Opps Goldie!

Last Friday, January sixteenth, I was working in the kitchen when Goldie came running in. This is not unusual as she often runs wherever she goes.










She ran to the scissor drawer and got out a pair of scissors. This also is not unusual. She often feels the desire to cut some paper or another and we have allowed her that privilege.












As I recall, she did give me a funny look and I think I said, "It's okay, you can cut something. It is after all Josiah I don't entirely trust not her. So she ran off to her room and remained there for quite awhile. Also not unusual. The majority of their toys are in there.








I must have been preparing lunch, because I do remember calling her to come...several times. Her slow response was very unusual. Finally, after I demanded, she hid herself around the bathroom door jam, peeking out. I looked at her and told her to come now.








Reluctantly, she joined us at the table. It took me a minute to realize that some of her hair was missing. It was not a usual moment. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry or be angry. I was disappointed that I no longer can trust her with the scissors. She must now ask before she gets them out.

Needless to say, we made an unplanned trip to Tazewell to have the aesthetics of Goldie's locks more pleasing. Here are the pictures.

Happy Inaguration Day! Although this is not a picture taken today. It looks very much like this outside today. I've turned on NPR this morning for the first time in months and there is a great fervor to celebrate an African American as President. It will be interesting to learn our future!

On this particular day we woke up at Mom-maw's house and I couldn't resist pulling my kids around on the white fluffy snow. It was great powdery snow for skiing...

...but not so good for snowman building. It took so long, that Josiah got too cold and went in the house. In fact it wouldn't have worked if I hadn't have pulled the kids around and packed the snow down.

This is Goldie with the snowman.

Goldie took this picture of me. She is getting pretty good if I tell her where to stand. This middle snowman ball cracked when I put the third ball on the top and within ten minutes of this picture being taken there was only one ball on the ground and a big pile of snow laying on the side. But we had fun playing in the snow.

41

Yesterday was Mike's birthday. This picture was his present.













After eating hamburgers - picnic style - we sang Happy Birthday.

This is the exploding star volcano cake that the kids and I created.

and here is to the 41 years that the world has been enriched by Michael Dean's presence in it.

Happy New Year!

Hope you all have a fun 2009.













Remember, there are three of us. Send us letters and cards and joy.













But most of all remember Goldie loves you












Josiah loves you















And they are teaching Stuart to love you. (It takes him awhile). Happy New Year.

Christmas Fun!

We had a good Christmas! I hope you did too. Right before Christmas, we had Mom-maw over and together we made lots and lots of choclate peanut butter cookies. Mom-maw put all the peanut butter on the cookies.














We were supposed to give away the cookies, but as you can see they tasted so good that we smeared them all over our faces and rolled in them. Delicious. We still have a few left over but most of them are added to our waist line. Yeah for exercise!
















We also made pretzels and had a good time. Mike, Goldie and Stuart hung out in the living room till it was time for eating.









Here is the Sunday after Christmas. Goldie and Josiah got some great church clothes from their Aunt Brenda and Uncle Bill. Don't they look charming?













Okay, here they are with their smiles.

We hope you all have a great New Year! (We are thinking of all you cousins in Idaho right now...wishing we were there with you.)

Josiah is TWO!

Two weeks ago today Josiah turned two.














We celebrated with a tow truck cake.













David, Marcia, Arrel, Naomi, and Daniel were in attendance besides his immediate family.



















Josiah chose the color.
Arrel helped with the tow cables and decorations.

This picture is after Josiah and Goldie were allowed to attack the cake with their bare hands. What Monsters! :-)

Stuart's Day

These are pictures from Stuarts blessing day.














It happened on December 7, 2008. Mom & Dad flew in the day before. However church was cancelled.

















We decided to go ahead with the blessing since
David was also here.



















Some of the bishopric, our home teachers, and a couple of friends came over around 2pm. It was a nice little blessing.














I've been joking that since Stuart was born & blessed at home now he will have to be baptized at home. If that happens we will have to live somewhere else. It was a good day.