Monday, December 24, 2012

Ravioli Day and Merry Christmas 2012

 Merry Christmas 2012!  From our house to yours.......
 Ravioli Day 2012....you will see a lot of Evan and Ann-Marie, but since Alec and I have been down with a virus, we were unable to participate this year.  Looks like they had fun!  And we will enjoy the yummy food on Christmas!



I do love this picture as it is a snapshot of the Darrell's family.....this is who we spend Christmas with.

I do want to add, I miss my side of the family this time of year.  It is especially hard this year, as my precious Grandpa Conklin is very ill in a hospital in Wisconsin and Grandma Conklin will be spending Christmas by his side.  My thoughts and prayers go out to them right now.  So to all of my family and friends that I will not be able to see this Christmas...you are all very special to me and I love you very much!  Enjoy your family!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Alec's birthday wrap-up and Ann-Marie's gymnastics meet

 Alec's actual 7th birthday was the day after Thanksgiving.  For breakfast, he chose cinnamon rolls.

 His favorite present was the Lego BatCave.
 It took the three kids all day to build it, but they were successful and Alec plays with it everyday.
 His dinner of choice was spaghetti with shrimp and for dessert he ate a custard cream pie made by his Aunt Karen.
Ann-Marie's first gymnastics meet of the season was on Saturday, December 1st.  It was fun to see her improvement.  She tied for first on vault, took 5th on floor and 8th all-around in her age division.  Her team took first out of eight teams!  They are the team above holding the biggest banner in the picture above.  The video is her vault.  Next meet isn't until January!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Alec's Half-Baked Birthday

Twas the night before Alec's 7th birthday, and all through the house,
the smell of freshly baked pizza dough 
and the sound of mixing cake batter,
 the reality of incoming guests and upcoming festivities in the air.

The children were all watching a movie
and Darrell putting the finishing touches on a newly fixed garage door,
while I put the cake in the oven
and await our Maryland guests.

When from the oven
drafted such an odor,
one of our children claimed it smelled
like rotten eggs and not chocolate batter.

We all peer into the oven to find
Alec's half-baked cake
and an oven that had stopped working,
not a good sign.

And then there came,
 a knock on our door,
our Maryland friends,
our birthday super heroes!

Here comes Jessica, then Chris,
then Rebekah, and Caleb,
in topples Elijah with Haddie, 
and last but not least, Galilee!

All is not lost,
Jessica says with a smile,
the cake will be saved,
and the party will go on!

So on Saturday we did pull off,
quite a nice Lego Star Wars birthday party,
the cake finished at a neighbors house,
and the oven fixed by Darrell just in time!!!!!

 Jessica sketching Darth Vadar onto a white board......
 and leading a popular game of "Lego Man Says...."
 the finished Darth Vadar.......
 Pin the light sabar onto Darth Vadar.....

 an intense round of Lego Collaboration....
 and all party guests were involved....




 with the finished product.
 Darrell blessing the birthday boy....
 older helpers....
 the girls of the party and the youngest attendee...

 the cake!
Alec had an excellent time with everyone who attended his party.  Thank you to the friends who came and a very special thank you to the Shullenbarger family.....it would have been very hard to have pulled this one off without you!!!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

25 years later.....

 25 years ago on November 5, 1987
our family lost a very special woman,
mother, wife, daughter, sister, niece, friend....
 This blog post could be about what we lost,
but that is not how she would want us to live,
so imperfections, faults, regrets, 
are put aside today,
to honor and remember the legacy she left....
 she loved us fiercely, passionately,
she loved being a mom,
and being with family,
 she made others feel special,
and relished time with family and friends,
 time was precious,
and not to be wasted,


 she was fun,
she made things fun,
she was a part of a close-knit community,
 she cared about others,
serving others was important to her,
 she was persistent,
through good times and rough times,
her church and church family
were central to her life,
 so these precious memories,
 we will hold onto,
and tell our children,
and their children,
to not forget,
we remember you, mom, and we love you still

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

Sunday, October 21, 2012

A wild and wonderful family day

 Life has been so hectic it was time to slow down.  We heard the leaves were at their peak in West Virginia so off we went to explore Coopers Rock State Forest, near Morgantown, West Virginia.  It ended up being a perfect day!

 Cooper's Rock Giant was an interesting find....
 Our chef fed us well!
 The overlook is a must-see!




 Hiking Rattlesnake Trail was memorable...it was the most technically difficult trail we have attempted with the kids.  Lots of rock formations to climb (be still my mom heart!)
 Yes, that is straight up!



 Rock City Trail is interesting also.
We are so glad we took the time to explore this new to us location and be amazed at the Fall colors this year!