Road trip enthusiasm...

We made a road trip to Portland this weekend (see aliveinafrica.com blog. You can see the enthusiasm dripping down our girls faces...

My oldest daughter is a fish

I was enjoying some one on one time with Kamryn this morning and during a mid-morning snack, the conversation changed to Shimmer, our beta fish. I said, "Wouldn't it be boring living in that aquarium?" To which she replied, "No, it wouldn't... I would love it. I love swimming."

Pic of the Week VI

One of our neighborhood friend's son took a picture at Memorial Park in Bellingham during a visit to this park. A sober reminder to keep the soldiers and our leadership in our prayers.

The Gibbs Wedding

What a great day! As you can see Kamryn, Bradyn and Julia are only 3 of the 10 flower girls... Steve did the wedding. It hadn't rained in Seattle in 120 years... And though it poured today, God held off the rain for this outdoor wedding when it needed to be! A great time was had by all! Congrats Aaron and Megan!!!!

A bumper sticker I saw today

I know we are going to be missed when we go to Africa, but this is taking it a bit to far!

Peek-a-Boo!

Sleeping Beauties

Our snuggling little beauties snuggled again last night... So cute!

Always thinking....

Today the girls and I went out to lunch. Steve was out of town so we went to a place that he can't eat at that we like to eat at....Panda Express. We ordered our orange chicken, chow mein, and 4 waters. As we were eating someone noticed that they had forgotten to give us our fortune cookies. I said something like, "that's okay, we can go ask for some when we are finished eating." Kamryn said, "Well how much will they cost?" I said, "oh, they're free." A few seconds later she said, "Panda Express is a really great restaurant because if you come here and you're really poor and don't have any money they will still give you free water and free fortune cookies. That's really nice!"

Pic of Week VI

For those who have been following the Pic of the Week, it was a picture taken or of someone that was not my family. Well, this week will have to settle for almost not my family... I thought this was so cute of Kamryn and her friend Mariah taken at Rosario Beach near Deception Pass.

Finger Sucking

As most of you know our little Julia likes to suck her two middle fingers. We were able (with the Lord's help) to cure Bradyn of her thumb sucking and we're now concentrating on Julia. I've been telling her that she can't suck her fingers in Africa because she might get sick. So, we haven't talked about it in quite some time and the other day as we were in the car she randomly pops up with this question: "Can I suck my fingers on the airplane?" Ahh, she's a bright little kid.

Honesty can be hilarious...

Tonight we had green chicken curry for dinner! Sooooo good!

We dished out the rice to each member of the family. Before the chicken came, Brady put her hand into the rice. She pulled it out and the sticky rice held true to its name. She had rice all over her hand. She looked at it with this quizzical expression as to how she was going to get it all off. I said to her sternly, "Why did you put your hand in the rice?" To which she replied, "I -- have no idea." We all burst out laughing and I am laughing even as I write this. Aughh, the joys of parenting.

Models hard at work...

The girls did their first (and last:)) modeling shoot... Well, hardly a model shoot, but taking some fun pictures with Bonnie Pope and her new business called Bless U! I don't think the girls are really the modeling type, but they sure enjoyed the boat ride afterwards!

Making friends with a horse

We were driving home from my parents beach house on Saturday night and on the highway we passed a little girl on a miniature horse with her daddy walking beside the road. I said, "Kamryn, that looks like Fifi." A few minutes later I hear Kamryn sobbing in the back seat. I asked her what was wrong and she said, "Do you know what it's like to make best friends with a horse and then know that you're never going to see her again? It's so sad. I know Fifi was a little stubborn but I loved her anyway. I know she was only trying to be a good mommy." (This was relating to how Fifi was stubborn during the horse show that Kamryn participated in, and she didn't want to do the obstacle course.)

Follow this link!

What day?

The girls just had their last day of swimming lessons today. On Friday they have what is called "Friday Fun Day." They get out this big water slide and the kids get to go down the slide and they also get to jump off the diving board. (Or dive, like Kamryn proudly did). Tonight Julia was playing with her Playmobil people and chattering up a storm. I was listening in on her babble. It went something like this: "Okay guys, everybody get up! Do you know what today is? It's Friday Sunday. Friday Sunday, Friday Sunday, Friday Sunday, Yeah! "

Soo cute!

The picture I included was also taken today at Larabee State Park where we spent the morning with some good friends. Julia and Madeline are good buddys.

so cute

Metaphor.

I think we often take metaphor for granted. My daughter Bradyn was listening to a worship song by Aaron Shust where he said the world is crashing down on me. She told me she thought that was funny, the idea of the WORLD literally crashing down on me. It is funny, actually. So cute to get that kind of insight.

Muscles...

My girls are in to muscles lately. All of them are always comparing their muscles, trying to get bigger muscles, asking to see my muscles. I flex and they say, "Wow, Dad, you have huge muscles." Need I say more...

When the tide is out, the fun is in!

Check out this cute picture with our little friends, Kara and Nate Collins, up at Birch Bay!

Pic of the Week VII

My buddy Jayson took this picture of a peacock while our families were at the zoo. He risked his life for this shot, so I figured I could reward with a little glory.

Sing me a song...

Julia is the master lyricist. She takes whatever situation she is in and writes, composes and sings her own song. Like today, Stephanie got a haircut and had her hair straightened, and so she looked a little different, but really, really good. So, Julia sang in the car after she saw Mommy, "Mommy looks really different, but I still love her." (over and over and over and over again...)

That's better...

Today we went to Costco and they have red drinks there (a red smoothie). When we got the smoothies in the car and had equally divided them, Julia said, " I want the biggest one." Mommy said, "Julia, what should you say?" With no hesitation, Julia said, "Please can I have the biggest one!"