Trifecta

What a great ministry day!
1. First up - a great conversation about children's worship. I have been passionate about children's worship for a long time, but haven't led in ten years. The dialogue was energizing and ended with my commitment toward praying about if and how I can become involved.

2. Next: After school my driveway looked like this:

and my front patio looked like this:
We LOVE our neighborhood!!

3. Tonight: Every Friday night we host our community LifeGroup - we provide the house, the rest provide the dinner, and we all contribute to prayer and Bible study. We love our friends and have grown to rely on their support and encouragement. Feels like family.

Trifecta. It's a good thing.

Give-a-Way!!!

Guess what?!? One of the blogs I frequent is giving away a $25 Kroger (Fry's) Gift Card this week. Go to $5 Dinners to enter to win!!

This is an interesting blog, by the way -- she aims to make each evening meal in $5 or less. Interesting recipes and ideas...

Christmas pics and whatnot to follow...sometime...soon...I hope!

Neighborhood Halloween Party

Two Neighbors and I threw a Halloween party for our neighborhood -- Lawn games, prizes, food, costumes -- Fun!

Zach and Ethan

The magnet of the event

Ben and the Bean Bag toss

Tiffany face painted all afternoon - the kids loved it!

Jenna, Brianna and their friend

Ben and Audrey

Gotta' love the thumb-sucking Batman!

The neighborhood Zoo Keeper

Love the hat, dude

Looks easier than it is

When's the last time YOU had a popcorn ball?

Zach and Andrew

We were thrilled that even the 'older kids' came and stayed!

Halloween Night - Brooklyn, Jenna, Maddie, Zach & Ben

Birthday Boy

Oh, Benjamin. You are a gift to this family. Happy Birthday, my son.

· You have an infectious laugh -- I wish I could bottle it up and keep it forever.
· You have a joyful spirit
· You love to run and jump and climb and play
· You stop to look at bugs and flowers and puddles
· You have a kind spirit
· Your favorite foods are cheesy broccoli, pizza, mac 'n' cheese, fruit, & scrambled eggs
· You love to read
· Your favorite games are Zingo and Sorry
· You love to play with PlayDoh, ColorWonders, scissors and glue
· If you could play outside all day you would
· You love cartoons on Noggin and the Disney Channel
· You are a great swimmer
· You call the piano "pah-lain-o" -- and I may never correct you!
· You take 2 breathing treatments everyday -- and almost never complain
· You love baseball and soccer and bubbles and bikes and scooters
· You hiked your first mountain this week!
· Your eyes and smile will get you out of a jam

You have grown into a BOY.

July 17, 2004:


July 17, 2005:



July 17, 2006:

July 17, 2007


July 17, 2008

Chef In the Making

We have a birthday boy in the house this week -- B turns 4 on Thursday.

Mommy: So Ben, what do you want to eat for your birthday dinner?
Ben: (silence)
M: What's your favorite meal, buddy?
B: Cheesy Broccoli
M: Whaaaat?
B: With mac n cheese and cereal

Nice.

This from my bottomless pit child who for breakfast this morning ate 2 helpings of Breakfast Eggs, 2 helpings of fruit salad and 3 mini-banana muffins.

Any ideas for what to serve with Cheesy Broccoli and Mac n Cheese? :)

Jalapeno Bacon Thingies

My new favorite recipe from Pioneer Woman. It was a HIT on the 4th of July and again on our last night at the cabin.

Tidbits:

1. Make twice as many as you think you'll need. Really.

2. Need to kill some time? Explore the website. Especially the cooking pages.

What are you excited to make these days?

Saturday in July

Well, Hello. Today marks a major accomplishment -- we hiked to the top of West Wing Mountain!

It took about an hour and 15 minutes round trip with a little detour to avoid a swarm of flying ants. Brian's initial reaction was that the ants were fighting. But after a little research we discovered they were actually mating! It's not everyday you can say your plan was derailed by a swarm of mating ants...

Did I mention we made it to the top? My mommy radar went balistic during a 50-ft. section near the peak where we had to climb over boulders onto loose rock on the back EDGE of the mountain. Fun times of self-editing, I tell you. The difference between the dialogue in my head and the encouragement coming out of my mouth was quite impressive, if I do say so myself.

The views were awesome. Ben kept saying "I can see the big city!" At one point on the way down Zachary offered to hold my hand and be my helper -- "I can even get water from Daddy if you want it, Mom." -- that's my boy!


Tidbits:
1. My feet haven't seen tennis shoes since...oh...2002. My knees may beg my feet to stay in flip flops for at least a week!
2. Do you see that blonde hair? Arizona & South Dakota summers rule!
3. This hike was spurred by Brian's need to find a Geocache which we didn't find due to the aforementioned swarm. (We were within feet -- the swarm was literally right on top of the geocache coordinates. Bummer.)
4. We saw lots of these (first time we've ever seen them) and these (so fast) and one of these (peace in motion.)
5. Two boys + no complaining = happy (and surprised!) parents.
6. Two boys + no complaining + happy (and suprised) parents = more Saturday hikes!