Big Brothers are the Best!!

This picture pretty much sums up Myles' and Sophy's relationship...she is one blessed girl!

Attack of the Mini Ninjas!

Who knew that ninjas traveled on cows, sheep, and dogs?!
I thought I heard someone in the tub...

So much fun to have a boy around!!

The boxes are on their way!

We packed shoe boxes this year for Operation Christmas Child. As we watched some of the videos they have online of kids around the world receiving boxes, Myles, Kyra, Hayley and I were struck with a desire to pray for these kids and their families. We also were reminded once again of how much we have...WE ARE RICH!! in Christ as well as material things. Each of the kids packed a box for a girl or boy their age and filled it with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items. They each took great pleasure in picking out things that they thought "their boy or girl" would like. I was proud of them as we went through Target and Dollar Tree- we picked out lots of toys and not one was for them and there was no complaining!(miracles do happen!!) We have been praying for the girls and boy who will receive our boxes and that best of all, they will hear about Jesus. We can't wait to see where the boxes end up!!

Monday Favorites

The kids and I really look forward to Mondays because we always read these 2 books. Akebu to Zapotec is an A to Z book of bibleless peoples around the world. Each week we read the short description of the people group and spend the week praying specifically for them- that they will hear the gospel and that the Lord would bring missionaries to them that could translate the Bible into their languange. It's a great opportunity for us to get away from thinking about ourselves and an opportunity to be grateful for all we have, most importantly a Savior and His Word. It's a great geopraphy lesson as well! So far we've been praying for the peoples Akebu, Brokpa, Chut, Dongxiang, Elkei, Fania, Gusilay, Hrusso, Ica, Jumjum, and Kulango. We also read a chapter a week from Missionary Stories with the Millers. These are amazing stories about how God empowers, protects, and uses men, women, and children to spread the gospel around the world. Our "struggles" are often put into perspective through these stories. Hopefully we are growing a little in loving what God loves!

Costume Fun!

The ninja, butterfly(having a meltdown), and cowgirl.
Kyra the cowgirl with her friends from Narnia: Aslan and Reepicheep

My most favorite cowgirl!

Myles the ninja!

A beautiful butterfly on Halloween morning!

The costume that keeps on giving!! Grandma made this costume for Kyra when she was 1 and all the kids have worn it since! Actually, Kyra and Myles each wore it for 2 years! So...it was Sophy's turn to be a puppy!

Sophy and her puppy twin!

The kids had a great time dressing up, getting together with friends, and hayriding around the neighborhood for candy!

Fall Fun!

We've been busy with fall fun!

Carving,
crafting,

decorating,

visiting Bearizona,

visiting Flagstaff,

getting ready for Halloween,

hiking in Grandma and Papa's woods,

being silly,

treasure hunts with clues,

and enjoying Flagstaff's beautiful fall weather!!!

Shopping spree with Auntie Wobin(aka Robin)

I've been meaning to post this since early October...when Papa Bob and Auntie Robin were in town, after having a fun day together Robin offered to take the kids to Target to pick out one small thing each. The kids' eyes grew large thinking of all that Target holds:). It was fun to see them look, decide, change their minds, pick out something else...and in the end they each picked out something that fit their personalities and current interests perfectly!

Kyra picked out 2 foam art projects from the craft department. This girl shares my love for crafts, always asking "What can I make?" "What can I sew?" I don't always have a project laying around, so she makes up her own:). Her choices were special because she picked out a pirate ship to put together for Myles and a castle to put together for Hayley. Great choices and encouraging for me to see her thinking of others.
Myles(shirtless of course) picked out a surprisingly durable foam sword! He is into all things boy, weapons, ninjas etc. Hey, all us girls need someone around to protect us when Daddy is gone all day!


Out of all the things at Target, Hayley picked out a sugar cookie mix and sprinkles. We make cookies from scratch all the time and she loves helping in the kitchen. I tried to talk her into something else, but then realized that this choice was not about cookies, it was about her baking in the kitchen with Mommy all by herself. She got to do all the pouring, mixing, stirring, icing, and sprinkling without having to take turns. She was very proud of her finished cookies and shared them with the fam.



Mommy "helped" Sophy pick out some cute brown shoes with flowers on them. She needed new shoes, but she also has a serious shoe fetish(?). All day long she takes off and puts on all kinds of shoes, mostly other peoples. First thing in the morning she asks for her shoes, and going through a shoe section of Walmart or Target is a very loud ordeal. So shoes were the perfect pick:).

Thank you Auntie Robin for making our afternoon!