures. Poppy got a new cashmere sweater to match his eyes; if he treats it well, he can pass it down to Mason, whose eyes also match the sweater.
One of Madeline's projects this year was to save the money she earned from making her bed and helping around the house in order to buy a present for each person in the family. She took her jar of coins to the store and went down each aisle, looking for and selecting the perfect gift to be wrapped up and given out. For Mimi, she chose a Snapple candle with a lemonade scent.
Before all the gifts were opened, Madeline and Mason snuggled in front of the tree.
Dad's big project this Christmas was to trim some trees and clear some of the undergrowth behind his house. He got a new chainsaw from Mimi for his last birthday and he was eager for Jay to use it. So, the guys spent hours outside doing manly work...which actually was quite rewarding. Jay hasn't asked me for a chainsaw yet, but it may not be too far down his list.
I didn't ask who took this picture. But it's an interesting view!

Christmas 2008- Grammie and GrandBud's

2009-01-20T12:22:00.000-08:00

We arrived at Grammie and GrandBud's house on a Friday afternoon; it was a beautiful afternoon in Somerville, TX, and the kids played their hearts out on the wrap-around porch. The temperature dropped from 73 on Friday to 40 on Sunday. We weren't quite sure from day to day what to wear or when.
GrandBud, Madeline, Grammie and Mason all snuggly on the front porch.
One of Mason's gifts was a wooden car that zoomed on the smooth wooden floors at Grammie's. I'm glad it was too small to carry him or he would have torn the place down, ripping around the corners!
It has been our family tradition (like many families) to make and decorate gingerbread boys during the holidays. I remember doing it with all my cousins around Thanksgiving. And Grammie wanted to carry on that tradition by having the gingerbread boys available for Madeline to decorate. So, if you strain your eyes to see what's under all the frosting and sprinkles, you'll know what Madeline's eating. Mason did enjoy a few bites, too, but the real fun is in the decorating. Next year.
Madeline and Mason were very content to open each of their gifts slowly and play with each toy for a while before they opened another one. However, when it was time for the adults to open their gifts, the kids were hard to hold back; they were too excited to see what we were getting. I think that will probably change in the next couple of years, so we enjoyed their passivity this year.
I love this picture of the two kids. They were just content. Content to be at Grammie's. Content to be on the porch. Content to have only each other to play with. I'm glad I was able to capture that one second in time!

Christmas 2008- Our house

2009-01-20T11:50:00.000-08:00

Because we visited all our family both in Texas and in California this year, we celebrated our own Christmas on December 16th. The kids were so excited and enjoyed each of the gifts.

Mason has caught the airplane "fever". He knows that most of the planes that we see over our house are either flying into Van Nuys or Burbank. Smart boy!
Grammie and GrandBud gave them the train set, which has afforded hours of playtime for us all.
The Lord has given us two precious gifts and each day seems to afford new surprises with them. So, it's Christmas every day at our house!

Ice Skating with Faith Kids

2008-11-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

Our Faith Kids class had a field trip to the local ice rink today. Madeline was excited, although tentative about actually skating on the ice. I reassured her that all the children would be learning how to skate, and most of the mommies, too. We were about to walk in the door for our icy adventure.

The ice rink provided these "helpers" for first-time skaters. We were so thankful for some stability, and Madeline only fell once the whole day.

There was a wonderful pile of ice shavings provided for the kids to play in. They could make snowballs or just enjoy throwing the snow at each other. Madeline spent a good portion of the time here not even aware of how wet her clothes were getting.

Here's our little skater. She did really well.

The kids were ready for their much anticipated snack break of hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies. I consoled myself, while gobbling up my cookie, that I had burned enough calories on the ice to indulge with the kids. Is that willful ignorance?

Reformed...for the evening

2008-11-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

This year Madeline dressed up as a sunflower and Mason went out as a spider. Our theme was "Things You Find in a Garden".

Every garden needs a scarecrow...and of course a gardener.

Jay played tricks on some of the neighborhood kids. As they reached down for their treats from the basket, he "woke up" and scared them. Some of them ran away crying. It was fantastic! By far, he was the best looking scarecrow I've ever seen...or kissed for that matter!

More Pumpkin Patch pics

2008-10-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is Madeline and her classmate, Kelly. Too cute.

There was a long, wooden train that all the kids were climbing on and through. Madeline is pictured here on the caboose.

There were no tears about getting on this pony! Madeline was elated about her ride and she kept affectionately petting her pony telling him, "Good job, Pony."

"Where we're headed, nobody knows." Madeline on the wooden train.

Pumpkin Patch field trip

2008-10-21T13:25:00.001-07:00

On Monday, October 20, 2008, our Faith Kids preschool class went to Underwood Family Farms and pumpkin patch. They had sunflower fields, gourds, livestock, organic vegetables, play structures and of course, pumpkins. All the kids had a great time and Madeline was a delight...and delighted.

Our group was just about to embark on the tractor trailer ride through the farm.

Every child got to choose a Sugarbaby pumpkin upon completing the trailer ride. Madeline's was tall with a nice stem.

The kids loved climbing up and down this haystack. Of course, some of the more aggressive ones would have started playing "King of the Hill" if we weren't watching.

These are just a few of Madeline's classmates, all sweet children.

We rode down to the Farm with this gal, Savannah, and her mom. Madeline and Savannah hung out together most of the day and will be great pals in school.

Whitney

2008-09-16T01:50:00.000-07:00

Steph and Whitney in 2006

Whitney in 2006

Whitney in 2007, right before she left for Albania

Whitney in 2007

Some of you may know of my niece, Whitney, and the accident she had with her right eye about 2 weeks ago. Whitney is 9 and lives in Albania with my sister, brother-in-law and their other 3 girls. Please pray for her. Although she returned from the hospital in Turkey with a somewhat-recovered eye, the eye has worsened. My sister and bro-in-law are working now (Tuesday, Sept. 16) to get her to a hospital, preferably in London or Houston. We are confident that God is not only NOT surprised by this news, but this has been His plan all along. We are also steadfast in our faith that the God who created Whitney's eye can heal it by a word from His mouth, if He deems it best. So, we are not despairing or wavering in our commitment to God's goodness or sovereignty. We have another opportunity to trust Him, plead with Him for little Whitney, and be at rest that He will direct our steps.

Whitney in 2004

Whitney in San Diego in 2004

In Houston in 2006

Whitney in 2004

Whitney in Montgomery, TX in 2004

Whitney at home in TX in 2006

Ready for school in 2006

2008-09-13T19:50:00.000-07:00

In mid-August, my dad and his wife took our family and Amanda's two sons (including a friend) to a friend's house in Carmel. We were overwhelmed by the beauty of the house as well as the coast. We all enjoyed 6 days together, playing games and having devotionals. What memories!
This photo was taken several years ago but gives you an accurate perception of the house's happy situation, not to mention its grandeur.

This is the view of the front porch from the front entry of the house. It was lush with plants and beautiful hydrangeas.

You can see the house from the back deck, here.

It was hard not to just sit and try to take in the vast beauty and reckless coastline of the ocean. We enjoyed mild weather and glorious sunsets.

You can see Amanda's older son, Sean, on one of the top decks, and Ryan, Amanda's younger son, in the foreground. Every room had it's own balcony that overlooked the ocean.

Celebrating Kate

2008-09-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

Kate's Mom, Sheri, put on the most delightful birthday for Kate and her friends. It was a "breakfast tea in your pajamas" with the cake being a stack of Belgian waffles. There was watercolor painting and frozen yogurt popsicles, too. Madeline just loves her best friend, Kate.

How Many Candles Do You Count?

2008-09-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our dear friend's birthday, belatedly, at the end of July. (Belatedly would be the key characteristic of my blog.) She looks more beautiful every year! And we're blessed to be a part of her life, to be called her friends.

Reality Check

2008-09-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

You know those moments when you realize something monumental is happening in your life? Yesterday was one of those moments for me. Madeline started preschool. Our little girl is growing up! As for the preschool, it's a co-op program where I will attend school with her (and actually be her teacher for Lesson time) at a local church. We're really looking forward to our special school time with each other. And I guess we'll be growing up together, too.

P.S. I know I haven't posted any pictures from our summer. I hope to do that before the end of the year!

Not Pictured: The Delight of My Heart

2008-05-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

On May 14th, Salem Communications held a dinner at The Four Seasons hotel in Thousand Oaks. The key-note speaker was John, and Salem gave a copy of his latest book, A Tale of Two Sons, to each person. The president of Salem is Ed Atsinger, the father of my college friend, Ted. (We were on the same short-term mission trip to Italy in 1996. Ted finished at TMC and went on to study at Oxford where he met his wife. Now he's working for the Department of Defense doing undercover missions in Iraq.)

John's 25 minute message was on being a slave to Christ. It was foundational...and one of the best messages I've ever heard.
As wonderful as it was to hear John, I think the best part of the evening was being with Jay. He is so proficient, so masterful and adept at his work, and truly admired by fellow workers; I was bursting with pride and love for him. I mean, I've always known how amazing he is; I was glad to see how many other people are aware of it, too.

MOPS Mother's Day dinner

2008-05-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

Pictured here are my table leader, Bonnie, and me, and my mentor mom, Debbie. Bonnie's husband is attending The Master's Seminary; they have 2 preschool-aged boys. Debbie works in the medical field and has 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. We've had a wonderful time ministering to each other this semester.

This is my friend and college dorm-mate, Joy. We were both surprised to find ourselves reunited at MOPS and sharing most of the same trials and triumphs of raising preschoolers. She and her husband both attended The Master's College and still attend Grace Community Church. They have 2 beautiful children.

Our key-note speaker at the Mother's Day dinner was Pat Holt. I was shocked to discover that she was a former employer of mine! When I was a senior in college, I wanted some substituting experience in a Christian school. I interviewed with her at West Valley Christian Academy in Winnetka. She not only hired me the same day, but asked me if could serve in one of the Kindergarten rooms...right then! She'd had a teacher call in a few minutes before I had my interview. So I can't say for certain that she hired me for my potential; she was just desperate! Anyway, she is an outstanding speaker, funny and poinant. We had a great time that night.

Blue-eyed Boy

2008-05-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

Jay took this picture of Mason while we were playing outside. Mason wasn't too happy about having to stop what he was doing (destroying) to look at Daddy.

Misc. Pictures of Madeline

2008-05-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

I just love this picture of Madeline and Aunt Connie at Ruby's Diner in Cabazon! Madeline was just elated to be there...and was soon to indulge in that chocolate milkshake. That always makes me smile, too!

Madeline decided to dress herself this particular morning. She was upstairs for about 20 minutes and came down just bursting with delight. Notice how well everything matches! :) And she didn't forget to accessorize. That's my girl!

Jay and I were impressed with Madeline's representation of Gramma on the white board. She concentrated much of her energy into drawing the glasses and curly hair. I was concerned that there wasn't any nose, but that didn't seem to bother her.

We had a record-breaking heat wave pass through Valencia this week. With 103 degree heat, water play was almost necessary! So, we had some water balloon fights and ran through the sprinkler that we set up in our cul-de-sac. Madeline is pictured here with our friend and neighbor, Jadin.

2 Weeks of Bliss

2008-04-25T23:14:00.000-07:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

You will want to pause the music while viewing this Scrapbook of Madeline and Mason's visit to Gramma and Grandpa's house.

First Big Day at Gramma's

2008-04-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

This was M&M's first full day of their vacation at Gramma and Grandpa's house. Madeline told me this afternoon that she had a dream about coming home but didn't want to. I interpreted that to mean she's having a great time! We're all enjoying the break!

Easter 2008

2008-03-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

You will want to pause the music before you view this scrapbook.

Little Bunny Foofoo?

2008-03-10T19:52:00.000-07:00

Grammie sent Madeline these adorable bunny ears! She's just had a bath and is sitting on her bed reading books wearing her new ears. Thank you Grammie!

The Playmate Song

2008-03-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

You will want to pause the music before you view this video.

Salvation Mountain

2008-03-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

This was an amazing...no, bewildering...no, outrageous...um, indescribable sight. This man-made mountain, located just outside Niland, CA, was constructed out of adobe and painted with myriad colors. The builder/artist, Leonard Knight, wanted to create a visual display of "outsider art" which includes Bible verses, the sinner's prayer and the Lord's prayer. He continues to add on to the mountain, constructing "caves" and walk-throughs which are also painted and exhibit his theme of "God is Love". Visit his website, http://www.salvationmountain.us/ if you're interested in seeing more of his work.

Our group was on the "golden road" up the mountain to catch a spectacular view of the sunset.

Father and son...a sweet moment. We went to look at "art" but found ourselves marveling at God's brilliant display of His own designs: the clouds look whispery and ideally painted on a canvas of blue, the sunset reflecting colors of orange, yellow and pink on our faces. Now that's beautiful!

This a full view of the original Salvation Mountain; the newest additions are off to the right and pictured below with Jay.

You can see how Leonard builds his caves. He literally uses wood, hay and stubble as the foundation for his walls and then paints over them. And you can witness the frailty of such resources as they have tried to keep walls from cracking and crumbling. What excellent imagery for I Corinthians 3:12-13, "Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident..."

Flowers, Ficketts and the Fair

2008-03-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we relished some time with our dear friends and family in El Centro. We attended the city's annual Winter fair where funnel cakes, caramel corn, jumbo corndogs and cotton candy abound.

If only I had taken a video of this moment! This particular cow was mooing his heart out. Bill was demonstrating for the cow how to make dulcet sounds. All these cows (and pigs, sheep and goats) were being judged at the fair. The winners received ribbons and funding to continue their care of the animal.

Poor Madeline. She's going to think that all barns smell good, and all pens are spotless. What she needs is a good six months on a dairy farm!

One of the rides Madeline enjoyed was on a jumbo Dumbo. It is similar to the Dumbo ride at Disneyland, but with less restraint and more electrical cords showing. Right after this ride, the wind started blowing and cut short our fun day at the fair.

Pre-Reader

2008-03-04T11:40:00.000-08:00

Madeline loves this book so much, she has memorized it and "reads" it to Mason. It is Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle.

Happy 42nd, Daddy!

2008-02-22T07:57:00.000-08:00

You will want to pause the music before you view this video.

We celebrate you today, Jay, an unequalled daddy and my beloved husband.

No need for one; he is one!

2008-02-21T14:22:00.000-08:00

You will want to pause the music while you view this video.

This morning, Madeline saw Mason take his first steps and informed me that he was walking. At first I thought she meant he had taken one step, which he's been doing for a few days now. But she was insistent that he had taken three or four steps. When I turned around, he walked toward me...and I got to see him pass this milestone. I'm so thankful for video! Aren't you?

Our Valentine

2008-02-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

We celebrated this morning with a fun breakfast (heart-shaped pancake with whipped cream, chocolate chips and strawberries) and a new book. Madeline doesn't quite understand why we're giving each other cards or eating yummy things, but she's enjoying the ride (or should I say sugar high). What she does understand is that we can show love to one another because Jesus first loved us and showed us how to express our love for others. That makes today all the more sweet.

Mason Makes His Mark

2008-02-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

Our coffee table before Mason and the wooden ice cream toy...

Our table after Mason and the wooden ice cream toy. What will Daddy say when he comes home from work? (It won't be, "Good boy, Mason!")
Well, Daddy came home and saw the damage. Much to my surprise, he said, with great disappointment, "Oh well. I guess that goes along with having kids." Do you think now would be a good time to tell him I put a dent in the car door? :)

A Sunshiney Day in February

2008-02-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

We have renamed our daughter. She is no longer Madeline; she is Stands With A Smile.

Mason is such a cutie. He loves being at the park. And although he didn't venture far from the blanket at first, he soon lost all reserve and ended up climbing on Madeline's tricycle. Before we know it, he'll be opening his own bank account.

Madeline helped her community today. She took a wet wipe and cleaned off all the bark and dirt at the bottom of the slide so the kids at the park wouldn't get their clothes dirty. She's a girl after my own heart!

If only he would stay this young...and clean. A mom can wish, can't she?

Let Them Make Cake!

2008-02-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

These are my beautiful students who managed to sit through over 4 hours of instruction and still laugh and listen and then produce spectacular cakes. Brava, ladies!

Of course, what would a Wilton frosting recipe be without Crisco?

Voila! The "Christmas" cake, as Amanda coined it. I think it looks great in her signature grey/blue shell border and red tri-dots.

Amber was ready to chow down! But she refrained and let others enjoy the beauty of her hard work. And she has a funny story that accompanies the green balloon behind her. When you see her, ask her about it.

Jen was about to drop this cake it became so heavy with frosting. She did a fantastic job of smoothing out the frosting and then decorating it herself. Well done!

Our beautiful girl

2008-01-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

What a precious sweetheart Madeline is! She so often shows a heart full of gratitude, which is the foundation for a life of serving others with joy. I pray that the Lord will confirm this attitude in her and make her an effective tool for His use.

I Thought You'd Graduated

2008-01-17T12:20:00.000-08:00

I sent Madeline into Mason's room this morning when I heard him awake and playing in his bed after his nap. I entered to find a baby and a monkey! And if Mason learns as quickly as I think he will, we'll have to find a canopy for the crib to keep the new monkey in!

E.T.?

2008-01-17T09:04:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure who put whom in the animal basket, but Mason sure fits the part!

The Birthday Boy

2008-01-15T16:32:00.001-08:00

We took Mason to Denny's for his birthday breakfast. This was one way to get a picture of all four of us together.

Isn't this is a great shot of Jay and Mason? This is one of my favorites. We ordered the "alien" pancakes for Mason and he gobbled up the whipped cream, although he didn't care for syrup on his pancake.

The Denny's staff was very sweet and they brought Mason a bowl of ice cream with a candle in it and then they all sang their special birthday song to him. He was quite amused by the whole production. I was glad we got a pretty good picture of our family during it all.

Happy birthday, Buddy!

Another great shot of Mason and Daddy. Jay has taught Mason to put his hand (or whatever toy he happens to be holding) up to his ear when he says, "Hello". I guess Jay has high hopes of his son becoming a telemarketer. Anyway, that's what Mason is doing in this picture.

And, the Party

2008-01-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

This was Mason's cake: chocolate cake with Swiss buttercream frosting. The brown swirls were made from pressed milk chocolate.

This was the cake in-progress. I didn't really know what I was going to do for the decorations on the cake and so I made it up as I went along. This is not the most time efficient way to work, but it all got done in time for the party.

Mason just loves his party hat, can't you tell? It's funny, he'll wear any other type of hat, but when I put this one on his head, he just cried and cried. Well, we needed more table decorations anyway!

This was Mason's entrance to the party place (aka. the garage). Jay brought him down all spiffy and he was ready to celebrate!

And this is it...garbage bins and all. With a few balloons and Chinese lanterns the place cleans up real nice. It really was perfect for our little get together, and the birthday boy didn't complain once. Now, we might hear something different when he grows up and realizes his first party was in the garage. Although I have it on good authority that guys prefer to be in the garage than almost anywhere else in the house!

Mason's Birthday Friends

2008-01-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

This is Kate, Madeline's best girl friend. They made "berry pies" all evening, picking the berries from a bush outside our garage.

This is Kerry, my very dear friend and confidante.

Two sweet neighbor gals, Jadin and Brodie, are always offering their able hands to play with the kids in the cul-de-sac. They are extremely entrepreneurial, sending out fliers to offer their service as cleaners, babysitters, and even offering back massages.

The boys in the foreground are Cooper and Campbell. What good friends they are to Madeline and Mason! They have learnt well from their parents what it is to be faithful friends.

And so the party was well attended with all those loved ones (minus family) we hold dear.

Christmas 2007

2008-01-15T10:02:00.001-08:00

Jay gave Madeline her first scooter for Christmas. It's the old fashioned Radio Flyer with 3 wheels. He also included in her gift a helmet, knee, and elbow pads, for those inevitable spills. She likes riding it, although she has to build up her leg muscles and coordination a bit more.

Madeline also received a set of new, dramatized Bible stories on cd. I replaced her broken boombox with a new one, and Grammie and GrandBud gave her some new stories to listen to. She is fascinated with the account of Noah's Ark and keeps it on "repeat" all night. I guess it's better to hear the screaming of folks left outside the ark than Britney Spears' latest disc. (I could make an unsavory comment here, but I won't.)

If you click on the above picture, you'll see Mason's first knife. Jay thought it wouldn't be too early to get his son started on a knife collection. And his first one should be a Buck. Mason's been having fun cutting up the carpet, some of his stuffed animals, and his sister's hair!
(Do you really think we'd open the package yet?)

Mason is a very curious little guy. He loved watching Madeline open her gifts and play with them as opposed to playing with his own gifts.

But Mason does love to play with balls of all shapes and sizes...and textures. This "hairy" ball is one of his favorites, sent to Madeline and him by their cousins in Alaska, Luke and Niccole.

These are certainly not all of our Christmas pictures. I have yet to filter through them all and I will eventually add the best ones of our time in El Centro with our sister-in-law, Vicki, and her boys, Caleb and Asa. We all spent the holiday with Gramma and Grandpa. If you visit Jay's blog (see the link in the margin), you can watch a video he made with the boys. We had such a great time! Thanks, family, for giving us such wonderful memories.

Thanksgiving 2007

2008-01-14T16:10:00.000-08:00

I love this picture of the King and lil' prince. I just can't say it with more sincerity: Jay is the best Daddy to our children. They are so blessed to witness his model of integrity and tenderness.

Although the picture is a bit blurry, you can certainly make out our smiles. Jay may have sacrificed his presence in the photo but he was sure to keep his seat at the table and indulge in our tasty feast. He made is annual cornbread dressing, which was by far his best batch yet. And of course, we couldn't have Thanksgiving without Cherry Coke Salad. And, yum-yum, Mimi's mashed potatoes were sensational! I know all my readers probably have warm, wonderful memories that they are recalling of their Thanksgiving celebration. But we delighted in God's lavish provision of comfort, bonding relationships, laughter, and spiritual discussions...not to mention the After-Thanksgiving shopping spree! What a kindhearted, unsparing and generous God is ours!

Thanksgiving fun

2008-01-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

Before picking Poppy and Mimi up from the FlyAway station, Jay took Madeline to Van Nuys Airport. She rode her tricycle down their "runway" and had a grand time with Daddy.

Mimi loved feeding Mason...and Mason loved having a new face to watch as he ate. Amanda is so good at keeping him preoccupied with her fun voices and faces that he eats all his food before he knows it!

Poppy and Mimi brought Madeline some dress up accessories: a fuzzy tiara, a pink tutu, and a "glass" purse that included a brush, mirror and a set of sparkly rings. She loves being the princess, and I don't mind as long as she knows who's queen!

Mason got a monster truck that's soft on the outside but has a "voicebox" that rumbles and growls and sounds just like a real truck. He's not sure whether to cuddle with it or run from it!

And of course our celebration wouldn't be right without some story time with Poppy. Madeline looks like she's found the perfect recliner...although I don't think he'd like to be called a La-Z-Boy.

...well, a couple of tricks.

2007-11-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

At first, Madeline didn't quite understand the whole knock-on-the-door-and-they-give-you-candy idea. She simply followed Campbell and Cooper around to each house. After about 30 minutes, though, she caught on to the scam. No matter what costume she was wearing, whether or not she said "Trick-or-Treat", or if she looked scared by the decorations, the person behind the door would reach their hand into a large bowl of candy and hand her several. She was delighted! Her cavity pot was getting heavier and heavier to carry. That's why we came along, actually. Soon, she was outrunning the boys to get to the next house.

At this particular house, she looked up and saw a large, hairy spider hanging from the eaves. She wasn't quite sure what to think. After she rang the doorbell, and no one answered (to her chagrin), she knew exactly what to think: "I've been tricked!" Later, she told me and Jay that she got "a little frustrated" when she knocked and they didn't answer.

I'm surprised Mason wasn't giving me a scornful look. "They dressed me up in this silly thing, and I don't even get any candy!"

We really did have a great time. It's wonderful to see how big and spooky our family is getting each year.

All Treats, No Tricks

2007-11-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

This Reformation Day we went out and plundered the egyptians. We joined our friends, the Ficketts, who live near several streets where they do it up big for Halloween.
The "Pirates" house is always our favorite.

Campbell dressed up as a swamp creature and Cooper donned his Darth Vader costume. Of course, Bill and Kerry looked fresh from the kitchen in their chef's attire; Notice what lurks under Bill's hat, hailing a recent animated movie. Kerry informed Jay and me that we are required to dress up next year. I thought we were dressed up: a working dad and a housewife with 2 kids.

Neighborhood Harvest Party

2007-11-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

Several families from our subdivision hosted a Harvest Party for the kids. They had games like "Mummy Wrap", a cupcake walk, and a wishing well (hook a bag of treats). They also provided activities like making magnets, face painting, pumpkin decorating, and coloring. And of course we had food; the parents provided lots of yummy dishes like: vegetable soup, pizza, chips and homemade salsa, croissant wraps, chocolate-dipped pretzels, cupcakes and lots of candy. Madeline and Mason wore their costumes; Madeline was a buzzy, bumble bee and Mason was her "Hunny" pot. They were adorable! Although we did get some needed rain during our festivities, it didn't dampen the spirits of anyone there.

Could it be? I'm 33!

2007-10-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

)

For my 33rd, Jay took me to our favorite Italian restaurant, Sicily. We had a great meal (Italian quesadilla filled with mozzerella, pine nuts, basil, chicken and sundried tomatoes topped with a creamy tomato pesto sauce, a green salad with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts, and the angel hair pomodora with fresh tomatoes. Of course I couldn't leave without indulging in their crispy, sweet-cream filled, chocolate-dipped cannoli. I think I packed on 33 lbs., one for each year of my life! Then we attended a local High School football game with our friends Bill and Kerry and their two boys. The game ended in a tie and was a nail-biter at the end. (Notice the beautiful October moon we had lighting up our sky.) A thrilling end to a remarkable year. Truly, the Lord has crowned me with lovingkindness and compassion, and satisfied my years with good things so that my youth is renewed like the eagle (Ps. 103:4-5).

Oh, the Places We'll Go

2007-10-25T11:43:00.001-07:00

Mason is now my little stair climber. If I don't hear him playing somewhere downstairs, I know he's happily taking himself upstairs. I have long-since forgotten the fun of climbing stairs, but for him, each ascension is an accomplishment. We have not yet covered the descent, which I'm sure he'll enjoy just as much...and perform twice as fast. Each day has enough trouble of its own!

Shiny, Happy People

2007-10-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

I'm so thankful to the Lord that He gave us 2 joyful children. They make each other laugh...and of course it's contagious; Jay and I find ourselves laughing right along with them. Madeline is trying out all her silly faces (imitating Mack on Cars) and Mason thinks they are hillarious. Isn't God good and creative to give us a sense of humor? I wonder what makes Him laugh.

Santa Baby

2007-09-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

Our family has matching stockings; maybe you do, too. Because this is Mason's first Christmas, we had to order his stocking and it came in the mail a couple of days ago. Jay opened the box and called Mason over to him. When Jay realized the stocking was almost as tall as Mason, he packed him inside. What a darling stocking stuffer! I'm not sure he'll hang securely from the mantle, though.

Little House Under the Barstool

2007-09-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

Madeline often pretends that she has her own little house under our barstools. And lately, Mason has been joining in the fun. Sometimes he will crawl over, pull up on the bars and stand up. But then he realizes that he can't get down and he cries for help. Yesterday, he crawled up inside the barstool and sat there contentedly while Madeline played house with him. He didn't interact much but he had fun gnawing on the bars and watching his sister talk and make "pancakes".

Grandpa, will you bring us your tools?

2007-09-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

I walked in to get Mason up from his nap today and, boy, was he up. This was the first time he has stood up by himself in his crib and, by his expression, he didn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation. It was just at the beginning of August that Grandpa lowered the crib some because Mason was getting up on his knees. Now we will have to lower his bed to its lowest setting before Mason starts to crawl out of it.

No Butter or Syrup

2007-09-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

I'm constantly amazed how much growth takes place in Mason's life in just one month! Just a few weeks ago he gagged when trying to eat small bits of cereal. Now he's snarfing down pancakes! It took him a while to get the food pried out of his fingers and into his mouth, but he quickly saw the advantage of loosening his digits. Hmm...gone are the days of a clean highchair tray, but I'll gladly wash it while trying to grasp these beloved moments of his development. By the way, if you click on the bottom picture to enlarge it, you can see his first two (bottom) teeth that came through on Sept. 5 and 15. We just praise the Lord for such a beautiful, maturing baby boy.

Where's Waldo?

2007-09-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

Madeline loves to give Mason toys to play with when he's in his crib. Sometimes she overdoes it but he doesn't seem to mind.

Swing (S)low, Sweet Chariot

2007-09-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

Today was Mason's first trip in the swing at the "big" park. Our neighborhood park doesn't have a swing, but the park about 2 miles away does, so Madeline always wants to visit that one. Mason seemed to enjoy himself. What do you think?

My best friend, Kate

2007-08-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

Madeline has a playdate with a neighborhood friend almost every week. This week, they played in their pretty dress up clothes, rode the tricycle and car, and drew with chalk out in our cul-de-sac. Sometimes they paint, play store, draw on the whiteboard or go to the park. We love having Kate come to our house because she is so sweet, loves Jesus and is a good influence on Madeline.

Not ready for the hard stuff

2007-08-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

I tried giving Mason his first piece of cereal the other day. He seemed ready, even excited to eat it. Then, he realized there was something foreign in his mouth and started gagging. He not only spit out the cereal but some of his previously enjoyed breakfast. Oh well; we'll try again next week.

Ready? Set...Action!

2007-08-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

Madeline experienced her first movie in the theater yesterday. I say "experienced" because the volume was up so loud you felt like you were in the movie, not just watching it. We saw the VeggieTales, "Jonah", and enjoyed popcorn and Junior Mints. I confess I brought in my own juice boxes. Mason enjoyed watching about 30 minutes of the movie before nodding off; I couldn't believe he slept through all that noise! Anyway, it made me remember seeing my first movie in the theater (The Fox and the Hound). Madeline did much better than I did: no sobbing, no leaving the theater, no nightmares about howling pups and frantic foxes. I guess she's more mature than I was. Well, if you can remember what your first movie was, leave a comment and we'll reminisce together.

The Party

2007-07-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

We had a somewhat successful celebration last night for Madeline. All the decorations, food, and activities came off beautifully. Unfortunately, the guest of honor was scraped up and sad. About 5 minutes before everyone showed up to the party, Madeline fell twice and hurt both her knees. By the time we were ready for her to blow out her candles, she was too emotional to enjoy the singing and festivities. So, all her little friends blew out her candles for her. She did, however,

enjoy a big helping of cake and ice cream. Oh well; there's always next year!

Last Swim Lesson

2007-07-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the end of a couple of things for Madeline. She said goodbye to being 2 and she had her last swim lesson. Even though she was glad to be done with her lessons, I know she will enjoy the fruit of her labors for years to come as she improves her new swimming skills. One of the last tasks Madeline practiced was swimming with her coverup on so she would know how it feels to be weighed down with extra clothing if she accidentally fell in or was pushed. She did great! Thank you, Miss Barb, for all your good teaching!

Madeline's cake in progress

2007-07-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

Here a few pictures of our cake-making process yesterday. I decided to make a 3 tiered, chocolate fondant cake. Under the fondant is either chocolate or white buttercream frosting. Not too decadent. So, to cut the sweetness, I added solid chocolate flip flops to a couple of the layers. We'll also have ice cream for those folks who need something cold with their cake. A friend from across the street, Brodie who's 11, came over to help me make the colorful chocolate flip flops that will decorate the cake. She was a true help! Her mom, Gaynor, also helped me with Mason. She is always a willing babysitter when I need one. I'm still making some decisions about the rest of the decor for the cake, but it'll get done...it has to.

Madeline's 3rd Birthday (Morning)

2007-07-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

This morning started early: 5:55AM. Madeline was up putting on her chapstick and waiting for one of us to make some sounds so the day could start. It has been and will be a day of celebration for her. She ate her oatmeal quickly (what kid wouldn't?) so she could open her presents and cards from family and friends, and then we took her out into the garage so she could see her new tricycle. She was genuinely happy with each gift she opened and wanted to play with each one. She was especially keen on keeping her $3, from Uncle Bob and Aunt Ava, right beside her. She is really looking forward to tonight's get together with some friends from our neighborhood. We will have cake, homemade ice cream, and a few activities. Because she got so many gifts from loved ones, we asked that her little friends not bring gifts to the party. There will be plenty of years (Lord willing) for parties and presents, right? Anyway, the cake still has some work to be done on it. But hopefully it will all be done by 6:30Pm when Madeline blows out the candles!

Ball or Baby?

2007-07-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

I'm constantly amazed at how fast Mason is growing up...and moving around! I will put him in the middle of his blanket and within 5 minutes he's rolled off the blanket and onto the carpet. I think he thinks it's a game: "How often can I get Mommy to stop what she's doing to come over and put me back on the blanket before I spit up on the carpet? Hehehe." It's hard to be upset with him when he's so cute and smiles as soon as I look at him. Why did God give me such a delightful son? Praise the Lord for His unspeakable goodness.

Marker Mishap

2007-07-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

Jay came down tonight after dinner to find Madeline at the table with green marker all over her body. When he asked her what she was doing, Madeline replied, "I don't want to get sunburned." Apparently, she thought she was practicing preventative medicine! He took her outside to show some neighbors and we obviously had to keep from laughing as we reminded her that she is to keep her markers on the paper. She then enjoyed taking a bath in green water. Great memories. Thank you, Crayola, for making washable markers!

Swim lessons

2007-07-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Madeline started her swim lessons this week, and although we've had some rough moments, overall, she's doing great! She has a marvelous teacher, Miss Barb. Madeline doesn't like to go under the water (imagine that, Grammie), but she does a super job going under, turning, and reaching for the side of the pool. These lessons are teaching her the basics of water safety (ie. what to do if she falls in or can't touch the bottom). She is learning to float on her back and even jump in and keep her eyes open under the water so she can see the nearest step or rail. Pretty soon she'll be giving me lessons!

People time in Atlanta

2007-07-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun with our friends Bob, Linda and Michelle! Michelle was wonderful with Madeline and Mason, especially at the Aquarium. She was a ready and willing helper whenever I needed extra hands with the kids. Thanks, Michelle! And Linda was an outstanding hostess. She not only cooked and provided all things beautiful and necessary, she was our tour guide and exercise partner (at times my "Coach"). She drove Jay and me to Stone Mountain for a "hike" (it was straight up, solid rock), which ended with a gorgeous top-view of Atlanta and the surrounding area. I love the picture of the 3 of us! Near the bottom we encountered a genuine gum tree, well, a post with every flavor of chewed gum you can imagine. Yum! You can also see the face of Stone Mountain with its amazing carving; a 6 ft. man can stand up inside the nostril of the horse. Thank you so much Bob and Linda for our amazing memories in Hotlanta!

Playtime in Atlanta

2007-07-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

On our trip, we took a few hours to enjoy the splendor of God's creativity and majesty at the Aquarium in Atlanta. The size of some of the fish was remarkable, not to mention the tanks! And how beautiful the seadragons were (kin to the seahorse). In the picture above you can see how it disguises itself as a plant; it was just breathtaking. How creative is our God!

Pool Time in Atlanta

2007-07-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

We just returned from an outstanding trip to Georgia. Our friends, Bob and Linda, hosted us in their beautiful home for almost a week. We played in their pool almost every day that it wasn't raining (yeah!) and enjoyed every minute with them. Mason just loved being in the water with Linda. He splashed and kicked and smiled; needless to say, he slept very well that night. And Madeline was ever our little fish with her floaties on, getting more confident every day.

2 Sweethearts

2007-07-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

Grandma took this picture during our June visit. Mason will soon be too big to fit on the chair lying down like that on Madeline's lap. And it won't be too long before neither of them will care to have Mason that close to her! We'll enjoy it while we can, right?

Campbell gives good "soup"

2007-07-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

Today Mason had a new view when he ate his "second breakfast". Our friend, Campbell, helped to feed him his rice cereal with applesauce. Of course, Mason was more fascinated with Campbell than he was with his food; but that didn't stop him from gulping it down. It was so nice to have a second pair of helping hands. Thanks, Campbell!

Boys and Their Toys

2007-07-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

Today Mason tried out his new bouncy seat. He loves it! It has so many toys attached to it he doesn't know which one to look at! It plays 4 different tunes, makes all kinds of fun sounds, has several dangling toys and rings, and 2 mirrors, in case he forgets what he looks like. Madeline has been giving him lessons on which toys are the best to play with and which song he ought to play over and over...and over.

Independence Day Celebration

2007-07-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

We added another year to our annual 4th of July celebration with the Ficketts. Bill and Kerry prepared a delicious meal, which we ate in the cool of their home, before going down to the park. We opposed the July heat by enjoying Kerry's renowned 7-layer fiesta jello and Jay's homemade vanilla ice cream. Mason cut his first tooth today, giving him one more step to freedom. And Madeline delighted in the beautiful "thunder" in the sky (aka. fireworks).

Poppy and Mimi's House

2007-06-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

While we were in Texas, we spent time with Poppy and Mimi. They recently moved into a new house that backs up to Houston's bayou. Here are a few pictures which don't adequately capture their home's romance, size or beauty. We had a relaxing time, playing with toys, taking walks through the neighborhood and listening to the thunderstorms.

Packing the Stires

2007-06-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

Kris, Chelle and the girls are moving to Albania in July to be missionaries. They will all be intensely learning the language for the first year or two, so most of their vocational duties will be put on hold until they get a firm grasp on the language. Kris will work at the seminary in Tiranah, while Chelle will manage the home and see the girls to and from school. To get to Albania, they had to sort, pack and load all of their belongings (with some other people's, too) into a container, which may arrive by cargo ship in 4 months. Until then, they'll be living out of their suitcases. It was a bittersweet visit for us all recalling delightful times while packing up remnants from those same visits. Of course we made new memories, which we are now documenting in order to enjoy over and over again.

Fun with Grammie

2007-06-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

On our recent trip to Texas, we spent time with Grammie and the Stires. Grammie's signature is her "Surprise Suitcase", which she fills with prizes for good behavior, kind gestures and obedience. The kids LOVE reaching their hand in to grab a goody. Mason couldn't reach in to get a prize (although he was very obedient), so Grammie showered him with kisses and love. That's the best gift of all!

Christmas '06

2007-05-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

Backtracking a bit, the Flowers family had their second reunion this past Christmas. Jay's brother, Jon, had all of his children there (including one of his sons-in-law), as well as his darling wife, Vicki. From oldest to youngest (not necessarily in order of height): Niccol, blue jean jacket (with husband Luke in Hawaiian shirt), Cyndi in black, Josh in black, Caleb in red and Asa in blue. Included in a couple of the pictures are Madeline and a cousin, Brandi. Madeline still loves her swing, although she always says, "Higher! I want to swing higher!"

More Grad pictures

2007-05-21T13:45:00.001-07:00

Kaitlyn, Whitney, Sierra and Breanna just loved having all their Grandparents there. Wish we could have joined in the fun, too. I heard there was waterplay in the fountain, which, of course, was refreshing on that hot and humid day in Dallas.

Hail the Conquering Graduate!

2007-05-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law, Kris, recently graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary. Most of the family was there to celebrate this milestone in his life. Among them were his parents, Arper and Rose Ann, my mom and her husband, Bud, as well as my dad and his wife, Amanda.

Leaving Office

2007-05-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

In March, my dad had his last banquet as President of the College of Biblical Studies-Houston; he will now step into the role of Chancellor at the college. We had a terrific evening together with his wife, Amanda, as well as with Kris and Chelle and their oldest daughter, Kaitlyn. We are so proud of him and the example he has been of a servant who pours his life into the service of his King!

Jon

2007-05-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

Jay's brother, Jon, went home to Heaven on Good Friday. We spent about 3 weeks in Idaho with him and his family before he left us. What a blessing to be with him as he contemplated his imminent journey to Heaven and the glory of Christ that he would soon enjoy. We look forward to being with him again and worshiping our Savior together! A neighbor of his made a beautiful quilt of family pictures and thoughts for him.

Playtime

2007-05-18T15:54:00.002-07:00

Mason just loves laughing with Daddy! Jay gets him giggling and cooing and Mason just flaps his arms and kicks with glee. It's such fun to see them together! And Madeline dressed up as a bride in her new playclothes. She spent a long time watering the flowers outside and having a tea party in her special outfit.

Mother's Day Weekend

2007-05-18T15:46:00.001-07:00

We visited Jay's parents for Mother's Day and had a wonderful time relaxing (I did) and working (Jay did). Jay and his dad planted an Ash tree in their front yard. Mason loved sitting with Grandpa and getting lots of kisses while giving lots of smiles. You can see Grandpa's new scar on his right knee from his recent knee replacement surgery. He's making a full comeback! Madeline continues to grow up; she's becoming quite the big sister. We often refer to Mason as "Buddy Boy", but when Madeline says it, it comes out "Bunny Boy". She always gives a reason to smile! It being Mother's Day, I thought it appropriate to add a picture of Grandma (I only had 2 because you were behind the camera the whole time)...thanks for all your love and hard work.

Look Out Dorothy!

2007-05-18T15:34:00.001-07:00

Our friend, Kerry, gave Madeline a pair of sparkly, red shoes. If I'd let her, Madeline would wear them to bed! She loves walking in the sunlight to watch them shine. Thanks, Miss Kerry!

Emergency Expo

2007-05-18T15:26:00.001-07:00

Our city has an annual Emergency Expo at the local community college which we attended for the first time. Madeline loved petting the search-and-rescue dogs, seeing all the emergency vehicles and patting Smokey the Bear. We came home with an armload of new coloring books and paraphanalia about household safety. We can't wait for next year's Expo!

Mommy's 'lil Baker

2007-05-18T15:22:00.001-07:00

Madeline helped me make a chocolate chip cake recently. She loved eating the chocolate chips and stirring in the ingredients.

More of Mason

2007-05-18T15:10:00.001-07:00

A new Flower

2007-05-18T15:04:00.001-07:00

After a long absence from blogging, I hope to be back in the saddle again. The pressure to update my blog from last October is too overwhelming right now. So, I'll just start from when our precious son, Mason Boyd Lafayette Flowers, was born on Jan. 11, 2007. Here we are just hours after his birth.