Love The Lutherans!

Riley's school held it's annual Oktoberfest this past weekend.  What a great event and fundraiser for the church and school.  It was so weird for us to be at a church OR a school event where alcohol was served, but it made it lots more fun!  There were 4 bounce houses, numerous rides and games, German food and German beer as well as wine.  There was a Polka band playing music for most of the evening which was fun to listen to while we ate.  They also held raffles, silent and live auctions and ended the night with fireworks!  It was nice to be served some German food so far from home, but not nearly as good as Pennsylvania Dutch German food!  At least the Hefeweizen was top shelf!

Riley had so much fun playing with his schoolmates and Kendall made a few friends of her own.  I think she'll be disappointed if I don't send her to preschool at Grace!  Maybe when she's four...

Guess she could have used a booster, huh?  

At least she ate!  Yummy cookies for dessert too!

Riley and Kendall in the front car with 5 of

Riley's friends from school.

Both kids loved riding on the swings!

What a fun way for us to spend a Saturday evening with the family and some new friends!

Naptime Antics

So this week has been difficult around naptime.  Even on the days when Kendall goes from Little Gym to Dance class, she refused her nap and snoozed on the trip to pick up Riley from school instead.  I've tried it all this week and can't get the girl to sleep.  Andy was bragging how HE can get her to nap, so I told him he needs to come home for lunch every day and put her down then...You can guess how well that went over!  ;)

He didn't believe me when I said she's a mess at naptime so I decided to record her antics the other day.  I used my camera to record her off the video monitor so please forgive the quality.  When I showed this video to Kendall, she was excited and said "dat me!"  Great! (insert sarcastic tone)

Hopefully you will enjoy this more than I did!  On a side note, I am writing this post while she IS taking a nap - on a Saturday when I would prefer her NOT to nap so we can do things as a family!  UGH!

Kendall's Dance Class

Kendall absolutely LOVES her dance class! She asks about her class all week long and can't wait to wear her "dancing dress" to dance class! The past few weeks she has done a fantastic job and I am so filled with joy watching her participate and smile when she sees me watching her!

I know this video won't appeal to everyone who reads my blog, but for Nanny, Pappy, Grammy, aunts, uncles, and cousins here's a view of her in all her glory! Hope you get as much joy from watching her as I do!

Statement of Faith

I've been told by a certain favorite cousin, that it's been too long since my last post.  ;)  I've had a few posts written but never published them...This is one of them.  I have a hard time getting on my soapbox on Facebook about certain subjects like politics and religion.  I'm on Facebook for social reasons, not to express my agenda or views on things that can stress relationships.  Since this is my personal blog, I'm going to hop up on my soapbox for this post...Here we go:

I've been reading numerous emails from family and friends about the state of our nation and the road we're headed down with our current federal government. I have watched numerous videos and clips in regards to Islam and the Qur'an's instructions to it's believers.  Boy, was I foolish enough to believe that it's just the extremist Islamics who are the issue...but not according to what's written in the Qur'an.  This video below is incredibly startling as well as great motivation to get involved politically.  We as a country need to think critically about who we elect to public office.  Our country was founded on Judeo-Christian values and beliefs.  We have moved so far away from that.  The freedoms that we often take for granted may no longer remain freedoms if we are not careful as to who we put in these positions.  We spend money we don't have, become in debt to other countries while trying pretend that we are the wealthiest nation in the world.

If you have the time, you should view this video below.

Muslims are encouraged to deceive non-muslims!  Satan is so crafty and deceptive...I see it every day in my life here.  We all have our beliefs of what our faith is and that our belief is the RIGHT and ONLY way to believe.  That's what makes religion such a difficult topic in mixed company.  I have found that with each move, God draws me closer and closer to Him.  I've been asked by numerous neighbors what church we attend and what we believe.  It's funny because here in Utah, if you aren't Mormon, then you must be Catholic!  I don't think they know that there are any other types of churches.  Currently there are about 3 of us in my phase of the 'hood who do not attend the local ward on Sunday mornings.

To us, it's not about the denomination of church we attend that is so critical.  Heck, we are born and bred anabaptists who send their son to a Lutheran school!  (Now if you tell someone that out here, they'd say, "so?")  What is most important to us is our main beliefs as Christians.  We believe that God is a trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  God was not exalted to a God.  He is, was and always will be God.  There is only ONE God of the universe.  We believe that Jesus is the eternal, uncreated Son of God.  It is mentioned 128 times in the NT and 5 times in the OT.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again.  He stated 29 times in the Gospels that this would happen.  There were many details given about this event as well as many witnesses to it...makes it hard to deny who He is and was.

We also believe that the Bible is not corrupt nor has it been translated incorrectly.  We don't get to pick and choose what we like and don't like in the Bible.  The Bible is real and accurate.  Other religious books do not offer the same proof.  The Qu'ran, for example was only written by one author, during one lifetime.  The Bible has 40 authors over a 2000 year period of history.  The gospels written while witnesses were still alive to verify the accuracy of it.  Think of all the prophesies that were written in both the OT and the NT...Even science can't deny it's accuracy for many principles of modern science were recorded in the Bible before scientists could confirm them.

So I guess that as long as a church has those same fundamental truths, it doesn't matter to us if it's a Community church like we attend now and in did Albany, a Baptist church like in Jax or a Brethren In Christ church like back home...Each church has slightly different doctrines and ordinances but those differences aren't the heart of what we believe...

There is a great song on the radio right now by Chris Tomlin called "Our God."  In this song it says:

"Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is healer, Awesome in power, Our God!  Our God!"

"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against..."

How true...If our God is with us as He's promised to be, who could stand against Him?  I've come full circle from being frustrated about religion and politics (for some places the two are still very much one in the same).  If God's got my back, why am I so upset?  All I've got to do is pray and He'll take care of the rest, right?  He gives us trials so that we reach for Him.  I think our country is in the midst of one of those trials right now.  We need to stand up for ourselves and say enough of this "change!"  I never bought into the hype over the promised "change" and I'm not sure this was the "change" that so many had hoped for when they placed their vote.  I pray that a strong leader emerges in the near future...one that many of us who share the same views can get behind.

**Disclaimer:  I am sorry to any of you whom I've offended with my rant.  Keep in mind these are my feelings and opinions and this blog is a way for me to express myself as well as share what is going on with our family.  I don't apologize for my viewpoint, just if the way I went about it was offensive.

How We Spent Our Labor Day

Andy spent his flying to Wyoming once again.  Gillette has become his new home away from home.  It's unfortunate for him because there isn't much to do there, but at least he doesn't have to jump through hoops to get a beer!

So the kids and I decided that since Riley's been into a big time shark kick, we'd spend the morning at the aquarium.  We walked around and saw the jellies, sea horses, frogs, Nemo fish, Dory fish, monster fish (Kendall has given this name to all lion fish), penguins, anacondas, piranas, snakes, toads, sting rays and sharks.  We had to back track to see the sharks a second time before we left.  He enjoyed studying them and figuring out which ones were which.

He was also brave and petted the sting rays.  When we took him to Sea World when we lived in Jax, he was too scared to pet the rays, but a few years later, he's now a brave boy!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Football season is well underway and I couldn't be more excited for this weekend's matchup between the Nittany Lions of Penn State and the Crimson Tide of Alabama.  The video below is from 2008 but it explains a lot about why people continue to love the Lions!

There are a lot of doubters this year when it comes to predicting Penn State's success this season...There are a lot of big shoes to fill, especially at QB, but we trust JoePa and his staff to put the best 11 on the field and those boys know they are playing for pride, for tradition, and for the name on the front of their jerseys.

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things."

-Joe Paterno

If you want to view a fantastic video on what the Penn State story really is, click this link:  The Penn State Story Is  This particular video explains why we love Penn State football through the good and bad and lets you know that the players understand why and what they play for at Penn State.

Penn State home football games have been named "The Greatest Show In College Sports" by Sports Illustrated On Campus.  It's one of the top tailgating schools in the country along with being home to the second largest college football stadium and ranking in the top 4 for attendance for 14 years!  Even Kirk Herbstreit gave the #1 Herbie Award for the best student section of 2010 to Penn State.  He's even said the same thing live on Game Day in 2006. Let's just say it's a good thing for 'Bama that they're not playing Saturday's game in the White House!  

Penn State @ Alabama

9/11/2010
ESPN

7 pm EST (that means you'd better tune in at 5 pm if you live in Utah!)

It's the fall that makes me miss home the most...

It's Oktoberfest Time of Year!

We had left over tickets for the Alpine Slide at Snowbird so we figured we had better go use them before they expired.  Saturday was a busy day...We started out by going to Sports Authority in Murray for their annual "SNIAGRAB" sale (Bargains spelled backwards) and ended up buying skis, boots and poles for ourselves.  Then we headed downtown to the Farmer's Market.  We love to go there even if we don't buy anything.  We ended up getting there fairly late so most of the good stuff was picked over by then, but it was still fun.  Riley and I like to get cookies from "The Dough Girl" to enjoy while we look at the produce and bakery items.

By this time it was well after lunch so we figured we'd better feed our rugrats or they'd be cranky.  We decided to try Downtown Philly Cheesesteaks which was just a few blocks away.  I've had Moochie's cheesesteaks as well and both are pretty good.  You can tell you're going to get something authentic when you walk in and they are selling Tasty Kakes at the counter!

Makes me want to go to Gino's and Pat's!

After we filled our bellies we headed over to Snowbird to ride the Alpine Slide.  It was also Oktoberfest at Snowbird so of course we had to walk around and enjoy the festivities.  The kids enjoyed listening to some polka music while watching a guy do yo-yo tricks.

Here we are getting ready to ride the Alpine Slide

Riley and Daddy racing to the finish

My two German polka dancers

Here's a pic of Riley and if you look closely you can see he's missing his two front teeth...For some reason it's been difficult to snap a photo of both teeth missing - he's smile covers up part of the gap!

We headed home for naptime, but Kendall wasn't having any part of it so we watched the boys ride their dirt bikes in the empty field next to our phase of the 'hood.  Riley loved having his own cheering section and riding side by side with his dad.  After they finished we decided it was the perfect weather for a fire in the pit.  What would a fire be without smores?  Thankfully I always keep a supply of marshmellows, Hershey bars and graham crackers on hand!

Look at how focused he is...Such concentration

Vroom!  Vroom!

To top off our eventful day, the kids decided it was time for a sleepover.  Riley has been bugging me for this since Kendall got her big girl bed.  They both were begging me so I caved in and let them sleep in her bed together.  It was so sweet.  Riley read her a bedtime story and they said prayers together they I tucked them both in and ran downstairs to turn on the monitor.  We listened to them laugh and giggle for awhile, then we heard Riley say "Kendall be quiet!  It's time for bed!"  This from my kid who never sleeps!  He came downstairs twice to complain that she wouldn't stop talking but when I suggested he sleep in his own bed, he went back up to her room.  After a few minutes I went up to her room and told Sissy it was time to sleep.  I tucked them in for the last time and by the time I got downstairs, all was quiet.

I asked Riley if he liked the sleepover and he said it was good, but Kendall talks too much before she goes to sleep and when she wakes up!  That's like the pot calling the kettle black!  He talks more than anyone in this family!  Oh well.  At least they slept and had a good time!

A Trip To Farm Country

No I didn't make a secret trip back to Lancaster and not tell anyone about it!  Here at Thanksgiving Point they have what they call Farm Country which is a cute way to show people what life is like on a farm and the different types of animals you might find on a farm.  Being that we grew up in Lancaster County, one of the best farming places in the entire world, this place is no big deal to me...actually this place smelled a lot better than Lancaster...manure wasn't wafting through the air and the flies weren't nearly as bad as we use to get back home.

Kendall has two little girl friends who are all within a few months of her age.  They are so adorable and I love their moms too!  All of the girls have older siblings who are in school all day so it's perfect for us to set up lots of play dates for these little ones.  We met up at the "petting zoo" for a play date.  Here are some pictures that my friend Natalie took of the girls. Aren't they just the cutest?

They have pony rides that all three girls enjoyed - The girls had to ride them a few times!

Bailey and Kendall saying hi to the pony.

Mom and Kendall feeding the cows.

This cow was hungry - check out the tongue.

This grossed out the other moms...and then they really got grossed when the cow licked my arm!  Fortunately cows have pretty clean mouths.

Feeding the alpaca actually tickled my hand.  It was so cute!

Checking out the bunnies while eating some goldfish.

Kendall and her friends Bailey and Noelle hanging out in the jail cell...we're hoping this isn't a glimpse of their future as friends! 

Three happy friends!