...To Surf!!

Now all that snow and sledding is fun, but here is my idea of a good time....70 degree weather in December. It got old growing up, but sure is nice to go back to now!!

We had a great time playing with our cousins...
And warm weather means even Jo can join in the fun. He's not one for snow!!!

From Snow....

Here are those sledding pics I promised from last Christmas. This is the first snow: there was barely enough on the ground to be sleddable but our kids made it work! (The ice helped)


We went to our favorite spot: Jakes Hill. It's a one way with very little traffic and has a serious incline. The kids bobsledded down that baby with a vengeance!! I had to convince them to come in so we could pack. The forecast was snow for the rest of the week, and we started banking on school getting cancelled. That meant an early departure down to LA for the holidays.

(enough, really.....)

1.20.2009- Meet Freedom!

Cheryl kept the kids home to witness and celebrate democracy....

While Greg was down in LA finalizing the purchase of our next home. Here he is, 25 hours later, bringing home Freedom!!

We celebrated with apple pie and found Americana bears on our beds...

The next day we suffered through school and then came straight home for a slumber party. Right now, she sits in our driveway.. but we can't wait to take her around the continent!!
We broke her in with a little concert.
The boys bunks are in the middle, across from the bathroom.Shayna gets the double bed above the cab.
I love how bright it is. Here is our dining/scrapbooking table, with some of our homeschooling curriculum material. We plan on focusing on American geography and history. Here is the master bedroom in the back. The next day JJ took a three hour nap in Freedom.... she already feels like home!! We still can't quite believe it. Thanks be to God: for His faithfulness, His gifts, and His Ultimate Freedom.

"It is for Freedom Christ has set you free.

Stand firm, then, and do not be burdened again by these yokes of slavery."

Galatians 5:1

Freezing in DC!

Hi Mom, Ron and friends!!

Well I made it to DC, after a 4 hour change of plane delay and a miraculous reuniting with my luggage. I took the metro from DCA to Union Station, where it was 8:o'clock my time and I was hungry, but 11:o'clock shut down time here. I forked out the money and took a taxi to Gallaudet (at my family's insistence), even though I had my new Saucony shoes and felt like I could walk....

side note, did you know the crime rate on Gallaudet students is significantly less than the general poplulation? It is a well known fact that around here if you are seen doing sign language you are left well enough alone. There are reports of muggings in the surrounding area of Gallaudet, but only to those priveleged hearing folks. (which I cleverly disguise myself as NOT one of them)..... ANYWAY....

Today my friend Wendy and I did some shopping and ventured out into the brisk cold air for a tour of Inauguration set up at the Capitol. As you can see it was a clear blue sky, and there are already lots of chairs up for the millions of people they are expecting. Lots of chairs and..
lots of toilets!
It was so cold out that by the time we walked from Union Station to the Capitol, my extra hot Starbucks drink was iced and I had to stop texting my friends cuz my fingers were about to fall off. When I took this picture, I had to take my scarf down off my mouth and smile...
Then my silly upper lip was frozen to my gums.

There is an overall reverance for history here, and you can feel it in the air, despite the cold. History of the past, and history in the making. I love this:

(aren't we always changing?) I could go on and on, but I have class in the morning so I'll leave you with this. I DID get to meet the main man, he happened to be standing around as I walked by...

Didn't say much but I guess he's saving that for Tuesday.

Thanks for checking in, have a great weekend and OH! Mary... I got you a metro ticket, this one's for you!!
NITE NITE!!

(photos compliments of Wendy Schlitz, thank you friend!)