Sunday, February 28, 2016

Lovin' This Taste of Spring!

We have sure been enjoying some spring-like days around here recently!
Last Thursday was an especially lovely warm, sunny and dry day!
So we all got out and thoroughly enjoyed it!
 
"This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
Psalm 118:24
 
  "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy."
Psalm 96:11-12
 The daffodils are also blooming,
but I haven't gotten a picture of them yet!
But here is one of the beautiful flower bowl Caroline blessed me with on Valentine's Day!!!
 I stumbled across this scene mid-day . . .
Victoria's little farm hands!








Two of our three indoor dogs were really enjoying playing outside!
They are quite the unlikely pair . . .
but they are great buddies!

 Charlie saying, "You got me!"

 Yes, this is hard for me to watch . . .
That's Timmy up there in the tree.
They always assure me that they are being super, duper careful!
Love my boys!
 
View of Mt. Ranier from the backside of our house.  
 
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
Psalm 90:1-2
 This is already the second time Valerie has had to mow the dog area this year!  
The grass is growing early . . .and fast!
 After Daddy got off of work, we decided to take a walk.
Joe has been bugging us about doing their annual "Salamander round up!"
Victoria enjoys riding Bree.
The boys ride their bikes,
while the rest of us walk,
pushing two strollers for Ben and Brielle.
Quite the parade!
(Unfortunately, Caroline was working on this day, so she wasn't able to be with us.)
 Once we got down to the area where the salamaders are,
Victoria worked with Bree a little to get her in the water.
(Bree has not been around water up till coming to live with Victoria,
so she is learning about it, and overcoming her fears!)




 Valerie and Brielle then took a turn riding Bree!
 "How many are your works, O Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number - -
living things both large and small."
Psalm 104:24-25
 Then, for the great salamander round up!
(After a while, Joe started collecting them in his pocket! : -)

I think the final count was around 75! : -)  
Brielle loves large animals . . .but doesn't like little creepy, crawly things AT ALL!
 Off for a ride out to the concrete tower thingy!
(In the summer, all of this area is under water, and  you have to ride in a boat out to it!
 
 On Friday, the boys were very blessed to be able to spend the day with Lydia.
They got to be her helpful farm hands while giving the cows some supplements.
They had SOOOOOO much fun!!!!
Pictures are courtesy of Lydia!  Thank you so much for sharing them, Lydia!
 
 "Hello, Mr. Bull!"
 And then, after getting to stay overnight with Richie and Lydia,
they helped deliver SIX lambs to a nearby customer/farm! 
 Lastly,
thought I'd share these recent pictures of Valerie's Pure Joy Labrador puppies!  
All eleven of them!  
 "For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord;
I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
How great are your works, O lord . . . "
Psalm 92:4-5a

Monday, February 15, 2016

2016 Pinewood Derby

Timmy and Joe look so forward to the Pinewood Derby each year!
They construct their cars by themselves, for the most part,
with just a bit of supervision on any cutting! : -)
They have so much fun from start to finish!
Joe's car is the military Hummer and Timmy's is the orange and black striped racecar next to his.
There goes Timmy's (on the left!)
  Joe's did really well,
and he ended up coming in third in the younger kids category.



Brielle's 3rd Birthday!!!

Can't believe it, but it's true!
Brielle is now three!
We were very blessed to have Rich, Janet, Grampa Jerke, and Richie and Lydia celebrate with us!
Thanks so much to Lydia for helping take some pictures! 
This is one of hers! : -)
 We started the party with a warm breakfast of an egg, sausage, bacon, cheese, potato scramble;
heart shaped biscuits with strawberry jam;
Caroline's delicious raspberry Danish;
and a fruit salad!

The next three pictures are Lydia's! 
So thankful for these! 
Love this one especially! : -)
 
AWWWWWW . . . . 
  Timmy bought these three helium balloons for Brielle! : -)
Then, the great present opening!  
 
This is one of Lydia's pictures! : -)
(The "scrunchy face" is Brielle's "Smile!" right now!

Kyle had ben asking and asking Brielle what she wanted for her birthday,
and she said a doggy!  So he got her a doggy of her very own! :-)
Joe-Joe bought her favorite snack for her . . . Cheetos!
  Rich and Janet also remembered Cheetos are her favorite snack and put a couple bags in this amazing treasure box that Janet specially made for her!

Each of her sisters picked out and gave her a pretty outfit or two! :-)  
We are all having way too much with having a little girl to buy for again! : -)
Papa Bob and Meemom sent some birthday money,
and so we had fun shopping for these pretty things too!
I think she's set for the summertime!
Richie and Lydia gave her this adorable bunny hat, and an adorable pajamas set. 
Aww . . . it has her favorite thing on it . . . a doggy!
Victoria gave her these two horses . . .Bree and Bubba! : -)
Grampa Jerke gave her the sweet little bear in the photo.
No, a real puppy wasn't given to her as a present! ;-)
It is just her favorite thing to do . . .hold the puppies! 

Timmy also gave her this new cowgirl hat.
She asked Victoria if she could go and ride Bree right then and there.
But since it was still in the middle of the party,
this little horsie sufficed for the moment.
(This little horsie was given to Lydia at her one-year-old party! :-)

Playing with these really cool coloring tablets that Papa and Grammie got for her.
The "markers" have water in them,
and when brushed over the paper,
it turns into a colorful "watercolor" painting! : -)



Thanks also to the thoughtful friends and family
that sent sweet cards and gifts in the mail during the week!
That was soooo sweet of you!!! 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Four sweet sisters visiting  . . . 
Then, on Brielle's actual birthday . . . .
we woke up to a wonderful exchange of gifts and cards and another wonderful breakfast.
And after church, we sang Happy Birthday to Brielle,
and enjoyed her yummy chocolate cake!

 
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