Meet our new pets!

The smallest feline is a masterpiece. 

-Leonardo DaVinci

We were supposed to go camping this weekend. 

There is an RV park just north of us that we have really been wanting to check out. Byron took a day off and we were going to go out, BUT the weather did not cooperate. All week long there were storms and rain and even ice. Not good camping weather. So we stayed home. 

Instead of camping we got some cats. 

We have been talking about getting a cat. Since moving to our new home last year, we have been talking about it. Especially because mice seem to love this wooded area with a creek running through it. Because mice love the area, snakes love the area, too. We have been told that cats can help with that. 

So we went to PetSmart (ours hosts a few spots for cats from the ASPCA). There were two adorable cats there, but we were really hoping for a Maine Coon. So we headed to the Animal Shelter. They had some cute cats, too, but no Maine Coons. We really liked the first two we saw, so we headed back to PetSmart, talking on the way about which of the two we should bring home. 

When we got to PetSmart, it was apparent that the boys had a favorite and the girls had a favorite, and there wasn't going to be an easy way to decide. So, Byron said we would take them both. 

Presenting our two new babies, Toby and Jasper.

Toby is a 5 month old tabby cat. He is playful and sweet. He loves to be held and loves attention. 

Jasper is a beautiful lavender point Siamese cat with baby blue eyes. He is 10 month old. He is sweet, too. He likes to be pet - on his own terms. He would rather not be held and is a little skiddish. 

As I mentioned, we got them as mousers and expected them to both be outside cats. Jasper seems to love being outside and having the freedom. When we got home with Toby, we found out that he has been declawed (we asked before we brought him home and were told that he had claws). We have decided to keep him inside at least for awhile since he doesn't have front claws. Gabe, Selah and I all have cat allergies, so we will see how it goes. 

We have introduced them to Baylor. They haven't bonded well yet, to say the least. Jasper runs and hides and Toby hisses and arches his back.  I'm sure it won't take too long, though, before they are friends. 

They have been fun to watch and play with. The kids are in love with both cats. 

Sometimes cats are more fun than camping. 

Celebrating the Year of the Dog

We had a FUN time celebrating Chinese New Year with friends. 

We are so blessed to have some friends who have helped us to celebrate Faith's culture well for the past few years by inviting us over for Chinese New Year and by showing us around our local Asian grocery store. 

This year, my friend's mom and dad were here visiting from China and helped prepare a traditional Chinese dinner. They helped the kids make dumplings, too. 

Faith's dumpling skins turned out perfectly flat and round every time! She is a natural! 

They were delicious! One of them had a red m&m in it for luck. Gabe found the chocolate! 

My friend's dad was a chef - so we were spoiled with a lovely and very tasty dinner all made by hand! 

There were gifts for each child and red envelopes with money, too! 

Brandon read a few stories about Chinese New Year and we did a paper cutting craft. 

We even watched the Chinese New Year special - well, parts of the 5 and a half hour show including some Chinese Opera. 

We left the celebration with full bellies and happy hearts, ready for the year of the dog. 

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year 2018!

Happy Chinese New Year from our little Faith! 

Happy Valentine's Day 2018

Nothing can separate us from 

the love of God.

 Romans 8:39

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Grand Prix 2018

One of our favorite AWANA activities is the Grand Prix! 

We buy our car kits in November and start working on them mid-January. 

Our church sets up a workshop and makes wood working tools available to cut, shape and sand the cars. The kids all bring their designs with them to the workshop.

Daddy does a lot of the cutting - thankfully. 

This year we surprised PopPop with a car that the kids and I designed just for him. 

The next step is to paint and decorate the cars. 

They check the cars in the week before the race. They have to weigh no more than 5 ounces and meet other race criteria. 

Mig made a Minecraft Creeper and Faith made a rainbow car. 

Selah's is the watermelon. 

Byron's car is the red one, PopPop's is behind Byron's - the green with pin stripes, and Gabes is next to the red car. He modpodged the lyrics and music to the Cubby's theme song on his because he leads the Cubby's during their music time and plays the theme each week on his keyboard. 

They line up with their cars and watch as they race down a track. 

Faith won 1st place in the Sparks group for craftsmanship. 

Selah won 3rd place AWANA theme for the T and T group (her car had the fruit of the spirits listed on top).

PopPop won 3rd place speed for the Trek, Journey and Adult group! 

Byron's car won 1st place speed for his group. He had a class that morning, so Faith accepted his award. 

PopPop also won 1st place Craftsmanship! 

Gabe won 1st place AWANA Theme! 

We all had FUN!

Here is a video of the race. Enjoy!