LENSSEN-PALOUSA!

Men At Work

2012-02-09T21:40:00.000-08:00

We had road construction on our street this summer. It started on April 11 when the crumbling pavement heaved and showed signs of a broken pipe. We called the city and they posted 4 construction cones around the area.

As we found out, they were in no hurry to get the work done. But because my son was fully entertained by any construction activity on our street, I didn't complain. Street workers were my son's source of summer "fun".

We took photos as events progressed, and Grant loved every minute of it. The last of the equipment and construction workers left our street on October 20... more than 6 months from when they started. :)

The day the road was completed, the kids celebrated by riding their bikes and scooters on the smooth pavement. I was just happy to drive on an unobstructed street-- and was thankful for the hours of time my son enjoyed watching.

My little entrepreneurs.

2012-01-27T22:17:00.000-08:00

My kids are inventive. Check out their ideas for "stores" to have at home at the end of summer:

Allison took her business the furthest... she set up shop and served anyone who was willing to get decorated! :)

Just her luck-- the Davis girls stopped by and were happy to be her customers!

Sweet L. looked even more lovely after Allison's work!

Time Marches On.

2012-01-23T21:47:00.000-08:00

First, a pic from one of the first months we lived in Pullman.

One of the first of countless visits to Sunnyside park for a picnic.

I remember the feelings I had during that time. A bit unknown. A bit lonely. What was this new life in Pullman going to be? Will this season in life with preschool/toddler girls stay the same day in and day out? How will we find ways to connect with new people and build friendships???

And now, a recent photo from this September. Over 7 years later.

A picnic in the same spot at Sunnyside. Add in one crazy boy and two girls who have grown to be lovely young ladies.
And such a different season in life. This was our last picnic in my season of being a stay at home mom. I was feeling emotional that day.
Thankful.
Reminiscent.
Amazed at how fast it changed. When I wondered if it ever would change.

That span between the first photo and the second photo was a tremendously revealing time for me. God was (and is still) so very faithful. And even when I didn't want to admit that God's plan was best, I can finally admit He was right.
Thanks be to God!

Kylie Genevieve is born!!!

2012-01-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

Shortly after school started, the arrival of a new cousin gave us a reason to celebrate! Sweet Mya (who many of you prayed for a couple years back-- she's doing great!) now has a baby sister, Kylie!

Rather than travelling to the west side to visit her, my sister and family made the trip over to see us. The late harvest was a draw for their chance to let Mya enjoy her first wheat harvest.

I also got the chance to take some photos of Kylie. She was just old enough to be a little squirly (not within the first 10 days of "sleeping through anything"), but we got a few good shots!

It was so great to have family together and celebrate a new baby!

First Day of School!

2012-01-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

Wow. I'm really behind. :) Hope you enjoy events from months past anyway... (I promised I'd post for you, Sue!!! :)

This is our most "centralized" year. All three kids go to the same school each morning. This will be the one and only year in our 3 kid educational careers where they'll all be together. Sunnyside is the place to be!

We started a fun tradition that the kids hold up the number of fingers to represent what grade they are in on the first day of school. Don't they all look adorable?

Grant's first day of kindergarten, and Sadie's first day of her last elementary school year! Boo hoo! Good thing Mom had a job to go to so that I didn't have time to feel sad.

Memory Making is Important.

2011-12-30T21:32:00.000-08:00

That's the theme that goes with this post.

Our advice? Take time to make memories with friends and family. This trip we took in August will always have special importance for our family and our friends.

We rented a house in McCall in August-- what a crazy fun time! We had a really great time with the Rogers and the Davis families. And we're totally planning on spending a vacation together again-- SOON!

And even caught Allison swinging from a rope into the water! I was so proud of her for taking a risk for fun. :)

We thank God for the chance to have taken this vacation with friends. What an important time together!

Silverwood!

2011-12-22T21:29:00.000-08:00

We did summer up BIG. The next fun event was Silverwood with the Sawyers. It was Idaho Vandal day, so we were decked out in our gear and went. Mostly went on rides-- 60 degrees wasn't quite warm enough to spend much time at the water park. It was a great day!

One of our Fave Summer Spots

2011-12-20T21:19:00.000-08:00

Priest Lake. With the Hollings and crew. Guaranteed to be a great time!

This year was no different.

Sun. Sand. Water fights. Games. Fishing. Fabulous!

Family FUN!

2011-12-18T22:21:00.000-08:00

We were so lucky to have the Lynden cousins come visit us in July.

My kids could not have been more excited! They all had such a great time.

Independence.

2011-12-10T21:53:00.001-08:00

I feel like independence day this year was a good representation of life in our household with "older" kids. It's amazing to see how different our life is than it is for my siblings who are busy with younger little ones!

But we sure love to spend time with those busy little cousins!

June Joy

2011-12-05T22:16:00.001-08:00

I was so so so proud of my kiddos in June!

Finished school with style...

Even graduating from preschool...

And going to camp-- big brave girls who stayed for several nights away from home!

Anyone for a little t-ball?

What joy my growing kids bring to our household. :)

2011-11-30T22:31:00.001-08:00

Some ways the kids stay busy in the month of May...
Coug Baseball...

Scrapbooking...

Playing with tractor toys...

Lunchdates while watching the road crew.

What did you do to stay busy in May?

Another AWANA year comes to a close...

2011-05-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

What a year! All three kids did some great work and we celebrated them at the award ceremony last week.

Grant: Finished his second Cubbies book and will move on up to the Sparky Club in the fall. No more little kids! I think his favorite night was "Drive In Movie Night" where kids make a cardboard car and sit in it to watch a Veggie Tales movie. Grant and dad designed a cardboard combine this year. Pretty incredible!

Allison: Finished her book #2 for Sparks in February, and took on a challenge to finish a third book before year's end. AND SHE DID IT!! She completed book 3 in less than two months! That means she completed an average of 4 sections each week (a section is anything from bringing a guest, doing a bible crossword, but mostly memorizing scripture-- sometimes a few verses at a time!) Completing the third book earned her the Sparky plaque! Allison will move on to T and T this fall.

Sadie: She completed book #2 this year and will stay in Truth and Training (T&T) this next fall. One night she was the record breaking points earner for one night-- by completing a Discovery, completing a book and bringing two friends all in the same night!

"Keep my words and store up my commands within you. 2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart." --Proverbs 7:1-3

Easter in Pullman

2011-05-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a few shots from our Easter weekend. After it was said and done, I realized how FEW photos were taken.

Unusal for Angela!

The unphotographed memories we'll keep are incredible! It was a blessed weekend with church and family and the celebration of the resurrection of our Savior!

Spring Break at Silver Mountain

2011-04-05T15:52:00.000-07:00

Our big getaway for Spring Break was an overnight stay in Kellogg, ID at the Silver Mountain Resort.

We took advantage of the great spring snow conditions and headed up the gondola for some tube sledding. While the sledding was loads of fun, it was agreed (by a few of us) that we need to attempt downhilling on skis next time (I yearned for those slopes while there-- it's been too many years!).

The highlight of the resort is Silver Rapids Waterpark, Idaho's largest indoor waterpark.

We decided being able to sled, swim and stay in a hotel all in one day is the greatest!

Highly recommended to those interested. :)

8 on the 8th

2011-03-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

Allison just celebrated her golden birthday by turning 8 years old on the 8th of March (if we go back to her birth date... she was due on 3/3/03... which would have been COOL... but she had her own ideas and came 5 days late.).

Her gift from mom and dad was getting her ears pierced. She's waited a long time for this exciting occasion. She chose sapphire stones-- her birthstone.
BEFORE:

DURING:.

AFTER!!!

She was super brave and is very excited for the 6 weeks to pass when she can try on some other pretties! :)

Jumprope for Heart

2011-03-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

Jumproping for Heart again!

This year, Sadie AND Allison were able to participate in this year's school event of Jumprope for Heart-- and they did a great job!

Both joined the three hour event of jumproping for kids who have special hearts. They were happy to share with their schoolmates that they were jumping for someone in their lives with a special heart-- their cousin Mya.

They jumped with all their mights! Great job, girls.

Head to Toe Camo

2011-02-16T12:11:00.000-08:00

Now you see me...

Now you don't.

Our Little Gymnast

2011-02-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a video we made of Allison at this weekend's mini meet for Palouse Empire Gymnastics. She did a great job! She was brave and very skilled for her first official meet.

And thanks to Sadie our videographer (mom was taking still shots). :)

Extreme.

2011-01-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

Pets can make extreme messes. Stinky messes. Even if they are contained in a small cage.

In an attempt to make even cleaning our guinea pig cage fun, we created our own "Extreme Home Makeover" to give Zeke the joy of his life... a clean cage.

Enjoy our video!

Allison's Turn

2011-01-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

Sadie did it last spring, and at that time Allison decided she was going to work toward the same goal...

donating her hair!

At the end of winter break Allison wanted to start off the new year with a new look, so we took her in for the big cut. Six lovely inches of her gorgeous red curly locks were removed in hopes that another sweet little girl will use them. What a joy!

Can you believe it-- mom forgot the camera for the cut! We will do our best with a "before" and after here:

So cute, Allison!

The Lenssens in 2010

2010-12-30T22:20:00.000-08:00

We hope that you were able to remember Christ this Christmastime. Our family intentionally focused on the birth of our Savior and plan to continue that into 2011.

Happy New Year to you all!

(And-- a special treat! We just got proofs from our family photo shoot that was too late for this year's Christmas card. Enjoy!)

Dwayne in 2010

2010-12-29T17:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a look at what Dwayne enjoyed this year!

Angela in 2010

2010-12-26T16:48:00.000-08:00

And a snapshot (HA! no pun intended) into Angela's year...

Sadie in 2010

2010-12-23T20:25:00.000-08:00

And here's a glimpse into the life of Sadie this year!

Allison in 2010

2010-12-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

Here's a little view of our year with our sweet curly redhead! Love this girl!

Grant in 2010

2010-12-14T22:41:00.000-08:00

What a great year we had with this fabulous little guy! There's not a day that goes by without smiles induced by our sweet 5 year old!

Fall into Winter

2010-12-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

We had a beautiful fall here on the Palouse-- vibrant colors and lots of dry leaves to play in! Gorgeous, warm and enjoyable.

And then, right at Thanksgiving, we dove directly into winter! We had several big snowstorms and low temps to last a few weeks. We had a good supply of sledding snow to keep the kids outside and active.

Even had some fun with cousin Lana!

So far, we couldn't ask for better fall and winter weather. Bring on some more!

Halloween

2010-12-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, we did get dressed up for Halloween this year.

The kids were creative with their ideas, and we did our best to create a look for them (even if one boy didn't end up wearing some items mom made... he really just wanted big muscles. :)

We have Jessie the cowgirl, Popeye the Sailor Man, and Matilda.

We celebrated at the Harvest Festival that Angela (a.k.a. the Pink Lady... no kids knew what a Pink Lady is! :) coordinated again this year at church. Crazy fun! This year there were over 500 people at the church for the event.

On to winter!

A 5-Year-Old Birthday

2010-12-09T22:55:00.000-08:00

At the end of October the youngest member of our family turned 5 years old!

Grant had a lot of ideas for parties and gifts (and can list more and more "for my next birthday"), but settled on a "Chinese Birthday" (dinner with family at a chinese restaurant) and a gathering with friends at McDonalds.

We can't believe he's already five years old. The time is flying by... just as parents before me would warn. It's amazing how fast days can go. Cherish them, people!

We've been waiting 10 years for this...

2010-10-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

It's here!

Sadie's 10th birthday!

Why is that so cool? Well, I'll tell you. It's because her 10th birthday lands on 10/10/10.

Yup. One of the coolest Golden Birthdays EVER.

We discovered it soon after she was born on 10/10/00. And I always said we'd have a big celebration.

It's here. And we're so thankful for our sweet Sadie!

We love you-- you'll always be a Perfect 10 to us!!!

Crazy Fun

2010-09-22T23:00:00.000-07:00

Just some photos to show some crazy fun we've had lately. Silly photos are so often better than "cheesy" ones!

Grant. Oh, that boy. Seriously. Nothing serious about him! Once again, Grant adored wheat harvest. This year he even spent multiple full days (like 12 hours each) "workin'" with Dad, Grandpa and Uncle Mark.

Allison. So much fun! That girl is photogenic and always ready for a good time. Love her. This one is for Grandpa who wanted to know how she'd fair eating corn without any teeth. :)

Sadie. Sweet, simple Sadie. She had a super duper summer-- courageously taking on new and big adventures like going to a three night summer camp and conquering the tube slides at the aquatic center. Of course, she loved both more than she imagined possible (can mom say "I told you so"?).

Angela. She's been taking a photography class and asking the kids to pose so she can practice. Grant got tired of always being on the opposite end of the camera and wanted his turn. So, this shot is courtesy of Grant. Nice work, buddy!

Dwayne. His version of crazy fun comes every August. Harvest time! We catch him when we can.

Crazy fun, peeps!

July Joy

2010-09-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

So, I'm still behind... but you gotta love the photos of these kids and puppies! Too cute

Grandma From-The-West-Side and Auntie Who-Has-Two-Almost-Three Girls came to visit in July and we had so much fun playing!

Of course, we spent some quality time at the aquatic center...

And enjoyed Lana's puppies, too.

What joy!

Happy Independence Day!

2010-08-09T21:56:00.000-07:00

Hey all... a bit late but it's still fun to see the photos, right?

We had so much fun gathering as a whole entire Sawyer Family at my sister Suz' place up by Spokane. We had a great time with wiffle ball, eating, making the tradtional flag cake, bocce ball, eating, playing with cousins, eating, taking Sadie to her first camp, eating and chasing cattle. Yup. A fabulous independence day.

Lake Fun!

2010-08-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to go to Priest Lake again this summer. It is such a treat for us to spend time on the lakefront with the ability to boat on the water too. We had so much fun with family and loved every minute of it!

Pee Wee Sports Camp

2010-08-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

(Sorry for the long delayed post!!!)

Grant enjoyed Pee Wee Sports Camp earlier this summer. He spent 5 days doing all different sports-- soccer, bowling, tee ball, basketball and track and field. It was so fun to watch him learn the basics of these sports! When we asked him his favorite, he said "all of them!"

The New Sandbox

2010-06-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

We've had the little turtle sandbox since Sadie was just a toddler. In the past few years, we've realized it's a bit small for three kids... particularly one with a machinery lot full of construction equipment.

The joy of digging is a PASSION for Grant. There is no denying that he loves it. People who have only known him for minutes of time could guess that he "digs" dirt.

Our garden has been the resource for a larger digging area for the past few (muddy) months. But now that it is planted, we needed a new spot for Grant.

To justify a change/purchase for Daddy, I pitched the plan with a "kill two birds" approach. We have a low spot in the back yard that becomes a muddy puddle area anytime it rains or we play with the sprinkler or pool. And we have a small patio. To give better drainage to the wet spot, I suggested putting a sandbox there. And in case we ever want to extend our patio, the sand/gravel would make a good foundation for new concrete.

So-- it was done. After waiting patiently (and sometimes not so patiently) for the spot to dry out for digging and filling, Grant was awarded the joy of filling his new sandbox last week. The whole family pitched in, and we're all having fun playing around in it too.

Come on over and play!

Superstar Allison

2010-06-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

Sweet Allison is so amazing... this girl is physically capable of a lot! We are so impressed by her mad climbing and gymnast skills. She's had a lot of practice on a climbing wall at school, and has enjoyed a few gymnastics classes.

We love to see her accomplish great things, and she never ceases to amaze us.

In just two weeks she'll be starting up gymnastics again. We're so proud of her!

Donation Time!

2010-06-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

She's been growing and growing for months. And the time came this week to make her donation!

Sadie chose to grow out her hair for Locks of Love. There were many shampoos, tangles and tears that come with longer hair. But she persevered and waited for the 8 inches of donatable hair to grow.

We knew she'd look super cute with a new and shorter do since she used to always wear it short. We had forgotten just how cute, though. Check out the work in progress:

LOVE that smile! She feels great about her new look. And I think that is fabulous. :)

Teachers are Blessings

2010-05-05T22:29:00.000-07:00

I did not know it until this evening, but this is Teacher Appreciation Week.

A few weeks ago (and therefore before I knew of apprecication week), our family planned to invite our teachers (3rd grade, 1st grade, preschool and AWANA leaders) to our house for dinner on Cinco de Mayo.

They came this evening and enjoyed dinner with us. We were blessed to get to know them better and the kids were overjoyed to have their teachers here.

It was a joy to have our teachers in our home. We certainly appreciate them!!!

Sadie-- our Piano Gal

2010-04-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

Here's Sadie's spring recital for the WSU PPLS program. She's had the same piano teacher for three years now, but is saying goodbye as Miss Christina is graduating and headed off to grad school (such is the life we live in Pullman... always saying goodbye to people!)

Sadie did a great job, and has grown a lot. You can see her very first piano recital here that was 2.5 years ago. She was so little! :)

Just Across Town

2010-04-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

It's amazing the fun that can be found in your own town! We had so much fun riding the city bus to campus to visit Ferdinands for ice cream.

Wanna come with us next time?

Spring Break Fun

2010-04-14T21:48:00.001-07:00

We spent one night away from home for Spring Break-- a fun trip to Spokane for cousin Trent's 1st birthday and a visit to Chuck E Cheese!

Dear God,

2010-03-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

Dear God, Please send another sunny day so my kids can go outside to play. My husband and I would sincerely appreciate it. Thanks, Angela

(Turn your speakers up as loud as they can go for the full effect.)

Thankful that Spring is Here!

2010-03-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring, all!

Happy Birthday Allison!

2010-03-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

Today Allison turns 7.

What a blessing to have this little ray of sunshine to brighten each day! She keeps us on our toes and with a smile or a giggle, she can fill your heart with joy.

Happy birthday, sweet one! We love you.

Jump Rope for Heart

2010-03-03T21:47:00.000-08:00

Sadie participated in her second annual "Jump Rope for Heart", raising money for the American Heart Association! She had so much fun with friends and with the activities planned for the day.

This year was a little different-- Sadie decided to jump in honor of her cousin Mya. After learning this year through Mya's heart surgeries that kids have heart troubles and need lots of medical help, she was so excited to support her cousin through the event.

Next year, we'll participate in even a bigger way-- Allison will get to jump too!

Wintertime Farming

2010-02-09T21:01:00.000-08:00

So, two "big" events for local farmers in the winter is servicing your combine and attending the Ag Show in Spokane.

They're especially big events for a 4 year old. And they're also BIG for the older generations when 1. it's a new (to you) combine and 2. a first time for a child to go to the Ag Show.

Grant, Dwayne and Grandpa John got to enjoy both on the same day! (Mom tagged along to take photos and do some downtown Spokane shopping BY HERSELF!!!)

We first stopped at the dealership where Grandpa was working on his new-to-him John Deere combine. Dwayne and Grant HAD to check out the cab.

(Not sure what the spots on the photo are??? Floating dust???)

After a small arm twist, we got Grandpa to agree to leave the work for the day and take his grandson to the farm show. I guess that Grant got to crawl onto lots of the equipment and was all grins.

That much farm work in one day can really exhaust a boy! Gotta get some sleep before spring work...

Another Winter Pastime

2010-02-02T20:43:00.000-08:00

We're tired of rain and muck. And mom's willing to sacrifice her carpet to play doh in order to prevent extra hours in front of the television. They came up with this one on their own... play doh bowling.

What creative activities are being done at your house?

Muck... Yuck.

2010-01-13T21:33:00.000-08:00

The weather in Pullman has left much to be desired for kids who love snow. If only it were a few degrees colder, we'd have repeats of the last two years' mountains of snow.

And the kids would be playing outside.

But it is just mud out there, and although Grant enjoys playing in it... even he says it's "too deep" right now.

So Mommy had to go to extreme measures to entertain indoors. We resurrected the rice tub (yup, the tub AND rice we got when Sadie wasn't even yet two. Not recommended to be eaten...).

And we've had rice in places you can only imagine. But my kids (particularly Grant) have been busy. And are spending a few less hours in front of the TV.
But when the rice runs out, the muck better skidaddle too. I'm ready for the sun!

The Joy of the Lord

2010-01-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

A little boy praising God as he does his chores. What could be better?

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

You hear people say that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season", and that's definitely true! However, Christmas is really about YOU. God sent his son to be born on this earth in order that YOU may have eternal life.

Read the Christmas story in Luke 2 today. And know that Jesus was born for you.

Here's some Christmas entertainment for you... (press pause on our playlist at the side to hear the music that goes with this video)

Sadie in 09

2009-12-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:10-11 "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Sadie is a third grader this year. She just loves school! Sadie's talents in piano continue to grow, and she is in T&T at AWANA this year.

Sadie's favorites from 2009:
Fieldtrips with teachers and classmates
Going fishing with Dad (I usually get big ones!)
Playing outside in nature
Love hanging out with my family and learning about God
She became a Christian at VBS this year!!!

Allison in 09

2009-12-21T21:15:00.001-08:00

Matthew 2:11-- "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

Allison is in first grade this year and did a super job transitioning to that all day activity. She stays busy with Daisy Troop and crafty projects and hopes to take gymnastics again soon.

Allison's favorites from 2009:
New cousins!?! Trent and Lana
Enjoying cousin Mya before and after surgery
Playing with other cousins in our short times together
Losing her first teeth

Grant in 09

2009-12-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:7--
"And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Grant started preschool this fall and loves to go two mornings a week. He's a little lonely with his sisters gone all day, but he and Mom stay busy running all over the place for activities and errands. He also enjoys AWANA and just finished up with swim lessons.

Grant's favorites from 2009:

LOTS of snow last winter... waiting for it again this winter
Playing on the farm with Grandpa
Riding 4 wheelers (large and small)
Harvest-- all day every day
Swimming at the aquatic center
Wrestling w/ uncles, grandpa, dad, sisters, cousins, aunts, mom...
Playing in the sand at the river/lake

Angela in 09

2009-12-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

Luke 1:38--"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

Angela is still a stay at home mom who is never at home. She did a little more freelance design work for WSU and is keeping her eye out for the possibility of regular employment sometime in the next couple of years.

Angela's favorites of 2009:
Celebration of 12 years of wedded bliss
Arrival of Nephew Trent and Niece Lana
Sadie became a Christian
Allison learned to be more brave
Grant went to preschool
Trips to visit family in Western Washington
Scrapbooking opportunities at Paper Pals and CKC Seattle
Spent time blogging here and at Mom-e-Memoirs
Angela grew in her Christian faith

Blessings all around!

Dwayne in 09

2009-12-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

Here's the first of our holiday/year end posts so you can see what we've been up to.

Matthew 1:20--"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."

First up is Dwayne!

Still working as a fieldman at Wilbur Ellis and helping his father in law with farming any chance he can get.

His favorites from 2009:

Come back soon to hear more about our family this year!

A Blessed Thanksgiving

2009-12-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

There was not one person that I heard who had a crummy Thanksgiving. All the people I have talked to were so blessed with family and health on this holiday. And the Lenssens Thanksgiving was no exception!
(See Mark and Brittany posing via Skype on the laptop in the background? They got to join us virtually for dinner. :)

We counted down the days to get Mya and Trent time. The kids were so very anxious to see Mya whom they had prayed for all these months but not seen her. And having adorable Trent come on down was a giggle and a half too! I can't believe the joy between all the cousins as they hung out at Grandpa and Grandma's house for the long weekend.

We have so much to be thankful for this year!

October Birthdays

2009-11-21T11:34:00.000-08:00

We celebrated two kids' birthdays in October... Sadie turned 9 and Grant turned 4. They both had some fun celebrations and we are so grateful to enjoy our kids for another year.

What a joy birthdays can be!

Halloween in review... before Thanksgiving gets here!

2009-11-10T21:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, there have been requests for our costumery (is that a word?) of halloween. The kids dressed up as usual, and Angela decided to dress up once again this year too.

Here were the costumes of choice:
Sadie, a detective
Allison, a gymnast
Grant, an astronaut

and...

Angela, a 1991 prom queen.
Yup, really.
And she wore her 1991 prom dress (although she never really was the prom queen...). And, the before and after photos:

Ha ha ha!

Cousins came to Visit!

2009-11-09T21:18:00.000-08:00

Back in October (I'll catch up on my blogging here eventually) we were lucky enough to enjoy cousins coming to visit!

They came for Lana's dedication at church and were able to celebrate Sadie's birthday with us too. We all "took in" a Coug game (stood outside the stadium peeking in for about 10 minutes... unwilling to pay for tickets knowing the kids wouldn't have put up with the cold wind for any longer than this) and generally enjoyed our time together.

Thanks for coming to play!

Labor Day Weekend at the Lake

2009-10-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

So... think back about 6 weeks... and remember Labor Day...

We went to Priest Lake! So much fun for all of us. We hung out with some family and met some new friends.

It was a great way to end the summer!

9/9/09

2009-09-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

So, yeah. Today's date is kinda cool.

But you wanna know what is the very COOLEST?!?

10/10/2010.

So why is 10/10/10 the coolest?

Because my sweet Sadie will have her birthday on 10/10/10.

Do you know how old she'll be?

She'll be 10.

Amazing, isn't it? Plan for the big celebration now!

Our Last First.

2009-09-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

This was the last time our family will take a child to their first day of preschool. Snif snif.

With sisters off to school all day, Mom can get awfully boring. Grant was thrilled to get to go to Preschool this week!

He says "I love my school, Mom." He also asked "Mom, did you miss me? Did you cry?" The highlight of school is the "garbage truck with no cab". The lowlight: "Everyone tries to take MINE toys!" Good luck, Miss J as you teach this little guy to share!

Mom has a few hours of time to herself now! Woah.

Lenssen/Sawyer Family Gatherings Summer 2009

2009-08-25T22:35:00.001-07:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Time flies...

2009-08-25T22:20:00.000-07:00

... when you're having fun. I can't believe summer is OVER. Yoikes!

Another first day of school in the books. Wow!

What a week.

2009-08-07T21:49:00.000-07:00

It's been crazy. Many of you know the whole story behind my niece Mya. If you don't, you can get all the info about this sweet one year old by visiting my sister Julie's blog here.

While Mya is still in the ICU, I can't help but focus on our time with her a week ago today when we arrived at her house to celebrate her first birthday. Here are some of the photos from this huge celebration with all kinds of friends and family. We all (especially Mya) had a great time together!

As for Mya, we're continuing our fervent prayers. We appreciate the support and prayers many of you have already showered on this family. Thanks! We keep giving the situation up to God, knowing he is in control and is Jehovah-rapha, the Lord who heals. Praise Him in the storm!

One of our Favorite Places

2009-07-21T22:29:00.000-07:00

Vacations aren't too common or elaborate with our household. But we really try to enjoy what we can... when we can!

One of our favorite places to visit is Ross Point Baptist Camp in Post Falls. It's been a Sawyer family favorite for 30 years.

Our family got to participate in "My First Camp", prepping our kids for the chance to go to church camp on their own.

Our 26 hour vacation there was packed with fun-- songs, games, crafts and bible stories,

playing in the river,

yummy food,

a scavenger hunt,

mini golf, and a campfire complete with silly songs and smores.

I can't wait for my kids to create great mamories from this camp the way I have from my childhood!

Holy moly!

2009-07-21T22:20:00.000-07:00

What in the world?!? It's been over a month???

Faithful 2.4 followers, I apologize. I'll get some stuff posted SOON!

(This photo I took on a hike at Kamiak w/ the kiddos.)

Lana Jean is here!

2009-06-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Uncle Dan and Aunt Shelle with their healthy and beautiful baby girl!

Lana Jean Lenssen was born on June 18 at 9:36 PM. She was 8 lbs., 6 oz. and was 21 1/2 inches long.

She is healthy and looks just beautiful. Mom and Dad are relaxed, a little bit sleep deprived, but very happy to have her here.

Aunt Angela and Uncle Dwayne thinks she looks like Shelle, but saw a little bit of Lenssen in her too. A good combo! Cousins Sadie, Allion and Grant were excited to meet a new cousin.

A Day at the Park

2009-06-20T09:33:00.001-07:00

We spent a day with family at Riverfront Park in Spokane. The attactions there are a guaruntee for a fun day, but having extra family (Grandma, Aunt Suz and Trent) there makes it even better!

Then in order to see even more family (Mark, Brittany and Brit's family) we went to the "other" great park in Spokane-- Manito.

What a great day.

Welcome Back Mark and Brit!

2009-06-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

After a school year in Saipan, Mark and Brittany have returned to the Northwest!

Our entire immediate family was able to gather to celebrate their return as well as the dedication of my sweet neice Mya.

The kids had tons of Aunt and Uncle time and swimming at the hotel time; I had great sibling time and shopping time... and we all got to enjoy a Mariners game too. Overall, a super fun weekend (with lots of photos)!

A Short Visit

2009-06-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

We had exactly 35.5 hours to visit family and friends in Lynden. 18 of those hours were spent sleeping.

That left NOT MUCH TIME to fit in all the people we really wanted to see! But we took a good stab at it. Here's some highlights!

BIRTHDAY PARTY for Holly! We had so much fun seeing a bunch of family at my niece's celebration. Beautiful weather contributed to a fantastic BBQ and active gathering in their beautiful back yard. The group watching the Mentos/Diet Coke experiment...

Happy birthday last week to sweet Kenzie-girl too!

Opening the gifts.

A rockin' game of volleyball with the kids' height badminton net!

We also got to visit Million Smiles Park with Brent and Teresa (thanks for joining us, guys) and a bit of time with the Schoutens too. The kids had so much fun playing with frogs and going on the slip and slide. Oh the joy!

We CAN'T WAIT to go back again soon!

Prayers for Sweet Pea

2009-05-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

We are asking for your prayers.

Sweet Mya (Julie and Rob's daughter, Angela's niece) has been treated for a heart murmur since birth last August. Just when they thought that the murmur was correcting itself, they have found out that the condition has actually worsened a bit.

This will likely require open heart surgery. On a little girl who won't even be a year old.

We will all find out more in two weeks when they sedate her to get a detailed echo cardiogram. I'll post updates, but you can get the most details on the Tiegs family blog.

Put this sweet girl, her heart and her family on your prayer list!

Counting Down the Days

2009-05-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Only about 10 more days until we get to see Uncle Mark and Aunt Brittany! They're returning from Saipan and so we're going to celebrate and gather together in Seattle next weekend. The kids are so excited to see so many of their family members (including cousins).

We've been counting down with a paper chain. It's become significantly shorter... the end is in sight!See you soon M&B! Yippee!

Ribbons, naps and noodles.

2009-05-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

Yep. Random. That's what I've got.

Updates on the "what's up" in the Lenssen household. And photos to go along with it.

S-BUG:

A couple of my favorite photos from the piano recital, and her with her AWANA ribbon for completing her Hiker book. Go, girl!

A-GATOR:

She was trying to fly-- on the swing with a blanket for a cape, sweet red curls flying through the air on a sunny day. I caught some good shots.
Then she discovered a new way to eat chicken noodle soup, and you get to "enjoy" it with her via our video footage.

G-MAN:

Still seems like he could use a nap some days, but then we change our minds when he's up later than we are on the night after a nap! This particular day I was helping the girls with their homework, and it was pleasantly (yet mysteriously) quiet on the boy front... couldn't find him anywhere... we all got shoes on to go on a neighborhood search when I happened to spy him under the church pew we have SOUND ASLEEP. Why did he pick to sleep there? Well, it's because he had sneaked a chocolate chip cookie and was hiding under the bench to eat it when he got too tired to come back out and play. SOOO funny.

And, he has this cute habit when he's pointing to something he cocks his head to the side and closes one eye to focus on his visual better. I tell ya, the boy is A-dorable.

So, there you have it. The current events list at our house. What's up with you?

Springtime Piano Recital

2009-04-26T06:57:00.000-07:00

Once again, Sadie did a lovely job at her piano recital. She and 26 other students performed yesterday afternoon.

Since none of you got to see it live, I'm posting the video here for those who are interested. You'll have to press pause on my playlist at the side of my blog to avoid conflicting audio.

Thanks to Miss Christina, her teacher, for another year of fabulous teaching.
And Sadie, stop growing up!

A First for Allison

2009-04-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

She lost her first tooth! She was so excited to experience this rite of passage to becoming a "big girl". #2 will follow soon!

Easter in Pullman

2009-04-21T21:34:00.000-07:00

Better late than never, right? It feels like it was just yesterday anyway...

A few photos from our Easter holiday here on the Palouse:Sadie girl happy to show off the just-colored eggs.

Allison overjoyed with the kind of candy she found in an egg.

While prepping Easter dinner, I realized I hadn't heard from Grant in awhile... sure enough he and his chocolate bunny were sharing some quality time while hiding behind the couch.

A lovely enough day to walk barefoot outside... an Easter blessing!
He is risen indeed!

He is Risen!

2009-04-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

We celebrate today the gift of grace that God gave to us through his son, Jesus. He endured death and was resurrected save us from our sin. May you know this and come to know HIM as your savior.

What a blessed day with family and friends!

Spring Break

2009-04-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

To me, Spring Break tends to come at the wrong time of year. Being from a family in agriculture, my dad (and now my hubby) was always busy in the fields during our week off of school in March.

Since this year's weather has been "different" (a.k.a. "absolutely miserable"), we got an unexpected blessing from it. Snow on the ground = no workin' in the dirt! My dad and my husband were free to take time off.

We made the most of it and booked a night at a hotel (with a pool, of course) to spend some fun indoor time in Spokane. And, the other indoor dream for kids is always a visit to Chuck E Cheese's. The kids had a blast.

What are you doing for Spring Break?

Let's Get Together

2009-04-08T12:53:00.001-07:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah... We'll have lots of fu-un! (Can anyone name the movie?)

Here's some photos from two weekends ago when our family was gathering for the birth of my beautiful new nephew, Trent Daniel Holling. It was so good to be together, and incredible to see our children spend time with one another.

2 Field Trips = 2 Much Fun

2009-04-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Thursday. A fieldtrip with the kindergarten class.

Friday. A fieldtrip with the second grade class.

First to the Post Office (and sadly, a bit of a yawner).

Then to the Art Gallery (great art, just coming from a little more liberal viewpoint than our family happens to see).

Both unique, and both fun in their own ways. I'm so glad I'm able to join my kids in their public school adventures!

Grandpa is a Softie

2009-04-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

Any of you who know him will say that it's true.

He folded. Took my son to a "John Deere Days" event and when my son sat on the toy 4 wheeler and looked at Grandpa with his big brown eyes and said he wanted one... my dad folded. He bought it as an investment for all his Grandbabies coming to play at the farm.

So, my kiddos were the first to get and try it out. Needless to say, Grant was thrilled. Total perma-grin. Pretty darn cute, he is.

Back When...

2009-03-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

For my family...

Interested in some photos of my mom at age 13 and my dad at age 20? And Grandpa and Grandpa Helm's engagement photo?

I've used some photos in some scrapbook pages that I made recently. You can find them HERE.

Here's a little glimpse of what you'll find!

That Balloon is Gonna Pop!

2009-03-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

And I'm gonna be prepared.

Never mind that I'm on a team racing to get the balloon through our legs to the guy at the back of the line who is going to sit on it. They can pass the balloon for me. I don't really get this competitive stuff anyway. Isn't it all just for fun? Who needs winners? Or losers, for that matter. It just doesn't interest me in the least.

I'm here to have fun. And I AM having fun. But I'm also smart enough to know that when that balloon pops, it's going to be loud. And me? I'M gonna be ready.

-- Sadie, AWANA Sparks-A-Rama Team Member

6 Year Old in the House!!!

2009-03-10T17:07:00.000-07:00

We have celebrated a week's worth of parties for a curly redhead here... several parties and lots of treats and gifts later, we've created some great memories. It's always fun to celebrate with Aunt Suz whose birthday is the same week.

For a little entertainment, Grandma accompanied Sadie on the keyboard as she practiced a new piano piece. Having family around is the best!

Sadie Jumps for Heart

2009-02-26T09:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the big day! Sadie participated in the Jump Rope for Heart, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Kids at her school spent three hours yesterday jumping rope-- talk about some serious calories burned!
The school's PE teacher is SOOOO fantastic... we all just love him. He made the kids really enjoy their time with a variety of games and activities. When it was done, some kids wanted to know if they could do it again today and tomorrow!
She got to have some fun physical activity time with her friends (this is Dami) and even raised $75 for the American Heart Association.

We're so proud of you Sadie! Great work.

Sabbath Rest

2009-02-22T22:30:00.001-08:00

Ah, the restful pleasures a Sunday should have...

We put on jammies right after church, and stayed out of the rainy cold weather. My favorite part of the day was our family paper-crafting session... a joy of a scrappin' mom's heart! (Grant concentrates pretty hard with his mouth and tongue...)

I couldn't believe that I had all three kids interested in joining me with crafting. They all generally enjoy doing projects, but not usually at the same time or for an extended period of time. It was so fun to watch them cut (Sadie made some clever thank you cards), glue (note to self: the large bottle of elmers glue should not reach the hands of the three year old...), and glitter (Allison is the GlitzMaster!)with me today.

How was your day of rest?

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2009-02-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

Today is my dad's birthday. Two days after my birthday, and two days before valentines day.

Dad's 24th birthday party was interrupted by my Mom's need to head to the hospital to have me. For more than 30 years beyond that birthday party, he's shared his birthday celebrations with his oldest daughter. I've always loved having a birthday so close to my dad's.

And I love having Valentines day so close to today too. I am so thankful for how much my dad loves me and the rest of our family. We're so very lucky to have him! Watching him with my kids is the very best. His love for his grandchildren overflows... you can just watch it bubbling out of his heart. He adores them.

Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you!

A Poopy Promise

2009-02-11T21:41:00.000-08:00

We held up our end of the deal. A deal made with our three year old.

The G-man finally pooped in the potty! And, for you parents who understand the overwhelming joy that poop can bring, you'll know that the bribes that got you there must be followed through.

Our promise: He got to ride the 4-wheeler at Grandpa's house if he'd go on the potty.

We all got some joy out of the situation. Hooray for poop!

January in a Nutshell.

2009-01-29T20:29:00.000-08:00

So, haven't had a lot to post (er, well, haven't had time to post) this month, so here's a quick glimpse into our household activities for 1/09.

We got a lot of snow. And we played hard in it!

And then we got more snow. And played (and worked) in it even more.

You would think that one would get tired of snow... apparently not if you are 8, 5 or 3!

We also spent a little time indoors on the days that were just too cold... scrapbooking (Sadie was getting very creative!), taking baths with large Barbies, and staying in the tub so long that our toes (and buns) got lots of wrinkles! (Aren't those boy buns just adorable?)

Happy winter!

Remember This.

2009-01-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

The best memories from our holidays:
1. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Ang got to sing on Praise Band)
2. Hangin' w/ cousin Mya
3. Snowmobiles: mode of transport to get to Aunt Suz' house!
4. Sledding with Aunt Suz and Uncle Jake
5. Sadie's warning to Santa: Use the Door. Fire On.
6. Hangin' w/ all the Lenssen Cousins
7. Checking out the goods in stockings
8. Chainsaw from Grandpa
9. Allison, Avery and Holly-- the girly girls
10. Kids excited for Christmas
11. Gifts to open with the Lenssens
12. The Sawyer Side-- snowed in

What are your best memories in a nutshell (or in a Picassa collage :)?

JESUS is...

2008-12-23T13:39:00.000-08:00

...the reason for the season. Our purpose. Our hope.

We realize that Jesus was not likely born on December 25th. And the Wise Men were not kings... and they didn't come on December 25th either.

But Christians celebrate Christmas as a day to represent Jesus' birthday. This holy child was born and lived as a human like us-- in a fallen world. Later, He was crucified and died to take on OUR sins. We are now set free from our sin thanks to His sacrifice.

So that's why we celebrate. We hope that you can contemplate that this week-- believer or not. He did something incredible for YOU. He provided eternal life for whoever believes (see John 3:16)!

Our final photo was taken at church this evening where our family lit the final advent candle. Here's a portion of what we shared with our church family: "Tonight we light the center candle, the Christ candle. Its placement in the center of the wreath reminds us of the importance of keeping Christ in the center of our lives." Now there's a good New Years resolution, too!

We hope you've enjoyed our virtual trip through 2008 over this month's posts. We've sure enjoyed creating them and looking back at the joy of our year as a family here in Pullman.

J is for...

2008-12-20T19:07:00.000-08:00

Just in time!

Snow has arrived just in time for Christmas. And we're going to be getting more tonight. And then more after that. And it's DEFINITELY cold enough to be sticking around well beyond Christmas!

So, Dwayne dusted off the snow shovel (Grant too... if you remember him from posts last winter, he's a shovelin' boy!) and began this season's outdoor tasks.

{DWAYNE NOW HIJACKING THE BLOG...}

Beyond snow shovelling to begin and end '08 there were other fun and memorable times. Being a husband and father of 3 fast growing kids is a challenge but still the best. Grateful my wife is able and willing to stay home with the kids.

Still working as a fieldman with Wilbur Ellis Company. Working with local wheat growers to fertilize and protect their crops. Our company's annual meeting was in Anaheim, CA in Jan. as the first combined meeting with some 700 sales and upper mgt. employees.

Marriage conference with Angela in Feb. Boating trip with the kids to Hell's Canyon. Harvest with FIL John. Angela invited friends and their families to visit one day and experience harvest -- I set a record for 17+ guest riders in the combine that day. Brother Dan got in on some trucking grain to the elevator for the first time.

Family trips to Lynden, Lynnwood, Steptoe Butte, a few Cougar games, and Spokane's Riverfront park. Hosting family and friends that travelled to Pullman to visit. Listening to my kids conversations (Sadie:"...Grant you're nuts!" Grant:"NO, you a lentil!"). Being dad chauffeur whether it be driving pickup, van, 4-wheeler, tractor, or best of all combine. Did some deer hunting again this year with brother Dan. Tried to use my chainsaw as much as possible cutting 13+ cords of firewood.

It's hard to believe a new year is just days away. I hope you can take time to enjoy the season and thank our Lord for our savior's birth.

{Here's a slideshow of Dwayne's favorite photos from the year, and a video of the kids and their excitement that "Christmas, Christmas Time is Near..."}

Come back for one final installment in the Lenssen Family Christmas Blog Posts... on Christmas Eve!

E is for...

2008-12-16T21:50:00.000-08:00

Eternal. I feel like there's eternally something else to be done! The crucial part is choosing to do what is actually important in respect to eternity, right?

Me: Angela. Mom. Wife. Friend. Life Artist (blogging, scrapbooking, photography). In a nutshell.

What a great year! I've been a stay-at-home mom this again this year, but have taken various paid projects in freelance graphic design work for The Sugar Bowl Custom Creamery, The Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Interfraternity Council. They were fun projects to do-- I learned a lot. And I also learned that working from home is really not what I want to do on a regular basis!

I've also been leading a mom's group at church and have been so blessed and challenged by my friends there and my spiritual growth. We've read the book "A Mother's Heart" this fall and it has reassured me that I'm doing the right thing for our family by staying home with my kids (for now). I'm so lucky to have that opportunity!

2008 highlights for me: the massive amounts of snow we got last winter was so fun (but got old by June); marriage conference with my hubby in February; sharing in trips with my family to Steptoe Butte, the Woodland Park Zoo, Mt. View Farm Centennial, and to Lynden; my baby niece Mya being born; harvest with my family; earning a spot on the Design Team at Paper Pals (our local scrapbooking store); and attending the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention in Seattle in November. Check out my slide show that visually shares these experiences with you! I also love the traditions of the holiday season, and have included a video here of one our our family's favorite traditions. What holiday traditions do you have?

I'm learning to love my kids and my husband more every day. I can't wait to see what unfolds in the year ahead!

S is for...

2008-12-13T18:49:00.000-08:00

Snow!

We had our first snow today (5 inches!), and the kids spent an hour for every inch that fell just playing and playing. After that much physical activity, they're bound to crash any second now...

For those of you who know Grant, you know we've had an entertaining year! He's ALL BOY, and just turned three a little over a month ago. He's the family comedian. There is no doubt about what he loves... most anything with WHEELS! Grandpa John couldn't be happier with a grandson who loves tractors so much. The highlights to his year definitely centered around his two favorite family events: harvest and his tractor birthday party. He's full of life, energy and LOVE!

His picture slideshow can give you an idea of his passion-- 4 Wheelers. Oh, then it was Hummers. Then it was the garbage truck. And Grandpa's combine. And everything in between. He has spent many hours playing in the sandbox and his playdough... with his tractors as accessories. He also loves helping Dad outside with the yard and firewood, and is good at pestering and making his sisters and Mom laugh!

And the video I'm sharing is a pretty typical activity he'll come up with. So far, we have 4 broken ornaments and counting...

{S} is for...
{U} is for...
{S} is for...

Intrigued? Visit again soon!

U is for...

2008-12-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

UBER-excited kids! Christmas just can't come fast enough. (Funny... I tend to think it comes faster every year!)

Allison is our featured family member today!

She's been known as our "recycle creations" girl this year-- building crafty projects with anything she can get her hands on. Particularly recycled items. To the extreme. When we were eating chicken at a family dinner, she asked me after the meal if she could take the chicken bone home to "make a craft with it". Now that's creativity at work!

Last winter Allison had tons of fun in all the snow we had, she excelled in her gymnastics class last spring, and turned into quite a fish through our summer of swimming. Allison is a "playdate girl"... and adores her friends. Any time she has with them is a great time!

Beyond her reluctance to leave mom to go into school in the mornings (which is putting it lightly), she's been a great kindergartener! She loves the work they do in class and is picking up reading and writing really quickly. Allison just recently joined a Daisy Troop and is excited to do crafty activities, earn patches and spend time with more new friends there.

I've included a slide show of our favorite photos of Allison this year, and also a video of her sharing her version of the Nativity Story. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into our sweet 5 year old's life!

{U} is for... {S} is for... Do you know what's coming next? Come back to see in a few days!

S is for...

2008-12-07T20:47:00.000-08:00

Sadie.

Simple.
Sweet.
Special.

Our second-grader has been busy this year. Highlights include playing in the snow like crazy last winter, working hard to learn verses as an AWANA Spark, piano practice almost daily (her picture above is with her teacher, Miss Christina), harvest and gardening work on Grandpa and Grandma's farm, "swimming" (without putting her face in the water if possible), learning to read and write better... and continually being happy with the simple joys of life. Her gentle spirit is content and compliant, and as friendly as can be!

Here's some of our favorite photos of her from this year, and a video taken two days ago at her fall piano recital. (turn off my background music by clicking the pause button on the music player at the top right hand side of our blog)

Enjoy! And come back soon for more installments in the Lenssen-Palousa Christmas Blog Series!

Additional Visual Aid to Previous Post...

2008-12-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

And, for even more insight to our Thanksgiving Day Skype call to Uncle Mark and Aunt Brittany... here's video proof. Fun times.