Beautiful kids, Twinkies and Laughter

Random post for the week. :) First of all, I have some beautiful kids. We went to the ranch last week with my dad and brother and since I'm still not completely comfortable with my new camera, I decided to do a very impromptu photo shoot. My subjects were simply fabulous to work with.

On another note, it seems like our family has been surrounded by comedians this week. Literally. My kids have discovered a clean, Christian comedian, Tim Hawkins. They love to show me his YouTube videos over and over and over. So I decided to make it easier on myself and just buy a few of his videos so I could sit and watch it and then the kids would know I've already seen that really funny bit. Anyway, his latest video has a song in it that Little Man kept telling me he really didn't understand. So after watching, it occurred to me that my children have never had the privilege of eating....Twinkies. So what is any good mom to do but go buy a box and let her kids try some? :)

Now the song makes a lot more sense and my kids have been educated on yummy goodness that comes wrapped in a cellophane package.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwzKa9wJSVY

Another very funny person I encountered this week was Anita Renfroe. She was in town performing at a local fundraiser that I was invited to. She made me laugh so hard my tummy hurt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXgoJ0f5EsQ

I love Christians that realize that laughing is fun and it's fun to laugh at yourself. And you can be funny without being dirty or vulgar. And I love that my kids can watch them and I don't have to worry about what is being said or what they might be taking in.

Have you laughed today? :)

He IS the details

As I sat at the intersection laughing, singing and having fun with my kids, my sight drifted over to the stain on the road. Sand covered it now but you could see the remains of leaking oil on the road and then you noticed the tire marks that twisted and turned all over the place. It was at that moment that the overwhelming reality hit me. My day could look very different today. I could be visiting a very sweet girl in the hospital, consoling her parents or something worse....I couldn't let my mind go there. And then He spoke. "I am in the smallest of details."

If one car had been going a little bit faster or the other going a little bit slower, this accident would have looked very different. Instead of the car being swiped out at the front bumper, it would have been hit directly on the driver's side door. Right where this sweet girl sat. "I am in the smallest of details."

If Jerod had left work any later, or wasn't planning on meeting up with us soon...he wouldn't have been home to rush to the accident down the street to be with our friend. She needed someone familiar there while she waited on her mom and dad to arrive. "I am in the smallest of details."

God isn't surprised by anything. He knew that this would happen the moment the sun came up that morning. And He had a plan for it all. He knew that we would need to realize that He takes care of us even in the details.

You see; our friends, the Tuttles; their daughter was in an accident right outside our neighborhood....

But God was in the smallest of details. With only bumps and bruises she walked away and is able to claim that God is our ultimate protector. I'm so thankful that God took care of this sweet girl. She is such a light in this dark world and her love and faith in God is spreading to those she encounters every day. We love her and are thankful for her and her family but most of all, I'm so thankful she's okay.

God is in your details. All of them. Trust Him. He loves you. He wants to call you his child and He wants to be in your life. Let Him in. And allow Him to take care of the details.

Dallas!

What a wonderful weekend we just had. In celebration of completing our studies of knights, castles and such, we headed to Dallas to enjoy the show "Medieval Times" and other fun stuff a big town has to offer. :)

Before we even left town though my handsome hubby gave me an early birthday present. I was SO excited!! I have been wanting a newer nicer camera for awhile but I was completely surprised by this!

So what's a girl to do when given a gift like this right before a 6 hour drive? Take pictures of the passengers of course!

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset on our drive as well.

Friday was a BIG day. We started the day by going to Lego Land with just us and our kids. They loved it!!

Someone with a lot more patience and talent than I have put some of the coolest Lego models together that I've ever seen. We started by playing a laser tag game to help save the princess from the evil magician. Little Man got the highest score. Bum. Then we watched a 4D movie of little Lego people and toured a miniature replica of the city of Dallas all made from Lego's. So entirely awesome.

Princess enjoyed the Palace made just for her

Little Man got to make a race car and then try it out on several race tracks.

After finishing up at Lego Land, we headed to the American Girl Doll Store. We met up with my parents and watched as the guys just LOVED being in this store. Princess got a new doll that does not have bangs and she used some of her money to buy her a brush, glasses and a fancy hair-do. :) I love that she loves her dolls.

Up next was the Main Event entertainment center. We met up with my sister and her family there. They have everything from laser tag to bowling to these cool gravity ropes.

My sister and her family had decided to spend their morning at the Dallas Aquarium so her babies were already tired.

But not too tired to be a ham-bone!!

I like these guys. A lot.

Finishing off our day was the Medieval Times show. I had been looking forward to this for weeks. I knew it would be fun for my kids to see all the cool stuff we've been talking about in person. What I didn't expect was that Princess would make quite as big of a hit as she did. :)

Our knight, the red and yellow one, not only gave her a flower, but he presented her with his "Queen of the Tournament" sash. She was beyond excited. I love it.

After the show we caught up with Sir Red and Yellow Knight and he was very gracious in allowing us to take his picture with his Princess. She was all shy and dreamy eyed over seeing her knight this close.

The others just wanted their picture with any knight and of course, the knight who won.

Not long after we headed back to the hotel, our little Princess crashed. This picture is such a great example of her whole day. Dolls, Knights in shining armor, and being inducted into the Medieval Times Royal Family. :) I love that little girl!

My very own Robin Hood

Princess let the littlest Princess see her sash and flower the next day. Sweet girl.

Saturday was another big day. It was opening day of Six Flags and we of course took advantage.

All the cousins had fun experiencing this park for the first time together.

These two pretty much have the same feelings about roller coasters so they stuck together.

And there it is...the highest and fastest roller coaster Six Flags has to offer. Believe it or not, we got Princess and her cousin Coby on it with their daddies and crazy Aunt April. :) Over a 250 ft drop reaching speeds of 84mph. And half way through, Princess informed her father she would like to get off. :) Once she finally forgave him for getting her on it, she told him she had two favorite parts: when they took her picture and getting off. :) But she can say she did it!

And by the way, I have no idea why some areas are underlined and some are coming through as links....my blogger has a mind of it's own and does these things all by itself. Sorry if it's a distraction. I probably need to upgrade my blog to the new design but that requires change and, well, that's just not my favorite word. :) Happy Tuesday!!!