Music, Awards & a Toby Mac Concert

The kids had their track awards during one of our busy, busy days. Their coach invited everyone to his house for swimming and a barbecue. It was nice day out, perfect for everything his family had planned for the kids.

The kids got the rest of their ribbons and also a medal! They were more excited about the medal with their names engraved on the back than the ribbons they had earned. 

It's funny, to me this picture makes it look like he's gotten some basketball or swimming award instead of track.

Both kids did great at their performances. Our pastor even talked to Elisha on stage afterwards about how old he was and how good he was at the drums for his age. Thankfully, our son did not get a big head from it! :0)

Bethany danced in between her times to play. It's hard to describe but basically she'd be jammin' and then stop and focus when she knew her turn to play was coming, then to back to groovin' all over her small space! It was cute and we had many people tell us how much they enjoyed just watching her enjoy herself.

All three performances went well. They were both sad and relieved when it was over with.

On the last day of school the kids both received Honor Roll awards.

Elisha also received awards for Bible and Spelling!

Last Saturday we went to a free Toby Mac concert! He was playing at an outreach with Luis Palau in Sacramento. 

Both kids made finger puppets in the kids area. It was so hot they stayed off of the jumpers because they burned their feet and legs.

Grasshopper catching was at the top of the list of favorite things to do during the festival.

And fighting them... er, uh... and I mean seeing them "kiss" each other was a a lot of fun too!

See I told you it was hot. You can see how sweaty we all are.

And after Luis Palau spoke (who was a great speaker, by the way)...

Mr. Toby Mac took the stage!

 And Mandisa, who happens to be from Sacramento came out and joined him for his song "Lose My Soul". She performed the following night, but we decided not to make the drive a second time. 

We had a blast rockin' out while Yohn sat and watched enjoyed the show from his seat. But he did get a pretty good picture of us!

Yay! for summer! We've had some interesting weather though. After last Saturday's incredible heat, it's been back down to the highs in the low 70's. Not that I'm complaining, I just find it interesting. :)

Days Turn Into Weeks, Turn Into... Months?

Oh has it really almost been two entire months since the last blog post? How time does fly. I had to 

re-prioritize things and unfortunately blogging did not make the top of the list. I wish it did, but when it lived at the top of the list, things did not get done and children did not get much deserved attention.

So here I am today, with a short, albeit possibly lame, update. But an update nevertheless.

Track season has officially ended. It actually ended last month, almost a month ago in fact. This Saturday we are finally having their team party. Apparently the coach has been very, very busy and nearly forgot all about us. Okay so the forgot part was an exaggeration because he has kids on the team who probably didn't. :)

Both kids had fun during the season, although Elisha really enjoyed it and Bethany just liked being there. The running part she wasn't quite as fond of. Which is why when she decided to do an 800 (two full laps around the track!) at the qualifying meet I was shocked. However, I also knew that she actually does have good endurance and would do fine, but with little experience she got beat out at the end. Thankfully only 4 kids ran in her age bracket and the top 4 got to go to the next round (meet? whatever.) so it was a win-win for her. No elimination that week. Too bad the next week she didn't really feel like running and didn't put much effort into it. Still, she had fun. And that's what really matters when you are eight years old.

Both kids have decided that they will be doing track again next year. I'm sure Elisha will follow through with that because he likes that it makes him faster and stronger for basketball, his all time favorite sport. Bethany, well, I wouldn't be surprised if she changes her mind, but who knows? 

Both kids performed at their school's open house this year. Bethany on recorder and Elisha on the drums. They did great! Elisha was nervous he was going to mess up, but did just fine.

Bethany, my oh so talented little musician, has been asked to play the xylophone for the upcoming  band performances. She already has a good knowledge of the keyboard and I guess the xylophone is pretty similar (says the mom who really has no clue). She loves it. Both kids will be playing at the church on Sunday, then at 8th grade/Senior graduation, and then they'll play "Pomp and Circumstance" for the 

pre-k/kindergarten graduation. They are both excited and nervous for this upcoming week. On Wednesday it will all be behind them and they will be free for the summer!

(BTW I meant for the pics of Elisha and Bethany to be reversed, but blogger kept flipping out when I tried to re-arrange them)

We went one day camping over Memorial day weekend and had some great family time. The caves on the mountain we visit are always a family favorite but this time around we also visited the summit! Thankfully we drove to that because I am certain this out of shape body would not have made it. The kids, freshly conditioned from track season, had no problems and high energy levels. They do anyways because they are kids, but let's just say I noticed a HUGE difference between last time and this time. 

I'm sure you've guessed by now that the new header is all from said camping trip. :)

 Well, I believe that is all for my quick update. Summer is just around the corner and I can't wait! No schedules (for the kids anyways, I still have to work), sleeping later, no making lunches, no homework worries, ahhhhh.... just a few more days. :)

A Quick Post

With some pictures:

Track Ribbons

Someone decided her hair needed to be shorter and Daddy finally said yes.

Only my child and the things she comes up with!

Yes, she has a bit of redneck in her, I believe.

(That's a piece of bark off of a palm tree in case you are wondering.)

Long jump practice

Celebrating 14 years

Yes, we were crazy and took the kids with us.

A family hike

Splashing in the creek

Easter Sunday pictures

14 Years

Happy Anniversary Love!

May there be many, many more!

A Whole Month?!

How did a whole month just practically get by without a blog post? Crazy. Anyway, sorry about that but there is thing with me obsessing over my blog that I am trying to avoid so now I guess I let the pendulum swing in the opposite direction.

Where was I again? Oh yes, an update. A long update, but a much needed update nevertheless.

Elisha's 10th birthday party was a success! Nine kids total for an overnighter. One went home at about 8:30 bringing that total to eight. Eight kids in our teeny, tiny house. It was an adventure to say the least, but it was fun.

They jumped on the brand new trampoline...

...they played video games...

(don't look at the mess that is my house please!)

...they ate food...

(but far less than I expected, ironically)

...and they had fun helping us in celebrating our son's 10th birthday.

A week after that we found ourselves in Disneyland, but that Friends, is a whole post, or two, in itself.

We also took an extremely short trip to Malibu. Again, another post for another day. Maybe.

The kids are both also taking track this spring instead of baseball and softball. I think they are both trying to decide if this is really something they enjoy or not.

Both seem to want to be sprinters, but uh... well let's just say I think they may be geared more for distance. However, with a lot of hard work, they may surprise me yet.

(Sorry about the distance on this shot. I didn't take the time to edit these pics.)

Oh and somewhere in between his birthday and Disneyland, Elisha got a haircut. He decided to do it, not me or Yohn. And although I am not a fan of boys with long hair, it was actually kind of growing on me and then he did this. Ah well, it's his hair afterall.

I also got a new camera in February. I'm not liking it much though. If it wasn't for the fact that my old one started malfunctioning so badly I would probably switch back to it. Boo!

Also, I know you don't see it in the track pics but we have had some awful track weather. Two meets, two cold drizzly, rainy, windy meets. Two meets where my kids were trying their best to stay warm between competitions while devouring all the food I packed and asking for more. Yohn and I were smart enough to invest in that Sport Bella you see in the above picture and it has been a HUGE blessing to all who take shelter under it! :)

That's all for this little update. Until I blog again....

He's 10

Yep, our boy is ten. The Big One-Oh. Double Digits. It's funny, cuz' when he was a baby I used to look ahead at this time and think, "Wow! Time's passing quick but it's okay because it's not like he's ten." Then I blinked and here it is.

Can I just say I love him at this age? And dislike him at this age all at the same time. He's competent, but doesn't always like to do things himself. Confident and yet insecure at the same time. Loving and affectionate one minute and rude and distant the next. Oy! Growing up just isn't easy for anyone is it.

Here's a snapshot from this morning. I let him open one present before it was officially time. He had friends over and we had eight children under our roof all night. There was nine, but one couldn't stay. Yes, we are crazy, but they were a fun, crazy, rowdy, delightful group of kids and I'd have them all over at one time again... but it'd have to be a few months! :)

Elisha-boy,

You are growing so fast. You are such a blessing to raise and watch grow. Don't ever forget you are one of a kind, made in God's image and He has a mighty path chosen just for you. Be strong my boy, temptations are around every corner. Life is so simple now, but very soon things will start to change. Hold tight to Jesus, lead your friends in truth, and do not worry about what others think. You are special kiddo. And you are greatly loved. Don't ever forget that!

Love,

Mom and Dad

I Needed This Tonight

I was listening to Air 1 tonight and this song came on. I may have heard it before because it seemed like I knew the words, but it was just so powerful and exactly what I needed to hear tonight. Hope you enjoy it too!