Our yard

So I am experimenting with our new phone which does these panorama pictures and these are pictures of our yard and house.

The front yard to the right and then the car port.

Then the house continues from right across the back yard to the left. Kind of cool! Gives a pretty good idea of how big our yard is. That is our old barn in the back. Charley and Joshua are playing with tonka trucks.

We Three Kings...... Rrrrrrum, Rrrrrruum!!!!

And we all thought the Magi came on a camel!!!!

Joshua's Newest Skill, Winking

Yummy Christmas Treats

This evening Joshua had his first taste of eggnog. Then we baked some yummy Dutch treats called 'pepernoten' (pronounced paper note in) translated pepper nuts. They are kind of yummy gingery, cinnamon little cookies. Very crunchy and great with hot cocoa or coffee!


The first sip of eggnog after which he declared......

.... "I wike dat!"

Pepernoten dough is kind of dryish.

You roll them into snakes and then cut small 1/2 inch slices.

Put them on the cookie sheet.

Gently press them with one finger. (Only one time Joshua!!)



Voila!!! They are addictive!

Dutch Pepernoten

1/2 stick of butter, softened
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C white sugar
1 T milk
1 C self-rising flour
1 t ground nutmeg
1 t ground cloves
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t ground aniseed
1/2 t ground ginger

Preheat oven to 325 F. Cream the butter and sugars, then add the spices. Add the flour and milk. If it is too dry to stick together well, add another T of milk. Roll into snakes and cut 1/2" slices. Place on cookie sheet and press gently with finger. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden.

Stethoscope

This is a video clip of a guy in our Sunday school class. So cool that I just had to share it!

"Chillin'" at the Christmas Parade

I just love this photo! Joshua and I are waiting for the Christmas parade to start. Man was it ever cold! But it was totally worth it. He absolutely loves the marching bands and the monster truck.

Yearly Razorback Photo and Train Project

Well, we have taken our Razorback sweatshirt pictures for this year. The plan is to take Joshua's picture in this sweatshirt every year and watch him grow into it!!

November 2007

November 2008

DEFINITELY getting taller!!

Tada!!!

This weekend, Charley and Joshua created this cool elevated train track!

What an engineering feat! Opa de Bos would be so proud!!

Here is the Thomas the Tank Engine shed that Joshua built on his own for his Thomas.

The Diligent Worker

After his birthday, Joshua worked very hard on making Thank You cards for all of his friends who blessed him on his birthday.

His Matchbox cars, of course, were right there to help lighten the work load!

These boots are made for.....

..... playing in puddles for sure!!

Muckety, Muckety, Mud!

Oh to be so limber!

That is what I'm talking about!! MUD!!!
Thanks Aunt Peggy for my amazing boots!

Election Day!

Well it is election day and this is what Charley did today! He played Uncle Sam for the day at the schools that he normally substitute teaches in, where they had mock elections.

Four Years Old!!!

Yesterday was our Little Man's 4th birthday! What a wonderful day we had. We started the morning off with the "Happy Birthday" song, which we had to stop and start a little softer since we, 'hurt' his ears with our rousing chorus! Then we opened a present and ate some yummy pancakes for breakfast. After that we made preparations for the party we had in the afternoon with a few friends.

Good Morning 4 year old!


"What in dere?"


My cool new tent that goes on top of my bed!!


"I wike my tent!"


Party decorations.


It was a Thomas the Train party and here is the cute cake, chocolate of course!!


Papa and Joshua preparing the grill for the hot dogs.


Candles are lighted and everyone is singing......


... blow out those candles!!


Opening presents. A totally cool race car folder and lunch box.


Playing like crazy with Erin. The two of them were in HEAVEN!!


L to R, Ethan (Erin's brother), Kaley, Erin and Joshua.


Best Friends!!!
What an absolutely wonderful day we had!!!

Vote For Life

November 4th is an important day! We have a small clip from our pastor, Jeff Schreve, from his sermon on voting, "Left, Right or Righteous", which is so cool! Here also, is a cool video clip designed by the Catholic church reminding us of the right and obligation we have to cast our vote!! Below it is a link to a similar video with a more evangelical flavor to it. All are very moving.







Link to a similar video:

www.valuevoterusa.com

Gotcha Day

In celebration of our "Gotcha Day", I thought I would post the video of our Gotcha. We have never posted this before and I was watching it this afternoon and weeping again, with the joy of what a wonderful gift we have been given!! God is so amazingly good to us!!

Bob the Builder

We had a Fall Fetstival with our church last night and we had such a blast! Hay rides, games, food, costume parade and even some candy! Here is our little Bob the Builder. He was so excited to wear his costume.

The costume, tool box, tool belt, helmet and all!

Look at that set of tools.

Even found dump truck buttons for the shirt!

Talking in the microphone to tell everyone who he is.

Trick or treating. He could not believe he was getting all that candy!!

The Festival photographer took this one. He looks so big to us!

The beautiful sunset at the pond in the pecan orchards where the festival was held.