Weekend in Heber

This past weekend we were very blessed to spend it with our friends, the Cassadays, at their cabin in Heber, AZ. It took about 3 hours to get up there on Friday but it was a beautiful drive. As we passed through miles upon miles of cacti we started to ascend and see beautiful GREEN trees and mountains! I've missed mountains...and no, South Mountain doesn't count. On Saturday morning Ben & I took the girls out on the ATVs. Charis loved it! Emma did too but I couldn't get her to keep a helmet on so we just went really slowly and stayed near the cabin.

Emma really enjoyed being able to play outside and get dirty.
We were getting ready to go for a walk and we found this cute little guy. I was holding him and Emma thought he was the greatest thing. He was crawling on Emma's shirt so Charis started crying. I took him off and put him on the ground so he could crawl away and hopefully become a beautiful butterfly.
Unfortunately, he never got that chance. Emma did a little Riverdance on his head.

Then we went on our walk and collected pine cones for later. The girls also found these cool hiking sticks. I eventually had to take Emma's away from her. She's too dangerous without a weapon...giving her a stick is just foolish.

That evening Miss Heidi got some string, some peanut butter and some birdseed. We made bird feeders. The girls had so much fun. Heidi and I were laughing because earlier in the evening I wasn't able to get Emma to eat any dinner but she sure was munching away on that birdseed.

We hung them in the trees right outside the cabin.

On Sunday we took the girls on more ATV rides. I forgot to say that on Saturday Ben & Kelly went on a long ride somewhere...I'm not even sure if they knew where they went. Ben said they got a little lost. Then on Saturday afternoon Heidi & I went on a long ride. It was great except dirt kept sticking to my lip gloss. We were riding through this beautiful area that had burned down about 6 years ago so there were these huge charred trees but peeking out amongst them was all this amazing fresh new growth. I was riding along admiring the life amongst the death and apparently wasn't really watching where I was going when...WHAM! I ran smack into one of those charred trees. It's ok, the ATV was fine. It was my head that hit the tree. It's a darn good thing I was wearing a helmet! When I stopped the ATV I realized that it was a branch that was sticking out over the trail...well, it used to be a branch that was sticking out over the trail. Now it's a broken branch that isn't sticking out over the trail. I still have a headache from it and my neck is really sore...I guess it's some form of whiplash. I'll be fine but I've realized that a vacation isn't a vacation until Melissa gets hurt.

While we were waiting to leave Charis asked to get a kissing picture with Ben. This is what we came up with.

I had to put a picture of Noah in here as well. He's the cutie boy that belongs to the Cassadays except for Tuesday nights. That's when I pretend he's mine for a few hours! Emma even started to say his name this weekend. And when she saw this picture she said, "Nay, Nay, Nay, Nay!" (That's considered a word in Emma's world.)

Thanks Kelly & Heidi for inviting us up this weekend! We had so much fun and it was such a nice treat!

Yum-o

I was searching under my bed for a lost earring back and found this....yummy!

(Just be thankful this isn't a scratch & sniff blog.)

Friday

On Friday we (Charis, Emma & I) spent the morning watching Zoe & Emet. Well, I did most of the watching and they did most of the playing. We really had a fun time.Emet & Emma enjoyed playing with cars. It was so cute to see them play together. They are about a month apart.Charis & Zoe had fun with a pretend tea party.

Then we moved on to dress up.

Emet even got in on the princess dress up action.

Emma did too but she didn't seem to appreciate it as much.

Then the kids played with the musical instruments. It was a fun morning and the girls were sad when it was time for Zoe & Emet to go home. But we had a fun weekend ahead of us...I'll get those pics up soon!

YIPEE!

We're going away this weekend and I just checked the weather report for where we're going...they forecast a high of 78! I'm so excited! I had to scrounge up a pair of pants for Emma. She hasn't worn pants since February! I'll have some pics on Monday for you all!

September Days

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. We haven't done much except be crazy around our house so I'm just going to put up some random things that have been going on.

Emma (during her hand, foot & mouth disease days) was very tired a lot. So she spent some time sitting in front of the computer listening to music and watching the pretty colors.

She also spent some time listening to music and licking the pretty colors.

Here's a typical after dinner scenario. Charis is still eating...as she often is and Emma is being mischievous...as she often is.

This was from this morning. I came down the stairs and Emma was just sitting so quietly on the couch reading Ben's Insurance Journal. I had to post it for our family to see. Sorry if it's long and boring.

I won! I won! I won!

How random is this? I entered a contest and I actually won! I never win anything...not even Ticket to Ride. Anyway, I entered to win this diaper bag and I did! YAY!! Ben thinks I should sell it. What do you think? Enter the poll on the right-->

Help!

I don't know what to dress Emma up as for Halloween. I had originally thought Orphan Annie but I'm having major trouble with the costume. The cheapest I've found it is $30 on Ebay. There's no way I'm paying $30 for a costume! Anyway, does anyone have any good ideas for a little redhead for Halloween?

Now You're It!

I forgot to tag people from the earlier post...

I tag Heidi, Tonya, Deidre, Aunt Jen & Janet

You're It!

I've been tagged...
20 years ago I was 6 and living in California. I'm not sure what was going on. I probably spent a lot of time picking my nose and learning how to read. I'm sure both at the same time too. My mom was homeschooling us and we would spend warmer days swimming in our pool and playing with our Golden Retriever, Cookie Monster.

10 years ago I was 16, a sophomore at Los Angeles Baptist High School. I was failing geometry but I had a really cool back pack :) My geometry teacher was recently let go from Jet Propulsion Laboratories. He was literally a rocket scientist. He barely lasted the year and I think about 60% of the students had to repeat the class. I remember this year I found some of my mom's old clothes and started my own "retro" look. A look I do not wish to repeat. I really wanted to get my driver's license but my parents said I had to pay for the insurance and gas, so I had to wait another 3 years before I had enough money.

5 years ago I was 8 months into my first year of marriage. Ben and I were living in a 700 sq. foot apartment in Newhall, CA. For which we paid almost $1000 a month! I was teaching preschool. I had the early morning shift, 6:30am-2:30pm. I had just recently had my first miscarriage and was almost pregnant with Charis. We were still attending Crossroads at Grace Community Church and really involved with our SCV Bible study. I vividly remember making lasagna for the first time and forgetting to cook the noodles first. It was crunchy. Ben's best friend, Danny, was over for dinner and I remember leaving the table in a mess of tears as he and Ben munched their way through the lasagna. I'm pretty sure I was pregnant.

3 years ago Charis was 1 and we had just moved to "The Californians" but still in Newhall, CA. We met the most amazing neighbors (the Okonowskis from Canada & the Holbrooks from Alabama). Both were attending The Master's Seminary. Little did I know how they would impact my life for years to come...they still are! I had another miscarriage right around this time as well. Ben was working really close by at Mercury and would come home for lunch everyday.

1 year ago I was still adjusting to living in Arizona. I had a screaming banshee on my hands and was at the end of my rope. God was, as always, so faithful this year. I always say that there a lot of tears shed in 2007 and they weren't all Emmas. I met some amazing women this year at our new church, GBC.

Today I stayed home with my hand, foot & mouth disease ridden children and watch a children's movie about Christmas carols...yeah. The girls and I stayed home from church since we're a bio hazard but ate some really yummy mac 'n' cheese with peas and carrots for dinner followed by Butterfinger ice cream.

Tomorrow we'll don our bio hazard suits and attempt the grocery store. Then we'll seal all the doors and stay inside for another long day.

Next year Charis will be starting Kindergarten and I have no idea what I'll do with all that free time! Oh, yeah...Emma. Anyway, I'm probably glad that I don't know what next year will hold. Last year was hard enough...if I had known ahead of time it could have been disastrous. I know Charis going to Kindergarten will be hard on me, which is why I'm begging with Ben to send her to a part-time school. It's 3 days at school and 2 days at home. I think saying good-bye to her 5 days in a row might just kill me. I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

Matthew 6:33-34
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Bummer, dude!

Thanks to our local Sun Valley Urgent Care we've discovered that Emma has hand, foot & mouth disease. Lovely! (No, it's not foot & mouth disease...that's a cow thing.)

Ugh!

This makes me nauseous!

Little Miss Enchilada

Sleeping Beauty

Emma fell asleep on the way home from the grocery store today. I carried her inside and attempted to wake her up. I had been trying for about 20 minutes by the time I grabbed the video camera to record my efforts. She must have been very tired...I guess waking up at 5:30 in the morning will do that to you!

How a Toned Down Gospel Undermines Holiness

Check this out!

5 Things

5 things that made me smile today:

(there could be a whole lot more)

1. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes this morning.

Ben brought her in for a few early morning cuddles.

2. Painting finger nails (& toe nails) with Charis.3. Need I say anything?

4. Being able to leave the front door open for fresh air this morning.

(It was finally cool enough!)

5. Watching Ben do yard work while the girls played outside and I made dinner in peace.

Turn down all that noise!

If any of you are having trouble viewing the videos because of the music then all you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of the page and click pause on the music player. I hope that helps!

By the Brook

Some friends of ours that are missionaries in Malawi just started a blog. Check it out!

More Charis...Truly a Unique Mind

(Last night at dinner.)
Mommy: "So, how does it taste?"
Charis: "Hmmm...it tasteses like cement."
___________
(Today while driving in the car.)
Charis: "What's a sacrifice?"
Mommy: "A sacrifice is something that someone gives up for another person that they love. Like Jesus sacrificed His life for us. Meaning that He died because He loves us."
Charis: "Like a sheep."
Mommy: "That's right, Charis. In the Old Testament the people would sacrifice or kill lambs to pay for their sins."
Charis: "Yeah, like if a car would hit us."
Mommy: "Um...no...that would be an accident."
Charis: "But it's like a sacrifice."
Mommy: "Um...no...it's...really not."

Once again...

Nap time was a bit of a challenge.

Don't be jealous now...

...but I think I may have the cutest niece in the world!
Check out their blog for more recent pics.

Peek-a-boo!

I see you!

Emma's Nap Time

This was a full 45 minutes after I had laid her down for nap time.