Happy 4th Birthday Joshwee!~

Monday, our family celebrated Joshua's 4th birthday!!

With our season passes, we headed off to Knotts Berry Farm for the day, at Joshua's request. (Daddy was able to take the day off to go with us which was a real treat!) We had a really special day, and the Lord gave us great weather. Before we headed off, Daddy thanked the Lord for blessing us with our little "Joshwee" 4 years ago.

We spent most of our time at "Camp Snoopy" and it was fun to ride with the little tykes and watch their expressions! Joshua rode everything there was to ride in "Camp Snoopy" with me.

The afternoon flew by and soon his little head was nodding. We couldn't let him fall asleep quite yet though, as we hadn't presented him with his cake. (Originally the plan was for me to make him a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting but, as we spent the day at Knotts, Daddy and Mama thought it would be best to buy him a "Funnel Cake" which is somewhat like a huge jelly donut.) Mama pulled him out of the stroller and had him walk so he would not fall asleep. Daddy bought his Funnel Cake" and after we sang to him, he enjoyed his long awaited "birthday cake!"

We had a very full, but fun, day! It was such a blessing to be able to spend the day together as a family and celebrate our little Joshwee's birthday!

Here is one of those "family" moments as we walk to the park entrance:)

Joshua stopping for a picture with "Linus" and very excited to start the day!

This pilot looks ready for take off:) Joshua enjoying the "Airmail" ride which we call the "Baby Supreme Scream":)

"Ready boys?"

Up, we go:)

Pilot Natey and his Co-pilot Joshy:)

Riding the balloons. (This was especially fun as the whole family rode on this particular ride!)

Natey and Katie

Ryan and Daniel

Daddy and Isaiah

Timmy and I
a little cowboy in training:)
"Go, Joshua!"

Natey, Katie and Timmy, enjoying the "Speedway"

holding on as we whip around the corner:)

(Which is not too bad on a ride.....what worries me is whipping around the corner in a real car!)

Joshua posing for a picture with his brother Timmy, who doesn't seem to be enjoying that:)
"Ready to ride the roller coaster?"

"Lucy's Tugboat"
Matching siblings:)

Joshua mans the controls of a firetruck with his partner:)

The "Mexican Hats" always provides lots of smiles and laughing:)

"The real man"

(this picture is especially cute because when I told Joshua to pose for a birthday portrait, he tried to do his best "cowboy" pose:)

Natey in a tree:)

"Yum, yum yum! My Funnel Cake!"

enjoying his long awaited treat:)

Mama helps some "runaway cake" into his mouth:)
An adorable picture of Mama and Timmy:)

"Where are we?"

Ryan, Isaiah and I enjoying Daddy's new i-touch:) It has a piano keyboard!:)

Timmy sleeping:)

After a full day, a dinner at Mexi Casa is always great:)

We are so very grateful for our little Joshwee! He has been a precious addition for 4 wonderful years now! We love him very much!:)

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua 1:8 NKJV

An Altogether "Christmasy" Post

Time really does fly by! It's amazing to see how fast this year has gone! 2010 is just around the corner and I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for our family this next year!!

This year, our family didn't do as much for Christmas as usual, but it was still a very special day! Or should I say set of days:)

Wednesday, Opa came out to visit us and stayed till Thursday evening! Mama and I spent the majority of the day, preparing the "Christmas Dinner" which was alot of work, consisting of a turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, carrots, rolls and chocolate chip cookies! It was very tiring, but well enjoyed and worth all the preparation.

Opa

Enjoying our "Christmas Dinner" (Since Opa came Wednesday, we had it then instead of Friday)

After everyone had helped themselves to seconds, and we cleaned up. Daddy asked Katie and I to teach Dutch Blitz to Opa, who had never heard of or played it. We had a fun time playing against Daddy and Opa, who made quite a good team and caught on very quickly! Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures.

In the morning, we opened our stockings, which Daddy always fills for us.(the flag is a random decoration put up by one of the children:)

Yes, this is what we look like in the morning:)

Mama got a new curling iron.

Ryan got some needed supplies

Sidewalk Chalk!

Katie had been asking for a purse for sometime...

plenty of candy to get sick on:)

Natey digging into his:)

"Thank you, Daddy!!"

Once the stockings were emptied and everyone was finished thanking Daddy, we sang some Christmas carols. Opa joined us for breakfast, which was scrambled eggs with turkey, sliced apples and oranges.(No suitable pictures due to the fact that the majority of us are still in pajamas, I thought I'd save us all the embarrassment!:)However, I just had to post the two below!)

Timmy's breakfast hat:)

His own idea:)

Later in the afternoon, Danny decided to try out his new chalk set. The little ones were all very interested and tried to help him when they could.:)

Danny is also learning to give the Gospel with playing cards

some playing cards...

For dinner Opa bought us pizza from Sam's Club!( Thank you, Opa!)He and Daddy went to pick it up so we could eat at home.

Natey, decorating our little Christmas tree.

"Ta-da!"

Eating dinner outside

Listening to Opa's stories about his childhood

Opa and his "Little Flock":)

the gentlemen

Daddy and Opa

Waving goodbye to Opa:)

Aunt Adriana stopped by on Christmas Eve to deliver some presents! We were surprised and delighted to see her! We always really appreciate her gifts as they are always very practical!!

Bubbles for Timmy:)

"What is it?"

Markers and drawing pad for Natey and Joshwee:)

Isaiah, thrilled with his new army tank and men:)

Sidewalk chalk for Katie

(This picture requires an explanation: Ryan started to unwrap his present and began to laugh really hard.......)

Just what he wanted.....a shaving kit:)

Mama got a tomato planter:)

What a special Christmas we had! We really enjoyed going to the Christmas Day service at church and having fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ there. We spent a quiet day at home and watched "Sergeant York." Mama and I also had a "Fudge Grudge." (Mama tried to make fudge the day before but, it did not turn out right. So Daddy, had a grudge:), because he wanted some "fudge" and so we figured between the two of us, one of us had to get it right!!) It was fun and provided plenty of time to talk! The Lord was gracious and allowed them both to turn out well!:)

Sometimes, it seems like the year has passed by and you haven't done a whole lot, but then when your Daddy asks you to put a slideshow together of the year in review....you realize it's been a year of the Lord's rich blessings!!

"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God..." 1 John 3:1

"The blessing of the LORD it makes one rich and he adds no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22