Michael took the kids on a drive...

...While I got a few hours at home by myself. I would say one of my most favorite things is to be home alone in my house. I start to get bored after a few hours but there is just something to be said about peace and quiet with no distractions. So last Sunday, Michael took the kids to see the beautiful spring wildflowers and then they ended up in Superior. They took my camera along and took these pretty pictures.



We decided to do some spring cleaning in our backyard and maybe bit off more than we could chew but we persevered and won the battle with the cat claw. Everyone got in on the action. We had SO MUCH catclaw to remove. Our neighbors are adding two more bricks to the fence we share so we (along with our neighbors) decided to take the catclaw down. It starts on our side and then flows over onto their side. I have never been a fan of it, it takes a few feet away from our backyard space and I don't find it very pleasing to the eye. I like more of a clean look myself. So after two days of really hard work, the task is complete except for the fact that we need to power wash the brick wall and figure out how to get all of this

into our green barrell. Of course it will take several weeks to get it all in there but it will get done.

And while I had my camera out, I couldn't help but take a picture of these pretty bushes. I just love it when they have pretty purple flowers in bloom.

Then today the kids were plalying outside so I decided to grab my camera and capture a few pictures of the kids. But Anna was the only one to pose, the boys were too fast and too busy to stop for a picture. These pics are keepers, I love the black and white one. Why is the black and white picture so big you ask, well I am trying to figure out how to get my pictures to be bigger on my blog. I have done a little research and so far I have only figured out how to do it with vertical pictures, the horizontal ones won't work unless I change my entire blog layout which I am not willing to do right now. I still need to fiddle with this some more because it is too skinny. Oh well, I will keep working on it.



Well, it is 7:15 on a Saturday night. The kids are still playing outside. I just love their imaginations. I hear them saying things like, "put your spacesuits on" and "your turn to pilot" and then Camden says "An orphan gave this to me, here you take it!" Alrighty then, I guess they all understand each other cause that orphan comment sort of threw me off a bit. My darlings sure make me giggle. Michael is watching TV, I am blogging and couting down the minutes to bedtime because I am really tired tonight and ready to climb into bed and go night night.

Mini golf

Today Michael and I spent some special time with just the boys. They had each earned a mini golf game in homeschool this past semester for completing a master reader program (Jadon) and a spelling program (Camden). We were finally able to reward them today and we had a great time. Anna had just as much fun even though she was not with us, she got to have one of her favorite people over to hang out with her. Heather is 14 years old and has babysat Anna for a long time now. Anna made a list of things she wanted to do with Heather today. Her list included: 1. Playing the Wii 2. Going to the playground 3. Jumping on Heather's trampoline 4. Playing games.
I can say that Heather is amazing because they did everything on Anna's list. And as far as mini golfing with the boys, I think you can tell from the pictures, we had a great time too!

A few pictures

Here are a few pictures from our ice skating trip and the boys new "lab". They have had fun doing a little decorating with spray paint, under the supervision of mom and dad of course. I know this will offer many hours of fun. My pictures at the ice skating rink are horrible. It was dark in there, they did not have lights on for some reason, just some strobe effect going on. It made for a very weird atmosphere if you ask me but the kids still had fun. Michael and I ended up giving it a try but after two very slow laps our feet were hurting so bad we had to stop. They don't make skates for wide feet like mine, at least not the cheap rental kind. Jadon took right to the ice and Anna and Camden hugged the wall most of the time and stuck close together. By the end of the night though they were both skating away from the wall. I know this will be an activity we will repeat.

This picture makes me laugh. Can they get any closer to the wall or each other, this is right after they got on the ice.

And then there is Jadon.

In my last post I mentioned how we did some rearranging of our storage, well this is an after picture of this shelf and in it's new location on our back patio.

Camden in front of the lab.

Starting to look like a place for boys to hang out.

next up, pictures from mini golf today.

Spring break fun!

Let's start with the best news of all. Camden has been talking about being baptized and decided last night that he would like to take the next step in his faith and do it. We spent time reading passages about why we get baptized and what it means. He has a clear understanding of it and is also very excited about it. His only request is that he be baptized in our pool in front of a few people instead of at church in front of a bunch of strangers. I can appreciate that so once our pool water warms up a bit, we will have some friends over to share in this very special moment in Camden's life. He would like Michael, me and Jadon to baptize him. I know it will be a special time.

So our Spring Break started after homeschool on Friday and we have enjoyed some fun times already and more fun times are coming. We have a "first" planned for tonight, we are taking the kids ice skating! Hopefully there will be no broken bones since I have a feeling none of us are very good when it comes to balance, we shall see. Michael and I actually don't plan on putting on the ice skates, we thought ahead on that one and are bringing Heather (our 14 year old friend/neighbor/babysitter) with us so she can lend a hand to the kids if needed. I can't wait to take some pictures. So stay posted for those.

So here is a little bit of what we have done so far on our Spring break in no particular order.

* The kids and I walked to Blockbuster to rent some movies, ate out at Burger King and then walked to a park and finally headed home. It was a fun time and great excercise! We are planning to do the Pat Tillman run/walk as a family next month. So we are planning on doing some long walks with the kids to build up their stamina. I think they will do fine but Anna may need a piggy back ride now and then.

*We went bowling, you can read about that on my previous post! We had a great time doing that.

*Sunday we went to church and then headed over to our friends house to hang out with them for a while. Their oldest boy joined us for a trip to the tilt house that just opened up at Goldfields mining town. It was a great tour and the boys loved it. I didn't have my camera so I have no pictures to show our outing. After that we took the kids to get a treat at Sonic and then dropped Ethan off at his house so I could get to a photo shoot by 4:00.

*After I got home from my photo shoot the boys had a grand idea, and let me just say it was indeed GRAND. As in requiring A LOT of work. Why is it that their ideas always take so much energy? So they have been wanting a fort for some time now, an outdoor place to call their own. So they had the idea to see if quite possibly, just maybe dad and I would consider letting them clear out the outdoor shed and take that over as their fort. The same shed we keep our Christmas boxes in along with the lawn mower and outdoor tools. What the boys didn't know is that Michael had planned to do some rearranging of Michael's utility closet and move some things around to utilize some extra space we have on our back patio. So, we told the boys if they were willing to put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into making it work, we would allow them to make that into their "private lab" as they now call it. So after the word "yes" rolled off our tongues they were out the door to get to work. Phase one was Sunday night when they emptied out the shed and Michael's utility closet and put everything on the back patio. That took them about two hours. Then the next morning for phase two we sorted through everything, did some major organizing and moving and before we knew it, it all came together perfectly. I am very pleased with how we arranged things and the boys are in awe of their new lab. We let them do some spray painting yesterday to make it feel more like home. There are plans to put shelves in, add an electrical source so they can have light and cool air along with adding a possible window. So Monday was spent working hard and getting the lab put together. We didn't go anywhere all day and for the most part enjoyed being at home all day. The kids were getting a bit bored by the end of the day because we hadn't left the house but everyone needs stay at home all day days if you ask me. I love them!

*Then came yesterday, after we got up and got ready we loaded up the kids bikes and went to Gene Autrey Park. We played for a while and had some fun and then it was off to the dentist for Jadon to have a filling. The rest of the day was spent playing at home. Anna and I played two board games, Jadon recovered from his filling by watching some TV and Camden played outside with neighborhood kids. We enjoyed a yummy homemade dinner of stuffed shells, tossed salad and garlic bread, YUMMY! After dinner I snuck out on my own to go to the store. My poor hubby needed dress clothes for work, Jadon needed some T-shirts and Anna needed some shorts. So I went to Kohl's and did my best picking out things that they woud like. I had some success but still need to make a few returns/exchanges today. All I know is that I have not spent that much money clothes shopping in years! We are so thankful for hand me downs for the kids but daddy doesn't get any of those and his wardrobe was suffering big time.

*And that brings us up to today, St. Patricks day. We are going to be heading out soon for Karate and then going back over to our friends house who can use some love and support today and then tonight we will hit the ice skating rink, well hopefully we won't "hit" it but smoothly glide across it with no injuries.

*The rest of the week we have more fun activities planned that include a day at Arizona Mills Mall, laser tag (we won some free games in a raffle), and mini golf with the boys (they are finally being rewarded for finishing their reading/spelling programs in homeschool). I think that is about it.

*PICTURES of the lab and other fun activities coming soon.

hour of prayer for the Warner family

Here is a copy of a letter I sent out to our friends about a prayer time we have scheduled for this Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you are not able to make it, please take time that evening to pray.

Dear friends,

Many of you may have already heard about the death of Paxton Warner this past Thursday evening. It was a tragic accident that took place at the family home taking the life of this precious 14 month old baby boy. His mom and dad and four other siblings can use our prayers as they grieve the loss of their son and brother. Will you please join us this Thursday evening March 18th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. as we surround the perimeter of the Warner's home and pray for this wonderful family. You may have never met this family but please don't let that stop you from joining us for an hour of prayer. There is a lot of healing that needs to take place in this family and we can do our part as their brothers and sisters in Christ by crying out to God on their behalf. Please forward this on to your friends and family who have a passion for prayer and ask them if they will join us. How amazing it will be if we have enough people to completely surround the perimeter of their property!

So here is what you need to know if you plan on coming:

*The address to their home is 2307 N. 76th place, Mesa 85207. Mapquest directions are accurate.

*They live off of a dirt road on a little over an acre of land. Please park along Hermosa Vista or 76th place. If that looks full you may also park along 76th street. There is also a vacant lot just west of the home where people may park. Carpool if you can and wear tennis shoes in case you need to walk from where you park. Bring a flashlight in case you have to walk a distance to your car after the prayer time is over. It gets dark around 6:45 p.m. so a flashlight will be helpful.

*We will form a circle around the family home and spend an hour praying for this family. Upon arriving, you will be handed a list of specific prayer requests. You may pray however you feel led if that be individually, as a family, or to join with someone you have never met. You may pray quietly, out loud, on your knees, standing up, however the Lord leads. Please feel free to bring your children and spend time praying as a family unit or with another family. If you do bring your children, we just ask that they either join you in prayer or that you keep them close to where you are praying.

*To prevent being a disturbance to the other neighbors, I ask that we leave their home by 7 p.m. but please don't let that stop you from praying. This family will need to be covered in prayer from this time on.

*Thank you for considering praying for this amazing family. They have a deep love for the Lord and their faith is very strong. The needs are great and the wounds are deep but we have a very BIG God who can bring healing to Zach and Jenna, and their children Ethan (9 yrs), Broden (7 yrs), Trae (4 yrs) and Baylor (3 yrs).

If you have any questions please email me, Korri Ray at mkjca95@mac.com. If you need to reach me that evening, my cell number is 602-768-3446 and Michael's is 602-768-3440 (call him in case you need help with directions).

Michael and Korri Ray

Japanese Friendship Garden

We had a homewchool field trip on Wednesday to the Japanese friendship garden. It was a fun time had by all. I look at these pictures in a more meaningful way now knowing that this was the day before Paxton's death (read the post two posts down) and he was so full of life and so happy this day. I am happy to have this memory as I am sure the Warner family is thankful for it too. I don't have much more to say, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.











I saw Spike the other morning and it looked like he was praying so I had to take a picture.

And then there is Pepper doing his favorite thing.

And the kids just being kids playing outside, it's their favorite thing to do.

Cosmic bowling

Bobbe and Lou have been in town this week and we went to a charity event today to raise money for the special olympics. We joined forces with the other Rays and had a great time. It took place at Brunswic's bowling alley and we enjoyed ourselves some cosmic bowling. It was a really fun time. I actually got 4 strikes and a few spares and pulled a high score in our second game. I was very pleased. I figured that when I didn't try, that is when I did good and when I tried to do good, I would get gutter balls. I doubt the pros play like that, but it sure worked for me. We also entered a raffle drawing and won ourselves a TomTom GPS. We are thrilled, we haven't owned one up until now so we were quite tickled. After coming off of such a bad day yesterday grieving with our friends, it felt good to get out and enjoy ourselves. I kept thinking about the Warner's though and how hard it will be for them to do that first "fun" family event without Paxton and instead of being a family of 7, they will be a family of 6. My heart is still grieving.

Miss Alyssa striking a bowling pose.

Jadon was very in to his bowling game.

Camden had a great time, his bowling stance was quite unique.

Uncle Chris helping Anna with her first time at bowling.

I like this one.

They passed around the special olympics torch, that thing was heavy!

Now she has the hang of it, granny style.

I like this one cause it makes my arms look toned and like I have been working out, which I have not.

Anna in her bowling stance, she took the game VERY seriously.

Bowling shoes have a come a long way since I was a kid.

Thank goodness for them bumpers.

There was a twist competition, twist and shout!

Jadon and his cousin Joshua twisting about.

This picture was taken the other night when we had Bobbe and Lou over for dinner. They were trying to figure out a puzzle game.

Anna was in a commercial that aired on PBS. The commercia was advertising Aqua Tots swim school. I snapped a picture of Anna's little part. She was on for maybe 3 seconds. She was all smiles.