Track season is here

This is Korie's first try at the track team and Thursday was her first meet. She did great and seemed to have a wonderful time.

Here she is with her buddy Lena. Lena is an absolutely gifted athlete. Seriously. I see scholarships and all kinds of opportunity for this kid's future.

The girls got to go over to friend Teresa's house this week so that I could work for a few hours. The girls LOVE Teresa. Well, every kid loves Teresa. Daddy got them ready and out the door in the morning. So...little Elmer Fudd here decided to show off her...uh...hmmm..."dancing" ability.

Riding season is approaching! Yahoo.

Not really sure who is the pet and who is the master when it comes to these two.

potty training success, yay!

I think we are ALL happy about the nice weather...

Random shots

3 little cuties Korie and her buddy Abby

Me and my buddy and occasional 4th daughter Lucy.

Most recent house picture.

Let's go on a bear hunt

Cutie pies

These two have such a neat relationship. Of course, it isn't always loving, but most times it is. Kinley is pretty lost when Kali isn't around. On most Fridays I am at home with just Kinley all day. She asks for both her sisters all day long and wants to go get them from school. Don't get me wrong though, sometimes it's World War III around here too. Thankfully, we are blessed with enough peaceful times that I can somewhat tolerate the rocky war times.

lots and lots of water

The Little Shasta River runs through our property. Most times you can't really see it from the house. Well, I guess when there is so much water that it more than triples in size, it's pretty hard not to notice. It's been a very wet winter. Love the water, but ready for a break.

Where's Bambi?

This heard of deer is a permanent fixture in one of our hay fields.

Hard Knocks of Life

Korie was playing on the metal handrails at school last week. She fell off and landed face first onto the concrete steps. Ironically, she was waiting outside in front of the school getting ready to load up to go hit the slopes with her ski club at school. I was having major anxiety about it. She has only gone skiing two times and this was the only trip that neither Mark or I could make. I called my Mom friends, talked to the trip coordinator, begged them all to watch over her carefully. I am thinking maybe God thought she wasn't meant to go skiing that day either. Whew! She ended up with 2 stitches and hopefully a lesson learned.

No explanation needed for this picture.

A picture of Mark and I DOES exist!

Oh my this child is precious, if I say so myself.

Redneck Lawn Ornament

We had a great day skiing with Grenada Elementary School. How lucky are we to drive less than an hour and be able to spend the day with friends hittin' the slopes! Korie did a great job, it was her first time on the ski lift.

I am not a writer. So, I won't even pretend to be. But, I wanted to share a few things. First, I had an amazing birthday this past week. I felt very loved. I don't like to make a big deal out of my birthday EVER...but this year some of my family and friends made a big deal out of it anyway. OK, they didn't make a "BIG" deal out of it, but it was big to me. I am very blessed to have such great people in my life, and not because they act like they like me so much.

Most importantly, lately I have been doing a lot of "soul" searching and trying to clear my mind and focus what is really important in life. I have been having a difficult time with the kids and a little stressed from just plain ol' life. But the reality is...I have EVERYTHING and then some. I have a job that I love, I have adorable, healthy, strong-willed little girls that want nothing more than attention and to be loved. I have a husband who sacrifices more than most men so that he can provide for his family above and beyond what is really necessary. I love him for so many other reasons as well. I have a loving family that would do anything for Mark or I if we asked; and I have the most amazing friends that are like sisters to me. My life isn't perfect, definitely not stress free, but I really am lucky. It's taken me too long to figure out that there really is an undeniable God that loves me (and you) more than I could love any of the things or people I mentioned above. I am so grateful and deeply humbled by this. I will avoid rambling any further, but if you read one thing from my small book here...I hope it's this: if you are looking for some kind of meaning, purpose and perspective? Click on the Uganda Go link next to this post. It will rank as some of the best quality time you ever invested in reading. Get some tissue and be prepared to never view things the same. At least, that is my hope. Say a prayer for the people that live there and the teams that visit. They need it. Now...get to reading!

Here are some updated pictures of recent progress. Feeling very blessed.

The front

The back

View from the living room.

Life here has been eventful lately, but nothing out of the ordinary. We survived a week of constant throw up and lack of sleep. We are still recovering, but it's much better than a week ago or so. I am back to my schedule of working 2 to 3 days a week, the girls are back to their schedules and Mark, well...his schedule has never changed. Work, work, work. We have managed to squeeze in some time with good friends here and there, as well as frequent trips to our great church.

In his "spare" time, Mark has managed to work on our house a bit. I can't express to you how thrilled and exciting it is to watch this process. I can hardly stand it. Mark's crew probably think his wife is a bit nuts because she drags the kids out to the house pad and literally will just "hang" out. Sorry guys!

I have been in kind of a pathetic mood lately and although there are several things that can attribute to it, I am pretty sure it's my lack of sleep and lack of spending time in the Word. I (we) are so blessed. We are all healthy, have jobs that we love, are able to pay the bills and also manage to spend some time on occasion with our great family and friends. God really has blessed us.

Here is a picture from the garage trusses being put on today. Where is the house you ask? Well, I won't bore you with details, but Mark had to schedule truss delivery for our house with delivery of trusses for one of his jobs. So, the garage had to be first. Hopefully, the house isn't far behind it.

The girlies and I got to spend some time with the Vaughan's and Horne's this week to celebrate Lily's birthday. These kiddos are so cute together and we all had a great time (Mommy's included).

Loaded up and ready to go.

Nothing like starting them out young and teaching them how to shop.

Little bit of dancing

This rainbow followed us on our travels down the Siskiyou Summit. I know that we are always in God's hands, but nothing like a beautiful reminder.

The end of the rainbow

How can I possibly get mad?

Kinley was supposed to be in her room taking a nap. The house was quiet, it was lovely. I walked by the kitchen and caught something out of the corner of my eye. I had to take a double take. Instead of napping in her room, this is what I saw. I am slowly losing my battle with nap time. Kali is practically done and Kinley is working her way there. Ugh.

Some of my favorite ladies.

3 Little Divas.

My Little Helper

Can't wait to get outside to play in that beautiful snow!

We had a great Thanksgiving, which included a visit by Papa and Grandma, Holly and Patrick. We are very blessed.