Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Merry Christmas 2006!!!!


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Thursday, December 21, 2006

I've been working with the kids on being thankful for what they have every day and for what Christ did for them. I decided a few days ago to start keeping a Thankfulness Journal with them, and record what they say (every word is theirs). Check out what they've said so far...

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Kids Just Don't Get Sarcasm...
Last night we all went to a Christmas party where instead of a white elephant gift exchange there was a $10 gift certificate exchange. You can imagine his delight when Jon walked away with a Hooter's gift card (insert sarcasm here). All last night we were joking that he could take our CPA or Jonah there sometime (or our Pastor! haha).
So today my sister April calls and wants to take Ava and Jonah out for lunch. While Ava's screaming and jumping up and down with elation, I asked Jonah where he wants to go, and he said . . . you guessed it: "Hooters!"

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

OK, so I just noticed Ava was pulling on her ear.
Momma: "Ava, does your ear hurt?" and I kissed her ear.
Ava: "No, I hurt my tongue."
Momma: "Oh, well, I'm not kissing your tongue, it would be all wet and slimy."
Ava: "I'm pulling on my ear because I hurt my tongue."
Momma (laughing): "Oh, like when you bite your tongue?" This is a little thing we made up to help the kids cope when they bite their tongues, which is nearly every night at dinner.
Ava: "STOP LAUGHING ABOUT MY LIFE, PLEASE!"
Our kids come from a long line of sleep talkers. For example, a young Auntie JoAnna murmured in her sleep one night and when Auntie April (Bepo) asked her what she said JoAnna declared, "I'm meeting my future husband!"
Our kids don't talk in their sleep every night, but last night Ava did. As I walked in to kiss her before heading to bed (it was almost midnight) she rolled over and mumbled something. I said, "What, Avie?" She then said loudly, "Mim dim I not dream in my room!"
I kind of like these little night-time surprise sayings; they are one of those fun secrets that (usually) only family knows about (unless you post them on your blog for the world to see) and bond us together...

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

OH CHRISTMAS TREE

Jon and the kiddos in front of the newly decorated tree.













Elisabeth with said kiddos and said tree.













Advent wreath (it looks like the middle candle is lit, but it's not)











Our Tree! Posted by Picasa

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Alternate titles for this post:
--"Jon raking the leaves...Wait! Are those kidlets in there?!" or
--"Jonah: I want to be buried by leaves. You can even cover my face!" or
--"Our heater broke and this is how we are trying to stay warm. Leaves are great insulators, you know." or
--"Mom, this isn't funny anymore. Let me out of these nasty leaves, please! Why do you always make us post for pictures for the blog?!"

 Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

This past weekend my sister Jamie and her daughter Grace came to visit. We had a great time but forgot to take pictures until the last day. We could have changed our clothes to make it look like the pics were taken over the entire weekend, but that's just too much work.
Wanna see all our pics?

April in a prego sandwich. E is 5 1/2 months along and Jamie is 7.

Gracie with Auntie Elisabeth

Uncle Jon with Grace--she chose him to snuggle with for about 30 minutes last night.

Gracie!

Last night Jonah and Ava came down after getting ready for bed, both with wet heads! "We washed our hair!" They used a water bottle and the hand soap. Nice. At least they try!

Silly Jonah

Ava with her wet head "I wanted to make it pretty and smelliful!"

Saturday, November 25, 2006


Happy 6th Birthday, Jonah! We had a little family party for him while everyone was over for Thanksgiving. It was a great day! (Boy, was that turkey good!)

Momma and April, "Bepo" as the kids call her, being silly in a picture to send to the fam in Cali.

"Look what I got!" (the police car from the Cars movie)

Jonah showing off what William and Heather got him (and he loves it!)--Mack from the Cars Movie.

Jon taking a break from dishes...

Nannie and Ava doing a puzzle "Nannie, you said I could do the inside!" while Bepo takes some pictures with her phone to send to family in California.

Poppop playing Tinker Toys with Jonah.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Jonah decided (about 3 months ago) that for his birthday he wanted to have a birthday party at a video arcade called Nickel Wunderland. Yesterday our friend Ian told Jon about a way better arcade called Ground Kontrol in Northwest Portland. To give you an idea of what's there, the newest game they have is the original Mortal Kombat (which we would never let him play, of course.)
So, today, Jon took him and his friend Aidan there for almost three hours, and spent nearly $20 in quarters. I keep having to remind myself that it's still cheaper than a party--and this boy loves video games. I still can't believe he's going to be SIX YEARS OLD in just two days.
Six years ago . . .
  • I called my sisters crying because I thought I was going to be pregnant forever (it really does feel that way towards the end--all you moms know it's true).
  • April left work early from Seattle and drove the three hours to cheer me up and keep me busy.
  • JoAnna sent me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers ever.
  • Jon took me and April to a movie (we all got car-sick during the movie--it was the genre of film, I think--and so we left early).
Six years ago . . .
  • We went home and to bed, but I couldn't sleep. I walked on the treadmill for a while (I will get this baby out of me!!).
  • I finally went to sleep, woke up early and went to the hospital (I wouldn't say we rushed--Jon did stop for some gas on the way at his station).
  • Jonah was born at 12:15 Thanksgiving morning--at 10 lbs 5 ounces he was our turkey that holiday.

Six years ago. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Saturday, November 18, 2006


Ava putting on her water wings--"they're wewwoh!"

Learning to swim with Dadda (look, no water wings!)

Going under!

Blowing the water out

Cute girl squinting the sunshine

Goofing off in the pool--it was so nice to get out of the rain and enjoy some sunshine. The kids played in the pool everyday and Jonah said "Mom, we need a swimming pool at our house." umm...

Friday, November 17, 2006



We just got home, and we had a great vacation in Scottsdale, Arizona! Check out all our pictures.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Jonah's teacher has a cute website with pictures of the kids on there--you might see one of the Joe (as we call him) and you can definately see his classroom and teacher. Mrs. Morris is so creative and has turned their whole classroom into a little town (called K-B Town), and every week they have a Mayor, a Weatherman, a Reporter, and a Worship Leader. It's very cute.
"All sin is certainly to be hated and abhorred where it is, but then we must set ourselves against sin as we do against sickness and diseases, by showing ourselves tender and compassionate to the sick and diseased."
-William Law, 18th Century Angelican writer.
This statement was sent to me by my friend Christy, and I love how it makes me think about whether I am truly compassionate and tender to those whom I would deem unfortunate (sick/diseased) or even those I would deem unworthy of my love (they have hurt me), or if when I immediately label them I am only being tender and compassionate to myself. It also makes me think about my sister April, who is so great at showing compassion, and has been a huge inspiration to me. I am so blessed.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006


Halloween! Ava, Paige, Makaena, and Jonah (Aidan went to get his shoes? Where's Aidan?) We had pizza together and then went to "Candyland" at Central Bible Church. We came home with lots of candy and Ava said, "See, I told ya--it's not a game!" (like the board game)

Jonah was Superman and Ava was a Western Cinderella!

Ava giving Dadda a big kiss.

Aidan the Ninja and Paige the Fairy Princess.

Jonah and Aidan with their game-faces on.

Baby Joshua (Shoo--ey for short) Durias, the little football player

Ava and Paigey being silly.

Makaena Marie Durias

Ava and her little friend Jolie.

Saturday, October 28, 2006


Last night we hosted a Murder Mystery Dinner for 6 of our friends. It was super fun and may turn into a Halloween tradition in our home. These are our good friends Ian and Mindy Durias. Ian played the "Mummy of King Aldrinktodat" (hence the toast) and Mindy was Dr. Angela Deth, a deadly dentist. (I just realized I'm not in any of the below photos. I played Lizzy Bourdeax, whose fiance is the murder victim.)

Yes, that is Jon, and no, that is not a wig. My husband who, for the sake of the game (and the humor-factor) shaved his head and left only a ring around the base in order to look old and very creepy. He played "Dr. Hannibal Schlector", the world's only documented Kosher cannibal.

My sis April was a fortune teller named "Madame Aretha Garlique" (she turned out to be wearing fake garlic and was, in fact, a vampire!)

The Mummy saying hello to Balihi.

Elisha in full costume--check out the fingernails!

Our friends who brought he game over, Peter and Elisha Jenkins. He played sort of a Rogers and Hammerstein frankenstein named "Balihi" and she was "Glumda, the Wicked Witch of Depressed". They were amazing and Peter stayed in character ALL NIGHT, and kept the Billy-Bob teeth in even when others started to dismantle their costumes.

Towards the end of the evening the Mummy's linens had disappeared (all over the floor--haha)... Shown L-R: Ian, Ben Thomas (who played the "Prince of Dimness, Asthmadeus"), and Jon. It was so fun!

Friday, October 27, 2006

An increase of 1500% in 10 years...
That's an increase of Child Internet Pornography in the last 10 years. Please read the following quickly and go to the website to "light a candle"--it only takes about 10 seconds and will help eradicate this filthy industry. Thank you.

"The innocent victims of Internet child abuse cannot speak for themselves.
But you can.
With your help, we can eradicate this evil trade.
We do not need your money.
We need you to light a candle in support of these children.
We're aiming to light at least One Million Candles by December 31, 2006.
This petition will be used to encourage governments, politicians, financial institutions, payment organisations, Internet service providers, technology companies and law enforcement agencies to eradicate the commercial viability of online child abuse.
They have the power to work together. You have the power to get them to take action.
Please light your candle at lightamillioncandles.com or send an email of support to light@lightamillioncandles.com.
Together, we can destroy the commercial viability of Internet child abuse sites that are destroying the lives of innocent children."
Today we lit our candle.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Happy birthday Jon! To see our whole roll, click here. Posted by Picasa