some pics

We just now got our PC hooked up.  In the kitchen, in the wide open.  A good place for it to be ;)  Although as I sit here, I am needed by someone about every 10 seconds.  So now I'm relating computer time with annoying time.   Which equals less time.   Fine by me, I'm loving our weather here!!  Hot Mamma!

Here are some of our goings on around home.

                       Hannah fell asleep like this.  Little cutie-pie.

              Mary gets this from me... throwing her head up to heaven with a sigh...."God help me".

                Ann doing her musical jewelry box project.

                  Elijah and his lego project.

                      David and his lego project.

     Daddy-O in the pool with his little mermaids and mermen.

                           David helping Ann on his Ripstick.

                         Elijah cleaning out the pool.

                                     Hannah's boat.

                          Chouinards on wheels.  Look out!

I can hardly get enough of my rollerblades. 

When I was jumping in the pool with my clothes on (I'll do the other when the kids are in bed ;)))

my scrunchie came out of my hair and Elijah freaked out  "Mom's panties!!" 

So funny when I threw it at him.  As if my panties would be that little!

                                               Isn't this a cool picture?

                                                    This one too!

MYO pizza night.

All of my doughs rise so quick here.  I put it on the back porch and it will double in half an hour.

                                              David shootin' some b-ball

The Horror!

When I came home last night from the Center,

ready to greet my family,

this is what I opened the door to!

My whole family slain by butterknifes.

The horror!

                            This one giggled a lot.

                              These ones too.

                        Thank you Paul for the April Fools!

Do You Whirley-Pop?

We've been Whirley-Popping for many years. My in-loves gave it to us when Ann was a baby, so it's been that long.  It's great fun at our house to break out the Whirley-Pop.

Necessity, is the mother of invention. -Plato

Lunch bags have many uses in our home, especially for popcorn. 

We keep track of who's is who's and can shake the seasoning into the popcorn real well. 

"Now Ann, this is how you Whirley-Pop" says Mama Bear.

"I knoooooow Moooom" says Wee-Bear.

Mary had her first turn, but you can barely see her smooshed in there between the Big-Bears.

Brother-Bear Elijah is a natural whirleyer.

When Mama-Bear starts screaming "RUUUUN", Papa Bear comes in for damage control. 

(I still seem to overfill the Whirly Pop 99% of the time, yes, I know, I'm a pig)

Elijah and Mary never run though, they scramble to eat the mess.

Settling in for a movie, "Shrek Ever After"

Life (as I know it)

Earlier this week, Paul and I went to another training seminar to pick up more "equipping". My sister-n-law came and cared for the children, but really, I think God sends her just as much for me, as for the children. I just love that woman. 

I am really enjoying the opportunities that San Francisco has to offer, but especially the new ARC skills that I am learning to most effectively love and serve people, which of course, begins in my own home.   Our most recent conference in Long Beach was all about people, our rehabilition program services,(you know the psycho-stuff)  and I learned some amazing yet practical tools.

Jesus said "you will know the truth and the truth will set you FREE!"   

Is it fair game to apply my new understandings to my children, why yes, of course!   (hee!hee!)

This new appointment and venture in our lives, is not soley set out for Paul and Rachel.  It is for the whole lot of us.  Our gracious God appointments the whole family, right down to little Mary.
 He is not a divider, sending us all to go our own separate ways, God is a uniter.

It has been almost a year of an uphilll battle in a lot of ways.  Not everything is "solved" from my perspective, but I try to commit my ways to the Lord instead of brooding, and I keep seeing God's creative provision!!

I take the kids out and about everytime I get the chance.   The children and I are trying to have some fun with all the (annoying) attention we get for being a "big" family.  Now we just pretend we're movie stars and we have paparazzi.  But really, people are so friendly and curious, I don't mind.  I do mind though when they ask me how old I am.

Here is a hidden picture game... can you spot all five?

Wherever you are in your journey, may you know the love and peace that our Living God has to offer.



Zoo

On Saturday morning, our neighbors took us to the zoo.

Isn't that sweet?

They have twin boys.

           We had a wonderful time. 
           The weather was perfect. 
           The animals are fascinating. 
           And we got friendly with our neighbors.

       For Narnia!

     We thought this sign was funny.
     Notice the bottom line.

 We brushed goats for a looooong time. 
 This goat was so longsuffering. 

         And this goat.

This one too.

             I call this one "Man and Goat"

                   Ann had a rough ride.

                      Mine was rougher though.

Does Paul look scared here? Confused? 

She scares me too ;)  lol!

           What's worse than pushing around a 9 year old?

           Trying to reach high speeds with your 11 year old.

~The earth is filled with His Glory~