Kenny helping Lily...... 2 hours from home ......but we found more snow
Paul was a little reckless as he ramped over a log
worn out 
Hot chocolate after the first snow excursion
little Joe in his first snow
Joshua and Kenny in front of a mountain stream
Hope 
Kenny on the "search" for mountain snow
John is realizing there is enough for a ride
Joshua, Hope, and Kezzi
On Oak Hill. Up and down the worn path of our front yard.
Paul as more snow began to fall
Snow ball fightOkay, I know I went a little overboard in posting pictures. But hey! We havn't had the opportunity to sled down our oak hill for six years...
We woke up Saturday morning to the most snow we have had in 6 years. The kids went out without breakfast because we all knew it wouldn't last long. About noon it was just about green when Kenny decided "Let's go sled in the mountains!" Well it took us a while to find what we were looking for but by 9:00 at night we found a great spot. With headlights shining in the crevice of two mountains on the side of a winding road our older kids and their cousins had a great time. Kenny will do more and spend more time with them than I ever dreamed off.And thanks to Aunt Lisa keeping the little ones I was able to enjoy the beautiful ride.
As for other news- My mom and step dad arrived home after two weeks in Florida. We sure missed them. Paul and John have already started their spring sports. Paul is on a special team that will just play weekend tournaments. He had to go out and get sponsers yesterday for the expenses. He was able to get friends, family, and businesses in town to sponser him per foot in a "homerun derby". I was so proud of how he overcame his nervousness and fear. By the end of our outing he was walking into businesses asking for the owner! He raised all he needed to in just a few hours. Tonight he hit a 167 footer and he is all set. John is still the fastest and littlest guy on his team, but fast doesn't mean he will have good control of the soccer ball, so, we shall see. He was so excited about his first practice that he kept counting the days. Joshua is still improving on the guitar and taking an art class with his cousin Hope once a week. He will also start baseball in a few months.
We had a little scare with all of the California homeschool mess but it looks like Arnold is going to come through.Thank the Lord for our freedom. I just couldn't imagine giving birth to these incredible children and then someone forcing me to send them away all day to be indoctrinated.The way I see it is : to forbid us to homeschool would be worse than forbidding us to attend church because we have church almost every day of our homeschool. We have a more heart to heart time than we do at church when we are all talking, singing, reading, and praying together in our living room. We are much more able to know our own children this way. And the more we take the time and the more we seek then He is faithful to teach us. I look forward to watching the Lord continue to work in their hearts. God's ways are attractive and powerful especially when we parents can truly exhibit the joy in the journey. To often we fail but the children ultimately have to keep their eyes on Jesus Christ alone.
