Sea World

Ken took us to Sarasota, FL. with him for work. We were there for 10 days. The kids have always wanted to go to Sea World. Caroline is fascinated with Orca whales! She draws them, watches Free Willy 1-4, looks on-line and tries to find every book she can at the library. So when Ken found out that we were going to be 2 hours away from Orlando, he made some calls. We got 4 tickets FREE!! We decided not to tell the kids. They were very unhappy waking up at 6:00am and not knowing why! We told them we were going on an adventure! They quickly told us that we were the meanest parents EVER and could not stand that we would not tell them! That attitude quickly changed when we were getting off of the exit! God blessed us with a very small crowd...it was very hot though. We got in the Splash Zone at each show.

This is Tilikum. It is the whale that killed it's trainer. He is kept in the tank for underwater viewing. They said he is still loved and part of the family. This whale is huge!

Caroline had just spotted Tilikum in the tank! She was so excited!

This was from the show Believe. They had 6 whales performing. I was in awe at how these huge beautiful creatures have learned signs and are able to communicate with their trainers. You really could see and feel the bond they all have with each other!

Hello!!!

They were so excited!

As we were entering the stadium, all of the whales were swimming around. Caroline lost her breath when she first saw them. I think this is when she realized they are real! It was so special to see her reaction. As I watched the show I flashed forward to Caroline in a Orca colored wet suit!

This was the dolphin show.

Caroline has always asked me what a dolphin or whale feels like. She has a plastic whale that she plays. I always told her it probably feels like that when it is wet. Well, Sea World has an area that you can go and feed the dolphins. It cost $7.00 a person for your fish!
It is the first thing we did! They did feel like wet plastic! I will tell you, these were the fattest and happiest dolphins I have seen!

This is Caroline. You had to hold the fish down low or the birds would swoop down and get it! We were told to rub their chins and then give them the fish.

One happy dolphin.

Caroline is holding her wooden orca tail necklace against the glass. She would have crawled right in there if they would have let her!

Easter 2010

We went to Rachel's for an egg hunt and dinner on Easter. Mom bought all of the kids sombreros to wear while hunting. They left them on long enough for the picture!

Me and my hunny!

Caroline was the only child that I could get to pose for a picture!

The "4 Amigo's".

2010 Class Pictures

It has been so long since I have done this! It took me a while to remember how to upload my pictures! This is what my children look like now.....

God remembered you!

Kens grandmother, Martha Orr Hutcherson, who would be 101 years old on February 18th, passed away on Tues. January 5th. She has been ready to go home to the Lord for some years now.

Rest in peace Mot Mot! You were not forgotten!

Welcome 2010!!

Wow! What a month! Oh how we were tested. Ken started the month with knee surgery, again and bronchitis! Thankfully it was just some "clean up" work on the knee that was operated on last year. One week later his father passed away! Bob had been sick for many years, but this was still unexpected. After that our oven broke, and then our garage door broke! Those 2 things in total cost us 400.00 extra dollars right at Christmas time! After I had my nervous breakdown (twice!) I knew that God would provide the peace I was needing. So, I picked up my head and took a deep breath. Next thing I knew, Caroline had bronchitis and the beginning stages of walking pneumonia!! Praise the Lord for the "Z Pack". It was gone in no time!
When we were at our Sunday School Christmas party, I was talking to a friend and said "God is testing us!" She replied "The devil tests us, not God. He wants to see how much faith we have in Him." I thought about that, and was reminded of Job. Now, my troubles were not nearly as devastating as his, but at that time, they felt like it. We were so desperately looking for Christmas and trying to find the joy that comes with it, that we had to stop and remind ourselves, that just because the decorations are up and the month of December is here does not mean that "life" stops. Trials and testing come at the times you are most vulnerable. Christmas is in our hearts, not the warm fire, the decorations, the tree or the presents. Just because the calendar says December does not mean your life will be "untouchable" for the month. What it does mean is that Jesus walks with you through EVERY trial and test. That because of Christmas we have a Savior that never leaves. I told Ken, we will be blessed after all of this I know it. He quickly corrected me..."We are already blessed because He has been with us through it all." We do not get a "prize" at the end of every trial we go through. We have The Prize all of the time! What a comfort! .....It is amazing what God will use to change your whole perspective! I have been looking inward for a while now. God has changed my focus through all of this. I have a peace that I have been missing.

"But your heavenly Father knows perfectly well that you need them, and He will give them to you if you give Him first place in your life and live as He wants you to." Matt. 6:32

"So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time." Matt. 6:34

Christmas at Disney!

This was our first time to be at Disney when the Christmas decorations were up! The whole castle was covered in icicle lights! It was so beautiful! There was Christmas music playing everywhere and they even had snow on Main Street in the evening...it really put us in the spirit!

Only 36 days!!!!???? This was the first time for Jake and Noah! They had a blast! There is no better time at Disney then your children's first time!

This whole street in Hollywood Studio's was covered in lights. They also had snow blowing down on the street!

This is a life size gingerbread house! It smelled just as good as it looked!

Halloween Party!

We had a small but very fun Halloween party at our house this year!

Tony, Greg and Ken

Me, Rachel and Paula