choices?

So...this might be gratuitous, but I'm doing it anyway. My excuse? I want opinions.

We've been slowly saving up to replace the very used couch in front of our tv. We want a sectional, or perhaps a curved "conversational" couch. When we move, it will fit nicely into the lower level. Additionally, it will be GREAT and so so so much better for having students over.

We originally wanted one that reclined. But those are more expensive and heavy. So now we are thinking about just getting an ottoman. We also want something firm so it lasts longer. And microfiber would be good b/c it's like indestructible.

Might as well get a new one so it lasts longer...

Here is the most expensive, though I don't have a number yet. It's a flexsteel... This is precisely the layout I would want. 3 seats on one side and 2 on the other. And something like this color too...

Here is the second expensive one - a flexsteel as well. We could put an additional wedge in the middle to lengthen it.

Here is a best furniture one. I don't like chaises, so we would switch that out...

Another Best one. Again, no chaise.

Here is an Ashley sectional. I like it, but it's not as good of quality as the other two, but therefore, less expensive!

And here is the final Ashley. Terry actually has a broken piece of this couch in the sunday school room. It certainly looks nice, but the back is a lot less supportive than I would like. Though the bottom cushions seem adequate. And, it's big.

So what do you think???

ski trip 2010

Last weekend was our annual youth group ski trip to Snowy Range, WY! It was Terry's third trip and my second. Here is last year's post, complete with video!

Last year I had a good time but did not prove to be a very good skier at all! I remember getting talked into going down with a few girls who I thought I could keep up with but they totally ditched me. And to top that off, I attempted to go solo down this really steep blue run called Virginian and it.kicked.my.butt. I went and found Terry, rode up the ski lift with him and cried into his shoulder =(. I felt terrible that I was no good.

This year, I did a lot better! I perfected my snowplow and finally began to learn to go side to side to slow down. Plus, I had a friend - Brenda. She's a fellow leader and she's awesome. The first year her son hit a tree and was life-flighted to CO. This year her daughter totally broke her wrist. Not such a good record for her family! But me and Bren Bren were amazing. We matched each other's speed so we always had someone to hang out with. A great time was had by all despite the very poor sleep.

Here are a few photos of me, and one of Terry. He's making a sweet video for youth group so I will post that later.

Here is our pastor's youngest son Jon having just caused me to crash by crashing in front of me. It was epic. I whined a lot but really enjoyed it. It's stories like that that make it great.

I would look a lot less frumpy if I didn't have two full water bottles in my front chest pockets... And if my coat fit... And if it wasn't so long... Yeah, pretty much, I looked like a dork. But I had fun!

Okay, this is so sweet b/c this is Virginian! Brenda and I totally worked it out and overcame our fears. When we asked Emily if she wanted to go down with us, it was classic. We were like, Wanna come with us? Em: Where? Us: Virginian. Em: NOPE (without even missing a beat). But she came as well and did as good as we did. YES!

Notice, I look like a dork face again with my huge snowplow. But at least I'm safe.

I'm off to the right there and that's Siera in front of me. We're about to head through the trees to watch all the "cool" kids do their jumps.

This is Sarah, another leader, and I. She's quite a good skier. I could not keep up with her!

We are just about to head off the mountain after our second day of skiing. Terry and I had fun!

Here is Terry giving one of our favorite students, Chris, an award, though I can't recall what he got... Oops! (we gave about half the kids awards).

And here our group is in front of Darwin's bus at Table in the Wilderness, where we stayed. We took 30 kids!!!

they were here

Terry's parents came two weeks ago for a visit. It was a nice time for us as we were between two trips - D2S and skiing. We did pretty much nothing.

However, they did get a room at a hotel so the kids could swim and then let Terry and I stay there one night while they took the kids back home. Sweet!

Here is us doing nothing: Terry wrestles Noah and Evie climbs aboard

Grampa reading the paper. Snap LOVES company b/c they love him more than we do...

Gramma occupied herself with a book. It was quite rainy and gloomy so we just hung out by the fireplace.

Here's a video of us swimming

where you go...

...I go.

That's Evie's motto. Noah was in his room a couple weeks ago for a time out thingy. It got quiet for a while, which usually indicates trouble. He was supposed to be on his bed, but as he didn't hear me tell him he could come out, he got kinda bored I guess. I headed down there to find this:

Yep, looking through books. And Evie had to be involved too =)

early bday gifts

It's kinda fun that Noah and Evie's birthdays are so close. Noah was born on the same day that we got engaged: April 19th. Evie was just almost an April Fools baby. I guess she didn't want that though b/c she came March 31st. So the pair of them are just about exactly 3 years apart.

My parents are here to hang out for a few days. My mom is like the craftiest person I know. Unfortunately, I inherited none of her skill. But I am more than okay with that =)

Here are the kids opening up an early bday gift

Noah is pulling his out with lightning speed

And here's Evie's

My mom crocheted sweaters for them! Aren't they adorable?! They're wearing them today and are quite warm. Evie came up to me just now with sweat on her nose =)

Dunno what's up with the tongue from Noah but Evie is cute as ever

Mom said Evie looked like she had muscle arms. She does!

And can you see that hood? It's got a little spiky poofy thing going on on top =) Thanks mom!

D2S-10 video

Here is the video of Dare to Share that Terry made for church. It's got a lot of stuff that wasn't in the pics I put up, though it is like 7 minutes long. For instance, you can see how full the Pershing Center was, how many kids there were!

spring teases

So, global warming has been giving us a really cold winter. And just so you know, my tongue is in my cheek on that one. If I wasn't clear, I think global warming is bogus. Lame.

Anyway, it's been cold here. We haven't had our typical warm ups in between the snows. It's just stayed cold.

But since March came in, it's really starting to feel like spring is coming. I hope it stays, but usually it teases you. Like this day was 50-some degrees but I'm sure it will snow again soon. Then it will get warm and repeat until the snow is truly gone.

Anyway, Tuesday was busy but we HAD to get out. Good thing I thought of boots as a precaution b/c it was very wet and muddy.

Evie wanders more than her brother and in no time she had her UNwaterproof boots soaked.

Noah was learning about the different sounds the playground pipes make when struck with a stick...

Evie prints

Slush

Here she's standing in a slush puddle. Shortly after this she slipped on the ice under the slush and fell into an ice cold puddle thus soaking herself. Poor little sausage. We went right home for a warm nap =)

braiding it all up

For church on Sunday I changed Evie's typical hair style up a bit - usually it's half up in a side pony-tail. I figured it was long enough for something more so I pulled it half up but braided it. It was quite cute.

Monday morning I woke up thinking that her hair is capable of even more than just half of her hair being braided. So I tried my hand at a french braid.

I'm no expert at this though so it's good we have plenty of time to perfect it.

You'd think I'd get tired of lamenting at how big this girl is, but it still surprises me. Look at how gorgeous!

Although, when we were looking through baby pictures together last week, I was reminded that I guess I really am okay with them growing up. Certainly it's very nice that they're not babies anymore! They're becoming more them. And Evie is talking SO much - Our parents are both going to be visiting in the next week and will be so surprised at her progress.

She's so cute.

And I'll throw a shot of Noah in too. He came in while I had the camera out b/c he needed help putting his shirt on =)

Dare to Share

Well, Dare to Share was last weekend. D2S is a traveling nation wide youth conference (Friday night through all day Saturday) that is amazing. We had never heard of it before we moved here and it was already a tradition to go. So Terry signed them up 3 years ago for it and has been going to it since. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger as far as our group is concerned.

We took 72 students and 12 leaders. We also partnered with Terry's fellow youth pastor friend Darwin, who owns a bus. They brought like 6 or 7. We also met up with our friends from 1st E-Free back home! They brought like 30 and then a group from the reservation brought some. So all in all, we had like 135 I think. We had so many that we had our own section to ourselves, which was great (In years past they've had to separate).

Oh yeah, what is the point of this conference? It equips students to share their faith, to share Jesus with their friends. In the past when Terry would come back all fired up, I was just indifferent. I didn't understand it. I thought that D2S would use guilt and condemnation to get everyone to share, b/c that's how I've always felt in the past. Having been there myself now, that's totally not the case. Everything was very biblical and just amazing. I came away saying that I wish we had something like this for adults. It was so inspiring and moving. Of course, whenever you worship in a huge corporate way like that, it's bound to be moving. You don't have to worry about how bad you sound or what anyone else thinks b/c it's dark. But even if it wasn't, we probably wouldn't change b/c it's so great.

So anyway, I'm totally on board and want to keep going!

Here Terry is giving instructions just to our and Darwin's group. No PDA yo!

Yes, lots, right?!

Here's Darwin's sweet bus!

Even though we had the bus, we still had to have have separate drivers. Only the junior highers were on the bus. The senior highers were divvied up between the other leaders. Here is our group of girls: Kenzi, Emily (who's behind Kenz), Danielle, Kendra and Siera. We had SUCH a great time with them, totally bonded. WHAT EVA?!

Just getting in to the Pershing Center (like a civic center I guess) which is across the street from the capitol.

Here is our worship leader - Tim Neufeld from Starfield. I. LOVE. Starfield!

Here is the one pic of me. =) I like it for a change.

Here are the shirts Terry spend days (and nights) printing. Awesome yeah? Get this, they glowed in the dark! And the conference this year was called "Blaze." Yeah, nice!

Here are the 33 pizza boxes that we completely consumed. And that's Brent there, one of Terry's lifting buddies!

More of our leaders: Jill (a cop!), Curt, Kevin (another lifting partner), Brent, Frank, Chris and Terry.

Here is the founder and president of D2S: Greg Stier. Terry printed a shirt for him and fellow D2S dude, Zane Black (whom the girls love =)). Cool trivia: Brent went to the same church in CO as Greg in high school =)

Here is our packed our section #21!

We were challenged to share our faith and here are my girls texting away =) I was so proud!

Terry praying with a student.

Our group in front of the capitol on our way to do a prayer walk around a school.

The capitol. Thank the Lord it was a pretty nice day. Last year they freezed their bums!

Our small Catholic school that we prayed for.

This is the very last song of D2S. It was amazing. There's Zane with this SEND ME sign.

And a final one of Zane and Danielle. Awesome. We love you Dare to Share!