Some nice days at the Parks

 God has given us a week of really nice weather in the middle of Winter so we are trying to enjoy all we can! We have been to the ride rides park, the rock climbing park and the temple park!

 love this one!

 We ran into an animal show at the climbing rock park- we were super excited- it was like $1.25 per person to get in and we loved it!

 we are trying to make friends...

 joining in the dancing

 josiah was very excited a little boy was kicking the ball with him!

evie joy loves to watch the tops spin!

Jo & the Frisbee

Josiah is pretty good at throwing a frisbee!  He's proud he can do some kind of sports activity that Daddy likes too!  He is learning how to catch it!  Here are a few pics!

the Sweetie Princess

Daddy calls Evie Joy his Sweetie Princess.  She pretty much lives to keep this title.  When she is throwing a fit or disobeying, she is often brought back into obedience not by reward or punishment but but reminding her how the Sweetie Princess is to act.  Even Josiah will encourage her when she is doing well and remind her to change her attitude if she is not acting like the Sweetie Princess. 

I was talking to her one night, thinking is this whole Sweetie Princess thing really a biblical concept for a little girl?  I mean it's not like her obedience is coming from a conviction of "obey your parents."  And I explained to her how we who believe in Jesus and obey Him are His bride.  She associates brides as looking like Princesses.  I explained that God makes us more beautiful every time we choose to believe in Him and obey Him and one day when we are with Him in heaven we will be the most beautiful Princess Bride. 

Then, this week she was refusing to do something, being the stubborn little something that she is and God brought to mind how stubbornness and rebellion is as witchcraft.  So, I told her every time she chooses her own way and chooses to disobey rather than obey she is like the witch on Snowwhite (she really likes Snowwhite but not the witch).  Disobey makes you like the ugly witch

Yup, we are not writing any parenting book but i think we are onto something with our little Sweetie Princess to help mold her heart to be sensitive to her Creator, to really know and delight in what true beauty is.  It has even made me think more in terms of am I allowing God to make me more beautiful by my submission and obedience or am I choosing my own ugly way in stubbornness and rebellion towards God?  Do we as believers walk around as the Redeemed Beloved of God or do we walk around in self- ugly-pride? 

New Year's Preschool Performance

This is an attempt to get some pics of the performance.  I brought my big camera and had some technical difficulties so i snapped a few with my ipod.  My friend videoed it but i don't have it yet.  It was cute. At the end, the last song, Evie Joy got on stage and joined Josiah's class. It was cute.  She gave him a big hug.  She was so happy and proud!

Some things we've been up to...

So this is more like a month recap or something.  My computer has not been allowing me to upload my pics so we've been kinda waiting....so here are some of our random January moments...mostly we are out and about on sunny days because they are rare...so above and below, we are enjoying riding the rides and eating hot dogs at the park!

Aren't they the cutest sword fighters you ever saw?

still loving dress up!

These are the chickens in the parking lot next to our house

 We stayed after school and played at the playground one day.  We were some of superheroes!

our friend gave us a bag of quail eggs to enjoy as a gift and we loved them!

He also gave us chicken fingers but Evie Joy tried one and then explained she didn't eat them because they were too sharp!

 on boat ride to see Da Buddha

Rock Park!  One of our favorite places!  MOst all of these photos are ipod photos so not the best but you get the idea of our events!