Update in a Slideshow

What's a horsie say?

As all our family and friends know, we call our 2 1/2 year old Nae-Nae for short. A while back, to try and help her remember what a horsie says, we told her it says her name, neigh neigh. So keeping that in mind, this was my conversation with her yesterday:
Me: What does a cow say?
Denae: MOOO!
Me: What does a kitty cat say?
Denae: Memow!
Me: What does a horsie say?
Denae: De-nae, De-nae!
Hmm? Maybe our little memory trick didn't work out so great, but it did make for a cute story!

How do you spell "Sloppy Joe?"

This afternoon when Kev and I were discussing what to have for dinner, Dallas told us he wanted sloppy joes. I decided later, though, that BLTs sounded better. As Kevin was cooking the bacon, Darilyn came and asked what we were having, then ran off yelling to Delaney, "Guess what we're having for dinner? BLTs!" Dallas popped his head out of his room and asked, "Does that spell Sloppy Joes?"

Dr. Newheart's Christmas Cure

On December 14, Delaney and Darilyn participated in our church's children's Christmas production. They practiced every week since early November and it turned out wonderful. Delaney had a solo and also another part she sang with another girl. Darilyn was part of a sign language group and signed a solo. Both girls did fabulous. Sis. Tishauna Jones, who heads up the Music is for Kids program every year does a great job of using as many children in special roles as possible and then coaching them to their best performance. I am really glad to have been able to help out with the signing and as a chaperone in practices. I helped Kim a little with the costume stuff and although I didn't do much I was just glad to be a part. lol Seriously thought, it was great fun. I think I enjoyed it as much as the kids. Can't wait for the next one!!!

Kids say such funny things!!

Thanks to my Dad for sending these to me. A reminder of the innocence and sincerity of children is just what we need right now. Hope everyone gets a chuckle out of this. I did! Have a blessed day!

Camping Out

One of the fun things we did this summer wast to camp out in our backyard. We set up the one room tent, which I then filled with airmattress and pallets from wall to wall. We cooked out (hot dogs, an all time family fave). And then we made smores, yumm! The kids love it! And it was very affordable lol! (Denae was actually asleep on the couch for a lot of this, but did wake up in time for a hot dog.) After playing chase in the dark, we let the kids change into their jammies in the tent (Kevin and I cheated a bit and used the house to change) We then piled up in the tent, enjoying the night sights and sounds through the tent window, which included watching a search helicopter fly around with its big light shining looking for someone (thankfully the helicopter was not very close by or our camp out would have been over). After a bedtime Bible story we snuggled down to sleep. At least most of us did. I think Delaney and Darilyn whispered for hours. Everytime I woke up, they were whispering, had rearranged their "bed", or had changed into the next days clothes and back into jammies. Good grief! You'd have thought they didn't share a bed every night! lol But all in all it was great fun and I think we will do it again.

A few more pics of the kids

On our way to church on a Sunday morning. I took a picture of Delaney, too, but where she was standing there was too much shadow so it didn't turn out.


Delaney received an award at the first awards assembly while I was in TX. It was for Academic Excellence. Great job, Princess!

Hey, I'm back!

Well, technically I've been back home for a couple of weeks, but I haven't been back on my blog for a while. It was so good to see my mom and dad and brother and his family in TX, but I sure did miss Kevin and the kids. Kevin came to the airport to pick me up and he brought Denae with him. My goodness, was I ever glad to see them! They had a good time while I was gone, but I think they were glad to see me, too! lol

The girls got their school pictures taken and back already. I think they turned out really cute this year. They wore their new cowgirl shirts. The bottom picture is the whole outfit that shows in the class pic. I took it before I sent them to school.


After I got the girls school pics, I decided to try to get some pics of Dallas and Denae so Grandma could update her picture frames with something more current than Dallas at 6 mos and Denae at 6 mos (I am horrible at getting new studio shots of the kids by themselves). These turned out really cute too, and the ones below are my favorites. I love the one of Denae looking back and laughing at Dallas because he said cheese in her ear.

And, the girls are doing really well in school. Delaney got her first progress report which they send out every month. She has straight A's. Darilyn got a great report as well, but it didn't actually have any letter grades or precentage points. They should get their first report card at the begining of Oct, right before they go off track for 4 weeks.

I have started doing preschool with Dallas and of course Denae has to join us. It is going really good. We are working with Dallas on letter recognition. We have flash cards that we use with capital and lower case letters. He is doing well and is starting to try to write some of the letters, too, although at this point it is more like drawing the letters. Denae has flash cards too. They are actually first word cards, with a picture and the word below it for begginner readers. She just tells us what is in the picture. For the cat, dog and horse she also gives us the sound it makes. She also "blows out the candles" on the pic of the b-day cake after telling us it is cake. And the gift card is a 'prize.' Anyway, it is fun for her to have her own pre-school cards and she stays out of Dallas letter cards and the girls' math and sightword flash cards.

I am going to post some more pics in another post, but before I close this one, I wanted to welcome back my long lost neighbor and friend, Kim. She is finally home from visiting her family in Oregon for a month (I wish!!) We missed you!

Rodeos and Fireworks: An American Tradition

For the Fourth of July we decided to go to the Folsom Rodeo. It's been a few years since we went, but we enjoy it and the fireworks are usually good. Besides, we thought it would be fun to see what Dallas, our resident boot-lovin' cowboy, would think of all the cowboys and horses and such. Kathy, Craig and the boys joined us and we had a great time. To be honest, the cowboy skills weren't that great that night, but we did see some good stuff. The mutton bustin' was the best part. Those kids were great. We asked Dallas later if he wanted to try that next year (all the participants were 5 or 6), but he decided he would rather tie up the calfs. And he didn't think he would want to try to ride a bull like Uncle Brent either. (One of the days we'll have to get Presley, Logan, and Dallas all together in their cowboy duds for a photo session. Uncle Brent could join them I guess, since he's the closest we have to a 'real' cowboy!lol) Anyways, back to the rodeo. They had a really cool flag presentation where a guy parachutes in with a humongo flag to the music of "I'm proud to be an American." We enjoy that everytime. I got a video clip of it (I hope that wasn't 'illegal'!), and if I can post it, I will. (I haven't had any luck posting video clips yet. Suggestions anyone?) After all the dust of the rodeo had settled, we got to see a great fire works display upclose and personal. We were only a few rows away from the arena floor where they shot off the fireworks. By this time Kevin was sitting on the row in front of us with Denae. When the fireworks started with a very loud BANG, Denae started crying. I thought, oh no, another one who doesn't like the noise. (Delaney is just now growing out of that.) She cried until she got in my lap, at which point the tears ceased, she pointed at the fireworks and said, "Yook, Mama! I yike it!" This is being interpreted as "Look, Mama! I like it!" She then spent the rest of the show pointing out the bright bursts of lights and colors to me just in case I wasn't seeting them on my own! All in all it was great 4th of July!

Kids say the cutest things!

Dallas about why he was so excited about the Family Fun Night hosted by Bible Quizzing; "Oh, yeah, and God is going to be there too!"

Denae's version of what a kitty cat says: "Memow."

Darilyn's main concerning when finding out my mom was in the hospital again: "Does Grandma's antibotics (her word) taste like bubble gum?"

Dallas on why he wants to quiz next year: "So I can get first place!"

Denae, after mommy told her to tell daddy 'I'm cute': "Mommy cute!"

Delaney's obeservation regarding losing some quizzes and then taking first at the last BQ tourney: "I guess Jesus was trying to show us that even if we lose some quizzes, we can still win." (This comment struck me as kind of funny, but true, too. Even if we lose some, whether it be in a game or any part of life, including our spiritual life, if we keep playing, living, or doing our best, we can (and WILL) still win in the end. Even kids can have profound thoughts sometimes!)

One Way Street

Kevin called yesterday afternoon about three with this spur-of-the-moment idea: Let's take the kids to see One Way Street tonight. They were doing a show at CLC in Stockton. So, we did and it was great! The puppets were really fantastic and we got some great ideas for our own "idea files." The best part though was seeing how much the kids enjoyed it. As soon as the puppets came out, Denae started pointing and saying "puppet!" She danced around in the pew to the music and waved her hands when the puupets would. Dallas' favorite part was the big huge "body" puppets that they used with the black lights, especially two that sang and danced at the same time. He said they were like twins. The girls liked the puppet shows that played on the the screen. Their was a really neat mix of screen shows, black lights, music and singing, and puppet/puppeteer interaction. Totally cool!

Some More Pics

Denae brushing her teeth. She really likes to do this herself, but of course, Mommy gets a turn, too!

Pretty little Angel

What a hansome guy!

My little Lady is growing into a "young lady."

The Princess, so pretty in pink.

Kids, kids, and more kids!

Last Tuesday, June 3, Elle and Ashley came over to stay with us for a little while. The kids really had a good time playing together. At the end of the day, they all decided Elle was going to live with us and Dallas was going to go and live with Elle's brothers. He really enjoys playing with Levi and Myles. Here are a few pics of their day with us. Denae is sitting on my lap as I type this, pointing to the pictures and saying, "Ahsee, Iwanna see Ashee."

Family "Church"

Every Monday night we have family time of prayer and Bible reading with a lesson. About a month ago Kevin and I decided to start making this time even more "kid friendly" by having some type of object lesson or experiment or activity to reinforce the Bible truth for the night, kind of like a mini kids church. We thought it would give us a great opportunity to try out ideas we have read or seen on our kids so when the door opens for the childrens' evangilism we have praying about, we will have had all kinds of hands on experience. So far we have found out that balloons with water won't pop when over a flame (like being filled with the Holy Ghost helps us endure the fire of temptation), that even a small force will make a big difference on a pendelum, no matter how heavy the weight (like our prayers can move mountains), and that a small strand can bind us up if we get wrapped up in it enough times (like bad habits or sins) and that small strands can also be used to make strong ropes that help us (like good habits and prayer). Soon we are going to add some puppets to our family church night. But anyways, the kids LOVE it so far!! They talk about it all week and remind us all day on Monday that "Tonights our family church!" Tonight we played a hide and seek game with the kids and taught about the lost coin, lamb, and the prodigal son. Then we spent time in prayer. We have been following the Lord's prayer since our time of focus on that as a church in January. It has really helped the girls in learning how to pray. Well, tonight God just reached down and touched us as a family and we had an awesome prayer meeting with the kids! We even had some Holy Rolling going on. Oh wait that was Dallas rolling around on the floor. Well, we can always hope lol! Dallas did really get into his praying before his holy rolling started. He was sitting on our fireplace hearth rocking back and forth and hitting the ground with his fist. I wish I would have got a video clip of it, but I was praying with Darilyn at the time. We ended with Dallas in Kevin's lap and my arms around the Delaney and Darilyn praying for family unity, etc. Denae was there too, and soon she pushed between the girls to bury her head against me, and the girls put there arms around her. It was so sweet and precious. What a great way to end a prayer meeting.

Happy Easter!