Tis the Season

We have been busy getting ready for Christmas. We put up the tree, the Bethlehem village (my favorite decoration),

and took the family picture for this year.

The day we set up the tree I was doing some work on the computer in the living room and I heard a splash and thump. Thinking I knew what that was but thinking I HAD to be wrong I waited just a little then my conscience was screaming at me to check. So I told the kids that I thought one of the fish just made a break for it. They checked the tank. Sure enough there was only 2 fish in the tank. We checked under the Christmas tree and there he was laying under the tree, still alive. We put him back in the tank and he survived. His tail was somewhat shredded by the tree branches and he was slow moving for the first day and a half, but he's back to his old self. Desti named him Lucky when she first got him. Apparently the name suits him well.

A peek inside...

We were doing family devotions the other night and we were studying Proverbs 22. We came to Proverbs 22:13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” and our study bible put this clearly that the lazy man is going to make excuses for not working.

The following conversation happened next...

J-Bird--"Ohh! J-Bell is like a sloth!"

J-Bell--"WHAT?!?!?"

J-Bird--She tries to stay in bed everyday!

J-Bell--"You want me to punch you in the head?"

J-Bird--*shaking his head...smiling* "It's just an example.... and it's true!"

Can't you just see their angel halos?

Another Update

So you know my commitment about blogging more, therefore keeping my mother from wondering if we are alive or dead? Oh, you can't tell I've made that commitment? Maybe that's because I am horrible at following through when the weather outside is anything but frightful. (and for those wondering... Yes, my mother keeps up with my life here rather than the phone. Why? Because neither one of us are horribly great at calling anyone, let alone each other!)

Ok, update time...

Strawberry season was late this year. We were able to head out to pick 4 times throughout the season and have lots of strawberries and strawberry jam in our freezer. Expensive, but I'm hoping that it will last until next summer. The kids were excited the first time we went out but quickly remembered that it isn't as fun as they think. We only do a basket a person each time we go so it is not so long picking and I have time to get them in the freezer.

We also had a family reunion of sorts. Knights side all got together at the farm and spent the day enjoying each others company. The family doesn't get together much as a group anymore and it was nice to see everyone. The kids were able to go on a hay ride. J-Bird loves playing with all the boys in the family. Most of them are around his age so he is in heaven not having to hang out with girls. J-Bell and Desti also have girls there own age so they were off exploring the farm on their own.

We also took the kids camping for the first time. We cheated slightly and borrowed my moms "cabin" (a camper set up at a resort). The kids wanted to tent it, so we brought the tent and let them sleep there, while we had the bed. They had a good time and they loved taking the kayaks out to the middle of the lake and jumping off. That was the plan to avoid the leeches (it worked).

I am aiming to start school in a couple weeks so then I will be back on schedule and hopefully blogging more regularly. Between times of cleaning, going to the pool, and kayaking I have been preparing for that.

FYI

Just to let you know...

If...

your family enjoys kayaking, but is just getting into it and figuring it all out...

and if your husband decides he wants to see how the dog will do kayaking...

and if his plan is to get a blow up raft and put the dog in that and tow it, having one of the kids sit in the raft holding the dog...

and if you have never seen this dog around big bodies of water so you don't know if it likes it...

then...

...you may have a dog that does not like the raft

...the dog may jump out of the raft a couple times

...the dog may crawl up onto the tandem sit on top in the middle of the lake

...the dog will keep shaking all the water off, but it is now in a kayak with you, spraying you.

...the dog may kiss solid ground when you finally reach shore again.

I'm just sayin'

Wordless Wednesday

I know this is supposed to be Wordless Wednesday but I wanted to share why this picture is so special to me.

This picture is from last Saturday when I went to visit my mom. This picture is from when my dad was teaching us adults Texas hold em poker (play, not real money). It was a lot of fun and Knight and I ended up with all the chips, which is great since we are the only non-gamblers at the table.

So why is this picture so special? Because I have such a great family and I know that they love me.

You see, my mom is in the red and my step dad is wearing blue. My dad is in the burgundy and my step mom is wearing grey and black. (Knight is in the green) My dad found out we were in town and came over to spend some time with us and we can all sit around and enjoy each others company.

They split when I was 12 but they still come together for the sake of the family. My sisters and I (I have 4) are able to spend Christmas with our family. Parents, step-parents, grandparents, and our families. I can't tell you how much it means to me that my parents can put their differences aside for all of our family. I am truly blessed.