Oregon Dreaming

Leopard Gecko

2011-10-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

Hero is now the proud owner of a leopard gecko. It was a rough relationship at first. The thing started hissing at her when she tried to take it out of the box! Thankfully, we looked up some info online and she is now working on getting her pet adjusted to his new surroundings.

This past weekend...

2011-10-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we made a really quick trip up to Oregon. The reason that we chose this particular time to go was to attend our 10 year college reunion. We were also able to see Justin's Grandma, my new niece, and celebrate Hero's birthday with the Peter's side of the family.

The fam with Gigi. (Yes, I realize my kids are covered with weird markings.)

Two of my adorable nieces.

Hero and her birthday "pie"

Honor Roll

2010-11-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

Jericho made the First Honor Roll for the first quarter. This means that his GPA was 98% or higher.

While we were expecting the honor roll award, we were surprised when Jericho also received Student of the Month for October.

Way to Go, Jericho!

Ransom's Fourth Birthday

2010-11-16T19:59:00.001-08:00

I can't believe my little guy is now four! We had a great time with our extended family celebrating this milestone in Ransom's life.

Ransom and his best friend Danny now have the same Star Wars gun. It doesn't shoot anything (thank goodness) but the sound effects are annoying enough. Now we know what we put Danny's parents through!

This hat is perfect for Ransom!
This costume combines Ransom's favorite things: Batman, blue, and gloves.

The Bat signal.

Farmer's Fun Fest

2010-11-16T19:21:00.001-08:00

The kids really loved the Farmer's Festival at our church this year. I'm not sure which they liked better the games or the big bags of candy they brought home!

Ransom and his best friend Danny try to eat the donuts on strings. (Danny actually chose to lick the donut. This made an easy victory for Ransom.)

Mercy totally disregarded the "no hands" rule.
Ransom and Danny decorating pumpkins. Ransom said that this was his favorite room.

After noticing all the people with their faces painted, Mercy really wanted something on hers. She did a very good job sitting still.

I think she liked it!

It's hard to tell, but Jericho has a football on the side of his face.

Hero won a Lego prize at the fishing game. She gave it to Ransom for his birthday. What a sweet sister!

Mercy and her friend Sarah enjoying their hot dogs and hot chocolate.

Fall

2010-11-16T19:05:00.001-08:00

Daddy had "tons of fun" carving pumpkins with the kiddos. Hero chose a werewolf, Ransom a cat, and Jericho a dragon. Justin's favorite part was making an emergency trip to the store for replacement pumpkins ;-)

Mercy had a lot more fun playing with Ms Pumpkin Head. (She didn't like the flash on the camera! Thus, the closed eyes.)

For Justin's Birthday, I got him a giant marshmallow heart. After the pumpkin carving festivities, everyone got a piece of it.

Disneyland

2010-04-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

This past Monday and Tuesday we went to Disneyland and California Adventure. We had a great time, but were definitely worn out by the end! The kids seemed to enjoy arguing over who got to ride with Aunt Heidi :-)

Crazy Hair Night

2010-04-15T15:47:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday night was "Crazy Hair Night" at Awana. As you can see, we had a lot of fun with Ransom's hair!

The Potty Song

2010-04-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Easter Pics

2010-04-08T09:04:00.001-07:00

"Guy"

2010-04-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

This is Ransom's "Guy". For a while, this was his favorite stuffed animal. (I oppose calling him a doll. I can't bring myself to say that my son plays with dolls.)

Recently, Ransom has been afraid to be in his room alone. He keeps saying that he hears something. I attributed this to the fact that his room shares a wall with the washing machine. However, the other night, Ransom came in to my room, with his "Guy". He said that this fuzzy-headed creature was attempting to eat him. After tucking him back into his bed, he refused to allow "Guy" to be in his bed.

The next day, he once again commented about hearing something in his room. This time he told me that it was "Guy" saying, "I'm going to chomp you!" To remedy the situation, I put "Guy" up in my closet. Unfortunately, this was not good enough. Ransom could still "hear" him. Thus the tape over his mouth. Problem solved.

Memory Lane

2010-03-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

While browsing some old photo albums, we came across these photos of Hero when she was about 8 months old. It is amazing to see how much Mercy (at 20 months) looks like Hero.

Hero

Mercy

So It Has Been Awhile…

2010-03-18T19:34:00.001-07:00

Last night my husband lovingly convinced me to start blogging again. Here's a brief summary of how that went:

Justin: "Since you're not blogging anymore, it would be nice if you would send out emails to people with pictures attached.

Myself (after trying to remember the last time I sent out an email that was more than a paragraph long and attached with anything other than a Word document): "Maybe I'll start blogging again."

So, you see, I am taking the easy way out. It's just easier to blog. Rather than try to fill you in on what we've been doing for the last seven months, I'm just going to start at where we are now. Most of you have Facebook anyway, so no need to bore you with a recap.

For today, Mercy loves it when Jericho reads to her. Unfortunately she also knows what a camera is for!

First Day of School '09

2009-09-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

Jericho and Hero all ready for their first day.

Jericho is ready for the first day of first grade.

Hero has a seat in the front row in her third grade class.

And More Photos...

2009-08-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Mercy prepare for a hike.

Grandma and Mercy

The Grandparents and all the Grandkids.

A view from my favorite spot by the river.

Even More Photos

2009-08-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

My niece Elizabeth in the raft.

The boys in the hammock.

Ransom, asleep and dirty.

Aunt Julie and Mercy.

More Camping Photos

2009-08-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

The kids on our hike.

Our fearless leader.

Hero and Meredith rafting in the river by our campground.

Mercy and Grandma.

Camping Oregon

2009-08-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

For our family camping trip this year, we met the rest of the Peters' clan at a campground east of Eugene. We were looking forward to the cool Oregon weather and lush, green forest. It was definitely pretty, but it was pretty hot too. Oregon was experiencing a heat wave! We still had a great time visiting with family and the kids got plenty dirty. Some highlights of the trip: Mercy started walking ~ finally, Jericho lost his second tooth, a deer came into our campsite, all the kids enjoyed playing in the river, and Mommy got some yummy blueberries on the way home.

Our campsite. Loved all the tall trees...the biting flies, not so much.

The Cougar Reservoir. No, we didn't swim in it.

Another view.

Mommy didn't get too close to the edge. This is overlooking the other side of the dam.

Sunday School Camping Retreat

2009-08-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

At the end of July we went camping with our Sunday School Class. It was a good warm-up for our family camping trip. The kids had lots of fun and got really dirty!

Ransom and his friend Danny in matching Superman pj's.

The kids had fun on our hike.

Hero and her lizard friend.

Justin participated in the endurance challenge. Who knew that holding a glass of water could be so hard?!

Spankings

2009-07-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

How not to Discipline...

Mommy: "Mommy doesn't like to give you spankings."
Ransom: "Yeah, don't give me spankings!"

What I’ve Been Up To

2009-06-26T21:29:00.001-07:00

On my Google Reader I subscribe to many of the "Deal Alert" and money saving blog sites. They are useful to a certain extent. Sometimes, by the time I get around to reading a certain post, the deal is no longer available either because of limited supply or expiration date. Another problem I have with the sites is the regional limitations. I am constantly marking all "as read" because the posts are not relevant for stores in my area.

This is where Twitter comes in. While Twitter hasn't replaced blogging (yet), it has replaced the necessity of subscribing to so many blogs. By following the Bloggers themselves on Twitter, I am alerted to deals when they break. If it looks like a deal that is worthwhile, I can click on the URL that often accompanies the Tweet.

Works great…but it can be better. What I need is a "network." I have no desire to start my own deal blog, but I want to somehow alert others about deals in my area. For example, Fresh & Easy recently had their grill packs marked down to $2.50. This is a great deal for 4 lbs 11 oz of chicken, sausages, and hamburger patties. I found out about it by a phone call from my mom. Of course, I didn't want to keep this info to myself. I wanted to enlighten others in my town with this knowledge. To do this I could either a) call everyone, thus intruding upon their lives or b) direct message each of them on Twitter, which ended up doing, thus taking up more of my own time than necessary. I could have just updated my Twitter status, but that would have also updated Facebook and not all my friends in the world of Twitter really care about coupons and grill packs.

The answer to this is GroupTweet. Instead of sending out individual direct messages, anyone in the "group" can send out a direct message to the "group" name and it will send out a Tweet to the whole group. (If that is clear as mud, just click on the link above.)

I have been working on this for a while now, and I think I have a pretty good grasp on how it all works. So… if you live in Hemet or San Jacinto (or are just curious to see how this all plays out) come check out the group's Twitter page: Hemet Valley Savers. You do not have to follow each individual in the group to see the updates. You just have to follow Hemet Valley Savers and the group has to follow you.

My goal is to not be the only one alerting everyone to great deals. Hopefully, others will share their deals, tips, strategies, and extra coupons (hint, hint!) I have been thankful for my friends that have helped so far and I am eager to have them share their shopping tips with others.

Ice Cream Cutie

2009-06-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, she ate this whole thing by herself!

Into the Wilderness

2009-06-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

My husband is very concerned about the health and well being of his family. In order to ensure our fitness and also to create some family togetherness time, he took us all out to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. By the end of this "quality" time. I am sure he had a lot more sympathy for Moses.

This is toward the end of our journey. Right after we saw the coyote. This encouraged the kids to walk faster. No one wanted to be at the end of the line; just in case the coyote was especially hungry.

This is actually at the beginning of the hike. Notice the happy faces.

Yes, Jericho is carrying a purple backpack (with Tinkerbell on it!) No, Ransom is not practicing to be a rapper. I think he just likes to look like his Uncle Jonathan.

Hero and her tiny frog. This was one of the redeeming qualities of our trek.

Jericho's Graduation

2009-06-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

Here are the photos from Jericho's Kindergarten graduation. Jericho had quite a big speaking part, but he managed to memorize the whole thing. We are so proud of our big boy!

In the cap & gown.

Saying his part.

Getting his dipoloma

His cool squirt gun from Grandpa & Grandma. He was able to use it on the last day of school. They had a "Water Day."

Jericho's First Lost Tooth

2009-06-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

Jericho pulled out his first tooth...then he lost it. Actually, to be more accurate, we lost it. I put it in a baggie then set it on the mantle supposedly out of harm's way. Well, the time came to place it under the pillow. I reached up to get it to no avail. The tooth was gone! Our theory is that the baggy was thought to be trash and since Monday is garbage day, well...needless to say, Jericho was heartbroken. Thankfully, he found some cash under his pillow the next day that cheered him up.

Hair Today....

2009-05-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

...gone tomorrow.
Jericho really did want his hair shaved off; Mommy just didn't want it so short. I was all for cutting his hair off for the summer, but I made the mistake of cutting it without the "cheaters." I normally cut Justin's hair and I never use a guide. So, when I started to cut Jericho's hair, I just took the razors and made a buzz right down the middle, starting in the front. At that point it was too late to do anything but cut the rest off too. Jericho loved it. Of course, Ransom had to have his done as well. Just like Daddy. Good thing they have such a handsome Daddy!

Ransom Recents

2009-05-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of my wild two year old. He definitely has lots of energy, but he is getting better at channeling it (somewhat.) He seems to finally have the potty thing down, although he still has accidents from time to time. I am just glad to be diapering one kid. He plays really well with Mercy. She follows him around everywhere, like a little puppy. He is loving toward her in a rough sort of way. I especially enjoy listening to him explain things to her. I can see the role of a scapegoat in Mercy's future.

Ransom has gone back to taking naps again. I hope it means he is growing.

He loves jumping. Especially when Daddy is home to show off to.

For Ransom, every day used to be "crazy hair" day.

Fingerprints Field Trip

2009-05-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, Jericho's class took a field trip to the Fingerprints Kid's Museum. I was happy that I was able to go along on this little excursion.

"Row, row, row your boat..."

Jericho and Michael climbing the rock wall.

My twin cousins, Mitchell and Michael. Hopefully this is not a glimpse of things to come.

Easter '09

2009-05-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess this is a case of better late than never... Truth is, I actually had a post ready to go with lots more Easter pics, but either the computer or the user (my bets are on the user) had issues that night. When I went back to edit the post, none of the photos were saved. Story of my life. Anyway, this is as close as we get to looking like a "happy" family.

Justin's New Blog

2009-05-13T21:12:00.000-07:00

I will get the link up in my sidebar soon, but fyi, my husband has a new blog. You can check it out here.
I will try to get more photos up soon. We are actually having issues trying to get our photos off the camera. Yes, we tried taking the memory card out and putting it in the slot. That's not exactly the problem.

For Your Information...

2009-05-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Just to update you: we have decided to leave Hero at CCS for the next school year. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and encouragement!
Oh yes, and for total randomness:
Ransom is teaching Mercy how to pet the dog. He said, "Pet her gentle," then showed her how to do it. This coming from the boy who literally pounces on her whenever she is laying down.

Decisions

2009-04-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

We've been faced with a few challenges these past few weeks. The first major one was Justin's job. Right after we came back from vacation, he was told that he would be transferring to Palm Springs to open the big new store. This was a difficult transition for us. We have been rather spoiled having Justin work so close to home. We now see this as God making His leading more evident in our lives, although at first we were very uncertain of where His path was taking us. Please pray for Justin as he continues with his schooling, internship, work, and also his safety as he travels.
Another decision that has arisen is one that I thought we had pretty much settled. We decided to home-school Hero and leave Jericho at CCS for one more year. We have now been given the opportunity to leave both of the children at CCS for only a little bit more than it would have cost if we home-schooled Hero. While financial issues were not the main reason we were home-schooling, we are thinking of taking advantage of this opportunity. Other factors have arisen that are leading us to this decision. Please pray for us in this issue. Our decision needs to be made very soon and we are still weighing our options. We want to glorify God in all areas of our life including the way we educate our children.

Oregon Trip

2009-04-20T20:03:00.001-07:00

Here is a recap of our trip to Oregon, along with the promised photos. We left for Oregon at 3 PM on Friday afternoon and made it to Salem before noon on Saturday. I drank a Monster coffee in the middle of the night and drove for six hours straight (not counting potty stops.) We were blessed with wonderful weather on the way up. We stayed in Salem with Justin's sister and family. The kids LOVED visiting with their cousins.

On Sunday, we went to Grandma Hilde's birthday party. All of her children were there, along with most of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was great to see family we haven't seen in a while. We were also able to see our friends from Grace Baptist Church. I was so thankful that we were able to be up there for that weekend because it allowed me to attend the concert of a friend from my college years.

On Monday, I was able to visit with some of my college friends and their kids at Riverfront Park. It was a beautiful day and such a fun visit. The kids especially liked riding on the carousel.

Tuesday we left for Eastern Oregon. We had a nice visit in Hermiston with my Uncle Frank and Aunt Diana (and their horses.) They fed us a yummy lunch and let the kiddos each have a turn riding the horse. Of course, they spoiled us as well. We each left with a chocolate bunny!

From there it was on to La Grande to stay with my in-laws in their new home. We a great visit with them. Daddy had fun showing the kids the town where he grew up.

We left Oregon Friday afternoon and decided to take a new way home. We traveled down through Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. It was faster than driving back the way we came, but it was definitely not as nice. We ran into thunder storms in Idaho. Then we ran into snow in Utah. It was the middle of the night and I was driving. It came down so bad that I couldn't see where I was going and Justin had to pull me over to the side of the road. Justin took over driving and stayed behind a semi going about 20 mph. God was good to us. We didn't have to stop (we were afraid we would get snowed in) and we made it safely out down the mountain. the last leg of our journey was difficult due to the fact that there are not any rest stops along the 15 in Arizona and Nevada. This is not a good thing when you have four kids and one is having major gastric-intestinal problems. I won't go into details in order to spare my son embarrassment. So that was our trip, and although I miss Oregon, it sure is good to be home.

The kiddos watching a movie on the way to Oregon.

At the Carousel with Krista and Bethany

The kids with Uncle Frank and Aunt Diana

Mercy loves Grandpa

Grandma and the kiddos reading a bedtime story.

Updates

2009-03-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

I realize that my posts have been devoid of pictures lately and I apologize. We are heading up to Oregon at the end of next week and I hope to have lots more to post then. In the mean time, if you want to see some pics of our adorable family head on over to http://www.chadmartinphotography.com/ and check out the recent sessions. Our friend, Chad, is an amazing photographer, so if you ever need pictures taken, we highly recommend him.
Okay, as far as updates go, I realize that I never mentioned how we did on the "No Spend Challenge" in February. Believe it or not, we did really well. We did have a couple lapses here and there. I spent $5 on a milk frother (which I think saved me money in the long run; I haven't been to Starbucks since!) and Justin and I both have a weakness for discounted books which cost us about $30 at the end of the month. In all we were able to save enough for two months tuition for the kiddos. It was great to pay this bill with cash on hand, even though the cost is set aside in our savings.

In other Peter's Family news, we have decided to probably home school the kids next year. We hadn't planned on doing this for the next year, but a number of things are pointing us in this direction.
For starters, the homeschooling program that we are interested in is through the kids current school. The kids would be able to come on campus for chapel days, and attend field trips with their friends. The school takes care of the record keeping, etc.
Second, we have a desire to teach our kids skills beyond academics. With our family schedule the way it is now, we don't really have time to develop other skills that the kids want and need to learn.
Third, even though they are in a "Christian" school, they are surrounded by non-Christian kids. While this has led to many different discussions concerning language, modesty, divorce, etc; we realize that our children's corrupt little hearts may be drawn more to the ungodly example in their fellow classmates. We would rather they see the gospel lived out in our daily lives and our interaction with unbelievers.
Lastly, cost. Of course it's a factor. We have always seen our children's education as being something worth sacrificing for. We still believe that, but we truly believe that they will learn better through one on one instruction. In this case, we are exchanging monetary sacrifice for personal sacrifice. While I know this will be a challenge for me, I am excited to spend more time with my kids and guide them in their quest for knowledge.

As a final update, I cut my hair off. Most of you already knew this, but if you didn't click on the link at the top to see how it looks.

Eternal Perspectives (Randy Alcorn's blog): Caring for the environment: should Evangelical Christians be concerned?

2009-03-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

I love it when God brings things into my life when I need it the most. After listening to John MacArthur's sermon (online) that he gave at the Shepherd's Conference, I desired more than ever to learn how to be a good steward with all that God has given to me, including the environment. This morning my Google Reader had the following article for me:
Eternal Perspectives (Randy Alcorn's blog): Caring for the environment: should Evangelical Christians be concerned?
I hope it blesses you as much as it did me!

Shepherd's Conference

2009-03-05T19:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of Justin and two of our pastors at the Shepherd's Conference. This is Justin's third year attending. I am so thankful that he has this opportunity, even if it means taking care of four kids by myself for a few days. He always comes back so energized and encouraged. Photo is courtesy of Pastor James.
(Note for my mother-in-law: He has been very thoughtful of me in all of this. He's sent me e-cards every day with instructions to find little surprises around the house. His mother taught him well!)

Modern Medicine

2009-03-02T22:04:00.000-08:00

Let me start out by saying, I have issues with modern medicine. This is, of course, a result of things that I dealt with in my past. (Umm, how many people like to be hooked up to electrical monitors for days straight, take medication that makes their hair fall out, and travel to half a dozen doctors with no results?!) .
Add to that the info you read about here. Be sure to check out the possible side effects.
Finally, the latest news about the drug used to treat the flu. (I like the part that states, “The vaccine is known not to fully protect against infection.”) By the way, I am NOT anti-vaccinations, but I do think that one should definitely do their research before jumping on the vaccination band wagon. Find info on the various vaccines (from reliable sources) and see if their are other alternatives (e.g. homeopathic, naturopathic.)
All this to say, that when my kids get sick, I am reluctant to take them to the doctor. Every time that I have done so, I have regretted it. For example, my oldest son was sick with a fever and terrible cough. He woke up choking and gasping for breath. This was not something I had seen before in any of my kids, so I rushed him to the urgent care. They took his pulse/ox and informed me that I needed to take him to the ER immediately. Fearing for his life, I took him to the hospital in good ol’ Hemet. By the time we arrived there, his only symptoms were a fever and a rough cough. They gave him some Tylenol, and we waited for over three hours in a room with other sick people. I finally decided that the best care for my son would be at home in his own bed. If he was still sick, I would take him to his doctor in the morning (which at this point, was only a few hours away.) I informed a nurse that we were leaving so they could take his name off the waiting list. One month later, I receive a bill for $50 from the hospital. The price of Tylenol has sure gone up.
So today, I notice that my almost 8 month old has a raspy cough and a rattling in her chest when she breathes. I debate within myself for a few minutes and finally call the doctor. (I like how Kaiser lets you talk to a nurse within the hour.) The nurse informs me that I have to take her in. Today. Monday . The appointment is after 3 o’clock and the office is 45 minutes away. If I don‘t hit the traffic getting there, I am sure to hit it coming back. This better be worth it.
Two hours and one co-pay later, I have my peace-of-mind. The baby’s fine. Whatever she has is viral. So how am I supposed to feel? Relief that my daughter does not have a serious illness? Or...embarrassment for having wasted so much time, money and gas? A little of both?
I think when it all comes down to it, we have to do what we feel is best for our kids. While I do not entirely regret taking my child to the doctor, I know that next time will be different. Each of these moments, we file away in our brain, prepared for their recurrence in the future. As mothers, we get to know our children. What is normal; what is not. While we do not take the place of modern medicine, God has designed us to have integral part in the caring for our sick children. I am thankful that He has chosen me for such a position.

My Oldest

2009-02-04T20:19:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's Hero. Climbing the palm trees with no shoes on. She is kind of a daredevil, so she surprised me today when we had the following conversation.

Hero: "When I grow up, I'm going to home school my kids."

Mommy: "Would you rather I home school you?"

Hero: "No, I like going to school."

Mommy: "Then why do you want to home school you're kids?"

Hero: "Because then I would have to drive them to school and I am too scared to drive."

This from the girl who has a lead foot on the 4-wheeler.

By the way, Hero made Student of the Month for January.

And You Wonder Why I'm Going Green

2009-02-04T19:13:00.000-08:00

Check out this post here if you want to find out more about mercury in the stuff you are eating.
BTW...I just checked a package of bread I bought (I love sourdough, but I can't make the stuff) and it has corn syrup in it. This may be the motivation I need to keep making my own bread (and learn how to make sourdough!)

A friend of mine asked me to elaborate on ways that I am going green and trying to stay frugal. So, here are just a few steps we have taken so far.

1. I recently tried to wash my hair by using baking soda, and rinsing it with diluted vinegar. I lasted one month, but then my scalp got too gross. I ran out and bought some organic shampoo and conditioner. (It was on sale and I had $ on my Walgreens gift card. It was in January too.) I am determined to try this again. I have read of so many people that this worked for....maybe I just didn't give it enough time?

2. When I ran out of foundation, I ordered a free sample kit from Everyday Minerals
I don't where much make up, so this was perfect. It is fast to apply and my skin feels great till the end of the day.

3. My sister-in-law sent us a reusable grocery bag for Christmas. It is so cute and it keeps the food somewhat insulated. I leave it in the car, along with two others that we got for free, so that I can avoid more plastic bags.

4. We are in the process of buying stainless steel water bottles. We hope to get a filter on our faucet (when I can find a good deal) so that we don't have to taste the tap water (that has a chlorinated taste to it.) We buy so many water bottles, but this is costly and we are also exposing ourselves to BPA. Not too mention that we have to haul all of them to the recycling center.

5. I have switched to using a cast iron skillet. Not only do I get the benefit of extra iron in our food, I don't have to expose my family to the Teflon found in our non-stick skillets. Not to mention that cast iron retains heat so much better and can be used in the oven as well.

6. We are trying to buy more handmade goods. I have fallen in love with the Etsy site. I guess this isn't exactly green, but we are trying to support individuals as opposed to big companies. We are also hoping for better quality goods.

7. Re-using wherever possible. I used to toss plastic containers into the recycling container thinking that I was doing the best for the environment. Now I realize that I actually have some creativity in me. I have been finding interesting ways in which to reuse these container (and not just for leftovers.) On a side note, don't try pouring hot grease into a plastic container, even if you think it is cool enough. Really what was I thinking?!

8. Don't buy in the first place. The way to get around the excessive packaging problem, is to not buy in the first place. I have found that a lot of things can be made at home. Sometimes it is hard work, but I have been surprised at how easy most of this stuff can be to make. Convenience has a high cost.

Okay, so that's a few of the things we are doing as we try to be good stewards with what God has entrusted us with. I will try to keep you posted as we progress in this area.

No Spend Challenge

2009-02-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

It is so funny, how things happen. Last month we discussed the posibility of not spending any money in February. It sounded like a fun thing to do. (Yes, I know. We are weird.) The goal is to see how much money we can save in one month. This month seemed perfect, because it is a shorter month, with no major spending holidays. (Valentine's Day will be extra creative this year!)
Well, the funny part all this is that a lot of other people had the same idea. In the blogs that I normally read I came across this post. It is encouraging to know that others are trying out the same thing! So, if you are up to it, it is not to late to join the challenge. For some, this may be a daunting task. For others, it may be a piece of cake. I'm thinking we are somewhere in the middle, but we shall see when the month is over. We're off to a good start. Two days down, only 26 more to go!

Legoland

2009-01-27T20:42:00.000-08:00

For my birthday, we surprised the kids by taking them to Legoland. It was the perfect day to go due to the fact that it was a school day and kind of rainy. It was so nice to get away as a family and spend time together. It was also nice that I wasn't pregnant and could actually ride the rides. Legoland was perfect for Hero and Jericho as most of the rides were designed for their age group. Unfortunately, Ransom was unable to go on about 90% of the rides due to his height. He could go on some rides with an adult, but I couldn't go on with the baby so we had to do a lot of kid shuffling. We actually got in for pretty cheap. We only paid for parking and one adult ticket. Hero and Jericho are in the Brickmaster's Club. The cost of membership is less than the cost of admission. The kids get a Lego set every other month. The membership comes with a "free" ticket which can be used by an adult or child. We had a coupon from one of their magazines that gave a free child admission with a paying adult so we were set.

Lack of Blogging

2009-01-27T19:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know, it has been a while. I was keeping a running list of blog posts in my head, but the longer I put off blogging the longer the list got and the less I wanted to blog. So, I have decided to skip them all. Most of you have Facebook anyway and have already seen the Christmas and Disneyland photos. Here are some short updates of what is happening in our lives:
1. The rabbit ran away (or was eaten.)
2. Jericho made student of the month (again) for December.
3. Justin is just starting his second year of Seminary classes. Lots of reading ahead for him.
4. I just had my 30th birthday. Yes, I feel old (but at least I am not the father of a 30 year old.)
5. I have been looking for ways to live more frugally. Does this have something to do with the economy? Probably, although we have always been making small steps in this area. I think the current financial conditions are just a catalyst.
6. We have been trying to live chemical free whenever possible. This means going to all natural products whenever possible. It also has to fit in with our frugal living, so at times it can be a struggle. For the most part, I am amazed at the ways we save money by choosing natural over chemical. Usually it just means a little more work on my part. Our goal is to be good stewards with all of God's provisions, not just the monetary ones.
7. I have stopped using shampoo. (See above for reason) Yes, I still wash my hair. Just not with the chemical laden shampoo. So far I am not too satisfied with the results. Apparently your head has to go through a chemical detox when you stop using shampoo. That is where I am at right now. We'll see if this experiment works out.
8.We will be making a trip up to Oregon for Easter break. For us that is the week before Easter. (I know, weird.) If we don't get to see everyone then, don't worry, we plan on being back up there in August too. I can't believe I did not get to see that beautiful state at all last year. I am in withdrawal.

That's about it. I will post some photos of our recent outing to Legoland as soon as I can.

Smiling Mercy

2008-12-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

Big Boy Pants

2008-12-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

At Target today we picked up some real underwear for Ransom. My hope is that he will not want to wet his cool new pants, and will go in the potty more consistantly. Well, when we got home, I helped him put on one pair of the new undies. I then went to the kitchen to make lunch. When I called him to eat, I found that he had put on all 3 pairs of underwear!

Being a Mom Who Stays Home

2008-12-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

I have been blessed by a number of blogs recently that focus on staying at home, making the most of my time doing so, and glorifying God in EVERYTHING that is done here. One that I have been especially impacted by is this one. I hope that it is an encouragement to you as well.

Do you see what I see?

2008-12-12T13:30:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of the palm tree in our backyard. If you look closely, you should be able to see an owl at the top of the trunk under the dead branches.

Photo Tag

2008-11-19T09:50:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged by my friend, Mindy. I don't usually do things like this, but I'll do it to make Mindy happy.

Here are the rules:
1. Go to your pictures file.
2. Go to the 4th file.
3. Go to the 4th picture.
4. Post it and tell the story.
5. Tag 4 more people.

I then tag 4 people:
1. Krista
2. Bethany
3. Heidi
4. Kelly

So...here it is:

Hero sitting on Daddy's lap and eating his cereal. This was in the small apartment we were living in when we first moved to Southern California. Fun times.

How I Did

2008-11-19T09:33:00.002-08:00

Well, things did not go as well as I had hoped, because I got sick. On the few days that I was feeling "okay", I accomplished great things. I managed to get the oven and stove cleaned, the baking cupboard organized, and both of the kids' rooms cleaned and organized.
I also was able to get our Thanksgiving tree put together, with Hero's help. Hopefully I can get a photo up soon for you to see.
I discovered a new favorite cleaning product:

I used it on the stove and it worked wonderfully. The problem is that it is sometimes hard to find in stores. I got mine at the Albertson's in Sun City (when I was making my own laundry detergent.) This is after calling the company and asking them where I could get it. It was cheaper than buying it online.

The Challenge

2008-11-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

I have been challenged this week by some recent blogs that I peruse. My goal is to make my house a haven. If I have time, I will post specifics about this endeavor at the end of this week, so you can see how I did. If you want to join the challenge click here.

When Mommy's Not Looking

2008-11-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when Mommy's not looking. Normally the hutch has a wire twisted around it so it can't be opened by Ransom. I let him out to play in the backyard thinking that he wouldn't be able to harm the bunny. I had forgotten that Hero went out before school and fed her pet. She forgot to twist the wire and close the food container. Ransom decided to take it upon himself to give the bunny some more food!

African Safari '08

2008-11-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

I didn't get a lot of pics at African Safari this year (only 3 of the same game) because I was helping with the bean bag toss. Justin had to work so the two older kids ran around on their own. My Grandma walked around with Ransom and Mercy until they got too cranky; then she took them to the nursery. The kids all seemed to have fun and we will be eating candy until Valentine's Day!

The Soldier, Superman, "Guitar" Hero, and the Lil' Pumpkin.

Not too sure about the weird costumes her siblings are wearing.

Ransom's favorite game.

Napper in the Hamper

2008-10-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

Ransom fell asleep this afternoon in his clothes basket. It took us a while to find him. Normally he likes to crouch down inside the basket and pop up yelling, "Ta Da." I guess he was too tired out for that. Glad to see that he has Elmo to keep him company. (No, not really. I can't stand Elmo.)

Another Tooth

2008-10-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hero pulled another tooth out tonight. She pulled it out right before dinner. So the topic of conversation around the dinner table revolved around her tooth and the "Tooth Fairy." Every time that Hero pulls a tooth we remind her that the tooth fairy is really Daddy (only once has it been Mommy...her bed is too high!) When we asked Jericho who the tooth fairy really is he gave the perfect Sunday School answer: God.

Mr Pumpkin Head

2008-10-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the kids decorating their pumpkins. They received these as gifts from Uncle Jon and Aunt Natalie for being in the wedding.

Wedding pics

2008-10-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from my brother's wedding in Cambria this past weekend.

Our first picture with the whole family.

Proud parents

Natalie and Jonathan

Jericho, Grandma Wendell, and Hero

Daddy and Mercy

2008-10-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Shoes

2008-10-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

When I was taking pictures of the rabbit, Ransom came out of his room and said, "Cheese!" Notice his brother's sock and shoes on his feet. I am guessing that he wasn't sleeping.

Birthday Bunny

2008-10-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here is the Bunny that we got Hero for her birthday. We tried to get a picture of it earlier with Hero holding it, but that didn't work out. I finally got this picture when the kids went to bed. It's a little scared. I'm not surprised with this family. Hero named the rabbit "Blacktop."

Random Ramblings

2008-09-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

There are various odds and ends that I have been meaning to post, but have not had the time or the energy to do so. Some brief rambles...
~Congrats to the nerd boy (aka my brother) on the purchase of a new home. Now all you need is a kid to put in it!
~Potty training is still in the works. Ransom can actually go to the potty by himself now, but he sometimes gets too distracted by what he is doing. He enjoys taking off his training pants by himself and throwing them away when he does go in them.
~Mercy is going to sleep fairly well, but has recently been waking up about 2 or 3 and staying awake. I sometimes only get about 4 hours of noncontinuous sleep. This is killing me.
~Hero's birthday is tomorrow, but we are planning on having a combined birthday party for her and Ransom at the end of the month. We are a little too busy right now, and she would like to invite friends this time so this is the only way that we can do it. More info to come on that one.
~Justin was finally able to schedule his appointment (for those of you who want to know.)
~We have been seriously battling ants around here. They just keep coming. I think they are immune to Terro bait and all the other poison we are throwing at them. Right now they are coming in through the electrical outlets in the kitchen. They go for any little spot on the floor. Oh yeah, they sometimes bite too!
~Jericho is still loving school. Hero is tired of writing her spelling words four times each for homework. (Mommy is tired of this too.) Ransom wants to go to school with the big kids. He loves it when we take Mitchell and Michael home.
~We have found it interesting that Ransom refers to himself in the first person. He will point to his photo and say "Ransom," but that is about the extent of him using his moniker. Most of the time he says, "I want" or "Let me do it" or my favorite, "Mine." He has been such a crack up to watch while he pretend plays. He loves to play with the little people.
~I have a friend from church in the hospital. She is very lonely and does not have any real family in the area. The doctors are running lots of tests on her, but they don't really know what is wrong with her. Please pray that God will give the doctors wisdom concerning her situation. Also pray that she will not be too lonely during this time. I am only able to visit, for short times each day, and I am not a big fan of the hospital she is in.
~Well, that is about it for now. Oh yeah, it is hot here. This time of year always makes me homesick for Oregon. Hopefully the Lord will bring us back there some day.
Thanks for listening to my rambling.

Doctor Visit

2008-09-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

Well, it is just as we assumed. Ransom has eczema. I decided that since I had to take Mercy in for her checkup, I might as well schedule an appointment for Ransom too, just in case. My secret fear was that his rash was a form of premature skin cancer. Thankfully, no, just eczema. (I can blame his father for that one.)
Anyway, on to Mercy. She is 12 lbs 9 oz. She is in the 60 percentile. She is exactly half of Ransom's weight. She got 3 shots and an oral vaccination for Rotovirus. Normally, shots make my kiddos tired. It is actually something I enjoy (no, not seeing them in pain, but I like the break I get when they are sleeping.) Well, Mercy apparently did not get the memo. She did not sleep; she screamed all the way home. She screamed so much at home that I gave her another bath. Mercy loves baths. Unfortunately, they have to end some time and as soon as she was wrapped in the towel she howled again. I finally gave her some pain reliever. Now, even though she is sleeping, she wakes up periodically and cries. Poor thing. Pray that Mommy and Mercy will get some sleep.

Family Updates

2008-09-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

The kids have been in school for almost a month now and we are finally getting into the swing of things.

Hero is getting used to her new teacher, and seeing all of her classmates again. She has a larger class than last year, but she doesn't seem to mind.

Jericho is loving kindergarten. He is so blessed to have his cousins in class with him. I think I need to come up with some new lunch ideas for him though. The other day he was sitting at the table eating breakfast when he asked me if we were almost out of bread. I informed him that we were well stocked on bread, and asked him why it mattered. He told me that if we don't have bread then he doesn't have to have any more sandwiches.

Ransom enjoys staying home with Mommy and watching Elmo. I can't stand Elmo, but since he loves this fuzzy, red monster so much, I put up with it. We are working on potty training him. He sometimes tells us, but most of the time he just starts taking off his clothes.

Mercy is doing a little better at night. She has been going to sleep with no problem. She usually wakes up about twice a night, but sometimes it is as many a four times. Mommy drinks lots of coffee in the morning!

Justin has started his Greek syntax class and his second year internship. Please pray that his boss will continue to give him the days off that he needs.

Well, hopefully that is enough to get everyone caught up a little bit. I will try to blog more often now that we have more of a set schedule, but no promises.

Smiles

2008-09-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

Mercy has been smiling for a few weeks, but she would never cooperate when I got the camera out. Here are some shots that I finally got.

Courteous

2008-09-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

Jericho is learning to be courteous in Kindergarten. Here is his explanation of the drawing above...
"That's me (left stick figure), that's my teacher (right stick figure). On the wall there are lots of rocks, and one of the rocks fell off and hit my teacher in the head. I said, 'Are you okay?' That means courteous."
Glad to know I am raising such a well mannered son!

First Day of School

2008-09-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Hero and Jericho started school today. Jericho was nervous but excited. I thought Hero was just excited. Jericho walked right into Kindercare (Kindergarten day care) and started playing. No worries for him. Hero on the other hand, was crying when I saw her in the morning assembly.

Ready for their first day.
Hero and her teacher
Hero's desk
Jericho was able to take a break from his playing to pose with his mommy.
Michael, Jericho, and Mitchell

More Aquatic Center Photos

2008-08-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

Ransom in the pool

Jericho braved the green tube slide

Hero makes a splash

Mercy is resting after cooling off in the water

The Aquatic Center

2008-08-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Valley Wide Aquatic Center for the first time with some friends from church. The kids loved it, especially Hero. We went during the little kids swim time, so the big blue slide was not running. The kiddie area was enough for us.

Daddy and Mercy

This is right before Jericho sprayed me in the face.

Mommy and Ransom

The whole gang

Thoughts During the Lord's Supper

2008-08-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

I will admit it. My mind did wander during the serving of the Lord's Supper this past Sunday; but try to look past the weakness in my human state and bear with me. I was holding the baby, trying to keep her quiet, while focussing on repenting any sins that I might have committed. (Alright, so I was repenting of all the sin that had already shown itself that morning.) Anyway, the thought suddenly occured to me, "How am I going to pass the tray, while holding this child?" I started to formulate a plan in my head. "If it is passed from my left to my right, I will be okay, but right to left will be disaster." You see, my Grandma was sitting at my left and she would be able to pass the tray directly to the server. Somehow I didn't think it would work too well the other way around. Visions of Mercy covered in grape juice, flitted through my brain. I then proceeded to calculate which row the server would need to start on in order for my scenerio to work. Thankfully, through divine providence, the passing went just how I had hoped and Mercy was spared an infant's baptism.
As the cup was being passed in front of me, the kind gentlemen that was holding it must have sensed my apprehension. "Don't worry, I've got it," he whispered. It was then that I realized my insecurity was all for not. What I had neglected to take into account, was that I was not partaking of the Lord's Supper alone. I was with the body of Christ. One reason we observe communion as a congregation is to recognize corporately the sacrifice that has been made for us. As a gathered group of believers, we are reminded that no effort that we make on our own will save us. God has made us brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage and exhort one another. I am just glad I got the encouragement this day and not the exhortation. (I'm sure that will come after I publish this post.)

More Pics

2008-08-22T11:18:00.000-07:00

Grandparents and Grandkids

Grandparents and Mercy

Grandpa teaching Jericho Slap-Jack

At the Bass Pro Shop

More Pics from Grandparents' Visit

2008-08-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

Jericho's birthday present: the Armor of God.

My little warrior

Ransom's Armor of God teddy bear.

Father and Son bonding time.

Grandparents' Visit

2008-08-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

Justin's parents came down this past week and were able to see Mercy for the first time. We had such a nice visit. Even though they just left yesterday, I am already missing my "baby holders."

Camping Trip Pics from Jericho's Camera

2008-08-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Jericho's Camera

2008-08-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

More Camping Trip Photos

2008-08-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

These pics were taken at the playground at Hurkey Creek Campground.

Camping Trip

2008-08-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

Last week Justin took the three older kids on an overnight camping trip with some friends from church. While that alone would have been a daunting task, he also had to contend with a dirty toddler (still in diapers) and a five year old with gastrointestinal issues. Here a some photos from their trip.

Yummy!

Yes, there was lots of dirt.

The campsite

Their late night visitor.

More Chuck E Cheese

2008-08-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

Chuck E Cheese's... where a "kid" can be a kid.

Jericho finally goes down a tube slide. He has always been afraid of them before.

Ransom tries to attack the giant bugs.

Jericho thought this picture was so funny because the guy's tush was on fire.

Chuck E Cheese

2008-08-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

Jericho tries to convince Michael to make a silly face for the camera.

Mitchell's got the hang of it!

Mitchell watches Drake hunt the wild buffalo.

Ransom gets his shot.

Jericho's 5th Birthday

2008-08-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Jericho's birthday a day early to make things a little easier. Jericho loved this idea. In his thinking, he had two birthdays.

Here is the birthday boy with his dragon cake.

Daddy is thrilled with Michael and Mitchell's gift of the motorized, automatic, nerf gun

Getting ready to open the gifts.

Uncle Jonathan helps Jericho put on his new "bat." Maybe it's time to put Jericho in a organized sport!

Safety Measures

2008-08-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

Ransom has gotten into the habit of getting into the videos and dvds. Our solution to this problem was to put safety latches on the cupboard where they are kept. This worked fine for a couple of days until he observed his sister opening the cabinet. Immediately afterward, he was able to open the door himself. So now the videos are kept in the closet.

Train Show Pics Continued

2008-07-31T18:27:00.000-07:00

The Train Show

2008-07-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

These photos are from the train show that Jericho and Daddy went to along with Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Uncle Paul, Mitchell and Michael. They are also from Jericho's camera.

Jericho's Pictures

2008-07-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some random shots from Jericho's camera...

Two Week Checkup

2008-07-31T18:17:00.000-07:00

At Mercy's 2 week checkup she was 7 lbs 12 oz and 20 in long. Her weight was down to 6 lbs 10 oz when she left the hospital meaning that she gained over a pound in two weeks. I guess that should be no surprise since she eats constantly!

More Baby Photos

2008-07-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

Proud big sister.

Jericho always wants to hold the baby, but only for less than a minute.

Ransom thinks the baby is so funny. The more she cries the louder he laughs!

Right after this photo, Ransom welcomed his sister into the world by hitting her right in the face. Notice the hand, poised to strike.

Mercy Ellen Peters

2008-07-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

Mercy Ellen Peters arrived July 12 at 7:55 pm. More photos to follow.

Birth Story

2008-07-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

Well, as stated in a past post, I was induced before my due date. Thankfully, the experience was better than the last induction, although, definitely not as quick as real labor. When I went in to the hospital, I was already at 4 cm, and was having contractions about 5 min apart. Unfortunately, this was not enough to just have my water broken, so Pitocin it was. Thankfully, they started me off gradually, and I did not suffer through excruciating contractions until the end. This time around I ended up not opting for pain reliever of any type, although I was begging for it when it was too late. That was the hardest part. I was ready to push but apparently the rest of me wasn't. Just when I thought I was going to go insane and was begging for an epidural (or Tylenol at the very least) the baby started coming. The nurse checks me then goes running out of the room yelling, "Help, Baby!" Justin is once again jamming on the nurse's call button. The midwife made it just after the head was out.
I have to hand it to Kaiser, they respond fast. I also appreciated the fact that I had one nurse assigned to me the whole day. We were only left alone briefly, for short periods of time. I was also thankful that I was able to go home the next day. All in all, I would have to say that my experience with Kaiser was probably the best out of all the births.
Oh yeah, while I didn't appreciate it at the time, I am thankful that I did not have the epidural. The recovery time is so much quicker.

Rethinking the Possibilities

2008-07-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

The more I think about it, the more I realize that being induced is not so bad. Of course there is the convenience of it. It is much easier to plan out child care for 3 kids this way. Also, Justin is able to notify work about taking the time off, before next weeks schedule is written. I won't even have to deal with any signs of false labor.
Even better than convenience though is the less possibility of having an emergency c-section. I understand now, that if my blood pressure continued to be high and it started to affect the baby, I probably would not be given the option of an induction. So for that, I am thankful.
The best thing about the induction, of course, is the fact that I will get to see and hold my new little one even sooner.

Pregnancy Similarities

2008-07-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

I got a call this morning from my doctor's office, informing that I am going to be induced on Saturday. Needless to say I cried.
This pregnancy has been so similar to my pregnancy with Hero, but so totally different than the two boys. I carry the same as I did with Hero, I crave the same things as I did with her, and I have the same problems. That's the crazy thing. It is not as common to get hypertension with the fourth child as with the first, but that is what has happened. I even remember the doctor saying with Hero that it was hard to tell if I was hypertensive, because my blood pressure always went down as soon as I laid down. This is exactly what happens now. I lay on my back and my b.p. is way up. I flip to my side and it goes right down. So why did I think that the end would be any different? When I was told of induction with Hero, I was elated. I was so excited for the pregnancy to be over. This time it is different. Of course I am thrilled for the pregnancy to be over, but now I know better about inductions. I know that the difference in the pain is incomparable to that of labor that starts naturally. If I am fortunate enough, maybe I could go into labor before then. We'll see. At the very least, I can proudly say that I never missed my due date with any of my four kids.

When Temptation Strikes

2008-07-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

The thing about temptation is that it usually comes unexpectedly. Yes, there are times when you place yourself right in the path of a tempting situation (such as going to the grocery store right before you eat lunch, then giving in to the urge to buy the ready made food that is not on your list.) But those times are easier to guard against. I think that it is easier to give in to temptation when you are caught unaware.
For example, today I ran into Target to buy some diapers and other household items. I successfully managed to buy only the items that I had gone in for. When the cashier gave me the total, I was pleasantly surprised at the low price. As I walked toward the exit, I glanced at my receipt to see which items had been on sale. To my surprise, only two of the items were listed along with a coupon that I had used, yet all of my items were bagged up and in my cart. This is where temptation struck. You would think that being the godly woman that I am, my first thought would be to rectify this situation immediately. However, instead of turning my cart back to an open register and paying for the un-rung items, I actually considered this my good fortune, and continued heading for the exit. Thankfully, by God's great mercy, the guilt of my sinful thoughts overtook me. Instead of the exit, I went to the courtesy desk; I even considered the long wait my penance.
I write this as a reminder, that we have not yet attained perfection. My daily struggles with sin remind me of the following passage:
Not that I have already obtained it,or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12

Sticky Fingers

2008-07-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

Lately we have been having issues with Hero and lying. She is quite adept at it really. She can change her story at the drop of a hat. She'll even add in details to make it seem like she is telling the truth. Yes, she inherited her mother's sin nature, that's for sure.
While lying has been an ongoing problem, stealing has not. She used to take the occasional toy from a friends house or Grandma's, but we thought this issue had long been resolved. Apparently not. Yesterday, while at the store with Grandma she managed to snatch a little beanie baby. Then came the intricate web of lies. When I came to pick her up, I realized the toy was new. She said she had brought it from home. When pressed further, she said she had received it as a prize from church. When asked again, she said she had found it under her uncle's bed. When we asked her uncle, the truth finally came out.
We set off for the store, lecturing her about lying, stealing, and sin the whole way. She kept crying and asking about how long she was going to be in prison. (We never told her she was going to prison, but she new this is what happened to people who stole from Daddy's store.)
She walks in with Daddy and talks to the manager on duty. I don't know if it was due to Hero's uncontrollable crying or lack of experience with children or both, but he replied to Hero confession with, "That's okay."
Needless to say, we made very clear that it was not okay. Hero also spent the rest of the evening filling a box with toys to give away.
Ah the joys of parenthood. I suppose this is payback for what we put our parents through.

The Lipstick Stain

2008-07-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of the stain that made me sorry I had wished for another girl. Hero had taken some lipstick, used it on her doll, then wiped it on the new carpet. Do not be fooled by the picture, the real stain was at least six inches long. It took me all morning to get it out. (Hint: Acetone based nail polish remover and Resolve.)

Day at Sea World

2008-06-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took another trip down to San Diego and spent the day at Sea World. This is the last time we will get to go before the baby is born. It was good we went when we did, because at my dr appt today, I was told to limit any extra activities. Oh yeah, and something about laying on my left side as much as possible and taking tylenol four times a day. Anyway, here are a few photos from our day.

My cute little penguins.

Ransom on his first ride ever! He was scared at first, but was soon loving it.

Hero was able to ride on the Elmo angel all by herself.

Ransom turned a little green on this one.

Long time, no post

2008-06-23T23:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I was recently reminded that I have not blogged in two weeks. Not since Hero's last week of school. (I can't believe it has only been two weeks...seems like 12.) I will not go incredibly in depth about our life happenings in that time span, but I give you some highlights.
First, yes, I am still pregnant. No, we do not have a name. Yes, I realize that we only have four weeks left and the baby could theoretically be born at any time. Don't remind me. I thought up until a few days ago that this child would be easier on her Momma than her closest sibling, but I am mistaken. I have a very hard time sleeping at night. I wake up with a sore stomach from being pummeled internally during the night. But enough complaining....
Second, Justin is currently studying Greek. It is kind of strange for me to see him facing a challenge in a class. He is definitely up to the task. He is studying every day. I am amazed at how much he has learned over the past few weeks.
Third, family life has kept me on my toes, constantly. I have been trying hard to establish a morning prayer time with the kids. After we pray (a page from our church's directory), I make a list out for each child to accomplish for the day. I wish I could say this is going great, but it is still a work in progress. I can see that my attitude has a dramatic effect on this. I also realize that just because you pray with your kids in the morning, it is not a magic formula for having a smooth rest of the day!
Lastly, the weather has been HOT here. The kids have been coping by playing in the pool and I have been coping by enjoying central air conditioning and Popsicles.
I apologize for not having new photos up. I will work on that soon. Tomorrow we are going to Sea World so I hope to have a few from that at least. That reminds me. I should probably Google where the closest Kaiser is in San Diego, just in case....

Award Day

2008-06-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hero received the citizenship award for her class. This is for the student that displays the most Christ-like attitude throughout the year. she also made the second honor roll again.

After receiving the citizenship trophy.

Making the second honor roll with some boys from her class.

Field Trip to Legoland

2008-05-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hero's class went to Legoland for their final field trip. Thankfully Daddy was able to go with her. They both had a great time.

After getting her face painted.

Jericho was already sad that he didn't get to go and this photo didn't help.

Fighting Lego Darth Vader

In front of the Lego model Capitol building.

Ransom in Grandpa's Pool

2008-05-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

Ransom didn't seem too thrilled about being in the water, but he loved the wave cruiser. He was able to push the button and somewhat steer to make it go.

Why....

2008-05-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

....Mommy always needs to be on her toes!

For some reason whenever the sugar container is left on the table, Ransom seems to think it is okay to get into it. It is normally stored on the bottom shelf of the pantry, and he hasn't gotten into there. I guess out of sight; out of mind.

Planting Day

2008-05-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

Today we got together with some families from church and planted flowers (in planters) at the park.

Jericho contributed about 2 scoops to this project before going back out to play on his scooter.

Hero got really involved in the project. The first planter we made is in the foreground. She made the second basket by herself.

After the park, we decided to go to Lowe's to work on a Mother's Day craft. They had already closed the activity down by the time we got there, but they gave us the kits to take home and make.

Tug-o-War

2008-05-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

At the park today, Ransom saw that his friend, Grace, had the helmet that he wanted. Giving in to his sin nature, he decided to grab it and go. Unfortunately he underestimated Grace who was determined to win at all costs.

Ball Balancing

2008-05-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

The other day I watched Ransom try for about 10 minutes to sit on his ball and play the piano. Today he finally accomplished it!

Science Projects

2008-05-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

For Hero's science project, she and Daddy built a solar oven. The purpose of this is to demonstrate how we use the sun's light as energy. The best part about this project is that we hope to use the oven to cook with occasionally this summer.