Preparing for Fun

Friday was busy.....Today was busy....we're getting ready to host the chapel here tomorrow.  We're looking forward to it - though the occasion  - a farewell of ministers - is not one we are looking forward to! 

Arielle fills a pinata

The men set up some shade - it's 86* today 

This is scary.....

Fearless wasp killers....

We also shopped, washed windows, made salads, baked muffins and cakes, and beans...... good times ahead.   At this point I asked if the kids slide out of the Dalmatian's - um - exit ramp.

she w- no. Gherkin approved! 

Play break was over and we continued..... It's GOOD I was sick and didn't get to this earlier in the week. Michael did a WAY better job than I would have! 

This girl is SO busted!

Loved all the pressure washing the men did! 

We ended the night sitting in the hot tub - happy in the knowledge that we are ready for Sunday.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Busy Week

We have managed to have a full and busy week - even with me in bed from Sunday - Wednesday. 

We have made up all our time off and our back on schedule with our school. This means our pace is much slower this week and we were able to easily get a week done with school - even with me in bed.  I'm proud of the kids.

Michael's had a crazy week at work - and I haven't a clue what's been so crazy - just know he's been late. LOL

I got my new glasses today. I can't see a blasted thing through them. I tried. I took them off when a migraine started and I'll try more tomorrow.

Stacia and I had fun picking out things for children to enjoy at our  Farewell for Johnny and Joretta on Sunday.  We'll have everyone out to our house. I didn't want the kids to be bored at our home - so we rented a bounce house, bought bubbles, and pinata.... I  need to hit Sam's club tomorrow and get some major meat - but we're getting there. I'm thankful everyone is bringing a side dish.

Michael surprised us by walking in early (5:25 p.m.) and so we had dinner before Arielle went to babysit for a local small group.

As we talked about what would feed a crowd, be flexible enough to accommodate a flexing crowd size,  and be able to pull together after church - we landed on a BBQ...but we didn't have a grill.  We hadn't planned on buying one; because we are in the process of paring down....but in the end.... This one was the best deal and is a nice size.

Honestly, it was WARM today. I'm guessing it will be NICE to be able to cook outside this summer, and I will get much better at cooking on the grill.

Maybe our next challenge will be to "Guess the date we hit 90* or 100*."


Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Jamin Breaks the Record!

Look who did it! He broke the ASU 10K men's record on Saturday....in 30 mph wind.....with a pulled muscle. We are so happy for Jamin. He's worked hard to do this. I believe he'll be running one more 10K this track season - he may break it again! The yellow band Jamin's wearing is a "Vote Jared and Ross" band. 

It was great fun to have friends at the meet and Larissa sending photos as it happened! 

Here are a couple of photos from Doug! Thanks for all the free coaching/mentoring you've given Jamin over the years!  

Do you like Jared's t-shirt below? ASU Student Government  Elections are over. There is a hold up on the results - they are told they'll have them by 15 April. We continue for God's very best in the situation.  In any event, these two smiles make my evening. 

I don't fully understand Cross Country and Track. I know that he broke this record during the Cross Country season but it was important to break it during Track on the TRACK....so there you have it. 
Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

New Family Challenge

Michael loves to create new family challenges and contests.  From the annual great Penny Exchange, our "annual scavenger hunts," (which we've not done since we moved to Japan), and  counting trucks on trips,  to guessing the demise of the birthday balloon - each challenge creates memories and engages us in a family focused activity. I love it. 

I knew it wouldn't be too long before the next challenge materialized. 



Michael challenged the kids to see who can put a Rubik's cube together in under two minutes..... Stacia

thought she had it won, until I pointed out all the sides had to match. It didn't take long until the kids were watching You Tube clips on how to solve the Rubik's puzzle. Michael says we need to buy a  new cube -ours are Dollar Store versions with princess' and Woody on them.....the real thing will move easier...and we do, of course, want to see the children succeed.  

We've had fun remembering the toys of our era....shocked to discover we can no longer do it in under a minute. LOL 

I am still not 100% - but haven't thrown up today..... I really dislike being ill. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Driving Adventures

WOW! Motorcyclists are allowed to pass between two stopped cars. I wonder if they are allowed to pass between moving cars in CA? I had it happen this week. Michael reports that today, while Arielle was driving -and the lane next to them was CLEAR- a motorcyclist passed in THEIR lane. Imagine passing in the SAME lane a 15 pass is occupying with a student driver. Crazy Scary! 

What in the world is our garbage can doing in the road? Michael took time today to teach Arielle how to parallel park a 15 pass van! I don't even know how to do that, yet. 

Just get it between the cans....

She did it! 

Choosing Joy!

©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

That Balloon

As previously noted, we've been amazed and fascinated by  the lifespan of my birthday balloon (Jan 24). It was still up on the boys birthday in February. 

Michael started a contest. We all guessed when the balloon would come down - the day the ribbon would touch the floor. Stacia guessed way after all of us - March 26th or 28th....and it was still up. The top of the balloon has been touching the ceiling, but we began to see movement last night. 

This morning the ribbon was touching the floor. It's a good thing he thought to define so carefully, as someone DID try to get us to wait until it was on totally deflate. 

I don't think we've EVER had a balloon last 2 1/2 months. Stacia tried to get it to go back up. Her new guess had been Easter. She said it had to land on a Holiday.

Careful checking showed Nolan had guessed yesterday and was the closest. 

The kids didn't know there wouldd be a prize. He was happy. 

In other news, I seem to have the flu. I put off admitting it until I began actually heaving....so here I am....the rest went to chapel, had lunch, shopped for a grill so we can have a chapel wide BBQ next weekend, went to see Captain America and practiced driving.  I laid around all day - alone. 

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Weather Stations and New Friends

Before we moved to Beale I had found a home school Facebook group for Beale. I joined. It's mostly an online discussion group.

One of the members of that group created another Facebook group for school age field trips. We've been averaging about one trip a month.

Today we visited the base Weather Station. We were told we could take photos. I had left my camera at home - but I had my phone. This is becoming far too common.  I don't have permission to share other kids' photos....so this will be the only photo I post.

The briefing was great.  I appreciated all the time the Msgt put into preparing for us. It was interesting to see how so much is monitored from this one room. They monitor weather around the world in support of our flying missions.

We discovered Stacia can blow 18.2 knots of wind and Alex can blow 14.6....though I'm sure both could do more with a bit of practice.

Our plan had been a picnic lunch and outside play after the field trip, but it was raining. We all descended on Burger King and took it over. I met one woman who is new to the area and was homeschooled as a child. She was happy to see all the kids and we had a good chat talking about homeschooling.

I ate lunch with a lady I had met today. She was alone and it was good to sit and talk. It turns out they moved here the same time we moved here.....from Japan. They were stationed at Kadena AB and we were at Misawa AB. Our kids have had the same transitions. It was fun to visit. I hope to have many more visits with Katrina. We are both in search of fun parks in the area.....maybe we'll be able to explore together.

I was able to meet another Facebook friend face to face today this afternoon. I look forward to more time spent with Britney and her children as well.

A quick trip to the commissary rounded out our day.

We've settled down for a night of Prince of Egypt - every once in a while we need to watch a Stacia flick.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...