Lost/Found

I was browsing through my posts and found this scrapbook page that was saved as a draft but never posted. I guess this is better late than never. Easter was only a month ago, could be worse.

Maybe I should start my Christmas Cards now so I may have a shot at getting them out on time...

Thanksgiving 2009

click photo to enlarge

Sheesh! It took me a whole week to get these pictures posted. But there is a reason...
My Nana, my mom's mom, has been in the hospital since November 23rd with a really bad case of pneumonia. On Friday, she was moved to CV ICU and had surgery on her lungs to remove a bunch of fluid that was turning to "gel". Nana, barely survived surgery and is literally hanging on for dear life. Please pray for my Nana.

Welcome Mason Douglas

The girls and I had the privilege of meeting the newest member of our family Monday night. Our brother-in-law Brad and his wife Jen added sweet baby Mason to their brood Tuesday, October 27th. Mason is adored by his brothers and sisters and certainly a big hit with Abby and Bree too. He is just a little bit of heaven and I'm so glad he's here! Thank you Jen for allowing us to stay a while and soak in all his sweetness.
Life is good!

The Griswold “Will-amini” Family Vacation Day 1

September 20, 2009
Our sidekicks Eric, Jen, Ethan & JJ were crazy enough to go on vacation with us...or did we go with them?...We went with them to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. Still, they're crazy enough to let us join them. We had a great time, as always.
On our first day of vacation we visited Balboa Park because we, Chinobillies, are oohhhh soooo cultural. Seriously though it is always on our must see list every time we visit San Diego. The park’s beauty certainly attracts us and there are so many things to do that won’t cost you an arm and a leg either!

Eric and Matt admiring the architecture.


Matt & the girls checking out the Koi pond in front of the Botanical Building (always beautiful and free too!)

My sweet girls in the Botanical Garden.

This little cutie is J.J. He's so sweet I could just eat him up!

Lovebirds?

Everyone’s favorite this time around was the Model Railroad Museum.


It features the world’s largest model railroad museum.

And features four layouts

which depict railroads of the Southwest.

Most of my photos from this day are really grainy due to horrible lighting in the museums. I'm pretty sure it is a conspiracy to ensure no one makes it out of their with decent photos. Don't worry I have my people checking into it...as soon as I get some people...oh never mind.



Bree and Abby holding hands over the wind machine that is making the beach ball float in the air. They loved it! My personal favorite is the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. We watched "BUGS" in the dome shaped IMAX Theater and experimented with hundreds of hands on type science exhibits. We also visited the Automotive Museum where we saw Louie Mattar’s Fabulous $75,000.00 car. Unfortunately I have no photos of this museum because I was, well, I was just plain lazy.


So there you have it folks.

Highlights from Day 1 of San Diego Vacation 2009 (Williams and Bergamini Families)

Let the children...Do chores!

I was raised by…homebodies…you thought I was gonna say wolves didn’t you? Well that is a whole ‘nother blog post folks once I block my mom from reading my blog. I kid…I kid…I wasn’t raised by wolves but by well meaning, over protective, loving parents...in the middle of nowhere. So naturally I tend to be a bit of a homebody too. Around our house, we’re here most of the day, most of the week, most of the year, and if I don’t really stay on top of things, this chinobilly house can quickly spiral downward into a pit of baby doll clothes, craft projects, empty Capri Sun containers, filth, and squalor. Oh and laundry I can’t forget laundry.


Now that Abby and Bree are old enough Matt and I decided they are perfectly capable of pulling their own weight around here. Actually we were just trying to come up with a solution to better manage those oh so lovely whining sessions while teaching a few character traits as well. My genius husband (see this post) came up with this idea and we all love it. Let me explain the concept.

Each child has a jar (we let them make their own)

Each child earns a ticket for good behavior or completing a chore, washing one’s hands after going to the potty, etc. Each child looses a ticket for whining, being asked several times to do something, fighting with one another, etc.

Mommy has a rewards basket filled with goodies from the dollar bins at various stores. Each reward has a value placed on it. Inside the basket are items ranging from pieces of gum to chocolate-covered granola bars to gummy bears to small bath toys to a set of sidewalk chalks to books to craft kits to princess figurines…all the way up to really sweet items, like a Dr Seuss DVD to the amazing voice magnifying soop-a-staaah -microphones to wind up fishing games. Everything is priced appropriately and remains in the box until someone buys it…or I eat it, which has been known to happen.

Each child has the choice of saving up the tickets or “cashing” them in for rewards (whenever mommy remembers usually once or twice a week).

What I love about it is, it’s totally flexible and can be used in different ways to achieve the objective you want. It also teaches the little hooligans valuable lessons about contributing to the machine of a household, the benefits of being a kind, caring, civilized human being, as well as the value of saving (vs. spending) money.

I think it has helped them to see that when everyone chips in, the house is a much more hospitable and harmonious place. Plus, it eliminates the mommy nagging All. Day. Long. AND it doesn’t take long for one of the kids to watch their sib buy things at the reward basket before they get with the program.

The idea is, each week when the reward basket is open, the kids have to decide whether they want to blow whatever tickets they’ve earned that week…or save it and let it accumulate over a period of weeks in order to buy one of the nicer items in the box. It’s always fun watching the minds of my three year olds churn each week as they internally evaluate whether to give in to the immediate temptation of the candy and gum, or save their shekels for something better.

We’ve been using this system for over a month now and I think the system is working beautifully. Or maybe I just have really great kids. Well, yeah, I do have really great kids. Now I have really great kids that pull their own stinkin’ weight around here. Just kidding. I love my kids very much and I’m quite proud of them.

Princess Party For The Birthday Girls

We hosted a princess party for the twins over the weekend. What fun we had! The girls invited six of their friends over for games and crafts and food and cake and fun! Abby was tickled pink that her daddy got to be there (Abby thinks daddy's don't get to go to parties) and Bree was tickled pink because...well...she got to wear pink.
I am truly blessed not only with amazing daughters but I have amazing friends too. Thank you all so much for spending time with us!
Enjoy...

Materials: Adobe PSE7, The Story of the Day Layered Template Set, Celebrations Journal Blocks, Everyday Brushes, Remember Brushes by Ali Edwards, Little Princess Kit by SMJDesigns and Ali Edwards Font.

Now I'm off to work on Ladies Bible Study, thank you notes, upload my photography assignment and catch up on lessons, make a recipe card for a blog post and I'm behind in changing my blog background. Thank goodness for naptime and the chorse being caught up for today. I get to play.

You might be a chinobilly...

If yur buckit

kin hold more of yur yungins

thyn yur pool

ya might be a chinobilly.

Thanks for the laughs, Korell family! We're taking up a collection down at the Alco to get you all a bigger pool or smaller kids, whichever's cheaper!

Daddy's Girls

My family is the most important thing in the world to me. Since I was a little girl I had wanted to be a mom, and I am so grateful to have married someone who is just as passionate about being a good father to our children. This layout shows a "normal" evening at the chinobilly house but also a precious, tender moment that I am grateful has been captured forever. What a sweet thing it is to see my husband so lovingly holding my baby girls knowing that he will love them protect them and do anything in the world for them. There really is nothing in the world like a daddy's love for his little girls.

Easter

Easter Day was also a great day spent with just a few of our loved ones. The kids got up early as usual so they were hopped up on sugar before 8:00 AM (get it? hopped up? ha!). They were so excited to get dressed up in thier pretty Easter dresses so that part was easy for once. Their Grammy, my mom, joined us for church so we got to snap a few photos of the kids with my mom. Didn't they turn out cute? After our mini photo shoot we went to Matt's parents church then came home to fix our part of the Easter potluck and to change out of our Easter outfits. Then we hurried off to Mema and Papas house for the rest of the day. We had a blast playing with the kids on the new swingset and sandpile. The lunch was outstanding as usual and I always eat too much. After lunch Mema shared the Easter story with the grandkids using the Resurrection Egg set (if you don't have a set I highly recommend it...even our two year olds love it). Then we did the big Easter Egg hunt and scavenger hunt. We didn't get home until after 8:00. The kids were so exhausted we just put 'em to bed dirt and all. It was a wonderful weekend!

Eggs-iting Time

LastFriday night we hosted an egg decorating party at our house. I've not had so much fun decorating eggs in a long time. We had four "stations" of egg dye at the table and a "creative station" at the kids table. There was a contest held at the end of the evening so each person entered their favorite or most creative egg. By this time I was so busy that I forgot to take pictures of the entries. This family is so stinkin' creative let me tell ya! I'm thinking this might become an annual thing but don't hold me to it.

Here's to family

Over the weekend were got to visit with my Uncle David and Aunt Helen who are visiting from snowy Colorado. It was such a blessing to have family over for lunch. I love being with my family and of course eating. I really love eating. I know you all really like pictures…so do I…but Aunt Helen does NOT. Nope, no way! So even though I got to snap some super cute pictures of them with the kids I have promised not to post them to the blog. It’s killing me...just killing me! However, she is a computer genius and she threatened to do very, very, VERY bad things to my computer, my dear old computer, my window to the outside world, if I shared the goods. So maybe a recipe will appease my blog audience of 3 or 4. It’s a favorite of mine and it’s a breeze to make. Oh did I mention it is just about my all time favorite dessert? Next to peach pie anyway. Just ask my friend Sooze.

Enjoy and goodbye.

Uncle "Gosh"

My dad got to come home from the hospital today. What a relief it is to know he is on the road to recovery albeit a very long road to recovery. Please continue to pray for his healing and for his new walk with the Lord. And pray for my mom as well.

The girls with their Uncle "Gosh"

Josh and me

Josh and my mom

And we can't forget Buster.

Rejoice Rejoice

Well it’s been eight days since I received the call every daddy’s girl dreads. The call that her dad had a massive heart attack and no one knows if he is going to survive. Praise God daddy did survive and will likely be home by the end of the week. We’ve had a prayer chain a mile long praying for him…both for his health and for his salvation. Well, the Lord heard our prayers and he answered them too! The most exciting thing thus far is my father has accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior tonight. This is so exciting for me! I am in tears as I write this note to all of you. My dad will not be left behind ~ he has accepted Christ and he’s forgiven. Thank you Lord for allowing me to see the day that both of my parents are now believers. I pray you all too will know that there is hope for your loved ones you are praying for and waiting for them to receive Christ.
I want to this document with all of you because I think it might be helpful to remember these things. I was given this sheet in a new believers class I took 15 years ago. I love to pull it out and meditate on these verses every once in a while. Tonight sounds like a good night to do so.

In Christ I Am
Accepted, Secure, Significant
I Am Accepted

I am a child of God: John 1:12

I am Jesus' chosen friend: John 15:15

I am holy and acceptable to God (justified): Romans 5:1

I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him: 1 Corinthian 3:16

I have been bought with a price. I belong to God: 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
I am a part of Christ's Body, part of His family: 1 Corinthians 12:27

I am a saint, a holy one: Ephesians 1:1
I have been adopted as Christ's child: Ephesians 1:5

I have been bought back (redeemed) and forgiven of all my sins: Colossians 1:14
I am complete in Christ: Colossians 2:10

I Am Secure

I am free forever from punishment: Romans 8:1,2

I am sure all things work together for good: Romans 8:28
I am free from any condemning charges against me: Romans 8:31

I cannot be separated from the love of God: Romans 8:35

I am hidden with Christ in God: Colossians 3:3

I am sure that the good work God has started in me will be finished: Philippians 1:6

I am a citizen of heaven with the rest of God's family: Ephesians 2:19

I can find grace and mercy in times of need: Hebrews 4:16

I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me: 1 John 5:18

I Am Significant

I am salt and light for everyone around me: Matthew 5:13,14

I'm a part of the true vine, joined to Christ & able to produce much fruit: John 15:1,5

I am hand-picked by Jesus to bear fruit: John 15:16

I am a Spirit-empowered witness of Christ: Acts 1:8

I am a temple where the Holy Spirit lives: 1 Corinthians 3:16 1 Corinthians 6:19

I am a peace with God and He has given me the work of making peace between Himself and other people: 2 Corinthians 5:

I am God's co-worker: 2 Corinthians 6:1

I am seated with Christ in heaven: Ephesians 2:6

I am God's building project, His handiwork, created to do His work: Ephesians 2:10

I am able to do all things through Christ who give me strength: Philippians 4:13

Rejoicing in Him!
Jenn

Girl meets Boy

OK- so first of all just ignore the fact that the following photos are glaringly awful and blurry. The lighting in the pseudo-banquet-room-turned-dance-hall was poor at best. It is certainly NOT the photographer’s fault!

Here is how the whole scene played out. The girls had found a pretty moth on a tree at the hotel and they would “check on it” every time they went outside. During one of their “visits” to the moth they met a strapping young lad who apparently loved moths, flowers and rain puddles as much as they did. Let’s just say Abby & Bree had fallen madly in love – head-over heals with aforementioned strapping young lad. The three hit it off very well and it was nice to see them actually playing with others (they don’t get out much). When it came time for dinner we had to go our separate ways due to assigned seating at the banquet and yes the tears rolled but they got over it once chocolate pudding was mentioned.

Later that evening it was time for the family dance.

From across the room Aubrey locked eyes on Cooper, a.k.a. strapping young lad and literally ran to his side of the dance floor.

It was obvious though that Cooper was playing the field and really didn’t have time for Aubrey at the moment.

After a little cat and mouse action they shared some groovy moves and had the whole family oohing and aahing at the cuteness of it all.

Aubrey was hearing wedding bells I just know it. Unfortunately, Cooper is actually her third cousin she’d just met for the first time. She doesn’t know this yet and will probably be crushed to know they can’t grow up and get married and cut a rug together the rest of their lives.

On second thought, distant cousins got married all the time in Gone With the Wind. How bad can it be?

Daddy, Dirt & "Moos"

Matt and the girls had a blast playing on the dirt pile in our back yard. He was teaching them how to "squish" dirt clods and to throw rocks.

Such good students!

Then Abby & Bree took turns running down the hill and having daddy catch them just before they fell. He would swing them high in the air and they would scream in delight.

Then it was off to see the "moos" accross the street. There are two calves that the girls are dying to get their hands on but mean ol' daddy won't let them in the fence.