January Party part 2

Audrey and Natalie playing with the dollhouse.


It was hard to get two little girls to sit still for a picture.

January Party

We had a party at our house this past weekend. Mark, Leslies, Natalie, David and Susan were all here. We had a fun time staying up way too late playing games on Saturday. We recommend "Apples to Apples" and "Ruckus."

Quotes from the evening:

- At least I still have my fish man.
- Underwear is promiscuous.
- Not a sharp right corner band turn.

If you can think of any more fun quotes, leave a comment!!! :)


Audrey and Uncle David reading a book about cows.


Susan and Mindy sharing a moment.

Winter Wonderland

Well, it's official... even got out the ruler to check. We have 8" of snow!!!!


Audrey got the hang of yelling "Wheeee!!!" as she slid down the "mountain."

Audrey's new sounds

In the past several days Audrey has started saying some new words/sounds:

Ac-ky (when she gets into something yucky - she'll repeat it back to mommy)

Au-dy (she's starting to say her name?)

Joo-Joo (her "Choo Choo" is getting better and more advanced)

Pup-py (her word for dog, cat, or anything furry that's smaller than she is)

No (yes, she knows what this means)

Daddy/Mommy (yes, us!)

Uh, uh, uh (this along with a pointing finger means anything and everything else)

Uh-oh (for anything deserving of an uh-oh)

Aaaaaaaah!! (her word for "moo")

First Snow of 2007, Part 2

She likes the feel of her brand new snowpants...


Mom and Audrey sharing a moment. :)
(Although Audrey is rather dazed with the sparking crystals floating by)

First Snow of 2007, Part 1

Audrey playing in the snow for the first time in 2007...


...and she loved riding on her "Kiddie Boggan."

We're so happy to have snow!

Favorable Weather

Finally we are getting nice weather. It's been a generally mild winter, but finally...snow! As I was driving this morning I saw nice big snowflakes falling all around me. Finally Audrey can put her snow pants and boots to good use. Today's high is 19°, so it shouldn't be melting any time soon. Mindy says the snow is "really pretty."

Current Conditions:

Snow

7 °F / -14 °C

Windchill:
-8 °F / -22 °C

Movie Review: Barnyard

Barnyard is a kids movie, for sure, but Mindy and I were not impressed. There were so many cute storylines that Barnyard could have used, but they didn't. This movie definitely encourages drinking: Though alcohol is never mentioned as they drink "milk," the definite "bar atmosphere" is prevalent. The barn might as well have been the "bar"-- it was a dance hall/night club/bar different times in the film. Rock music, rap, hip-hiop, dancing, body surfing, and the gangster mentality are all encouraged. Very surprising for a PG movie. We like farm life, for sure, but when the farmer in this movie was gone, the animals didn't sing folk songs or country music...as I would have assumed, I would have thought they were in downtown Jersey (also a reference in the movie).

Sure there were cute parts, but we won't be watching this again. We cringed several times and we had never felt more uncomfortable watching an animated film.

Movie Rating: PG

Studio: Nickelodean Movies

Aaron & Mindy's Rating: TWO THUMBS DOWN.

New Year's Resolutions

This year I have "resolved" to read the Bible through. I'm right on pace so far... I've made this resolution in years past, but have failed to follow through with it. Mindy has resolved to read through the Bible this year, as well.

She's doing the beginning to end plan, and I'm doing a blended reading plan.

I'm also reading this year with the ESV (English Standard Version). I'm beginning to like that version, though usually I prefer the NKJV.

Rick Warren OVER the Bible?

Whoa. In a press release dated last Saturday, some christian congressmen are requesting to be "sworn in" not with the Bible, but the best-seller "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. Traditionally, Congressmen would be sworn in on the Bible, but there is now the problem with accepting the Koran.

A pastor quoted in the article said he thinks this is a good starting point and that he hopes eventually "they'll use all kinds of cool stuff -- worship song lyrics, children's sermons, Dallas Holm albums --since these all seem the center of the modern church, where it's whatever's meaningful to me."

Why are OTHER books/etc. becoming more "meaningful" to us than the Bible? Let's never let God's Word lose its importance in our lives.

One other quote worth noting: Colorado Congressman John T. MacGruder said, "We were asked to use the most meaningful text in our life, and, as far as I can see, my church preaches more from Rick Warren than the Bible, except at Christmas and Easter."

I think it's important to attend a church that emphasizes God's Word more than books ABOUT God's Word. Don't you agree?

THROUGH the chair

Audrey must have been bored with simply walking around or sitting in her chair - she thought she'd try going THROUGH it! She made it, but with a lot of work.