Merry Christmas!

Sometimes I look around at my life and shake my head. God does some pretty funny stuff in our lives. As I type this, my beautiful bride of the past thirteen years is watching our two rats, Nibbles & Charlotte, play in our newly decorated Christmas tree. Rats? Yes, our Christmas present to the boys last year was their first pets, a pair of rats. Surprisingly enough both rats survived the year, despite the over-loving attention from Daniel and Sammy. In addition to the rats, much has been new during 2010, but much has stayed the same.

We continue to be fortunate enough to attend First Presbyterian Church, San Diego. Both Suzy and I are very grateful for the brothers and sisters that we have here in our church family. God provides opportunities too numerous to count to serve Him, as well as wonderful ways for each of us to grow spiritually. A new aspect of our family’s growth in faith this year has been daily family devotions. Each morning, Monday through Friday, we spend time together praying, singing and studying the bible. No offense to Suzy, but my favorite days are Wednesday and Friday, the days when Sammy and Daniel pick out the music and lead the bible study. Some days all you get is them going through the motions, but some days God really speaks to us through them.

Another thing that has not changed this year is the boy’s school, they both attend City Tree Christian School, Sammy in first grade, and Daniel in third. Both boys continue to take after their grandparents, as neither has any problems with excelling scholastically. Sammy has been doing a wonderful job with reading, despite his regular complaints that he can’t read, don’t believe him. He still loves to do homework, possibly because he finishes in about two and a half minutes and gets to bounce around and mock his still working brother. Daniel also continues to do a great job reading, in fact he does a bit too good of a job, as we can’t seem to find enough books for him to read. Anyone with suggestions for an almost nine year old who reads at a high school level please let us know.

Other than volunteering at the boy’s school or church, our most common extracurricular activity is without a doubt Cub Scouts. Daniel is in his third year, and is now a Bear Scout, while Sammy is just getting started and is a Tiger Scout. Earlier this Fall I had the boys on a scouting camping trip here in Balboa Park that was quite an experience. Suzy wisely slept at home, but was able to join us for some of the daytime fun. I don’t know how much the boys are learning about being good citizens, but they both sure love to run around with the other boys and get into whatever mischief that they can find.

The highlight of the year was without a doubt another amazing trip out to Hawaii. As soon as we got off the plane we started eating ono food, seeing amazing sights and doing wonderful things. Boogie boarding, snorkeling, swimming in waterfalls, spending time with family. Those memories will last a life time. Suzy was able to go up to Portland again for the Fourth of July with Sammy, but this year Daniel stayed here in southern California, attending his first summer camp. Unfortunately for Daniel, he only made it about twenty four hours before having to come home with a stomach bug. Hopefully Summer 2011 he might last more than a day. All was not lost, though, as Daniel and I got to spend a lot of fun time together while Suzy and Sammy were partying it up in Portland with the McLaughlins. Suzy and I also got to sneak away to the Midwest for a long weekend in June for the wedding of some close friends from church. Decatur, Illinois might not be on the list of must see places, but the chance to spend three days hanging out with Suzy made it a vacation that I cherished.

We are trying plan a trip back East some time in 2011. It has been way too long since we have spent time with the East Coast parts of our family. I also am tired of hearing all of the fun stories from Portland, without enjoying the festivities myself, so hopefully I will be able to go north next year as well.

You, our family and friends, are a continued blessing in our lives. We thank God for you, and wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God continue to bless you and keep you. May His face continue to shine on you and may He continue to look upon you with favor and give you peace.

7 years ago today...

Sammy, oh how you've grown!

Koko Crater

View of Koko Crater from Haunama Bay.

Hawaii, oh how I miss you!

Forest Home

I have heard so much about Forest Home, a retreat area here in Southern California, over the years, but hadn't ever had the chance to go. Suzy went on a Women's retreat there last year, and loved it. Now that Daniel is heading into third grade in the Fall (wait, that can't be right?) he was able to go to Indian Village this year with the school/church kids. Some kids his age have no interest in going to some strange place hundreds of miles away from their parents, out in the woods with the bears and mosquitoes. Not a problem with Daniel. He was sold from the get go.

'We get to sleep in a teepee? I'm in!'

When I dropped him off yesterday for the bus ride up there he never even said goodbye, I turned to say hi to another parent, and when I turned back around I caught a glimpse of him scrambling onto the bus.

'Uh, bye, bud. Have a good time.'

Well, lucky(?) for me I got to visit Forest Home much sooner than I expected. Around two o'clock today I got a call from a nice sounding young lady who identified herself as 'Nightengale'. She informed me that Daniel was ok, but he had been throwing up all day. I thanked her for calling and told her that I would be up in about two and a half hours. After checking Google Maps for directions (thank you internet) I hopped in the car and headed north.

Two point five hours later I pulled into the parking lot of this enormous facility and realized that I had not a single clue about how to track down my little vomiting nugget among all of these acres and acres of retreat facilities. Thankfully I soon ran into Pat and his golf cart, who called around for me and got me on the right path. As an aside, all of the folks that work up there, while strangely named (excepting Pat I met Buffalo, Sand Piper, Fox Fire and Nightengale) were very nice. Poor Nightengale had to tend to Daniel all day in the medic's teepee and she had the grace to thank him for keeping her company all day. As someone who has taken care of Daniel when he's not feeling well I can attest to the fact that it can be a trying and difficult day, but she seemed to genuinely care about him.

No one wanted Daniel to have to go home, so we decided to see how he tolerated a light dinner. Not well, so off we went. Another aside, kids are so into other kids throwing up.

'Did he just throw up?!?'

'Yes, yes he did, back to your dinner little fellow, nothing to see here.'

Quick stop at the bottom of the mountain for Daniel to take care of his business in a gas station bathroom (don't recommend that, an unpleasant experience for everyone), and once more into a bowl while driving south through Perris, but other than that we had a pretty pleasant trip home. Despite his disappointment at having to leave, Daniel was chatty and in good spirits. He's hopeful that he will be able to go back up on Wednesday if he has a good day tomorrow. I don't know if that would be a good idea or not, but I am trying to be open to the idea of another five hours in the car. I guess God will make it pretty clear.

All in all, I wish that I could have waited a bit longer before going to Forest Home, but it seems like a great place!

My Chatter Box

Daniel had a play date today so it was just me and the Sam-man for most of the day. Whenever I am alone with Sammy I am reminded how much this kid talks. Non stop. All day long. Good thing we still have a "nap time" each day or my head might have exploded from the non-stop chatter. Here sure is cute though. And quite messy when he eats an ice cream cone.

Shave Ice in Balboa Park

We spent the morning in Balboa Park.

I love Balboa Park.

Tons of cool museums and and beautiful architecture.

So much to explore and see.

Especially on a beautiful day.

They even have Hawaiian Shave Ice.

Sammy got bubble gum and coconut.

Daniel got rainbow.

The guys put on red, yellow, green!? and blue.

Green?

They said it was pretty good.

But not as good as Keneke's.

First Day of Summer Vacation

Is there a better way to start off summer vacation than a trip to the pool on a warm sunny day?

"Vampy Strikes Back" by Sammy

Isn't this the cutest vampire you've ever seen?

Almost Summertime

In exactly 3 weeks from today we will be on summer vacation. I don't know who is more excited, the boys or me.

Retreat

Wishing I was here:

It was warm and beautiful.

It was a great time with God and friends and myself.

A Very Happy Sammy

Fun day for Sammy.

A love award for Obedience.

He was surprised and very happy.

Can you tell?

And a play date with his best buddy at school.

To say Sammy had a good day would be an understatement.

It was a great day.

Full Bloom

I love our backyard right now.

Actually I love our yard pretty much year round, but the spring and summer are just outrageously beautiful.

Show off!

Empanadas

Daniel's class is studying Panama for the Multicultural Fair at school. Tomorrow we will tour all the different classrooms and their chosen countries and get to enjoy some of the local foods.

Today I made some empanadas for the fair and I must say they are quite delicious. I love empanadas but this is the first time I have ever made them. My love affair with empanadas started a long time ago when I was probably in middle school. We used to sell empanadas at a music fair held at our school every year and my Mom would bring home a whole bunch of them when the event was over. They were really good and I still remember them.

They are a bit time consuming to make, but well worth the effort. Yum!

Into the Wild

Another letter from Daniel from a while back, but appropriate for today since Dan, my Dad and the boys are heading up to the mountains for some camping. Good luck boys!

Get Better Card

Back in the fall I was doing something stupid and accidentally cut my thumb pretty good right across the knuckle. I was so mad because a) I was doing something stupid b) because I cut myself right across the knuckle so I couldn't bend my thumb without opening the wound and c) I had a big school event coming up and I needed the use of both hands. I guess Daniel felt pretty bad for me because he presented me with this get better card:
A very sweet card but what is up with the big old bloody hairs!?

Sammy Self Portrait

Sammy is becoming quite the artist. Don't you love this self portrait of his?

Quotes I like...

Love these quotes by Chuck Swindoll:

"The family is the place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living. In other words, it is the place where character is taught and caught. It is where we learn we are loved and cared for. It is where we learn that we have worth and something to contribute. It should be where we learn that we can be forgiven when we have failed. It is where family members show one another what God is like and how He relates to us. It is where children learn obedience so that they will understand what it means to obey God. Home is where we learn who God is and learn to love Him. Home is where we learn who we are and who others are. It's where we learn to live unselfishly with other people, taking them into consideration. All of this and much more, happens primarily within the family."

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”

“I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.”

Mini Book

I found this mini book Daniel made a while back while doing some spring cleaning. I though it was pretty cute.

I just wonder who the 'one great parents' is. Probably Dan since he is the Lego master in our house.

Baseball Cards for Sale

Sammy has set up shop in the hallway of our home. If you are interested in purchasing some baseball cards from the 60's, 70's and 80's come on by. Sammy claims there are some really valuable ones.I believe the prices are listed here and you can drop your money in the hole.

Noses

This is what Daniel has been up to the last few days. Blowing his nose and having his nose buried in a Timothy Zahn book. He has been spending most of his free time alternating between the two. I could definitely do without the first, but I am loving the second.

Writings and drawings

Daniel loves to write and draw. For a while now I have been collecting bits and pieces of writings, letters and drawings that I have received or found laying about my home. I love them and often think they are hilarious. Here are a few:
I love how Daniel puts a subject on top and of course I love the p.s. and how he spells 'attitude'.
I think this is Daniel and I. Very sweet.
Can't remember what this was on, maybe his door?
Daniel loves making maps.
Apparently there is a book in the works and you can buy one for the low price of $5.50. I was a little concerned about the lower regions of the boy in the drawing. I asked Daniel what was going on there and he clarified that it is the boy's pants and the "B" stands for barn door (which Daniel's is often open). I think I need to give him some lessons on drawing the lower half of a person before he offends someone.

Hosanna

This morning in church we were singing a song in which the chorus went, "Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest..." Sammy was really into the song but was was belting out "Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna on the highway!" I'm not sure if he was trying to be funny or if he really thought those were the words. Funny kid.

What to do on a cold and rainy day...

Put your little brother in a box.