Our Christmas Tree friend

We found someones house in our tree. Sorry little birdies!

My creative wife

Here is my beautiful and very creative wife making snowflake window clings.


Check them out!

This is just one of the things I love about Lori. She's so creative and beautiful!

Charles Dickens village at Skaneateles

Here are some pictures of our annual trip to Skaneateles. They have actors all over the city acting out the Charles Dickens, "A Christmas Carol." Here is Marley at the annual singing of the twelve days of Christmas.
More pictures of the sing along....

A doctor and his wife talking to another couple...

I just love the spontaneity that goes on here.

And I love the attention to detail in their dressing for it.

Santa

I think I found Santa Clause in my bathtub! I just wanted to share this picture because she's so darn cute!

Happy 40th birthday to me! Yippie! :(......:)

Well, it's finally here, November 7th, the day I turn 40. I have been a little upset about it, too. A good friend of mine told me it was just a number, and that’s true. This is not very comforting coming from a guy who is 25. But it really is no big deal. The following pictures are of what I found this morning when I got up.
This one was on the bathroom mirror. The first thing I see in the morning.

Then I went into the kitchen to make coffee. When I opened the freezer, this is what I saw stuck to the coffee.

Then after making the coffee, I wanted to see the weather. So I opened the computer watch my weather webcast and found this note. It's a good thing I love her so much.

Thank you Lori for, making my birthday morning so special. Also, thank you for getting me to see that it is not a big deal to turn 40. I love you more than any words could ever describe. Being with you really has turned back the clock on how I feel. It can't turn back my age, but at least inside I still feel 20. I Love You!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A clean room!

After years of teaching them to clean their room, and fighting with them to get them to do it, they finally, (With a little help from Dad,) cleaned their room! And look, the carpet is brown. You couldn't see that before because the floor was covered with clothes, toys, and blankets. There is still some cleaning to do with regard to their dressers, but I'm just happy to see the floor and vacuum it!

They call themselves the cleaning ninjas. That's disturbingly not true. None the less, here is some pictures that they wanted to share with you.

All in all, it was a big project as now the boys ninja senses protect the room from getting dirty again. Their ninja senses = fear of father's wrath!

Lexy's Birthday

Well, here we are finally at the last kids birthday of the year. Oh wait, we still have mine and I'm still a kid, right? Anyway as you can see, Lexy got a kitchen set. Along with far too many utensils and things. I say that because it's too many when she can't figure out what to do with it all come time to clean up and I end up doing it.

Gramma got her a princess nightgown that she truly loves and wants to wear all the time. Thanks Gramma!
A while ago, Lexy picked out a ring in Walmart while we were getting a watch battery changed. We tried to show her other rings but she only wanted that one. Well we had no plans to buy the ring, but she had other plans and cried all the way out of the store. Well Daddy can't let his little girl cry so I saw an opportunity when her birthday came up to get it for her. And I did! Aren't I such a good Daddy?

She also got her first Barbie doll. She took it out of the package, and proceeded to brush her hair. Which messed it up and ruined the way it was pulled back. Oh well, I guess that's what girls do.
We got Lexy a kids Mp3 player because there's 3 songs she always asks for and frankly, we're sick of them. 2 from Toby Mac, Boomin, and Tru Dog. The 3rd is from Isaiah 6, Like A Freak. (Sorry Derek, but 50 times a day would make you sick of your own song.) So I put these songs on there and she can listen to her hearts content!

If it works, here is a video of her dancing to her tunes! Sorry, no sound.

Didn't she have a lovely cake made by Lori. Luv u honey!

Well, I think the smiles have it! She loved her 3rd Birthday. So did I! I love you Lexy!

Four Mile Creek Campground

Every year since last year, we as a family have and will be going for a late season camping trip to Four Mile Creek Campground. It's simply the best Campground around in my opinion. That's why we go for a week. It's situated right on the shore of Lake Ontario! You can go right down on the beach and watch the sunset! It's awesome! On a clear day or night, you can look across the lake and see Toronto! It looks like a city on the water. Anyways, the following are pictures of the kids enjoying the week. Carter learned how to ride his bike without training wheels during this trip so you're seeing the first picture of him riding without the training wheels.

Lexy loved walking April's (My sis.) dog Milo.

All I can say is, this trip lived up to our expectation! It was awesome! It was an awesome time, with awesome weather. Thank you Jesus, for an awesome week!

Peace and harmony

Okay, anyone who has been around my kids recently knows that they don't get along as well as they have in the past. In fact they argue and fight about everything! But on rare occasion, there is peace and harmony like there was on this day. I just wanted you all to see them actually get along for once so you didn't think they never quit fighting. I tell ya, some day soon I'm going to give them boxing gloves and lock them in a room together!

In other news, Lexy is doing great with potty training! She went to the bathroom 3 times in Applebee's yesterday! She has only peed in her panties twice since Wednesday. (Aside from naps and other times we can't trust her!)

Spiders!

For those of you who are squeamish of stomach, don't look any further. These pictures may make you say, "ewwwww!" For those of you that think it's cool, read on.
These two spiders were in my back yard behind a shed where we have a strawberry patch. The first one was having lunch when we dropped by. The second one was just hangin out.

You know, they may make you say, "ewwww," but when you think about it, God is pretty amazing. I mean, look at the patterns of the color on these spiders. They are beautiful in that sense. Aren't they?

We've got pee ladies and gentlemen!

After working with Alexys for 2 weeks, we finally have pee. It seemed it would never happen, but it did. I had pictures but I didn't think people would want to see pee in a potty. Or a little girl on the potty drinking from her drink cup with her panties wrapped around it. Yeah, I know, what's up with that?
Anyway, I'm just happy she finally did it. and after doing it once, it was easier to do the next time so later that day she did it again. Now I'm thrilled! But of course this is all because I had her sit there for a while. I wonder when she will decide to do it on her own? That's when I will get really exited. Oh well, enough ranting I'll let you get back to your normal life. Besides, after hear all about that pee, you've probably got to go yourself

Carter's birthday party

I know this is sooooooooooooo late but better late than never, right? I know it's been such a long time since I posted anything. Oh well, life gets in the way. Anyway, Carter's party was awesome! It was a bowling party......I know, where's the bowling alley right? Well, we started out at the beach on Canandaigua Lake and as you can see I was sure enjoying it!

Carter did also as he opened the Speed Racer race track that Aunt April got him and many other gifts. Lexy enjoyed hersef also. (There was cake and ice cream!)

One of Carter's favorite gifts was this Speed Racer scooter. He's gotten pretty good on it, I might add.
The only thing was that it was so breezy at the beach that the candles wouldn't stay lit. So this picture is just a pose.
All in all it was a great party that ended up in a bowling alley where I got my butt beat. Oh well, life goes on.

JonJon's Birthday

Here we are at JonJon's birthday. As you can already tell, we were camping but there is a pond there. JonJon wanted a fishing party so after presents and cake, it was off to the fishing hole. (Sorry, no pictures)



Can you tell JonJon was exited about this gift? It is a Gameboy advance. He had been wanting one ever since his brother got one 2 years before.

And here it is, the cd player that had to come from Mom & Dad. (I don't know why it had to be us, but, oh well.
This is Wall.e for those of you who saw the movie. (We haven't even seen it but he had to have it.)
And last but not least is the beautiful cake that Lori made. Isn't it cool! It's a pond complete with fishing poles!All in all, JonJon's party turned out great. (Except for the part where I fell into the pond. Yeah it was embarassing! Thank God there are no pictures to prove it or I'd never hear the end of it.)

Whirlwind!

Sorry I haven't been on here in a while. My life has been a whirlwind lately! I will post some pictures of Carter's birthday soon for all to see.
By the way, Email me what you think of the music on my blog now? If you don't like it, scroll to the bottom of the page and you can stop it there or change the song if you would like.

P.S. Lori says it's annoying, but I like it.

Just something funny

I realized today that as I was helping Mitchell with his homeschooling that I hadn't heard from Lexy in a while. So I went to look for her and this is how I found her! Under the cushions on the couch watching Sesame Street. I just thought that was funny. Carry on with whatever you were doing before checking this blog.

The Lord's mercies are new every morning! Amen!

Today, as I was pondering the past year since last Father's Day, I was getting a little down because I'm a "glass half empty kinda guy," and was only seeing all the failures of the past year. Wishing I could be a better Father. I was thinking about all the changes that a friend, and God through him have been helping me to make and I started feeling a little better that I have been doing a little better, or so the Lord showed me that I have been doing better. I know this will sound a like a little bit of a stretch but kind words can help and heal a lot. Anyway, as I was pondering all of this the Lord sent my youngest son, Carter to deliver a little message. He, out of the blue, came up to me and said, "Dad, you're handsome." That's Carter's way of saying, "I love you." To me, and here is where the stretch is, that was like The Lord saying, "you haven't screwed fathering up as bad as you think. Your kids still love you and that says something. You still have time to become a better father. I'm right here to help you. Keep trying. Needless to say it almost broke me and I gave Carter a big hug and kiss.
I just thought I'd share this for all fathers. You haven't screwed fathering up so bad that you can't fix it. You still have time. So this Father's Day, lets all make a pact to become better Father's. After all, we owe them at the very least the effort of striving to be better, right? I know I'm gonna keep trying to get better and better at fathering because I have a great bunch of kids who deserve way more than I'm giving them right now!

Kids say the darndest things!

A couple of days ago I laid back in my recliner and lifted Alexys up high in the air. And to my surprise she immediately put out her arms and said, "I Super Baby!" I have no clue where she heard it, or maybe she made it up, but I thought it was hilarious! So much so that I almost dropped her for lack of strength because I was laughing SO hard.
I hope this blog has brightened your day. Sometimes I forget what's important in life and I lose focus and take myself and life to seriously. Then something like this happens and snaps me back to reality. I think the Lord puts things like this in my path to show me what he delights in, in order for me to stay focused on him. Anyway, just a short note to encourage the downhearted and the bubbly, happy people also, to just lift your day no matter what you're feeling today. come on and admit it, it made you at least smile!

Dog Lover!

Yesterday, no one knew where Lexy was and I hadn't heard her for a long while. I figured she was getting into something that she shouldn't be, so I went looking for her. It turns out that she just wanted to be with Horatio while he was sleeping. So, she got a blanket, laid on him on his bed and was quiet. (Thus why I hadn't heard her. Horatio's only awake because I came into the room.)

Well, if it was a secret before it's not now. My daughter loves dogs!

Mitchell's Birthday!

Not only was it Memorial Day, but it was Mitchell's Birthday party also! This was a busy day. well, let's see what he got.

We started out ,as my wife put it, boring. We got him a shirt...


and shorts....
A yo-yo.....
Lego's...
Lego's...
Lego's...

Lego's...

Lego's...
and more Lego's. If you guessed that this was a Lego birthday, you guessed right. Mitchell loves to build stuff and he's good at it too! There were other presents also, but we couldn't get pictures of everything could we.