Grandpa & Grandma J pause for a picture with the grandkids! Oct. 21, 2006. 

Raini, Josie and Joya get together at G&G J's house. Oct. 21, 2006. 

Later that evening we gathered at Great-Grandma & Grandpa J's house for dinner and fun before they left for Florida this week. This picture is of Josh's reaction to "Frank", Colby's Dad's Alter-ego, as he was dressed up and with his fake teeth in, telling the story of his truck being stolen in Chicago. Oct. 21, 2006. 

It is really hard to get a good picture of the front of the church, but here we are as a family, dedicating to God our beautiful baby girl! It seems like such a short time ago that we dedicated baby Joshua! And now he's so big! It was a beautiful dedication, given by Pastor (Grandpa) M. As I listened to the words, the wonderful meaning of the service, the more I thought of the importance of raising our children for God and dedicating them to His purpose, and the more emotional I became! It was a very special day! Oct. 21, 2006. 

Getting ready on Sabbath morning for Emmy's dedication! In her pretty white dress (thank you Grandma A!), white shoes and tights, and soft pink corkers in her hair! What a special day! Oct. 21, 2006. 

After Josh's bath tonight I decided to get a picture of his latest bruise. Yesterday morning while I was in the shower and Colby was sitting on the couch watching the morning news, he heard a loud Thump!, followed by a cry, then some stomping, the slamming of a door, and soon after Joshua appeared at the bottom of the stairs. His first words were "I fall down out of my bed!", and then he started crying hard as he threw himself and his blankie on Daddy for some comfort. Poor Toad! He must have landed on one of his trucks right there at his hip to get that bruise! Oct. 19, 2006. 

And here's Joshua telling me the story about how he fell out of bed and got a bruise. He was very animated, describing how it hurt and that he also had a bruise "right there", pointing at his Adam's apple. There's no visible bruise there, but it wouldn't surprise me if he crashed into something on the way down. Oct. 19, 2006.  

And then he was so fascinated with the red light that the camera puts out before taking the picture that he HAD to try to feel it! Oct. 19, 2006. 

Yep, those are my two cute kids holding hands in the back seat! Oct. 19, 2006. 

I know this doesn't look all that muddy, but believe me, when I tried to drive in town the next day and couldn't see out the windows AT ALL it was plenty muddy enough. Had to find a gas station to wash all my windows (bet they appreciated the muddy water I left them) and then still couldn't see out the two front door windows because they were almost as muddy inside as they were outside! Oct. 15, 2006. 

Miles and miles down a muddy bumpy two-track we found this lake, which had a "boat ramp" just big enough to carry a canoe to. No camping, no campfires allowed. But a pretty lake, anyhow. Oct. 15, 2006. 

Last Sunday we went off-roading and found some deep mud puddles. I decided in a moment of insanity to capture one of the big splashes when Josh drove his Bronco through this puddle... immediately followed by a nice cold dousing when he went through the next... Oct. 15, 2006.  

My new camera!

Just wanted to let those of you who know the unfortunate story of my last camera know that I am no longer pining away for some new snapshots of my kids! No, I did not magically retrieve my old one from the abyss it fell into, I broke down and got a new one! These latest pictures are from this new contraption I'm still figuring out, and hopefully soon I'll be able to start working the video function. With SOUND! Woohoo!

Also, here's an update on Baby #3~

A different view of our place than I usually post! This was about midday here, and the snow was coming down pretty good. This is looking kind of southwest from our big window in the living room. That is our overgrown lilac bush at the left and looking up the row of black walnut trees to the road. Oct. 12, 2006. 

As the sun rose I realized how much color we still have on the trees and how many leaves have yet to fall before winter really comes to stay! Oct. 12, 2006. 

What it looked like this morning at our house. It has been snowing off and on all day with some heavy snowfalls, but it always melts off in between. Oct. 12, 2006. 

And here's my shirtless Toad, who wants to smile for the camera, too! I can't believe he'll be 3 in a few weeks! Oct. 11, 2006. 

Look! I can reach above my head! Oct. 11, 2006. 

Eating a messy lunch! And still in her jammies! Good grief! But look how cute she is anyway! Wish I looked that good in pajamas with my hair undone and tired eyes! Oct. 11, 2006. 

5 Roses for 5 Years of Marriage! Yep, we celebrated our 5th anniversary on the 7th. We actually managed to leave the kids with Grandparents and get away on a short trip! It was so nice for both of us to just be off-duty for 24 hours as parents and relax and have fun together! Picture taken Oct. 11, 2006. 

Thought we all could use a new picture of Twerty to entertain us! Oct. 11, 2006. 

Cow Tipping

Thought you guys might find this interesting:

"IT IS the kind of story you hear from a friend of a friend — how, after a long night in a rural hostelry and at a loss for entertainment in the countryside, they head out into a nearby field.
There, according to the second-hand accounts, they sneak up on an unsuspecting cow and turn the poor animal hoof over udder..."

To Read More:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1858246,00.html

After two-tracking and going to the youth meeting at the church, we picked up the kids from our friends' house and came home to put them to bed. Then we lit up the huge brush pile for a nice bonfire to end the day. That's Colby in front of the fire, Caleb, Erika, and Brandon in the background. Sept. 30, 2006. 

The flames got really high and the whole valley was lit up! That's Caleb and Erika in the background. Sept. 30, 2006. 

Josh made it to the top of the hill in his Bronco. It doesn't look like it, but it was a wet, drizzly day, kind of reminded me of Washington! The girl walking out in front is Caleb's girlfriend Erika. Sept. 30, 2006. 

Yesterday we went out with Colby's cousins and found some two-tracks and hill climbs to try out. The hills may not be as steep as the mountains out west, but the loose sand is definitely challenging! Sept. 30, 2006.