WINTER BLAST

This photo was taken this past Wednesday. We enjoyed a beautiful day of shorts and t-shirts while doing our schoolwork on the sidewalk. The temps were well into the 70's.

The photo below was taken this morning, Friday, before we REALLY got dumped on. We got well over a foot of snow. The kids enjoyed having what will hopefully be one last "hurrah" outside playing in it this spring. This was probably the most snow we got at once all winter, and of course it has to come in the spring! Once the storm passed, the sun came out, and it already has begun the melting process. Reminds me of a quote my mom once told me, "The sun is always shining behind the clouds!"

MOVIE HELP??

Quite a while back, Evan and I got rid of all TV in our house --a great decision, by the way. We have never regretted it. Living in Hardin, we only had access to two fuzzy channels, that rarely had anything decent on them. We refuse to pay the big bucks for satellite or cable, and decided we could better spend our time doing other things anyway.

After this change, we did decide to sign up for Netflix, which would allow us one evening a week to relax and watch a movie together. Sometimes we get ones the kids can watch with us, but mostly, we use it for something we do just the two of us. The problem is, we are running out of movie ideas and could use some help in this category. What are some of your favorite movies, old or new, that you would recommend watching?? I sure would appreciate some feedback in this area. We like to watch things that are decent, and when you don't know anything about a movie, it's hard to know what you're getting. So, I'm counting on you to share your favorites with us. It's been a while since I've had much feedback on this blog anyway, so now you have a reason to comment! Thanks so much!

CRAZY WEATHER

We went from sunshine and shorts yesterday to a prediction of possibly a foot or more of snow these next couple days. One section of our interstate is already shut down and the snow is falling like crazy! I'm not sure we had a storm like this one all winter, and now that my flowers are popped up and I even have some blooming, we're getting hit hard. Just yesterday Myah was asking me to get their little pool down b/c it really was warm enough for it. Today we've been bundled up in winter coats again! Guess you just never know what spring weather will bring! For now I will snuggle inside and just watch the white stuff fall!

A DAY OF COMPLETED PROJECTS

Today was a fun day as we wrapped up some of our projects. Myah has been working on this timeline since the beginning of the school year. We created it as we read through the book "History for Little Pilgrims" from Christian Liberty Press. We LOVED this book. It gave us a picture of history as "God's Story" from creation, the fall, the promise, and ended with the future coming of Christ. It brought the kids in and explained their role as a servant of Christ. It also did a great job of summarizing world history and how the US was founded and was brought about on Christian principles. We talked about some of the great leaders and Bible teachers that God brought forth over the years. It was a fun walk through history -- a great introduction for kids Myah's age.

Joel also ended his timeline this morning on his study of creation. Each number has a picture of what God created that particular day on it that he had to color.


He also made a creation book where he colored/created a page for each day of creation. He is showing off his favorite page -- day 2, where God separates the water from the sky.

A POTTY TRAINING NUDGE

Kiana had me fooled. After almost a month of doing very well with her potty training, I thought we had arrived! Then she turned 2.... hmmmm....

Kiana decided she didn't want to use the potty anymore and that she just preferred going in her pants. I was too stubborn to put a diaper back on her, so we just dealt with lots and LOTS of laundry! She continued to poop on the potty (she's not one for being messy!), but the wet messes still baffled me after so much time with success. I KNEW she knew how it all worked, and that it was just her little stubbornness coming out.

Sunday I vented my frustrations to our pastor's wife. She looked right at Kiana and firmly, but lovingly told her, "Now Kiana, you need to TELL your mommy when you need to go potty. You're a BIG girl now, and you're too old to go in your pants. Do you understand?" Kiana looked at her and quietly said, "yes". She's had almost a perfect record ever since!! :) Sometimes it just takes someone other than Mommy or Daddy to get through. Thank you, Jeannie! I do think we have now arrived...at least I hope! :)

BLOGGING BLAHS

It seems that life has been so busy around here lately that my brain has absolutely no creative element left for thinking of what to write about. I think I can just say that my brain (& my body for that matter!) is tired. Sometimes even the effort to update you on what's happening in our lives is too much of a mountain to climb that I don't even do that! I don't think I'm the only one, however, as many of my "regular" blogs that I visit haven't been updating near as often either..... hence the title "Blogging Blahs". I think it's contaigous! :)

So what IS happening at the VO household?

We sold our house. Closing is set for May 1st. The goal is to move sometime mid-April, but we'll see if that happens. We HAVE to be out by May 1st, though.

House Update: Countertops are almost finished! If you've never laid your own laminate, you have no idea how STRESSFUL a job that is. You basically have 1 chance to get it right. Evan has done a lot of reading on all the projects that he's never done before, and his work quality, even without experience is amazing. He never ceases to amaze me how he figures out how to do things that he has never done and just goes at it and is usually very successful! This weekend, we plan to make a big hole in the south side of the house and put a 10 foot window in. Another one of those, "how's he going to do this?" projects. It's fun to watch him work. Still to do before we move in: paint, sand & finish the wood floors, bathroom vanity, toilet and flooring (once the paint is done!) & purchase & install appliances. At that point, we can move in and do the rest once we're there. (New doors, trim, finish the basement, deck, entry, school room, roof, siding, corrals, pastures, garden, flowers, etc. etc. etc.)

Joel has officially started Kindergarten! The first unit we are doing is a 10-day creation unit. We are having a lot of fun with it, and will probably take a few months off after this unit is completed -- with both kids -- until we are settled at the new house. I like starting school mid-summer with the kids, and will probably do that once again this year. It all depends on our schedule. Even with a ton of new materials, I'm just not very motivated at the moment. Everything will start fresh once we get moved & settled.

At the moment, Joel's glasses have been found.....

I'm reading this addicting Christian fiction series by Karen Kingsbury/Gary Smalley right now called "The Redemption Series". I can't put them down! They have made me really think about marriage and raising a family -- both in good times & bad, and how trusting the Lord is key in every situation. If you enjoy some good fiction, I would recommend these.

We have one last week in our women's Bible study. It's been a good 10 weeks, and God continues to work in my heart through this study.

That's a quick update for now!

RANDOM PICTURES OF MY GROWING CHILDREN

They grow up WAY TOO FAST....I'm trying to hold on!!

Myah Joy

(looking so grown up!)

Joel Evan

(getting a picture of him is no easy task, so you get this one, silly face and all!)

Kiana Elise

(loves those pickles!)

SOLD!

The first house that Evan and I have owned is officially sold. We signed the buy/sell agreement this past weekend. We bought this house just over 3 years ago. I think Evan lost sleep for a week over the deal, but God gave us a rainbow and everything to let us know it was His will. It was one of the best decisions we've made. (I'll have to share the rainbow story of our lives some other time....) We've just outgrown this little house. Our 3 kids share one little bedroom, and we are looking forward to having a little more room to roam in just 6-8 weeks!

When we moved in, the house had waste-high weeds for a yard and not one single flower. I take that back...there was one wild rose bush, but that is it. We have since planted many trees, 3 good size perrenial flower gardens, built a privacy fence and planted grass! Evan built a bathroom in the basement, but we never got the rest of the space completely finished off down there. Guess we just always knew we wanted to be out of town, and didn't want to put any more money into this house.

Though I'll be sad when we move out, we have made many memories here that we'll always have in our hearts. Everything is for a season, and this season of our lives in this house will soon be closed.

"HAPPY BIRDAY NANA!"

Those words were some of the first out of the mouth of my now-2 year old last Thursday on her birthday. Kiana enjoyed every minute of her special day. I think she felt like a queen! :)

We had a fun day, all around, but in the evening we had one family over for homemade pizza and cake. I had these great intentions of making this 3D rubber duckie cake for her, but due to lack of time, opted to plop some rubber duckies on a round cake instead. She was thrilled, and that's all that mattered! She's into anything of the "rubber creature" type at the moment...toys she can play in and out of the tub with. Bathtime is her absolute favorite time of the day!

So, what's Kiana up to these days, besides rubber duckies? Thanks to her older siblings, she loves creative play. She's learning to make almost anything talk -- animals, babies, duckies, etc. Kiana can count to 12 and loves her baby dolls. She also loves to dance to any music that's playing. The key is that she wants to dance with mommy, and not by herself. Of course I don't mind one bit! :) If she wakes up on the wrong side of the bed (she's not a fan of waking up, especially from naps), all I have to do is turn on some music and start dancing!

Kiana loves to talk and is starting to act like a definite 2 year old, fits and all! She keeps us on our toes!

Kiana is a happy little girl, who almost always has a smile on her face. She is already learning about what it means to love Jesus. She never lets me forget to pray before tucking her into bed, as the words, "Pay, mommy" are out of her mouth before her head even hits the pillow.

Something else that makes this day special is that Kiana shares a birthday with my mom...Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you, and wish that we could have been together to celebrate!

My prayer for you, Kiana, is that you may grow up loving Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. That you will be a passionate servant of His, who loves and craves His Word more than life itself!

Happy birthday my little baby!