11th Birthday!

On Aug 21st, Connor turned 11 years old. I can't believe how fast time flies! He is an amazing young man. 

In early August, we had a party for Connor at our pool including: swimming, table tennis, tetherball, pizza, cupcakes, and more.

Not only did Connor have many friends attend but his cousins were able to attend as well. 

Cooper and Andrew (cousin)

The AMAZING Birthday Boy

Sybella and Hannah (cousin)

Although he is now one year older, Connor is a joyful soul and I hope he always stays a kid at heart!

Happy Birthday Son!

Cooper's Second Birthday

For Cooper's Second Birthday, April 25th, we decided to have a family party. Here are some great shots of the Birthday Boy. He enjoyed everything about the day-- singing, clapping, cupcakes, candles, presents, and of course, ALL of the attention on him!

Camping!

Over Spring Break (April 2011), David and the older boys went on their first camping Trip. They spent three days in the Shenandoah National Park. We aren't campers (anymore...we did enough of that when we were in the Army). But, David wanted to create a special Father-Son Memory and he felt like the best way to do that was to take all of them a bit out of their comfort zones, away from their electronics (His and the Kids') and just have some fun! They enjoyed hiking, climbing, and Smores-making. 

Thoughtful Thursday

Here is a great picture of "My Guys"-- aren't they adorable??


This picture was taken this week after Colin's Area Orchestra Concert (post to follow).

Boys First Day of School (2009)

Today was the boys' First Day of School. It was a rainy morning so I drove them to school instead of having them take the bus. It gave me a chance to snap a quick picture of them before they ran off to start a new year.

It's amazing to me how old the boys are and what awesome young men they are!!

Colin is in 6th grade this year and Connor is in 3rd grade.

National Firearms Museum

Today, the kids and I went to the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, VA. The museum is co-located with the National Rifle Association (NRA). For any who aren't aware, my oldest sons are gun enthusiasts! They read about guns, they write about guns, they play army, army, and more army. They own at least 2 Air-Soft pellet guns each and are always asking for more. They have large (encyclopedia-like) books about guns and read them frequently. You might ask, does this bother me? No, it doesn't bother me at all. I sometimes get tired of hearing about guns but...they enjoy it, they are learning, and we often utilize this keen interest to help them set goals in other areas.

I grew up around guns. I think I was probably 9 the first time I shot a weapon (probably at a empty soda can, a fence post, or a cow patty--I was visiting my extended family in Texas). By 13 or so, I would go to shooting ranges and "practice." And, later I had to "qualify" with an M-16 as part of my annual Army requirements (as did David). So, you might say that I am uniquely-likely to have sons that would have such a great interest in weapons. At any rate, we decided that today we would go and see the museum. Admission is Free and it's close to our house so, it made for an easy Day Trip.

The Museum Exhibits are nice, the collection of weapons is well organized and informative, and there are historical references in order to both educate and give context to weapon development. I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but I was impressed. There were many more weapons than I expected and the history was very interesting to me.

For instance, I didn't know that until WWII, General grade officers had to provide their own pistol!?! That seems ridiculous! And now, a pistol is issued to each General and they are the only weapons issued by the United States Armed Forces that do not have to be returned. It's a cool little tidbit of information and there are many more like that.

Sybella's favorite part of the museum was the computers; most of the display cases have too much in them to have descriptions on placards. So, instead, there are computers where you type in the case and item number to find out what the item is, it's maker, and the history of the weapon. Sybella LOVED typing on the keyboards. She would then repeat the name of whatever weapon the boys were talking about (as if she had actually looked it up). The boys also enjoyed the computers but they used them to confirm that they had accurately named a weapon. I was downright surprised at how versed they are in WWII weaponry. I hear them talk about guns but they were actually able to pick them out!

Obviously, we enjoyed our visit to the museum and much to the boys' delight, they sell Air-Soft pistols in the gift shop! The boys used their allowance money to purchase a Sig Sauer and a Walther P22, which they are in fact using in "target" practice outside right now. What a great day!

***Don't forget that if you click on the mosaic or any other picture, it will enlarge for better viewing.

Hero-- Review and Give-Away

Book Review by: Sharon

This book by Fred and Jasen Stoeker is phenomenal.
If you are a man or if you are raising boys, this book is for you!
Our world is FULL of sexual temptation. Everywhere you look, sex sells.

Yet, most of the parents I know, live in confusion about how to combat it.
We don't know what the pitfalls are, we are not sure how to handle them, we don't even know if they can be avoided and if so, that our kids can have Victory (especially if we didn't).

Well, Victory is possible!
Get this book and read it--it's more than worth the cost and the time.
In Fact, Get an Extra Copy to Give to a friend.
I am excited about the perspective this book has given me in helping my sons!

****If you want a free copy of this book, I am giving one Away! Leave a comment here on our blog OR on my Facebook page by May 31 and you will be entered in a drawing to win a FREE copy!****

Here is the Publisher's Summary:
You already know it’s not easy being a single man in this culture today. But it is easy to be overwhelmed, to feel helpless and hopeless about living by God’s high standards for singles. It’s easy to cave in to the pressures of this sex-soaked world and accept defeat—blaming the media, the culture, even girlfriends who don’t know how tough it can be.
But many men have read books like Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics and have committed themselves to stand strong and pure in the power of God, and to go on the offensive against the onslaught of negative stereotypes. Some have suffered. Some have fallen. But many have experienced victory—and you can be among them.
What makes those committed men so desirable to women? Be Her Hero is their motto. From best-selling author Fred Stoeker, along with his son Jasen, come the straightforward insight and real-life examples you’re looking for to help you take personal purity to its logical conclusion. Here’s straight truth with irrefutable evidence of what makes an ultimate hero to women who long for men of faith—men who stand by their convictions and make their world a safer and better place.
Are you ready to accept the challenge?

Water Water Everywhere...

A few candid moments while the
boys 'soaked' in the great weather
here in Northern Virginia.
As much as they can be 'all boy'
I love to watch them have fun and just be brothers. It is also great to live in a neighborhood where they have tons of kids their age to play with.

~David

Birthday Breakfast in Bed

This morning my boys, Colin & Connor, brought me a Birthday Surprise: Breakfast in Bed! HOW SWEET!

It included: Toaster Strudels, 2 homemade cards, & 4 Pixie Sticks (for "being a great mom"). Since they don't grind beans and use the coffee maker, they included a Diet Dr. Pepper to assist me in waking up (they know about my caffeine habit). :)

It is such a blessing to have awesome sons. I am blessed and highly favored. I am grateful that their hearts are so caring, not just for me but for those around them. I am also grateful for my wonderful husband who demonstrates to them daily about what kind of men they should become.

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him." Psalms 127:3

Colin & Connor's Friends

Any time you move to a new neighborhood and new school, there are lots of questions you ask yourself:

-how will the kids adjust?
-will the new teachers be a fit?
-will they make friends quickly?
-will there be kids in the neighborhood to play with?
and on and on....

I wanted to post an update about how pleased we are with our move to Fairfax.
God has certainly been faithful, in His timing, to provide for us.

Many of you know that the move to Vienna, VA was a good one for us and for the kids schooling and sports in particular. They both flourished in school and with their teachers in particular. That made me even more nervous though about whether the move to Fairfax could measure up, and how the kids would fare with 2 school changes back-to-back.

Wow, we have been blessed. The kids LOVE school. Their teachers are an awesome match. Colin is doing better in school than ever and his teacher is not only pleased but is his 3rd biggest fan (behind mom and dad). Connor loves school in his typical sanguine response but is maturing as a student with a creative and inventive teacher.

As for the neighborhood, there are over 30 kids in our immediate area and it is routine for the kids to be hanging out with their friends as soon as homework is done. One of their good friends also has a younger sister that is 3-yrs-old so about 2 times a week, all the boys will play outside with their little sisters!

I couldn't ask for more.

Operation Christmas Child

Sharon and I met the staff of Samaritan's Purse and had the opportunity to hear from Franklin Graham while in Atlanta. We took time pack some boxes and check out the temporary facility they had set up in Atlanta for Operation Christmas Child (OCC). We both though the idea was a great way to help our family engage in making a difference this holiday season. We also thought it would be great way to set the stage for giving and understanding that there are so many in the world today that are without. 

SO...last weekend we turned part of our basement into a packing center. First we took the boys to the local Wal-Mart and had them spend their money to purchase gifts to pack in the boxes. We took everything home and took time to stuff boxes full of calculators, balls, cars, personal notes, toothpaste, snacks, crayons, pencils, paper...you name it and we were filling them up. 

We had a blast, it did not take a lot of time and it was an exciting way to start the holiday season by driving home a message that we are called to give to the poor, the widow, and the orphan. 

I encourage to check out more about Operation Christmas Child (OCC) and consider taking an hour out of your day to impact lives across the globe. 

For Young Men Only!

I always believe in putting the bottom line up front in the military we would tell out soldiers “BLUF”.

So here goes: I am giving a copy of this book to my son (that simple). The book was short and easy read that I read on my flight from DC to Atlanta and for men, a short read is essential to make sure they get to the end. I will be using the book to drive discussion with my 5th grader over the coming months.

FYMO by authors Jeff Feldhahn & Eric Rice with Shaunti Feldhahn. When I saw the quote on the cover by Jeff Foxworthy, I was thinking, “Foxworthy? Really? What does he know or care about relative to this subject? Isn’t he just another comedian?”. The irony was that when I landed in Atlanta, Jeff was there at the conference to discuss some tough topics and help with a charity event and I had the opportunity to see his heart for helping young people all over the world.

FYMO was a great way to quickly earn a Masters Degree in ‘Girl’. Being clueless doesn’t look good on a man and when you are a young man navigating the minefield of the teen years it is even more important to get clued in. The stories and surveys shared from young women will give any young man a new perspective on what young women are looking for, what they are not, and how to win them over.

There is some great practical advice like: 5 smart moves a guy can make to get the girl. And there are some clear steps given to breaking the code about women (let’s be honest…I have been married for over 11 years and still not accomplished that).

The authors (and their wives) do a great job in gathering important information from young women and dealing with tough issues for men regarding: social networks, facebook, myspace, dating, sex, being one of the bad boys vs. a good guy, and more. My favorite quote in the book was, “Honesty is where superficiality stops and real friendship begins.”
At the end of the book there is also a short guide that will help you engage and drive discussion with your teen (or pre-teen / young man) who is starting to figure out there is in fact an opposite sex and that they don’t all have cooties.

Drawing on a fresh national survey of 600 teen girls, as well as hundreds of personal interviews, For Young Men Only reveals the real truth about what teenage girls think, what they want, and how average teen guys can build healthy friendships with high quality girls. I do recommend picking up a copy and sharing it with your son. Heck, I was even reminded of some practical things I need to do a better job of relative to my wife.

And So it Begins...

Yes it is football seasons for everyone...including our children. Colin is playing defense for the Vienna Warhawks. To check out more of the action head over to my facebook album.

Who is your favorite team? Are you a college or pro football enthusiast? No matter what type of football action you like...you gotta love the kids going strong. I am just grateful that it is 10 minute quarters with a running clock (so I know there is a finite timeline).

Today was the first full scrimmage against Springfield. The result was not what we were hoping for 0-6 but they played well and had fun.

Playing Uno and Reading Hardy Boys

Yep, that's what I did with my boys today. We played Uno and Read chapters 4&5 of The Tower Treasure. Sometimes I just love to sit with them and do stuff that they totally enjoy for a couple of hours. Actually, I do that every day but sometimes, I set aside hours to spend specifically with no Little Sister around. (usually she is with David or has already gone to bed)

Tonight was a no Little Sister around night and it was a lot of fun. I am Blessed and Highly favored- I love my kids!

They make me so proud - both who they are becoming and the decisions that they make.

PRE-CIPROCATION???

PRE-CIPROCATION...huh? That's what I was thinking when I heard Connor (Age 7) explaining to his brother Colin (Age 10) what he expected to get out of the deal. Now they were sitting in the very back of the van and I was driving (so I was working hard to ease drop on my children).

I am not sure what the deal was about but Connor wanted 'Preciprocation' for his efforts.

So I asked, "Hey Connor, what is preciprocation mean?" He replied back, "Dad, it's when you do a favor for some one adn you expect them to return the favor".

I had a really hard belly laugh in the van as Sharon and I explained how sharp his negotiation skills were but the word is...RECIPROCATION!

I love to listen to what kids have to say and how they explain themselves...

Summer Days with Friends

The boys are enjoying Hot Summer Days with their friends:

Summer Solstice

Sol + stice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.

As a major celestial event, the Summer Solstice results in the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The Northern Hemisphere celebrates in June, but the people on the Southern half of the earth have their longest summer day in December.

How did you spend the longest day of the year?

We were invited by our friends Damon and Denise to hang out at the pool. Lots of fun and a great way to start the weekend.

DID YOU KNOW...Evening weddings were performed under the moon during Summer Solstice and very popular in ancient times. During the ceremony they would serve a fermented honey...thus creating the term, "Honey Moon" for the mead made from fermented honey that was part of wedding ceremonies performed at the Summer Solstice.

Father's Day Food Drive Finale

Instead of a gift for Father's Day, Colin and Connor decided to Honor their dad by demonstrating the love and service to others that he has taught them. (See post on Service Project Update)

On Father's Day, the boys were invited to Chesterbrook United Methodist Church to make a presentation of all the food and donations that they collected for the Food Bank. During the announcements they had the opportunity to briefly explain that by going door-to-door and sending e-mails that they had collected:

~ 16 filled bags of groceries and $150.00 for the local SHARE food bank

as well as,

~ $275.00 collected for a local Washington State Food Bank because of their e-mails.

The kids FAR EXCEEDED their goal to collect 20 bags or approximatey $400-$500 dollars. Essentially their efforts, almost doubled their goal. Great Job!

We are so proud of the care and concern that they have for others, it will certainly bless and enhance their lives!

FSM

Well it isn't quite Father's Day but since I am traveling again on Sunday and I have plans with my Father on Saturday...I thought it was a good idea to take the boys out for a Father Son Moment. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, just some good old fun at the driving range. There is a driving range about 4 miles from the house (Oak Marr Rec Center & Golf Course).

We had fun just swinging the clubs and the boys wanted to go on the 'upper level'...I think it makes them feel like thier golf ball goes further. We had a good time and enjoyed the weather. Just having a quality time with the boys...who are growing up way to fast (10 and 8 now). Colin will be in 5th grade next year...YIKES (I have a 5th grader) and Connor will be in 2nd grade.

For the record...we did not dig tunnels in the sand trap at the golf course. These are photos from of the tunnel I helped the boys build while we were in Myrtle beach several weeks ago during another FSM.

House of Blues

A question I was recently asked was:

What is the Church?

Matthew 18:19-20

Ephesians 4:1-6

I bring it up because while in Myrtle Beach we don’t have a ‘traditional’ place to plug in, so I decided to take the family to the House of Blues. That’s right…food, family, and worship at the Gospel Sunday brunch. A change in place and change in pace. We had a wonderful time and even Sybella got into the worship songs. Some folks may be there for entertainment value and a Sunday meal but I thought it was more than just a fun experience for the family. If you ever make it to Myrtle Beach and stay through the weekend, I highly recommend the House of Blue’s Gospel Brunch!

Church is not the bricks and mortar but rather the people, fellowship, and focus. It was a great way to start Sunday and spend quality time as a family engaged in something that is not normally the focus of the family vacation.

******************

For those of you who are thinking... these guys are fanatical or even a little over zealous…don’t worry. This was not an attempt to be overly spiritual just a way of taking an hour out of the ‘family vacation’ and making it more about family and a little less about the beach. I think the boys were more into “Jake & Elwood’s Car” parked out front.