The Flowbee

We've been using a Flowbee for our haircuts for about 12 years. Even though we're on our second one (first one died after about 10 years), they have paid for themselves many times over. I'd say it pays for itself in just a couple months, and then you have years and years of free haircuts to look forward to. I thought it would be fun to show you Boy Two's haircut today.

Before

As you can see, we got pretty far behind on his haircutting schedule. Girl One thought the pony tails would let you see how long it really was.

The Boy starts the cut himself; you really can't mess things up with the Flowbee.

Here he is halfway through--after it's been done on the first setting.

Now the last of the cutting is done. We comb, and voila: A new boy!

Field Trip

Today we went on a field trip to a local Rod and Gun club. Basically, we learned all about how they raise the trout that stock the streams here. The streams here are not naturally occurring; they were dug and are filled by aquifers just a couple feet under the ground. Though this environment looks very natural, it cannot sustain the trout without a lot of help. It sounds like the air pumps are the most critical addition to this environment. Also, the trout simply will not breed in this environment, so all of the eggs are squeezed out and fertilized by hand.


The manager of the club, who gave us this tour, shows a trout to the kids--including my Boy Two in the red hat and my Boy Three just to his right.


Believe it or not, this little pond holds about 2500 one-year-old trout. It's pretty packed! They are kept here until they are ready to be put into the streams.




The kids get to feed the fish in the little pond. This photo shows Boy Three as he throws some food in, and you can see the fish jumping up in the water. Five or ten minutes had already passed since the kids started throwing the food in, and at first, it looked like every square inch of the pond was covered with jumping fish.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Here we are right after the service today, standing outside our building. A few minutes later, we were enjoying the annual Easter brunch. This year it was again catered by the pancake company that THROWS your pancakes to you. You have to catch them on your plate from about 15-20 feet away.

This morning I was able to listen to the Easter story on my new GoBible, which I just got yesterday. This portable digital audio Bible (basically an ipod preloaded with the Bible) lets you listen by earphones or speaker to the whole Bible. You can choose by individual verse, by book or chapter, by story, or by daily portion (the Bible divided into 365 portions). I debated between the Alexander Scourby KJV or the Max McLean NIV, and finally chose the NIV. The whole Scourby version is available online for whenever I want to listen to that one--but it's not portable.

The reason I got this, with my kind husband's permission, was because I read the Bible sooooo slowly during my quiet time--because I am naturally compelled to analyze everything. I am hoping this will allow me to get through larger portions at a time, because of course that is valuable too.

Egg Day

We wanted to make sure there was a distinction between Easter and the secular acticvities associated with it. So what we do, basically, is just make sure our egg hunting and candy basket acticvities don't take place on Easter Sunday. We usually do it the day before, as we did today. (I have the camera date set to the wrong year; these really were taken today, in 2008.)

Boy One and Boy Two coloring eggs.

All five on the sofa, happily anticipating, moments before the baskets are given out.

Boy Three knows if you eat the ears first, the poor bunny won't be able to hear you chewing him up.

"I decorated this one myself."

"Look at my pretty egg."

She always makes us smile.

If my big sister is doing math, then I have to have my tea party with stuffed animals.

And when I was on the potty today, I was singing Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing very loudly. My mama didn't tell me how cute that sounded, but I know she liked it.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

To my Dear and Loving Husband

By Anne Bradstreet

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Blizzard

We had a late blizzard the other day, breaking the one-day snowfall records for March in our area.

Boy Three and Girl Two look out the front door of their little igloo.

Girl Two looking out the back window of the igloo.

Boy Three convinced Boy One to make a two-headed snowman. Apparently, it's a giant space alien, and the sixteen mini snowmen are brave little earthlings preparing to attack.

Finally!

After hanging on by only a thread for about six months, Boy Two's front teeth are finally out.

His tooth-losing style is pretty much just wait til they fall out by themselves.

Snowmen

Reason #587 why I love my firstborn: He builds snowmen with his littlest sister--without being asked to, and for no other reason than for the joy of being with her.

We voted pro-life today

Compare the candidates on the issue of life:
http://www.nrlpac.org/pdf/candidates_08.pdf

Friends, but no pictures

Last night we had supper with the Ramms (at their house), and today we had lunch with the Schneiders (at our house). What a blessing to fellowship with our dearest friends from church! Too bad I forgot to take pictures. :(