Lockdown

When I picked up Brianna after Kindergarten the other day she said,
"We had a lockdown today."
"You had a lockdown today?"
"Yes, we had to go into the dark closet and stay very quiet.  I was shivering I was so scared.  Then I said a prayer, and Jesus telled me that it was just a drill."

Wow.

I'm very glad it was just a drill.

I'm very sad that "lockdown drills" are necessary.

I'm very glad that my daughter knew to pray.

I'm very glad that she received a comforting answer.

Hug your children a little closer today. 

I will.

Backyard Completion Pictures

Yes!  It did finally get done!  And we love it!!!  This first picture was before we added the rubber mulch in this play area.

Strangely, I neglected to take pictures of the whole yard, and now, there are no leaves on the trees, but leaves all over the ground, so I'll wait until it looks a little better to better show the grass area and garden areas. :)

Our Happy, Busy, Full Life - IN PICTURES!

 Rascal and his boy!

 Backyard BEFORE pictures.

The Mighty Ben has removed a major shrub, ALL BY HIMSELF!!

 Backyard DURING pictures!

 We interrupt this backyard renovation for an anniversary celebration trip to Bryce Canyon!

 I took this picture so that I could show our children just exactly what Daddy was doing just before he fell off the cliff.

Some of the plant-life was more cooperative for photos than others.

Oh yeah!  That's my man!

Can you see the sundog?

Isn't this a WAY cool picture?

Salty Dog.

My self-portrait on Salty Dog.

A little piece of paradise!

James is/was WAY more brave than I.  Who knows what might be down there??

Grammie and Grandpa with the grandkids at our niece Natalie's baptism.

 More DURING photos.  (Contractor time is different from regular people time.  "3 weeks" actually means about 2 1/2 months.)

Sadly, I lost my wedding ring this summer.  So, for our 14th anniversary, we went ring shopping.  I chose the one on my middle finger.  It's a beauty!

We interrupt this backyard make-over again, for a trip to San Francisco!

We ate here, mmmmmmmm!

And here, mmmmmmm!

And here, WOW!!

We interrupt this trip to San Francisco for a summer flashback:

poor, sweet Brianna fell and cut her eyelid this summer.  Once she stopped screaming, she was incredibly brave.

Who's crazy kids are these anyway??!

This is my awesome oldest brother, playing lead guitar in his awesome band, Kindle Creek.

If you haven't heard them, check out www.kindlecreek.com and take a listen.

Recycling in action.

A fun autumn Sunday hike at our nearby ski resort.

Messy!

James took me on a FANCY date!  (Don't we look like a couple of high schoolers on our way to Prom?)

Ben at piano lessons. 

The orange jetski is one of ours.  The other one is it's identical twin.  (Not sure which was born first.  Don't say anything, but I can't tell them apart.)

HAPPY FALL!!