I Love Sundays!

These photos were taken over the past three Sundays.  Though I love this day, I find it hard to capture on camera.  There's really no way to truly capture the fullness of the day, the richness of the meeting, the warmth of fellowship, the surrounding of love, the rest from our many cares.  And maybe there wasn't meant to be.  These photos only begin...

Have a wonderful week!

I Just Can't Stop Smiling!

Congratulations to my sister and her beautiful family!  Can't wait to see and hold this little one and plant a kiss on that sweet, sweet little cheek.  I love being an Auntie!

Outdoor Adventure

For some reason outdoor adventures have been fewer and farther between this winter, but we have had a few.  And boy have they been fun!

We kicked off the winter with a ski at Teton Village.

In January we attended a sledding party.  The hill consisted of a mile long driveway down a mountain side.  It was like a luge run - I bet we reached 30 to 40 miles per our in parts.  The boys sat in front of us in our sleds and we used our gloved hands and sometimes the heels of our boots to steer. The boys didn't like us using our boots as it covered them in a spray of snow and they looked like little snowmen when we reached the bottom.  Then we would brush them off and hop in the back of pickups to head up the mountain for another run.  What fun!  I'm so bummed I forgot my camera that day.

And here we are on a cross country ski outing with John, Trey, Eric and Zach.  A beautiful day, good company, and great workout!

Then there are the adventures in our own front yard.  The boys and I have enjoyed sledding and piling snow with their John Deer and Tonka trucks.

And most recently we popped over to the fairgrounds for a Saturday morning skate.  The boys were tentative at first, but eventually gave in to having fun and DID NOT want to leave.

Time flies when you're having fun!

From Kalamazoo to Timbuctoo...

...we are becoming "the inseparable two!"

 Clackity clack-clackity clack

There was a big train

and clickety click-clickety click-clickety click

There was a very little train.

 They were on their way

home to Timbuctoo

And they had just left

the town of Kalamazoo.

 Slam Bang grease the engine

throw out the throttle and give it the gun

There was a big engineer

who drove the big engine.

And Slam Bang grease the engine

throw out the throttle and give it the gun.

There was a little engineer

who drove the little engine.

And clackety clack - clickety click

Throw out the throttle and give it the gun

whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I'm sure by now you get the picture.  These two are enjoying one another's company more and more!  Little brother following big brother's lead and sometimes the other way around. And mom is smiling, because for her, this is a dream come true!

(These excerpts from "A Little Golden Book Collection - Friendly Tales; The Train to Timbuctoo" by Margaret Wise Brown)

Just To See You Smile!

Welcome Katelynn Amna!

I am so happy to be an Auntie again to this beautiful little bundle.  She was born to Dale and Kari on Jan 31st. She was 6 lbs. 3oz. 18.5 inches long.  Everyone is doing great and already settling in at home.  So thankful for her safe entry into our lives and can't wait to see more of her!

Auntie Marlene

  Auntie Marlene came to stay with us for a few days and we sure enjoyed our time with her.  She is currently on a home visit from the Philippines where she lives and teaches the bible.  She comes home every five years.  When she arrived home last summer she met our boys for the first time as well as a host of other great nieces and nephews.  She returns to the Philippines again this summer and we hope to go see her there in 2012 or 2013.  When she returns here again, Tyler will be 9, Boyd will be 7, and Monte 4.  I wonder where we'll be?  She sees so many changes with every return trip.  But to us, she is always Auntie Marlene, strong and full of life, and full of zeal for the gospel.  Thank you for spending time with us and for all you do, Auntie Marlene!