your chariot awaits

Anika has not wanted to walk anywhere this entire trip. Since we forgot to bring along her stroller, and knew we would need one at Knotts at the very least, we bought one at 'Once upon a child' in Phoenix, at the beginning of our trip. She is totally in love with it, and if we even nip into a store she complains, "WHY didn't Daddy bring my stroller?". Scott has taken to saying, "Your chariot awaits!", whenever we go somewhere and he pops out her stroller. However TODAY, this child who cannot walk in the mall, who cannot walk from store to store, who cannot walk from the parking lot into the zoo, decided she was going to hike the Grand Canyon, and was going to cry whenever Scott took the other girls down or up into scary places. As we were walking up from our short climb down into the canyon she was saying, "How can a 3 year old even do this? A 2 year old or a 1 year old couldn't do this!".

motel, hotel, dumpy?

We have stayed in a wide range of hotels this trip, some really nice, and some ....well, lacking... When we were done in Sadona yesterday I was taking the girls into the public restroom to change and as we were going in, Anika said, "Is this our new hotel?"

A big hole and heart failure

I know I'm not the bravest person, but the Grand Canyon really had me rattled! When you see my pictures of what my darling husband did with my precious children you will know why! We had a grand time at the canyon today! The girls completely loved it, and every one of them would have cheerfully hiked (down, down, down), I don't know how cheerful up would have been. Tia was almost chomping at the bit to hike - she was scheming how to climb over/under fences/guard rails - she wanted the true, natural, dangerous experience. Madie wanted to get out from my firm grip of her hand, and even Anika, faced with steep stone 'steps' leading down at an alarming angle with nothing to catch her little body was trying to pry out of my hand as she stated, "I think I'll do this part myself." The Grand Canyon itself was an amazing thing to see, when I could drag my eyes off what my children were doing. Its vastness cannot be captured by a photo! I was truly grateful to be there and see it for myself, and to wonder at God's awesome creation! It was very cool! On our way to the Canyon we drove through a scenic drive where we saw volcanic rocks from an old volcano that last erupted 900 years ago!! It was amazing to see that things have fairly recently begun to grow again! The landscape is totally different, forever changed, yet recovering now after all these years! There was also some ruins of a pueblo (village) - there was one we walked through, it was great - so neat! The kids loved the little baby lizard they spotted on the way up!

bake sale

Hey!
we had a bake sale to raise money to translate verses- and raised over 200 dollars! the money is going to a branch of Wycliff translators, the seed company, and will be used to translate verses for the Meetto tribe of Africa.

Great Xmas gift!

Got little girls age 3 and up? check out this site for super cool dolls and accesories. they aren't just 'baby' dolls- I'm nearly 13, and still love my 3 dolls, Skye, Abbey Ashalie Bryar, and Mia.
http://www.americangirl.com/
They aren't cheap- but they're worth it!!

Funny video!

Hey all you homeschoolers! This is a hilarious take on the 'Addams family' song! Check out Tim Hawkins other songs too, they are all hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uqj0_jQc

6 word memoirs

These are our best 6 word memoirs, stories told in only 6 words. Read ours, then send us some of yours!!

1. I'm not deaf, I wear earplugs! by Tia
2. Standing by dog. Shoe is wet. by Tia
3. Cat in heat. CLOSE DOOR!!!!! by Shaina
4. Mom on mission, canning everything. HELP! by Shaina
5. Didn't see the lion. It pounced. by Shaina

Like these? Try one yourself!