tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86470438201072727922024-02-21T00:32:03.373-08:00EvansJesse, Christa and MarshallJesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-31069965053427303702010-02-19T11:41:00.000-08:002010-02-19T12:34:25.415-08:00Confucius Says...While out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant Marshall got the following fortune in his fortune cookie:<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;">"You are the center of every groups' attention"</span></div><br />My son could not have gotten a more fitting fortune. He most definitely makes himself the center of attention, and not always for good reasons. But there's never a dull moment when he's around.Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-59642881439369633362010-01-08T11:21:00.001-08:002010-01-08T15:46:49.006-08:00Christmas FunHighlights from our Christmas season:<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="font-size:180%;">POLAR EXPRESS</span></span></div><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><div align="left"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnFiuUtLcb24vFPFsdPdEG4qfl41lqjbKEpti0sNcM97adB86HN_y4IYOOyCsr__LM7NAZuVZfMMFLKNQy32u_Pz9b4KTocwGIoC1Upkd7O3K0tb3hjNBmsnYfB6j9ZLoR08pEcUjhVBE/s1600-h/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+032.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424451677185690962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnFiuUtLcb24vFPFsdPdEG4qfl41lqjbKEpti0sNcM97adB86HN_y4IYOOyCsr__LM7NAZuVZfMMFLKNQy32u_Pz9b4KTocwGIoC1Upkd7O3K0tb3hjNBmsnYfB6j9ZLoR08pEcUjhVBE/s200/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+032.jpg" /></a>My parents, Savannah and Valerie joined us for our ride to the North Pole. Marshall was so excited when he got on the train. We sang songs, drank hot chocolate, ate cookies and got to see Santa who gave all the kids a Christmas bell. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmvNSbTYS1gY7wMZg4iQCosi964c9N8N1hA7fDLq8dqce2SORL-U4fkArfsWIz7U4jqioAKefUTe_UB-zavpLQcOuBR8GujqwjcPizISryr8eVvr0_bXvcnqz5QfKGZMAwbFsQ6y04soV/s1600-h/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+027.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424468161131102866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmvNSbTYS1gY7wMZg4iQCosi964c9N8N1hA7fDLq8dqce2SORL-U4fkArfsWIz7U4jqioAKefUTe_UB-zavpLQcOuBR8GujqwjcPizISryr8eVvr0_bXvcnqz5QfKGZMAwbFsQ6y04soV/s200/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+027.jpg" /></a>My only regret was not getting a picture of Marshall's face when he thought he lost his ticket and was going to have to ride on top of the train. Sheer panic! <div align="left"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">ZOO LIGHTS</span><br /></div></span><br /><div align="left">The <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBligPZZ6rcN5xYqDQfeV8i0tBL3FBcvoH4LOVLnHOY1lr89WO6aJDITMr_wpAp7F9bRS9f8KjZTGarDg_8x7JSwbN7i9RJYte2RPDB_L2BmSPahBiXAsVolYD-1keqBPJwsIQBKC44Dx/s1600-h/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+049.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424472452615707762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBligPZZ6rcN5xYqDQfeV8i0tBL3FBcvoH4LOVLnHOY1lr89WO6aJDITMr_wpAp7F9bRS9f8KjZTGarDg_8x7JSwbN7i9RJYte2RPDB_L2BmSPahBiXAsVolYD-1keqBPJwsIQBKC44Dx/s200/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+049.jpg" /></a>three of us went to Zoo Lights at Hogle Zoo. We got Marshall cozy in the wagon with a big blanket wrapped around him because it was <em><span style="color:#33ccff;">cold</span></em>. He had a blast. While waiting in the line for the carousel with Daddy he decided he wanted to ride on the dolphin. I've never seen Jesse so determined to get something in his life. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfwaGnT9Z1ixwTfYDFuZNsO1kxfPz6W7o31oNuljdCXa-i_8k-VDrVr4CAYJzQH3L8WqcyobsHyjy9GSaL-7ribjO2wAWD1h4Xk39OF_pUCxEGmptfKPpPezGzEJJeX4yJXFvOWjVWkiu/s1600-h/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+047.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424473145089885570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfwaGnT9Z1ixwTfYDFuZNsO1kxfPz6W7o31oNuljdCXa-i_8k-VDrVr4CAYJzQH3L8WqcyobsHyjy9GSaL-7ribjO2wAWD1h4Xk39OF_pUCxEGmptfKPpPezGzEJJeX4yJXFvOWjVWkiu/s200/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+047.jpg" /></a>I loved the way he was hurrying so fast to get the dolphin before anyone else did. He's a good daddy.<br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3vOwK03rI1zHTE3tDoEJ8HBpB6s6H7gMQvudlsdvBISmrXejh5gU9_Y9IxxgFkAe0SoCvEn9iSajRQ4KfrTgIx5UDKfup8QjPVwv3Unvq3SrVG4ur11Hyijb3EGPClK3SaB7lKMrtaNe/s1600-h/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+050.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424512017986496754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3vOwK03rI1zHTE3tDoEJ8HBpB6s6H7gMQvudlsdvBISmrXejh5gU9_Y9IxxgFkAe0SoCvEn9iSajRQ4KfrTgIx5UDKfup8QjPVwv3Unvq3SrVG4ur11Hyijb3EGPClK3SaB7lKMrtaNe/s200/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+050.jpg" /></a>CHRISTMAS EVE</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Jesse read us the Christmas story out of his Bible and Marshall was able to open one gift; Spiderman jammies. He asked if he could wear them for the rest of the night. <em>What a good idea, son. I never thought of that. Of course you can.</em> (If I hadn't let him think it was his idea he would have never wanted to wear them.)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNuCyyLMhOsSxymU_t6XQpnQ86H6pmrkmmS5EWFkn4qhuVEEGrQTojvWoLPhJI8_0bCWi0aisroqTW6_YAB4SlWq1o-5nurtXY5F9FNEfjNlcKeccGZpKlEkAderafBnleG77nptEYmSg/s1600-h/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+052.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424508866386951266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNuCyyLMhOsSxymU_t6XQpnQ86H6pmrkmmS5EWFkn4qhuVEEGrQTojvWoLPhJI8_0bCWi0aisroqTW6_YAB4SlWq1o-5nurtXY5F9FNEfjNlcKeccGZpKlEkAderafBnleG77nptEYmSg/s200/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+052.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I wanted to do something to help Marshall understand what Christmas is about so we baked a birthday cake for Jesus. He helped me frost and decorate it with sprinkles. At my Grandparent's house that night, all the kids got to put one candle on the cake and we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. </div><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">CHRISTMAS DAY</span></p><p>Christmas day Marshall woke up early because he wasn't feeling too well. Thankfully he went back to bed for a few more hours even after seeing that Santa had come. His stocking had been hanging on the fireplace but Santa had taken it down during the course of the night and set it by the presents. Marshall told me Santa was naughty for taking his stocking off the fireplace. Marshall got lots of fun stuff like movies, Darth Vader, Anikan Skywalker and Spiderman to name a few.</p><p>We had breakfast at my Grandparent's house and opened more gifts. When it was time to go, I gave my little niece a hug and then had to get out of the house fast before I started crying in front of everyone. I don't think I've mentioned this on here before but my brother joined the Army and will be leaving this month for basic training. Eventually, his family will join up with him in Monterey, California. I started wondering when I would be able to see my brother and his wife and hug my nieces again on Christmas. I cried hysterically the whole way to Jesse's parents' house. I'm blaming it on being pregnant and emotional. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIu1kO5z1NFgl_MHmWrXA4vknsXlmPjV9WKXLuzZpGgPkC7KOIdJDAShVQ-wAcFCbnfiq2LKGLs7-zhTpSOcmNKLyyOM5zDU56AKpxUjdmKkWpZqDL0kKhxBtMffGScjfZVIvGgHIj_5Kg/s1600-h/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+020.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424513717426848850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIu1kO5z1NFgl_MHmWrXA4vknsXlmPjV9WKXLuzZpGgPkC7KOIdJDAShVQ-wAcFCbnfiq2LKGLs7-zhTpSOcmNKLyyOM5zDU56AKpxUjdmKkWpZqDL0kKhxBtMffGScjfZVIvGgHIj_5Kg/s320/Marshall+%26+Val%27s+b-day+%26+Christmas+2009+020.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Mike and Anita's house offered more presents and more food. We were able to spend time with all of Jesse's siblings and their kids.</p><p>We left and went back to my grandparent's house to play cards for a few hours. Marshall had a sleepover that night with Grandpa Dick and Grandma Lisa.</p><p>I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! </p>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-54374777243935294082009-12-03T09:10:00.000-08:002009-12-03T09:24:31.610-08:00Snakes & Snails, Sugar & Spice<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Double the diapers,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;">Double the toys,<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;">Christa is having a <span style="color:#ff99ff;"><strong>girl</strong></span> and a <span style="color:#33ccff;"><strong>boy</strong></span>!!</span></div>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-72839673797971447772009-11-23T15:44:00.000-08:002009-11-23T16:10:33.449-08:00She's Good!We were discussing how kids will play off both of their parents when they are trying to get something out of them; if one parent says no they go ask the other parent. My grandma told me a story about my cousin's seven year old daughter, Sierra, that I thought was too funny not to share.<br /><br />Sierra, like any other kid, was trying to pull this stunt with her grandparents. She asked Grandma Shelley for something for which she was told no. So she went to Grandpa Danny and asked for the same thing. Grandpa Danny said, "I just heard Grandma Shelley tell you no."<br /><br />While rubbing Grandpa Danny's shoulders Sierra said, "Well, yeah, but...aren't you the man of the house?"<br /><br />Oh Sierra, you're good. You're real good.Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-70210900981294858022009-11-16T14:30:00.000-08:002009-11-16T14:50:14.496-08:00Seven Year Itch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliVf4En8pI4Q1z0rmup9kWDLcMkQK27F6bjKxkJ2_9dSJ7PzLZsGwVNfigisDSCwaa0lNPq4YkJfQcN6y7I4rJi9J8BMw-M_wzwT1kvzrRppsK-gU2nRmF7CGKbTOOsyelOg95G7GR6Mu/s1600/stef's+wedding+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404833322343716930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliVf4En8pI4Q1z0rmup9kWDLcMkQK27F6bjKxkJ2_9dSJ7PzLZsGwVNfigisDSCwaa0lNPq4YkJfQcN6y7I4rJi9J8BMw-M_wzwT1kvzrRppsK-gU2nRmF7CGKbTOOsyelOg95G7GR6Mu/s200/stef's+wedding+2.jpg" /></a>Today is our seventh wedding anniversary. Last night Marshall had a sleepover at my in-laws' and Jesse took me to dinner and a movie to celebrate. We used to go to movies all the time while we were dating and then when we got married Jesse decided to tell me that he didn't really like going to movies. What a dirty trick!<br /><br />At dinner while I was eating some really messy barbeque ribs I realized that one of the nice things about being married for seven years is that I dare to order ribs on a date and I know he'll still love me when dinner is over. I would have never ordered something so messy while we were dating. Oh, the beauty of seven years of marriage.<br /><br />Seven year itch here we come!Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-71878863663032871162009-11-13T15:17:00.000-08:002009-11-13T15:42:11.321-08:00Obi Nobi Kwan<div><div>Marshall was, what he refers to as, Obi Nobi Kwan for Halloween. You've commonly heard him referred to as Obi-Wan Kenobi. He has all the sounds correct, they just happen to be a little mixed up.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403733724873908594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F3QTCIhKsoWuRldvkrmM_sX5OCis8kDMQabtxwZVGPfBEJ-2mOnqUz1iw8KMSyIkKun_dLHTpXRt9i9xtt_MdHehgQc2-cOaqCv8lyUfsLS31ee4crdOkNKHsyBWAYNZCUZGwHnS1ESb/s320/Halloween+2009+006.jpg" /></div></div><p>There was a University of Utah football game on Halloween so we spent the day with Jesse's family at the tailgate lot. They had a lovely birthday party for me on top of all the Halloween festivities. Marshall was able to get loads of candy walking through the tailgate lot.</p><p>Obi Nobi fell asleep on the way out to my parent's house with these silly glasses on because even Jedi's get tired.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403735914127248642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42UvAMCsWh_bD9ArRET4xFiJUsm2qFUfnJh1e6g7oy8JgMuRCctOpBt5B2t419qo_TTSq2_ofxDH17JlCXqOuYmxabKIqDBMEsBkzL0Wh0edDWiXX7XVg8H_6wQeVggrHEtqymlLBHHiB/s320/Halloween+2009+008.jpg" /></p><br />In Erda, he was able to trick-or-treat at all two of my parent's neighbors' homes and they were happy to get at least one trick-or-treater that night.Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-2781277769034783712009-10-16T12:02:00.000-07:002009-10-16T16:11:02.099-07:00Did You Say Two?That was the last thing I expected to hear but, sure enough, that's what she said. She told me there were two babies in there. In me!!<br /><br />Holy crap!! I'm having twins.<br /><br />They are due sometime in April and I'm very excited and very nervous. Right now I think I'm a little more nervous than excited but I'm praying that God will ease my nerves. I'm in my second trimester so hopefully I'll be done with the icky feelings soon.<br /><br />I asked Jesse what he thought about having twins. His response was, "It sounds like a lot of fun." I'm so glad to have a partner in this who is excited and so supportive. He has been taking such good care of me.<br /><br />Marshall doesn't really say much about it. Although he did tell me that he heard them talking one day. I hope all three of them are not already conspiring against Jesse and me because we're going to be outnumbered.Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-54355580184408611382009-09-08T08:39:00.000-07:002009-09-08T08:56:12.140-07:00Goodbye, Border Collie<div align="left">We had a sad weekend. Luke, our Border Collie, was hit by a truck by my parents' house and we had to put him down. He was only three and a half years old and it seems like such a shame that his life was so short. We miss him a ton but we thank God for giving us the time to enjoy him that we had. I'll miss my walking buddy. Marshall will miss his "Border Tolly". Viggo will miss his obnoxious little brother. And Jesse will miss his friend. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379124860304768130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHNlhKtaP4S1-fNhXpKU4-Y5vkopwoPe9TUTs8B3qWVFI6IfAoogN2TF0C2ROkE0b3yMKtTa5gghyphenhyphen7EyNZU-_oPwnlSPd4X54J-1BmpfJq6iDloFIqwwhFtZb9F3IiZLCzuJq_MuR7luZ/s320/Christmas2007+040.jpg" /><span style="font-size:180%;">We love you, Luke! Thanks for the fun times.</span></div>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-83329342118546014612009-08-21T11:00:00.000-07:002009-08-21T11:27:46.998-07:00My Husband, The Comedian<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwISBxzvssmvl8xCIKFmXTGbL5jDB8W-Xd3AHA9cBTopre3RbD_kO5lpdeKjKyuBrT1OT7-hzTZ_9cgVwq9i_7nW24XStG6nJY3VjptaNIHbFgJ67G_ZLSQEEb3fr6wMllgjHexGPaiiAV/s1600-h/camping+007.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372484159222864994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwISBxzvssmvl8xCIKFmXTGbL5jDB8W-Xd3AHA9cBTopre3RbD_kO5lpdeKjKyuBrT1OT7-hzTZ_9cgVwq9i_7nW24XStG6nJY3VjptaNIHbFgJ67G_ZLSQEEb3fr6wMllgjHexGPaiiAV/s200/camping+007.jpg" /></a> If asked to describe my husband in one word, most people that know him would probably say easy-going, quiet, even-tempered or something else along those lines. I don't think humorous is the first word that comes to mind when someone thinks of Jesse. In all actuality, some of the funniest things I've ever heard have come from him. He says things that, even years later, still make me laugh out loud whenever I think if them. Maybe it's because he is so quiet that when something funny comes out of his mouth it hits me extra hard because he's not the one you would expect it to come from. I hope you enjoy his humor in the following stories as much as I do.<br /><div>__________</div><br /><div></div><div>My brother, Richard, is notorious for his expensive taste. One night, Jesse and I went out to dinner with Richard and his wife, Jill. Richard wanted to go to Fleming's Steakhouse at the Gateway. The restaurant was <em>way</em> too expensive but it turned out to be a really fun night, except for Jesse ending the night with a self-inflicted sickness which actually made me quite mad. How could he throw up a meal that was so expensive! He tried to make the situation better by saying, "At least I got to taste it twice." Ew, gross!!!</div><div></div><br /><div>Months later when we were talking about the night we went to Fleming's and how expensive it was Richard said, "Why did we go there? Didn't we have a coupon or something?"</div><div></div><br /><div>I said, "Richard, they don't really give out coupons for restaurants like that."</div><br /><div></div><div>Then Jesse piped up and said, "Yeah Rich, we got it in our Valpak."</div><br /><div></div><div>It still cracks me up.</div><div>__________</div><div></div><br /><div>The next story occurred when Jesse was working as a brick mason for my dad. There was never a dull moment with the men on his crew because something crazy was always going on in at least one of their lives at any given moment.</div><br /><div></div><div>One guy, I'll call him T for his sake, was always fighting with his girlfriend. These were knock-down, drag-out fights these two lovebirds would have. As a result of one of these fights and the use of a large Salt City Candle against his face, T was missing a few teeth. He was a cowboy and this really made him look like a hillbilly.</div><div></div><br /><div>At lunch one day, the guys were teasing T about how he always tucked in his shirt when all they were doing was laying brick. T said, "Some people consider it neat and proper to tuck in their shirt."</div><br /><div></div><div>Jesse said, "Some people consider a full set of teeth neat and proper."</div><div></div><br /><div>T didn't talk to him the rest of the day. </div>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-72150396539509661562009-07-21T10:27:00.000-07:002009-08-11T11:33:35.804-07:00Tangible AdviceFor the past few months, whenever I tuck Marshall in at night his last words to me as I walk out of his room have been, "Make sure the guys don't get me." If I don't acknowledge what he said he will yell it over and over until I stick my head in his room and say, "Okay, I'll make sure the guys don't get you." I think he overheard me retelling a time I had to wake Jesse up at night because he was having a bad dream that guys were chasing him and he couldn't get away. These guys don't seem to scare Marshall but it makes me feel bad that my little boy goes to sleep thinking someone is going to get him.<br /><br />One night after saying bedtime prayers and getting him cozy for bed he gave me his standard make-sure-the-guys-don't-get-me response as I was leaving. I believe kids understand more than we give them credit for so I decided to give him some advice that I thought would help. I told him that there were no guys that were going to get him and whenever he gets scared he can always talk to Jesus and ask Him to help him not be afraid. Marshall listened very closely and then said, "And Viggo will rip the guy's arm off."<br /><br />"Yes, Honey. Viggo will rip his arm off."<br /><br />Sounds like Daddy beat me to it with advice that may be slightly more tangible for a two year old.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360970425340246770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXsj5AvBu3GW1AyoKcgAQqBgx52R5Cw8GXyrvW2zh6YCIvEn384kcDtTOk7-G3GxwtS9WwffZVxUnTkn3gkyqF-hQbhCaDpVECvUXg1Ob7XulIAf_ihQImjgiWCYKevF7f2BteK5D7o7b/s320/kids+041.jpg" border="0" />Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-36600724220685703882009-06-29T14:19:00.001-07:002009-06-29T14:20:49.609-07:00Living Up To His Name<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvILwmhtwEHQ5v4ofzN6eEZIHvZFY31YE5pA5CZe-a1ifrhtF_6DEDwJUUQLUympS-zEufgkWXjJsYRMpGWlkJ0qAANmOZ_UoMu_AK_nXzJaUQQsLOSAMaorlqN9AI7eMjtGtwlLz5ukc2/s1600-h/star+valley+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352862472170748210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvILwmhtwEHQ5v4ofzN6eEZIHvZFY31YE5pA5CZe-a1ifrhtF_6DEDwJUUQLUympS-zEufgkWXjJsYRMpGWlkJ0qAANmOZ_UoMu_AK_nXzJaUQQsLOSAMaorlqN9AI7eMjtGtwlLz5ukc2/s400/star+valley+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-83263304821014695682009-06-23T07:40:00.000-07:002009-06-23T08:21:42.114-07:00Star Valley<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKV9TRzTCn4G9q3p5zFRPoejmkEopqL50V5XkSIYmoPqIuG12In8cPguZZ_guvCmwKWQ4dqXW6gC90p43kpl7DqMh8agYZI2VxkzXTztaFwS2qUM0p8LJq5R5scbUSDhDSMM2tAUZPDPCQ/s1600-h/star+valley+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350539970230338354" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKV9TRzTCn4G9q3p5zFRPoejmkEopqL50V5XkSIYmoPqIuG12In8cPguZZ_guvCmwKWQ4dqXW6gC90p43kpl7DqMh8agYZI2VxkzXTztaFwS2qUM0p8LJq5R5scbUSDhDSMM2tAUZPDPCQ/s200/star+valley+011.jpg" border="0" /></a>The three of us recently took a short trip to Star Valley, Wyoming. I've often heard people refer to places they love and consider beautiful as God's Country. Star Valley is God's Country for us. Don't be surprised if we decide to move there one day.<br /><div><div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwowdC5tcZZrQ_CuEnrFHVAVHXn56lg2z9vNoXv9fPH0douZIIc6a9qPpX-WfPCPPYZUxiorxdqdAvRJ3H8GMkuXTgMMaEJgn_p2cuiUY3xaa79rUWKkQplBOPsTz3-pAIxYGXMPMMxYVd/s1600-h/star+valley+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350540245426628370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwowdC5tcZZrQ_CuEnrFHVAVHXn56lg2z9vNoXv9fPH0douZIIc6a9qPpX-WfPCPPYZUxiorxdqdAvRJ3H8GMkuXTgMMaEJgn_p2cuiUY3xaa79rUWKkQplBOPsTz3-pAIxYGXMPMMxYVd/s200/star+valley+014.jpg" border="0" /></a>We stayed in a cozy little cabin at the north end of Afton. It was kind of a last minute excursion and the best part was that we had no agenda. We did whatever we wanted which amounted to eating a lot, trying to fish (the Salt River was too high and was moving too fast and I kept having visions of Marshall getting swept down the river in a matter of seconds), reading (I read, Jesse played his guitar), hiking, a little shopping, and relaxing.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAqjEL9NEst9_TEMgwREW6SSkWthkdOv8xeWR_SpYbF2je600QP-8NTd9e0DQcr4T8H5_DztgrxbdDLunzhfTdnQ9SUwrxtBPtvoAFHcsdeCHQMdF3oZtqEwlTDOlxmTAsPWlLNRobNX7/s1600-h/star+valley+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350541056877682434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAqjEL9NEst9_TEMgwREW6SSkWthkdOv8xeWR_SpYbF2je600QP-8NTd9e0DQcr4T8H5_DztgrxbdDLunzhfTdnQ9SUwrxtBPtvoAFHcsdeCHQMdF3oZtqEwlTDOlxmTAsPWlLNRobNX7/s200/star+valley+013.jpg" border="0" /></a>As we were driving along a road that led to Bridger National Forest we happened along an alpaca farm. There was a guy standing outside the little red barn who saw us looking and motioned for us to come over. We pulled over and saw a little baby alpaca with his mom. The guy told us that the baby was only 30 minutes old. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. It was so cute to see this wobbly little animal trying to stand on it's skinny little legs. (If you are eating while reading this or just have a weak stomach I suggest that you stop reading because this will get a little gross.) The baby was so new it was still wet and the mother had not even delivered the placenta yet. She delivered it while we were there and that was when Jesse decided it was time to go; the man can only handle so much. After we got in the car Marshall said "She has a balloon on her butt." Which is exactly what it looked like.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UDjABVedBqfw9hFmH224NmdpMlEqzJurysnEoqUPnfSrdCJP6xOnS2WErL8QWKgAB6ki6Y8Qu9Sxby6GLNt6VVcQNEsEuRM6YTPsBSKgLf2v9DGyxGInHcBygOexMJb7sx5sMC_bWU-4/s1600-h/star+valley+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350541386724834498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UDjABVedBqfw9hFmH224NmdpMlEqzJurysnEoqUPnfSrdCJP6xOnS2WErL8QWKgAB6ki6Y8Qu9Sxby6GLNt6VVcQNEsEuRM6YTPsBSKgLf2v9DGyxGInHcBygOexMJb7sx5sMC_bWU-4/s200/star+valley+018.jpg" border="0" /></a>On our way home we stopped at a fun playground in Bear River. Marshall loved this horse swing. They sell these at CAL Ranch and I keep trying to convince my parents that they need one for their barn.<br /><br /><div>We had a blast and we plan on making Star Valley a regular getaway for us.</div></div></div>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-11208169250961302422009-05-15T09:04:00.000-07:002009-05-15T09:57:12.160-07:00A Night Out with The Eagles and the Old TimersOkay, they weren't that old; in their fifties and sixties mostly.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sYR61ll9VpTTksZTwkW_pKkFVjSo7LRXlDO2i_0La7LIz7LfRcPiUuYhMgE7CQ4jWgMuMimLUIFx3ZqG7b7R3Qjtf3DScVKDpzVTBRGnVKbyK2h4C1x5beqTMG1h9Gqx7B_ekELIp7Sr/s1600-h/eagles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336093748402307282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sYR61ll9VpTTksZTwkW_pKkFVjSo7LRXlDO2i_0La7LIz7LfRcPiUuYhMgE7CQ4jWgMuMimLUIFx3ZqG7b7R3Qjtf3DScVKDpzVTBRGnVKbyK2h4C1x5beqTMG1h9Gqx7B_ekELIp7Sr/s320/eagles.jpg" border="0" /></a>This past weekend Jesse and I had a most interesting experience at the Eagles concert. We went with my mom and dad and a few of their friends, not to mention the other twenty friends my parent's happened to run into that night. I can't go anywhere with them without running into someone they know.<br /><br />Before this concert, if you were to ask me what songs The Eagles sang I would only be able to tell you "Hotel California". After going to the concert I realize they sing a lot of songs that I know and like; I just didn't realize they were Eagles songs.<br /><br />I was expecting it to be a really mellow night of relaxing and listening to some older music, then my dad started talking about how everyone would be standing through the whole concert. I told him I didn't think they would. He told me how he and my mom went to a <em>KISS</em> concert when they were younger and everyone stood through the whole thing. I said, "That was thirty years ago. Now everyone is old and arthritic." My dad wisely replied while holding up his beer, "Yes, but this is arthritis medicine." He was right. Those old timers stood through the whole concert! I was worn out by the end and they were all still raring to go.<br /><br />It was crazy. They were standing on chairs, dancing in the aisles, breaking the ties holding the chairs together so they could have more room to sit, and, of course, there was that oh so identifiable smell of marijuana drifting through the stadium. And I thought I was going to spend a nice, wholesome evening with my parents. The concerts Jesse and I have been to have all been very mild in comparison.<br /><br />One thing I found very interesting is how friendly they all were. By the end of the night everyone around us was talking like they were old friends and my dad had even been given a few nicknames. I told my mom that was a big difference between their generation and my generation. The girls my age just kind of stare each other down and the guys are too busy being cool. There's no attempt to be friendly with strangers. We tend to stay in our little bubbles. Maybe that's one area where I should start to imitate my parent's crazy generation. **Note to self: Be more friendly.**<br /><br />It was a fun night and a big thanks to my dad for buying us the tickets.Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-81445731659883918692009-05-05T10:54:00.000-07:002009-05-05T11:32:25.184-07:00Naughty HornOur neighbor plays an uncommon musical instrument and on occasion can be heard practicing outside. It's the kind of instrument that just fills the air with music and we can't quite tell from which direction its coming.<br /><br />Jesse and Marshall were hanging out on the deck listening to the music from this instrument the other day. The next day Marshall was telling me about the "naughty horn" he and daddy had heard on the deck the night before.<br /><br />I couldn't quite understand what he was talking about so after a little probing I figured it out. I first realized he was not talking about a horn but a pipe. This naughty pipe could also be described as bad.<br /><br />Can you figure out what musical instrument he was talking about?<br /><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?</div><div align="center">?<br /><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332406700103039010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 151px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpOcj1nSb33K3Y4iDxZJXI5Xx498nIqRE3__1wDSnZ1clnjqBETQHdRW65wd31nSI_A6OTlcUufMF0_C6gyKKYw2M1GcgdyOWcM_tdv8jp13CLB8T9fFj8q2jKvfvjPo5bNsHYA14S8Sx/s320/bagpipes.jpg" border="0" /></p>It was the bagpipes! Or, according to Marshall, the bad pipes.Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-85536783750957186842009-04-17T07:21:00.000-07:002009-04-17T08:01:31.592-07:00Let's Go Fly a Kite<div><div><div><div><div><div>Marshall is afraid of the wind. He yells at it to stop when it's blowing and runs for the house if it gets too windy when he's outside. One day when it was windy at the playground, he curled up on my lap so scared while my niece was happy as a lark to have the wind blowing through her hair while she ate her grapes. I tried to explain to him that God is the One who controls the wind and that He cares more about him than even Mommy or Daddy. That helped a little but then Grandpa Dick and Uncle Richard found out about his fear and, in my family, you never want to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfemoFakGYOo4e5PnOcRchEJWVaoumzfVSpn_maWl13JjTMrm-Pj448TdW95aANYYhoCdULK6pmwyhLAmpSGgnwoepYRpB09vS7Lthr6ZQjJkI1WGq3Z0qmPJfE1jlScupBw6Rr05I1VzI/s1600-h/kite+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325670399908772994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfemoFakGYOo4e5PnOcRchEJWVaoumzfVSpn_maWl13JjTMrm-Pj448TdW95aANYYhoCdULK6pmwyhLAmpSGgnwoepYRpB09vS7Lthr6ZQjJkI1WGq3Z0qmPJfE1jlScupBw6Rr05I1VzI/s200/kite+006.jpg" border="0" /></a>show your weaknesses because they will be completely exploited; even if you're two.<br /><br />In my effort to cure him of that fear I thought I would get him a kite to show him that the wind can be fun. I let him pick out the one he wanted and he chose Thomas the Train.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UpZUyodyvKbrwTQ7CcMJi1-C1Xp74K_GMbs5P1nRxbl2dnf2ovgxxltXtQzglR0-rr8LZIbIzms5-Y_3q_SURbxc3U2LVwBjrN92LTR13GW70kMaYyt0ENYOM_SKn9JS9JyO-ddnqap5/s1600-h/kite+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325669454388524514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UpZUyodyvKbrwTQ7CcMJi1-C1Xp74K_GMbs5P1nRxbl2dnf2ovgxxltXtQzglR0-rr8LZIbIzms5-Y_3q_SURbxc3U2LVwBjrN92LTR13GW70kMaYyt0ENYOM_SKn9JS9JyO-ddnqap5/s200/kite+005.jpg" border="0" /></a>I decided to undertake this little wind intervention in Erda because all that wind has to be useful for something. After hiding around the side of my parent's house for a few minutes he finally let his guard down and joined the fun with Grandma Lisa. He was totally relaxed flying it and sat so content in my lap as we flew it together.<br /><br />I think my intervention worked!</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325671867954612370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OHuJdZ7jvFggtZII-5j4EHr8KDPq-FQwl5Tp8qUdJhwGXCG17qldMvzJzJgqrHsNnf0o5u_JFornquIM8XUu7ZS2tqMtRXJF7SURV0-XGneFDprJqxhvyYgxTqztF7ES2d9D4oQN2VvY/s320/kite+007.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh4L58vFTFbWJbYH16Zg272tqmg3VfzHLZfVynkL3yfcVga-3-MOOFoVJZeUhpRXAHyME0fgoTYUb-T47x0-xQge-xkbnnf_muRtW67oK1i2GVCaVmy5Qb4gy8XiCzBxERTy7KXvDVqfC/s1600-h/kite+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325674300282776514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh4L58vFTFbWJbYH16Zg272tqmg3VfzHLZfVynkL3yfcVga-3-MOOFoVJZeUhpRXAHyME0fgoTYUb-T47x0-xQge-xkbnnf_muRtW67oK1i2GVCaVmy5Qb4gy8XiCzBxERTy7KXvDVqfC/s200/kite+004.jpg" border="0" /></a>On a side note, my mom and I took him to a playground and there was a couple there with a little girl for Marshall to play with. As Marshall was walking up the stairs to play he was counting each stair he took, "One, two, three..." The lady there commented to Marshall about how smart he was and right on cue Marshall launched into his repertoire of knowledge with "A, B, C, D..." I couldn't have trained him to perform better even if I tried.</div></div></div></div></div></div>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-41440312962443610902009-03-31T14:12:00.000-07:002009-03-31T15:15:48.975-07:00Who's Afraid of the Poop Monster?<div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">MY DAD!!</span></div><br /><div></div><div>He came through in a pinch and watched Marshall for me yesterday <em>all by himself</em>. This is quite the feat for a man who could probably count on one hand the number of times he has changed a diaper. He had to add to that number yesterday.</div><br /><div></div><div>While visiting my grandpa in the hospital, Marshall did the worst thing he could possibly do with my dad in charge. He pooped his pants. After asking several nurses if they would change him and getting the response "Are you serious?" my dad finally decided to cowboy up and change the diaper himself. I have proof.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319470255005151698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_M8I3yFNwOHt2UtX1HVIIxkrWsquUW39pXbLX-_GevYZ3p1RwManHxyILHgxxPG2bOcXh7YUwvMqa6MtEgJZz5uFQxjd6IFzktwFw7-zqKqCWxvCtfMjKHWvedQB5beWHlLR9igDjkzJ/s320/poop+monster.JPG" border="0" /></div></div>Yes, that is my dad in the picture and, yes, he is wearing surgical gloves. But he did it and I'm so proud of him. And here is the after picture that shows he survived the horrendous experience and lived to tell about it.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319471216909435346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgAFS-CS_H29iRTonIYX7A18bZF2HBLusWcD4whLrYrDz-xQg79NZCDcg3QjcG4O6ya_RqTDjzUOVoU16z0a9Q_5_EPESpidyIUMevG1jsrRg-QKW76x8be3CH9f8_48IujLZceU95T2o/s320/Favorite+Boys.JPG" border="0" />But the panic didn't end there.<br /><p>Later that day, I received a phone call from him at work. Our conversation went as follows:</p><p>Dad: "Christa, I put Marshall down for a nap. Why won't he go to sleep?"</p><p>Me: "Well, what's he doing?"</p><p>Dad: "He's standing up in the crib crying."</p><p>Me: "How long ago did you lay him down?"</p><p>Dad: "About 30 seconds ago."</p><p>Me: "Calm down, Dad. Give him a few minutes and he'll fall asleep."</p><p>All things considered, my dad was a great babysitter. Although Marshall may have been hanging upside down from the handle in my dad's truck with his pants off when I arrived to pick him up, at least he had a clean diaper on.</p>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-71870677990402751202009-03-20T11:56:00.000-07:002009-03-20T13:01:49.210-07:00Book Review of "The Shack"At one point <em>The Shack</em> by William P. Young was going around as the latest craze within the "Christian circles" so I was immediately intrigued. I wanted to read it, if anything, just to know what all the fuss was about. I know this review comes a little late in the game but I figured I might as well express my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">opinion</span> on it. It's been a while since my last post and since I have nothing else on the horizon to blog about, a book review will have to suffice.<br /><br />Just to give you a little bit of an idea of what this book is about, this is the description on the back cover:<br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#6666cc;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTxqy8MhiDraufHM4BGoa1UtqmNAvVUuF9bpsljApx1MpAv3VHEWjCj69KFfaFAw-5F1TbYzzrDWkNxvtN9YN4rdVvM_luhZDiAwFFZle_pjyNduXRUAWkkurm_DtaBFUmZIpeeTN9oxD/s1600-h/the+shack.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315357894602173986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 101px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTxqy8MhiDraufHM4BGoa1UtqmNAvVUuF9bpsljApx1MpAv3VHEWjCj69KFfaFAw-5F1TbYzzrDWkNxvtN9YN4rdVvM_luhZDiAwFFZle_pjyNduXRUAWkkurm_DtaBFUmZIpeeTN9oxD/s200/the+shack.jpg" border="0" /></a>"Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.<br /><br />Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.<br /><br />In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!"</span></div><br />Now on to my review.<br /><br />I had a very hard time with this book. I didn't really care for the story line let alone the theology that was portrayed in it. I know it is fiction but it is fiction trying to pass itself off as Biblical theology and that is where I have a problem with it. When it is sold at the Christian bookstore I tend to have more of an expectation that it will be a little more theologically accurate. If someone who was not very familiar with the God of the Bible was to read this book they would get a skewed idea of who He is.<br /><br />I'm no theologian but I have read my Bible and do know a little something about it. A few specifics that bothered me:<br /><br />-A lack of respect and awe when face to face with the Creator of the universe to the point where Mack (the main character of the book) feels okay to even curse in front of God.<br /><br />-Papa (the author's name for God in the book) telling Mack when they first meet that they will do things "on his (Mack's) time and on his (Mack's) terms." We do things God's way; not each person choosing what's right for him. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" is repeated twice in the Bible, once in Proverbs 14:12 and again in Proverbs 16:25.<br /><br />-The idea that there is no submission to authority within the Trinity. The author even portrays it as sinful to think that there is any authority within the Trinity. A few verses that completely contradict that are <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor%2011:3;&version=49;">1 Cor 11:3</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor%2015:28;&version=49;">1 Cor 15:28</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206:38;&version=49;">John 6:38</a> and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208:28;&version=49;">John 8:28</a>. Those verses do not mince words that God the Son is subject to God the Father. The author portrays that there cannot be equality if there is authority involved.<br /><br />-God the Father being portrayed in human form. In John 4:24 we read "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Jesus was God in human form, not the Father.<br /><br />There is more but I think I'll leave it at that. If you've read it, let me know your opinion. If you haven't read it, I still welcome your thoughts.Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-49835301327068003382009-03-05T13:30:00.000-08:002009-03-05T14:06:51.926-08:00Photo Tag - Grandpa Louie<div>I was tagged by my friend Stefanie to pick the sixth picture in my sixth folder in My Pictures and blog about it. Well, it may surprise some of you that my pictures do not have individual folders. They are in one folder in a huge, jumbled, unorganized mess. I feel like Monica from <em>Friends</em> when Chandler discovers the messy closet. As a result, I'm going to have to go with the sixth picture in my only folder.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309826659358978914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_CPSY9PU1jIxFAuCutLmvRv0bHRYip3ipLpvPk5itATbcer1uhyhcJhbnaRONhsaB5D_J2fPREYfcJFAQBVuqAwRQm8bC2x4pMGcuXYTbgT-NFhOibYp5Yv6t9Of7Ai6skNCqGn5vHem/s320/Christmas2007+006.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div>This is my Grandpa Louie on Christmas day at his house in 2007. He is my dad's father. The most amazing thing about my grandpa is that he has been a wonderful father and grandfather in spite of the fact that he was under no obligation to fill that role. It was his choice. He is not my dad's biological father but he chose to adopt him when my father was about two years old. I praise God for placing this good ole' Magna boy in my family. He as been a wonderful influence in all our lives. This picture is really so great because it captures him doing something that I will forever remember about him - whistling. Grandpa Louie is constantly whistling whenever he does anything from puttering around the house to doing some kind of wood working project. I love you, Grandpa Louie, and your whistling too!</div>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-60539019949176707862009-02-26T08:32:00.000-08:002009-02-26T08:58:56.357-08:00Sweet, Little Grandma Jennie<div align="left">Jesse's grandma went home to be with the Lord on Sunday. What a blessing she was to so many people. She was very influential in Jesse's life, especially when he was younger and was babysat by her. He has wonderful memories of her and his grandpa. My memories of Jennie were from before I even knew Jesse. She was the sweet, little lady I would see in church all the time. Who knew that one day I would be a part of her family? Its amazing how God works. I can only imagine what she is seeing and experiencing at this moment. We will miss you but we will see you again, Grandma Jennie! Give Jesus and Max a hug for us.</div><div align="center"><br /><strong>Juanita "Jennie" Sandoval</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><em>12/12/1924 ~ 2/22/2009</em></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozWf4Al2wqY43JdTT0XUp-B_-DwWCiRF4slJbMfDQhV8WDYqUME4SYLyDofe8gdI0CrW8FwJ4fIVDsbIah8o0GfytIfFw32tNR9zQtuFqksARZtvBBhnsaAI-gXcwhE8ORijyOI48ndMq/s1600-h/Grandma+Jennie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307145508611250018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozWf4Al2wqY43JdTT0XUp-B_-DwWCiRF4slJbMfDQhV8WDYqUME4SYLyDofe8gdI0CrW8FwJ4fIVDsbIah8o0GfytIfFw32tNR9zQtuFqksARZtvBBhnsaAI-gXcwhE8ORijyOI48ndMq/s320/Grandma+Jennie.jpg" border="0" /></a>Grandma Jennie - "mother extraordinaire", beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend went to join her Lord and Savior and her beloved husband Max on Sunday, February 22, 2009. Born to Jesus M. and Jose O. Sanchez in Castlegate, Utah. She was blessed with a loving step-father, Louis Canchola whom she cherished as DAD. She inherited a strong work ethic from her mother which served her well later on in life. She married Max Sandoval on October 21, 1942 and they started their life together in Price, Utah, later moving to Salt Lake City in 1951. God blessed them with 21 children and she never tired of having a child around the house, even if they weren't her own. She worked endlessly, making sure her family (and anyone else who was lucky enough to be there) was well fed and taken care of. Everyone loved her hand-made tortillas and wonderful Mexican food! She spent countless hours cooking, cleaning, sewing, babysitting for others and still made time for her family. Flats of eggs, garbage cans full of flour, rice and beans were the norm - all of this without Costco! She played a big part in the upbringing of many of her grandchildren by babysitting them, as well as raising her beloved grandson Jeremy, until she suffered a stroke in 1989. Throughout her remaining years, her grandchildren continued to be the light of her life. Her Christian faith was her life and she used that influence to raise her children. She and Max were founding members of the Salt Lake Christian and Missionary Alliance Church where she selflessly served in various positions and made many long lasting friendships. It was her faith that gave her the endurance, energy and amazing strength to accomplish such a remarkable life. She was truly loved and admired by many! Survived by children: Ernestine, Gilbert (Becky), Carl, Max (Brenda), Anita (Mike), Peter (Phyllis), Jennie-Lee, Elaine, Duane (Lauri), Samuel, Nathan, Patsy (Elgin), Jacob (Julie), Andrew (Cynthea), Daniel (Karen), Becky (Paul), Jennifer (Stewart), Rosellen, 46 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Preceded in death by her loving husband Max, twin infants, Mary and Joseph, son Jerry, mother Jesus Canchola, step-father Luis Canchola and brother Fidel Sanchez. A viewing will be held on Friday, Feb. 27th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Redwood Memorial, 6500 So. Redwood Rd. Services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28th at 2:00 p.m. at the Discovery Christian Community Church at 5929 So. 900 E., Murray. Viewing one hour prior to services. We'd like to extend a special thank you to our sister, Ernestine for the loving care she gave our mother during her final years of life. We are forever grateful to her for that!Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-43198971160365373772009-02-20T08:34:00.000-08:002009-02-20T08:42:42.149-08:00For Your Viewing Pleasure<div><div>I have two movie recommendations for you all. They are both very family friendly and you can watch them with the kids in the room. When Jesse and I watch movies with the little guy around the biggest thing we have to worry about is language because he’s a Say It/Play It. You don’t have to worry about that with these two movies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi655ariYUBNcDjEDo-3u1W9B1wIqfehuBFm5c99mZMpp83HMf0tcnIQgzu8CVRoGjQ4yPAsz3gDz1BykLlBCjc0hrQuLtrye313HndT5sEeu9EmeWblQq5FeupLqFJZ7yN9bkn8TzkG3TA/s1600-h/Fireproof.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304919970746622178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 110px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi655ariYUBNcDjEDo-3u1W9B1wIqfehuBFm5c99mZMpp83HMf0tcnIQgzu8CVRoGjQ4yPAsz3gDz1BykLlBCjc0hrQuLtrye313HndT5sEeu9EmeWblQq5FeupLqFJZ7yN9bkn8TzkG3TA/s320/Fireproof.jpg" border="0" /></a>The first one is <em>Fireproof</em>. This is a movie about a fireman, played by Kirk Cameron, who is struggling with his marriage and on the verge of divorce. Jesse and I watched it together and I thought it was a wonderful movie. It’s a different kind of love story than what you usually get. Most love stories end with the couple getting married and living happily ever after. This movie is different in that it is about a couple who is already past that point and still trying to love one another. In real life, marriage is hardly the end of the story. It’s only the beginning. If you have a spouse or soon-to-be-spouse I recommend watching it together.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoalnHNZPyuPXlfg0PYFr2o2gc5c4bJ2e4KSxyCdv-IfnVOare75fyMeu5dLcSPSnr2HWgNmij87CIXIBIEIoITM8KHl0BWkb4zhoOVIaHyLk6IvQ-rigRTMwoLY6BW5Cw5tBFZEI4ftWt/s1600-h/Expelled.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304920369615163058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 110px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoalnHNZPyuPXlfg0PYFr2o2gc5c4bJ2e4KSxyCdv-IfnVOare75fyMeu5dLcSPSnr2HWgNmij87CIXIBIEIoITM8KHl0BWkb4zhoOVIaHyLk6IvQ-rigRTMwoLY6BW5Cw5tBFZEI4ftWt/s320/Expelled.jpg" border="0" /></a>My second recommendation is <em>Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed</em>. This is a documentary by Ben Stein, the teacher in <em>Ferris Bueller’s Day Off</em>¸ about the treatment of people promoting Intelligent Design. This movie is not about trying to convince you to believe one way or the other but simply shows the way those that dare question the mainstream are dealt with. It’s very interesting and concerning and shows a side of the story that you don’t get to hear very often.<br /><br />Let me know what you think of my movie picks.</div></div>Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-6159104029217588842009-02-06T07:42:00.001-08:002009-02-06T08:55:17.769-08:00Matter of TimeWhen I arrived home from work last night I found Jesse sitting on the couch in a blood stained shirt holding a wet cloth over a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">whimpering</span> child's lip. I learned that Marshall had fallen off the stool in the kitchen and hit his face on the side of the bar resulting in a pretty deep cut. We debated over whether or not he needed stitches and decided that we should at least take him in to get checked out. Jesse was worried about it scarring. I told him not to worry, scars are cool for boys.<br /><br />It turns out we weren't overreacting and he did need stitches. The nurse told us if they weren't able to hold him still for the stitches we would have to take him to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Primary</span> Children's so he could be sedated. The idea of sedating my little boy didn't sound good to me at all. We decided it would be a good idea to pray to the Only One who could actually keep our son calm.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmM54q8b1D_tqELlmpmiSazkC24GBOtPCOOEZ0yg97XIPZxQ26TlsR6ZSIO8RvwVpyqqcnJ3MUn3BPFe1Ke_14AvI6f1eUg2EitBaEWDq6pa1um0LdhLGI3kG9goaLMElX4mtvFyrH61Z/s1600-h/stitches+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299716474350718274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmM54q8b1D_tqELlmpmiSazkC24GBOtPCOOEZ0yg97XIPZxQ26TlsR6ZSIO8RvwVpyqqcnJ3MUn3BPFe1Ke_14AvI6f1eUg2EitBaEWDq6pa1um0LdhLGI3kG9goaLMElX4mtvFyrH61Z/s200/stitches+004.jpg" border="0" /></a>They started by putting some numbing ointment on his lip which he surprisingly never tried to remove. It made his lip turn white which was a good thing because it meant that it had worked and his lip was numb. The nurse had to wash it out with water and that was the part Marshall hated. Go figure! It wasn't the needle he hated, it was the water. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzv-EvJmO7UckX387mhr2HAsFFgUsnXnMbRMgmK9wdfS9JUcEwdaAxhyphenhyphenHbeRHdS8MHdPUtgcktjNozB59OQnvvOaVk_MIKRaZiFQdkywAbxmfL9TS4JOFnUL71axRpzWYxT1ZTwPcVq4A/s1600-h/stitches+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299716768396438546" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzv-EvJmO7UckX387mhr2HAsFFgUsnXnMbRMgmK9wdfS9JUcEwdaAxhyphenhyphenHbeRHdS8MHdPUtgcktjNozB59OQnvvOaVk_MIKRaZiFQdkywAbxmfL9TS4JOFnUL71axRpzWYxT1ZTwPcVq4A/s200/stitches+006.jpg" border="0" /></a>When the doctor came in to do the stitches Marshall tattled on the nurse and told the doctor, "She put water on it!" while glaring at the sweet nurse.<br /><br />They laid him down and he hardly put up any fuss. The numbing solution (and the prayer) had worked. I was singing songs to him to keep him calm when suddenly on the fourth and final stitch I started to feel sick and a little light headed. I asked Jesse to take over for me while I sat down. I thought, "Oh no! I'm like one of those men that passes out when their <em>wife</em> is in labor!" <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgtbF5yNkA38lhL3ecL3vLBombAVK-IHoc9IAoflG2tkYCmxPajgtI_iB8ASD2xNvfoAeEONxSGHp-WcKFFsZjkr8obB66H9OkrzeUTACowPVgG5wvL9vIgSzID-uqsJJikP-jQ7TtDG-/s1600-h/stitches+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299717896217041602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgtbF5yNkA38lhL3ecL3vLBombAVK-IHoc9IAoflG2tkYCmxPajgtI_iB8ASD2xNvfoAeEONxSGHp-WcKFFsZjkr8obB66H9OkrzeUTACowPVgG5wvL9vIgSzID-uqsJJikP-jQ7TtDG-/s200/stitches+011.jpg" border="0" /></a>I think watching a needle get shoved through my baby boy's lip one too many times had finally gotten to me.<br /><br />Four stitches and a p<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">opsicle</span> later everyone was fine. I knew it was just a matter of time before we had to take him in for something like this and praise Jesus that it turned out as well as it did. His shirt on the other hand, I think is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">goner</span>.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299727922478316530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp-3W_FlFlFJ7rWJyR-tq5s5IV4OHvDwjvKz0fqH6vH07TiN4vRoc1CqsRQHiua1odykN3NSXS0SSZZK0wA6Lag49hPoblvxyEbOTBg4F1MznS9h9tJ6QT7R4UPxkKXaF8fhXDnR6-EQk/s200/stitches+013.jpg" border="0" />Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-68276977894801002882009-01-09T07:57:00.000-08:002009-01-09T09:03:06.206-08:00Kids Say the Darndest ThingsSavannah spent some time with us last week. This is one of the conversations we had.<br /><br />Savannah (singing): One manaza. One manaza. Do you know that song?<br />Aunt Dee Dee (that's me for those of you who don't know): What song? The one your singing?<br />S: Yeah. One manaza. Two manaza. Three manaza.<br />DD (after much contemplation): Oh! You mean the one by Britney Spears?<br />S: Yeah!<br />DD: What are the words you're singing?<br />S: One manaza.<br />DD (now laughing): What's a "manaza"?<br />S: I don't know.<br /><br />I'm just glad she didn't know the real words to a song called <em>Womanizer.</em><br /><div>______________</div><div>I was changing Marshall's diaper the other day and he said to me, "I drop a steamer."<br /><br />He gets that from his dad.</div><em>______________</em><br />We were out to breakfast with Savannah and she was playing with the coffee creamers by stacking them on top of each other. Then she said to Jesse and me, "Look! It's the Artful Tower."<br /><br />It was too funny so we didn't bother correcting her.<br />______________<br />While camping we were sitting around the campfire with my niece, Bailey. I was talking about how I recently found some old papers I wrote back in Junior High. One paper talked about what I imagined my spouse to be like and the different characteristics he would have. Bailey so perceptively asked, "Did you write down a guy that drinks a lot of beer?"<br /><br />I guess I left that one out.<br />______________<br />Send me your comments and share some of the funny things the kids in your life have said.Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-50855900711516989402008-12-26T11:37:00.000-08:002008-12-26T13:51:39.855-08:00Celebrating Christmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCZmJMcGEO9D4jln6VDNokO34jZGJ29A9IqjSd5GkKhAGbij3YtoKTXMSc1Ev_TsVktduxDfoq_5NYvUVEqMA_op49zuqXW2iXohZn2BwmP-FhLwtHFCGG3MwjVxnCp6MU0ReP7qSv6iu/s1600-h/Christmas+2008+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284191800100061570" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCZmJMcGEO9D4jln6VDNokO34jZGJ29A9IqjSd5GkKhAGbij3YtoKTXMSc1Ev_TsVktduxDfoq_5NYvUVEqMA_op49zuqXW2iXohZn2BwmP-FhLwtHFCGG3MwjVxnCp6MU0ReP7qSv6iu/s200/Christmas+2008+001.jpg" border="0" /></a>Christmas Eve began with the three of us completing the advent calendar my sister-in-law made for me. Thank you so much, Jill! Marshall and I have loved doing this calendar together. Afterwards Jesse read the Christmas story from his Bible. Then I tried to read a children's book about the birth of our Savior and it was at this point that Marshall stopped cooperating. I'm sorry to say it, but he ended up going to his naughty spot during our Christmas celebration. When it came time for him to get off the naughty spot I told him to come into the living room so we could finish our story. I didn't get any response. So I walked in the kitchen to see him lying on his naughty spot. I said, "Marshall, you can get off your naughty spot now." <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI2QeYOM0JPPkJUvQqSsKya4JZr-fA6FAI5QU1fXp11iqkl6754OotOID2PGzuIf-56z0QpqHKK-Wh7CYXz1nWLO2XI01LQ1rIPaHAte0cX7a25aaE5SWA8uWieEt23SNlCHaZMxLnV5C/s1600-h/Christmas+2008+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284190710153269826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI2QeYOM0JPPkJUvQqSsKya4JZr-fA6FAI5QU1fXp11iqkl6754OotOID2PGzuIf-56z0QpqHKK-Wh7CYXz1nWLO2XI01LQ1rIPaHAte0cX7a25aaE5SWA8uWieEt23SNlCHaZMxLnV5C/s200/Christmas+2008+002.jpg" border="0" /></a>His little smart response was, "I'm relaxin'." Oh really little boy, because mom's blood pressure is through the roof right now! Anyway, we finally finished our story and he was able to open one present. Christmas jammies! Which he actually seemed pretty happy about and he was really good the rest of the night.<br /><br />Our night continued at my Grandpa and Grandma Gomez's house. We had a great time with our family and both my cousins and their families were there to celebrate with us. We were able to take a moment out of the busy night to focus on what the party was all about and had Communion as a family. It was a great way to remember why Jesus came and what His ultimate act of love was.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNgXmYwiGJOokhxNiehXlgE9zlpDh9haiF-93Rk1zvWLNlA0MFG4ceK0f1SZVHtx6podBh6RbDt84ohZVzV5JaVp4nGjYGk5aEc8uHDFPlXW2RwZq7DPRCSlRfxHDYin8LQDQdlJDMqMX/s1600-h/Christmas+2008+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284197733467462610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNgXmYwiGJOokhxNiehXlgE9zlpDh9haiF-93Rk1zvWLNlA0MFG4ceK0f1SZVHtx6podBh6RbDt84ohZVzV5JaVp4nGjYGk5aEc8uHDFPlXW2RwZq7DPRCSlRfxHDYin8LQDQdlJDMqMX/s200/Christmas+2008+004.jpg" border="0" /></a>Marshall was an absolute joy on Christmas morning. We started the day off by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. I think Marshall liked that because when he woke up this morning he asked me to sing Happy Birthday. He opened his presents so well and was really excited about all his stuff - Elmo chair, Batman backpack, Thomas the Train set, a puzzle, toy cars and motorcycle, but I think his favorite was his little bear. We even had time to sit and play with some of his toys before we headed out to my Grandparent's house.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7XEas-m6Gqp9HBAPb4GaWN7QbxFOyMZDB-xNX-OYtB2NZMvIYm31XkU_DiiAO1KYnDgYxbR2WB5Vm_pshUHdDW-fLGdZW34RjzM7a4PUhuEZKE__Nh4nwY4mA1gDLFKcdXWh19SO7JlL/s1600-h/Christmas+2008+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284216088053704482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7XEas-m6Gqp9HBAPb4GaWN7QbxFOyMZDB-xNX-OYtB2NZMvIYm31XkU_DiiAO1KYnDgYxbR2WB5Vm_pshUHdDW-fLGdZW34RjzM7a4PUhuEZKE__Nh4nwY4mA1gDLFKcdXWh19SO7JlL/s200/Christmas+2008+008.jpg" border="0" /></a>Grandpa Louie and Grandma Mare made breakfast for all of us which included my grandpa's yummy quiche he makes every year for Christmas. After opening presents we played a few rounds of Catch Phrase, one of Jesse's gifts to me, and it was reconfirmed that my dad is the sorest loser ever. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhf0MtaY0K72ccb7NAfvmSKx5Qr6hnEm4qgAbuDtNuVBM_QV1vQzhWSboITgsF52Aw9bs5okwxtxIw7ZX9xQFyrOhRR7aKMhy4RkZSyHa1ZaqVdkM3hqpi7vjrkRXdDCPnRD59MO8H-L1/s1600-h/Christmas+2008+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284216297519378322" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhf0MtaY0K72ccb7NAfvmSKx5Qr6hnEm4qgAbuDtNuVBM_QV1vQzhWSboITgsF52Aw9bs5okwxtxIw7ZX9xQFyrOhRR7aKMhy4RkZSyHa1ZaqVdkM3hqpi7vjrkRXdDCPnRD59MO8H-L1/s200/Christmas+2008+006.jpg" border="0" /></a>Then we headed out to battle the storm on our way to Jesse's parent's home.<br /><br />We arrived there safely for more family, food and presents. All of Jesse's family was there and I'm happy to report that all my nieces and nephews stayed off the naughty list. However, Hudson kept insisting that what he got for Christmas was "a secret" and I still don't know what that means. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12ZWHigU1_sbV7EsuglN_4kO-9hzqv2xWkBj2a5XdyTQI7F_VOCmGL2A7TQ3zEPSzcN2OhW4_DEHYQCsiJGEGdV9H7yxZViH63MUUCjAEqfgps2Vta9ap6vz3GhA7j4YdPBOTUyayLQhq/s1600-h/Christmas+2008+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284217192690502338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12ZWHigU1_sbV7EsuglN_4kO-9hzqv2xWkBj2a5XdyTQI7F_VOCmGL2A7TQ3zEPSzcN2OhW4_DEHYQCsiJGEGdV9H7yxZViH63MUUCjAEqfgps2Vta9ap6vz3GhA7j4YdPBOTUyayLQhq/s200/Christmas+2008+010.jpg" border="0" /></a>He never told me what he got. After presents we were able to get in some much needed nap time. Later that evening we sat and visited with Mike and Anita which was very nice in the glow of the Christmas lights.<br /><br />We ended the night back at my grandparent's house playing Rummy. Marshall had potato chips for dinner.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284217691716889458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqHybt4Q0AjQao46ES6M1Y1dqD-8blTD66GiFrobkRIqpwihgtn-XbHPqK1okMsvAuEfdukEfFHEBNyY3eeHyrI92vBCiVtICcGCp12VI3dN1XYwnNUewkdEwGBVFibh-LI0ad1BIg8k7/s320/Christmas+2008+011.jpg" border="0" /> Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-65194232443873596502008-12-23T14:17:00.000-08:002008-12-23T16:35:26.852-08:00Fisher Fondue / Evening with the Evans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsQHyXMzrF3Jp6eWu4A-4YDVZ_yNRVgImoxMCYt6N659ZQKq8hKdY1A4wBwvbK64RGb_NGqgUQIs36u9mNzlvt1nfd-SenITUUtVi5_fICQpdBdVtDRsy47Fk_hjsEv4gkWOnc20CvCUk/s1600-h/Fisher+Fondue+3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283125922045448178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsQHyXMzrF3Jp6eWu4A-4YDVZ_yNRVgImoxMCYt6N659ZQKq8hKdY1A4wBwvbK64RGb_NGqgUQIs36u9mNzlvt1nfd-SenITUUtVi5_fICQpdBdVtDRsy47Fk_hjsEv4gkWOnc20CvCUk/s200/Fisher+Fondue+3.JPG" border="0" /></a>This past weekend we were busy with two fun Christmas parties. The first was our annual Fisher Fondue at my parents' house. There was a ton of great food and, the best part, chocolate fondue for dessert.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphAkX7OIG4HEqlG7BS8R6fXc6wx4hm5mCGJoUsslUR-TlSstyGO8pEemyOJCTkOgf2BAdrsSzCdN8rRaemIPHWoLgoA5nqMkQFNnWjWCM9-RsR766CXzK0g_Ali4vHH6WJn7xmi9Gens7/s1600-h/Fisher+Fondue+7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283126866944574306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphAkX7OIG4HEqlG7BS8R6fXc6wx4hm5mCGJoUsslUR-TlSstyGO8pEemyOJCTkOgf2BAdrsSzCdN8rRaemIPHWoLgoA5nqMkQFNnWjWCM9-RsR766CXzK0g_Ali4vHH6WJn7xmi9Gens7/s200/Fisher+Fondue+7.JPG" border="0" /></a> After dinner we opened presents and we all got a lot of really great stuff. At the end of the night we played Apples to Apples - Bible Edition while all the grandkids watched The Chronicles of Narnia with Grandpa Dick. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFKivMRP-7csiSX-3hGsx4Fjq22U5kr1VOJNdFnjjTPW2X-dz1OsorfBhgIoS214cOjAxCUi5i3FPzAxOgbAXBdPwPVVU422vNIOvZ6n1j0EpTW7JNIyXzedFMRhWK3bCRDIrg0sE4CkJ/s1600-h/Fisher+Fondue+2.JPG"></a>Savannah and I stayed up until two in the morning playing her new High School Musical board game. I know what you're thinking, Party Animals!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXCFub4sMUJPTZ_5cDNUALdvhGZL-8RcbWU3wW-JdXOp6WUw8pQDnP1V-npdyTORRszGpXk7KC0jyvbwjyvPqpPBKDRRbyzdWxX9GZoOtzMrwezAbYv8GOxKlVw3wU3J_SkBinuPCBLfr/s1600-h/Fisher+Fondue+6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283141008809782738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXCFub4sMUJPTZ_5cDNUALdvhGZL-8RcbWU3wW-JdXOp6WUw8pQDnP1V-npdyTORRszGpXk7KC0jyvbwjyvPqpPBKDRRbyzdWxX9GZoOtzMrwezAbYv8GOxKlVw3wU3J_SkBinuPCBLfr/s200/Fisher+Fondue+6.JPG" border="0" /></a>The next morning we hooked up the sled to my dad's Rhino and drove around in the field. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBsL5-h0E8PsZ27gr1dCQd4bb5n0R-Cz4o8x8MCPtowRFKBY5KrLaq3qbiRxK5Aa810oiUgj3SKVQviQENhcYiCTXDmD0641HFB8BmP_LHl9dl9LvXag56ml2BY73qWBruFXB-vU3aDYI/s1600-h/Fisher+Fondue+5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283139064001726354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBsL5-h0E8PsZ27gr1dCQd4bb5n0R-Cz4o8x8MCPtowRFKBY5KrLaq3qbiRxK5Aa810oiUgj3SKVQviQENhcYiCTXDmD0641HFB8BmP_LHl9dl9LvXag56ml2BY73qWBruFXB-vU3aDYI/s200/Fisher+Fondue+5.JPG" border="0" /></a>That's my kind of sledding. No hills to walk up. Just sit down, hold on and try not to fall off the sled into a pile of horse manure. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaoR3uBHhhrGZ6YBlwhU1XrQTCI8JHJ8Ihd8Z46MnJzYwKFO-fQEFe0OE86y6raEymGL_wQ-JB75G4xipubgbdfz-usq6rGBx-EJFXYnDX1v86FF_e0Vac8pi1FhjZiEYbGpv3zjgHRF3/s1600-h/Fisher+Fondue+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283128896736819714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaoR3uBHhhrGZ6YBlwhU1XrQTCI8JHJ8Ihd8Z46MnJzYwKFO-fQEFe0OE86y6raEymGL_wQ-JB75G4xipubgbdfz-usq6rGBx-EJFXYnDX1v86FF_e0Vac8pi1FhjZiEYbGpv3zjgHRF3/s200/Fisher+Fondue+1.JPG" border="0" /></a>It was way fun and Marshall and Valerie even enjoyed a few laps around the field. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtzbTLOx4COB6jfjRYE9JwAdsMAiNaeirHe1jJ-P_iyXIWt3JleSXHqhICJN-GgUX0TDN5HhughT3UM0zLIx4XCPGQFE5XfNyYkORFO5BiUM1jeRBgL87z8HGVHvs1_yQ_E9ZnhTe5TF4/s1600-h/Fisher+Fondue+8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283137492330880386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtzbTLOx4COB6jfjRYE9JwAdsMAiNaeirHe1jJ-P_iyXIWt3JleSXHqhICJN-GgUX0TDN5HhughT3UM0zLIx4XCPGQFE5XfNyYkORFO5BiUM1jeRBgL87z8HGVHvs1_yQ_E9ZnhTe5TF4/s200/Fisher+Fondue+8.JPG" border="0" /></a>The piles of horse manure only added to the fun and bumpy ride.<br /><br />The next evening we went to a party for Jesse's side of the family. It was fun to see everyone we don't get to see much throughout the year. I wasn't talented enough to keep track of my two year old and take pictures at the same time. Sorry. The adults played pool and had a gift exchange. You know the one - you draw numbers and people get to steal gifts from others. Jesse ended up with some pub glasses, couldn't have found a better owner, and I got a gadget used for pedicures, also couldn't have found a better owner. Santa dropped off a bag of presents for the kids. Marshall got a book about the true meaning of Christmas.<br /><br />Which leads me to the end of this post. Even more magical than Santa coming down the chimney to deliver gifts to good little boys and girls is this. That God Himself came down from His glory to deliver naughty little boys and girls from their sins. Christmas is about the fact that we have a Savior that would leave the comfort of Heaven to come into this world, not as a powerful ruler, but a helpless baby in a manger who would ultimately die for all of us. Thank you Jesus for loving me that much. Have a Merry Christmas everyone!Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647043820107272792.post-43584919728900664152008-12-02T14:11:00.000-08:002008-12-02T15:42:59.635-08:00Ball of a Birthday PartyI did a sports ball theme for Marshall's birthday party: footballs, baseballs, soccer balls, basketballs, you get the picture. We had our family over for soup, salad, cake and ice cream to celebrate. Jesse and I made his cake.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275331368150339298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYD5cZ7X0UfAYeJrtwIj3C5iXArbUZOS_4CUcsM8mILK8THS9-K7gvYKi6wZFJDMCqs7QdjwmCYipL-jWCoR1Y-YUrZmwkX2LQqXeC3fnZlHaMzsmSf5HQ3ZMK0MUxncgnhVAqS4NLmK_/s200/Birthday+Cake.jpg" border="0" />(Jenn, please don't critique my cake decorating skills too harshly.)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275332559531652642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Vb9ladTRrk5ql3D3aTZK5Qy0H298zShp3ju-5dN9KJkKtVDu30Z6j2__vPiWpuHb0REBnEtxN8FfB6RVNvEkcftLo3Aloqhh9ZtGyDI-nVpCsgdFFDKbjuC_GQKSWNPszUOH4ZkevxC0/s200/Marshall's+2nd+Birthday+%26+Thanksgiving+026.jpg" border="0" />We told him to smile after blowing out the candles and this is what we got.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275332948032546034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-u45FIyZbUcAngj7HGHNq8SRwZrhB7NWwEfR8sRhqxhLe3NqvByYy86sMQypri4ps4Yc3D7ScqbY-2l9DgI_7TZTYtG-hfW-_sqfvD4HyKvQtbpSWx7BgSPzVo2NNa6LF-I20UBV8OEUM/s200/Marshall's+2nd+Birthday+%26+Thanksgiving+027.jpg" border="0" /> Although he did not enjoy opening his presents (that would require him to sit still for far too long) he has enjoyed wearing / playing with them. He got tons of great gifts: clothes, pajamas, cowboy boots, a tool box with a drill, Iron Man car, sports balls, and a Doodle Pro to name a few. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275325555369922114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJCreqiaIOF3sMWOxWBCviL5HJ2aAU1FFd5fJbcoyvpjO2ZYvIw2cAF2ThmK0f1KRISZSwWCT5mmUxNus6iYreNHldOkQXDZUXMPQVUi5tmbcePPnrz3sXXDR2vZULRYNepupZXB_HZ7O/s200/Marshall's+2nd+Birthday+%26+Thanksgiving+007.jpg" border="0" />Jesse and I gave him a new bike to ride.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275331045085342578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Qzv6N2hbxm0PUpCS0cUVdDGUQawSKkOCnhEoldfOzfXVKugiGIbdUTyLzlcVxOi975KcYWYVX3JOy9jqRltLbQSC46ZczQetxxQxzGISRAuWWx0e6zzoFagY8esobggPH7m0AB6rHf7Z/s200/Marshall's+2nd+Birthday+%26+Thanksgiving+036.jpg" border="0" />Our happy family relaxing after all the chaos.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275334752113312690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVU4J2l7Tcq-MENScB3mbWsPSQK2-BScBDJPXSdy_Qo3MT29eO9AtVCD8cbTjQ1Rbw2m2id1c5l0hOQeCmktWR7tPTdV210CX0-o_Dmk_cNkAePOw_VPgoCSHT-coaE9-Gl6Fg3kypxkD5/s200/Marshall's+2nd+Birthday+%26+Thanksgiving+033.jpg" border="0" />The following day we took him to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Jumpin</span>' Jacks. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275336272077955314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpwN8V-Q5ewKzlE11SpchzCYZ3LdwSeG9VzmcDT5te3oIz1Vdaor7YywrpXe7CPytwDxPy7KMYejAmAku-fQrLduBtxNjghxoNjZ5O5lqEzIC52WU3Z3xW0q5Ei9yvLtOTB5sjLRLopFv/s200/Marshall's+2nd+Birthday+%26+Thanksgiving+048.jpg" border="0" />He had no fear and didn't even think twice about going down the huge slides.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275337447513095282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQf8h1ZtjyV07-URUO55IjMgTrQDC1kcPGx2kafTQe4Xq8e4B7vR6b1JC8hhVY0TSTmQtQREEvlIhvklV-SXQb5hnnF2znPmVxwAhX-dhDMp6n3ZHWsTouSLhGRIrbIihPiX1UVtNszDi/s200/Marshall's+2nd+Birthday+%26+Thanksgiving+047.jpg" border="0" />Savannah came with us and she was a big help. Thanks for chasing him around for us Savannah!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275336552425925490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYU3ZXjpRXkmIo3D9pWwZEQdGwz3D1iqYk6aJbcmJcTtWhmzl1bQyz6_M62U6FOfJYJDiaXw7GbQZO4F2h40Iuc0sufzn1T8mLqM8bhG_cJLpoGnGRSFG0wARsIaN9CoaMfpA28QG7UpSh/s200/Marshall's+2nd+Birthday+%26+Thanksgiving+051.jpg" border="0" />He had a blast and it was so nice to be able to just let him run around and be as crazy as he wanted to be.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275338158303037154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMuju3dteK-LHRsGu7c4ogQqrxZh9gYDko3LFeUUDnC8SF8pvsY6pjZzXZSQJWnhUURE1li9MUhM3IAoRQF8TtHQLDyoMt7g7vL_d_GKIZ4j6A4UbFxoPk_Ckwqf5esahubfhAtm2rsRb/s200/Marshall's+2nd+Birthday+%26+Thanksgiving+042.jpg" border="0" />Good times!Jesse, Christa and Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12989037074243190111noreply@blogger.com6