Last week we had awards night.  The kids have worked really hard all year long memorizing verses, doing projects, reading their Bibles.  Last night they were rewarded in front of their peers, leaders, parents and siblings for their work through out the year.  Job received his 3rd book Award also known as the Challenge Award.  Lona received her book award also known as the Alpha Award.  We brought Mathew and Timothy with us almost every night and they both received awards too.  I'm very proud of all the kids.  
Cette annee Job et Lona essaient apprendre par coeur vers 36 versets de la Bible, lire leur Bible, et faire des projets.  C'est difficile mais il les faisent.  Devants les autres jeunes, des parents, et des dirigeants ils ont recu leurs prix.  Je suis les en fier.

Thank you Chris for the scarves Merci a Chris pour les echarpes.

Love the enthusiasm of the fans. Les spectateurs

the Band la troupe

Our neighbors - how crazy Notre voisins sont la aussi.



view of Seattle from the stadium la vue de Seattle



throwing popcorn



talking to Dad il parle avec son pere

 Late Tuesday night I received an email from the mother of one of the boys from Job's soccer team.  "I have 4 tickets to the Sounders for tomorrow night and we can't go.  Do you want them."  I eagerly jumped on the idea.  John was at work anyway (15 hours) and so we headed off to Seattle.  It took 1 hour to reach Lynnwood.  I didn't think I was speeding, we just made really good time.  Then it took almost 2 hours from Lynnwood (north of Seattle) to get into Seattle, find a parking spot and get to the game.  Should have left earlier.  We had fun, stayed dry, ate junk food like crazy, watched the game, took photos, and headed home.  We were all in bed by midnight.  Unfortunately the Sounders lost but we had fun.

Merdi soir, j'ai recu quatrre billet pour un match du footballe en Seattle.  Bien sur nous sommes alles.  Nous avons quitter a quatre heures apres midi et rentrer chez vers minuit.  Malheureusement notre equip a perdu le match.  Mais nous sommes content d'aller.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Set up some lights and a backdrop to have a little fun with the camera.  Plus Lona had dance pictures and we had to do her hair and make-up for that.  Unfortunately I couldn't just purchase a class photo.  They wanted me to buy the whole package.  I figure that I can do my own individuals I just couln't do a class photo.  So we didn't purchase one.  Simple.  Now here is our little studio fun.  Fun for me that is.  I still need to learn about lights and positions.

J'achete quelque chose pour prendre des photos.  Maintenant c'est juste pour practique mais peut-etre un jour c'est pour mon travaille.  Ici sont quelques photos de Isaac, Lona et Job.

Celebrating Isaac's birthday this year has been challenging with soccer ending, John's work schedule, and school.  Last year we kind of celebrated Isaac's birthday at the same party that Job had for end of soccer.  This year, well, we went to church and then quietly had lunch while John slept.  When John woke up we opened presents.  Then Lona's team had a soccer party at the Ferndale YMCA so we went to that and came home to have a birthday "snack" - lasagna and fudge.  Back to the YMCA for Isaac's team party and finally home for a movie.  His birthday  morning I had a chocolate cupcake for him for breakfast and then we had a dinner at home with John.  Isaac had piano lessons after school so there wasn't really anytime set aside for him to celebrate with his friends.  This week we have another soccer party, Awana awards, dance lessons, chess practice, and dance photos.  So there isn't a day just for him but I think it was ok anyway.  He has been happy with family and since he turned 13 he is old enough for Facebook so he now has email and a facebook account.  I think that this takes place of a phone.  I was his very first friend and now when I want to tell him something all I have to do is IM him.
Notre celebration d'anniversaire d'Isaac est juste familee.  Nous allons a l'eglise et retournons chez nous pour dinner.   Isaac ouvre ses cadeux quand John se reveille.  John travaille pendent le nuit maintenant.  Nous sommes alles au fete pour l'equip de Lona et retournons chez nous pour 45 minutes ou nous avons manges dinner et chante bonne anniversaire a Isaac.  Puis nous sommes alles au fete pour l'equip d"Isaac.  Quand nous avons retourne chez nous, nous voulons seulment rester et regarder un filme.  Alors ce n'est pas un jour pour Isaac avec ses amis.

Job says it looks like there was a wedding in our front yard.
Job a dit qu'il semble que nous avons un cerominie de marriage dans notre jardin.

It's been 13 years.  Where has the time gone?  How did I become a mother of a teenager?  Is he ready?  Maybe the more important question is am I ready?  Actually I think that we have reached this place about a year ago.  He's becoming more opinionated, responsible, self-aware, independent, taller, grateful.  He's witty yet knows where the line is.  He constantly is walking on that line but never crossing over.  He has had some challenges this last year including attending public school for the first time ever!  He has learned some hard lessons about friends, about dealing with parents and teachers.  He's taking some major responsibility and declined fun things because of school.  He is Job's hero.  He messes up at times and totally loses it but he also has learned to apologize and to make it right. Sometimes my heart aches for him and sometimes it bursts with happiness for him.  He's growing up and I can't stop it but then I don't want to stop it either.  If he stopped growing up, he'd have to live at home!  No, we definitely want him to grow up.  Seriously though, I have a glimps of the young man he's becoming and it brings tears to my eyes in a good way. 
This last year we've been blessed to do a number of things, such as hiking and sledding on the same trip, snowboarding without broken arms, soccer (all year round) along with reffing, Camp Grandma's, skim boarding, waterskiing, going to school, hanging out with siblings, Christmas crafts, and being a goof-off.