Day 9

Well, today was a less eventful day. We were doing to start the day at the Wyoming state capitol building (which I mistakenly spelled capital yesterday!) but it was closed on Saturdays.

So, we went to a Wyoming state museum which was pretty interesting. There was a scavenger hunt for the kids and they were supposed to try on a costume. The kids were feeling a little old for this, but I made them pose anyway!

Next, we drove to Scottsbluff, NE, which was a post along the Oregon Trail. They had a few exhibits and wagon display.

Of course, collecting two new states (bringing the total to 40) was a highlight! Below Danny is kissing his native soil of Nebraska (never mind that Danny has never actually lived in Nebraska, but his dad grew up there and still owns land so he was trying to convince the kids that this was his roots.)

Day 8-Denver

This morning we headed into Denver for the day. (Pam and Patty, I thought of you both several times!! I never did see Mile High Stadium, though!) We don't have many pictures from today because they don't let you take cameras into the US Mint and so we didn't carry it. We first visited the state capital building and took a quick look around. (We added it to our state capital "collection.") The Mint tour was a fun tour with funny, engaging tour guides.

After that we went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. This was a GREAT museum, probably the best natural museum that we have seen. There was a great rock/mineral/gems exhibit. We always enjoy a good rock exhibit! Other favorites were several different demonstrations on what would happen if we were in space without a suit using a special vacuum chamber. We also saw a demonstration of a dissection of a sheep's brain and lung. It was very interesting!! One nice thing was a great butterfly/moth/insect display because it was a great review of what we had learned in science this year.

We are now spending the night in Cheyenne, Wyoming and we will visit their state capital tomorrow. Today brought us up to 38 states.

Day 7-Great Sand Dunes National Park/Colorado Springs

We started out the day driving an hour to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. You can imagine how my heart sank when I heard Danny wanted to hike to the top of the dune the call the appropriately named "High Dune" once I saw this....(yes, those little dots are people!)

However, once we got started, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Here is a picture from one of the ridges at the top of one of the dunes. Somehow Seth had enough extra energy to roll around! We got there pretty early, so it wasn't unbearably hot, and some spots of the sand was cool and harder and some was getting pretty hot and you would sink down in it. That was the hardest part. We are about halfway up in this picture.

We made it to the top (about a mile up, and 500 feet elevation change)!! It was a great feeling of accomplishment.

Of course, the best part of the whole thing was running down the hill at full speed! The kids even called this hike one of the most fun parts of the whole trip. It is fun when gravity works in your favor!

We then drove to Colorado Springs and went to the Air Force Academy. Danny wanted to sign Seth up, but when he saw all the young recruits going through their drills, I'm not sure he was too excited. However, after we saw the video, he thought it sounded cool to parachute out of an airplane. The chapel was even cooler than we had heard it would be.

Next, we went to the Focus on the Family headquarters. We didn't have time for a tour and most of the kids things were closed, but it was a neat facility. After that we went and spent the night with (follow the family connection, here) Danny's sister's husband's brother's house. It was very fun to get to know them and their kids better.

Day 6-Mesa Verde National Park

(Make sure to scroll down because I added pictures to the post from a couple days ago.)

Today we went to Mesa Verde National Park, which is ruins of the Anasazi tribe that built their homes right in the sides of the cliffs. We took a tour of one of the houses and it was a really fun tour. You have to start by going down this incredibly steep ladder and then up a face of the cliff (with the help of a wire railing.) You also had to crawl through a small tunnel and then climb back up again!

The houses were almost like little villages and some "pueblos" held more families than others. The house we toured was thought to be a two family home.

There were many of these ruins built into the cliff, but the biggest one is called Castle House (40 families)and we could see it from a lookout across the way. The zoom lens came in handy here!

This day was a highlight for us so far.

Next we drove a three or four hours to our hotel. We happened upon this waterfall on our way and took a short hike to the bridge. Gorgeous!!

Day 5-Bridges, Monuments, Four Corners

Yesterday, we saw a heck of a lot more rocks! It is amazing to me how many different ways there are to make rocks look cool. Every single one is different than the one before and gorgeous in its own way! We went to Bridges National Park and did four different hikes. They weren't too long, but they were pretty steep (500 feet elevation change in a half mile). But, it was well worth the hike when we got there! (Actually, the hard part was getting back up!)

We ate a picnic in a place called Gooseneck park. I bet you can figure where it got its name. It actually arches back one more time than you can see in this picture.

After bridges we went to Monument Valley, which was very different again from the other places we have been. This is a picture of the road that Forrest Gump ran on in the movie when he just kept running, so we took a picture of the road with the monuments in the background.

The next stop was the Four Corners. This was our first time in New Mexico and Colorado. It was a total tourist trap place on a Reservation. Let's just say we took our pictures, used the Honeybucket, and was out of there in about 5 minutes! For this, they charged $3 per person. You would think they could have put in a couple toilets for that.

We then drove a couple hours to our hotel in Cortez, CO and the kids swam in the pool.

Day 4-Canyonlands

(I added a couple pictures from yesterday, so scroll down)
We started the day early and ended late! But, it was well worth it on both ends of the trip. We headed to the north part of Canyonlands this morning, called Islands in the Sky. We went on several short hikes. The thing about this region that is so amazing is that every area seems to be totally different than the next thing. (I'll post pictures when I get them off our camera). We timed it so we would be done by noon and head to our next hotel for a swim and dinner before doing the south part of Canyonlands.

This part of our trip was my favorite so far. We got to the park and there was literally no one there. We saw one couple hiking as we were starting our hike. We saw one other car besides ours in the whole place. It was absolutely surreal. We were in the most amazing wide-open beautiful place and we were the only humans within miles. The temperature had cooled down and was still very warm, but completely comfortable. We timed our hike so we would be there at sunset (8:45) and it was gorgeous although covered by quite a few clouds. The hike (about 2 miles) was so great, perfect temperature, full moon, great views, total solitude and the surreal feeling of the canyon.

The drive home was not quite as fun because it was a long, windy road in the dark. We were almost hit by a deer (he came at us straight on) with a huge set of antlers and hundreds of rabbits almost lost their lives! But, we made it. I haven't looked at the pictures yet, but I'm hoping they can somehow capture the amazing night!

Western National Parks Trip-day 3

Yesterday we got up early and headed for Salt Lake City. We saw the Capitol building and then we headed back to the Museum of Natural History. We were there four years ago and although we enjoyed it, it was not as amazing as we remembered it. It was the first Museum of Natural History that we had been to and so remembered it as very amazing. But since then, we have been to much better ones. We still enjoyed it. Lots of rocks, which is always a big hit around here! We walked around the Mormon Temple a little bit because the kids couldn't really remember it from the last time we did it. We didn't do the tour or anything, just walked the grounds. Then, we headed to our friends the Brandleys. They fed us dinner from their backyard overlooking the mountains of Provo. Very beautiful!! Then we headed up for a little hike up a waterfall. (The kids literally walked up the waterfall!)

Today we drove about three hours to Arches National Park. We spent the morning hiking and driving around this beautiful place. It was really hot and so we decided to take a couple hours off in the afternoon and swim at our hotel and then go back in the evening. This was a great decision because it was beautiful there this evening. We watched the sun setting over the rocks. It is an amazing world that our God created!! (I'm not sure how to choose which of the hundreds of pictures to post, but I'm just going to grab a couple for now!)

Western National Parks Trip-Day 1

I must confess, there really isn't much to report today. We left Spokane at about 7:00 am and pretty much drove all day. We stopped in Missoula to make a Walmart stop and we had a picnic lunch along the way. Well, truth be told, it was windy and chilly so we ate in the car parked by a scenic river. The drive was beautiful and flew by. We got to Idaho Falls at about 6:00 (which is one hour ahead). We listened to a book on CD and talked. I dozed off for about 45 minutes. Pretty exciting stuff! But, our longest driving day is over. The kids did great and even said it didn't seem nearly 10 hours. We ate at Chilis for dinner tonight and the kids are now swimming in the pool. That is ALWAYS a highlight of the trip. We are staying in a very nice Best Western hotel. Hopefully there will be more to report tomorrow.

No comments of the photography

I'm still learning how to use our camera, and I couldn't use the flash during the show....but, I really wanted to post pictures of how awesome the costumes and sets were!!! I wish you all could see what a great show this has been!!!! I'm going to try and take some better pictures at this weekend's shows. I don't have any of the beast in costume or Gaston. In my opinion, the kid who is playing Gaston could go and play this role in a Broadway touring company right now. He is amazing!! And all the principle characters are great also!

Lots to say

I feel like I have a ton to blog about, but I haven't taken the time to do it. Last week we got this:


It is a Nikon D60 and I must confess that the thing scares the living daylights out of me. Now I feel responsible to take good pictures because I have no excuse!! But, the truth is I don't know how. And I don't know my aperture from my ISO (whatever those things mean!!) But, I do intend to learn. Realistically, what will happen is that Danny will learn and he'll explain it all to me! There are so many buttons and settings that I can quickly get overwhelmed and want to give up. But, I do know one thing and that is that the camera makes a very satisfying clicking noise when I take a picture and it makes me feel like I am a photographer.

I'll be posting pictures in the near future of Annsley's show, the beautiful waterfalls, our property and anything else I feel is picture worthy!

Beware the wolves!

This week is the big dress rehearsal week for Beauty and the Beast. Annsley is one of the wolves, which, even though was a bit of a disappointment at first, has turned out to be pretty fun for her. The only problem is that she is the oldest of the wolves (she is actually the "head wolf") and so sometimes she feels a little talked down to. But, she has a fun little dance and she is having a great time.

I was at the rehearsal last night, the first one in the actual theater, and these kids are amazing. The kids that they have playing the leads are such talented young people. The kid who played Gaston had me cracking up, and there will be more than one kid crying, I'm sure, when the beast makes his first entrance! Belle is also perfect for the part! I have continued to be amazed at how well done the CYT productions are! If you live anywhere close to Spokane, make sure you get a ticket!!

Born Again

I'll shock you all by posting two days in a row....

I just finished reading Born Again by Charles Colson. He was known as the "hatchet man" in the Nixon days during the Watergate period. He was a prideful hardened man who would do whatever it took to do the job needed. The book (on my autobiography list) is an amazing story of God getting hold of his life and changing him completely. I cried though the whole book as I read of how God was glorified through his conversion.

I love the Twila Paris song that says:
But I never get used to what You do
I never get used to watching You
Take a life beyond redemption
Make it yours and make it new
I never outgrow the miracle
A heart that was empty, flowing full
I never get used to what You do

It is an old book, but the message is timeless and I would recommend it as a testimony of God's faithfulness. It is especially neat knowing all the Chuck Colson's prison ministry has done since the writing of the book to further the gospel!

Pool Duck

Well, the pool is open!!!!! For those who don't know, my dad started (not on purpose) collecting rubber duckies for the pool. For some reason, we all keep buying him different rubber ducks. Last Christmas we (my brother's family and ours) got the "mother-of-all-rubber-ducks" for my Dad for Christmas. It is kind of a family joke. Today we went over and my Dad inflated the duck with the (what he called) the annual inflation ceremony.

Then, the duck was taken on its maiden voyage.

Giddyup, ducky!!

Then the duck got cold, and decided to go in the hot tub.

That thing is scary!!!

Cousins

Off in the other room I hear the delighted giggles of my 3 year old nephew being entertained by Annsley & Seth. We worked hard to get our school done this morning so that we could keep him this afternoon so Autie Erica could enjoy a little alone time for her birthday.



My kids are so crazy about their younger cousins and it just makes me happy to hear them all in there having so much fun together. I know Annsley and Seth are having just as much fun as little Sammy is.



Life is good!

My little girl is 11 today...

Sorry about the quality of the scans below, but I wanted to show off my little smiler. These smiles reflect her personality. She is sweet and loving, and I'm crazy about her!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNSLEY!!

I've been tagged

5 things I couldn't live without under $5
1. Carmex (or as the addicted call it, lip-crack)
2. Diet Dr. Pepper
3. Sugar-free, non-fat, extra-hot, grande cinnamon dulce latte (Well, I could live without it, but I enjoy them)
4. Cheese
5. Popcorn

5 favorite movies-For some reason I can't think of a SINGLE movie that I have seen in years!
1. Mr Holland's Opus-I'm a sucker for an inspirational teacher movies!!
2. Remember the Titans-I'm also a huge sucker for inspirational sports movies!!
3. Facing the Giants (see above)

5 Baby name you love but won't use.
1. Marietta (I wish we had use this because it is a combo of both grandma's names and I think it is cute!)
2. Bethany-I wanted to name Annsley this, it is such a sweet peaceful name, but Danny vetoed it.
3. Cole-I like the strong sound of the name
4. Ashton-I thought Annsley and Ashton would have been cute, but Danny said we would have to be missionaries if our kids had the same first initial. :-)
5. Isabella-OK, I confess this is left over from the college days when I watched Days of Our Lives and I loved how John called Isabella- Izzy-B. But, Isabella Buller sounds stupid!

5 songs you could listen to over and over again.
1. Blessed be the Name of the Lord
2. Any songs from the musical Wicked
3. Be Thou My Wisdom
4. How Deep the Father's Love for Us
5. Who am I?

5 People who influenced your life in a positive way.
1. my mom
2. my dad
3. my grandmothers
4. Danny
5. my kids

5 things that stay in your purse at all times.
1. lip-crack
2. calendar
3. wallet
4. pen
5. glasses

5 moments that changed your life forever.
1. becoming a Christian
2. getting married
3. becoming a mom
4. homeschooling my children
5. turning 40?!? :-)

5 Obsessions you have right now
1. The music from Wicked
2. Hanging on the internet with my friends
3. Reading (working on my book lists)
4. Digital scrapbooking is not yet an obsession, but I want it to become one.
5. Homeschooling and planning/researching stuff. I love doing that.
5 places you would like to go.
1. Italy
2. Greece
3. Ireland
4. Africa
5. Russia

5 people I would like to see their top five:
Anyone who wants, let me know you have done it so I can read them!

It's official....

I'm 40!!


I had a wonderful birthday and felt very loved by family and friends. My Dad took our family to play laser tag, which was a total blast! I haven't done that for years and all three generations had a great time.

I have no negative feelings about being 40, I say bring it on!! :-) It is going to be a great decade.

My kids...

are downstairs making their lunch. Instead of the normal silly-ness or bickering I hear them singing.....in harmony. It sounds so beautiful. They are learning this song in their music class and it is really pretty. (It's a Wonderful Thing to be Me) They are getting really good at holding their parts and it is just making me smile. The other day they asked me to play it on the piano and all 3 of us sang it together. My dream come true! This is normal for Annsley, but Seth is a little more hesitant to join in and share his gift. He actually has a very pretty, sweet boy voice.

Happy day, people!

I've been reading

The Pursuit of God by A.W.Tozer. It is actually a re-read since I read the book when I was in college at Biola for a class. For some reason at that time I found the book boring. Huh?! Boring?! Was I really in a place then to not respond to Tozer's amazing, simple and convicting message?

The subtitle is The Human Thirst for the Divine and I find myself thirsty for more of God. If I quoted all the passages that have moved me, I would be quoting a good portion of the book, so I will settle for just a few favorite parts. I would encourage you to read the book. It isn't anything new, just the simple truths of our relationship with a holy God.

Failure to see this (our receptivity to God) is the cause of a very serious breakdown in modern evangelicalism. The idea of cultivation and exercise, so dear to the saints of old, has now no place in our total religious picture. It is too slow, too common. We now demand glamour and fast-flowing dramatic action. A generation of Christians raised among push buttons and automatic machines is impatient of slower and less direct methods of reaching their goals...We read our chapter, have our short devotions and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting....

The tragic results of this spirit are all about us: shallow lives, hollow religious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings, the glorification of men, trust in religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, the mistaking of dynamic personalities for the power of the Spirit.

Tozer published this book in 1948. It is interesting that he so clearly diagnosed a problem then that would only grow worse as our society developed more "automatic machines." I am convinted by the part that I bolded (emphasis mine). "Too slow, too common." I am praying that God would change this about me!

Is anyone out there?

HELLO?!!!! (echo....echo)

I don't really know why I haven't blogged in so long, but I just haven't had much to say. Life is good, really good.

Do y'all know that I only have 14 days left of being in my 30's?!? There is still time to get the gifts in the mail.

Americal Idol talk, anyone?
I was happy to see David go. I was a bit surprised because I thought it would be Kristy Lee to leave last night. She definitely had the worst of the performances, in my opinion. My favorites are Brooke and darling little David Archeletta. He had a hard night on Tuesday, but hopefully he will learn from that. There were some good performances on Tuesday, but none that motivated me to pick up the phone and vote. For the first time this year there is no-one in the top twelve that I just can't wait until they go. I don't love them all, and I don't prefer the rock of Amanda, but I still like her. Thankfully, there is no "Sanjaya" this year!