Mahalaleel's Xanga

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:10:29 GMT

What's Happenin'?

First, there was...wait, WHAT is this?

Ummm.....

Oh, it's story time. Moses is a big fan of this book.

Aunt Verity and Emerald listen in on the story.

Then there was all this commotion about monkeys.

This one has taken a liking to Emerald.

She doesn't seem to mind.

Last Sunday we had some family visit us. They even got this picture of Emerald in her dress (which they gave her for her birthday :) ).

It's a fav of mine as well.

You may have guessed already...

...that it was Aunt Kristy and Uncle Jeff. Note how the cell phone is very useful as a 'sitting still' motivator.

Some time later, we discovered Emerald had been doing some growing.

What's the bulge in your pants, daughter?"

"It's a giant glitter ball!!"

"I want to state for the record that it was not I that put it there, Mommy."

I know, Moses, 'cuz it was me. :)

Over the last few days, the kids have been receiving cold/cough medicine at night related to their colds and coughs. (duh) They really enjoy taking medicine at this point in their lives.

It's like feeding time at the zoo. ha ha.

And, last night, we got a call from Grayn-ma Wooo-dy.

Emerald and Verity saying goodbye at the end of the conversation.

That brings us to this morning.

"I'm ready for the day, Mom!"

Did you know that it's already Wednesday, Emerald?

"INCONCEIVABLE!"

Forecast: Sunny

"Someone say sunshine?"

Wow, Emerald. It's even brighter when you grin like that

What's brother doing?

"Hold on a sec. Elmo's world is on."

Monday, July 07, 2008

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:41:31 GMT

Last Week

As some of you have seen from other sites, we went to Flat Rock for services Sunday morning and Evening. Sunday evening's pictures had much better lighting.

Three of LRH's four grandchildren: Moses, Isaac, and Emerald. I'm going to guess that Calvin is under the pew. He and Moses spent some of the evening session under it having a pretty good time.

Lorraine and Emerald see eye to eye. We attend the same congregation where Lorraine's Grandma Dorothy attends.

On to camp!

Isaac gives us his tough guy face.

He soon warms to the cameras though. :)

A newcomer to camp this year:

Will! He's a 2nd cousin to Emerald and Moses on Kevin's side.

"Did somebody say cousin?" (Aunt Abby beaming in the background.)

"Yeah, I'm bringing the side barrette back into style."

"Oh, I think it's totally you, Emerald!"

A Tribute to Transportation

Alexandria's Carriage

Moses developed a fondness for Quinn's bike last year, aaaaaaaaand he still likes it.

Calvin and his birthday bike from Uncle Sam and Will with his 3 wheeler.

"I'm ready for some off-roadin'!"

Blake is doing all of his safety checks.

"We are ready to ride."

In other news, we had a conversion down at the campground.

"Don't tell my Dad or Grandma!"

Rex and Shirley's granddaughter brought her little kids this year and a really cool table.

Blake and Travis balance it out.

Soon the two become five.

Blake really liked the hole in the center. It was great for sticking all kinds of things in. Mainly sticks.

Refreshment!

The kiddie corral attracted the usual suspects again this year.

Camden almost escaped the camera. The bunny ears were a big hit this year.

Behold, the bubble blower. This was also a hot ticket item.

Which kid is exhausting his parents?

It's the elusive Blake.

I managed to catch a picture of him in his natural campground habitat: the corral.

These two were in the womb last year at Eminence. This year they got to ride in this deluxe carriage. A bit of a downgrade, but they will probably agree that the scenery is better.

"I couldn't wait to get outside! Just ask my momma!"

The Blue-eyed Gals

It was difficult to get them to both look at me at the same time. They're busy ladies!

"Is Chad here yet?"

"How 'bout now?"

Juicy Isaac

Aunt Candace and Moses refreshing themselves.

Kevin with his lil' girl.

The Golden Girl with her 'Silver' drink.

We made it to the pool one time!

Don't look too excited, kids.

"How's this, Mom?"

"Now we're talkin!" Tutterow cousins, Luke and Jonathan were havin' a great time too.

Swummin' sweeties!

"I'm wearing goggles!!!"

Family time with Calvin, Shirley, Mark, Karen, and Nora.

And the rivalry continues.

Rain, rain, rain.

At least umbrellas make for a good time!

"Can we go home?"

Here's what we looked like after a week of tent-camping.

Nice.

Who's ready for some civilization?

"Ooo..la.. LA!!!"

Kevin and I were amazed at how quickly you can change your environment. We had gone from mud and rain to Holiday Inn. We may have to start doing this every year. :)

"Look! Clean carpet! Clean everything!!"

"This bed is mine!"

"I guess I could share."

For packing purposes, this walker joined us for the evening. Moses walked it all over the parking lot and hotel.

"Housekeeping!"

After a refreshing night, we were finally ready to really go home.

Rest for the weary.

Cutest luggage I ever seen.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:25:33 GMT

Time to wake up and start packing for Eminence.

"This is all I need, Mom."

Let the piles begin:

Ha ha. Just kidding. This is what my living room normally looks like. The wall "paper" is new though. We had some good times yesterday, lemme tell ya.

"OUR MOTHER HAS PACKED ALL OF OUR CLOTHES!!!!"

"...AND HAS CUT ALMOST ALL OF OUR HAIR!!!!"

photography by: variety927 "You got the right one baby, uh-HUH!"

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:56:11 GMT

Woo HOO!

"I'm excited for Eminence!"

This was taken at Nathan Eggleston's wedding last Saturday. It was in a baptist church building in case you're wondering about the stained glass goin' on in the background.

Is there a specific epithet, slang term or curse word that you absolutely cannot stand?

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:25:52 GMT

Yes, when people take the Lord's name in vain or say any of the other candy-coated forms of Him or His Son. Also, all the euphemisms for condemnation and Hell. (i.e. gosh, golly, 'oh my' goodness, oh man, oh boy, gee, geez, doggoneit, gee whiz, gee willikers, bejeezus, dang, darn, heck, etc.)

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." Matthew 12:36

"Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Matthew 5: 33- 37

I hope that by putting this out there I can be helped with every word that comes out of my mouth as well.

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4: 6

I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

Friday, June 20, 2008

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:56:47 GMT

The Longest Day of the Year

That's just a title for today. It doesn't have anything to do with my post.

More fun with Grandma's box and a shirt that came inside it.

"My mommy really likes this muscle shirt, Grayn-ma!"

Moses on his stage.

"I've always had the control. What?"

Headin' outside for another stormy Thursday...

"What's the bird doing on top of the lightpole??"

Meanwhile, there are some sneaky people in the garage.

They were looking for an umbrella.

On to more cheesy poses from Moses.

"Cheesebread!!!"

Here's the best I can do as far as getting them both in the same shot:

More "next top model" posing from my son.

Sweet Emerald.

I guess I got them both in this picture, but they're not looking. I know. I'm picky.

Hangin' with Aunt "Ber-i-ty"

Monday, June 16, 2008

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:36:32 GMT

Howdy

"Welcome to my dining room."

"I like to view it from this angle."

"My mom says that I can be dramatic at times."

Let's see what's underfoot.

"Can I eat this???"

"Hmmmm.... maybe not."

"You wanna try?"

And, as some may already know, we have acquired LRH's youngest chick.

Last year:

This year:

Nothing says, "Bonding Time" like "Bubble Wrap".

That's right, we got a package in the mail from Grandma Woody.

"I see you!"

Cardboard is so fun.

In conclusion...

We had to catch this on video for posterity before he stopped saying it like this.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:19:00 GMT

"We're definitely in Kansas, Toto."

What's Kevin looking at?

The huge lightning storm that was right above us last night. The storm clouds were lit up by the constant lightning bursts.

Emerald decided to show me her maniacal face to accompany the ominous background.

Oooo... SCARY!

Here's why we just can't help but be outside to watch the weather.

So dark and scary, yet you can see the makings of a beautiful sunset. Check out the egg-crate mattress shaped clouds on the middle right.

It felt like a movie set outside.

I didn't mean to get the Speed Limit sign in the picture, but it's appropriate seein' as how this system was moving East/NorthEast at 30 mph.

Moses' hands are vanishing!

Can we say 'lightning cutie bug'?

She definitely didn't get my eyes.

Believe it or not, but this guy is posing. I tell him to smile, and he immediately leans way over like this and waits for me to take the picture. I'm not sure where he got this from, but at least he is holding still... sideways, but still.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:43:36 GMT

I don't have any pictures to post, but I thought Patrick Stewart could keep us entertained for awhile.

"Engage!"

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:44:36 GMT

Happenings

Well, I don't know what to say, other than I didn't take any pictures during our weekend in Illinois. I still can't believe it. I took pictures on my mom's camera though. Hopefully, she'll share some if they're any good.

I do have pictures from a trip to the park last week, as well as our recent thunderstorms.

Serious Emerald.

Thoughtful Emerald.

Joyful Emerald.

Conservative Moses.

Wild Moses.

And now for some Swing Kids:

Tuesday evening we went outside to check out the really cool weather. (Yes, not the safest idea during times of lightning, but it was pretty far away...probably.)

Anyway, we saw a big 'snapper turtle' as Moses likes to call them. There is a pond just up the street from us, and we see big snapping turtles just walking around our neighborhood. The one we saw last spring was twice this size. We don't have any comparison shots, but he was roughly the diameter of a basketball. He kind of retreated into his shell when we approached (obviously), so I 'hissed' at it just to see what it would do (nothing). Moses immediately started copying this with, "Pssssst! Wake up, tur-tul. Wake up, snapper tur-tul. Pssst!"

It's a big 'un, alright.

Scary eye!

But here was the main attraction!

These clouds were moving fast and always changing. We could catch glimpses of the sunset between them.

Moses beneath the firmament.

Kevin was able to capture some of the really cool lightning on film. It was mostly the branch, skeleton-like lightning. God is Awesome!

This is the same lightning storm that caused a gas tank in KC to burst into flames. Powerful stuff.