'Uncle' Keith from Mali

We were honored to have a visiting missionary, Keith Elenberger from Mali in our church just recently. The thing that thrilled me about this missionary is the time he spent specifically with my kids. Oftentimes, children get pushed aside when we have visiting speakers. We adults think we are so important don't we? Anyway, he spent more time playing and engaging my kids than any other missionary I have met. His wife says it's because he is still a kid himself! Regardless of the reason they loved it, and they loved him.

Good Friends

We have been blessed with some great friends here in Florida! Here are some of our adventure :)

Cute Kids

I wanted to post again before too much time went by! We have had a whirlwind two weeks, more on that later :) For now, I thought you may enjoy some updated pictures of the kids that my parents had taken for us as a Christmas present.

In the Papers!

Many of you know that my kids recently entered a cooking competition run by Uncle Ben's. I am so proud of the job they have done. People have been very supportive of them. Well, we made the paper today! Here is the link to the story.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/mar/09/young-chefs-compete-for-50000-cafeteria-makeover-6/

Last week, we promoted it on The Morning Blend!

http://www.fox4morningblend.com/videos/117056113.html

Pre-Christmas Fun!

Well, I promised to keep up on my blog, and so far it's going well! I realize this is very late, but better late than never!

December in Naples is always a fun time for us, there are many activities to participate in and we always look forward to this time of the year. We started our festivities by taking a trip out to Ava Maria for their annual Night of Lights. This is a really neat, perfect little town out in the middle of nowhere that somewhat resembles a movie set, you really have to visit there to understand......anyway, they provide lots of fun activities for the kids, choirs, yummy treats and just an overall great family night.

 Jaden At the Top

 Evan Getting Saddled Up!

 Another Monkey, Adam on the Right!

After a Fun Night

So our next outing was to 'A Walk Through Bethlehem' which was a fantastic presentation of the Christmas story that ended in a walk through of the reconstruction of what Bethlehem would have been like when Jesus was born, it was incredible.

 Welcome from a Roman Soldier

 An Angel Visits Mary

 Making Clay Pots in Bethlehem

More Pots

 Dying Coin Purses

Painting Ornaments

 Animals included......

 ....even feathered friends

Chicken Boy!

Well, that's enough for now! I have many more fun pics and adventures to share, but I'll keep you in suspense :)

VOTING HAS BEGUN!

Hi Everyone,

Voting has begun in the kids Uncle Ben's Rice competition!  We would really appreciate your votes :) click on the links and hit vote! You can vote once a day until March 11th.

http://sweepstakes.mars.com/facebook/unclebens/bensbeginnerscontest/video_gallery.aspx?search=jaden

http://sweepstakes.mars.com/facebook/unclebens/bensbeginnerscontest/video_gallery.aspx?search=leah

Jaden's Hawaiian Chicken With Rice Pilaf

Leah & Jaden have both entered a cooking competition with Uncle Ben's Rice!
Check out both videos, I will be asking for votes at the end of the month!

Hawaiian Chicken With Rice Pilaf:

Leah's Competition Recipe!

Leah & Jaden have both entered a cooking competition with Uncle Ben's Rice! Check out both videos, I will be asking for votes at the end of the month!

Easy Cheesy Rice:

Homeschool & Fun Stuff

Being a home schooling family often affords us opportunities that kids in traditional school don't always get. Many of our activities do not include being stuck behind a desk :) I love that my kids are learning about gardening, cooking, and other fun things, such as being TV personalities! Here are a few fun pics of how we spent some of our days over the last few months.

Little Chefs!

Let's Get Started!

Planting Seeds

Watering Seeds

Figuring Things Out

Daddy's Boys

 No wimpy girls here!

One raised bed done!

Little Creature :)

Fox 4 Morning Blend

Semi-Annual Update!!

Today I am feeling inspired to update our friends and family on our lives over the past six months! We are now fully settled into our new house. After months of cutting through huge amounts of vines, brush and fallen trees, the outside is actually starting to look a little more put together. There is alot more to do, but it takes a while to tame almost three wild acres. The kids have enjoyed helping!

And we have found a few friends along the way!

We have been busy in our typical way; school, church, friends, life in general. Overall we are doing well. The kids are growing and doing well in their school work. We are continuing to make new friends through our home school co-op here, which has been a blessing for us, and generally life is good. I am working on various culinary and writing projects, which I am excited about, more to come on that! Anyway, that's a  very quick update more to come very soon!! PROMISE :)