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IT'S OFFICIAL !!

Skimboard lessons

The boys took skimboard lessons just about a week before we took off for our family vacation to the beach.  The boys have been riding for about 4 years now and do quite well but are eager to learn more.  Stephen, always interested in becoming an expert in something,  researched where to get lessons.  He found Jason Wilson who is a skimboard champion and gives lessons about 3 1/2 hours away from our home.  Yes....it was a long day for a one hour lesson....but both boys assure me that it was worth the drive. 

Daddy, you probably remember the boys skimboading when you were at the beach with us. They still ride from the time they hit the beach until it is time to head back to the beach house.  Many of their friends ride as well so it is lots of fun watching them all out there. 

Boys' birthdays!

 Stephen turned 16.....and after his traditional birthday dessert of fruit pizza he opened his gifts.

Below is Michael's birthday cake.  He just turned 18!  We had a surprise party for Michael.....and it seems that we actually were able to surprise him.  He had been joking for a number of months that he never had a surprise party before......so....

He thought we may have planned to have his friends surprise him at the pool.  When he showed up at the pool and only Stephen was there...well....that wasn't much of a surprise.  They came home after swimming and everyone was here. 

We had a fun time celebrating both boys birthdays.  It is hard to believe that they are now 16 & 18.  The years have just flown by!

Kirsten is in!!

We were pretty sure it was good news because of the fancy envelope....and sure enough...this is the long awaited acceptance letter from George Mason University!!

We celebrated and reflected on the Lord's kindness to Kirsten during her first two years of college and look forward to seeing how He will work in Kirsten for His glory!!

Stephen is off......to Mexico!

Stephen is with a couple friends -- getting ready to board a plane for Mexico.  They were joining up with a team of youth and parents from our church to serve in an orphanage.  This is the same orphanage that Kirsten went to serve back in 2009.  A team has not been back to the orphanage to serve for three years....and this team that Stephen is on is the first group to go back.  The area had been too violent and deemed 'unsafe' for visitors. 

Stephen was blessed to be able to go....and served on the band in Mexico.  They lead worship on Sunday morning....and then for the children each day of the week.  The youth group put on a "Vacation Bible School" for the orphans....complete with teaching, crafts, games, and music.  It was a good time away for Stephen.  Besides playing in the band, Stephen learned to weld and helped repair a perimeter fence at the orphanage....to keep out what needs to stay out...and to keep in what needs to stay in. 

Andre on a 'dangerous' slope!

This was Andre's second ski trip for the winter....and the conditions this day were terrible.  The wind was blowing like crazy....it was snowing like crazy...and the resort was making snow like crazy!  It felt like we were being pelted by ice...and the visibility was as bad as I have ever seen. 

But....we kept skiing....all day.

Andre did great!!  Really great!!  This photo was toward the end of the day when we had to go down the slope with the "danger" sign to get back to the lodge.  Not sure why Andre is smiling while pointing to this sign.  Maybe it is because he did so well.....flying...really flying past me on a couple slopes.  Well....there is a fine line between 'out of control' and just having fun.  I think Andre was close to the edge!

Anyway....did I mention how well Andre did?  In fact, he only fell once.  It was on the last run of the day....just as we were nearing the lodge.  Of course I had just remarked that he hadn't taken one fall.  We both agreed that an angel must have tripped him to keep him from becoming proud. 

A Sophisticated Beverage -- with a Sophisticated Young Man

You know who has a very sophisticated palate when it comes to eating and drinking. Oh yes, dear Stephen. Here he made himself a happy concoction of sherbet milk....and then a little slice of orange to garnish his glass.

This boy is a wealth of food and cooking trivia. Always a blessing to have in the kitchen....even when he questions what I am doing.

Cheers!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy!! Yes....we celebrated here....and enjoyed a Carvel ice cream cake. It was the same kind of cake we had last year when you were here. We did buy the smaller one though.

Here Kirsten is cutting out the first slice to share with you! We wished that you were here to enjoy the day with us....but know that in just a few weeks we will be with you.

This type of cake won't travel very well.....it would just be an ice cream puddle by the time we arrive. And your free ice cream e-mail wishing you a happy birthday came from Coldstone as well. Once again....ice cream doesn't travel well.

Hope you had a Happy Birthday Daddy!! We will see you soon.

First visit to slopes in December 2010

Yes.....I am back to blogging. Sometimes I get out of the habit. I know...I know....I have been out of the habit for about a year and a half. Hopefully I can make up for lost time.

This was our first outing last year on the snow. We went to Massanutten to take in a few hours of skiing/snowboarding on December 10 in preparation for the big hills of Whistler.

Daddy was with us and since he was not out on the slopes he enjoyed reading in the lodge and watching us come down the runs every once in a while. Ahhh.....I can't wait until we all have another ski vacation together.

Whistler is calling again!! I do believe we should answer!!

More snow photos

Well.....the snow is continuing to melt. It was a month ago that we were hit with all that snow. Andre was hoping that it would all melt by this weekend but, there is still a few inches in front of our house.....and we have piles that are two feet high along our driveway. At least there is a whole lot less than when I took these photos.








And......this is the sight we saw the day before the snow was supposed to arrive. No bananas!! Most of the other shelves were cleared out as well. I have never seen stores emptied to bare shelves. Bread...milk...eggs....yes, I know those all get sold out when a big snow is coming but this time fruits, vegetables, meats, canned goods, you name it....all sold out! I am glad that I shopped before the snow "hysteria" hit!

Happy New Year!!

Andre and I went out for dinner at the Malaysian restaurant on Chinese New Year's Eve. To start our meal we had the raw fish salad but.....before we started our mixing....I took a picture. Andre is ready to dive in!! We mixed and mixed and lifted the salad nice and high. I think some people were amused at how much we mixed and tossed our salad...but we were having fun.

We then went back to the same restaurant the next day with the children to celebrate Chinese New Year together. We didn't have the salad with the children....but we enjoyed wonderful food all the same.