simply grateful

Not really. :)  I am ok that this snow happened about two weeks ago.  I mean, it is definitely beautiful but I am not really a fan of being cold.  With so many friends around the country getting snowed in, I wanted to share in the fun of snow pictures... The kids were so excited!  They loved trying to catch the snowflakes on their tongues.  Going for rides with Daddy in our laundry basket...er.."sled"  Eating the snow...  Cutest snow angels ever... being spun in circles!   David had fun too... and around...and around...   by my Prince Charming...  Makayla trying to pull Elijah...not so effective!  This is how Karissa rolls... She bends over like a duck to the step...  to get a bite of snow...  apparently she was tired of her hands being cold...but she still looks cold.  Don't worry...we went in shortly after!  This is Mama Petro's favorite way to play in the snow. :)   Karissa was still busy eat...

This is one of my favorite sights... It started as a happenstance really. Makayla is our early  bird...she would come out about 6:30 in the morning and "catch"  David and I reading our Bibles and praying...independently but together.  At first, it started out as great accountability.  I didn't want her to get up and me not be there spending time with God...David felt the same way.  (For the record, Karissa is not usually up at this time.) It wasn't long before she started saying, "I need to have a Bible study too."  We had been reading a preschool devotion and Bible story later during the day, but she really wanted to add this in. So David, being the wonderful father that he is, seized the moment. :)  Our pastor had given an illustrated Bible for the kids for Christmas...and we also have Operation World for children (this tells about people groups around the world that have not heard about Jesus).  Our church is reading through the New T...

How quickly time flies! Our little Karissa is now 2...and she is such a delight!  She is vivacious and a risk taker.  So far, she does not show any fear except with strangers.  She is a climber and a tough little cookie.  She is quick to laugh and loves music and singing. Of course, she is still very TWO!  Her siblings adore her and she them.  They are all so sweet with one another and it warms my heart. She enjoyed partying on her special day... Even Doogan got into the mood...for a bit. :)  She is very into Dora and LOVED her cake.  Purple seems to be her favorite color right now...but maybe it is just the only color name she knows? heehee The big kids liked the party blowers and had fun trying to bump them into each other. Did I mention she likes Dora? Here she is with her Grammie and PopPop. She had lots of help opening her presents... and she got VERY excited over her Dora phone... What a joyful addition Karissa has been to our family! ...

We may be busy, but we sure have fun! loving the scarves... peek a boo!

A couple of weeks ago, we went for our first camping trip!  Well, camping trip is a bit of a stretch.  We only went 30 minutes away and only stayed one night.  The kids loved it!  I think it is safe to say we will be doing this again! Karissa did not like waiting for the tent to be set up and the hot dogs to cook.  Here, she looks like she is saying, "They are RIGHT here!  Will somebody feed me please!!" Nothing like a good campfire!  Good job, Daddy! When the kids looked in the tent... this is what they found!  Think she was tired? The next morning, we had a great breakfast thanks to Chef Daddy!   Elijah loved every minute of being outdoors! Makayla and Karissa did too, they just didn't beam the whole time like our little man.   This is them checking out a locust shell that Karissa, the fearless one, pulled off of a tree. The kids had a great time at the playground too! Little Miss Makayla is always helping me spot a good...