Hit those books!

This looks like the stack of books that one might need for a semester of college, right?  No, this is a partial stack (2 of the books were being used when I took the photo) of the material for Dad's upcoming promotional exam. The notebook includes SOP's.  He's been studying, and will be studying non-stop for the next month, as we count down to the highly competitive exam.  Only the top scorers will be eligible for the promotion.  Please join me in praying for his studying efforts and test-taking!

Sarah's First Trip to the Station

We haven't been able to visit the station much in the last year but finally made it there this Sunday afternoon.  The kids were really excited to see Dad at work!

 Yes, it's a pole & they still use it!

 Thermal Imaging Camera

 Here's the pole from the top:

The Roof Patio

  Yes, it was hot!  : )

On the way home I asked the kids what their favorite part was.  David said, "Going out on the roof."  Elizabeth said, "The big balls in the gym!"  Rebekah said, "Fire Trucks!"  Finally!

Tiny Talk & Bluebonnets

Saturday before last, David went to a birthday party where they watched the new dragon movie in 3-D! Doesn't he look cool in his glasses? That was really interesting to see & hear all the 5 & 6 year old kids jumping and exclaiming about the 3-D action!

Dad took us on a fun outing that evening, too! Right off the bat a ladybug landed on Elizabeth!

transferring the bug...

Dad got in a little fishing and I got to take some pictures.

I've determined that I will never get all my kids to look at the camera at the same time...

Now for some tiny talk while you enjoy the bluebonnets...

Rebekah can say Fluff (the cat's name). It sounds like FUF!!!!!!!

Elizabeth sat in my lap as I checked on facebook and said: Mom, I want to play the Aunt Jana game.
Mom: What's the Aunt Jana game?
Elizabeth: Bunnies and no cows! No bunnies! There's bunnies in her yard!
I have absolutely no idea what she's talking about! Does that have anything to do with Farm Town???

The most exciting tiny talk of the week was this - After bedtime prayers, David turned to me and said: Mom? I'm fixin' to ask Jesus into my heart.
It took me off guard, but I asked him what that meant and what he believed about God & Jesus.
He answered my questions, then rolled over & said: Dear God, please let Jesus come into my heart. Amen.

In an effort to delay bedtime, David quickly figured out that I'll spend time to answer certain questions. Last night he said: So, Mom, let's talk some more about heaven and hell.

We read something about China recently & he's been fascinated by it. During his bedtime prayers he prayed: And help everyone to have good dreams, even the Chinese people.

Yet another delay in falling asleep, David got up & came to me saying: Mom! There's a mosquito in my room!
Mom: Well, swat at it! (because I know there's not much you can do to actually get rid of a mosquito in your room at night)
David, with a horrified look on his face: But I might get bug inside on my hand! I don't like bug inside on my hand.

And have you heard the news? Tiny #4 is now on his/her way!

Tiny Talk Tuesday and the Train

I went out last night to bring the goats in. David called from the back door: Don't let the coyotes get you, Mom!
As I was walking back up the steps, Elizabeth called: Did the coyotes get you, Mama?

The train has nothing to do with Tiny Talk, but it was a fun family outing this weekend. Dad took us to a good spot to wait for the historic Union Pacific Steam Locomotive Number 844. It was the last steam locomotive built for UP, when my Daddy was 3 years old, and according to an older guy I met Saturday, it's the only steam locomotive that has been in continuous service, never having been retired.

One train went by before the 844 arrived - Rebekah's first train! She waved as it passed by and the engineer gave a little toot-toot as the train passed. She jumped but didn't cry.

Finally the 844 arrived!

It was sooooo loud! We quickly got back into the car & headed off. But my wonderful husband know his battalion well and we were able to catch it again as it went into a residential neighborhood:

After that we saw it one more time as it went under a bridge we were crossing. Then Dad had to get to work, so we headed out of town. Uncle Bubba's family and Grandpa were coming up to see it at the yard, so we met up with them at McDonald's. Check out that static Elizabeth got while playing:

We made it to the yard, and there she sat. Steam trains are so beautiful. A wonderful opportunity for photography.
Lots of people were taking pictures of the train, pictures of kids and themselves beside it. So many, in fact, that it was really hard to get any photos without a bunch of random people in them, but I did get some.

Fun times!

Easter Celebrations! and Dad's Birthday!

Our Easter celebrations began at Thursday School a few days before Easter.

On Friday, we dyed Easter eggs. This was Elizabeth's first year to participate.

After Rebekah's First Birthday Party, we had another Easter Egg Hunt at our house with Dad's family & some friends.

Grandpa thought it was funny
that the chickens were hunting eggs too!

We celebrated Easter along with Dad's birthday on Sunday at Grandpa's house.

Cute, huh?

After this final egg hunt, we all took a good nap, then we further celebrated Dad's birthday with a picnic at the pond & some fishing. The bluebonnets were blooming... the kids were happy... and I forgot to take my camera with us again.

I would like to say thank you to Grana and Uncle Bubba for sharing these photos with me!