A Great Start to 2014!

We have been visiting Grandma Kathi and Grandpa Tom for 3 weeks. We have had so much fun and I could not think of a better way to spend the first day of the new year than fishing with them! We braved the pouring rain to head out and see what we could catch under the Jensen Beach causeway bridge. Even Uncle Ryan showed up. It really was unbelievable, as we must have caught 10+ fish. Josiah snagged a red snapper, and Isabel and Asher each caught a puffer fish. What's more, we even saw dolphins! They hung around and made an appearance for most of our time fishing. The sunset was beautiful and it was the perfect start to what I expect will be an amazing year.  

Josiah and his snapper

Grandma retaining her status as best ever!

Isabel and a fish with mega sharp teeth. Maybe a snapper as well.

Asher with one of his "shrimpie friends."

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands

Psalm 19:1

We are alive!

It has been well over a year since I have posted by this blog. I have spent time overwhelmed by homeschooling, grieving over another miscarriage, grieving losing the ability to have kids, recovering from surgery, celebrating birthdays, moving cities, working at our co-op, and much more. Mostly, I have just wanted to spend time being present with my family. I feel so blessed, just to be alive and to know that God loves me and has chosen me. I would say that Psalm 42 has kept me going many times this year. Especially this verse,

 Why are you cast down, O my soul,

    and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

    my salvation and my God. 

And I have come to praise Him again. I am trusting in His plan and it is so exciting as He allows me to see little things fall into place. I am so ready to see what He has planned for our family this year. 

Jason and me in Florida Jan 2014

Strawberry Pickin'

It's hard to believe, but I have never taken the kids strawberry picking. But they loved it and I can't believe how cheap strawberries are if you pick them yourself! 

 

 

Getting ready for our hoard.

 

The kids had this whole box filled in less than 30 minutes.

 

Even with a little Bluesberries for Sal - I mean Strawberries for Asher - action.

Things get a little crazy

 

After 3 weeks in Florida, we started to get a little crazy. I guess Florida put the party in us. After an hour of Runkin Ryan and his cousins doing flips in the pool, the kids decided to try some of their own. He is a video of them in action.

 

 

Pirate Party

The coolest thing we did in Florida was a pirate birthday boat ride. Grandma and Granspa treated Asher and Josiah (and the rest of us) to a trip on a Pirate Ship to celebrate their birthdays. It was amazing. We sailed the seas, sang songs, read a map, hunted a sea monster, fought the bad guy, and found the treasure!  

 

 

The scurvy pirates getting ready to board the ship

 

Grandpa teaching Josiah about the cannons

 



 

Arrrgh

 

Getting ready to out together the map

 

Looking for skull island

 

Watching out for the sea monster

Firing at the bad guys

 



 

We found the treasure!

 

Flo-Rida

We kicked off summer 2012 with a 3 week long trip to Florida. Unfortunately, Jason could not join us, but it was great to get a lot of quality time with Grandpa Tom, Grandma Kathi, and Runkin Ryan (what Asher called Uncle Ryan).

 

We had so much fun! The weather was beautiful and much needed after 2 long gray years where sunner forgot to visit Seattle. Here are some pictures of our many adventures.  

 

 

We spent everyday in the pool and because Grandpa was home during the day, he could join us!

 

Legoland was definitely a highlight and the kids want to go back soon!

 

We went to the beach quite a bit! It was wonderful.

 

Grandma bought us fishing poles and Grandpa taught us how to fish.

 

We got to feed stingrays.

Fishing with Grandpa under the bridge. He caught a huge puffer!

 





 

Diggin for dinos at downtown Disney

 

 

Isabel got her ears pierced.

 

One of favorite places to go, the fountains at Tradition

Fun with Co-op

We have so much fun with co-op, experiencing science and history come to life. It is such a joy to have so much fun learning with our friends. Here are a few pictures of some of the things we get to do.

Panning for gold in the gold rush



Participating in the Seder like Jesus



Enjoging ice cream made by the sub-zero ice cream man

Asher's favorite, lunch time!

Making a "mixture" for our mixture snack sale

Going on adventures during the wesward expansion

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31