1st Snow of the Season

Right before Thanksgiving we had several inches of snowfall in Seattle. We were so excited to get out the dusty sled (which had not been used at ALL last year)! The kids had a blast and were in and out of the house for days while the snow was on the ground. I'm looking forward to more snow to come (as long as I don't have to drive in it)!!

The girls were delighted with the speed they got going down our hill.

Jeffrey looking a bit cold!

Snowflake Tea Party

About a week ago some friends from church and I decided to put on a snowflake tea party for the girls at our church (ages 7-12). We had a lot of fun decorating and making this a special time for the girls. They had tea & goodies, made and decorated snowflakes , played a tea game, and most of all spent some time enjoying each other. I love opening our home for these fun times, and Lana & Asha are truly blessed to have some great friends!

The pretty table (thanks also to Rene and Anna)!

Everyone ready to dig into the goodies!

Abby looking so sophisticated.

Asha and others working hard at making snowflakes.

My Dad is Engaged!!

It's hard to believe all that has happened in the last few years. Losing my mom and dearest friend has really changed my life, and I continue to grieve the loss of her life here with me. But, in midst of our grief God was putting something together. He was preparing my Dad's heart to love again! It has been pretty amazing to watch this all come about. Joyce (his fiancee) is a very kind and loving person, and my Sister and I are both excited to welcome her into our family. My Dad recently sent out an email to his close friends, and I thought I'd enclose a few lines from it as it really tells their story better than I could.

Written by my Dad:

God is doing some wonderful miraculous things in my life and in the life of Joyce Arnold, my fiancee. Yes, God is putting two people together who have faced the pain of watching their spouses die of cancer, and given us a new joy and encouragement toward the future.

I met Joyce in April of 2010. A couple who knew us both had been praying for the right time to introduce us to each other. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner together at that couple’s house, then began a time of getting know one another. On August 20^th, I wrote in my journal, “Joyce and I have declared to each other our love for each other and a surety that God has, in effect, lead us and is leading us into remarriage.”

My Dad and Joyce hope to get married in April 2011.

Trick or Treat

This year for Halloween we went around to a few neighbors in our area to do a bit of Trick or Treating. I don't ever go out and buy or make costumes for our kids, so the day of Halloween the kids rummage through the house trying to each find the perfect costume that fits their personality. Honestly, I can't sew and I'm not big into Halloween...so I'm always amazed at what they come up with!! So much creativity flows from them!

Asha was PINK GIRL. She was completely pink from head to toe!

Lana was a JAZZ STAR. You can't see her costume...but it was full of sparkles!

Jeffrey was a very scary GHOST! He even wanted ghost written on his forehead.

Luke was a HUNTER. He had some serious camouflage!!

Okay...even Matt and I dressed up this year (not sure what got into us). Matt was a CYBER COWBOY. See the lasso or cable wire? Hee hee!! I was a SLEEPING PRINCESS. Actually, it was just a good excuse to wear my pjs and robe outside since it was cold.

Family Pictures

A friend of mine recently started her own photography business, and we asked her to take our family pictures! I was so excited to finally get some good pictures of our whole family (not a easy task with four young children)! We did it all outside at a beautiful park in Seattle. I thought she did a GREAT job. I'm excited to get some hanging up in my house, and have a good family pic for our Christmas card this year!! Thanks Heather! Here is her information in case anyone is interested in having her do YOUR pictures (the price is very reasonable too). Below is a few of my favorites!

Stirling Photography

Heather Dickinson

http://letmecaptureyourmemories.blogspot.com

hdickinson76@yahoo.com