A Wiii Bit of Humor

I died laughing when I saw this. My inlaws gave us a Wii and we got Wii Fit. My oldest daughter said, Mom, that's just wrong. Shouldn't we be outside doing this stuff?"

Actually, at this stage of my life, I like the privacy and my quads are killing me!

But this is good for a laugh!

Make 'Em Laugh

Surprising Emilie for Her 9th Birthday

Cousin Jake

Lizzy and cousin Emilie at San Clemente pier.

Emma and Aunt Dee, beading at the beach!?

Uncle Steve or Karate Kid? You decide.

Aaah, the Freedom to Worship

3rd grader Lizzy

10th grader Alex

6th grader Emma

The impromptu (meaning we have different people every time!) Gospel Choir joined with the 3-6 grade choirs to lead worship this morning. It was a blessing to sing with our kids. And how many opportunities do kids have to participate in leading the congregation to the throne of God? We talked about the responsibility we have as we sing these songs. When we sing "my heart and my soul, Lord I give You control", are we speaking from our own hearts? Is there meaning behind our words? That's the responsibility of leading worship. That there is truth behind our lyrics. The Truth of His Word and the truth of our own hearts being vulnerable and open to worship the Author of Salvation, the One Who is Mighty to Save!

Fun with Friends

Sword play

Skull tatoos??!!! (Maddie)

McKenzie

Jefferson's pirate tattoos

and a Tea Party!

and a concert!

Jo Bros

Samuel Hamlin, Jefferson, cousin Jackson and my girls

Wow, I didn't think I'd need earplugs. Alex asked me if I brought them. I said, naah, I don't need them, I'm cool!
But NBC was taping the Kristi Yamaguchi Family and Friends Tour, and I guess they really like it when there's screaming in the background while the MCs are talking! Talk about deafening!
And when the Jonas Brothers came out to sing, there was ringing in my ears. It was lots of fun.
The skaters had their families skating in different numbers while the Jonas Brothers or Demi Lovado or Jordan Pruit sang. Some skated to tracs, oh well. It airs on NBC Nov 8 from 4-6EST.

My dear friend Anissa got us a free suite, so we could walk around and eat and have our own private little potty. It was stylin'!

Surprise with the Cousins

After seeing us, Jackson said, "can we do something with the Tutens?" I think he thought we'd just say Hi and leave!! Jack and Jeff were connected at the hip for 2 days.

Ahh, my little sister and me

Harrison (13) Nate (14) Alex (15) Emma (11) Dexter (13).... Lizzy (8) Jeff and Jack (7)

We haven't been to Disneyland with my sister's family since 1997! So we planned a little surprise for the cousins. Who should come walking down Main Street but them? ! Surprise!!! That was so fun
But to top it off, we also got Dream Fastpasses!! We only got 7, but went to City Hall and they completed our family of 12!! What a great day it turned out to be.

These dumb hats don't even fit! At least they were free!

My Middle Daughter is 11 Today

Ending our day of shopping with dinner at California Pizza Kitchen with the grandparents and Aunt Dee.
"You Are Special" Emma. Her made-to-order breakfast. Sour cream/Bittersweet chocolate coffee cake, quiches, sausage patties. mmm, healthy!

Sleepy 11 year old

Love the hand-made wrapping paper! Saves money!

Here are the cutest pics of her as a youngster and what I wrote about her. To think I almost didn't get to bring her home from the hospital!! Click HERE

Just Another Day in the Life

I am so glad to have a man around the house when Mr Man is gone. He is taking care of the pool now. Always a good thing for me, when there are 5 little mice floating in it. Eewwww. But Lizzy wanted to see them all. I really didn't even want to see as much as a glimpse of the tail hanging out. Jefferson got one out of the jacuzzi too! Way to go My Little Men! (and yes, we're still swimming!)

Hide and Seek. Who'd have thought they'd still fit into the TV armoire? Freaky!

Do the Scriptures Reign Paramount?

I've said before that there are many reasons to home school. For us, to begin with, it was a matter of training their character. How can we do that if they are under someone else's influence all day? Family unity was a close second. I grew up very close in age to my siblings, but never really knew them as friends for life, which is what they are. Somewhere down the list is academics. Mr Man and I were not at all prepared for the rigors of college life coming from the public schools. But that can be overcome, really. There was actually a lot of wasted time.

The most important area should be our children's spiritual walk. We can't force them to know Christ, that's the Holy Spirit's job. But Deuteronomy 6:5-9 talks about teaching or impressing upon our children 'diligently'all the things God has commanded. When we sit at home, walk along the road, when we lie down and when we get up. That pretty much covers our day doesn't it?

Teaching them what God commands doesn't happen in a classroom. Probably not even in some of the Christian classrooms. But 'doing life' together brings the situations to light where we can model and talk about what God loves and expects. When they see us care for others, speak words of kindness, work through disputes, take care of our home, just to name a few, they are seeing the work of God in and through us. It is a high calling to be sure. And I fail daily. There but for the grace of God go I. He is constantly molding and making me into the woman He wants me to be. As I allow Him to do this, my children see that too. They see the real me, not the one that gets ready with a smile and cookies for them to come home from school. (no offense, mom. I appreciated the cookies! and the smiles) But they see me through the whole day. The good, the bad and the ugly.

So I am challenged to put His Holy Word at the forefront. The forehead isn't such a bad idea. Then we'd see it and remember God's promises.

"I am much afraid that schools will prove to be the great gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the holy scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the scriptures do not reign paramount."
Martin Luther