Saturday, March 31, 2012
He's back!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Hades' Underwear
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Kindergarten Registration
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Treasure Trove on Ice
Tonight is Disney on Ice, which is going to be a lot of fun, particularly because Madison has no idea we're going! Seriously, we've kept this one as a surprise. Mommy got a glowing magic wand last night, and Daddy got the tickets a long time ago, so much so that we ourselves nearly forgot! The tickets were advance sale tickets, and at a crazy price - really cheap. We're sitting on the seventh row, so Madison should be up close and personal with all of her Disney friends. Can't wait to see her expression tonight.
Just as a precaution, Mommy is taking her home for lunch, instead of here - Madison will take a good nap and be rested for the fun night. Daddy can't wait. We've been super stressed and running here and there to prepare for Sunday's illustrated sermon. It's been pretty wild around here this week, but things are coming together. We're about ready to go off to the show though, and we'll be able to hit the "off" button for a few hours. We'll write about it later on...
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Portrait of Life
Monday, March 26, 2012
Six Years Ago
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Attack of the Princess-inators
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Final Joust
The big event was today, as Madison got in her shopping cart one more time to defend her crown. This time, Mommy had a hand in helping her dress, as you'll see in the video we plan on posting soon. Madison was a real trooper - she and her older partner Ashley came out onto the big field, and we each has these shopping carts ("borrowed" from Bed, Bath and Beyond). Madison and Ashley's team was called "The Princess-inators," partly inspired by any invention from Dr. Doofenshmirtz. The shopping cart was decorated with pink and red feather boas, which makes sense if you want to go to war in a fashionable frame of mind. Meanwhile, the other team, "The Fire Breathing Rhinos," was clad in Roman soldier wear, along with sensible shin pads and so forth. And so, we found ourselves at this big field, behind the Bed, Bath and Beyond. There we did our filming in the warm sun - it was certainly feeling like spring today. But that might be because everyone was dressed up in armor. And pink feather boas.
Wat: It's called a lance. Hello?
Friday, March 23, 2012
Robin Hood
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Pollen Count
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
3D
If the Bible were a movie, it would have to be 3D. It’s filled with amazing adventures, epic conflicts, and larger-than-life characters. Open up your Bible to the New Testament, and you can’t help but notice a man named Peter who really lived a life in 3D. He was imperfect, but who isn’t? This guy lived a life to the extreme, and if you want to live a lifethat’s just as thrilling, you’ve got to live life in 3D: Devoted, dependable, and dynamic!
First, you’ve got to be devoted. Determined and dedicated, we must stay focused on Jesus, and remember to keep our eyes on Him. Like a guy with an annoying cellphone in the theater, distractions may try to catch your attention. But you must stay focused straight ahead. Peter learned this the hard way when he took his eyes off of Jesus at just the wrong moment. Walking on the water, Peter was doing just fine so long as he kept his eyes where they needed to be. But he was seeing nothing but trouble when he looked elsewhere, that’s for sure. Keep your eyes focused ahead, and stay devoted!
Secondly, you’ve got to be dependable. Peter fled the scene when persecution came. So did many others – not many stayed when Jesus was taken off to be crucified. Yet Jesus showed forgiveness, the same forgiveness that we too can receive when we serve Him. Jesus is calling us all to live for Him. Can you be dependable? Will you feed His sheep?
Finally, you’ve got to be dynamic. Fortunately, a movie about Peter won’t end with him running away. He realized he was forgiven, just like we can be, and from that day on boldly stood out for his Savior and King. Do you want to live a life as thrilling as a 3D action adventure? Stand out boldly for Him, and watch the excitement unfold!
It’s time for us all to live with the best kind of vision. It’s time for us to live a life in 3D!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Fudge Mountain
Monday, March 19, 2012
Mishmash
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Yard Work
Saturday, March 17, 2012
St. Patrick's Day Whodunnit!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Erin
In honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up, we took another picture of Madison on the steps with Erin the Bear. As you can see, the green bears are multiplying. As a reminder, the photo on the right is one of the very first pictures we got from China of Madison - she's dressed warmly and is holding a few toys, one of which is Erin the bear. It's a beanie baby.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Hampton Park
Today we took time to visit our new library, something we haven't done since the big move. Yep, it took us too long to do this. But now that we know how close and easy it is, and how wonderful the library is, we'll probably be going about twice a month. We used the odometer and measured seven miles to the library, which is pretty close to us. Also, it's a brand new library - only two years old right now. It is so crisp and clean, and bright too. Madison, Daddy and Mommy walked in like those folks that walked into Willie Wonka's place for the first time, eyes wide open and jaws dropped open. There are plenty of nooks for quiet reading, and plenty of places to read with Madison. Also present: activities for the kids. There are readings each Friday, and even movies on Saturdays. This Saturday, for example, they are playing "Darby O'Gill" for the younger kids, and for the older ones: "Green Lantern" and "Green Hornet." Hopefully you've picked up on that theme there.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Easy as π
At home tonight, Daddy just finished chocolate mousse pie - π Day was a long one, but a good one with lots of pie, of course! Mommy made this delicious pie, and it appears to be all for me! Yummy! Mommy works on all kinds of wonderful surprises for Madison and Daddy all the time. She is such a good Mommy!
“Huram made a huge metal bowl for washing. Its shape was round. It measured 15 feet from rim to rim. It was seven and a half feet high. And it was 45 feet around.” 1 Kings 7:23 NIrV
This is pretty much for math geeks only. Take a look at the scripture above: it is the very first reference in the Bible to π, the number you get when you divide the circumference (the distance around a circle) by the diameter (distance from one side to another).
Some may notice bad math: 45 divided by 15 is 3, and not 3.14. That’s true. But consider this: the metal bowl in the scripture above had very thick sides to it, described as about as wide as someone’s hand. That means this: the inner circumference is different, and much shorter.
And that means if you took the measurement of the inside and divided by the diameter, you really get something like π!
God is into math: there’s even a book of the Bible called “Numbers!” There’s plenty of math in the Bible, from the power of two or more, to the very words Jesus spoke. For example, do you remember the Parable of the Talents? Within this mathematical story, you’ll find a simple formula for life that’s as easy as Ï€!
For example, when we ÷, He can ×. As the servants in the story discovered, when you use the gifts God has given you in the right way, you can count on Him! Be generous! When you divide what you have to help others, God will multiply it, and see you blessed to the greatest power. You must decrease, so He can increase!
God’s math is universal. Have you ever noticed that the addition symbol is the shape of a cross? That’s because God wants to add all of us into heaven with Him. He’s giving us all an opportunity, no matter our past or background. In other words, because of the +, we are all completely =. There is no > love, and we should use what we’ve been given to add to heaven, subtracting from the column of the lost.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The Kite Flying Story
We had a great time at music class today, where Madison was nailing all the treble clef notes - and the bass ones too. She's doing good with melody, but we have a little work to do on rhythm. School was great today, and we feel like she's really coming along with her speech skills.
Mommy and Daddy were a little worn out still from the weekend I guess, so we popped in "The Jungle Book 2," which concluded our Jungle Book adventure for a bit with Madison. She watched it intently, just proving to me that all those old Disney movies are hitting the nail on the head with her - and she hasn't seen anything yet! We've got this huge library of old Disney movies, and what fun it is to sit together on the couch for movie night.
On the way home from music class, Madison wanted Daddy to tell a made-up story. In my defense, Daddy didn't have any ideas for a story, but Madison really wanted him to tell a story - so here it is. You might find it amusing...
Once upon a time there was a princess named Cinderella, who was looking out her window longingly. It was a spring day and the wind was blowing just right, so she thought it would be delightful to fly a kite. So she made her very own kite herself, and went out to the field behind the castle – and watched her kite fly higher and higher into the sky.
But just then a strong breeze blew. And it blew in such a way that poor Cinderella had released her kite. Fortunately, nearby her were her friends Jaq, Gus, Bruno, Prince Charming, Princess Aurora, Prince Philip, Ariel, Eric, Chip and Dale, Li Shang, Yao, Ling, Chien-Po, Sebastian, Mulan, Pocahontas, Mushu, Captain Jack Sparrow, Angelica, Blackbeard, Count Dooku, Obi Wan Kenobi, Snow White, Sneezy, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Doc, Sleepy, Bashful, Princess Amidala, Dumbo, Bambi, Davy Jones, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jesse, Flounder, Mowgli, Asajj Ventress, Nemo, Dory, Marlin, the Joker, Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, PigPen, Franklin, Peppermint Patty, Marcy, Indiana Jones, Marion, Batman, Robin, Kermit the Frog, Uncle Sam, Catwoman, Handy Manny and his tools, MSE-6, Mr. Freeze, Baloo, The Penguin, Bagheera, R2-D2, C3PO, Pocoyo, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Elmo, Pluto, Goofy, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Clarabelle, Kai-Lan, Dora, Abraham Lincoln, Diego, Hoho, Plo Koon, Ye Ye, Rintoo, Tolee, Larry the Cucumber, Mr. Incredible, Clara, the Nutcracker, the Rat King, Gambit, Ebenezer Scrooge, Anikan Skywalker, Snoopy, Woodstock, Miss Piggy, Hello Kitty, Chun Li, The Three Little Pigs, Bob the Tomato, Chicken Little, Bolt, Storm, Darth Vader, Emperor Zurg, Archimedes the Owl, King Arthur, The Killer Moth, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Wendy, Michael, John, Mr. T, Captain Hook, Ronald McDonald, Jean Grey, Bruce the Shark, The Easter Bunny, Barney, Admiral Ackbar, Mr. Smee, Cruella DeVille, Tron, Spongebob Squarepants, Patrick, Nute Gunray, Aladdin, Willy Wonka, Jasmine, Pinocchio, Geenie, Iago, Carpet, Abu, Belle, Beast, Lumiere, Wolverine, Cogsworth, Grimace, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, IG-88, Lightning McQueen, Mater, Louis the Alligator, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Pascal, Cookie Monster, Maximus, Cyclops, Sasquatch, Mike Wazowski, Sully, Pete, Simba, Timon, George Washington, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Robin Hood, The Great Mouse Detective, Stitch, Lilo, Wall-E, The Mad Hatter, Alice, Absolem, Jafar, Captain Barbossa, Jubilee, Bert, Ernie, Short Round, Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Dr. Heinz Doofensmirtz, Lucky the Leprechaun, Barbie, Superman, Perry the Platypus, Elizabeth Swann, Jack Skellington, Sally, Oogie Boogie, The Mayor, Santa Claus, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Dasher, Bugs Bunny, Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Grover, Darth Vader, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Vixen, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Sam the Snowman, Rowlf the Dog, Frosty the Snowman, Big Bird, Princess Leia, Count Chocula, Strawberry Shortcake, The Count, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, June, Leo, Quincy, Annie, Rocket, Daffy Duck, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Moses, Daniel, Yoda, Abraham, Peter, Bob Cratchit, Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Esther, Nana, Ba-Ba, Ye-Ye, Hannah, David, Jonathan, Rachel, Abbie, Josh, Halston, Ashley, Jill, the Cabbage Patch Kids, Aunt Shain, Uncle Dave, Mommy, Daddy, and of course Jesus too.
They got the kite for her, and everyone had a great time flying kites.
The End