Jazz Game

Last night we went to a Jazz game with a bunch of the family. We had a really fun time, and we're glad Geoff invited us. First we went out to dinner at the California Pizza kitchen, and that was nice. Then we all walked over to the game. We were on the very top row, as high as you could get, but you could still see everything, so it really wasn't bad at all. We took up a whole row on the top, and then a few seats three rows ahead.

Kevin and Allston really get along well, and I think Allston prefers playing with him over Ethan, even though Ethan is closer to his age. They both sat on Felicia's mom's lap for awhile. In this picture you can also see Felicia's sister and Geoff, and the back of Felicia's head. I think Ethan was a big help in the Jazz win. He sat there and "shot" at the players. Although he wasn't very discriminating, so maybe it was all a wash.

Here are my boys trying to make Allston cry. Not really, although they did. Make him cry, I mean. I think he's probably not used to all the hugs and touches from other kids.

Here's Kaitlyn with Grandpa. I love this picture!

And one last picture. Ethan kept walking up and down the row, and the first time Felicia grabbed him and kissed him. Then on the second or third pass, he expected everyone to do it, so he'd stop in front of them and stare at them until they did it.

Hulk Smash!

The kids have been watching a lot of superhero movies lately, and Ethan's favorite is Hulk. He even says "Hulk smash!" I got him on video, and it was so funny because he's sick and was losing his voice a little. His "Hulk" is pretty scary, but the "smash" part, maybe not so much. :)

Kevin's Birthday

We had Kevin's Birthday party last Saturday, and his birthday was last Thursday. These pictures are all backwards from what I wanted, but that's okay.

Here's Kevin on his birthday. He got a bunch of superhero toys, and a Power Rangers toy. It's getting really hard to get this boy to smile normal for pictures. Especially when he wants to look at his new toys and not the camera.

As a party favor for the kids, I made superhero capes (Troy helped, too). I don't really like to sew, so there was some frustration, and maybe a little bit of yelling to go along with it. Here was Allston's cape, which was one of my favorites:

Here's Zack hitting the pinata. The candy went flying everywhere. Even over the fence into the neighbors yard. I guess they got some free candy.

Kaitlyn is usually the oldest kid at birthday parties, and so she almost always is the one to break it open. This time Zack wanted a turn, though, so Kaitlyn had to hold back.

This is DJ hitting the pinata. I just included this picture because it's another cape that I liked.

When it was Ethan's turn to hit the pinata (very near the beginning), he gave it a little tap, and that bottom part just popped open. The kids came running, and I think it scared him, and he started to cry. We taped it up, because that's not how a pinata is supposed to work!

Here's the birthday boy having a turn. The wind made his cape look pretty cool.

Here's Kevin blowing out his birthday candles. I decided to do cupcakes instead of a cake, and then I put letters spelling out "Happy 6th Birthday, Kevin" on each cupcake. (Pictured here are Sunny, Talia, Drake, and Kaitlyn's torso)

This is Kevin the day after his actual birthday, when we gave him his new Spiderman bike. He loves it, and it'll be nice for him to have. Just the day before he was out playing with a couple neighbor boys who are very good bike riders, and Kevin only had his little tricycle. They wanted to ride around the block, but Kevin couldn't keep up on his tricycle, so he gave it up and just ran behind them. The poor kid!

Please join me in prayer

My friend, Lori, just adopted a beautiful baby boy. But now the birth father is trying to contest the adoption, and they're going to have to go through a legal battle. Please join me in praying for this sweet baby and for Lori and her family. You can read more details on her blog.

Jeremy Riddle concert

Kaitlyn and I went to a Jeremy Riddle concert tonight. He is one of my very favorite singers, so I was really excited when I found out he was coming to a church near us. He was sick with a cold, but he was still amazing, and has a beautiful voice and a passion for God.

I only got one picture, but since my camera is a huge ball of suck in this type of setting, it really didn't matter anyway. If you're sitting there wondering who in the world Jeremy Riddle is, I feel bad for you, because you've been missing out on some awesome music. But, in my pity for you, I will provide a link: More Than a Friend This song is my favorite of his. I can't hear it without getting choked up. It's also a good song to listen to when you just want to get on your knees and worship God.

To listen to more of his music, visit his myspace page here.

Survivor

Survivor has been awesome this season so far. Especially if you're looking for funny quotes. My favorites so far have been:

"I'm too true to exist around people who smile . . . evily."

"People stereotype me as the blonde girl who doesn't have a lot to say, and sits there and be pretty . . . but that doesn't mean, like . . . I don't know. It's hard to explain."

I love this

Last night in my Bible reading, I came across some verses that I really loved. They are found in John 3:29-30:

29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.

This was part of John the Baptists testimony about Jesus. I loved the part where he said, "He must become greater; I must become less." Because isn't that true for us all? We all need to make Jesus (and His glory) the greater part in our lives.

This goes along really well with what I'm reading in The Purpose Driven Life. Today I'm on day 5 of 40, and I'm really getting a lot out of this book. I like it much better than Captivating, and I think the reason is that Captivating is so me-centered. The focus on Christ is hardly there at all, and I think it will probably come later in the book, but for right now, it's just really not what I need. I don't need to examine every aspect of my childhood to know if I was made to feel lovely.

It's not about me, and I really dislike books like this, and that may be why I'm having such a hard time with small group right now, because this is what we're reading for it.

Some good reading

I've mentioned this blog before, but I want to mention it again. If you have some free time, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and head over to Holy Experience. It's my very favorite blog to read, and if I had even 1/100th of the talent for writing that Ann has, I would be so happy.

Every time I read this blog, I just feel so . . . filled. I don't know how to describe it. It's a calming and peaceful feeling. So, take some time, read a few of her blog posts, and be blessed.