"Agent H"

Hunter loves the Disney tv show "Phineas and Ferb", especially the character, "Perry the Platypus" who turns into an undercover agent at times (named "Agent P"). He films movies with his "Perry action figures", writes stories about them, and wears their t-shirts all the time.

Recently, he had been looking to buy a hat similar to the one "Agent Perry" wears. When grandma showed him the hat she had that was her dad's (Hunter's greatie-grandpa), he fell in love with it! Grandma is allowing him to borrow this hat for awhile...and wear it. Here he is today with it on!

Our 2010 Gatlinburg trip

Every year for our anniversary (this is our 13th anniversary!), we try to get away for a few days. We usually meet our friends, DJ and Diane Summerville (from Ohio) somewhere (since their anniversary is a week before ours). This year, we went back to Gatlinburg for 4 nights...it even snowed some while we were there (our friends didn't seem as thrilled as we were about this though)!!!

We drove up there again this year, and got to listen to a book on CD on the way home. I have never done that before, but remembered my sister, Angela telling me what a good idea it was, so I bought one at a Christian book outlet store in Gatlinburg (a book called "The most important place on earth" = the Christian HOME). It is a great book! Thanks, Ang for the neat idea! We will probably do that every time now! :)

We went to a "Murder mystery dinner" this year, and Marty was picked to be one of the judges (it was an "American Idol murder mystery" theme). GO MARTY! he he he

Thanks to all of you who helped watch Hunter and Grace for us, so we could get away for a little bit...a much needed time!!! We love you guys!

Hunter's 10th Birthday!!

Wow. Cannot even believe my baby boy is now 10 years old! How did that happen so fast??!! I always rolled my eyes when my mom would tell me and my sisters "I was just 18 years old yesterday!", but now.....I get it! I was too!

Anyway, Hunter has been wanting to ride in a limo for awhile now, so for his birthday, we rented a yellow Hummer limo (that fit 18 people in it), went to Chili's for dinner, then to the dollar tree (for all kids to buy $5.00 worth of "stuff"), then finally to the marble slab creamery for ice cream. It was a fun night. Hunter invited 4 friends, and all the family (Mom, Amber, Nate, Angela, Autumn, Addy, Randon, Marty, me, and Grace) to join in the celebration.

Happy Birthday, HD! We love you so much, and are so thankful God has given us the privilege and gift of being your parents!

Family get together

On January 2nd, my dad, and Diane drove up to our house from the Wildwood area to have "our Christmas". It was neat to have EVERYONE here that day (Randy, Angela, Autumn, Addison, Randon, Amber & Nate, Mom, Dad and Diane, Me, Marty, Hunter & Grace). We took advantage of it, and got some family pictures taken in the back woods of our property too! It's not often we are ALL together like that. Loved it. :)

Christmas 2009

This year for Christmas, Marty's mom, Mary was with us. It was neat to have her here...see how our family "does" Christmas, and be apart of it. :)

Our tradition is to draw names to see who's turn it is to open a present, then when everyone has opened one present, we put the names back in the bowl, and start over (we do this until everyone has opened their presents). That gives everyone a chance to enjoy the whole part of "giving and receiving"! I have seen my kids learn and grow so much from this....this is one way that shows them how it is just as important to give as it is to receive. Of course we try to explain to them every year WHY we celebrate Christmas too. It's hard to remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas with all the gifts around the tree (even for adults), but it is so important to sit, remember, and appreciate why we really do celebrate it, and what the meaning of that day really is.

Visit with Rodolfo and Cristi

We were so honored to have our new friends, Rodolfo and Cristi Olesio stay with us again this weekend. They are from the Philippines, and came over to the United States in February to share what they are trying to do in their country (share the gospel, build new schools/churches, and raise support for the people in need over there). For those of you who gave clothing to us for them, they REALLY appreciated it, and said they felt so blessed. Thank you.

We were able to hang out a little more with them this time. They shared their video and spoke a little at our church this Sunday, helped us put our Christmas tree up, joined us for our weekly "family night", and played bingo and some wii with us.

They will be heading back to the Philippines next month sometime, so we don't know when we will get to see them again, but will most certainly be in touch with them via e-mail, and hopefully one day be able to go over there to see them and their family!

Thanksgiving in New Hampshire

We try to go to New Hampshire every other year for Thanksgiving. Marty's mom, Mary, and his oldest sister, Marinell (and her family) live up there. This was our year to go again. Although we didn't see any snow this time, we still had fun hanging out with everyone. The kids loved staying/playing with their cousins, Anna, Alice, Seth, Joel, and Ian (a BIG THANKS to Bob and Marinell for keeping/entertaining them).

Some highlights of our trip:

1. Not making our connecting flight in DC, so having to stay in the DC airport for 5 hours until the next flight, then finally arriving in NH at midnight to find out 2 of our 3 bags were MIA.

2. Starting off with the plan to drive just 40 minutes to a movie theatre to see a movie...but getting lost on the way, (drove almost to Boston), then ending up at a McDonald's in Nashua that happened to be hosting a "kids night", so got to experience "Farmer Fred" and his animals. As Hunter would say, "UNEXPECTED".

3. Drawing/painting on Anna's bedroom walls.

4. Having the thanksgiving meal at Mary's church = no dishes to be washed!

5. Glorious, cool weather to run in (even though the hills were a killer!)

We had a great time. Looking forward to the next trip up there. :)

We love you.