FUN....UNEDITED!

What began as a simple walk around the block became an unforgettable evening of fun.....and mess....this is a case where the pictures speak a thousand words!

Clean up involved 4 stages:

Stage One

Spray down with the hose....clothes off......in the pail for a quick rinse

Stage Two

In the kids bathtub with the shower running and the bath filling...

Stage Three

Into mom and dad's bathroom for clean water and serious hair shampooing...

Stage Four

Wash....Wash again.....and wash again....

Not Just Any Hike....

....but a hike with Papa!


Beamer Falls

The morning started out relatively normal...
a early morning invitation to go for a hike,
a drive up the mountain,
a walk down the path,
balancing on fallen trees....

UNTIL....

we came upon some steep stairs, and the sound of running water....I believe it was the kid's idea to take the journey down the trechourous stairs...Papa and I just looked at eachother and pretty much thought the same thing....If we go down...we must come up!

Who can resist the pleading eyes of 4 kids looking for adventure and excitement!

And so the journey began....

down, down, down

Well we managed the stairs, why not go down the steep bank and check out the stream, throw some rocks....




hang out...

.......oh, and what is a hike if you don't explore! Oh, a small path...kinda looks like a short cut...let's try that out, it would too boring to go up the same way we came down....so we began to go

UP, UP, UP

Wait a second...the path is dissapearing...the poison ivy is encrouching in...

but let's persist...we are this far now...we can do it...why not....

Oh wow...we found a fort....hidden deep, deep in the woods, nestled up against the base of a

CLIFF!

Ok...papa needs to investigate....yup, even the best rock climbers would have difficulty with this one....so that can mean only one thing....

back down the steep decline....and back up the forever ending incline!


What a bunch of troopers! We made it back up to the top and even had energy to run all the way back to the car!

Nope...not just any hike....

But one with lots of memories!

"God saw all the he made, and it was very good" Genesis 1:31

Well, can you believe that it is the middle of May already?

What's up with Kaelyn

Well, Kaelyn has only 4 more days of kindergarten left and in a month she will celebrate her sixth birthday! How that happened so quickly I am not really sure.

The highlight of this month of course was mother's day! I was invited to mother's day tea where the kid's did a little program for the mom's of all the different things they have learned. We were then presented with our gifts and treated to some wonderful dessert and tea.

Mrs. Poort did an excellent job of teaching the kids what mother's day was all about!

She came down that morning to find me on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor (well, something like that anyway!)

"You shouldn't be doing that mom, it is mother's day"

"Well, who is going to do it for me then?" I replied.

"Oh, you can do it tommorrow" she said, not missing a beat.

Kaelyn continues to love her cats, Cookie and Teddy. Lately they have the joy of being dressed up in doll clothes and walked around with a scarf tied around their neck for a leash.

The only time I am allowed to get near to Kaelyn with my camera is usually when she wants a picture with Cookie or Teddy...

And what is more precious than a hug...

....and a kiss

between friends.....

We have run into one complication though....Teddy sits at the door waiting for us to come home so that when we open the door he tries to escape. Well, it looks like he went out shopping for some perfume and came home with the newest version of SKUNK! Yes, I mean the one that comes in a black and white bottle that walks around with it's tail up!

What's up with Jacob

Well, Jacob was introduced to his kindergarten class at Heritage Christian School this month! He was able to meet his teacher and all the kids in his class and even had a bus ride! It was pointed out that for many of the moms this was their last child going to school....it wasn't till I was driving home that I realized that I was one of them. I didn't know if I should cry or smile!

Jacob had his very own special pet for a couple of days.

Introducing.....Mr. Tickles

He is of the tick species...the ones that burrow into your skin and suck the blood. Daddy (thankfully) was the one to find Mr. Tickles burrowing into Jacob's head. He was carefully extracted but still got a good chunk of Jacob's skin!

Speaking of bugs Jacob went to work with daddy this week and was able to see what fleas look like. While putting him to bed he confided in me...

"Mom, you know those little tiny bugs at daddy's work...well, I think they blew on me and that is why my penis and back are always itchy. That's why I have to hold my penis even when I don't have to go pee! I think I have fleas!"

All I could say was... "I guess bugs like you, hey!"

When Kaelyn is at school, Jacob takes full advantage of the peace and quiet. He usually finds something to do quietly. The other day he was so quiet I went to look for him and found a path of rocks. They led up to two little feet...It reminded me of Psalm 119:105

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

A Moment to Reflect

We are blessed in God's special revelation, through scripture and Jesus Christ. But especially at this time I am reminded of His general revelation in the whole universe. It is the manuscript in which the Creator has written his character and signed his name! It is so amazing that we can take comfort not only in words on a page but also from a different message -

The images written in the sky and

in the sun that brightens and warms us.


In the blossoms and flowers that show divine beauty and color.

In the birds and the buzzing bees singing His divine music.

And finally in the little parts that make up His children

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Psalm 8:9