What does He really look like?

The other day we were watching "Air Bud". In the movie the junior high basketball team is playing in a playoff game and they are losing. Hunter says to me, "Mom, don't they know their coach is God?" "What?" I said. "Why do you think he's God?" I looked at the actor playing the coach. He was a tall, black man. Then it clicked. Hunter had watched "Evan Almighty" and in that movie God is a black man. Hunter just assumed God is a black man! :) I laughed.

Do we really know what God looks like? In "The Shack", which I recently read, God appears as a black woman. Does it really matter? The key is that we all go to be with him in the end.

New Year's Resolution

Okay, so I figure if I say it and post it on my blog I'll actually do it, right? The more people I tell, the more accountability I will have. Ya, but what if I want to quit? What if the task seems too daunting? Will I feel like a failure? Maybe I should just keep it to myself or only tell a few people. Hmmm...what to do...what to do...

OKAY, OKAY...I'LL TELL YOU!!!

Here goes...



...I'm...



...going...



...to...



...run...



...a...



...marathon!!!!

I know, I know...CRAZY!!! But now I've told you so now I have to do it! I never thought the word marathon would even enter my vocabulary. Eddie will tell you - when we first got married I could hardly run around the block! I ran a half-marathon a year ago and was ecstatic but never really wanted to run a full. However, my friend Aubrey said she and another friend Tara are doing it and "Oh, can I do it with you?" popped out of my mouth before I even knew it. What?!? So, we're running the Capitol City Marathon in Olympia on May 17th. What the heck...gotta do it big before I hit the Big 4-0!!

Christmas Fun

Christmas was wonderful. I got my shopping done with a few weeks to spare so I was able to actually enjoy it and not feel rushed and overwhelmed. I got some baking done. I made a new recipe, Lemon Coconut loaf which was super yummy, especially the powdered sugar glaze on top! Of course everything else I made was chocolate...fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate dipped pretzel sticks, chocolate, craisin and walnut bark...you get the idea! You can never have enough chocolate. The holiday was all about family. Justin flew in on Christmas Eve. Eddie's family came down on Christmas Day and we went and spent the 27th with them as well when Uncle Mark and Aunt Sara came over. Unfortunately, my parents couldn't make it due to the weather. They attempted, but an hour outside of town they hit a blizzard and decided not to risk driving over the mountain pass. Wise choice. Mark and Sara drove over it the same day (headed home) and said it was the worst conditions they've ever been in (and this is from an ex-State Patrolman!) Anyway, here are a few shots of our fun...

Putting out carrots and glitter (so they will see it

from the sky) for the reindeer. The reindeer even

leave piles of poop (chocolate covered raisins)

for the kids the next morning! :)

All I want for Christmas is...

Ugg boots - well, fake Ugg boots!

A video camera...

Baby Alive...

Justin home for Christmas...

Our family together.

Santa brought Wii Rock Band and American Idol. You can see the fun we had with it. Note, everyone laughing while Eddie is singing. We all had tears in our eyes and about peed our pants. Eddie was laughing so hard he started choking!

Eddie's cousin Jenny (above) gave the BESTEST GIFT EVER for Hunter and Hailey. She bought a cool, old box at Goodwill and filled it with tons of dress up clothes and accessories...dresses, earrings, hats, a knight's outfit and Hunter's favorite...

Food is always the highlight at our get-togethers. Eddie's Dad, Big Ed, made this FABULOUS spread for Christmas Day and Jenny and Beth (Eddie's mom) made a wonderful Mexican dinner on the 27th. We love our food! Can you tell?

Lisa, Eddie's sister, and Aunt Sara

Lovin' it!

We are having a blast with all this snow! We have been sledding every day since it started a week ago. Last night we went sledding at 7:30pm with a bunch of neighbors. The kids thought it was the coolest, sledding at night. I just sat and watched them and Eddie and relished in the memories we are making. It was so great just having fun and laughing together!! We went out again bright and early today at 10am. I think Hunter and Hailey had the most fun playing in the bushes making snow forts.


Our front yard.

Hunter catching some air on a jump!


My friend Trish, Jack and Claire.

Bonding moment

Nothing like a little quality time perusing the gossip mag! They were debating who had the worst tattoo!

White Christmas??

It seems just about everyone across the country has been hit with severe winter weather...well, maybe not our son in Arizona (although he did say it was raining). Our area has had the coldest weather in 20 years...in the teens. It snowed Sunday night and was pretty icy Monday but they didn't cancel school much to Ashley's disappointment. However, it snowed more Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so school was closed Wednesday through Friday and now we're on winter break. It's actually kind of fun having the white stuff around. The new elementary school that Hunter and Hailey go to has AWESOME hills in back that go down to the track so there's nothing to hit. We've been out there four days in a row! Today, on Eddie's day off, I drug him there. Yes, drug...heels dug in. He wasn't too excited about it. So after about his 10th ride down the hill I said, "Admit it, you're having fun, right?" He just smiled. Sometimes he just needs a little encouragement. :) Tonight is supposed to be the BIG BLIZZARD...6-12 inches for us. I guess we'll see. I'm just glad I'm done shopping and baking so I don't have to leave my warm house.


Day 1, not much snow


Day 2 a little more snow - Claire and Hailey


Hunter and mom


Day 3 - Thomas, Hunter, Jack & Hailey


Day 4 - Hunter and a new friend


Hailey decided she didn't need a sled!




See, he's enjoying it!

Dana's update

I'm happy to say Dana woke up from her coma last Monday and is neurologically intact! She's the normal Dana! Woo Hoo! She has a long recovery ahead of her, but at least broken bones will heal.