New Sandbox

HOORAAYYY!!!  Nana & Papa built a sandbox for all the kids in their backyard.  Well, actually, I think it was Nana's idea and Papa built it with the boy's help.  Kai got to ride with Papa on the tractor and even run the bucket all by himself!!  Good job buddy!!  Aaron, Eddie and Bryce helped rake the sand and make sure it was put in the right place...not sure what Daniel is doing in that picture.  Supervising...that's it!!!  He did help, don't let this picture fool ya!!  I just didn't get him in action.  The kids loved it and had so much fun.  Kai had sand all over his face, nose, in ears and anywhere else you can think of.  But...as you'll see in this last picture...he just didn't like the sand in his new "green" shoes.  Every few minutes he'd get out and dump the sand out!! Silly boy!!! We told him to go barefoot...he wasn't having it.  He did finally take his socks off though.  Thanks Papa for taking the time to do this for us...we know you didn't feel good and it was your birthday.  We love you for sacrificing for us...and all the other grandkids coming your way!! 

Who's that???

Look at what Papa got!!   A brand new Blue Heeler puppy....ZIP!!  He is getting so cute....and learning about how he shouldn't bite our ankles and try to herd us.  He even has his own song..."Zippety Do-Dah, Zippety day...my oh my what a wonderful day".  Poor little guy might have an identity crisis...he gets called Zip, Zippy, Zippers....but he sure is cute!  We're so glad Papa got someone to help with the horses.

Hayden's Birthday

Happy birthday to our dear niece Hayden!!!  She turned two on May 16, but...we celebrated on Memorial Day at Nana & Papa's.  What a sweet girl she is and so smart too.  She loves to be outside with the big kids and to dance.  It's really cute to watch her while she dances to one of her favorite DVD's.  Like any other two year old little girl, she loves the Disney Princesses...check out her cake!! Not to be outdone by her boy cousins...she likes John Deere too.  Nana & Papa got her a pink JD shirt and a pink that that says, "I'm a John Deere Princess".  How cute is that?  We look forward to spending many more birthdays with you Hayden Elizabeth.  We love you,

Uncle Aaron and Auntie April 

Memorial Day Weekend!!!

Wow!! I'm behind.  Hopefully, you'll forgive me for the lack of posts.  We have been really busy!!  Over Memorial Day Weekend for as long as I can remember we have always gone camping at Birch Bay State Park.  For as long as I can remember we have gone with the TenKley's.  Notoriously, in Washington, that weekend it usually rains...Praise the Lord this year was an exception. The sun actually shined for most of the weekend. It only rained once on Sunday evening....just enough to get our tent wet and messy for packing it up on Monday!  We had a lot of fun!!!  And it was really good to see little Rylee along with us enjoying all the camping fun with his family.  God has blessed us all!!  Let's see...what do we have in pictures?  We have Aaron and Skyler putting together an Indiana Jones lego set, don't they look like they're concentrating really hard?  This was during the time that little Miss Madie decided she was feeling left out and hopped on her bike without telling us where she was going.  It's ok...we found her...PHEW!  Next we have Madie Elaine TenKley the Third (that's what she called herself...heheheh!!!) with her caterpillar on that stick.  Her given name is Madalyn Elaine TenKley, but...be careful...she is quick to tell you her name is MADIE!!  I'm sure this was the first of about three caterpillars she and Skyler found over the weekend.  Then there's Princess Roxy the dog with Skyler and Mazie...don't you just love Mazie's camping hair?  Seriously, where did that come from?  My Mom said it looks like the top of a dandelion when it's all fluffy...perfect analogy Mom!!  Roxy was resting after getting blisters on her feeties....OWWW!!!  That's what a looooonnnnngggg walk on hot asphalt will do to your poor doggie!  The good news is she's all better now!!  Lastly, we have our tent with Mr. BBQ Himself taking a rest.  That's Aaron if you haven't figured it out.  PHEW!!  He did so much BBQ'ing, but...he's so good at it.  Thanks Dad for teaching him your skills.  SHHHH, don't tell, but Mom said Aaron's chicken was better than Dad's.  UH OH!!  We played Rummikub, sat by the fire & talked about boys...we'll Cheri did and we listened and gave some Godly advice to a widow that has begun to date again.  Most importantly, we shared memories and made more!!!  We're sure Dad and Mike were watching us that weekend with big smiles.  Hey Dad...we didn't even need the tarp. AND...your eldest daughter...that's me...started the campfire all by herself quite a few times.  I used lighter fluid just like you!!  We did learn that we'll be needing a bigger tent for the next time we go camping.....who said that tent could fit 4 people anyway????  

Update on Rylee

Just wanted to update you on little Rylee.  I wanted you all to know that he is cancer free.  All of his further tests came back negative for cancer.  Praise you Jesus!!  We look forward to spending some time with Rylee and his family next weekend camping!!  HOORAAAYYY!!!!

A weekend with the Dunn's

PHEW!!!  The first weekend in May my good friend Dena asked if we could watch her three kiddos.  SURE!!  We always like having Tyler, Jess & Isaac and this would give Mom a chance to do girl things all on her own without having to worry about the kids.  They arrived just in time for dinner on friday night and ate lasagna with us while Mom went off to the first session of her women's conference.  Immediately I was struck by Jess' sparkle shoes.  Let me tell you a little bit about this little girl.  She would be a princess if she could....she ALWAYS wears dresses and usually will be found wearing her princess crown.  She even brought her Snow White dress-up dress with her.  I think she would wear it to church if Dena would let her.  She is strong-willed, oh my, she is strong-willed.  I tried doing her hair she wasn't having it.  That wasn't what she wanted.  Wow!  I commend Dena and Josh on parenting this future Woman of God.  I'm confident she will turn out to be a true jewel.  And...just like her Mom, her Prince Charming will come.  I'm sure she can't wait to wear the wedding dress!!  Dena attended more of her conference on Saturday and went to a Birthmother's Luncheon at Bethany Christian Services.  Yes, she is a birthmother who has chosen to give her daughter, Julia, life with a family who otherwise would not have been able to have a child.  I applaud her for that and someday, in the near future, I will dedicate a post all to her, Dena that is.  Saturday the kids had lots of fun....they loved Photo Booth on our computer.  Especially Tyler.  He would have spent hours on here making all sorts of silly photos.  Don't worry, we didn't let him stay on that long.  Jess and I ran to the store and she got a treat at the coffee stand a yummy raspberry italian soda.  Tyler was jealous when we got home.  We made playdough...pink of course.  And you'll see some of her attitude and sass in the cooking picture.  She was a little "put-out" that I didn't have an apron for her...she has one at home.  She and Tyler played for quite awhile together with the play-dough...do you see her princess crown???  And then she played for another hour by herself.  Aaron and I think she may have a cooking show someday.  She was carrying on her own commentary while "cooking" strawberry pudding.  Isaac kept himself busy with Aaron and enjoyed "working" on Aaron's Mustang. HEHEHE!!  Josh...you may have a Mustang lover yet on your hands. We got to try out lots of our baby stuff, the crib, lots of toys and our high chair.  What fun!!!  And...we learned what it's like to have three kids.  Not so sure three would be a good number for us.  Two would be good.....we all went to church on Sunday.  HOOORAAAYYY!!!  Our greatest joy when visiting the Dunn's is the opportunity to visit their church, which we love.  And...now, they got to come to church with us.  We ended the visit with lunch at Homestead with Jess, Jake & Savannah.  It was fun to see them and Jess' growing tummy.  She's having twin boys in August!!!  Josh we missed you and we're sorry you were at home nursing a broken ankle and had to go to work.  Bummer, but..there's always next time.  We love you all and we're looking forward to the next visit!!!       

Thoughts on Mother's Day....a few days late

Well...Mother's Day has now come and gone.  It was this weekend.  Ever since, our first miscarriage which happened on Mother's Day weekend,  I have not attended a Mother's Day service at our church.  This year was not an exception.  I went to church to work in the toddler nursery and Aaron sat in the service with his Mom.  Last year, we went to church with my Mom.  After reading the blogs of many of my friends who have gone through infertility...I cried.  My friend Stacy probably said it best in her blog.  She remembered sitting in service after Mother's Day service, longing to be a Mother.  That's me....if I have to be the only person sitting down AGAIN when they ask all the Mother's to stand up...I think I would burst into tears.  I long for the time when I am no longer helping THIRTEEN toddlers make Mother's Day cards, but...MY toddler is making ME a Mother's Day card.  I don't have a stainless steel fridge and frankly, I can't wait to cover it with artwork from my son or daughter.  Bring it on!!  That all being said I want to say thank you Mom....thank you for raising me the way you have!  I would not be the Woman of God I am today had it not been for your example.  Thank you for being my MOM!  The above picture is at my Grandma Rose's house...sorry Amber, I had to use the one with the roller in your hair.  To my Mother-in-Law...thank you for raising such a Godly son.  One who loves me for who I am with my flaws.  One who respects me and the women in his life...including his three sisters.  Thank you to my Sister-in-Law, Andrea....for continuing to raise our nephews the way she is.  She is doing an incredible job and God will honor that.  My thoughts turn toward the future birthmother of our child.  We pray you are being blessed today and everyday wherever you are.  We praise Jesus now for the gift you will be giving us in the future.

Never Let Go

So....this week my commute increased from 20 minutes to 40 minutes. I was not very happy about this in the beginning....I've known for a few months that the location of my work was changing. But...today, I had a revelation of sorts. I can pray! DUH! I can use those twenty extra minutes and focus on my ever growing prayer list. This morning I put in my copy of the David Crowder Band--Remedy. I love this CD...and so does my husband. We are both big David Crowder Band fans. That is why we were so excited to attend their concert in October of 2007. What a treat! Anyway, I digress...on my way to work I was enjoying the sunshine...thank you Jesus and worshipping with this CD. I just had to share this song with you all....I love it. Now, granted I have listened to this CD many, many times, but....sometimes the words will just begin to minister to you. I so love it when that happens. It happened to me this morning. So, while praying and worshipping with my eyes filled with tears (don't worry, they were open) my 40 minute commute was not wasted. Here are the lyrics:

"Never Let Go"

When clouds veil sun

And disaster comes

Oh, my soul

Oh, my soul

When waters rise

And hope takes flight

Oh, my soul

Oh, my soul

Oh, my soul

Ever faithful

Ever true

You I know

You never let go

You never let go

You never let go

You never let go

When clouds brought rain

And disaster came

Oh, my soul

Oh, my soul

When waters rose

And hope had flown

Oh, my soul

Oh, my soul

Oh, my soul

Oh, my soul

Overflows

Oh, what love, oh, what love

Oh, my soul

Fills hope

Perfect love that never lets go

Oh, what love, oh, what love

Oh, what love, oh, what love

In joy and pain

In sun and rain

You're the same

Oh, you never let go

It just became so evident to me that no matter what God is there. No matter what you have gone through or are going through HE NEVER LETS GO!! Isn't that so cool?? In joy and pain, sun and rain. I think we forget He's there when we're in the sun, but...oh boy, when the rain comes we cling to Him like never before. We need to remember he's there for us at ALL times.