picture issues

I tried to load up some pics and its just not working for me. If you really want to see the creative writing sticks I can email pics to you :) Ta Ta

Creative Writing Sticks.....this one goes out to Marnie :)

Ok so I am going to explain the creative writing sticks it's simple, free and fun! All you need is a sharpie pen, popsicle sticks and somewhere to keep the popsicle sticks. Basically is the kids are stuck on what to write or want to arite a story it makes it fun to pick a stick that gives you the setting for your story. For instance a couple of things we have on our popsicle sticks are if I were a pirate, if I lived when Jesus walked the earth, if I were lost at sea, if I lived in a castle, if I could breath under water, or if I lived in another country. There are also some that have only one word on them for example dinosaurs, birthday, summer, vacation, knight and so on. This way they can write about anything that includes the one word. We have done this for 2 years and still they come up with awesome stories! We also use Prayer Sticks. We put family, friends, and random people on them. For example we have pray for homeless people, pray for someone that doesn't know jesus, pray for orphanage children, pray for people with addictions and so on. The of course we have some with all of our families and friends ( they each have their own stick) :) This not only reminds us to pray everyday but to pray for others, not only ourselves. We have found that sometimes we will pick the same sticks a couple times in a row ( the chances of that are slim there are atleast 75 sticks in the jar) and we will call them to see whats up and 9 times ou of 10 there is something going on specifically that they need prayer for. The girls get so excited because its God showing them who to pray for when they pick a stick (because they know he puts it in their hands :) anf then they get to see prayers answered. Prayer is a powerful thing and I am so glad my children enjoy praying for others!

Journal Entries.......

My kids write in their journals everyday. They can think of what they want to write about on their own or choose a stick from our creative writing cup, which have all kinds of ideas written on them. Faith and Aislyn chose to write on their own yesterday. Faith wrote about God's armor and how she likes to put it on everyday, how she feels safer and like a real warrior here on the earth to conquer satan and share Jesus with all :). I think she just wishes now I would let her talk to ALL strangers :). Then there is Aislyn. Aislyn wrote about Marco Polo, don't ask me why we arent even studying him yet we are still in Ancient Greece and Rome. So anyways Aislyn wrote about how he was a believer, and how he came to a new land and found nuts as big as his head and how he saw monkeys and thought they were little men with tails. She could hardly control her laughter while reading her entry to Faith and I. So as the tears were pouring down her cheeks and she is hysterical, she stops dead in her tracks....stops the laughter and the tears and says.......hey there is a game you play in the pool called Marco Polo.....I wonder why he never swam in his story, hey mom do all believers know how to swim and why isn't there a game called Christopher Colombus??? Or Florence Nightengale or William Bradford??? We all laughed so hard and then later on that afternoon I was thinking back on what she had said and, giggling, I thought how many 7 year olds even know who those people are?? Homeschooling just rocks....I admit I hate teaching math with a passion but I LOVE history and is shows because my kids devour anything historical and love it. I am so glad I get to cater to their loves..... <3

27 Random Things....

1. 3 of the 4 places i have lived in my life start with a C.
2. I am really into photography.
3. I like cleaning my kids' ears out with Q-tips ( totally weird but true)
4. I really, really like coffee- black, espresso, iced...whatever I like it all.
5. I wasn't into reading until I read Francine Rivers.
6. I really like planning and decorating for birthday parties.
7. I would rather hang out with people than sleep.
8. I love board games.
9. I am afraid that one day I will have to live without my husband. :(
10. I really love In-n-out and Chipotle.
11. I have grown up to be a total history buff.
12. I love the Lord with all my heart.
13. I don't care for jewelry or diamonds, lucky for my hubby.
14. I really love music.
15. I dance everyday.
16. I cried with each kid when they read their first book.
17. I love having friends over for dinner.
18. I cry EVERYTIME i watch Little House on the Prairie.
19. It grosses me out and makes me gag when my husband pulls lint out of his belly button.
20. I lost my love for cooking when we found out about the kids' diseases.
21. I think i-pods are the best invention.
22. I love chick flicks.
23. I love good will.
24. I love rooting for the underdogs.
25. I would love to have my own garden and farm one day.
26. Growing up I always wanted my name to be spelled Katelynn.
27. When the kids are grown James and I want to have a coffee/fly fishing shop called Hooked On Espresso!

100 Things....

100 Things

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!!*

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo.
11. Had stitches
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - on the beach, at least
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Lived in another country
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten cavier
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Kids are such a blessing...

My kids just rock, now i know other people's kids rock too, but I just love my kids. Last night I went upstairs to give Bee and Kaleb a bath after dinner when I came down the dinner table was clear, dishes were done, counters had been washed, the highchair was cleaned and the floor was swept. All thanks to my 8 and 7 year old daughters. They just knew I was tired and decided to jump in and do my work without me even hinting i wanted help. They are just awesome! To top it all off they packed their daddy's lunch for the next day and switched the laundry for me. Then i find a note on the table that read " dear mom, i love you but have nothing to give you all i have is my love and my help. You are the best mom. Love you, Love faith. Ya kinda just gotta feel you are doing something right when your girls do something like this together and happily. What sweet pure hearts children have. Now don't get me wrong they have their days but for the most part they have turned into such sweet, helpful, fun, loving, funny, entertaining kids :)

Who knew basements were so fun???

I just wanted to share how much our basement saves my afternoon and my kids from saying " I'm bored"...blah, blah, blah!! Living in Canada is not very easy not only because .....well lets not get into the reasons why I don't really like Canada....basically its really cold!! It's not the kind of cold you could bundle up and still play outside in it's -14 degrees outside!!! Thats cold! So anyways back to the basement! I love our basement its all concrete and its huge! It rocks! Did I mention basements rock?? Ok. So i thought i would post some pics of what goes on down there. There's alot I don't have pictures of like....finger puppet shows, building castles, houses, schools, orphanages and hospitals out of boxes, three legged races, chariot races, and many more. We have also come to realize you can find many things in your basement such as: lost orphans, abandoned puppies, kittens who's mother has died and monkeys, aparently alot of crazy monkeys....who knew?? Kids are so awesome. I just love that my kids can make something out of nothing...what a blessing...to have an imagination :)