Annalina walking her Pony?!!! (April)

She is quite confident walking Sonja for how small she is and how BIG Sonja is!!!!

Super Mini-Vacation with Daddy . . . (April 8th, 2009)

After Brian flew in we spent the afternoon and night at a hotel in Reno so the kids could enjoy swimming with Daddy. They had a blast. Gabriel enjoyed shooting his water canon in Daddy's face many times!!

Daddy's Home!!!! (April 8th, 2009)

The day we have been waiting for for the last 7 months the return of Daddy to us!!! We got a special pass since Daddy was military and returning from a deployment and so we were able to meet him at the gate. 

The kids were THRILLED to have Daddy back and so was I. The kids were leery about letting him go back to work about a week and a half later!! They wanted to be sure he was returning to us!!!

Looking back over the path the Lord had us trod while he was gone it is emotional. There was so much that happened. In the end, He held our hands, wiped our tears, and gave us the energy to persevere. He has promised "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" and He was faithful.

Carson Arrives

I am hoping to post pictures and write more later about Carson's birth and arrival. Annalina said having a baby was better than a doll because they are cuter than dolls. Gabriel and Ross when they walked into the hospital room asked me how I was feeling or doing. Each of them asked at different times it was very sweet. They are so thoughtful and love their mommy. Gabriel and Annalina were both disappointed I couldn't leave the hospital with them that night and I sure wish I could have too!!

I also just realized I haven't blogged about Brian coming home!!! Yikes, I am behind. We are so thankful to have him home with us. Being a complete family again is wonderful!!

The President and Prayer

I was watching the news a couple days ago and Ross again told me "That's Barak Obama" I agreed that it was and then I said "But he doesn't love God". Ross immediately said "We need to pray for him that he can love God".  Pretty amazing to think a 2 year old sees wisdom the that President of the United States doesn't!!

Valentine's from Daddy

I should have posted these notes to the kids from Daddy sooner but I am finially getting around to it. The kids LOVED their notes from their Daddy and they thought the one to Sonja was VERY, VERY FUNNY!

The notes went as follows:

January 30, 2009

Dear Gabriel,

I'm very glad that everything went well with removing the bump behind your ear, and that you were a good boy and obeyed the doctor and didn't complain.

I have a computer game that I think you would like to play with me when I get home. It has Americans and British and Russians fighting against Germans and Japanese, just like in World War Two.

I would really like to talk to you about science and history. That's very fun stuff.

I Love You, 

Daddy

January 30, 2009

Dear Annalina,

I'm very glad that you got the chance to go to school this year and learn lots of fun and interesting things.

Today, I ate a great big hamburger and I thought of you because you like to eat meat, just like I do. I think it would be fun to go eat meat at a restaurant with you again when I come home.

I Love You,

Daddy

January 30, 2009

Dear Ross,

I'm very glad that you are learning to talk so well and that you love Mommy and Gabriel and Annalina.

I think you would have lots and lots of fun if you came to Afghanistan and played with the Bad Guys stuff. That way it would get destroyed. The Bad Guys would be very angry, but the Good Guys would all say, "Good Boy, Rosser-boss!" and all of America would say, "Yah, Rossers!"

I think you could do a much better job than something that the Good Guys have that's called a "2000 pound bomb."

I Love You,

Daddy

January 30, 2009

(Gabriel should read this to Sonja, because Sonja can't read)

Dear Sonja,

WOOF WOOF, BARK BARK.

BARK WOOF, BARK WOOF?

WOOF BARK, WOOF BARK!

BARK-BARK; WOOF-WOOF.

WOOF-BARK,

DADDY

Yes, Babe did write a letter to me too for Valentine's Day! But I sure am NOT going to post it! ;-)

Being with Jesus

Ross got sick today with a fever of over 101 as we were sitting together he said. "Is Jesus invisible?" I said "Yes". His reply was "Ahhhh" with a disappointed down in his voice. Then he said "Jesus lives in my heart" [I have NEVER said that to him]. Then in a sad voice he said "I want to go be with Jesus." He is a most unusual 2 year old. As I have journaled before it is that tenderness for Christ I want them to maintain. I am thrilled that the thought of being with Jesus is comforting.

Earlier today I took Annalina for her speech therapy evaluation [they also did language evaluation to be thorough although that was not a concern to me].  She did a great job and the lady was so impressed. She said it was fun testing Annalina because usually kids don't know the answers and Annalina was blowing through them. One question Annalina answered without any problems the lady said she had NEVER seen a child answer correctly!! Yikes! Anyway, she did say Annalina has a tongue thrust and a few troubles on a few sounds BUT that she was fine for her age she showed me a chart showing where certain sounds are expected and most aren't expected until 2nd grade and she worked with Annalina a few minutes at the end on S and L and she did awesome in that short time it was the first time I had heard Annalina say "Annalina Lysne" so clearly instead of "Annaweena Wisne".  I am going to work with her at home a few months and then get her retested and if she is still struggling with some of the sounds this lady would take her in the summer. She REALLY liked Annalina and I couldn't tell she wanted to help her!!