Short Years

I sensed this strongly as I watched Josh got up stage to receive his Mock Trial trophy last night.

Since when he is in high school? I still remember that little guy who loved to build LEGO and sculpted Charlie Chaplin with his modeling clay.

The boy who enjoyed the AWANA program and loved to run in that game circle.

The boy who kicked that soccer ball and batted that baseball not long ago.

The boy who was so eager to sign up for the CAP program that he reported to duty the night he turned 12.

The boy who loved to watch all those old, black and white movies with his family...

It all seemed like yesterday all these took place. Then one day...

He seemed to have grown a foot, then another, then another.

Now he is a whole head taller than me.

Now he watches movies like LOTR, the Narnia, Courageous, Hunger Game, etc...

Now he ranks Senior Master Sargent in the CAP program...

Now he is playing basketball and giving it all that he has...

Now he helps out as a SPARK game director in the AWANA program.

Now he plays mine-craft and listens to music on his iPod...

Now he is in the high school Mock Trial program and grows even more...

The nurturing years are coming to an end in just a few more short years. He will be ready and equipped to enter young adulthood.

I pray that he will reverent God in his life and that his action will be beyond reproach. Should he stumble I pray that he finds God's mercy and grace are there to embrace him and that he won't take them for granted. Amen.

Third place as a Bailiff.

Who did he meet but Samwise Gamgee!

Another productive Monday

Just came in from watching Joshua get promoted to be a Cadet Tech Sergent at the Squadron.  It was wonderful to see his hard work get paid off. So proud of him. For his next four years, I will treasure the time I have with him as he is becoming a young man and the time to spend with Mom is getting shorter.  It will be Dad's time soon, and for the rest of his life, perhaps.
Anyway, here is a picture from this evening (this is the only somewhat clear picture out of the three a dad took for us) Bummer.

On a different note, I have been sketching up designs for my card making class. I think both scrapbooking and card making (or any crafts) is truly my creative outlet and I need them to balance the busy mom life a bit. Here are the first two cards I put together this afternoon (with tons of phone calls in between). Did you notice the subtle details on the red part of the "I love You" card?  It looks way cool in person! One day I will have an Etsy shop...

What a productive day I had. I am beginning to like Mondays, I guess partly is because we don't have co-op classes on Mondays and also that I got fed spiritually from my Sunday school class.

One more thing... Happy Chinese New Year!

Weekemd :: Game :: Project

We seemed to spend all day yesterday at the basketball game event but it was only for one game actually.  Perhaps I had been looking forward to this game with such eagerness that when it was actually here, I felt like I'd spent the whole day enjoying it!

I was excited about the game mainly because I finally can watch a game without bringing the stroller and diaper bag.  Peter actually sat (ok, not the whole time) and watched the game with little problem.   Peter has been doing much better in places we go now that I feel a little easier to take him with me to stores and events.

I like this shot of Josh running.

You can do it, Josh!

Christine said that Peter was the comic relief! Rightly so in this picture. :)

Our dear Jodi turned 16 that day! How time flies! Happy birthday, Jodi!♥

What is this? Well, this, my friend, is a project I have been wanting to do for AGES. We spent Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon planning and working on a partition solution.  It is almost done.  I will share as soon as it is all done.

Busy Days

I just realized that I have not blogged for ten days!
Life has been so full these days with all the grad parties we have gone to and the re-starting up of Creative Memories.
I have been taking photos though.  Peter is loved and cared for even in the midst of these busy days.
Robert continues to work very hard at his temp job.  He leaves at 4:30A.M. and does not return home until 4:00P.M. We so appreciate his diligence in providing for us. 
Christine is busy taking photos (what else would she be doing? :)) and is getting so excited to check out a college summer camp and seeing her out of state brother and his family. She is also working hard in preparing yet another wedding workshop.
Joshua is all about CAP.  Everyday last week he has been studying to pass a module test. He did so with flying color. So proud of him!
Peter, oh our little Peter! He is "reading" Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb! book by Dr. Seuss. Of course he does not read yet, but he turns the pages and read with sounds like "hend-hend, pingers, dumbs", he seems to memorize the whole book with each page's sound (what the phrases of each page sounded like to him - does that make sense?). That reminded me of my oldest son, who when he was younger, did the same thing.  It is so wonderful to hear Peter "read".  We read about 3-4 books before every nap time and night time. He won't let us lax on it! 

 Cutie-Pie!

Do you remember those birds that stayed on your ONE finger? 

 My hard working girl.  She loves photography and is seriously paving that career path.

 Boys at play!

 Building super highway...

Nice job, guys!

 Another Lego bridge. Wheeeeeee!!!!!!!!

 So glad to see Joshua building with his Lego again.  He is very good with it.  We had to put the whole collection away when Peter turned one. Now they enjoy building together!

 Robert and Joshua went to a baseball game on Father's Day. Free tickets and all.

 I did mention Peter likes to line things (or food) up, right?

 A new wood construction. This almost look like the camp fire structure my older kids use to build when we camped.  Time to take Peter camping!

 Pattern... Here we go again...

More handy works!

Have a great week, everyone!

Another Year Has Past

You have turned thirteen!  Seems like we had just celebrated your twelfth birthday and now it is here again.  You are legally a teenager today.

Looking back to this past year, your dad and I have watched you grow more and more into a fine young man who takes responsibility seriously.  Your integrity was not compromised even in the midst of a temptation which could almost justify it should you give in.  You stood your ground.  We are so proud of you. 

One of your favorite thing to do is telling jokes and you are learning your timing and place to do so.  The learning curves of life were not always easy to take but you took them like a "man".  You are teachable (one of the good characters of yours that I like a whole lot) and always willing to do better after realizing your wrongs.

We continue to ask the Lord to protect you, both physically and spiritually.  This world is not getting any better and you know it.  We pray that for this coming year, the Lord will continue to give you discernment on all situations you will encounter. We pray that you will continue to seek Him first in all things.  We pray that your cheerful attitude will remain even in the most difficult circumstance you may found yourself.

We thank you the Lord for you, Joshua, today and forever.

Happy birthday, son. ♥

This little helper was very eager to help pick out something for breakfast...

Thank you Lord for another great year and the great donuts...

Sugar.....

Requested lunch...

and dinner!

The ultimate birthday treat.

and cake too?

Thirteen candles? No problem... I have good lungs...

Mom's "green" birthday gift bag, used year after year...

Something I desperately needed.  I grew about 6 inches this past year.  I pass mom's height, YES!!!

Christine made me another birthday card and all the wishes from everyone in the family.

Oh, and something I WANT! Thanks, family!

and grandma Liz spoiled me rotten with her gift.

Thank you Christine for taking most of the pictures. What a great day the Lord has given us! ♥

Back To Learning

To overcome the holiday blue, we had Joshua slowly ease back in to schooling by doing only three subjects on the first day and will gradually get back to the full swing of the school schedule by next Monday.

Reading quietly is a great way to warm up the brain muscle. :)

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday

Peter is an extremely active child out of the four children.  He could launch on games of his own and play for hours with what he created.  It is fun watching him go at it.

Peter takes the card game to a new level, literally.

and he is a perfectionist.  Uh-oh.

One side done. Now next.

Today

Joshua and I were at the Veterans Day Celebration event in our town.  Seeing so many veterans in one place gave me goose bumps.  Many past and present servicemen were honored.  I have so much respect to all the military branches.  I love listening to their war stories. They along with their families gave so much to help keep the safety and the freedom of our country.  Thank you, Sirs.

  The Air Force Band played some great numbers.

I love this picture.  A CAP cadet honored an elderly female veteran with some flowers.

The CAP Squadron 1986

Minimize it Monday: Josh's closet

Today Joshua and I minimized his little walk-in closet. It took us almost three hours but the end result was so worth it. Joshua really embraces the minimalist ideal and it was that mind set that held us through the purging process. We cleared out about 2/3 of the stuff from the closet.

His reward?  He found a brand new handsome jacket that he didn't know he has.

And yeah, we got rid of the pink crates too! {they will go to my closet...maybe.}

Before                                                                                    After

Before                                                                                 After

Before                                                                           After

Most of these items were donated, some were kept (memories for me) and saved for Peter (to wear later)