2nd day of school!

Ok today we learned about Adam and Eve. The pictures you are about to see are of Adam and Eve and a tiger. What a job to have to name all the animals. WOW Oh these delightful designs are courtesy of Nicky Dunham.

First Day of School!

Well the day has finally arrived and the boys are back to school. Chris actually started math last Monday, since he is taking a college class and Michael has done a subject or two all summer. Nicky and I have worked here and there but today was the much hyped day that school would start. Emma was very enthusiastic about her studies as you can see.

And then there was Nicky. He was excited about starting our new history curriculum called the Mystery of HIStory.




He is learning about creation. He is making his own creation booklet. As I type he is still working on it. He is on day 4. WOW it takes a long time for creation. Wonder how God felt. hahaha. He is enjoying it and that is the most important thing.

Where else could you use the Bible as your textbook. I do love this. I am going to have to come back and read this post like in March of next year. hahaha. You that home school know what I am talking about.


Well on to an even more fun subject. Math!!! Happy Homeschooling Ladies!

Crack me up!

This video is so funny. Emma just swings around the sword but she does a pretty good job. hahaha She has soooooo many brothers, what can I expect.

My little Chris is 18!

Here is one of my favorite pictures of my little Chris. I know he is not that little anymore but will always be little to me. There is a lot of emotion that revolves around your kids getting older. When they grow up and get married. Which I have recently experienced with our Sammy Kay. And when they reach the age in which the world says they are "adults". Not much really changes at our house because they are 18. But in the world it does. For example they can now vote. Wow! he must now register to vote. And one of the hardest for me is that he must register for the draft. Now I know that we are not currently drafting our young men. But I can tell you that this war that we are in has taken on a new meaning for me now that my young man would have to participate if the government so chooses. It was hard enough with my brother was in Iraq but my son! A whole different meaning indeed! As Chris told me this morning I can buy my own prescriptions now. He also said he could go out and buy cigarettes and a knife if he wanted. We laughed, but it is true. Oh and he does not smoke, thank you Lord! He could also get a tattoo. But he has not made any plans for that as of yet.

He has a lovely young lady that he is in love with. Most of you know her. Lexi is a bright star in my sons life. And I am thrilled for that! But I can tell you that as a mama of many sons, that when they cease looking at you as their "bright star" and looking at another young woman it takes a little bit of your heart. But that little bit of my heart will be filled with the young woman he loves. As we love her too! Chris is a loyal young man. I don't see my son not continuing to be loyal. We look forward to Chris's future with Lexi and ours as well.

We love our son. He has been such a joy to raise. We continue to raise him to some extent but now I guess in a little different way. To prepare for manhood. That of which he is now. To be a good Christian, provider, husband and father. WOW we have a job ahead of us.

We love you Chris you make our lives interesting and wonderful! We love you, Your Family!

More of Chris

I hope that you can see these pictures well. He is just so pretty. Didn't I tell you he was a doll.

Almost 18!

I can't believe that he is almost 18! On August 22, Chris will be 18 years old. I just can't believe that it has been that long ago that we welcomed this sweet, beautiful, and I mean beautiful baby into our lives. I must say he was one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. And I have seen many babies! All my babies are beautiful but Chris was the darkest haired baby we had. The next post will have some more great pictures of Chris. check out those big glasses that my sweet husband has on! hahahaha

My First Tooth!

Well it has happened! Emma has her first tooth! Bottom left. I found it while nursing her this morning. If you know what I mean. I will post pictures of her with her new tooth as soon as you can see it better.

Yeah! my baby is getting bigger. She is so precious to our whole family!

Crawling

Ok here is the first time that Emma crawled! Yeah! 8 1/2 months and here she goes. I actually got it on video so if I can remember how I will post that as well.

Tide Pools

Such wonderful stuff to touch and feel. Sea anemones and albino sea anemones (because they are in a cave and never get sunlight) Why is that biology students? And climbing the rocks, which I might add was a little more difficult for Kevin this year with the added 18 pounds on his back. And the starfish. God sure created some wonderful creatures didn't He?

Fun!

One of the greatest things about the beach is walking to the tide pools and playing with all the "sea"life. Touching it and playing with it and then putting it back of course. Such Fun!

Wildlife!

There is so much to see on the beach in Oregon. The starfish and the little fish that are trapped between sandbars and this year we saw eagles. Can you believe it Bald Eagles! Right on the beach! Amazing place!

A daddy and his daughters!

Well I will you leave with this picture for today. Look at the color of their hair. So funny the different colors. What a blessing our daughters are to us. And our sons as well! More tomorrow

4th of July!

Ok my fireworks picture leaves something to be desired. Tamara got the best pictures. I spent most of the time in the house while the fireworks where going off. Emma was not to fond of the loud boom that went with the pretty lights. You see the fireworks were shot off by just ordinary people like us. So foreign to those of us who live in Arizona. You can't buy or shoot off fireworks anywhere in Arizona that I know of. Well fireworks went off every night but on the 4th of July it was spectacular. Wow never seen anything like it. But here are some pics of the families. I don't know why I don't have one of the Swindlers by themselves. But they are in the group pic. Billy and JoAnne had not surprised us as of yet. But as you can see we had a wonderfully large group. What fun!

Another Tradition

Another tradition is that when we leave Tillamook we stop at the same Berry stand on our way home. We buy all types of berries. Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, oh my! The next morning we always have blueberry pancakes, that my sweet husband gets up and makes without complaint. Yummy!!!!

Tillamook Cheese Factory

Here is a tradition that our family loves or sometimes hates! I am all about tradition so every time we are in Oregon we make the 45 minute drive to Tillamook to the Cheese Factory. We do the self guided tour and then we taste the samples of cheese and then we have the most delicious ice cream in the world! You can tell that my son-in-law was not as happy about being there! HaHa! But seriously I think he did have a great time! The picture of the whole family is another tradition. Every year we take a picture by a tree outside the factory. If you look closely you can see we have even another member of the family. Our own Pastor Josh and his family came up to visit and he popped up in the picture. What fun to have the Swindlers, Mattesons, Hallstroms and the Dunhams all in Oregon. This is a year to remember.

Same Rest Stop

We take a picture at this rest stop every year that we go to Oregon. And here we are 2007. A few more family members this year! Yeah!

On our way!

This is the tree that my best friend JoAnne always hugs when we stop at this rest stop in California. Unfortunately, Billy and JoAnne were not with us this year so Sam and BJ hugged the tree for JoAnne. And for those of you that are feeling bad that my best friend did not come with us, Billy and JoAnne and their son Cooper flew to Oregon and surprised us for a 5 day stay. Yeah! We were all so surprised and thrilled.

Ok, Ok

I know that I have not updated the blog in almost a month and I am so sorry. I have gotten some guff about that from our faithful friends who check on our family. So here are some pics from the last month. The majority will be off our vacation in Oregon. Our family's favorite place to vacation. It is cool and breezy and overcast off and on, something Arizona is not, well ok today maybe but those of you who live understand what I mean.

There are many pictures of our big family. I sure hope that you enjoy them. The first picture is of Emma in a backpack on her daddy's back on our way to the tide pools down the beach from the beach house. Enjoy our pictures and I am so thankful you guys keep up with us on this blog. You are all a blessing to me.