Budding Chef

I'd like to think I inspired her, what with cooking homemade flour tortilla's, homemade cornbread and homemade buttermilk bisquits last week. But, likely not. She is working her way to being queen of the kitchen all on her own. Today, when there wasn't much else going on and it wasn't time to go to the swimming pool yet, Miss M decided she would bake some banana bread all on her own. The only thing I did was provide the recipe. I must say ... it was DELICIOUS!

Stirring and mixing and stirring and mixing ....

Which of these sweet things are the official batter taster?!?!

Yummy!

Oh yes, it was soooo delicious! :)

My "Ace of Cakes"

When the girls were born, I decided I was going to learn to decorate birthday cakes for their parties and other events in their lives. It has been a real learning process that has led to my making cakes for a few of my best friends delightful children and it has given me great joy to bless them in that way. This week we made Colton's birthday cake ... I say we because on anything with a "boy" theme, the man of the house MUST get involved. This cake was Star Wars Clone Wars. Yep, not so much easy and I always want to cakes to be great fun.

So, I had this idea that we should make a space ship (namely the Millenium Falcon) out of rice krispie crunch and cover it with fondant (which I had a box of ... that turned out to be a bit old and dry, but worked none-the-less) and then make it hover over the cake, which would have Clone Wars figurines on it. A small feat you say? Um, yes ... well, no, not really. But, my Handsome Husband was up to the task and look at what came out ... amazing, huh?

Here is the cake, minus the figurines. Seriously! Check out the detail on this ship ... blows my mind!

My sweet handsome husband!

What he'd rather be "constructing!"

Thank you sweet hubby ... YOU ROCK!

Who needs a school room?

Yes, we have been blessed in our new residence to have a "school room". I, in particular, have been very excited about it especially now that it's all organized and raring to go (minus wall decor and bible verses for the corkboard).

So where do my children prefer to do school?

"On the floor, Mom ... where we can stretch and spread out."

Go figure!

Dunham Family Hoopla

This year, like every year on Memorial Weekend for the last 8 years, my mother's side of the family got together for what we call "Dunham Family Hoopla." It's a tradition we started with the goal of always having a dedicated time to be together as a family ... to build relationships, make memories, have the cousins and second cousins experience growing up together, eat lots of yummy foods, play lots of games, laugh, tell stories, compete in the "Hoopla Olympics" and generally love on each other for one long weekend each year.

Most years we go somewhere ... one year to a beach house in Galveston, several years on the lake, last year to the Rocking H campsite. This year, like a couple others, we revised our plans. Big Grannie had been in the hospital and, in an effort not to compromise her health, those of us who were able spent part of the weekend together at my Aunt Doris' house ... still enjoying each other, playing games, laughing and praying that next year all will be healthy and well and raring to go back to the Rocking H.

Waiting on the rest of the cousins to arrive ...

Catching up ... where better to chat than in the shade in the back of the truck?

Dominoes anyone ... better have on your "big girl (or boy) panties" because these players are vicious!

Jump rope ...

Oh, yes he did ... who says double dutch is just for girls?

Giggling girls ... oh the joy!

Cousins (minus two) growing bigger and more beautiful/handsome every year!

Can't end the photo session without one crazy picture, can we?

Such amazing truth ...

"Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure."

~ Dwight L. Moody

Swimmers!

This is our second year of swim lessons with Mrs. Black (afterall, "Mrs. Black don't take no flack!" ... just ask her pupils) and I must say the girls have amazed us with what they have learned. Oldest daughter learned a perfect dive and mechanics of the breast stroke and youngest daughter perfected her American crawl stroke and stepped over her fear of "distance" swimming. We're so proud of them! Thank you Mrs. Black!

Youngest daughter excelling ...

Oldest daughter excelling ...

Now, it's off to the community pool! :) Ah, summer!

Farm Friends

One of the neat blessings we have received in moving out to the "promised land" is we are close to some of our newest friends from AGAPE Homeschool P.E., the Westmorelands. The girls joyously look forward to Thursday playdates with their crew. Such fun! This week, there were 5 baby kittens to carry around and, uhmmm, love on ... not to mention a bullfrog, goats, dogs, fleas and chickens. Here are a few highlights ...

Sweet friends and baby kittens ... the perfect combination!

Well, maybe not so perfect ... for the kitten, anyway.

No, this is not a kitten, it is a toad ... I assured her it would not turn into a handsome prince, so don't kiss it! :)

The other farm friends ....

Catching Up!

No really, I have not disappeared into never, never land. We have just been incredibly busy (not a really good excuse) and I have been happily exhausted and a little nauseous (which I praise God for because that means baby is growing!). So, I am posting some pictures of our highlights from April and May so you can have a little peek into what we've been up to .... Easter came and we praise God for His incredible sacrifice that allows us forgiveness and amazing grace. We had our last Agape P.E. class in April. This has been an awesome program we have participated in for the last two years with tons of other homeschoolers. We also packed up and moved toward the end of April, as well as celebrating P's birthday. Started May celebrating M's birthday and Mother's Day. Enjoyed our 5th year of Homeschool Day at 6 Flags ... awesome, no lines and lots of well-behaved kids. Drooled over lots of cool curriculum and books and other nifty deals at the Homeschool Bookfair. And, now we are close to being unpacked (thank you Jesus!) and grateful for all the Lord's blessing and provision. We are blessed!

Brian contemplating .... girl or boy? girl or boy?

Easter dresses ... such pretty girls!

An Easter reminder that we are the sheep and He is the ever-faithful, ever-loving Shepherd.

Last day at AGAPE ... fun and games!

The great packing helpers ??!

Oh the fun of packing the truck ...

The new casa ... a blessing from the Lord.

The view on the drive to the "promised land" ...

The Six Flags gang at the start of the day ...

The annual drench at the end of the day! :)

It just doesn't get much better than this ... thank you Lord for how tremendously you bless us!

Happy Birthday Big Girl!

This is my 100th post and it's ever so fitting that it should be to celebrate oldest daughter's birthday! Happy #9 Birthday, precious girl!

Oh, and this photograph is demonstration of her growing bravery ... she rode the "Superman" all by herself (translation without Dad) at Six Flags! You Go Girl!