Happy Fourth!

Independence Day is one of my favorite times of year! Full of picnics, traditions, family, friends, and fireworks. :)

Sunday night began our fun activities with fireworks in a town Southwest of where we live. 

Nick tickling Addi

Grandma and Lynn

 Jason playing with Addi

The guys hanging out before the show

Carter - SO big! 

Kinzie and Carter

Mason - does he look ornery or what?!?

The first big bang!

The rest of the group watching....

Addi's first take on the colors

Dane wasn't affected at all! :)

So sweet!

Addi clapped after each boom....so adorable

So much fun! 

Today brings 2 more parties and more fireworks. Love it! :) 

The Holy Land

In May, Nick and I went on vacation to Orlando, Florida. We had such a great time! This week, I'm going to try to post a little about it, but because we didn't take our kiddos along, there aren't many pictures. :)

Our first day there, we visited The Holy Land Experience. This place was so neat! It is layed out like the streets of Jerusalem. Our favorite part was their real life drama of the crucifixion. Wow. Powerful. Intense. Emotional. 

Jesus praying in the Garden. The first man is Judas...The second is a man symbolizing Satan.

The kiss of betrayal...

Jesus is arrested

....and beaten...with each lash "blood" covered his back making this soooo real...and SO touching...I cried....hard

Carrying His cross

As I sat here watching this drama play out before me, it seemed so unreal. This couldn't have happened! WHY? Why did this happen?!?! 

Being crucified

THIS is why. He died on the cross...willingly for OUR sins. So that we...can join Him in eternity in Heaven. Then I began to cry...again....praising Him and thanking Him. 

Being carried to the grave...

This is a depiction of the battling between good and evil ---God and Satan...Again, powerful. Tears...

Mary mother of Jesus and Mary Magdelene finding the Empty Tomb!

He is ALIVE! =Again, Powerful. Touching. More tears. :)

LOTS of cheering and praising on the streets of Jerusalem! 

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Feeling blessed to have the opportunity to be there! :)

Catch up!

I know, I know....What a clever title... Oh well! This post is just what it says...I've been slacking (says Jessica over at Our Crazy Life who hasn't posted in 6 months! hehe...thought maybe this would get you to post! :)

Carter graduated pre- school and is really looking forward to Kindergarten! He will be going to Kingdom Academy. :)

Here he is with a few Preschool friends

Gma and Gpa Williams came to watch him! :) (as did many others....)

Ridge is being such a gentleman...Wouldn't want her to walk on her own or anything! ;)

Visited sweet little Saylor Brynn - absolutely perfect little sweetie! 

I am such a sucker for those sweet little curls popping out around her ears! LOVE 'em!

Mason wouldn't join Carter in the sprinkler, so he chose to force the only sibling he has that can't say "no" yet! :) (she actually kind of liked it!)

Made our first visit to the community swimming pool. SO fun!

She loves to sit in this shopping cart.

The following is a series of Adalynn's current "tricks" caught on camera. 

 How old are you? 

Say please!

Yay!

Blow kisses!

"Uh - Oh!"

Fundraiser Garage Sale

Fundraiser Garage Sale at Mark and Barb Gerbers house!!  (1789 E 250 N) THIS Friday and Saturday from 8:00- 1:00 both days. 


100% of proceeds go to Nathan and Rachel Meuller as they prepare to leave for the mission field in August. We are so thankful that our friends are following God's direction for their family  AND we have no doubt that many unreached people will finally be reached through their mission.   




There is so much stuff to sell that it is unbelievable!!!!!!!!!! Here is a short run down of the items:


Baby gear, Jogging stroller, household and kitchen items, Christmas items, Creative Memories, toys, furniture, DVDs, CDs, TVs, wood playset, Nordik Trak, sewing machine, Antiques & Much more.....


Clothes womens XS-L, Men M-L, Boys NB-7, Girls NB-16, Maternity....


Of course, we'll accept monetary donations as well!! :)

Our Little Cupcake

Our little cupcake turns ONE today! 

Happy Birthday, sweetie! Love you bunches!

My oh my!

She got so anxious to swim and it isn't warm enough outside, so she took matters into her own hands. :)

Ever since we finished our basement, Nick has wanted a bean bag to play with the kids with. So - we got one.....little did we know it is the size of a small sofa!! What will we do with this?!?

I guess it will make one really fun toy!

My little Fireman

This past week, Carter had his first ever field trip with preschool! He got to go to tour a Fire Station. He LOVED it!

Started out by watching a video on fire safety.

Then they had a mock fire drill and the kids crawled out of the building

Touring the fire engine

Mom and Carter :)

Waiting patiently....

For their turn to spray a pretend fire with the REAL water hose from the engine!

A class photo (only 7 are in his actual class - the rest are afternoon, I think)

Carter had so much fun! And now, he wants to be a firefighter when he grows up! :)

April Fools

I LOVE fooling people! :) I got it from my momma. She was the PRO at fooling. So when I woke up and realized it was April Fools, my plans began developing.

My prey:

Jenna - She was to bring her kids to me this morning at 7:00am (so that I could babysit them) so I had Nick call her at 6:55 am to tell her that I had been puking and couldn't keep her kids. :} Got her good.

Jane - She came over yesterday for a few hours and our boys all played in the basement and neither of us went down with them. I called her this morning to tell her that my "craft" room had been played in and I had tons of pictures organized in stacks and they were now scattered. She about puked. :))))) Got her good.

Joni - Her and I are serving lunch at our church (a VERY large production...) this sunday and we ordered 35 DOZEN donuts from Heyerly's Bakery. I told her that Heyerly's called this morning and said a part is broken in their "fryer" (do they even use one of those?) and they will be unable to fulfill our order. :] Got her REALLY good.

Gma - Same story as Joni....hehe. Got her good.

**Sigh**

I was totally determined that NO ONE would get me. I was ready for it. Even waiting for it each time the phone rang.

Then Aunt Lynn called asking for a ride to the dentist. She had some work done yesterday and acted like it had become infected and needed a driver.

How could I say no? She helps me SO much and I will forever be indebted to her. Of course I would help her, even if I had to pack my 3 kids up and keep them happy the whole ride.

THEN....She said it....The words I thought only I'd be saying today.

APRIL FOOLS!

I guess I'm a fool too. :(