How do you like it?

I made some changes today. Not on purpose, I was adding something and had to finish updating to the Bata version and couldn't do it without updating the template so I had to redo everything and it took me quite a while so I decided to just go ahead and change some other things while I was at it. Anyway...at least now I can see how many people actually visit my blog! Thanks Jodie :)

Sunny With a High of 59!

That's what the weatherman said anyway!

We had a great day yesterday at home with our "family". Everyone ended up staying home so we had a great big meal - I think there are more leftovers than what ate, and trust me, we ATE! - lots of games and fun and a night of movies to top it all off. We even got to spend some time outside playing croquet! Some of you might not be so amazed but if you are from the UP, and we are, it isn't uncommon to have quite a few inches of snow by Thanksgiving, which leaves playing croquet out of the question, unless you like playing it in the snow!

Jozie, Kristin, Sami, and Luke playing Swap!
(It is a pretty cool and fun game, even the kids could understand and play it pretty well.)

We played teams because there were only 6 mallets and 8 of us, here is Luke missing the ball and almost hitting John! Pretty funny stuff!

"Fore!" Oh wait, wrong game! You are supposed to keep the ball on the ground, Risa!

Did you see there is no snow?! Amazing!

Belle's turn!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Psalm that I memorized when I was younger says it all. Hope you and your families have a great Thanksgiving. :)

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.

11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.

14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the desert,
His love endures forever.

17 who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.

18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.

20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.

21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

22 an inheritance to his servant Israel;
His love endures forever.

23 to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.

24 and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.

25 and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

New Version of Blogger

Has anyone tried this yet? I did read that if you switch you can't switch back. It sounds neat but I am afraid that they are going to start making people pay for it or something and then I would be screwed, I am not paying to blog! Although if they do make people pay I suppose it shouldn't matter which version that you use, either way, Risa will be done blogging!

Revenge of the Golden Corral... And Missing Teeth

Sounds like a cool title to a fun western movie, doesn't it? Well, in reality it's not. It's what everyone in the house had yesterday afternoon and this morning after eating at the Golden Corral - except for Jozie! We will never be eating there again. Luke woke up this morning to a sick stomach and ended up getting sick - twice. Then he was fine by about 10:30 and wanted breakfast. What a wonderful way to start out our week! :) He is now drawing me "posters" and Christmas cards on some finger painting paper he found and he showed me one that was a car drawn with a yellow highlighter, "Pretty impressive", he says! What a boy! When he thought he was going to throw up again he asked me to pray for him so I did and it went away. I suppose that's why it's called "Faith like a Child"! Prayer does change things, just ask Luke!

On a more fun note...

Jozie has been asking for a Nintendo DS for Christmas because one of her friends from church has one. Last night she was talking to Uncle Levi on the phone and he asked what she wanted for Christmas so of course, she told him a Nintendo DS. He just laughed and said, "Well, that's pretty expensive!" And of course she giggled too and said, "Tell me about it!" apparently I have told her the same thing a few times!

On Saturday Kristin, Sami, and I were invited to a Mary Kay party so we took Jozie with us and left Luke at home with Daddy. He must have had a good time because when I got home he was on the couch watching TV and he said, "Mom, I have to watch this truck racing now!" I guess I must have been in his way!

Later that afternoon we decided to go to Applebee's for supper because I had coupons for 2 free kids meals. Luke was pretty excited and asked (while we were in the car on the way there), "Mom, do they have that pasta and sauce? Because if they do than order me that, I've been waiting for a decent meal all day! Daddy didn't feed me anything!" I don't know how much he knows about "a decent meal" but he ate every bit of his pasta and french fries!

Luke lost his first tooth last week and I almost cried! My baby is getting too big and isn't my baby anymore! :( He was pretty excited about and put his $4.19 from the tooth fairy in an old sock in his drawer. He doesn't have a piggy bank so at least we have convinced him to save it somewhere! He does like to take it out and play with it though. As I a writing this he takes his sock out of his drawer and says, "I just want to see how much it is building to..."! Sounds like he has been talking to his Amma, the MetLife Investment Representative!

Jozie lost her 4th tooth today. She has been nursing it along here for about a month and a half and finally today she convinced Amma to tie a string around it and slam the door to get it out. The first attempt was unsuccessful, the string was too long, so the wrapped it around a few more times and tried again and out it popped. They had to search for it on the floor but a few minutes later Jozie came down and showed me that it is gone. None too soon either, you can already see her new tooth coming in! She says she keeps forgetting that it's gone and tries to wiggle it every so often!

Aikido Lessons

Some of these are a little blurry because of the low lighting and we didn't want to use the flash during their class.

Here are my Aikido kids! :)

A rare moment for Jozie, I think she is actually paying attention!

Jozie and Sam (the oldest boy in their class) about to practice their newest "moves".

Luke taking some instruction from Sam. When it's time to get partners, Luke is always the first one at Sam's side! They are quite cute when they practice together.

Warm-up exercises with Sensei.

Crazy Hair Day

The pictures say it all...

Potawomi & Fur Traders Field Trip at Baily Homestead and Chalburg Farm

Luke in the woods, I love this picture, I wish it wouldn't have turned out blurry!

Jozie and her friend, Gabby, they were holding hands almost all day on this field trip!

Some of our homeschool group that came to the Bailey Homestead field trip with Ranger JP.

My terrified children trying to pet the sheep that they just fed. They thought the sheep would bite them!

Belle with one of the horses on the farm. He came over for a scratch when we came to the fence.