Science Co-op

Payton just completed a science co-op class with our homeschool group. We met once a week for experiments, review, etc. It was a lot of work for her (it was an 8th grade class, and she's in 7th, but I knew she could do it, and she did!). I'm not sure if she'd admit it, but she also had lots of fun. 

Studying science through my homeschooling years has always left me in awe! The perfection in God's creation is just mind boggling. From an atom to the axial tilt of the earth. He created it all, perfect! He is perfect! I'm so grateful my children learned the truth, not the lies I was fed in school.

 Evolution, what a joke!

 Anyhow, here are a few pictures.  :)

I made cupcakes for their last class.  You gotta end the school year with lots of junk food....
and the parties have just begun.  :)

So Sweet

This is what daddy's bag looks like after Payton makes his lunch. (She must of been in a hurry for this one, usually it's neater and "more" decorative!)  ;) 

Here's the dinner she made last winter when I was sick in bed. I have spent many years teaching this young lady all the life skills she needs to take care of a house hold, and I can always count on her!

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30

San Diego

Max's rescue unit has to stay water qualified (they practice landing the helo on ships, they drop the pararesue guys in the middle of the ocean, etc.). Since San Diego is the closest to Tucson, that is where they train. The kids and I were able to join him on this last trip.  It was nice to visit the beach again. The kids especially enjoyed it, even getting into the freezing water...brrrr! The Gulf of Mexico is definitely the only ocean that is warm enough for me to get in.

It's suppose to read "2012"

We were out there early in the morning. Oh, to have this kind of energy without coffee. :)

Some more action.

Going back out in the afternoon after some school work...(you can't stop using your brain just because your at the beach!).  :)

Payton didn't think it was funny after the 8th time I told her to "go fly a kite!" :)

Landon getting ready to skim board....

...and he got it.

Strike a pose.

When Max is around....there is always construction going on. :)

You can't leave the beach without burying someone.  (Landon actually started digging his own hole, Payton just enjoyed finishing!)

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
C. S. Lewis

Driving Solo

Well, it's that time of life. The time when I have to put part of your heart in a mobil machine, and pray!  I blinked and he's 16 (17 next month!). I trust Landon with all my heart. He's a good kid with MANY hours of practice behind the wheel. But nevertheless, when he drove himself to Tae Kwon Do for the first time,  the butterflies in my stomach were traveling at Mach speed!  :)

Then....

....and now!

He's off! Please always protect him, Lord.


But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. (Ps 5.11-12)
 will both lie down in peace, and 

He LIVES!

  Happy Resurrection Sunday!

 It is the most important day of the year for all Christians. We had our traditional Good Friday time at home with communion, Bible reading and prayer. It's so overwhelming to reflect on what our Lord Jesus  had to go through on that day. Words can't express how humbled and grateful I am. He paid a heavy, horible price, so we could spend eternity with Him. All because of love.

Our day was perfect. Our church had a beautiful service, then we had brunch, came home and watched a movie (after eating so much, there was nothing else we could do!). In the late afternoon, we played a "very" competitive game of basketball! Whew, I was beat! ;)

For some strange reason I didn't get any pictures, so here are a few from the past since I didn't blog back then. :) 

The sun was quite bright, that they had their eyes closed on every picture.  

My toothless boy is going to love this picture. :)

Spring Skiing

Our winter was so busy with speech and debate, soccer and construction that we didn't think it would be possible to go on our yearly ski trip. (It's torturous knowing there is skiing in Pinetop, AZ - which is only a four hour drive.) Well, we finally made it happen. With LOTS of persistence from Payton. (Like I've said before, give her any activity to do outside with her family, and she is ecstatic!)

The weather was absolutely gorgeous...(for me anyway!).  One day the slopes got a little slushy by the afternoon, but it was okay by me. It was worth the 58 degrees temp, and the empty slopes! There were maybe 15 cars in the parking lot...we felt like we owned the mountain.  It was awesome!

                                The hardest part of skiing - putting on the dreaded ski boots!

                                           Payton getting some help from daddy.

After lunch, Payton was complaining that her shin was hurting, she sat down (on the dirty carpet - yuck!) to investigate what was causing the pain. Apparently, there was a hole in her pocket and her cell phone fell through into her boot. So she had been skiing with it in her boot all morning. That will definitely cause pain and a lack of cell service, too!

                                       Landon in action....

                                Payton after she landed....with a smile from ear to ear.

The second day we were there, they offered adults a student price ticket (half off!) if anyone wore a Hawaiian shirt. So yes, we hit Walmart that evening. Aloha!  :)

The first day of skiing, Payton got her boots soaking wet (she fell in a puddle, but that's a long story with no pictures. I didn't witness it, but Max and Landon could hardly tell the story because they were laughing so hard. She sure wasn't laughing! Let's just say....it wasn't pretty!) Anyhow, her boots were still wet the following morning, so my ingenuity had to go to work. We got a couple of plastic bags from Circle K. It worked like a charm. It was the first time she didn't have any trouble putting on her boots. (I think a patent idea is in the making.)  :)

                     It doesn't get any better than skiing with this group on a beautiful spring day!

                                              Thanking my Lord for all His blessings!

Beckham and Cowboys

The Desert Diamond Cup was here in Tucson last week, and thanks to the discount tickets we got from Payton's soccer club we were able to go.  The real kicker (no pun intended!) was to watch David Beckham play for Los Angeles Galaxy.  It was really a fun night of professional soccer.

An hour before the game we got a text letting us know Payton's team was chosen to escort the second team onto the field before the game. That meant a lot of excited, giggly girls. ;)

She is right up front with the goalie.  One of her team mates said, "I was really nervous, and I looked ahead and there was Payton talking up a storm with the goalie." (I don't think I've ever seen Payton nervous/shy.

                                  David Beckham kicking the (very blurred) soccer ball.

                                                           A close(r) shot of him.


My parents came for a visit and ironically the 87th Tucson Rodeo was taking place.  There is no way you are going to get Tata and Payton together and NOT go to a rodeo.  Although, they were the only ones dressed the part, we all had a good time.  :)

Here's the authentic cowboy (tata), and the wish-she-owned-a-horse-and-lived-on-a-ranch Payton!

                                      Landon with two beautiful gals....(nana and sister).

                                           Here are a few action shots...."Ride 'em cowboy!"

                                                        These guys are tough (and crazy)!

                               Speaking of brave...the rodeo clowns are some of the bravest ever!

Random Posts

Well, it's official. We now have a licensed driver! Landon took his road test yesterday (he dragged his feet some, since he has to pay half his insurance). There were lots of emotions: I was happy (for him!),  sad (for me, because he's growing up!),  nervous (for us all!),  relieved (that now when I'm in a bind and have to be at two places at one time, he can drive!) and anxious (that he not only has to watch out for his driving, but everyone else's too!).

   I got a picture of him through the mirror.  Hmmm, what was going through his mind? :)

  Payton at her piano recital. She played her pieces beautifully. (This is coming from a mom, who does not have a musical bone in her body, so if she made a mistake...I would never know.)  The recital was on Super Bowl Sunday.  It's obvious her piano instructor is about as knowledgeable about sports, as I am about music. It was funny to watch the men squirm in their seats, and try 'really' hard not to constantly look at their watches. :)

Payton used her "get anything you want from the grocery store" Valentine's coupon.  She chose whole milk (apparently she's tired of skim!).  How sad is this?!?

I found this plastic spider in the eggs. ( They were thrilled with the very loud scream that came from this practical joke!)  The war begins! ;)

Speech & Debate Tournament

We returned last weekend from a four day S&D tournament in California. The experience was wonderful! My kids worked SO hard preparing for this debate, and I was blessed to watch so many God glorifying, bright, mature, homeschool teens. (Max couldn't go, he had 70 men deploying, so he stayed behind to see them off.  Please pray for their safety.)

I was so proud of my kids, they did really well for their first tournament. They won 2 out of 6 rounds, but like every other sport, it's very subjective. (And Payton would be the first to tell you all about it!) ;)

                                                          Here are the debaters...

                                             Here's Landon and his debate partner preparing for a round.

 Payton in between rounds enjoying anything other than taxes. (Taxes is the resolution for this year.)

                                           Here are a fraction of the 451 teens at the tournament.

            Ready to start day two. (The days were very long - they were anywhere between 10-14 hours!)

I was there on my birthday, and I received this beautiful bouquet from my wonderful husband. (Who already spoiled me before I left! He's so good to me!)

                                                     I Thank you, Lord, for another year!

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalms 90:12).