Updates

Corban did something very exciting tonight. He pee-peed in the potty for the very first time! He was so excited; he ran around the house (still naked) telling everyone about it. Here is a typical picture of him. He has found new independence in the kitchen. He can climb up onto the counter in an instant, usually to snag a piece of gum. Today I found him eating a muffin and digging into the soup I had just warmed.




Carson had some exciting visitors yesterday...his Wish Granters! Carson gets his biggest wish granted by the wonderful Make-A-Wish organization. Steph and Moses came by with balloons and gifts and talked to Carson about his wish. It looks like we will be headed to Disney World in the fall.






Caden is loving Kung Fu. At the mall yesterday afternoon...we were in Target and the boys were trying on high hills while we waited for Daddy to get out of his movie...we had a talent scout come up to us from a local talent agency. We were invited to a screening this weekend. Caden was star-struck and ready to be in the movies. But after a day to think about it, he decided that he would rather be a black-belt Kung Fu Master.

Family

Point Loma

Last week, we went to Point Loma to see and tour the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. It was beautiful there. We went to the visitors center, toured the lighthouse, and then went down to the tidepools. In the picture of the boys and me, you can see the lighthouse way up above us to the right.

the Beach....again!

another Kung Fu Kid

Preview #2 - Mission Trails Church

This is what my house looked like all day on Saturday while Joey and the interns worked to finish up all the last minute details for our second preview service. Sunday was a huge success. We had around 100 people from our community, that is 20 more than last month. We also had a mission group from Texas here to help and a group of college guys from OU. We had a wonderfully diverse group of people at the service. All age groups were represented, as well as many different ethnic groups. All of the hard work was well worth it. It is always amazing to see how God brings everything together. Here are some pictures from the service.

Go Padres!

After church Sunday morning, we rushed to change clothes and head to the Padres game. It was Super Kids Day, and Carson won tickets to the game in an essay contest. Carson loved to sit and watch the game; he didn't want to leave his seat. Caden wanted to walk around and buy stuff the whole time. We enjoyed watching the Padres play, even though they lost.

Another of our amazing interns kept Corban for us while we were at the game. He has now been promoted to the title of Uncle Steven! When we walked in the door after the game, this is what we saw in the middle of the living room floor. Corban was wiped out!

Snorkeling again

We made another snorkeling trip today. The boys even went out this time. They both were amazed to see the fish swimming right around them. John, Diane, their son Andy, and Amazing Intern Ashley also went with us. Ashley was able to get Corban to play in the water for the first time. And all the boys loved playing with Andy. Diane coaxed Caden into the water for his first look around. We had another great San Diego Day.

Kung Fu

Caden had his first Kung Fu class today. Here is a pic of him in his uniform. In class today they were learning to fight with sticks (I'm sure it has a more official name than that... Caden just told me it was the Chong Bong form movements). He loved it! There were a lot of kids his age in his class. The head instructor is a christian man who incorporates scripture and value training into his teaching.

Big Harvest

Here is a picture of what we got out of our garden today. Super-sized zucchini, tomatoes, green beans, and our first cantaloupe.

Panic

Today we tried something new. We went to La Jolla Cove to go snorkeling. I was feeling pretty good about it; I thought this was one water activity that I could handle. You see, I don't like the water. Something about being cold and wet with water in my eyes and going up my nose.....I'd rather stay on the beach. But 15 years ago I swam around in a swimming pool with goggles and a snorkel, and I loved it. Plus, Joey bought me my very own very cute full wetsuit. Anything seems better when you get new clothes out of the deal (does a wetsuit count as clothes??). We get to the Cove, and it is beautiful. If you have never been, put it on your 'places to go' list. It is one of our new favorites here in San Diego.

So, we get our little camp settled on the beach, the boys are climbing on the rocks and finding all kinds of critters in the tide pools, and Joey takes off. He comes back telling me about all of the fish he saw just 20-30 yards from the beach. Now it's my turn. I get in the water with little trouble, but when I put the mask and snorkel on and began to consider putting my face in that water, I had a full on panic attack. I have never experienced any thing like it in my life. I was hyperventilating, my heart was racing, and (as my boys would say) I was scared out of my shorts. Somehow Joey managed to get me back out there. The first time I put my face in the water I was telling myself over and over "just find a fish, just find a fish, just find a fish". Somehow I thought that if I saw a fish then it would all be over and I could get back to the dry land. I did see a fish, and I did actually stay out a little longer. It was fun, but every time I took my face out of the water and then had to put it back in I would have a slight moment of freaking out. I did see some big bright orange fish, a huge speckled one, and some see-through purple ones, as well as the biggest ten-foot tall seaweed ever.

The boys at the Cove before heading down to the beach.

Swimming Pool

We have a swimming pool! We had been talking about getting a small one for several weeks. Last weekend, we decided to try to locate one. You see, our back yard is small...miniscule actually. There is not even grass, just cement and gravel. So, the only pool that would fit was the 10 ft. diameter one, and the only place that had them was Big Lots. On Friday I called several stores and they were all sold out. On Saturday, Caden was bummed. Joey and I told him that if he made the phone calls and located the pool, we would go get it. After many calls, he was at the end of the list, #11. I told Caden that this was the last store; if they didn't have one, we wouldn't be getting a pool. His response: "Mom, we gotta pray." After both he and Carson prayed, Caden made the final call, and the store didn't just have one pool...they had FIVE. Caden and I jumped in the truck and took off. After getting lost twice, driving for an hour (it should have taken 20 minutes), paying $4 on a toll road I wasn't even supposed to be on, and a minor fender bender in the parking lot (it wasn't my fault), we got the next to last swimming pool!! Praise God for the small things! Pictured with the boys is Marty, one of our wonderful interns who babysat the boys Sunday night. In the picture, Marty is the surfboard.

First Race

Joey and Caden left the house this morning at 6:15 to head to Caden's first Bike Race. He was very excited and couldn't wait for the day to get here. The ride was twelve miles long....the first part was uphill, and he didn't stop even once. Joey rode with him. Here are some pictures of Joey and Caden riding and of Carson and Corban waiting for Daddy and Bubba to pass by. Caden is looking forward to his next race, and Carson says he wants to ride too.

Independance Day

Here are my three firecrackers! They are sporting the "Fourth of July shirts" they made yesterday when we spent some time learning about our country's freedom. As you celebrate today, spend some time thanking God for giving His wisdom to the men who took the courageous step the declare our country's independence. Here is a short excerpt of the powerful words contained in the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.