Prize for the first one

 What a negligent mother am I! I have missed sharing significant highlights on our blog. Aliya is my sweet little baker, always thinking of surprising her sisters with sweet treats. On Valentine's Day, we made cupcakes while her sisters were in school, arranged them in the shape of a heart and hid them until dessert that evening. We set up a decoy (everyone thought Aliya was in trouble when I asked her to please come see me in the back room) and then this little peacock emerged, "Happy Valentine's Day!" Her sweet heart amazes me (not literally-the cupcakes-but her spirit and demeanor).

 Unfortunately, I overlooked the fun red frosting could be. Taylor (a girl after my own heart) asked for just a spoonful of frosting (except, I'd ask for ice-cream to go with it.) And then look at those lips! Gorgeous I tell you! Madison and her friends have been busy with dance competitions. Her MiniKix class placed 2nd at the first competition. It's so fun to watch her dance. Derrick treated her to a date at Pizza Ranch after competing and then they returned to watch the entire evening of performances…what a dad! (Though he'll admit, that's a lot of girlyness!)_

 Breanne is into being silly and rubber band looms lately. "Take a picture of me mom!" Her hair is getting soooo long!

And look what's different about our big girl Madison….look again. I'm not telling you. Prize to the first one to notice and post the answer in the comments. (And no, it's not that she's lost the Miss Piggy hair.)

Flexible Learning…AKA Snow Day!

We love flexible learning days! Unfortunately, the Miss Piggy wig only came out once yesterday. Shucks, I don't think it will help Madi look like Roald Dahl in her Wax Museum this coming week.

Destination…Colorado

We were blessed with a safe, fun get-away to Colorado over the girls' break from school after Christmas. In the mountains, you can't help but marvel at the gorgeous creation God gives us to enjoy. Our first days took up to Colorado Springs were we saw Pike's Peak, Garden of the Gods, a mountain drive to a ghost town called Crippled Creek and some night time dips in the outdoor hot tub.

No trip to Colorado Springs would ever be complete for three little girls who spend more time listening to Adventures in Odyssey than they'd like their parents to know about, without visiting Whit's End Soda Shop at the Focus on the Family Headquarters. This was one of those rare parenting moments when it's okay to have ice-cream for lunch.

The drive from Colorado Springs to Grand Junction was breath-taking! From there, Derrick, Madison & Breanne hit the ski slopes while Aliya and mom swam and shopped (make sure everything starts with "s.") The following day we dared to see as much of Arches National Park in Utah as one family of five possibly could in just eight day light hours. Don't stop for lunch…eat while you drive and sight-see. Multi-tasking to a whole new level.

 There was much kissing opportunity for mom and dad while the kids watched from below where our dangerous rock scaling took us below Double Arch.

The 3-mile hike to the famous Delicate Arch was just perfect on a warmish winter day.

 The sunset was absolutely fantastic…this shot doesn't do it justice, but we recall it. Such a big day meant another day of "sitting," swimming and shopping for mom and Aliya while the rest of the family hit the ski slopes. (Breanne is smitten with snow-skiing!) Mom and Dad DeWilde also drove in mid-week and we enjoyed time with them and got to attend Derrick's cousin's wedding.

All this reflection leads me to recall that there is much of Utah left to be explored, but alas that will have to be another trip, another time.

What I love best…

 What I love best about Christmas is family, time with them, licking frosting, enjoying favorite foods, seeing joy and excitement on their faces opening gifts, snuggles with grandparents, dart guns, and laughter with cousins.

 

 What I loved most about the Amazing Race this year was watching the older cousins get completely wrapped up in the competition...

Cottage Cheese…better stop before you puke!

"But there's jello on it!"

Gagging down a Brazilian Nut and washing it down with water. Way to take one for the team! 

Keep the mascot with you at all times! Not matter who sees you with it.

Read quickly and accurately…and save your free pass for the most strategic moment.

JOY

Is that an "O" Daniel?

And the winners are….good thing you ate that nut!

The art desk revealed.

Play garbage with your cousins at every meal and snack time.

Always stay on grandma's good side…she does the shopping.

Making birthday cupcakes as a cousin force of 7…the perfect number. 

Smash the cupcakes into your faces…oh, hi Aaron.

Birthday girl. 

A reflection

As I reflect on the past year and wonder, how would I sum it up? I can't help thinking about the truth revealed me; God always has the big picture.

We celebrated Derrick's brother's wedding in May. Breanne 8, Aliya 5, Madison 9.

This fall in Community Bible Study, plowing through Joshua, Judges & Ruth, the truth keeps reappearing. We don't see how things will all fit together and work together for good, but God does. Take Samson, he "wants" a foreign woman as a bride. His parents know it's against God's Law to marry a foreigner, but Judges 14:4 says, his parents didn't know this was from the Lord as a way to protect Israel. Then Ruth and Naomi, what seemed like tragedy, death upon death, opens a way for us non-Isrealites to be saved. God knew judge after judge, king after king would fail and pass on, and seeing the big picture, He sent Jesus to be our Refuge and Savior.
As I reflect on the beauty and assurance of this truth, I must be confident in the Lord building our house. 

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Psalm 127:1a

Two-thousand thirteen has been a good year, yet a year marked by relearning. Foremost, relearning how to parent as our oldest girls enter the tween years and all that entails.

Precious memories on the farm.

Grandpa Great came
to see the 4-H Swine Show.

Relearning how you do 4-H (and show pig and non-livestock exhibits at the fair). Things change in 15 years and in a new county.

At the play, Snow White.

Breanne at spring recital.

Relearning our families' love and passion for the fine arts. Derrick and the girls enjoyed taking in some band competitions this fall. Breanne still loves playing piano. I started singing on the worship team and was delighted for Derrick to come on board as well playing both trumpet and djembe (not simultaneously mind you). Madison took another session of guitar but has developed an appreciation for the recorder as well as continuing dance and is our family's best storyteller. Aliya loves to sing, blow in Derrick's trumpet, play her "violin" and her sister's recorder. And both Madison and Breanne loved spending 3 weeks of their summer preparing and performing Snow White and the Seven Dwarves of the Black Forest.

Science Fair experiments.

Relearning how to do the science fair. And we learned that some in the family are procrastinators…let's learn how NOT to do that this year.

Madison & the 23 pound cabbage.

Relearning how to garden in Minnesota and live with white powderly mildew. We had a great garden and acquired more jars for canning. It's a family project with mom as the foreman, Derrick as the expert farmer and all five of us as weeders, harvesters and preservers.

Aliya (pink parade) skating on the pond.

Relearning how to ice-skate. Derrick and the girls have had so much fun on the ice in the backyard pond that they've convinced me; I need to find a pair of skates.

Snuggles at the campfire.

Relearning how to camp in Minnesota, the land of 10 zillion mosquitos and 100% humidity. We had some memorably experiences. Some horrible (flight of the mosquitos) and some wonderful with cousins on the lake.

Ah…Montana. Mystic Lake,
the inaugural 4-year old hiking trip with Aliya.

Relearning how to enjoy each other's company and build relationship.
It blows my mind to think what we might relearn in 2014. It is true what Isaiah says,

From of old no one has heard or perceived by ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for Him. Isaiah 64:4

One thing for sure is that God has good gifts for us! As I think about how Derrick and I put so much effort in giving Christmas gifts for our girls, hoping for faces of excitement and enjoyment. If we do that, how much greater are God's gifts to us.

If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

God is good and we trust Him for the gifts He'll give in 2014!