Welcome Home Dad!

After a year and a half of being away, Dad has finally finished all of his overseas duties, and has returned home.
He was scheduled to fly in yesterday, at 11:00 but called us that evening and said that due to plane problems his flight was canceled.

We were all pretty disappointed especially mom, but he called this morning at 5:00 and said that he had landed in the States, and would be landing at the Sea-Tac, airport around 11:15.
We thought that mom would be the only one going to pick him up since Daniel was at work and couldn't take the rest of us, but we called him and Brian graciously let him go.

When we walked into the airport we were reading the arrivals sign and trying to figure out where he would be and which baggage claim we should go to, then as we turned around we saw someone that looked like him coming up behind us, and Sill started running towards him then looked again and said "that's not him" it was, he just looked a little different with a mustache!
Mom hadn't arrived yet so he went to change back into his uniform before she got there, then we all had a joyous reunion.

After walking mom and dad to their car we loaded up in the van and came home.
They will be staying in a Hotel for the next 2 days before returning home.

Thank you all for your prayers and support, we appreciate all of your care and love.
May the Lord bless you all for being faithful friends.


(Mom and Dad have the camera so I can't upload the pictures till they get home:)

Boy's Birthday Celebrations

Why God Made Little Boys

"God made a world out of his dreams.

Of magic mountains, oceans, and streams,

Prairies and plains and wooded land.

Then paused and thought"I need someone to stand,

On top of the mountains, to conquer the seas,

Explore the plains, and climb the trees.

Someone to start out small and grow,

Sturdy and strong like a tree" and so

He created boys, full of spirit and fun.

To explore, and conquer, to romp and run,

With dirty faces and banged up chins.

With couragous hearts and boyish grins.

And when He had completed the task He'd begun,

He surely said "That's a job well done."~ Arthur Knight

Every Year after Thanksgiving, Isaacs Birthday marks the beginning of our celebrations of the boys birthdays.

November 23, we celebrated Isaac's 4th Birthday.
We made him Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast, and he talked to Dad on the phone while he opened one of his presents.
We asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday, and he said we should put up the Christmas Tree, so Stephen and the twins brought down all the decorations and we got everything ready for Christmas.
Later in the afternoon, Mom Sill and I, went shopping for his gifts and birthday movie, and after his nap he opened them.
Out of all the gifts he got, his favorite was the camouflage pajamas, and slippers.

He was so excited he said"this is what I've been waiting for my whole life, now I can match daddy"
Daniel Stephen and I stayed up till 10:00 putting together his Lego castle, and Isaac helped until he finally got so tired he fell asleep.

December 3rd, the week after Isaacs Birthday was Stephens 17th.

Thursday after breakfast, Mom took him shopping and out to dinner.

On Friday he opened up his presents, a few of his favorites were: Purple French Cuff shirt with Cuff Links, and Purple tie (yes my brothers believe in wearing purple), Orange Ski jacket, and gloves.

Daniel rented "The Last Samuri" one of Stephens favorite movies, and after the children went to bed we watched it, and had popcorn.

January 7th, was Kenneth Lees 8th Birthday, as it happened to be on a Monday nights we had Symphony Practice.

While we practiced Daniel took him to the warehouse (our filming location for next week) and after we finished we took him to Dairy Queen, and got him a Blizzard.

Tuesday after breakfast he opened presents, his favorites were a Lego castle, and a BB gun.

Later in the afternoon, mom took him shopping and to "The Keg" his favorite steakhouse.

While they were gone we decided that we needed a little fun too, and had a tea party.

I made Salad, Chicken filled cream puffs, and Puff pastry, and Priscilla made Chocolate Pudding.

After eating we watched 1/2 an hour of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice, then finished the evening with a few english country dances.

The next morning we woke up to snow so Stephen got out everyones snow clothes, and I took them outside to make snow forts and have snowball fights.

I'll post pictures later.

New Years Celebrations

When the Bryans were leaving our house after Christmas, they invited us to come to their house on Sunday, so after church we followed them home.
Leanne gave us a tour of the house, then we talked for a while in her room before the boys came and asked us to play games with them.
After our 2nd round it was time to help get dinner ready, Mrs. Bryan made Chicken Catchetorie, and Leanne made salad.
After Dinner and dishes, we watched a short movie and had ice-cream, then we talked for a while longer before it was time to go.
Priscilla and Leanne thought that it was New Years Eve, so 9:00 seemed early, then they went and looked at the calendar and saw that they were a day off.



New Years Eve mom called and invited the Pollocks over, thankfully Pastor was feeling well enough so that they were able to come.
They brought Chicken, Potatoes, and apple crisp, and I made Rolls, Roast, greenbeans, carrots, and broccoli salad.
Sarah and I had fun grilling the chicken on the porch, even though it was freezing cold out there.
Daniel thought we wouldn't have enough propane to grill it all, so he and half of the boys piled into the truck, and headed off to town to get the other propane tank filled.
We were finishing the last pieces just as they got back, but they had a fun trip anyway.
After dinner, and cleanup, the children played restaraunt, while the rest of us played Dutch Blitz.
Abigail and Esther were the youngest on a team but age has no limits around here, and they were the first to reach 100 points, winning the whole round.



After that we sang hymns for a while, then had dessert, and hot cocoa.
Even though the parents had planned on leaving at a decent hour, they stayed till 11:30, and we decided that it was already the New Year in half of the States so it would be fine if they left a little before midnight.
After they left we put the Children to bed then waited up a little while longer and after the clock rang, we all went to bed.























This morning we had of course, Waffles and Strawberries, and almost everyone wore their new OU (Oklahoma University Football) shirts that Grandma had gotten.
Every year she sends the boys one, but this year she went to every store in Oklahoma City, and got us all one, so we wore them to honor all her efforts.




















Have a blessed, and a wonderful New Year!