Recent Funnies ...

Here are a few that were hidden away in the archives of our family vacation photos and videos in case you missed them:


A fun little video of Henry, whose greatest gift is appreciating the moment (click to watch).


In Colonial Williamsburg, Ruth pointed to the wreath on the bottom right and asked Lauren what the white puffy stuff was.  Lauren said, “What do you think it is?”  Ruth responded, “ … Puss??”

And finally, tonight Robyn was helping Henry to be a good worker during clean-up time.  Whenever I gave the two of them a job, she’d say, “Come on Henry!  We have a mission!”  The last time I asked them to do something, Robyn stood up, saluted and said, “On duty!”  Henry, wanting to fall in line, stood up, saluted and said, “I’m duty!”

Family Vacation - Day 4

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!!

Before our official Thanksgiving meal (and a wonderful devotional by Granddaddy) Pop-Pop took the four oldest children to the mini-golf facility located on the resort property.  (Apparently Ruth did not play as well as she would have liked.)  It was a bit wet and they all came back with cold fingers, but they all reported having a wonderful time!

Family Vacation - Day 3

Yesterday was a slow-moving day.  After Daddy finished working on breakfast, he started in on preparations for dinner (Wednesday was our family’s day to provide dinner).  The kids got to watch a number of those movies that we save for “Winter Jubilee” (the holidays).  In the evening after dinner, Robyn shared with the family the new copy of Frozen that she received for her birthday.  Everyone enjoyed a big family movie night!



Just as an extra bonus, here’s a picture from earlier in the day of Henry trying on Pop-Pop’s hat!



(Click on either image to see a few more shots of the same two events.)

Family Vacation - Day 2

On Tuesday we went to the playground in the morning because rain was predicted for the afternoon.  The kids were so busy and active and Mama is such an amateur photographer that the still shots aren’t great, but there are a bunch of fun videos … including the zip line, Hazel being a little climbing monkey and Henry enjoying a good slide!  (Click on the image below for the rest of the album.)



In the afternoon various baking experiences were available to the kids.  Cousin Lauren invited the children to make sugar cookies with her in the Beck’s unit and she was joined by Ruth, Robyn and Henry.  Auntie Terri and Emma went over to Grannie and Granddaddy’s unit to bake muffins.


Ruth and Robyn kneading the sugar cookie dough with Cousin Lauren.


Cousin Lauren helping Henry to cut out a cookie.


Emma mixing muffin batter …


With Auntie Terri.


Cousin Rebecca, Robyn and Ruth decorating freshly baked cookies.


Cousins Lauren and Kendall decorating cookies.

Meanwhile, in Grannie and Granddaddy’s unit, others were relaxing in their own way …


Working on a puzzle …


And reading …

Until our bakers showed up to share some treats!




(Click on any image to see the full album.)

Family Vacation - Day 1

We arrived here at the Powhatan Plantation Resort late Saturday evening.  Sunday morning we attended church together as an extended family at Grace Covenant PCA.  Our first vacation adventure was a visit to Colonial Williamsburg Monday afternoon.


This is the whole group who attended, except for Auntie Terri who was taking the picture.  (Note: Lovely gal on Uncle Ben’s left is his brand-new fiancé Leah Hendrix!  Yea!!)


Here’s a shot of the girls sitting on a fence with Cousin Rebecca waiting for the Fife and Drum Corp to march past.


And here’s Robyn with the best seat in the house for a speech by General Washington and a firing of the cannons!

(As usual, click on any image to see the rest of the album.)

Snuggling

Last night Mama and Henry were snuggling on the sofa wrapped in a warm blanket.  Henry said, “We can lean against we-chuther!”

Deep Dish Pizza!

I know.  I’m spoiled.  I have a husband who loves to cook.  And he usually voluntarily takes over meal preparations on the weekends.  And we always eat very well!  Today he decided he’d like to spend his day off learning how to make from-scratch sauce and crust …



for deep dish pizzas!  Wow.  Delicious!  And already gone! J

Run for Mukhanyo 2014

Today Luke, Emma, Ruth and Robyn (and Henry and Hazel to some extent!) participated in the Run for Mukhanyo.  Morgan Lewis, a young lady from our church, has organized this run for four consecutive years and this is our family’s third time to participate.  Morgan’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Rettig helped to found Mukhanoy Christian School for orphans and other underprivileged children in South Africa.  When Mrs. Rettig passed away on Columbus Day 2010, Morgan wanted to do something to honor her grandmother’s memory and to support her vision for Mukhanyo School.  She also wanted to find a way to use her passion for running to get local children involved in helping those across the world from them.  Here are just a couple of shots from today.  Click on any image to see the whole album (and some video!).

Ommmm ...

We were playing a board game with “amulet” tokens.

Ruth: Is it AM-ulet or OM-ulet?
Mama: AM-ulet.
Ruth:  Oh, right.  An OM-ulet is something you eat.

Growing Up

Robyn: I want to grow up because I want to have kids and pick the videos and have cupcakes.  But I don’t want to grow up because I don’t want to have kids and all that trouble.